The highly effulgent son of the Wind-god, Hanuman, to create Sita's
confidence, again addressed her with the following words:--"O great
dame, I am a monkey, the messenger of the highly intelligent Rama.
Behold this precious ring with Rama's name engraven on it, given by thy
high-souled lord and brought as a token to create thy confidence. Do
thou take heart and may good betide thee, there will be an end of thy
grief soon." And taking the ring that used to deck her lord's finger and
looking at it, Janaki seemed to have actually got her lord. And her
graceful countenance, having large eyes, looked, with delight, like unto
the Moon released from the possession of Rahu. And greatly delighted at
her husband's news that modest damsel, affectionately welcoming Hanuman,
applauded that great monkey--"O foremost of monkeys, thou art brave,
powerful and wise, since thou hast alone smitten this abode of the
Rakshasas. Thou hast, with thy laudable prowess, leaped, a hundred
leagues, across the ocean, the abode of marine monsters, taking it for
_Goshpada_.[357] O foremost of monkeys, I do not consider thee as an
ordinary monkey, since thou dost not care or fear Ravana. O best of
monkeys, thou art worthy of my welcome, since thou hast been despatched
by Rama, knowing self. Rama, hard of being got at, hath not sent thee,
specially to me, without a trial of thy prowess. By my good luck, is it
all well with the virtuous-souled and truthful Rama and the highly
powerful Lakshmana the enhancer of Sumitra's joy? And if Kakuthstha
lives untouched by ill, then why does he not burn the earth, encircled
by the ocean, with his ire like unto the fire of dissolution? Or they
are capable of His comfitting the celestials in a battle but me-thinks
by my ill-luck, the end of my miseries hath not arrived as yet. Is Rama
greatly pained? Does he grieve? Is that foremost of men making
preparations for my rescue? Has he forgotten his work being overwhelmed
with fear and poorliness of heart? Is that son of the king performing
still his manly duties? Is that slayer of foes, desirous of acquiring
victory, pleasing his friends still with forgiveness and gifts and
dealing his enemies with punishment, sowing dissensions amongst them,
and with other expedients? Is he still gaining friends and are friends
gathering around him? Is he welcoming his friends and are they honoring
him the more? Is that son of the king invoking the blessings of the
celestials? Hath he attained manliness and assistance from the
celestials? Hath Raghava lost all his affection for me for my living at
a distance from him? Will he save me from this disaster? Hath not Rama,
ever used to happiness and unused to misery, been enfeebled by this
disaster? Is he informed always of the welfare of Kauslaya, Sumitra and
Bharata? Is not Raghava, worthy of honors, beside himself with grief in
my absence? Will not Rama rescue met Will not Bharata, ever devoted to
his brother, send out one Aksauhini of terrible soldiers under the
command of his ministers for my rescue? Will not the graceful Sugriva,
the lord of the monkeys come to help me with hosts of monkeys having
huge teeth and nails? Will not the heroic Lakshmana, the enhancer of
Sumitra's joy, conversant with the use of weapons, burn down the
Rakshasas with his shafts? Shall I not behold soon that Ravana with his
kinsmen hath been destroyed in battle by Rama with terrible weapons? Is
not the gold-hued and lotus-smelling countenance (of Rama) dried up in
my absence like unto lotus dried up by the rays of the sun in shallow
water? Does he still hold patience in his heart, who renouncing his
kingdom for virtue and repairing, on foot with me even to the forest,
was not stricken with fear and grief? His love for his mother, father or
any other person is not greater than or equal to his love for me. O
messenger, I shall keep my life so long I do not hear anything about my
dear one." Having addressed that lord of monkeys with these highly sound
and sweet accents, that graceful and worshipful dame ceased, with a view
to hear again from him pleasant tales regarding Rama. And hearing the
words of Sita the terribly powerful Maruti, placing his joined palms on
his head said,--"The lotus-eyed Rama doth not know that thou art here,
and hence he hath not been able to rescue thee like unto Purandara
regaining Sachee. And hearing about thee from me soon shall Raghava come
assisted by a large army of monkeys and bears. And impeding the course
of the unagitated deep and building, by means of his terrible shafts, a
bridge across it, Kakuthstha, shall divest the city Lanka of all the
Rakshasas. And forsooth shall Rama destroy them, even if the celestials,
or Death himself stand in his way. O worshipful dame, stricken with
grief in thy absence, Rama is restless like unto an elephant smitten by
a lion. I can swear, O worshipful dame, by the mounts Mandara, Malaya,
Vindya, Sumeru, Dardura and all the fruits and roots, that thou shalt
behold like unto the rising of the full moon, the countenance of Rama
having beautiful eyes, graceful, _Bimba_-like lips and beautified with
beautiful _kundalas_. Thou shalt soon behold, O Vaidehi, Rama, on the
mount Prasravana, like unto the performer of hundred sacrifices seated
on the back of the elephant (_Airavata_). Raghava doth not take meat nor
drink honey--he takes every day in the evening boiled rice and such wild
fruits as are sanctioned by the _Sastras_. His heart is so much attached
unto thee, that he does not drive away even flies, insects and snakes
from his body. Rama is always engaged in meditations, overwhelmed with
grief, and he has no other thought but seeing thee. Rama hath no sleep
and even when asleep that best of men awakes exclaiming in sweet
accents, 'O Sita!'. He always welcomes thee sighing and saying "O my
dear love!" whenever he beholds any fruit, flower or any object liked by
the ladies. O worshipful dame, he is always lamenting, exclaiming 'O
Sita!' and that high-souled son of the king, to regain thee, hath
resorted to ascetic observances." On hearing about Rlma, Sita was
greatly delighted and she was equally grieved on hearing of his sorrow.
And it appeared like the rising of the moon and the appearance of the
clouds at the same time in an autumnal night.
[357] A measure as much as a cow's foot-step will hold.--T.