Assuming the quality of goodness and energy on mount Lamva furnished
with elevated summits, and resembling long masses of clouds, Hanuman,
son unto the Wind-god capable of concluding in harmony with season,
possessed of exceeding strength--an elephant among monkeys--entered
Lanka by night, affluent with charming woods and waters--the city
governed by Ravana; beautified with edifices resembling autumnal clouds;
sounding like unto Vitapavati[234] herself--with infuriated elephants
(stationed) at her graceful gateways; containing white gates with
ornamented arches; resembling the handsome Bhogavati inhabited and
protected by serpents. And suddenly coming to that (city) resembling
Amaravati, scattered with clouds charged with lightning, having hosts of
luminaries, and tumultuous with the roars of blustering blasts,--girt
round by a mighty golden wall,--ringing with the tinklings of tiny
bells; and embellished with pennons,--he growing exceedingly
exhilarated, made towards the wall. And beholding the city all round,
furnished with golden doors; having quadrangular courts composed of
lapises; ornamented with plastered jeweled pavements studded with all
gems, crystals, and pearls; with mad elephants of burnished gold and
speckless white silver; with stairs of lapises,--(doors) devoid of dust
with their centres composed of crystal and with stately halls;
elegant,--and adjoining mansions seeming as if reaching up to the
heavens; resounding with Kraunchas and peacocks; frequented by swans;
and everywhere resonant with the sounds of trumpets and ornaments. And
then beholding the city Lanka, resembling Vaswokasara,[235] and
appearing to mount to the welkin, the monkey Hanuman was filled with
rapture. And seeing the delightful, divine and prosperous city of Lanka
belonging to the lord of Rakshasas, that one endowed with prowess
thought within himself,--"This city protected by the forces of Ravana
with their hands holding upraised arms, is incapable of being forcibly
subdued by any other. This place can be easily entered by Kumuda, and
Angada, as well as by that mighty monkey, Sushena; and also by Mainda
and Dwivida. And there is way also for the offspring of the Sun, and
that monkey, Kucaparva, as well as of that foremost of monkeys, Rikshya,
and myself." And having witnessed the prowess of Raghava, as well as the
vigor of Lakshmana, the monkey was filled with joy. And that redoubtable
monkey beheld the metropolis of the monarch of the Rakshasas; having for
her cloth the sea; for her pendants, cow-stalls and stables; for her
breasts, turrets mounted on the walls for discharging missils,--decked
out like a damsel; with her darkness dispelled by bright lights and the
mighty planets. And as he was entering, that tiger-like mighty monkey
son unto the Wind-god was met by the city in her native shape. And
seeing that best of monkeys, Lanka, ruled by Ravana, arising of herself
with her countenance rendered deformed, stood before the heroic son of
the Wind; and, emitting a tremendous roar, addressed the offspring of
the Wind god, saying,--"O thou that hast the woods for thy home, who art
thou? And on what errand hast thou come hither? Tell me while yet thou
hast thy vital powers left in thee. O monkey, for certain thou art
unable to obtain entry into this Lanka, protected by the forces of
Ravana, and carefully guarded on all sides." Thereat, the heroic Hanuman
spoke unto her staying in front of him,--"I shall tell thee all about
that anent which thou questionest me. Who art thou that having deformed
eyes stayest at the gate of this city? And what for, O frightful one,
dost thou rail at me in wrath?" Hearing Hanuman's speech, Lanka, capable
of wearing forms at will, waxing wroth addressed the Wind-god's
offspring, saying,--"I, who am incapable of being repressed, abiding by
the mandate of the high-souled sovereign of the Rakshasas, protect this
city. Thou art unable to enter this city, passing me by. Thou shalt
to-day, losing thy life and slain by me, sleep (the sleep of death). O
monkey, I am the City of Lanka myself. I every way guard (all that is
here.") Hearing Lanka's words, Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god,--foremost
of monkeys--exerting himself (to secure victory), stood like another
hill. And seeing her appear in the form of a deformed female, that
foremost and best of monkeys endeued with intelligence, possessed of
prowess, said,--"I will behold the city of Lanka, crowned with turrets,
walls and ornamented arches, it is for this that I have come here. Great
is my curiosity. I come forsooth to see the woods and groves and gardens
of Lanka here, --as well as her principal edifices." Hearing these words
of his, Lanka capable of wearing forms at will, again addressed him in a
speech fraught with disonant letters: "O thou of perverse understanding,
O worst of monkeys, without (in the first instance) vanquishing me, thou
canst not to-day behold this city ruled by the monarch of the
Rakshasas." Thereat that tiger of a monkey said unto that female ranger
of the night,--"After seeing this city, O gentle one, I shall go away
even as I have come." Thereupon, setting up a mighty and terrible roar,
Lanka filled with vehemence, struck at Hanuman with her palm. And that
tiger-like monkey, the energetic offspring of the wind-god, on being
lustily struck by Lanka, emitted a tremendous roar. And (Hanuman)
fastened the fingers of his left hand into a box, and transported with
rage, dealt it unto her. And considering that she was a female, he did
not give way to excessive wrath. And struck at (by Hanuman), that ranger
of the night, of a deformed face, her body overcome, suddenly dropped to
the earth. And the energetic and heroic Hanuman, seeing her measure her
length,--in consideration of her being a female, was filled with
compassion. Thereat, exceedingly agitated, Lanka addressed the monkey,
Hanuman, in humble words, with their letters faltering,--"O mighty-armed
one, be propitious unto me! Do thou save me, O best of monkeys, O placid
one. Those that are gifted with strength and are endeued with exceeding
vigor, ever bear regard unto the dignity of the scriptures. By thy
prowess, O monkey, hast thou, O hero, O thou gifted with wondrous
strength, vanquished me myself, who am the City of Lanka. Listen to this
narration, which I, O foremost of monkeys, deliver unto thee; as to bow
the self-create Himself conferred a boon on me.' When a certain monkey
shall by his prowess, bring thee under his sway, then shalt thou
understand that a fear is come unto the Rakshahas'. And that time, O
placid one, hath come unto me, in consequence of my meeting with thee.
The truth ordained by the self-create knoweth no turning. The
destruction of the unrighteous king Ravana together with all the
Rakshasas, hath come about in consequence of Sita (having been carried
away). Therefore, O best of monkeys, do thou enter the city ruled by
Ravana; and accomplish such tasks as thou wishest to. Entering this
splendid city lying under an imprecation, governed by the chief of the
Rakshasas, do thou at thy will happily repairing everywhere, search for
the chaste daughter of Janaka."
[234] Alaka, the city of Kuvera, King of Yakshas.--T.
[235] Alaka