Chapter LXXIII: Section LXXIII

Having pointed out unto Rama the expedient for finding out Sita the wise _Kavandha_ began with the following significant words:--"This is the way, O Rama, leading to the mount Rishyamuka, where stand, beautifying the West, the _Jambu_,[76] _Priala_,[77] _Panaca_,[78] _Nagrodha_,[79] _Plaksha_,[80] _Tinduka_,[81] _Ashathya_,[82] _Karnikar_,[83] _Chuta_,[84] _Naga_,[85] _Tilaka_,[86] _Naktamal_,[87] _Neelashok_,[88] _Cadamva_,[89] _Karavira_,[90] _Agnimukhya_,[91] _Asoka_, _Raktachandan_,[92] _Paribhadraka_,[93] and many other trees. Ascending those trees or lowering them by force on earth, do thou proceed living on those fruits like unto ambrosia. Passing by this forest, O Kakuthstha, thou shalt reach another abounding in trees blooming with flowers like unto the garden of celestials and _Uttarkuru_ where in all the months of the year the trees produce fruits and honey and where all the seasons dwell as in the forest of _Chaitkraratha_.[94] There stand beautifully many a tree lowered down with the burden of fruits, containing towering branches, dense as a collection of clouds or a mountain. Ascending those trees and lowering them, Lakshmana shall offer thee, fruits like unto ambrosia. O heroes, ranging from forest to forest, from high mountains to hillocks, ye shall get at the lake Pampa, void of gravels and acquatic plants and hence there is no danger of falling down to the people, having level watering-places, covered with sands and blooming with red and white lotuses. There emit forth musical notes, swans, frogs, cranes and ospreys sporting in the lake Pampa. They are not filled with terror in view of human beings, inexperienced as they are in the matter of destruction. O Raghava, do ye fare on those plump birds like unto a lump of clarified butter and diverse fishes such as _Rohita_,[95] _Chakratunda_,[96] and _Nala_.[97] O Rama, the devoted Lakshmana, shall offer unto thee, various other best fishes, devoid of scale and fins, plump, filled with bones, having destroyed them with shafts and roasted them in fire. And after thou hadst feasted on them, Lakshmana shall bring thee water for drinking on a lotus leaf, smelling like a lotus, coming in contact with flowers, delicious, pleasantly cold, wholesome, void of impurities, transparent like silver and crystal. And while roaming in the evening he shall point out unto thee fat monkeys ranging in the wood and lying in the hollows of mountains. And thou too, O best of men, shalt behold those fat monkeys, who had drunk water, roaring like unto oxen appearing on the banks of a river to drink water. And rambling in the evening, thou shalt assuage thy grief beholding the pleasant water of Pampa and blossoming trees. There, O Raghava, the _Tilakas_ and _Naktamalakas_, crested with flowers and full blown white and red lotuses shall mitigate thy sorrows. There liveth no person who wears garlands of those flowers. Garlands strung with those flowers never wither away, O Raghava, because the disciples of the great ascetic Matanga lived there with concentrated hearts. Drops of perspiration, falling on the earth from the persons of those ascetics worn out with the burden of the wild fruits collected by them for their spiritual guide, have been transformed by virtue of their asceticism unto these garlands. These garlands do never wither, O Raghava, because of their origination from those drops of perspiration. Even at the present day, O Kakuthstha, there liveth an immortal mendicant woman, by name _Savari_, who had waited in attendance upon those departed ones. Beholding thee, O Rama,who art adored of all creatures like unto the Deity Himself, that mendicant woman, ever engaged in pious observances, shall attain to the abode of celestials. O Rama, turning to the western bank of Pampa, thou shalt, O Kakuthshtha, behold the incomparable and secret asylum of Matanga. Fearing the divine authority of that great ascetic Matanga, the elephants, though there are many, dare not cross the threshold of his asylum. O Raghava, this forest is widely known as Matanga-wood. Thou shalt sport, O Rama, with a delighted heart in that forest resembling the celestial garden--_Nandana_ and filled with various birds. There stands in front of Pampa the highly inaccessible mount _Rishyamuka_, ornamented with many a blossoming tree and guarded on all sides by little serpents. That mount is highly munificient. It was created by Brahma in the days of yore. A person, sleeping on the summit of that hill and dreaming of an accession of wealth, really gets at it after the dream is over. A perpetrator of iniquitous deeds and engaged in impious observances ascending that hill, the Rakshasas seize upon him, asleep, and bruise him. Thou shalt hear the terrible roar of the young elephants ranging in the asylum of Matanga, situated on the banks of Pampa. Thou shalt furthermore observe many a quickly moving, infuriated elephant, resembling clouds in hue and with red temporal juice oozing out of their heads, roaming here and there sometimes separately and again in a band. Those mighty elephants, roaming the forest, return to their woody homes, drinking the pleasant, pure and sweet smelling water of Pampa. And do thou assuage thy grief, beholding there the bears, wolves and _Rurus_ of a tender countenance like unto sapphire, who are harmless and never afraid of human beings. There is a huge cave, O Rama, in that mountain, covered on all sides with rocks and where it is very hard to enter. At the entrance of that cave lies a beautiful, wide lake of cool water, hedged on all sides with trees abounding in fruits. There liveth with other monkeys the virtuous-souled _Sugriva_, who sometimes resideth on the summit of the hill." Having thus addressed Rama and Lakshmana, _Kavandha_, highly powerful resembling the sun in effulgence and wearing garlands appeared beautiful on the sky. Thereupon Rama and Lakshmana, preparing to proceed spoke unto that great one stationed in the sky, saying, "Do thou go." Whereto _Kavandha_ replied, saying "Do ye proceed to make good your end" and bidding them adieu, who were well pleased, departed. Regaining his pristine beauty and shining in grace and effulgence that _Kavandha_, who was on the sky, fixing his looks upon Rama, and pointing out unto him his way, said "Do thou make friends with (Sugriva)".

[76] A fruit-tree, the rose apple--_Lat. (Eugenia Jambolana)_.--T.

[77] A tree commonly _Piyal--Lat. (Buchanania latifolia)_.--T.

[78] The bread fruit or _Jaka_ tree--_Lat. (Artocarpus
integrifolia)_.--T.

[79] The Indian fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus Indica)_.--T.

[80] Waved leaf fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus infectoria)_.--T.

[81] A sort of ebony--_Lat. (Diospyros gtutinosa)_.--T.

[82] A holy fig-tree--_Lat. (Ficus religiosa)_.--T.

[83] The name of a tree commonly _Kaniyar--Lat. (Pterospermum
acerifolium)_.--T.

[84] The mango--_Lat. (Mangifera Indica)_.--T.

[85] A small tree--_Lat. (Mesua ferrea)_.--T.

[86] A kind of tree commonly _Tila_.--T.

[87] A tree--_Lat. (Galedupaarborea Rex)_.--T.

[88] Blue _Asoka--Lat. (Jonesia Asock)_.--T.

[89] A plant commonly _Kadamva--Lat. (Nauclea Kadamba)_.--T.

[90] A fragrant plant--_Lat. (Oleander or Nerium Odorum)_.--T.

[91] The marking nut plant--_Lat. (Semecarpius anacardium)_.--T.

[92] Red Sandal.--T.

[93] The coral tree--_Lat. (Erythrina fulgens)_.--T.

[94] The garden of the deity _Kuvera_. It is derived from
_Chithraratha_--a _Gandharba_ in charge of the garden.

[95] The Rohi fish--_Lat. (cyprinus Rohita Ham)_.--T.

[96] A kind of fish resembling a wheel in appearance.--T.

[97] A kind of sprat, according to some, a shrimp or prawn.--T.