Allighting from the car, Hanuman possessed of vigorous activity,--leader
of monkey-bands--nearing the wall, looked like lightning within a mass
of clouds.[297] And having gone round the mansions of Ravana, and not
seeing Janaki, the monkey Hanuman said,--"Striving after Rama's welfare,
I have again searched through Lanka; but I do not see Videha's daughter,
Janaki, having all her limbs endeued with loveliness. And I have
explored pools, and watery expanses, and tanks, and rivers, and streams,
and marshes, and woods, and citadels, and mountains, yea,--all this
earth; but Janaki I do not find. The vulture-king Sampati had told that
Sita was in the mansion of Ravana. But why do I not see her (here)? Or
doth Maithili Sita, daughter unto Janaka,[298] sprung in the Videha
line, forcibly carried off (by Ravana) and completely in his power,
abide by the mandate (of that monarch)? I conceive that while taking
Sita, the Raksha darted upward, he being influenced by fear of Rama's
shafts; (and accordingly losing control over his movements), she fell
off by the way. Or I fancy that while that noble lady was being carried
away along the way ranged by Siddhas, she lost her life on beholding the
ocean. Or I think that on account of the vehement speed assumed by
Ravana, and also oppressed with his arms, that large-eyed noble lady
hath been bereft of her life. For certain, while (Ravana) was soaring
higher and higher, Janaka's daughter, rolling (on the car), dropped down
into the sea. Alas! trying to preserve her chastity. the forlorn Sita,
practising self-mortification, hath been devoured by this abject-minded
Ravana. Or that dark-eyed innocent one, hath been eaten up by tbe wives
of the Rakshasa chief, actuated by wicked motives.[299] (Ever)
contemplating Rama's countenance, resembling the full Moon, with eyes
like lotus-leaves, she, exercised with sorrow, hath breathed her last.
Bewailing much with exclamations of 'Oh Rama and Lakshmana!' 'Ah
Ayodhya!' that lady Vaidehi hath renounced her body. Or secretly kept in
Ravana's mansion, that girl, like a female parrot in a cage, is weeping
bitterly. How can the slender-waisted wife of Rama, born in the race of
Janaka, furnished with eyes resembling lotus petals, come under the sway
of Ravana? I shall not be able to say of Rama's beloved wife that she
hath been sullied,[300] or that I have seen her, or yet that she is
dead. To say this is censurable; not to say it is also such. What is my
course? I find myself in a false position. Things having drifted to this
pass, what should I say, now that the time hath come?' Thus thinking,
Hanuman again reflected,--"If without seeing Sita, I repair to the abode
of the lord of monkeys, what then shall I gain as the object of my
exertions? This my bounding over the main comes to nought; as also my
entry into Lanka and the sight of the Rakshasas. And what shall Sugriva
say? Or the assembled monkeys; or those twin sons of Dacaratha; to me
when I shall have come to Kishkindha? And if going there, I should say a
harsh speech unto Kakutstha--'I have not seen Sita'--he shall renounce
his life. Hearing harsh, terrible, unsufferable, fierce and foul words
concerning Sita, calculated to set the senses on fire, he shall not
exist. And seeing him come under misery, with his mind expiring, the
intelligent Lakshmana, firmly attached (unto Rama), shall also cease to
exist. And hearing that his two brothers are dead, Bharata also shall
give up existence. And seeing Bharata dead, Satrughna shall also
renounce his life. And beholding their sons dead, their mothers,
Kaucalya, Sumitra and Kaikayi, shall, certainly, resign their lives. And
seeing Rama in that plight, the lord of the monkeys, Sugriva, grateful
and having his heart fast fixed in truth, shall give up his life. And
Uma, aggrieved, heart-wrung, distressed and bereft of happiness, and
assuming the garb of a female ascetic, because of grief for her husband,
shall resign her existence. And oppressed with grief arising from Vali,
and weighed down by sorrow, the queen Tara, also, resolving on death
shall cease to exist. And in consequence of the death of his father and
mother and the calamity befalling Sugriva, the prince Angada also shall
next forego his existence. And the dwellers of the woods overwhelmed
with grief got of (the decease of) their master, shall strike at their
heads with their clenched fists and hands. And the monkeys
affectionately cherished by the famous lord of the monkeys with soothing
words gifts and regard, shall resign there lives. And no more in woods,
and rocks, or secret spots, shall the foremost monkeys, assembled
together, indulge in sports. And they, along with their sons and wives,
and counsellors, distressed on account the disaster that hath overtaken
their master,--shall fall from the tops of mountains down to places even
or uneven. And the monkeys shall take poison, or hang themselves, or
enter into flaming fire, or fast, or fall on their own weapons. I fancy
that a loud wailing shall arise on my return (to that place); and the
race of Ikshwaku as well as the rangers of the woods shall meet with
destruction. Therefore I will not repair hence to the city of
Kishkindha; nor can I see Sugriva without Mithila's daughter. On my not
going there and staying here, those righteous-souled Maharathas as well
as the fast-fleeting monkeys, shall preserve their lives through hope
(of hearing tidings concerning Sita.) And not having seen Janaka's
daughter, I will lead the _Vanaprastha_ mode of life, partaking (of
fruits) falling into my hands or mouth, restraining my senses, and
staying at the foot of trees. Preparing a funereal pile on a tract
bordering on the sea, abounding in fruits, and flowers, and water, I
will enter into flaming fire. And as I sit to fast, and for effecting
the separation of self from my body and centering my identity in the
spirit crows and beasts of prey shall feed on my body. And I think the
sages have enjoyed another way of exit. I shall, failing to see Janaki,
enter into water. My illustrious and exalted garland of fame, begot of
excellent acts, hath perished for good in consequence of my not seeing
Sita.[301] Or restraining myself, I shall become an ascetic living
underneath trees; but return I will not, without obtaining a sight of
that dark-eyed damsel. If I return without seeing Sita, all the monkeys
with Angada shall cease to exist. Incalculable are the ills of my
putting a period to my existence; (on the other hand) if I live, I may
come by good. Therefore my life I will maintain. If I live, it may
conduce to happiness." Having thus indulged in a variety of harassing
thoughts in his mind, that foremost of monkeys could not cross over to
the other shore (of the sea of distress). Then summoning energy, that
elephantine monkey endeued with fortitude reflected,-- "Or I shall slay
the Ten-necked Ravana possessed of great strength. Sita hath been
carried off; but by this I shall avenge myself. Or throwing him
repeatedly into the sea, I (shall take him) and present him to Rama,
even as one presents a beast unto Pacupat."[302] Reflecting thus, the
monkey, not finding Sita, --agitated with sorrow and anxiety,
thought,--"So long as I do not find the illustrious spouse of Rama,
Sita, I will explore the city of Lanka again and again. If in consonance
with Simpat's speech, I bring Rama hither, Raghava, not seeing his wife,
shall burn all the monkeys. (Therefore) even here I shall stay,
restraining my fare and mortifying my senses. All those principal
monkeys ought not to lose their lives because of any act to which I may
commit myself. This is the asoka wood, extensive and containing mighty
trees. This I shall explore, as it hath not yet been searched by me. And
saluting the Vasus, the Rudras, the Adityas, the twin Acwins, (and Rama
and Lakshmana), I enhancing the sorrow of the Rakhas, shall go into it.
Having vanquished the Rakshas, I will bestow on Rama the lady of the
Ikshwaku race like the fruit of asceticism conferred on an ascetic."
Having thus reflected for a space, the mighty-armed offspring of the
Wind-god, his senses agitated with anxiety, arose. "I bow unto Rama with
Lakshmana, and unto the revered daughter of Janaka, I bow unto Rudra,
and Indra, and Yama, and Wind-god, and I bow unto the Moon, unto Fire
and unto the Maruts." Having bowed unto them all, as also unto Sugriva,
the offspring of the Wind-god, surveying all the cardinal points,
mentally entered the _Asoka_ wood. Having mentally entered the _Asoka_
wood, that monkey, son unto the Wind-god, reflected as to what he should
do next. The sacred _Asoka_ wood, sanctified with every purifying rite
and abounding in woods, needs must be full of Rakshas. And warders,
directed there to, forsooth, protect the trees; and that worshipful Soul
of the universe[303] does not breathe here vigorously. I contract my
person in the interests of Rama, and in order that Ravana may not see
me. May all the deities along with the saints confer success on me. And
may the revered self-create Brahma, and the deities, and the ascetics,
and Fire, and wind, and the much invoked bearer of the _Vajra_,[304] and
the noose-handed Varuna, and the Moon and the Sun, the high-souled
Acwinis, and all the Maruts--(confer) success (on me)! And all beings,
and the lord of them all,[305] and others that, albeit not specified in
the scriptures, are yet visible in the way,--will confer success on me.
When shall I behold the blameless face of that noble lady,--with its
protruding nose; having luminous smiles, having eyes resembling
lotus-petals; and bright as the complacent lord of stars? Ah! to-day how
shall feeble forlorn one that hath been borne down by the force of the
mean, abject and grim-visaged (Ravana) fierce yet wearing (at the time
of the rape), a dress tending to inspire confidence,-- come in my
sight?"
[297] The commentator remarks: _By this the author insinuates that the
wall was of entire sapphire.--T._
[298] _Knowing Brahma_, remarks Ramanuja.--T
[299] Jealousy, according to the commentator.--T.
[300] This is evidently the sense, having regard to the preceding
_sloka_, although the commentator gives the apparent meaning of
_vinastha_ perished.--T.
[301] Tirtha reads _chiraratriyam_ for _chiraratrya_. Then the sense is:
This illustrious live-long fair-rooted and auspicious night
crowned with a garland of fame, hath borne no fruit, in
consequence of my not seeing Sita. The commentator, I presume,
refines a little too much.--T.
[302] An appellation of Siva--lit. _lord of beasts_--in allusion to
animal sacrifices to Siva.--T.
[303] The wind.--T.
[304] Indra.--T.
[305] Prayapati--T.