SECTION –CCLXXX
(Draupadi-harana Parva Continued)
"Markandeya said, 'Meanwhile the illustrious
descendant of Raghu, along with his brother, hospitably treated by Sugriva,
continued to dwell on the breast of the Malyavat hill, beholding every day the
clear blue sky. And one night, while gazing from the mountain-top on the bright
moon in the cloudless sky surrounded by planets and stars and stellar bodies,
that slayer of foes was suddenly awakened (to a remembrance of Sita) by the
cold breezes fragrant with the perfumes of the lily, lotus and other flowers of
the same species. And virtuous Rama, dejected in spirits at the thought of
Sita's captivity in the abode of the Rakshasa, addressed the heroic Lakshmana
in the morning saying, 'Go, Lakshmana and seek in Kishkindhya that ungrateful
king off the monkeys, who understand well his own interest and is even now
indulging in dissipations, that foolish wretch of his race whom I have
installed on a throne and to whom all apes and monkeys and bears owe
allegiance, that fellow for whose sake, O mighty-armed perpetuator of Raghu's
race, Vali was slain by me with thy help in the wood of Kishkindhya! I regard
that worst of monkeys on earth to be highly ungrateful, for, O Lakshmana, that
wretch hath now forgotten me who am sunk in such distress! I think he is
unwilling to fulfil his pledge, disregarding, from dullness of understanding,
one who hath done him such services! If thou findest him lukewarm and rolling
in sensual joys, thou must then send him, by the path Vali hath been made to
follow, to the common goal of all creatures! If, on the other hand, thou seest
that foremost of monkeys delight in our cause, then, O descendant of Kakutstha,
shouldst thou bring him hither with thee! Be quick, and delay not!' Thus
addressed by his brother, Lakshmana ever attentive to the behests and welfare
of his superiors, set out taking with him his handsome bow with string and
arrows. And reaching the gates of Kishkindhya he entered the city unchallenged.
And knowing him to be angry, the monkey-king advanced to receive him. And with
his wife, Sugriva the king of the monkeys, with a humble heart, joyfully
received him with due honours. And the dauntless son of Sumitra then told him
what Rama had said. And having heard everything in detail, O mighty monarch,
Sugriva, the king of the monkeys with his wife and servants, joined his hands,
and cheerfully said unto Lakshmana, that elephant among men, these words: 'I
am, O Lakshmana, neither wicked, nor ungrateful, nor destitute of virtue! Hear
what efforts I have made for finding out Sita's place of captivity! I have despatched
diligent monkeys in all directions. All of them have stipulated to return
within a month. They will, O hero, search the whole earth with her forests and
hills and seas, her villages and towns and cities and mines. Only five nights
are wanting to complete that month, and then thou wilt, with Rama, hear tidings
of great joy!'
"Thus addressed by that intelligent king of
the monkeys, the high-souled Lakshmana became appeased, and he in his turn
worshipped Sugriva. And accompanied by Sugriva, he returned to Rama on the
breast of the Malyavat hill. And approaching him, Lakshmana informed him of the
beginning already made in respect of his undertaking. And soon thousands of
monkey-chiefs began to return, after having carefully searched the three quarters
of the earth, viz., the North, the East and the West. But they that had gone
towards the South did not make their appearance And they that came back
represented to Rama, saying that although they had searched the whole earth
with her belt of seas, yet they could not find either the princess of Videha or
Ravana. But that descendant of Kakutstha's race, afflicted at heart, managed to
live yet, resting his hopes (of hearing Sita's tidings) on the great monkeys
that had gone towards the South.
"After the lapse of two months, several
monkeys seeking with haste the presence of Sugriva, addressed him, saying, 'O
king, that foremost of monkeys, the son of Pavana, as also Angada, the son of
Vali, and the other great monkeys whom thou hadst despatched to search the
southern region, have come back and are pillaging that great and excellent
orchard called Madhuvana, which was always guarded by Vali and which hath been
well-guarded by thee also after him!' Hearing of this act of liberty on their
part, Sugriva inferred the success of their mission, for it is only servants
that have been crowned with success that can act in this way. And that
intelligent and foremost of monkeys communicated his suspicions to Rama. And
Rama also, from this, guessed that the princess of Mithila had been seen. Then
Hanuman and the other monkeys, having refreshed themselves thus, came towards
their king, who was then staying with Rama and Lakshmana. And, O Bharata,
observing the gait of Hanuman and the colour of his face, Rama was confirmed in
the belief that Hanuman had really seen Sita. Then those successful monkeys
with Hanuman at their head, duly bowed unto Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva. And
Rama then taking up his bow and quiver, addressed those monkeys, saying, 'Have
you been successful? Will ye impart life unto me? Will ye once more enable me
to reign in Ayodhya after having slain my enemy in battle and rescued the
daughter of Janaka? With the princess of Videha unrescued, and the foe unslain
in battle, I dare not live, robbed of wife and honour!' Thus addressed by Rama,
the son of Pavana, replied unto him, saying, 'I bring thee good news, O Rama;
for Janaka's daughter hath been seen by me. Having searched the southern region
with all its hills, forests, and mines for some time, we became very weary. At
length we beheld a great cavern. And having beheld it, we entered that cavern
which extended over many Yojanas. It was dark and deep and overgrown with trees
and infested by worms. And having gone a great way through it, we came upon
sun-shine and beheld a beautiful palace. It was, O Raghava, the abode of the
Daitya Maya. And there we beheld a female ascetic named Prabhavati engaged in
ascetic austerities. And she gave us food and drink of various kinds. And
having refreshed ourselves therewith and regained our strength, we proceeded
along the way shown by her. At last we came out of the cavern and beheld the
briny sea, and on its shores, the Sahya, the Malaya and the great Dardura
mountains. And ascending the mountains of Malaya, we beheld before us the vast
ocean. 1 And beholding it we felt sorely grieved in mind. And dejected in
spirits and afflicted with pain and famishing with hunger, we despaired of
returning with our lives. Casting our eyes on the great ocean extending over many
hundreds of Yojanas and abounding in whales and alligators and other aquatic
animals, we became anxious and filled with grief. We then sat together,
resolved to die there of starvation. And in course of conversation we happened
to talk of the vulture Jatayu. Just then we saw a bird huge as a mountain, of
frightful form, and inspiring terror into every heart, like a second son of
Vinata. 2 And coming upon us unawares for devouring us, he said, 'Who are ye
that are speaking thus of my brother Jatayu? I am his elder brother, by name
Sampati, and am the king of birds. Once upon a time, we two, with the desire of
outstripping each other, flew towards the sun. My wings got burnt, but those of
Jatayu were not. That was the last time I saw my beloved brother Jatayu, the
king of vultures! My wings burnt, I fell down upon the top of this great
mountain where I still am!' When he finished speaking, we informed him of the
death of his brother in a few words and also of this calamity that hath
befallen thee! And, O king, the powerful Sampati heating this unpleasant news
from us, was greatly afflicted and again enquired of us, saying, 'Who is this
Rama and why was Sita carried off and how was Jatayu slain? Ye foremost of
monkeys I wish to hear everything in detail!' We then informed him of
everything about this calamity of thine and of the reason also of our vow of
starvation. That king of birds then urged us (to give up our vow) by these
words of his: 'Ravana is, indeed, known to me. Lanka is his capital. I beheld
it on the other side of the sea in a valley of the Trikuta hills! Sita must be
there. I have little doubt of this!' Hearing these words of his, we rose up
quickly and began, O chastiser of foes, to take counsel of one another for
crossing the ocean! And when none dared to cross it, I, having recourse to my
father, crossed the great ocean which is a hundred Yojanas in width. And having
slain the Rakshasis on the waters, I saw the chaste Sita within Ravana's harem,
observing ascetic austerities, eager to behold her lord, with matted locks on
head, and body besmeared with filth, and lean, and melancholy and helpless.
Recognising her as Sita by those unusual signs, and approaching that worshipful
lady while alone, I said, 'I am, O Sita, an emissary of Rama and monkey begotten
by Pavana! 3 Desirous of having a sight of thee, hither have I come travelling
through the skies! Protected by Sugriva, that monarch of all the monkeys, the
royal brothers Rama and Lakshmana are in peace! And Rama, O lady, with
Sumitra's son, hath enquired of thy welfare! And Sugriva also, on account of
his friendship (with Rama and Lakshmana) enquireth of thy welfare. Followed by
all the monkeys, thy husband will soon be here. Confide in me, O adorable lady,
I am a monkey and not a Rakshasa!' Thus addressed by me, Sita seemed to
meditate for a moment and then replied to me, saying, 'From the words of
Avindhya I know that thou art Hanuman! O mighty-armed one, Avindhya is an old
and respected Rakshasa! He told me that Sugriva is surrounded by counsellors
like thee. Thou mayst depart now!' And with these words she gave me this jewel
as a credential. And, indeed, it was by means of this jewel that the faultless
Sita had been able to support her existence. And the daughter of Janaka further
told me as a token from her, that by thee, O tiger among men, a blade of grass
(inspired with Mantras and thus converted into a fatal weapon) had once been
shot at a crow while ye were on the breast of the mighty hill known by the name
of Chitrakuta! And this she said as evidence of my having met her and hers
being really the princess of Videha. I then caused myself to be seized by
Ravana's soldiers, and then set fire to the city of Lanka!'"
Footnotes
551:1 Abode of Varuna in the original.
551:2 Garuda.
551:3 Pavana, the God of the wind.
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