Having related all, Hanuman, the Wind-god's son began again,
saying--"Fruitful is Raghava's endeavour and Sugriva's energy--for
greatly pleased have I been with Sita's conduct. O heroic monkeys, Sita
hath been keeping the life of a highly chaste damsel. She can maintain
the animated creation by virtue of her asceticism and burn it with her
ire. Ravana, the lord of the Rakshasas is also highly advanced in
asceticism by virtue whereof he hath not been ruined albeit he hath
touched Sita's person. Even the flame of fire cannot do, although
touched by the hands, what Janaka's daughter can bring about by her ire.
I have related unto you what had happened. It now behoveth us to behold
Vaidehi along with those two sons of a king, after commanding all the
monkeys headed by Jambavan and others. I am alone capable of destroying
the city of Lanka along with the Rakshasas and their lord--Ravana. What
more can I achieve if I am accompanied by the heroic monkeys like ye,
powerful, having control over their own minds, well-armed, able and
desirous of winning victory! I shall slay Ravana in conflict along with
his sons, brothers army and retinue. I shall destroy all the Rakshasas
and baffle all the weapons of Indrajit conferred on him by Brahma,
Rudra, Wind and Varuna albeit they are invisible in battle. Without your
permission my prowess hath been brought to a stand still. Hills and
mountains, uprooted and discharged by me continually, can destroy even
the celestials, what of those night-rangers? Even if the ocean
overfloweth its banks, the Mount Mandara moveth off its place, the
enemy's host cannot frighten Jambavan in conflict. And specially the
heroic monkey, Vali's son, is alone capable of destroying the whole host
of the Rakshasas. Even the mount Mandara is weakened by the velocity of
the thighs of the high-souled monkey Neela--what of the Rakshasas in
conflict? What hero is there amongst the celestials, Asuras, Yakshas,
Gandharbas, serpents and birds who can equal Manida or Divida in battle?
I do not find any one who can oppose in the battle field the two best
monkeys, the sons of Asvi gifted with great velocity. By me alone hath
the city Lanka been devastated burnt down and reduced to ashes. And I
had announced in the public streets there--"May victory crown the highly
powerful Ram and Lakshmana, and may the king Sugriva advance in
prosperity being protected by Raghava. I am the servant of the king of
Kocala, the own begotten son of the Wind-God and my name is Hanuman. I
have announced thus everywhere. (And I beheld there) in the Acoka forest
of the vicious-souled Ravana, at the foot of a Sincapa tree, the chaste
Sita waiting very poorly. She was encircled by the Rakshasees, worn out
with grief and anxiety and was like unto the rays of the Moon shorn of
their brilliance being enveloped with clouds. And Vaidehi, having a
beautiful waist and devoted unto her husband, did not care for Ravana
proud of his prowess and was accordingly confined by him. And that
graceful daughter of the king of Videha was by all means devoted unto
her lord and had all her thoughts centered in him like unto Poulomi[428]
devoted unto her lord Purandara. And I saw her in that garden, wearing a
single piece of cloth soiled with dirt, surrounded by the Rakshasees and
remonstrated with now and then by those ugly demons. Having a single
braid of hair, poorly, engaged in thoughts touching her lord, she was
lying on the earth shorn of all grace like unto a lotus on the
appearance of the winter. She had not the least attachment for Ravana
and was resolved upon putting an end to her existence. And somehow
creating her confidence I addressed that damsel having the eyes of a
fawn and related unto her the whole story. And hearing of the friendship
between Rama and Sugriva she attained to an excess of delight. She is
well-behaved and devoted unto her lord par excellence and blessed is the
high-souled and ten-necked demon that she hath not destroyed him (yet).
And Rama shall become an instrument only in bringing about his
destruction. She hath really been greatly reduced and worn out by the
separation of her lord. Her person hath been shattered like unto
learning waning by its prosecution on the first day of a lunar
fortnight. Thus liveth there the great Sita worn out with grief. Do ye
now perform what you think proper."
[428] The wife of Indra the lord of the celestials who was confined by
the king Nahusa.--T.