Then resigning that line of thought,[282] that mighty monkey, regaining
his equanimity, set out in another direction of thought touching Sita.
"Separated from Rama, that lady is incapable[283] of of sleeping, or
eating, or decorating (her person), or drinking. And she is incapable of
associating with any other person, although he were the sovereign of the
celestials himself. And even in all heaven there is none who is equal to
Rama. She is some other." Assuring himself of this, that foremost of
monkeys, eager to behold Sita, again began to range in that place set
apart for drinking. Some were tired out with sporting; some with
singing; some with dancing; and some were fast asleep through
intoxication. And some supported themselves on _murajas_, _mridangas_,
or _chelikas_; and some women were sleeping on excellent sheets. And
that leader of monkey-bands saw (that place of drinking) filled with
thousands of women, adorned with ornaments engaged (in their sleep) in
depicting each other's loveliness; and explaining the sense of songs;
conversant with season and place; understanding the meanings of words
chiming in with season and place[284]; and skilful at play. And at other
places also he saw thousands of superb and youthful dames fast asleep,--
employed in talking of each others beauty. And that leader of monkey
bands saw (women) versed in season and place, and understanding the
meanings of words consonant with season and place. And in the midst of
them all, the lord of the Rakshasas looked splendid like an ox in a
spacious stall in the midst of stately kine. And surrounded by them, the
Rakshasa chief appeared beautiful like a gigantic elephant in a forest,
surrounded by female elephants. And in the abode of the huge-bodied
Rakshasa chief, this tiger-like monkey saw that place of drinking,
furnished with every object of desire. And in that place set apart for
drinking, he saw heaps of the flesh of buffaloes, deer, and boars,
arranged separately. And that tiger-like monkey saw in capacious golden
vessels flesh of fowls and peacocks, which remained (after the repast).
And Hanuman saw the flesh of boars, and _Vadhrinasas_[285] _Sulyas_,
deer, and peacocks, seasoned with curds and _Sauvarchala_;[286] and
_Krikalas_,[287] and goats of various kinds.-flesh of hare
half-fed,--_Ekacalyas_,[288] and buffaloes,--all chopped and dressed;
and lickable and drinkable viands sharp and mild; and edibles sharp and
mild; and _Ragakhandavas_[289] containing sugar and acid, capable of
improving a vicious palate. And with large and costly stray bangles and
bracelets; and scattered cans,-- and diverse kinds of fruit; and wreaths
of flowers, the pavement attained exceeding beauty. And with elegantly
jointed bedsteads, arranged (around), the scene of wassail appeared
aflame without fire. And with meat consisting of many ingredients,
fraught with diverse tastes, seasoned with many substances, and dressed
by skilful cooks,--arranged separately in the scene of revel; and with
noble and pleasant wines, natural[290] and artificial,--_asavas_ from
sugar; and _Madhvika_[291] and _asavas_ from flowers and fruits; and
impregnated separately with different kinds of fragrant dust,--the
pavement, furnished with inuumerable garlands, surrounded with golden
water-vessels and crystal bowls, and golden water-pots, looked
exceedingly beautiful. And the monkey saw that foremost of all places
set apart for drinking, containing silvern and golden jars. And that
mighty monkey saw golden wine-vessels studded with gems, all filled with
wine; and some with half full of liquor, some with their wine entirely
exhausted, and some full of liquor. And (at some spots) he saw various
kinds of viands, and at others wines ranged in rows, and at others the
wine-vessels remaining half full. And there were many bedsteads
belonging to fair ones, remaining vacant; and at some places excellent
women were sleeping touching each other. And at one place, a female,
borne down by the force of sleep, forcibly possessing herself of
another's cloth, and wrapping herself therewith,--went to the bed of
that one, and was indulging in sleep.--And with their breath, their
variegated wreaths and the cloth on their persons were stirring gently,
as if with a mild-blowing breeze. And laden with the odours of cool
sandal and of sweet-tasting _Sidhu_;[292] and of diverse wreaths and
flowers, and with perfumes of various kinds,--and entranced[293] with
(the aroma of _sandals_ suitable for use after ablution, and of
_dhupas_, the air, impregnated with excellent scent, was there breathing
around the car Pushpaka. And in the residence of the Raksha, there were
some wenches sable, yet exceedingly witching; and some were dark-hued;
and the frames of some were of a golden brilliance. And their beauty, in
consequence of their coming under the governance of sleep, and their
being bereft of their senses by Madana, resembled that of lotuses in a
sleep. Thus that highly energetic monkey saw everything thoroughly in
the inner apartment of Ravana,--but he saw not Janaka's daughter. And
seeing those females, that mighty monkey, apprehending loss of
righteousness, was seized with an exceeding great fear[294]. "Beholding
a female, who is the religiously wedded wife of another, while she is
asleep[295], verily causeth loss of righteousness. My sight surely never
seeketh others' wives; but I have beheld this one that hath ravished
another's spouse." And that intelligent one, intent on attaining a
knowledge of things capable of being arrived at on grounds of judgment,
again reflected effectively as to his course of action: "All these
unsuspecting wives of Ravana have been beheld by me; yet there are no
signs that my mind hath undergone any alteration. In respect of the
enlistment of the senses on behalf of any course of action good or evil,
it is verily mind which is the cause; and herein my mind is righteously
disposed. And I could not search for Vaidehi elsewhere; for in the
matter of search, people always search for women even among women. And
people search for creatures among the species to which they happen to
belong: none searcheth for a lost lady among female deer. Therefore have
I with a pure heart explored the entire inner apartment of Ravana; but
Janaka's daughter I see not." And Hanuman endowed with prowess saw the
daughters of gods, and Gandharbas, and Nagas; hut he saw not Janaki. And
not seeing her, that hero, having beheld other magnificent dames, coming
out of that place, set about searching for Sita (afresh). And leaving
the place of wassail, the graceful offspring of the Wind-god, taking
extreme care, again began to search for Sita all about (another
quarter).
[282] _i.e._ that Mandodari was Sita.--T.
[283] The text has _na saptum arhati; lit., it behoveth (Sita) not to
sleep_. The sense, however, is as given above.--T.
[284] All this, remarks Ramanuja, appeared from their talk during
sleep.--T.
[285] A species of birds, having, according to _Vishnudharma_, dark
throats, red veins, and white wings. According to others, a kind
of goats.--T.
[286] A kind of salt.--T.
[287] A kind of partriges.--T.
[288] A kind of fish.--T.
[289] According to some, a preparation of the juice of grapes and
pomegranates, mixed with sugar, etc. According to others, black
cakes having six kinds of relishes.--T.
[290] Natural wines--such as _Kadamvari etc._, which require no
preparation--T.
[291] From honey. According to some, from grapes.--T.
[292] Spirit distilled from mollasses.--T.
[293] _Murchchhita_--The commentator says, means _spreading_. I,
however, here presume to go by my own light, feeble as that may
be. _Entranced_ will, I dare say, recommend itself to the poetical
in especial.--T.
[294] Remembering, says the commentator, the injunction of the
scriptures, "None should see a nude female."--T.
[295] _And therefore presumably incapable of taking care herself.--T._