Seeing the tawney-eyed one staying before hiip, the mighty-armed Ravana,
affrighter of (the worlds), was overwhelmed with fierce wrath. And
gazing at that foremost of monkeys girt with power, and with his soul
exercised with apprehension, he (thought),--"Is this the worshipful
Nandi, come hither in person, by whom I, on my jeering at him, had
formerly been cursed in Kailaca?[399] Or is this one wearing the shape
of a monkey Vali's son, Vana?" And with his eyes coppery with rage, the
king asked his foremost counselor, Prahasta, in words fraught with sense
and suiting the season,--"Ask this wicked-minded one, whence is he? And
what led him to ravage the grove, and what was his object in
brow-beating the Rakshasas? And what hath been his purpose in entering
my metropolis incapable of being subdued; and what for did he also fight
(with my retainers?) Do thou ask the wicked-minded one about this."
Hearing Ravana's speech, Prahasta said,--"Take heart! Fair fortune to
thee! Thou needst not be alarmed, O monkey. If thou hast been sent to
Ravana's residence by Indra, tell us truly everything. Let no fear, O
monkey, be thine. Thou shalt be liberated. If thou belong to Vaicravana,
or to Yama, or to Varuna, and hast entered into this city of ours
disguising (thy proper shape),--or if thou hast been despatched by
Vishnu burning for victory, (tell us this truly). Thy prowess is
certainly not that of a monkey,--thy form alone is that of a monkey.
Unfold this (unto us) faithfully,--O monkey, and thou shalt get (back)
thy liberty. But if thou shouldst say aught untruthful, thy life shall
pay dear for it. Or tell us wherfore thou hast entered into Ravana's
mansion." Thus addressed then, that foremost of monkeys said unto the
lord of Rakshasas,--"I am not Sakra's, nor Yama's, nor Varuna's. I have
no friendship with Dhanada,[400] nor have I been despatched by Vishnu.
This is my race; and I have come hither a monkey for obtaining a sight
of the Rakshasa chief. And it is to attain a sight of the Rakshasa lord
that I have destroyed his peerless grove; and it is for this that, the
powerful Rakshasas seeking for fight, I for the preservation of my
person have resisted them in conflict. I am incapable of being slain
with weapons even by the celestials and the Asuras themselves. This boon
I also[401] happen to have received from the Great-father. It is because
I was desirous of seeing the king that I have suffered this weapon to
restrain me. Although the Rakshasas have brought me (hither thus), yet I
am free from any weapon (restraining me). I come near thee on a certain
business of Rama. Knowing me for a messenger of Raghava endowed with
measureless prowess, do thou, O lord, listen to my words, calculated to
work thy profit."
[399] Ravana had formerly laughed at Nandi for his monkey-face.--T.
[400] Lit.--giver of wealth--a designation of Kuvera.--T.
[401] _like thyself._