And the powerful Hanuman, heard from the beginning to the end (the
bewailings) of Sita, the story of Trijata's dream and the threats of the
Rakshasees. And beholding the worshipful damsel, living in the forest of
Asoka, like unto a celestial damsel in the garden of Nandana, the monkey
entered in a maze of anxious thoughts. "At length my watchful eyes have
seen her, whom have been seeking in vain, the thousands and millions of
the monkeys in all directions and quarters. Truly have I seen her
to-day, engaged as I have been as a spy to estimate the strength of the
ememy and am ranging secretly everywhere. I have seen minutely the city
of the Rakshasas, and the strength of Ravana, the lord of Rakshasasas.
It now remains to console the spouse of Rama of incomparable power, and
kind unto all, who panteth for her lord. I shall console this damsel,
having the countenance of the full moon, who had never seen grief
before, and who shall not soon reach its end. And if I go away without
soothing this chaste lady, who is almost senseless with grief, I shall
be blamed of neglect of duty. And if I go away, the royal daughter, the
famed Janaki, finding no means of safety, shall, for certain, renounce
her life. She is worthy of being consoled like unto the great armed
(Rama) having the countenance of the full-moon and anxious to behold
Sita. It is not proper to speak before the Rakshasas-- What shall I do
then? I am in very great difficulty. If I do not console her at this
latter end of the night, surely shall she renounce her life. How shall I
answer Rama, without consoling Sita of comely stature, when he will ask
me "What message from my Sita?" And if I speedily repair hence without
any information regarding Sita, surely shall Kakuthstha scorch me
lifeless with the fire of his angry eyes. And if I urge my lord the king
(Biveeshana) to bring his hosts here for Rama, in vain shall be his
toil[341]. And seizing the occasion when she shall be free from her
demonaic guards, I shall console her in her dire distress. And a puny
monkey as I am, I shall speak in Sanskrit[342] which men delight to use.
And if I speak Sanskrit like a Brahmana, Sita shall be terrified
considering me Ravana. Must I therefore use the language of a common
man[343] or else I shall not be able to console the dame of a blameless
person. And beholding my monkey shape and hearing my human language she
might be afraid again, terrified as she had been before by the band of
the Rakshasas. And considering me Ravana wearing shapes at will, that
large-eyed and high-minded dame, shall cry piteously for help. And Sita,
making a sudden noise, those terrible Rakshasees resembling Death
himself and armed with various weapons, shall at once arrive there. And
thereupon casting their looks all around and finding me out, those
highly powerful and grim-visaged demons shall try to kill or catch me.
And beholding me leap from branch to branch and trunk to trunk of big
trees they shall be greatly alarmed. And espying my appearance while
ranging in the forest, those Rakshasees greatly terrified, shall fill
the wood with their wild shouts. And then they shall call (to their
assistance) all those Rakshasees engaged in guarding the abode of the
lord of the Rakshasas. And they, greatly agitated, shall with vehemence
arrive here, armed with darts, arrows, scimitars and various other
weapons. And being surrounded by them on all sides, if I do kill that
host of demons, tired, I shall not be able to bound over the main. And
if that host of skilled demons, succeed in making me a captive, I too
shall be in their hands and Sita shall remain ignorant of my object. Or
the Rakshasas, pernicious as they are, shall kill the daughter of
Janaka, and there shall the great work of Rama and Sugriva, be spoiled.
And Janaki liveth in this secret place, girt by the ocean, guarded on
all sides by the Rakshasas, difficult of being got at and having all
avenues to it shut up. If I am killed or captured by Rakshasas in
battle, I do not find any who can help Rama in his enterprise. Myself
killed, I do not find any monkey who can leap a hundred leagues across
the sea. I am capable of destroying thousands of Rakshasas, but I shall
not then be able to get at the other shore of the great ocean. Victory
or defeat is uncertain in a battle--I do not (therefore) like to engage
in such an uncertain (act). What wise man merges certainty in
uncertainty? It is a great sin in me (I own) to talk with Sita--But she
will die if I do not talk with her. Works, almost accomplished, when
entrusted to an inconsiderate emissary, are generally spoiled, out of
season and out of place, like unto darkness driven by the appearance of
the sun. All those works, which are generally taken in hand after duly
deliberating over their propriety and impropriety, are generally spoiled
by those emissaries who are proud of their learning. What shall I do, by
which my work is not injured, I am not blamed of foolishness and my
crossing over the main doth not become fruitless? What shall I do so
that Sita might listen to me without being terrified?" Thinking over
this, the intelligent Hanuman arrived at a conclusion. "I shall not
disturb her, speaking (all on a sudden) about Rama of unwearied actions,
dear unto her and to whom, she is firmly attached. Uttering the name of
Rama, the foremost of the Ikshawkus, and of subdued soul and lauding his
piety and fame in sweet accents, I shall so manage that Sita might hear
and believe them." Beholding the spouse of that high-souled lord of the
earth and engaging in this train of thoughts, Hanuman, stationed on a
branch of the tree, spoke the following sweet words.
[341] For before that Sita shall renounce her life--T.
[342] The language refined by the strict rules of grammar.--T.
[343] This passage clearly indicates that Sanskrit if not spoken by men,
and women of the upper classes of the time when Ramayana was
written, was at least understood by them, and was commonly spoken
by men of priestly class and other educated persons.--T.