Part 6

Thereupon the greatly powerful Rakshasa, by name _Sardula_, beheld the army of Sugriva arranged on the shore of the ocean. And, beholding the army all busy, the emissary of the vicious-souled Rakshasa--Ravana, entered the city of Lanka and, approaching his lord, said,--"The army of monkeys and bears hath approached Lanka. It is immeasurably deep as the ocean. And those two sons of the king Dacaratha--the brothers Rama and Lakshmana, gifted with great beauty, coming to rescue Sita, have stationed themselves on the shore of the ocean, O thou of great effulgence. The army of Rama extends over the sky and ten _yojanas_. I have come, O great king, to acquaint thee with the real truth. And, knowing everything, it behoveth thy emissaries, O king, to settle whether to render back Sita, to adopt measures of conciliation, or to sow dissensions in the enemy's camp". Hearing the words of _Sardula_, Ravana, the lord of Rakshasas, being anxious to ascertain his duty, addressed a Rakshasa by name Suka, the most sensible of his counsellors, with the following pregnant words,--"Do thou go and communicate unto king Sugriva my behest, in becoming and excellent accents. 'Thou art born of a great family and art the mighty son of the king of bears. I have no dissension with thee. In fact I consider thee as my brother, O king of monkeys. Though I have stolen the spouse of the high-souled prince (Rama), yet what is that to thee, O Sugriva? Do thou return to Kishkindha. The monkeys shall not by any means be able to attack the city of Lanka. Even the celestials and Gandharbas could not--what of these men and monkeys?'" And being thus commissioned by the lord of Rakshasas, that night-ranger assumed the shape of a bird and, bounding, speedily reached the sky. And, proceeding far over the deep and stationing himself at the welkin, he spoke unto Sugriva all the words with which he was addressed by the vicious-souled Ravana. Hearing him speak thus, the monkeys leaped up quickly and reached there with a view to chop off his wings or to slay him with their clenched fists. On being seized vehemently by all these monkeys, that night-ranger was brought down speedily from the sky to the earth. And being assailed by the monkeys, Suka said,--"O Kakutstha, it doth not behove (people) to slay an emissary. Do thou therefore prevent the monkeys. He who passing by his master's behest, giveth out his own intention, is not faithful; and he therefore deserveth to be slain". Hearing the piteous accents of Suka, Rama spake unto the monkeys, who were about to kill him, saying, "Do not kill him". And again stationing himself on the welkin, that night-ranger said,--"O Sugriva, O thou gifted with great energy, O thou of great prowess, what shall I speak unto Ravana, dreaded by all people?" Being thus addressed, that mighty king of monkeys, the bull among them, of unwearied energy, spake unto that emissary--the night-ranger, Suka, saying--"O Ravana, thou art not my friend or an object of pity. Thou art not my benefactor, nor art liked by me. Thou art Rama's enemy, and thou dost therefore deserve to be slain by him like Vali along with thy friends and relatives. I shall therefore slay thee, O king of night-rangers, together with thy sons, friends and relatives. And I shall have the whole city of Lanka reduced to ashes by my mighty force. Thou shalt not be able to escape Raghava, O Ravana, O thou who hast lost thy sense, even if thou art protected by the celestials. And thou shalt with thy brother be slain by Rama, even if thou dost fly into the sky, enter into the regions under the earth, or seek shelter of Mahadeva. I do not behold any in these three worlds--Pisacha, Rakshasa, Gandharba, or Asura, who can protect thee. Thou hast slain the monarch of vultures, who had grown decrepit through age.[50] Thou hast carried off the large-eyed Sita from the vicinity of Rama and the neighbourhood of Lakshmana; but, having captured her, thou understandest not (thy native strength). Nor dost thou understand that foremost of Raghus, high-souled, possessed of great strength, and incapable of being repressed even by the celestials,--who shall take thy life". Then spake that best of monkeys, Angada, son of Vali,--"O highly wise one, this is no emissary. This one clearly appeareth to me as a spy. He hath come to form an estimate of thy entire army. Take him. Let him not go (back) to Lanka. This is indeed what I would". Thereat, commanded by the king, the monkeys, springing up, seized (Suka) and bound him, as he burst out bewailing like one forlorn. On being sorely handled by the relentless monkeys, Suka cried unto tho high-souled Rama, son of Dacaratha,--"They by main force sever my wings, and they pierce my eyes. If I lose my life, may all the evil deeds that I have committed between the night when I was born and the night when I shall die, be thine!" Hearing this pitiful cry, Rama prevented (the monkeys); and he said unto them,--"Let go this envoy, who hath come here".

[50] The commentator has a queer and characteristic note on _Jaravriddha--decrepit through age. One that is old, may stave off decrepitude through some drug, while a youthful person may come by the same in consequence of some curse.--T._

SECTION XXI.

Then on the shore of the sea, Raghava, spreading _darbha_, with his hands joined towards the great deep, laid him down, with his face to the East. And that slayer of foes (lay down), making his pillow his arm resembling the shining form of a serpent; always dight with golden ornaments; full many a time pressed with the palms of beauteous damsels,[51] decked with jewelled golden _Keyuras_ and superb ornaments studded with pearls; smeared from above with sandal and _aguru_; (his arm) which formerly had been graced in bed with the head of Sita; like unto the body of Takshaka under the waters of the Ganga; resembling a yoke; in battle increasing the sorrow of foes and enhancing for long the delight of friends;--his left arm having its skin destroyed by the strokes of the bow-string; which was the refuge of the entire earth;--his right arm resembling a mighty bludgeon,--the donor of thousands of kine,--making this great arm his pillow (he laid him down). "To-day either I shall die, or shall the Ocean".--Having thus formed his resolution in respect of the great deep, Rama, restraining his speech, with a concentrated mind lay down there agreeably to rule. And as Rama slept on the earth on Kuca spread over, without ever swerving from the rule, three nights passed away. And while spending three nights, Rama, learned in polity and attached to virtue, prayed unto that lord of streams--the Ocean. Yet the wicked Ocean, albeit adored according to his deserts by Rama with his mind concentrated, did not show himself. Thereat Rama grew enraged and had the corners of his eyes crimsoned; and he spake unto Lakshmana of auspicious marks, saying,--"Behold the hauteur of the Ocean in not presenting himself before me. Calmness, forbearance, candour, and soft speech--these virtues of the good are by the insolent taken for the effects of incompetency. The person[52] that is self-laudatory, wicked, and badly-bold, publisheth his own praise, and meteth out chastisement every where,[53] is honored in the world. By moderation one cannot attain celebrity, by moderation one cannot attain fame,--and, O Lakshmana, in this world by moderation one cannot attain victory on 'the edge of battle.'[54] See, O Sumitra's son, the abode of Makaras, with his waters obstructed all around with Makaras destroyed by my shafts. And, O Lakshmana, see the bodies here of serpents, and the huge bodies of mighty fishes, and the trunks of elephants,--torn by my arrows. And to-day in terrible battle will I dry up the Ocean with conchs and oysters, and fishes and Makaras. This abode of Makaras taketh me, who is forbearing, to be incompetent. Fie on forbearance towards such as he! In consequence of my moderation, Ocean showeth not his own form. O Saumitri, bring thou my bow, my arrows resembling venomous snakes. I will dry up the Ocean, and the monkeys shall go over on foot. And, being angered, to-day, albeit incapable of being agitated, will I agitate the deep. And by means of my shafts will I make Varuna's abode, surging with a thousand billows and having his dignity maintained by his shores,--overleap his continents. And I will agitate the deep harbouring numbers of mighty Danavas". Having spoken thus, Rama, equipped with his bow, with his eyes dilated in wrath, became exceedingly irrepressible, like unto the flaming fire at the final dissolution. And straining his dreadful bow, making the earth shake, tremulously, he let fly fierce shafts like him of an hundred sacrifices hurling his thunder-bolt. Thereat, flaming up, those vehement choice shafts surcharged with energy, enter into the waters of the sea, with its serpents afflicted with fear. And then great and exceedingly dreadful was the motion of the sea, with fishes and Makaras, and with the roar of the winds (blowing there). And on a sudden the mighty deep was heaving with mighty surges, with conchs scattered about, and a smoke (enveloped) the ocean; and the billows became visible on all sides. And the serpents were distressed, with their faces flaming and their eyes aglow; as well as the Danavas of terrific energy, and the dwellers of the nether spheres. And billows of the sovran Ocean, resembling Vindhya or Mandara, containing crocodiles and Makaras sprang up by thousands. And Varuna's abode had its surges whirling, its serpents and Rakshasas seized with affright, and its ferocious aquatic animals borne all around; and it sent forth sounds. Then Sumitra's son, springing up, said unto Raghava of fiery vehemence, as he sighed and kept stretching his matchless bow.--"This must not be". And he took away his (Rama's) bow. "Without doing this unto the Ocean, thou, supreme of heroes, mayst have thy work accomplished. Personages like thee do not come under the influence of passion. Do thou deliberately look about for some worthy means (for compassing thy end)". Then remaining invisible in the sky, Brahmarshis and Surarshis[55] exclaiming,--"Well-a-day!" and "Don't," in loud accents ejaculated,--(Oh! and alas!)

[51] The commentator appropriately remarks: _As Rama was wedded to a single wife, these damsels must mean nurses attending on him_.--T.

[52] The word, however, is _naram (ac.), man_.--T.

[53] i.e. _indiscriminately.--T._

[54] _Rana murddhani_,--'The perilous edge of battle when it raged.' _Paradise Lost_ Book I

[55] Celestial saints.

SECTION XXII.

Then the foremost of Raghus addressed Ocean in stern words, saying,--"To-day will I dry up the Ocean along with the nether regions. And, O Ocean, thy waters being burnt up by my shafts, and thou being dried up, with thy (aquatic) animals slaughtered, a mighty volume of dust shall arise (from thy bed). And, O Ocean, in consequence of the arrowy shower discharged from my bow, the monkeys shall go over to the further shore on foot. Having attained dimensions in consequence of access of waters, thou knowest not my manliness or my prowess But, O abode of Danavas, grief shalt thou reap at my hands". Then fixing an arrow resembling the rod of Brahma with a Brahma Mantra, on the best of bows, that exceedingly strong one drew it. And as Raghava suddenly stretched his bow, heaven and earth seemed to be riven, and the mountains trembled. And darkness covered the world, and the cardinal points became invisible. And at once the watery expanses and rivers were agitated. And the stars appeared simultaneously with the Sun and Moon.[56] And the sky was illumined with the rays of the Sun, and yet it was overspread with darkness; and it burned with an hundred meteors. And thunder-bolts sending forth sounds surpassing all others, dropped from the firmament. And the winds began to blow violently; breaking down trees and momentarily scattering clouds; damaging mountain-tops and shattering summits. And then the dread and mighty thunders possessing impetuous speed and emitting tremendous roars,--coming together, produced lightning flashes. And those creatures that could be seen, uttered sounds resembling the thunder; and those that were invisible gave forth frightful cries. And overwhelmed with fright, and quaking (for fear), the creatures began to measure their lengths,--and they were sore afflicted, and bereft of motion through terror. And then the mighty deep with its animals, and with its waters and waves, and with its serpents and Rakshasas, was suddenly wrought up with a violent motion. And albeit it was not the occasion of the universal dissolution, the Ocean passed beyond his shores for a full hundred _yojanas_. And seeing the elated Ocean--lord of streams and rivers--thus overpass his bounds, that destroyer of enemies, Raghu's son, Rama, was not moved.[57] Then from forth the mid-sea arose Ocean himself, even as the maker of day riseth from the mighty ascending-hill, Meru. And accompanied by Pannagas[58] of flaming faces, the Ocean showed himself, appearing like cool lapises, adorned with golden ornaments,--wearing a wreath of gems and a jewelled vesture, with his eyes resembling lotus-leaves, bearing on his head a noble garland containing all flowers; decked with ornaments of polished gold; as well with excellent ornaments of gems originating in himself, like the mountain Himavan embellished with metals (sprung in himself),--(the Ocean arose) with wave on wave whirling around, and rife with winds blowing among clouds,--surrounded by streams, Ganga, Sindhu (and others). And approaching the arrow-showering Rama, and greeting him fair, Ocean spoke unto him with joined hands,--"O Raghava, earth, air, sky, water and light,--these, O mild one, retaining their eternal course, maintain their (respective) natures. Mine also is that nature whereby I am fathomless and incapable of being crossed. The reverse of this is the having a bottom. And for this reason I speak to thee (concerning the means). O king's son, not from desire, or covetuousness, or fear, or anger, can I anywise deprive my waters abounding in alligators of their (perpetual) motion. I will tell thee how thou wilt pass (over me); and I will bear it. And no ferocious aquatic animals shall do wrong so long as thy forces have not crossed. And, O Rama, I will make as it were firm land for the crossing over of the monkeys". Then Rama said,--"O Varuna's abode, listen to me! This arrow (of mine) must accomplish the end (intended). Where shall I let it light?" Hearing Rama's speech, and looking at the mighty arrow, that exceedingly energetic one, the great Deep, addressed Raghava, saying,--"There is a certain spot of mine in the North, which is more sacred (than the rest). It is famed as Drumakulya, even as thou art famed in the world. There are there many robbers of ferocious forms and actions,--wicked wights, headed by cow-herds,--who drink of my water. These persons of unrighteous acts touch me, and I cannot bear this sin. O Rama, do thou at that place render this best of arrows successful". Hearing the words of the high-souled Ocean, (Rama) immediately after,[59] let fly that flaming shaft. And the place where the arrow resembling the thunder-bolt and _vajra_ in splendour, alighted, hath been celebrated on earth as Marukantara. And hurt with the dart, the Earth emitted roars; and in consequence of this, water began to gush out at the mouth of the wound from the subterranean regions. And this then became well-known as Vrana; and there are seen the waters of the Ocean spring up. And there arose a terrific report of riving. And owing to this,[60] as well as the incident of the arrow, the water that existed in the tanks, was dried up. Having dried up Marukantara famous throughout the three regions, as well as the reservoirs of water, Rama the son of Dacaratha, learned and of god-like prowess, conferred a boon on the desert, saying,--"This place shall be filled with food nourishing beasts; and ailments shall be rare here. And the fruits and roots shall be replete with relish; and it shall abound in oil and overflow with milk; and it shall contain various odorous drugs". Thus did the desert come to possess these attributes; and from Rama's bestowal of a boon, it attained a pleasant aspect. On that place being burnt up, that lord of streams, the Ocean, thus spake unto Raghava, versed in every branch of learning,--"O mild one, this one is named Nala, son unto Vicwakarma. He hath received a boon from his sire. Vicwakarma's son is well pleased with thee. Let this monkey, surcharged with exhuberant spirits, build a bridge over me. I will hold that up. This one is as his sire". Having delivered himself thus, Ocean disappeared. Then that foremost of monkeys, Nala, arising, spoke unto the mighty Rama,--"Resorting to my sire's skill, I will build a bridge over the spacious abode of Makaras. The mighty Ocean hath spoken justly. In respect of the ingrate even chastisement is supreme in this world,--this is my conviction. Down with forbearance, or moderation, or gift! This dreadful Ocean, this mighty deep, expecting to see a bridge (thrown over him), hath granted depth unto Raghava.--(Formerly) is Mandara, Vicwakarma had conferred a boon on my mother: 'O exalted one, thy son shall be like me.' I am a son of his, sprung from his loins, and I am like unto Vicwakarma. Not having been asked by thee, I had not unfolded my qualifications. I also am capable of constructing a bridge over Varuna's abode. Therefore this very day let the foremost monkeys construct the bridge". Then directed by Rama, the principal monkeys with alacrity entered the mighty forest in hundrerds and thousands. And themselves resembling mountains, the foremost of the monkeys began to break down and draw them towards the Ocean. And the monkeys filled the Ocean with _salas_, and _acwakarnas_, _dhavas_, bamboos _kutajas_, _arjunas_, palms, _tilakas_, _tinicas_, _billakas_, _aparnas_, and blossoming _karnikaras_, mangoes, and a trees. And those monkeys--the foremost of their species--began to gather the trees, some with their roots, some without them,--carrying them like Indra's ensign. And those huge-bodied monkeys possessed of prodigious strength, procured palms and pomegranates, cocoanuts and itakas, Kariras, Vakulas, and Nimbas,--as well as rocks. Measuring elephants' dimensions; and uprooting crags, they tossed them by means of machines. And on rocks being plunged into the waters, the latter, suddenly swelling up, mounted to the welkin, and again subsided.--And (the trees) dropping (into the deep), vexed it all around. And some made lines (for insuring straightness unto the bridge). And in the middle of the lord of rivers and streams, Nala made a grand bridge measuring an hundred _yojanas_. And then he went about constructing the bridge with the assistance of monkeys of dreadful deeds. And some took the measuring and others bore (timber to the sea). And by help of hundreds of monkeys following Rama's mandate, hued like woods or mountains, (they) constructed a bridge with grass, and wood. And the monkeys made the bridge of trees with blossoming tops. And (monkeys) resembling Danavas were rushing all around with rocks resembling hills, and mountain-summits. And tremendous was the tumult that came of crags thrown and rocks toppled down into the mighty deep. And on the first day the elephant-like monkeys of spirits and exerting themselves vigorously, finished fifteen _yojanas_. And the exceedingly strong and huge-bodied monkeys on the second day speedily disposed of twenty _yojanas_. And on the third day the huge-bodied active monkeys did one and twenty _yojanas_ on the sea. And on the fourth day the exceedingly impetuous monkeys, bestirring themselves vigorously, did two and twenty _yojanas_. And On the fifth day the fast-speeding monkeys accomplished three and twenty _yojanas_ reaching unto the fair shore. And resembling his sire, that best of monkeys, the lusty and graceful offspring of Vicwakarma, (thus) constructed the bridge over the sea. And that bridge built by force over the abode of _makaras_, looked graceful and splendid like the Milky way in the firmament. And then the deities and Gandharbas, the Siddhas and the prime saints, appearing in the heavens, stood there, eager to behold this wonder. And the gods and Gandharbas saw that bridge of Nala, difficult of being made, having an area of ten _yojanas_ and measuring an hundred in length. And the monkeys, leaping and bounding and roaring, as well as all creatures, beheld that building of the bridge on the ocean, inconceivable, and marvellous, displaying skill past thought and capable of making one's hair stand on end. And those thousands of Kotis of exceeding vigor, having constructed the bridge over the ocean, went over to the other shore of the mighty main. And spacious, skillfully constructed, graceful, well-paved and nicely finished, the great bridge appeared like the line where the hair hath been parted on the Ocean's head. Then on the other shore of the ocean, Bibhishana, with the view of opposing foes (that might advance), stationed himself mace in hand, along with some councilors. Then Sugriva spoke unto Rama, having truth for his prowess,--"Do thou get upon Hanuman, and let Laskhmana get upon Angada. O hero, vast is this Ocean--abode of Makaras. These monkeys, rangers of the sky, shall hold you up both". Thereat the graceful and righteous Rama along with Lakshmana, equipped with his bow, set out in the van of the army in company with Sugriva. And some monkeys proceeded along the middle, and some plunged into the deep, and some went by the road. And some coursed through the air, bounding up bird-like. And that dreadful array of monkeys crossing over, with its mighty uproar drowned the dreadful roar of the deep, which had been arising. On the monkey-host having crossed by the bridge of Nala, the king stationed it on the shore abounding in fruits, roots and water. Beholding that work of Raghava incapable of being performed, the deities together with the Siddhas and Charanas, and the Maharshis, suddenly presenting themselves before Rama, sprinkled him one by one with sacred water, and said,--"Mayst thou be victorious, O human-divine one! Rule thou the Earth eternally!" Thus in various auspicious words, did they pay homage unto that one honored by the Brahmanas, Rama.

[56] The phenomenon, remarks the commentator, was owing to the heavenly bodies obstructing each other's orbit.--T.

[57] _Natichakrama_ may also mean, (_Rama_) did not discharge any more arrows.--T.

[58] Semi-divine serpents.--T.

[59] _Sagaradarcanat_--may also mean, agreeably to the Ocean's instruction.--T.

[60] i.e. _the sound._

SECTION XXIII.