Chapter CXCII: Section L

Seeing the tawney-eyed one staying before hiip, the mighty-armed Ravana, affrighter of (the worlds), was overwhelmed with fierce wrath. And gazing at that foremost of monkeys girt with power, and with his soul exercised with apprehension, he (thought),--"Is this the worshipful Nandi, come hither in person, by whom I, on my jeering at him, had formerly been cursed in Kailaca?[399] Or is this one wearing the shape of a monkey Vali's son, Vana?" And with his eyes coppery with rage, the king asked his foremost counselor, Prahasta, in words fraught with sense and suiting the season,--"Ask this wicked-minded one, whence is he? And what led him to ravage the grove, and what was his object in brow-beating the Rakshasas? And what hath been his purpose in entering my metropolis incapable of being subdued; and what for did he also fight (with my retainers?) Do thou ask the wicked-minded one about this." Hearing Ravana's speech, Prahasta said,--"Take heart! Fair fortune to thee! Thou needst not be alarmed, O monkey. If thou hast been sent to Ravana's residence by Indra, tell us truly everything. Let no fear, O monkey, be thine. Thou shalt be liberated. If thou belong to Vaicravana, or to Yama, or to Varuna, and hast entered into this city of ours disguising (thy proper shape),--or if thou hast been despatched by Vishnu burning for victory, (tell us this truly). Thy prowess is certainly not that of a monkey,--thy form alone is that of a monkey. Unfold this (unto us) faithfully,--O monkey, and thou shalt get (back) thy liberty. But if thou shouldst say aught untruthful, thy life shall pay dear for it. Or tell us wherfore thou hast entered into Ravana's mansion." Thus addressed then, that foremost of monkeys said unto the lord of Rakshasas,--"I am not Sakra's, nor Yama's, nor Varuna's. I have no friendship with Dhanada,[400] nor have I been despatched by Vishnu. This is my race; and I have come hither a monkey for obtaining a sight of the Rakshasa chief. And it is to attain a sight of the Rakshasa lord that I have destroyed his peerless grove; and it is for this that, the powerful Rakshasas seeking for fight, I for the preservation of my person have resisted them in conflict. I am incapable of being slain with weapons even by the celestials and the Asuras themselves. This boon I also[401] happen to have received from the Great-father. It is because I was desirous of seeing the king that I have suffered this weapon to restrain me. Although the Rakshasas have brought me (hither thus), yet I am free from any weapon (restraining me). I come near thee on a certain business of Rama. Knowing me for a messenger of Raghava endowed with measureless prowess, do thou, O lord, listen to my words, calculated to work thy profit."

[399] Ravana had formerly laughed at Nandi for his monkey-face.--T.

[400] Lit.--giver of wealth--a designation of Kuvera.--T.

[401] _like thyself._