Chapter CLXXVIII: Section XXXVI

The highly effulgent son of the Wind-god, Hanuman, to create Sita's confidence, again addressed her with the following words:--"O great dame, I am a monkey, the messenger of the highly intelligent Rama. Behold this precious ring with Rama's name engraven on it, given by thy high-souled lord and brought as a token to create thy confidence. Do thou take heart and may good betide thee, there will be an end of thy grief soon." And taking the ring that used to deck her lord's finger and looking at it, Janaki seemed to have actually got her lord. And her graceful countenance, having large eyes, looked, with delight, like unto the Moon released from the possession of Rahu. And greatly delighted at her husband's news that modest damsel, affectionately welcoming Hanuman, applauded that great monkey--"O foremost of monkeys, thou art brave, powerful and wise, since thou hast alone smitten this abode of the Rakshasas. Thou hast, with thy laudable prowess, leaped, a hundred leagues, across the ocean, the abode of marine monsters, taking it for _Goshpada_.[357] O foremost of monkeys, I do not consider thee as an ordinary monkey, since thou dost not care or fear Ravana. O best of monkeys, thou art worthy of my welcome, since thou hast been despatched by Rama, knowing self. Rama, hard of being got at, hath not sent thee, specially to me, without a trial of thy prowess. By my good luck, is it all well with the virtuous-souled and truthful Rama and the highly powerful Lakshmana the enhancer of Sumitra's joy? And if Kakuthstha lives untouched by ill, then why does he not burn the earth, encircled by the ocean, with his ire like unto the fire of dissolution? Or they are capable of His comfitting the celestials in a battle but me-thinks by my ill-luck, the end of my miseries hath not arrived as yet. Is Rama greatly pained? Does he grieve? Is that foremost of men making preparations for my rescue? Has he forgotten his work being overwhelmed with fear and poorliness of heart? Is that son of the king performing still his manly duties? Is that slayer of foes, desirous of acquiring victory, pleasing his friends still with forgiveness and gifts and dealing his enemies with punishment, sowing dissensions amongst them, and with other expedients? Is he still gaining friends and are friends gathering around him? Is he welcoming his friends and are they honoring him the more? Is that son of the king invoking the blessings of the celestials? Hath he attained manliness and assistance from the celestials? Hath Raghava lost all his affection for me for my living at a distance from him? Will he save me from this disaster? Hath not Rama, ever used to happiness and unused to misery, been enfeebled by this disaster? Is he informed always of the welfare of Kauslaya, Sumitra and Bharata? Is not Raghava, worthy of honors, beside himself with grief in my absence? Will not Rama rescue met Will not Bharata, ever devoted to his brother, send out one Aksauhini of terrible soldiers under the command of his ministers for my rescue? Will not the graceful Sugriva, the lord of the monkeys come to help me with hosts of monkeys having huge teeth and nails? Will not the heroic Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's joy, conversant with the use of weapons, burn down the Rakshasas with his shafts? Shall I not behold soon that Ravana with his kinsmen hath been destroyed in battle by Rama with terrible weapons? Is not the gold-hued and lotus-smelling countenance (of Rama) dried up in my absence like unto lotus dried up by the rays of the sun in shallow water? Does he still hold patience in his heart, who renouncing his kingdom for virtue and repairing, on foot with me even to the forest, was not stricken with fear and grief? His love for his mother, father or any other person is not greater than or equal to his love for me. O messenger, I shall keep my life so long I do not hear anything about my dear one." Having addressed that lord of monkeys with these highly sound and sweet accents, that graceful and worshipful dame ceased, with a view to hear again from him pleasant tales regarding Rama. And hearing the words of Sita the terribly powerful Maruti, placing his joined palms on his head said,--"The lotus-eyed Rama doth not know that thou art here, and hence he hath not been able to rescue thee like unto Purandara regaining Sachee. And hearing about thee from me soon shall Raghava come assisted by a large army of monkeys and bears. And impeding the course of the unagitated deep and building, by means of his terrible shafts, a bridge across it, Kakuthstha, shall divest the city Lanka of all the Rakshasas. And forsooth shall Rama destroy them, even if the celestials, or Death himself stand in his way. O worshipful dame, stricken with grief in thy absence, Rama is restless like unto an elephant smitten by a lion. I can swear, O worshipful dame, by the mounts Mandara, Malaya, Vindya, Sumeru, Dardura and all the fruits and roots, that thou shalt behold like unto the rising of the full moon, the countenance of Rama having beautiful eyes, graceful, _Bimba_-like lips and beautified with beautiful _kundalas_. Thou shalt soon behold, O Vaidehi, Rama, on the mount Prasravana, like unto the performer of hundred sacrifices seated on the back of the elephant (_Airavata_). Raghava doth not take meat nor drink honey--he takes every day in the evening boiled rice and such wild fruits as are sanctioned by the _Sastras_. His heart is so much attached unto thee, that he does not drive away even flies, insects and snakes from his body. Rama is always engaged in meditations, overwhelmed with grief, and he has no other thought but seeing thee. Rama hath no sleep and even when asleep that best of men awakes exclaiming in sweet accents, 'O Sita!'. He always welcomes thee sighing and saying "O my dear love!" whenever he beholds any fruit, flower or any object liked by the ladies. O worshipful dame, he is always lamenting, exclaiming 'O Sita!' and that high-souled son of the king, to regain thee, hath resorted to ascetic observances." On hearing about Rlma, Sita was greatly delighted and she was equally grieved on hearing of his sorrow. And it appeared like the rising of the moon and the appearance of the clouds at the same time in an autumnal night.

[357] A measure as much as a cow's foot-step will hold.--T.