SECTION LXVIII. (continued 1)
Project Gutenberg EPUB edition
Valmiki and Dutt, Manmatha Nath
Whereupon, O foremost of men, out of thy love and adoring me for thy friendship, that worshipful dame— addressed me again, saying—"Do thou thus speak every thing unto Rāma, the son of Daçaratha, so that he might soon take me hence, slaying Rāvana in battle. O heroe, O slayer of foes, if it pleaseth thee, thou mayst relieve thyself of the toil by living in a secret nook and then proceed to-morrow. O monkey, in thy company, I do momentarily forget the weight of my grief, unfortunate as I am. O thou gifted with great prowess, thyself departing, I shall wait for thy return, but doubt I very much whether I shall live till then. Burnt I shall be with the fear of not beholding thee again, wretched and striken with grief as I am. And so I shall be, hereafter, overwhelmed with a mightier grief. O hero, besides, I entertain a grave doubt about thy assistants, the monkeys and bears. I do not know how shall the host of monkeys and bears and those two princes cross over the mighty main? O innocent monkey of all the creatures three only are qualified to cross over the ocean, thyself, Garuda and the Wind. O thou foremost of those skilled in speech, what hast thou settled about the accomplishment of this hard work? True it is that thou art alone qualified to accomplish this work, O thou the slayer of inimical heroes—but such manifestation of thy prowess shall increase thy glory only. But if Rāma, obtaining victory, can take me hence to his own city, it shall redound to his glory.
It doth not behove the heroic Rāghava, to take me away by stealth, like unto Rāvana capturing me from the forest under a disguise. Truly it shall be his becoming work, if Kākutstha, the repressor of enemy's host, can take me away, enveloping the city Lankā with his army. Do thou therefore initiate that work as becometh that high-souled hero and may display his prowess." Hearing these sound reasonable and affectionate words I gave her the last reply, saying—'O worshipful dame, Sugriva, the foremost of the monkeys, the lord of monkey and bear hosts and gifted with manliness, hath resolved upon rescuing thee. He hath under his command a number of mighty and courageous monkeys gifted with great prowess and quick-coursing like imagination. Their course is never thwarted—whether going upwards or downwards—or moving tortuously. They are never exhausted in their actions— highly courageous and of measureless prowess. And those great and powerful monkeys, coursing in the air, have again and again circumambulated the earth. Sugriva hath many monkeys—my equal—and greater than I, but none of inferior strength. While I have crossed over the main—what of these mighty heroes? The leading heroes are never sent on a mission but only those of inferior merit. No more of bewailing, O worshipful dame. Do thou remove thy grief. And with one leap these leaders of monkey-hosts shall reach Lankā. O great damsel, these two princes, placing themselves on my back shall come to thee like unto the rising Sun and Moon.
Thou shalt soon behold before Lankā's gate Rāghava the slayer of foes resembling a lion and Lakshmana with a bow in his hand. And thou shalt soon observe in a band the heroic monkeys, gifted with the strength of lions and tigers, and having nails and teeth for their weapons. And thou shalt soon hear the roaring of the leading monkeys on the summit of mount Malaya, resembling the muttering of the clouds. And thou shalt soon behold Rāghava, the slayer of foes, installed along with thee on the throne of Ayodhya after returning from the forest." And that daughter of the king of Mithilā although heavily laden with sorrow in thy absence was greatly comforted and pleased by my auspicious words boding the fulfilment of her desire.
END OF SUNDARAKANDAM.
Source notes
[1]
Offerings to the spirits of air.—T.
[2]
Burnt offerings, or oblations of clarified butter into the sacred fire, as an offering to the gods, accompanied with prayers or invocations.—T.
[3]
The North-West Province text has an additional Sloka:—Having said this the graceful Lakshmana spoke unto Virādha as if jestingly, "Who art thou that going to the forest, art ranging it so pleasantly?"—T.
[4]
The text has Kalantakoyamopame—abl.—resembling Kala, Antaka, or Yama. The commentator cites a sloka, which assigns three several functions to the three,—Kala executes his office on the occasion of the separation of life from the body; Antaka compasses the end; and Yama finally sits in judgment upon the departed soul. But this strikes me as misplaced erudition. I, however, give the commonsense rendering.—T.
[5]
Another reading is:—That ranger of the night laid on his shoulders, those ones, who were puffed up with their exceeding prowess.—T.
[6]
Another reading is Subhuyabhuyan—That one of elegant arms (raising) them up.—T.
[7]
The reading slightly varies in some texts.—T.
[8]
Another reading of this line is:—And buried him under stones. The North-West Provinces text has four additional lines:—Having, slain the Rākshasa and taken Mithtla's daughter, those ones having bows decked in gold, being delighted, rejoiced in that mighty forest, like the sun and the moon seated in the sky.—T.
[9]
The yoga system has many positions for concentrating thought.—T.
[10]
Some texts:—Seeing.
[11]
Some texts:—Effulgent.
[12]
The commentator explains:—They imitate the lightning in changing their residence, the sharpness of weapons in severing affection, and the celerity of Garuda or the wind in doing wrong.—T.
[13]
Some texts:—Kalaka.—T.
[14]
Come to slake their thirst.—Rāmāyana.—T.
[15]
Jatāyu.—T.
[16]
i. e.—The South.—T.
[17]
A mark made with colored earths or unguents upon the forehead and between the eye-brows either by way of ornament or a sectarial distinction.—T.
[18]
Himavan means having snow.—T.