Beholding Lanka burnt down and devastated and the demons terrified,the
monkey Hanuman began to reflect. And worked up with fear and remorse, he
reflected,--"What a mighty iniquity have I perpetrated by burning down
Lanka of my own accord? Blessed are those high-souled ones who control
their wrath by dint of their own good sense, like unto fire quenched by
water. What iniquity is there which cannot be perpetrated by the angry?
They can even slay the worshipful and vilify the pious with harsh words.
The angry cannot decide what should be spoken and what not. There is no
vice which cannot be committed by them, and there is nothing which
cannot be spoken by them. He is the proper person who can subdue his
rising ire by means of forgiveness as a serpent leaves off his worn
skin. O fie on me who am vicious-minded, shameless and the perpetrator
of a mighty iniquity. Not thinking of Sita, I have slain my master with
fire. Forsooth hath the worshipful Janaki been burnt, since the whole
city of Lanka hath been devastated with fire. And she being burnt,
foolishly have I spoilt the work of my master. I have defeated the great
object for which I have laboured so much. In burning down Lanka, I have
not saved Sita. To have burnt down Lanka is assuredly a trifle, but in
my ire I have lost my great object. Forsooth hath Janaki been consumed,
since I behold no spot in Lanka which is not made desolate with fire--
in fact the whole city hath been reduced to ashes. As I have committed
such an injury under the influence of my perverse understanding, it
behoveth me to relinquish my life here. I shall jump into this flame or
into a submarine fire, or I shall resign my mortal frame to the animals
that infest the ocean. For, living, I shall not be able to face that
lord of monkeys, and how shall I, having spoilt their work utterly, show
myself unto those foremost of men? I have through my culpable passion
furnished an illustration of the reckless monkey-nature, which is well
known over the three worlds. Fie on this activity, born of (the quality
of) passion, which is the source of incompetence and rashness; since
although capable, I did not protect Sita. On Sita having met with
destruction, both of them[417] shall cease to exist; and on their
ceasing to exist, Sugriva shall die along with his friends. And hearing
these tidings, how shall the righteous Bharata, attached unto his
brother (Rama), along with Satrughna, live? And on the virtuous Ikshwaku
race being extinct, without doubt, all the subjects shall be overwhelmed
with grief. Therefore, I of curst luck hath had my harvest of virtue and
profit taken away; and being under the influence of baleful passion, I
am the cause of the destruction of creatures." As he was reflecting
thus, he bethought him of auspicious omens which he had witnessed since.
"Or it may be that one of charming limbs hath been preserved by her
proper energy. The blessed one may not have met with her end, for fire
doth burn fire. And Fire should not touch the spouse of that virtuous
one of immeasurable energy,--who is protected by by her own character.
And that bearer of sacrificial offerings hath not burnt me, is owing to
Rama's power and the virtue of Vaidehi. And why should she that is a
very goddess unto the three brothers, Bharata and the others, and that
hath enchanted the mind of Rama, meet with destruction? And when that
everywhere unspent Lord, having burning for his office, hath not
consumed my tail, why shoud he burn the exalted lady?" Then Hanuman with
wonder again thought of the sight of the golden mountain under the
water.[418] "By virtue of her asceticism, veracity, and devotion unto
her lord, she it is that can consume Fire, but Fire cannot burn her."
And as Hanuman was thinking of the magnitude of that revered lady's
religious merit, he heard the converse there of high-souled Charanas.
"Ah! hard is the feat that Hanuman hath forsooth achieved. He hath
created a terrific and fierce conflagration in the abode of the Raksha.
The females of Rakshas accompanied by boys and old folks, are flying
amain; and in consequence of the hubbub it seems as if (Lanka) is in
lamentation through her mountain-caverns. Burnt is this city of Lanka
with her turrets, walls and gateways; and we are astonished that Janaki
is not burnt." These words resembling ambrosia Hanuman heard (at that
time); and his mind was filled with joy. And what through the auspicious
omens that he had witnessed, and what through the speech of the saints,
Hanuman was delighted (beyond measure). Then the monkey, with his end
attained, knowing that the king's daughter was unhurt, became bent upon
returning after seeing her once again.
[417] Rama and Lakshmana.--T.
[418] Remembering the incident of his seeing the mountain Mainaka
through Sita, Hanuman was put in mind of Sita's superhuman
power.--T.