Having made over the gem, Sita said onto Hanuman,-- "This sign is very
well known to Rama. Seeing this gem, that hero, Rama, shall recollect
three persons,--his mother, myself, and king Dacaratha, Thou, O foremost
of monkeys, wilt again be commissioned on this business. Do thou bethink
thee as to what thou wilt do afterwards, when thou hast been entrusted
with this task. O foremost of monkeys, thou art capable of compassing
this work. Therefore, think as to what course of his (Rama's) shall
remove (my) misery. O Hanuman, undergoing toils, be thou instrumental in
removing my misery." Saying, "So be it," the Wind-god's offspring of
terrible prowess, bowing down the head, prepared to depart. Seeing that
(Hanuman) was about to set out, that exalted one, Mithila's daughter,
addressed that monkey, son unto the Wind-god, in words choked by the
vapour of grief,--"O Hanuman, do thou communicate good news to both Rama
and Lakshmana, to Sugriva with his counsellors, and to all the aged
monkeys. And, O best of monkeys, in consonance with righteousness,
communicate good tidings (unto Rama). And it behoveth thee to strive so
that the mighty-armed Raghava may rescue me from this sea of sorrow.
And, O Hanuman, do thou speak so that the illustrious Rama may deliver
me while I am still alive; and thereby do thou reap righteousness. Ever
breathing high spirits, Dacarathi,[363] hearing my words, shall attain
an access of manliness for my deliverance. Soon as Raghava shall hear
words couching tidings of me, that hero shall duly resolve on displaying
his prowess." Hearing this speech of Sita, Hanuman, son unto the
Wind-god, with his joined hands raised to his head, said,--"Soon shall
Kakutstha come, surrounded by the foremost monkeys and bears; and,
vanquishing the foe in fight, shall remove thy grief. Find I none either
among men, or Asuras, or celestials, that dares remain before him as he
discharges his shafts. For thee, in especial, he can stand in conflict
even the Sun, Indra, nay--Yama himself, that offspring of the Sun. For
thee, he prepareth himself to conquer the Earth bounded by the main; and
victory, thou daughter of Janaka, shall be Rama's." Hearing his words
excellently spoken and thoroughly true, Janaki honored them highly, and
spoke (as follows). And gazing at him once and again as he prepared to
go away, Sita from affection honored the speech which had been uttered
(by Hanuroan) out of attachment unto his master,-- "If thou wish it, O
hero, do thou, O subduer of enemies, stay here for one day. Having
rested in some hidden nook, thou wilt depart to-morrow. O monkey, (if
thou dost remain), thy vicinity shall for a moment remove the huge grief
of me of slender luck. But even if thou go (passing to-day here), I
have, O tiger-like monkey, doubts as to thy return; and, accordingly,
doubt, certainly, as to my life. And the grief incident to my not seeing
thee shall burn me greatly, even, O monkey, as grief burneth one that is
already consumed by sorrow over and over again. And, O hero, O lord of
monkeys, this doubt is also before me. How, alas! shall the mighty lord
of monkeys, albeit backed by the monkeys and bears, cross over the
mighty main hard to cross,--and (how shall) those forces consisting of
bears and monkeys or those sons of the best of men (cross over the
same)? In all the three worlds, Vinata's offspring, thyself, and the
Wind-god, have alone the power of crossing over the deep.--Then, for the
accomplishment of this work, difficult to compass, what, O hero, O thou
best of those conversant with business, what way dost thou see as to its
success? Or thou alone, O destroyer of hostile heroes, art quite enough
for the fulfilment of this purpose; and thou shalt reap, in the shape of
fame, the fruit of thy achievement. But if (Rama) himself together with
all his forces, conquering Ravana and (recovering me) in battle,
returned victorious to his own city,--this would be worthy of himself.
If blocking up Lanka with his army, that afflictor of hostile hosts,
Kakutstha took me (hence), that would be worthy of him. Do thou,
therefore, adopt such means that the high-souled heroic warrior may have
an opportunity of putting forth prowess. Hearing those words fraught
with sense and reason and informed with affection, Hanuman, by way of
reply said mildly,--"O revered lady, that foremost of monkeys--the lord
of bears and monkeys--Sugriva, possessed of truth, hath made up his mind
on thy behalf. That destroyer of Rakshasas, O daughter of Videha,
environed by thousands of millions of monkeys, will come hither without
delay. And exceedingly powerful and mighty monkeys possessed of prowess,
and speeding far with the rapidity of thought, are in his command.
Nothing can impede their courses, either upward, or downward, or tending
in both directions; and those ones of measureless energy never
experience depression in the most arduous undertakings. Braced by their
exalted spirits, these, resorting to the aerial way, have many a time
and oft circumambulated the Earth containing mountains and meads. There
are (in that army) rangers of woods, some equal and some superior to me.
And near Sugriva there are none who are inferior to me. And since even I
have reached this place, what shall I say of those ones endowed with
immense might? Nor are superior (monkeys) sent on errands; it is only
the inferior ones that are sent. Then, O exalted one, thou needst not
grieve: let thy sorrow depart. Those leaders of monkey-herds will come
to Lanka by one bound; and, like unto the risen Sun and Moon, those
leonine men, having large numbers to back them, will come to thy side,
riding my back. Those heroes and foremost of men, Rama and Lakshmana
both, coming to the city of Lanka, shall destroy her by means of their
shafts. And slaying Ravana together with his adherents, Raghu's son,
taking thee, O paragon among women, shall return to his own city.
Therefore, do thou take heart, good betide thee! Do thou remain, eagerly
wishing for the time. It will not be long before thou shalt behold Rama
resembling flaming fire. On the lord of Rakshasas being slain along with
his counsellors and friends, thou shalt meet with Rama, even as Rohini
meeteth with the Moon. O worshipful one, speedily shalt thou behold the
other shore of thy misery, O Maithili; and thou shalt see Ravana slain
by Rama by might of arm." Having thus solaced Videha's daughter,
Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god, again spoke unto Vaidehi, saying,--"Soon
shalt thou behold that destroyer of foes, Raghava of subdued soul, and
the bow-bearing Lakshmana also, come to the gate of Lanka. And soon
shalt thou behold the assembled heroic monkeys, endowed with the prowess
of lions and tigers, and the splendour of the monarch of monkeys, and
having nails and teeth for their arms. And thou shalt, O noble one,
behold innumerable companies of choice monkeys, resembling hills and
clouds,--roaring on the plateaus of Malaya in Lanka.
Like an elephant tormented by a lion, Rama afflicted in the vitals by
the dreadful shafts of Manmatha, doth not attain ease. Do not weep,
exalted one, in sorrow. Let not fear take possession of thy heart! Even
as Sachi meeteth with Sakra, shalt thou, O auspicious one, meet with thy
lord. Who is greater than Rama? And who is equal to Sanmitri?[364] And
these brothers resembling Fire and the Wind, are thy help. O revered
one, thou wilt not have to dwell long in this extremely dreadful place
inhabited by the Rakshasas. The arrival of thy beloved one is not
distant. Just remain expecting (as best thou may), during the time that
elapses between this and my meeting with Rama."
[363] Dacaratha's son--T
[364] _i. e._ Sumitra's son, Laksamana.--T.