Hearing those words, Sita having a moon-like countenance, again spoke
unto Hanuman, words, sound and pious:-- "O monkey, what thou hast said
that Rama is not attached unto any other thing and is worn with grief,
is like nectar mixed with poison. Whether in the enjoyment of vast
riches, or emerged in the abyss of miseries, Death is pulling a man,
binding him roughly with a chord. O best of monkeys, people cannot
thwart the course of destiny. Behold me, Rama and Saumitri, therefore
sunk in miseries. I do not know when shall Raghava get at the other end
of the ocean of grief, by displaying his prowess, like unto one,
swimming across the ocean when the boat is sunk. I do not know when
shall my lord see me, destroying the Rakshasas, killing Ravana and
devastating the city of Lanka. Do thou tell him to come before this year
expires for till then I shall live. This is the tenth month and two
months still remain, O monkey and that is the time appointed by the
cruel Ravana. He was entreated very much by his brother Bivishana to
restore me but he paid no need to his requests. Ravana doth not desire
to restore me (unto Rama) for he has been brought under the influence of
Death who is seeking him in battle. Bivishana's eldest daughter, monkey,
by name Kala, hath related this unto me, being appointed by her mother.
There is a leading, steady, old, intelligent and educated Rakshasa,
gifted with a good character, named Abindhya and highly respected of
Ravana who told him that the destruction of the Rakshasa race would
proceed from Rama, but the vicious-souled one paid no attention to his
well-meaning words. I hope, O foremost of monkeys, that my husband shall
soon regain me for pure is my soul and he is gifted with many
accomplishments. Raghava hath in him, O monkey, energy, manliness,
strength, kindness, gratitude and prowess. He brought about without his
brother's aid, the destruction of the fourteen thousand Rakshasas at
Janasthana. What enemy is not troubled at this? The disaster-creating
Rakshasas can never be compared with that best of men. I am cognizant of
his prowess as Sachee is of Indra's. O monkey, Rama the Sun, with his
arrow-like rays, shall dry up the water--the inimical Rakshasas." Saying
this she was overwhelmed with grief on Rama's account, and Hanuman again
spoke unto her having her countenance bathed in tears,--"No sooner shall
Raghava hear from me than he shall speedily repair hither followed by a
huge army of monkeys and bears. Or I shall release thee even to-day from
the grasp of that Rakshasa and these miseries. Do thou place thyself on
my back, O thou of a blameless person. And having thee on my back I
shall leap over the main. I am capable of carrying the city of Lanka
even with Ravana. I shall restore thee to-day, O Maithili, unto Raghava
on the mount Prasravana, like unto fire carrying unto Indra, the
sacrificial offerings. Thou shalt behold to-day, O Vaidehi, Rama along
with Lakshmana, making preparations (for the destruction of his enemy)
like unto Vishnu, engaged in the destruction of demons. (And thou shalt
observe) that highly powerful one, anxious to behold thee and seated
like unto Purandara on the summit of that foremost of mountains. Do thou
place thyself on my back, O worshipful dame, do thou not neglect it, O
beautiful lady, and be thus reconciled unto Rama like unto Rohini
restored to the Moon. By the time, that we will take in talking thus,
thou shalt reach Rama like Rohini restored to the Moon. Do thou
therefore place thyself on my back and I shall cross the ocean sailing
by the aetherial way. O fair one, carrying thee from this place, none
amongst the inhabitants of Lanka shall be able to follow me. In the same
way I have come here I shall return by the welkin, O Vaidehi placing
thee on my back." Hearing those surprising words from that best of
monkeys, Maithilee, having her entire frame worked up with joy, again
bespake Hanumin--"Hanuman, how darest thou take me to such a long
distance? O lord of monkey hosts, this attests to thy monkey hood. O
foremost of monkeys, little-bodied as thou art, how dost thou desire, to
take me hence to my husband the lord of men?" Hearing the words of Sita,
the graceful son of the Wind-god Hanuman reflected aside--"This is my
first insult. The lotus-eyed dame is not cognizant of my prowess or
strength. Vaidehi should therefore learn that I can assume shapes at
will." Thinking thus, Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys and the
slayer of foes, showed himself unto Sita, in his true shape. And leaping
down from the tree, that best of monkeys began to increase himself to
create Sita's confidence. His person appeared like the hill Mandara and
the flaming fire. And that best of monkeys having a copper-colored
countenance, thunder-like nails and teeth and mountain-like huge body,
appeared before Sita and said--"I am capable of carrying this Lanka with
her lord, the mountains, forests gardens, buildings, walls and
gate-ways. Do thou therefore confide in me, O worshipful dame, and be
not suspicious. And O Vaidehi, do thou remove Rama's grief as well as
Lakshmana's." Beholding the Wind-god's own begotten son, Hanuman,
resembling a huge mountain, Sita, the daughter of Janaka, having eyes
resembling lotus-petals, said,--"O great monkey, I know thy strength and
bravery, thy air-like motion and thy wonderful fire-like energy. What
ordinary man can come here crossing the incomparable ocean. O lord of
monkey hosts, I understand that thou art capable of returning and thou
shalt be able to carry me. But I should consider now how the work might
be accomplished. O foremost of monkeys, I should not go with thee.
Perhaps I might lose my sense with thy air-like velocity. When moving
terribly thou shalt proceed high up in the welkin, perhaps I shall then
fall down. No sooner I shall fall down into the ocean infested with fish
and other animals than I shall be an excellent food unto them. O slayer
of foes, I shall not be able to accompany thee. For seeing thee carry a
woman; they shall surely suspect thee. And finding me stolen, those
terribly powerful Rakshasas commanded by the vicious-souled Ravana,
shall follow thee. O hero, carrying me and encircled by those heroic
Rakshasas with maces and darts in their hands, thou shalt be beset with
dangers. And on the sky the Rakshasas shall be armed with weapons and
thou shalt be without any. How shalt thou be able to fight and protect
me at the same time. And when thou shalt be engaged in conflict with
those Rakshasas of terrible deeds, I, O foremost of monkeys, stricken
with fear, shall fall down from thy back. O foremost of monkeys those
terrible and powerful Rakshasas shall be able to defeat thee a little.
And when thou shalt be defeated in battle I shall fall down and those
vicious Rakshasas shall carry me away from thy hands or destroy me.
Victory or defeat is uncertain in a battle. I shall thus be distressed
by those Rakshasas setting up terrible roars and thy endeavours shall be
fruitless, O best of monkeys. Thou art capable of destroying the
Rakshasas very easily (I admit)--but Rama's fame shall then be soiled if
dost thou bring about their destruction. Or the Rakshasas taking me away
shall keep me in such a secret place, that neither the monkeys nor
Raghava shall be able to ascertain my whereabouts. And all thy
preparations for me shall thus be useless. And mighty shall be the
result of Rama's coming with thee. O large armed one, the life of
Raghava of unmitigated prowess, those of his brothers and of thy royal
race are all subject to me. And when they shall give up their hopes of
releasing me, they, worn out with grief and anxiety shall renounce their
lives along with the monkeys and bears. O monkey, being guided by my
love for my husband, I do not like willingly to touch any body's person
but Rama's. When Ravana, by force touched my person, I had no other
help, for I was then without my lord and therefore was subject to
another person. If Rama can take me away from here, destroying the
Ten-necked one with all the Rakshasas--he shall then perform the worthy
action. I have heard of and myself seen the prowess of the highly-souled
(Rama) unconquerable in a battle. There is none amongst the celestials,
Gandharbas, Nagas and the Rakshasas who can match him in a conflict
Beholding that highly powerful Raghava, in a conflict, like unto Vasava
in prowess, holding a wonderful bow and followed by Lakshmana, who can
withstand his prowess resembling the flaming fire? O foremost of
monkeys, who can withstand Raghava in a conflict, followed by Lakshmana
moving like an infuriated elephant and showering shafts like unto the
rays of the sun at the time of Dissolution? O best of monkeys do thou
speedily bring here my dear one along with Lakshmana and the lord of
monkey hosts. O heroic monkey, do thou soon satisfy me, who am stricken
with grief in consequence of my long separation from Rama.