Having stationed himself on the tree, casting his looks all around in
quest of Sita and looking down on the earth he surveyed the entire
forest of (_Asoka_). It was beautified with _Santanaka_ creepers and
various trees, fragrant with celestial odours and was embellished on all
sides. It resembled _Nandana_ or the celestial garden, and was filled
with various animals and birds, palaces and mansions; resounded with the
notes of _Kokilas_; adorned with the ponds abounding in silvern
water-lillies and lotuses; filled with many seats and coverlets and
various houses having spacious courtyards; adorned with beautiful
flowers of all seasons and trees bearing fruits. And the beauty of the
blossoming _Asokas_ resembled the effulgence of the Sun. And stationed
there Maruti beheld trees as if devoid of leaves on account of the
hundreds of birds, adorned with various flowers, resorting there. And he
saw there the earth touched by _Asoka_ trees, the removers of grief,
having flowers growing from the roots and lowered down with their
weight. And the entire quarter was as if ablaze with the beauty of the
flowery _Karnikaras_ and _Kingsukas_. And there appeared in beauty many
flowery _Punnagas_, _Saptaparnas_, _Champakas_, and _Udalakas_ having
deeply expanded roots. And there was a thousand of _Asoka_ trees, some
of whom were 1ike gold, some were like the flame of fire and some were
like dark-blue collyrium. It was like the garden of _Nandana_ or like
that of Kuvera or perhaps it surpassed the both in excellence. And
enveloped in charming, celestial grace beyond conception and having
flowers for stars that forest appeared like a second sky. Aud covered
with hundreds of pearl-like flowers the forest looked like the fifth
ocean. And that garden was embellished with flowers of all seasons and
honey-smelling trees, and filled with diverse notes and various animals
and birds. And that fragrant garden was rendered more charming with
various other fragrances. And that foremost of monkeys beheld in that
garden of Asoka, a round palace, situated at a distance, fragrant as the
_Gandhamadana_ mountain and high as the lord of mountains. (The palace)
was white as the Kailaca hill and built on a thousand pillars. All its
stairs were made of coral and its pavements made of burning gold. Its
beauty was as if burning all along and stealing the vision of the
lookers-on. It was spotless and on account of its height touched the
welkin. And thereupon he beheld there (Sita) wearing a soiled cloth,
poorly, greatly reduced by fast, sighing again and again and encircled
by a band of Rakshasees. She was (however) spotless like unto the rays
of the moon on the first lunar day. And her graceful beauty could with
great difficulty be perceived like unto the flame of fire enveloped with
smoke. And wearing a shattered and soiled yellow cloth and divested of
all ornaments she appeared like a lotus stalk without lotuses.[314]
Oppressed, racked with grief, weakened and chaste as she was, she
appeared like Rohini possessed by _Ketu_. She was greatly reduced by
fast, stricken with grief and anxious thoughts, disturbed with sorrow
and was poorly and her eyes were always full of tears. Separated from
her kith and kin and not beholding Rama and Lakshmana[315] but the
Rakshasees, she appeared like a hind surrounded by dogs. Her braid of
long hair resembling a black serpent falling on her back it appeared as
if the Earth was filled with dark-blue forests on the disappearance of
the rains. Sita was worthy of happiness only and never knew of misery
and therefore she was (now) greatly oppressed with sorrow. And beholding
that one of expansive eyes rendered pale and feeble, Hanuman, by various
conclusive arguments reflected within himself "She must be Sita, for
this damsel looks just like her, whom I saw, when she was ravished by
Ravana, assuming shapes at will. Having the countenance of the
full-moon, beautiful eye brows, round breast, she is as if dispelling
the darkness from all quarters by virtue of her grace. Her throat was
yellow, and her lips were like _Bimbas_.[316] She was of middle stature
and her limbs were all well built. She had eyes resembling lotus petals
and was like the beloved wife of Manmatha--Rati and was adorable unto
the whole creation like the rays of the full-moon. That one having a
graceful person was seated on the earth like a female ascetic having her
senses restrained. And she was sighing again and again like the timid
daughter-in-law of the lord of serpents.[317] Entangled by a mighty web
of grief her grace was greatly lessened and she appeared like the flame
of fire enveloped in smoke. She was like unto _Smriti_ of doubtful
meanings, fallen wealth, lost respect, hope without any desire for gain,
_Sidhi_[318] of many troubles, sullied understanding and fame soiled
with false rumours. That innocent one was greatly distressed for not
being able to attend upon Rama, and she having the eyes of a young hind,
being oppressed by the Rakshasees was casting her looks hither and
thither. And with a displeased countenance, having dark-blue and curling
eye lashes, and eyes full of tears, she was sighing again and again.
Worthy of wearing ornaments but now without any, poorly, crusted with
execrations, she appeared like the rays of the stars enveloped by
dark-blue clouds. And beholding Sita in that pitiable plight like unto
learning for want of practice, (Hanuman) was puzzled with doubts. And
seeing her without ornaments he could with great difficulty make her out
like unto words having different meanings without the knowledge of
grammar. And beholding that blameless daughter of the king, having
expansive eyes, Hanuman, by various reasonings, reflected--"Forsooth she
must be Sita. I see at her person all these ornaments, of which Rama
mentioned unto me at the time of my departure. I behold on her ears
excellent ear-rings and nicely placed _Svadangstras_[319] and on her
arms jewelled ornaments rendered dark-blue by dirt for constant use.
Verily these are the ornaments Rama mentioned unto me. I do not perceive
them which had been cast off by her. But these are the rest there is not
the least doubt about it. The monkeys had seen, her excellent yellow
cloth made of golden fibres, on the hill. They had seen also her
excellent ornaments, which cast off by her, fell on the earth with a
sound. Her cloth hath been shattered by constant use but her grace hath
not been rendered worse than its color. This one having a golden
countenance must be the beloved queen of Rama, who, albeit separated
from him, hath not disappeared from his mind. This is that damsel on
whose account Rama being simultaneously burnt by affection, pity, grief
and amour,--affection in consequence of his beloved spouse being
ravished, pity for his inability to protect one dependent on him, grief
for the loss of his beloved wife and amour for his dear one. Verily it
appeareth from the grace of her person, from her well developed limbs
and from Rama's beauty that this worshipful damsel having dark-blue eyes
must be his spouse. She has her mind fixed in him, and he in her and it
is for this that she and the virtuous-souled (Rama) have been still
maintaining their being. Indeed my master Rama hath performed a mighty
task for breathes he still in her separation, without consuming himself
in grief." And having beheld Sita in this plight, that son of the
Wind-god approached Rama in mind and showered praises on his master.
[314] This passage has another meaning--_Padmini_ has two meanings--(1)
lotus (2) _Lakskmi_ or the goddess of wealth. The goddess of
wealth is generally described as sitting on a lotus.--T.
[315] _Priyajanam_--literally means dear ones--but here it refers to
Rama and Lakshmana.--T.
[316] A cicurbituceous plant with red fruits.--T.
[317] The epithet has a special significance because through her the
destruction of the race of Rakshasas was brought about.--T.
[318] Yoga or asceticism by virtue of which final emancipation from
existence is effected.--T.
[319] A kind of ornament worn on the ears.--T.