Then on the summit of the mountain, Mahendra, those powerful monkeys,
headed by Hanuman, rejoiced exceedingly. And when the high-souled
delighted monkeys had sat them down, Jambavan, glad at heart, asked that
offspring of the Wind, the happy Hanuman, all about his proceeding: "How
hast thou seen the worshipful one? How doth she fare there? And how doth
the cruel Ten-necked one bear himself towards her? Do thou truthfully
relate all this unto us, O mighty monkey. How couldst thou track the
exalted lady? And what did she say in reply (to thy querries)? Having
learnt the real state of things, we shall decide what is to be done. And
do thou also tell us what we, repairing there, shall unfold unto that
one of controled self and what we shall keep to ourselves." Thus
directed by him, that one (Hanuman) with his down standing on end,
bowing down the head unto that revered one, Sita, replied,--"In your
sight, I bounded up with a concentrated mind, eager to reach the
southern shore of the ocean. As I voyaged on, a great impediment
occurred in the way. I saw a goodly and noble golden peak, standing,
obstructing my way. I found the mountain as an obstacle to my course.
Nearing the grand and splendid golden mount, I thought within
myself,--'I will rive this.' And the sun-like summit of that mighty
mountain, Prahasta, was cleft in a thousand fragments by my tail. Seeing
his own condition, that mighty mountain, gladdening my heart, addressed
me with the sweet speech,--'O son, know me for thy uncle. I am a friend
unto the Wind,-- famed as Mainaka, and living in the great deep.
Formerly all the foremost mountains were furnished with wings. And (once
on a time) they began to range the earth at will, committing
devastations. Hearing of the conduct of the mountains, that possessor of
the six kinds of riches, Indra the Great, the swayer of Paka, with his
thunderbolt cut off by thousands the pinions of the mountains. At that
time, my son, I, having been delivered by thy sire, the high-souled
Wind-god, was cast into the abode of Varuna. O repressor of foes, I
shall have to assist Raghava. Rama is the foremost of the righteous, and
possessed of prowess like that of Mahendra himself.' Having heard this
from the magnanimous Mainaka, I apprised the mountain of my mission, and
my thoughts held their course. Having given me his permission, the
magnanimous Mainaka, the mountain that had put on the form of a man,
vanished, and, assuming his mountain-form, went into the vast sea. And
I, summoning my best celerity, began to journey the remainder of my way.
And having swiftly proceeded long in the path, I saw the exalted lady,
Surasa, mother of the serpents. And that worshipful one stationed in the
sea, said,--'By the celestials hast thou, O best of monkeys, been
assigned as my food. Therefore shall I eat thee up. Thou hast been
ordained as mine by the gods.' Thus addressed by Surasa, I, remaining in
humble guise with joined hands, and with my countenance turned pale, I
uttered these words,--'Rama, the graceful son of Dacaratha, repressor of
foes--hath entered the woods of Dandaka, in company with his brother
Lakshamana and Sita. His wife Sita hath been carried off by the wicked
Ravana. At Rama's mandate I go to her as an envoy. In this business,
thou, O chaste one, shouldst help Rama. Or having seen Mithila's
daughter, as well as Rama of untiring deeds, I shall come to thy
mouth,--this I promise unto thee truly.' Thus accosted by me, Surasa,
wearing forms at her will, said,--'None is able to escape me. Even this
is the boon that I have received.' Having been thus addressed by Surasa,
I attained the magnitude of ten _yojanas_; and then anon I dilated to
another ten. But she opened her mouth wider than my magnitude. Seeing
her stretched mouth, I again diminished myself, and on the instant again
reduced myself to the measure of a thumb. And speedily entering her
mouth, I immediately came out. Then the exalted Surasa again spoke unto
me in her native shape,--'Thy end having been attained, go, O mild one,
O foremost of monkeys, according to thy pleasure. Bring about the
meeting of Vaidehi with the high-souled Raghava. Be thou blessed, O
mighty-armed one. I am well pleased with thee, O monkey.' Then I was
praised by all beings, with,--'Excellent!' 'Excellent!' Then like unto
Garuda I again sprang up into the air. But now my shadow was overtaken
by somebody, though I saw no one. And my velocity being deprived, I
looked at the ten cardinal points; but I found there naught which could
deprive me of my speed. Then I thought,-- 'What is this obstacle that
hath suddenly arisen in respect of my course? No form find I here?' And
as I stood aggrieved, my glance fell downwards. Then I saw there a
dreadful Rakshasi supine on the flood. And laughing (scornfully), that
grim one said these inauspicious words unto me, who was inert, although
undaunted,--"Whither art thou bound, O thou of a gigantic body? Desired
by me, who am hungry, do thou becoming my food, gratify this body
deprived of diet for a long time.' Saying, 'Well,' I accepted her
speech, increasing my body at will more than the capacity of her mouth;
and her huge and dreadful mouth extended wide to eat me up. She did not
understand me,[425] nor that I had altered my shape. Then in the
twinkling of an eye contracting my vasty shape, I, extracting her heart,
darted into the sky. Thereat, throwing about her arms, that terrific one
dropped into the salt waters. On that chaste one, resembling a hill,
having her heart torn, I heard the meek speech of magnanimous persons,
who had come there of themselves,--'This dreadful Rakshasi, Sinhika,
hath been swiftly slain by Hanuman.' Having slain her, I again,
remembering the delay that had occurred touching my work, set out on the
great road, and at length saw the southern shore of the sea, covered
with mountains; where is situated the city of Lanka. On the sun having
set, I entered the city of the Rakshasas--their home--unnoticed by the
Rakshasas of terrific vigor. I had entered in when a certain female
casting forth violent laughter, and wearing the splendour of clouds at
the end of a Kalpa, presented herself before me. And striking with my
left clenched fist that exceedingly dreadful (form), having flames for
her hair, who had sought to take my life,--and vanquishing her (thus), I
entered (Lanka) at dusk. Then that one affrighted addressed me,
saying,--'I, O hero, am, the city of Lanka. Vanquished have I been by
thy prowess. Thou shalt everywhere conquer all the Rakshasas'. There I
wandered all the night (seeking for Janaka's daughter) and (at length)
entered Ravana's inner apartment; but that one of a Diity waist I found
not. And not finding Sita in Ravana's abode, I was cast in a sea of
sorrow; nor found I how to cross over it. And as I was sorrowing, I saw
a mansion with a charming grove encircled by a wall of excellent gold.
And leaping over the wall, I saw a grove rife with trees; and (at last)
saw in the midst of an _acoka_ wood a great _Sincapa_. And ascending the
tree, I saw a golden tract of plantains; and hard by from the _Sincapa_
tree I espied that transcendentally beautiful one, dark-blue, having
eyes resembling lotus-petals, with her face faded in consequence of
fasting, clad in the same single piece of cloth, her hair covered with
dust,--her limbs emaciated by the heat of sorrow and grief,--Sita, ever
engaged in the welfare of her lord; surrounded by cruel and deformed
Rakshasis living upon blood and flesh,--like unto deer environed by
tigresses. And I managed too swiftly to present myself before that one,
menaced momentarily in the midst of the Rakshasis, wearing a single
braid of hair; woe-begone; ever thinking of her lord; her limbs
discolored by lying down on the ground, like unto a lotus on the
approach of winter,--having eyes resembling those of a young deer, who
had turned her face away from all the enjoyments offered by Ravana, and
who had resolved to put a period to her existence. Seeing that lady the
illustrious wife of Rama in that condition, I seeing her remained even
on that _Sincapa_ tree. Then I heard in Ravana's mansion loud and solemn
sounds mixed with the tinklings of zones and bangles. Thereat
exceedingly agitated, I changed my proper shape; and remained like a
bird in a dark part of the _Sincapa_ tree. Then the wives of Ravana
along with Ravana himself of exceeding strength came to that place where
Sita was. And seeing the lord of Rakshasas the exceedingly beauteous
Sita contracted her thighs and covered her full breasts with her arms.
And seeing Sita flurried and extremely excited and casting about her
gladness up and down, not finding any relief and trembling forlorn, the
Ten-necked one said unto her undergoing extreme anguish,--"Without
saying anything, I fall down (here). O fair one, do thou regard me. If,
O haughty one, thou do not honor me from pride of heart, I shall, O
Sita, two months hence, see thy blood." Hearing these words of the
wicked Ravana, Sita, growing exceeding wroth, spoke these excellent
words,--"O worst of Rakshasas, having used improper speech towards the
wife of Rama of measureless prowess, and the daughter-in-law of
Dacaratha, lord of the Ikshwaku line, why hast thou not thy tongue
fallen off? Fie upon the prowess of thee that, O wretch, hast carried me
off while my husband was away; and not being seen of that high-souled
one. Thou art never like Rama,--thou art not even fit to be his slave.
Raghava is invincible, truthful, heroic and (even) hungering for
warfare." Thus addressed in harsh speech by Janaki, the Ten-necked one
flamed up in wrath, like Fire in a funeral pyre. And with his wicked
eyes whirling in rage, he raised the clenched fist of his right hand to
slay Mithila's daughter; but then the females set up a cry of "Oh" and
"Alas." And rising up in the midst of the females, the wife of the
wicked-minded one, the excellent one, named Mandodari, prevented him.
And she spoke soft words unto him influenced by lust.--"O thou that
resemblest Indra the Great in prowess. Do thou to-day sport with me.
Janaki is not superior to me. And, O lord, do thou sport with the
daughters of celestials and Gandharbas, and with the daughters
themselves of Yakshas. What wilt thou do with Sita?" Then that
exceedingly powerful ranger of the night was speedily raised up and
taken (back) to his residence. On the Ten-necked one having departed,
the Rakshasis of fearful faces fell to railing at Sita in cruel and
rough words,--But Janaki heeded their speech as a straw; and their fury
was lost upon Sita. Desisting from their unavailing railing, the
flesh-feasting Rakshasis imparted unto Ravana the mighty intent of Sita.
Then, they all failing in their hope and deprived of energy, and tired,
came under the sway of sleep. And on their sleeping, Sita intent on the
welfare of her lord, lamenting piteously, in forlorn guise, and striken
with extreme sorrow, mourned profusely. Then sitting up in their midst,
Trijata spoke,--"Do ye without delay fall to your own selves; but never
(eat up) the dark-eyed Sita, the chaste daughter unto Janaka and the
daughter-in-law of Dacaratha. In truth I have seen a dismal dream
capable of making one's hair stand on end; (presaging) destruction unto
Rakshasas and victory unto the husband of this one. For protecting us,
Rakshasis from Raghava, let us solicit Vaidehi. Even this is relished by
me. If we relate such a dream unto the aggrieved one, she, being freed
from her diverse woes, shall attain the height of joy. Propitiated by
our bowing down, Janaka's daughter, Maithili, shall rescue the Rakshasis
from a mighty fear." Thereat, that bashful maiden, rejoiced at the
prospect of her husband's victory, said,--'If all this prove true, then
for certain, (ye shall) meet with succour at my hands. Witnessing such a
hard condition of Sita I began to reflect; nor did my my mind attain
ease or freedom from thought. And I cast about for finding means of
addressing Janaki. And I began by extolling the Ikshwaku race. Hearing
the words that I uttered, embellished with descriptions of the virtues
of Rajarshis, that exalted lady replied with her eyes covered with
tears. "Who art thou? And how hast thou, O foremost of monkeys, found
thy way here? And what is thy delight in Rama? This it behoveth thee to
relate unto me." Hearing her speech, I too said,-- 'O revered one, thy
husband, Rama, hath found a help-mate in a one endowed with terrific
strength, named Sugriva --redoubtable, the highly powerful lord of the
monkeys. Do thou know me as Hanuman his servant, despatched here by thy
spouse--Rama of unwearied actions. O famed damsel, that highly effulgent
son of Dacaratha--the foremost of men, hath sent as a token this ring. I
desire to know, O worshipful dame, what behest of thine may I obey now.
Shall I carry thee to Rama and Lakshmana on the northern shore of the
Ocean?" Hearing this and revolving within herself Sita, Janaka's
daughter, replied--"Discomfitting Ravana, may Raghava himself carry me
hence.' And bowing my head unto that worshipful and blameless dame, I
wanted of her a token as might conduce to Raghava's pleasure. Whereto
replied Sita--'O thou of mighty-arms do thou take this excellent jewel
for which thou shalt be highly regarded by Rama'. Having said this that
best of fair ones gave me the excellent jewel, and wrought up with
anxiety, related unto me the story of crow (for Rama's information).
Thereupon bent on returning here, I, with a fixed mind, circumambulated
and bowed unto that worshipful dame. And revolving within herself she
again replied-- 'Hanuman, do thou relate this unto Raghava in such a
wise that the heroes Rama and Lakshmana, along with Sugriva might
instantly come here. Or else there remain two months more of my life.
Raghava shall not see me and I shall quit my life like one having no
husband. Hearing those piteous accents I was worked up with ire and at
once resolved upon destroying the city of Lanka. Thereupon my body
increased like unto a mountain and desirous of entering into conflict I
began to lay waste the forest. The whole forest was devastated--the
birds and deer strayed away in fear and the Rakshasees, having terrible
faces, awaking, beheld all that. And beholding me in the forest, they
all, gathering, instantly conveyed the message unto Ravana. O King, O
thou of mighty prowess, this thy forest and castle has been broken down
by the vicious-souled monkey not knowing thy strength. O King, he has
been impelled by his vicious sense, to do thy mischief. Do thou order
for his head so that he might not return. Hearing this the lord of the
Rakshasas despatched a chosen band of demons named _Kinkaras_.[426] I
despatched with my mace in no time eighty thousand of them no sooner
than they entered the forest with darts and maces. And the few, who were
saved, proceeded very quickly unto Ravana and related unto him the
destruction of the soldiers by me. Thereupon I thought of destroying the
_Chaitya_[427] palace and destroyed with the pillar all the Rakshasas
stationed there. Excited with wrath I destroyed that palace; the best in
the whole city of Lanka. Thereupon (Ravana) despatched _Jambhumali_, the
son of _Prahasta_. With my fierce mace I destroyed that mighty Rakshasa,
versed in the art of war, along with his retinue and surrounded by a
band of terrible and grim-visaged demons. Hearing this, Ravana, the lord
of Rakshasas sent the highly powerful sons of the ministers followed by
a regiment of infantry. But I despatched them to the abode of Death by
means of my dart. And hearing of the destruction in battle of the
ministers' sons of feeble prowess Ravana sent five heroic commanders.
But I slew all of them along with their hosts. Thereupon the Ten necked
demon sent his highly powerful son _Aksha_ in the battle followed by a
number of Rakshasas. No sooner the princely son of Mandodari, versed in
the art of war, rose high up in the welkin than I got hold of his legs
and whirling him for hundred times ground him to the dust. And hearing
of the discomfiture of Aksha, Ravana, exercised with ire, sent his
second son, the highly powerful Indrajit incapable of being repressed in
battle. And discomfitting that best of Rakshasas with his host I
attained to an excess of delight. That hero of great prowess and
mighty-arms with a number of other proud heroes was despatched by Ravana
in great confidence. And beholding my unbearable prowess and his own
soldiers slain, speedily he went away fettering me with his Brahma
weapon. Thereat the other Rakshasas bound me up with a rope and carried
me to Ravana. And thereupon I was welcomed by the vicious-souled Ravana
and was asked why I did come to Lanka and slay the Rakshasas. Whereto I
replied,--"I have done all this for Sita. To behold her I have come
here, O hero. I am the monkey Hanuman, the own begotten son of Maruta.
Do thou know me as Rama's ambassador and the minister of Sugriva. And on
Rama's embassy have I come here before thee. Do thou hear of my
mission--I do relate unto thee, O lord of Rakshasas, the message which
the monkey chief hath commanded me to communicate unto thee. O great
hero, Sugriva hath asked of thy welfare and hath desired me to
communicate unto thee these well meaning words, conducing to the
acquirement of piety, wealth and desires. While I lived on the mount
Rishyamuka covered with huge trees I made friends with Raghava dreadful
in conflict. He hath spoken to me, O king, 'My spouse hath been taken
away by a Rakshasa. It behoveth thee to promise me thy help in this.'
And in the presence of fire, Rama, along with Lakshmana, contracted
friendship with me who had been deprived of his kingdom by Vali. And he
hath made me lord over all the monkeys after slaying Vali in conflict
with a single shaft. It therefore behoveth us to assist him by all
means. And by virtue of this contract I have despatched Hanuman unto
thee as an envoy. Do thou therefore speedily bring back Sita and return
her unto Raghava before the heroic monkeys discomfit thee. Who knoweth
not the prowess of the monkeys who in the days of yore used to visit the
celestials invited?' With these words the king of the monkeys hath
despatched me unto thee. And thereupon he eyed me as if burning me with
the looks of his angry eyes. And the vicious-souled demon--Ravana, of
terrible deeds, ordered for my destruction, not knowing my prowess.
Thereupon Bivishana, the high-souled brother of that lord of the
Rakshasas interceded on my behalf in the following strain-- 'O thou
foremost of the Rakshasas, do thou alter thy resolution. The way, thou
art following, is beyond the pale of royal policy. The destruction of an
envoy is not sanctioned by the royal morality, O Rakshasa. They
communicate simply the mandate of their masters. O thou of incomparable
prowess, there is no sanction for the destruction of a messenger albeit
he perpetrateth a mighty iniquity. Sometimes they have however been
disfigured." Being thus accosted by Bivishana, Ravana ordered all the
demons, saying "Burn down this monkey's tail.' Hearing his mandate, the
Rakshasas, of well-protected armour and terrible prowess, enveloped my
tail with the fibres of cotton, silk and jute. And then striking me with
their clenched fists they put fire to my tail. Although bound and
fettered with many ropes I did not feel the least anguish for I was very
much anxious to behold the city during the day. And thereupon fettering
me and putting fire to my tail and announcing me in the public streets
those heroic Rakshasas got at the city gate. And thereupon contracting
again my huge person and relieving myself of the fetters I stood again
in my pristine state. And taking up iron darts I slew all the Rakshasas
there. And leaping over with great velocity the city gate, I, with my
burning tail, burnt down the whole city from the palace to its outer
gate like unto the fire of dissolution devastating the entire creation.
And I was not the least flurried at it. 'Forsooth hath Janaki been
destroyed--for behold I nothing in Lanka which hath not been burnt
down--indeed the whole city hath been reduced to ashes. For certain have
I burnt down Sita while burning the city Lanka--and I have thus baffled
the great work of Rama.' While I was reflecting thus, being overwhelmed
with grief, I heard the auspicious accents of the _Charanas_, exciting
my wonder, 'Janaki hath not been burnt down.' Hearing those wonderful
words I regained my sense. I was then convinced by an auspicious sign
that Janaki was not burnt down, for I was not reduced to ashes albeit
my tail was burning. My heart was excited with joy and the wind spread
its delicious fragrance. And by virtue of those manifest omens, by my
confidence in the prowess of Rama; and Sita, and the voice of ascetics,
I was greately delighted at heart. And beholding Vaidehi again, I left
her. And thereupon ascending the mount Aristha I began to leap, desirous
of beholding you. And following the track of the Wind, the Sun, the
Moon, Gandharbas, and Siddhas I have beheld you all. By virtue of Rama's
grace and your prowess I have satisfied the charge of Sugriva. I have
thus related unto you, what I had performed in Lanka, and it now remains
with you to fulfill the rest."
[425] Understand that I was able to assume any shape at pleasure.--T.
[426] Literally it means servants--here it means his own personal
attendants who were brave and heroic.
[427] A place of sacrifice or religious worship.--T.