Chapter CXIV: Section CXV

Being thus commanded, Hanuman, the son of Maruta, worshipped of the night-rangers, entered the city of Lanka. Entering the city with Bibishana's permissiom, Hanuman, again permitted, entered the Briksha Vatika.[474] And entering there duly, the monkey, who was already known to Sita, espied her, having her person not cleansed, like Rohini, oppressed by Rahu, sitting at the foot of a tree, devoid of joy and encircled by she-demons. And approaching her and bowing unto her, he stood there humbly and unmoved. And beholding the highly powerful Hanuman arrived there the worshipful dame stood silent for sometime and then recognising him became greatly delighted. And beholding her gentle countenance, Hanuman, the best of monkeys, began to relate unto her what Rama had said--"O Vaidehi, it is all well with Rama, Sugriva and Lakshmana. He hath enquired after thy welfare. He hath accomplished his end subduing his enemies--and his enemy is slain. O worshipful dame, the powerful Ravana hath been slain by Rama, helped by Bibhishana and accompanied by the monkeys and Lakshmana. I do relate unto thee this pleasant news, O worshipful dame; I do again delight thee; it is by thy grace, O thou conversant with piety, O Sita, victory hath been gained. Do thou be consoled and relieved of thy anxiety. The enemy Ravana hath been slain and the city of Lanka, hath been brought under submission. (Rama said),--'For discomfitting thy enemy a bridge was constructed over the sea by me who was determined and who did not sleep (for days) and thus my promise hath been fulfilled. Do thou not be afraid for living in Ravana's abode for I have placed at Bibhishana's hands the sovereignty of Lanka. Do thou be consoled thinking as if that thou art living in thy own house. To behold thee, Bibhishana, delighted, shall soon proceed". Being thus accosted the worshipful Sita, having a moon-like countenance, and her voice choked in delight, could not utter any thing. And beholding Sita incapable of replying the foremost of monkeys said,--"What art thou thinking of, O worshipful dame? Why art thou not welcoming me?" Being thus addressed by Hanuman, Sita, ever treading the paths of morality, greatly delighted, replied with words suppressed by tears. "Hearing this pleasant news concerning the victory of my husband--and being brought under the control of joy I am speechless for sometime. O monkey, I do not perceive any such thing which I can confer upon thee, in return, for this pleasant news. I do dot see any such thing on this earth which can match thy pleasant tidings and bestowing which upon thee I may be happy. Silver, gold, or diverse jewels or the kingdom of the three worlds--nothing is a becoming return for thy speech". Being thus addressed by Vaidehi the monkey replied--folding his hands with delight and stationed before Sita,--' O blameless damsel, forsooth this excellent speech becometh thee, who is ever engaged in the welfare of thy husband and ever desirous of his victory. I do consider, O worshipful dame, these words of thine, far greater than the wealth, jewels or even the sovereignty over the celestials. Forsooth I have gained the kingdom of the celestials and other things since I have beheld Rama slay his enemy, victorious and peaceful. Hearing those words of (Hanuman) Maithili the daughter of king Janaka spoke unto the Wind-god's son far more excellent words--"Thou art capable of speaking words, chaste, pleasant and significant of eight sorts of knowledge. Thou art the praise-worthy son of the Wind-god and greatly virtuous; strength, prowess, heroism, knowledge of _Sastras_, noble-mindedness, energy, forgiveness, patience, endurance, humility and many other excellent qualities crown thee". Thereupon not being elated the least, he again, humbly folding his hands with delight and stationed before Sita, said--"If dost thou permit me I may slay all these she-demons who had tortured thee before, distressed thee in the forest of Acoka, stricken with grief of thy lord, and who are cruel, have grim eyes and who perpetrate always dreadful deeds. O worshipful dame, I have heard that these grim-visaged she-demons distressed thee greatly with harsh words at the command of Ravana. I desire to slay all these dreadful, crooked, ugly (she-demons) having fearful eyes, meting out unto them various punishments. I wish to slay all these she-demons, who had used harsh words and had always offended thee, stricking them with fists, fingers, arms, dreadful knee-joints, teeth, chopping off their ears and noses, and pulling them by their hairs: do thou confer upon me this permission. O far famed lady, I shall slay them by these various means, by whom, dreadful as they are, thou hadst been distressed before". Being thus addressed by Hanuman, she, ever kind unto the poor, thinking and meditating, said to him--"O foremost of monkeys, why art thou angry with these she-slaves, who subject as they are to the command of their lord, have done this in accordance with another's order. For my adverse fortune and vicious deeds perpetrated in another birth I have been subject to such a plight and been suffering the consequence thereof. Do thou not speak thus, O thou of huge arms. Such is the course of Fortune. Forsooth by my ill-luck I have met with (this misfortune). I forgive, out of pity, all these she-servants of Ravana; they used to torture me at the command of that Rakshasa. And he being slain they shall not repress me any longer, O son of the Wind-god. Do thou, O monkey, hear of a _Sloka_, related in a _Purana_ and pregnant with religious import, which was uttered by a boar to a tiger. 'No one taketh upon himself the iniquity of a perpetrator of vicious deeds. So it behoveth the pious crowned with an excellent character to observe the rules (of piety). So it is proper to show compassion even upon those who perpetrate crimes and are worthy of being slain. Who is there who doth not commit a crime? It is not proper to act cruelly even by them who take delight in killing men, although they commit various iniquitous deeds.'" Being thus addressed by Sita, Hanuman, skilled in speech, spoke unto the blameless Rama's spouse, saying--"Thou art the worthy spouse of Rama, religiously wedded and crowned with many qualities. Permit me, O worshipful dame, to proceed where Raghava is". Being thus accosted by Hanuman, Vaidehi, the daughter of king Janaka, said,--"I wish to see my lord, ever fond of those who are devoted unto him". Hearing these words, the high-minded Hanuman, the son of Maruta, pleasing Maithili said--"Thou shalt behold Rama, having a countenance like the full moon, with Lakshmana, surrounded by his friends and having his enemies slain as Sachi beholdeth Indra the king of the celestials". Addressing these words unto Sita appearing like Sree herself the highly effulgent Hanuman returned where Raghava was. Thereupon Hanuman, the foremost of monkeys, related duly all what did the daughter of king Janaka say unto Raghava resembling the lord of the celestials.

[474] A garden in the city of Lanka.--T.