And springing up like unto a winged hill, that one endowed with energy,
the untiring Hanuman, began to swim on the ocean of the firmament having
for its blown lotuses and lilies, snakes, Yakshas and Gandharbas; with
the Moon for its comely _Kumuda_;[421] and with the Sun for its
_Karandavas_; charming to behold; having Tishya and Sravana for its
swans, clouds for its mosses and grass, _Punarvasu_ for its mighty fish,
the red-bodied one[422] for its huge aquatic animal, Airavata for its
spacious island, Swati for its sportive swan, breezes for its billows,
and moonlight for its cool waters. And as if swallowing up the welkin
and touching the lord of stars, abolishing the sky decorated with stars
and the solar disc, and cleaving the clouds, the unfatigued Hanuman
began to cross over that sea. And (on all sides) mighty masses of
clouds, sable, crimson, blue, Mangistha-hued, and green-red, looked
exceedingly beautiful. And now entering into clouds and now imerging
from them, he, again and again becoming visible and lost to sight,
looked like the Moon. And that one clad in white raiment, coursing
through diverse clouds, the hero's body was (alternately) visible and
invisible, like unto the Moon in the sky. And the Wind-god's son went on
in the sky, scattering the clouds and descending again and again. And
sending up mighty sounds, that exceedingly energetic one gifted with a
powerful voice like that of the clouds, having slain the foremost
Rakshasas and rendered his name famous, having filled the city with
lamentations and afflicted Ravana, having distressed the mighty heroes
and paid obeisance unto Vaidehi,--again held his course along the
mid-ocean. And touching Mainaka--foremost of mountains--that one endowed
with prowess proceeded amain like an iron dart let go from a string. And
from a distance approaching and beholding that mighty mountain,
Mahendra, resembling clouds, that redoubted monkey began to roar. And
having a lusty voice resembling that of clouds, that monkey, roaring,
filled all quarters with his lofty shouts. And arriving at that place,
he, eager to behold his friends, emitted tremendous roars, and began to
flourish his tail. And as he went on roaring in the path ranged by
Suparna, the firmament with the solar disc seemed to be rent by his
shouts. And (it came to pass that) those powerful and heroic (monkeys)
that had formerly stationed themselves on the northern shore of the
ocean, anxious to see the Wind-god's offspring, heard the sounds
proceeding from Hanuman's vehement speed, resembling the rumbling of
clouds agitated by the winds. And all those rangers of woods, (staying)
dispirited, heard the roars of that foremost of monkeys, like unto the
roaring of rain-pouring clouds. And hearing those sounds as he kept
crying, those monkeys (sitting) around, eager to see their friend,
became extremely anxious. And that best of monkeys, Jambavan, with a
joyful heart addressing all the monkeys, said,--"Hanuman hath succeeded
completely. There is no doubt about this. If he were unsuccessful, he
would not utter shouts as these." And hearing the sounds produced by the
violent movements of the arms of that high-souled (hero), as well as the
shouts of that magnanimous one, the monkeys, filled with delight, leapt
up on all sides. And they, eager to have a sight of Hanuman, joyfully
went from mountain-top to mountain-top and from peak on to peak. And
influenced by joy, the monkeys remained holding a bough at the top of a
tree, and waving their clean apparels. And as the wind roareth in a
cavern, roared the powerful Hanuman, son unto the Wind-god. And seeing
that mighty monkey resembling a mass of clouds, alighting, those monkeys
stood joining their hands. And then the vehement monkey resembling a
hill, having leapt up from that mountain, alighted on the top of that
(other) mountain[423] filled with trees. And bursting with delight,
(Hanuman) dropped near a fountain, like unto a hill whose wings have
been clipped. Then with joyful hearts, all the principal monkeys stood
encircling the high-souled Hanuman. And surrounding him, they
experienced excess of delight, and drew near the newcomer with joyful
faces. And bringing fruits and roots, the monkeys honored that chief of
monkeys, the offspring of the Wind-god. And some, filled with delight,
sent shouts, and some raised ululations; and the foremost monkeys
fetched branches of trees.[424] And that mighty monkey, Hanuman, saluted
his superiors and the aged, headed by Jambavan; as well as Prince
Angada. And honored by the monkeys, as he very well deserved to be, and
gratified by them, (he) briefly said--"Seen have I the exalted lady."
And taking Vali's son by the hand, he sat him down in a charming tract
of the woodland belonging to the mountain Mahendra.--Then asked (by
them), Hanuman addressed those foremost monkeys,--"I have seen Janaka's
daughter in the Acoka woods. That blameless one is guarded by dreadful
Rakshasis. The girt weareth a single braid of hair, and burneth to
attain a sight of Rama. She is faint in consequence of fasting, and
dirty, weareth matted locks and is emaciated." Hearing the words, "I
have seen" from the Wind-god's offspring resembling ambrosia, all the
monkeys were filled with rejoicing. And thereupon, some of mighty ones
roared, and some shouted, aid some blustered, and some raised
ululations, and others stormed (in return). And some elephantine monkeys
in joy upraised their tails, and some lashed with their long and broad
tails. And others, transported with joy, bounding up to the
mountain-summit, touched that foremost of monkeys, the handsome Hanuman.
And when Hanuman had ended, Angada said these excellent words in the
midst of the heroic monkeys,--"There is none, O monkey, that is like
unto thee in strength and prowess. As having bounded over the spacious
main, thou hast come back (here), thou art, O excellent monkey, the only
giver of our lives. By thy grace it is that, our end attained, we shall
meet with Raghava. Oh for thy fidelity! Oh for thy prowess! Oh for thy
fortitude! By luck hast thou seen that exalted one, the illustrious wife
of Rama, by luck it is that Kakutstha shall forego his sorrow in
consequence of separation from Sita." Then surrounding Angada, Hanuman,
and Jambavan, the monkeys, exceedingly rejoiced, sat down upon a
spacious stone. And having sat them down on the spacious rock, the
monkeys became eager to hear of the bounding of the main and of
(Hanuman's) seeing Lanka, Sita and Ravana. And they stood with joined
hands, looking wistfully into Hanuman's face. And the graceful Angada
was there, surrounded by many monkeys, and honored by them, even as the
lord of celestials is honored in heaven by the celestials. When the
famous and renowned Hanuman, and Angada with bracelets on his arms, had
sat down, the elevated and mighty mountain-summit was illuminated with
splendour.
[421] Lily.--T.
[422] Bhama.--T.
[423] Mahendra.--T.
[424] To serve for a seat for Hamiman.--T.