Chapter CXL: Section LXV

Hearing Angada's speech, those foremost monkeys one after another began to speak, touching their respective competence in coursing--Gaya, and Gavaksha, and Gavaya, and Sarabha, and Gandhamadana, and Mainda, and Dwivida, and Angada, and Jambavan. And Gaya said.--"I can leap over ten _yojanas_" And Gavaksha said,--"I shall go twenty _yojanas_" And the monkey Sarabha said to those monkeys,--"Ye monkeys, I shall go thirty _yojanas_." And the monkey, Rhishava, said to those monkeys,--"I shall, without doubt, go forty _yojanas_" And the exceedingly energetic monkey, Gandhamadana, said,--"I shall, for certain go fifty _yojanas_." And the monkey Mainda said unto the monkeys there,--"I shall undertake to leap over sixty _yojanas_." And then the highly energetic Dwivida said,--"I shall, for certain, go seventy _yojanas_. And the highly powerful Sushena, possessed of strength--foremost of monkeys said-- "I declare that in motion I am equal to eighty _yojanas_." As they were speaking thus, the oldest of them all, Jambavan, saluting them, answered--"Formerly we had power of motion. But now we have waxed exceeding old. Although this is so, yet we can not overlook this, as both Rama and the monkey-king (by sending us) have become sure of success. At present do thou understand the course that is ours. I shall go ninety _yojanas_. There is no doubt whatever about this." Jambavan said this unto those choice monkeys. But (formerly) my prowess in leaping was forsooth not such.[199] Of old in the sacrifice of Virochana's son, the eternal Lord Vishnu, when he had covered the entire universe with three steps, was circumambulated by me. But I who was all this, have waxed old, and my vigor sits feebly upon me. In my youth, however, my strength was exceeding great and incomparable. Now I can only by my own energy, course thus far. But such a bound shall not bring success on our undertaking. After this, saluting the mighty monkey, Jambavan, the wise Angada spoke straight sense, saying,--"I can go over this mighty hundred _yojanas_; but there is no certainty as to my power of returning." Thereat, Jambavan, cognizant of speech, said unto that foremost of monkeys,--"O foremost of leonine ones, we know thy power of motion, thou art capable of coursing a hundred thousand _yojanas_, as well as of coming back. But we say that even this is what is fit. My child, the master must on no account be commanded by his servants. O foremost of monkeys, all these should be commanded by thee. Thou art our spouse, and (at the same time) occupying the position of our husband. The master is the spouse of the army. This is the way of the world, O repressor of foes! O subduer of enemies, thou art the root of this business. Therefore, my child, thou shouldest always be maintained by us like a wife. The root of any work must be preserved. This is the policy of those versed in business. The root existing, all the virtues, obtaining fruit, certainly meet with suceess. Thou, O thou having truth for prowess art the instrument of this undertaking, and, O subduer of enemies, furnished with sense and vigor, thou art the occasion herein. And, O foremost of monkeys, thou art both our superior, and our superior's son; and resorting to thee we are enabled to accomplish our object." Thereat that mighty monkey, Angada, son unto Vali, answered the exceedingly wise Jambavan, when he had spoken,--"If I go not, nor any other powerful monkey, then we should for certain again sit ourselves down to fast unto death. Without doing the mandate of the intelligent lord of monkeys, we, repairing thither, shall not behold ourselves alive. He is extreme both in showing favor and in anger. Disregarding his order, we shall, going there, meet with destruction And his ire shall, not take any other course. Therefore it behoves thee, capable of seeing issues, to reflect." Thus addressed by Angada that powerful and heroic monkey Jambavan answered Angada in excellent words, saying,--"That business, O hero, shall not moult a feather. I shall despatch even him who shall bring about success."--Then that heroic monkey ordered the foremost of monkeys, the highly heroic monkey Hanuman, who stood apart, convinced (of the wisdom of Jambavan's decision.)

[199] _i. e._ it was greater.--T.