Chapter XXX: Section XXX

Then the spies communicated unto Lanka's lord news concerning Raghava and his host stationed at the mount Suvela. Hearing the words of the spies, that Rama, accompanied by a mighty army, had arrived (there), Ravana was a little agitated and spoke unto Sardula,--"Thy color hath changed its natural aspect, and, O ranger of the night, thou lookest poorly. Didst not come under the control of the wrathful foes?" Thus ordered by him, then (Sardula), bewildered by fear, addressed that tiger of a Rakshasa, saying,--"Those powerful monkeys, O king, puissant, strong, and protected by Raghava, are incapable of being ranged (by us). And they cannot be conversed with or interrogated. All around, the courses are kept by monkeys resembling hills. As soon as I entered, and was scanning that host, I was discovered. And forcibly taken by the Rakshas, I was pulled by them hither and thither. And furiously assailed by the monkeys with thighs, clenched fists, teeth, and palms, I was dragged in the midst of the army by the enraged monkeys. And, after having been taken all about, I was (at length) taken before Rama, bleeding, with my limbs showing sorry work, and my senses swimming and paralysed. And, having been belabored by the monkeys, I, on craving his kindness with joined hands, was, at his pleasure, rescued by Raghava, with, "Don't, don't"! Having filled up the deep with rocks and crags, Rama equipped with weapons, stayeth, occupying the gate of Lanka. And, letting me off, that one of suspasstng vigor, surrounded by monkeys, and, arranging his forces in the Garuda fashion, advanceth upon Lanka. And he draweth nigh to the wall. Therefore, do one of these things in preference to the other,--either render back Sita, or give him battle". Hearing this, Ravana, lord of Rakshasas, then reflecting in his mind, spoke unto Sardula these pregnant words,--'Even if the gods, Gandharvas, and Danavas should array themselves against me, Sita I shall not give, from fear of all creatures". Having said this, that exceedingly energetic one again said,--"Thou hast ranged this army. Who here among the monkeys are heroic? And, amiable one, what is their potency? And what are those monkeys that are hard to approach, like? And, O thou of fair vows, whose sons and grandsons are they? Truly relate all this (to me). Having ascertained their strength and weakness, I shall in this matter adopt my course. Those who wish for fight, certainly take account of all this". Thus addressed by Ravana, Sardula--best of spies--thus begin to speak in the presence of Ravana,--"O king, that unconquerable one in fight, Jambavan, is well known as the son Gadgada, king of bears. The other son of Gadgada is the son of Sakra's preceptor. By which son, single-handed, was done immense oppression to the Rakshas. And the righteous and puissant Sushena is the son of Dharma.[82] And the mild monkey, Dadhimukha, O king, is the son of Soma.[83] And Sumukha, Durmukha and the monkey, Vegadarcin (resembling) Death himself, were for certain begot by the Self-create in the shape of a monkey.[84] And Nila himself is the son of the bearer of sacrificial oblations;[85] and Hanuman is famed as the son of the Wind-god. And the irrepressible and youthful Angada is the grandson of Sakra. And the lusty Mainda and Dwivida are sprung from Acwi. And five are the sons of Vaivaswata, resembling the Reaper himself--Gaya, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sarabha and Gandhamadana. But I can not enumerate the rest, ten _kotis_ of heroic monkeys--all sons of deities--burning for battle. And this is Dacaratha's son--this youth resembling a lion, who slew Dushana and Khara and _Triciras_. There breathes none on Earth that is like unto Rama in prowess, by whom was slain Viradha and Kavandha, resembling the Destroyer. No person can on earth describe the virtues of Rama; by whom have been slain all those Rakshasas that had gone to Janasthana. And here also is the virtuous Lakshmana, like unto the foremost of elephants, coming in the way of whose shafts, even Vasava doth not live. And here are Sweta and Jyotirmukha, sprung from Vatskara's self; and the monkey Hemakuta is the son of Varuna. And the heroic Nala--best of monkeys, is the son of Vicwakarma. And powerful and impetuous, Durdhara is the son of Vasu. And that foremost of Rakshasas, Bibhishana, thy brother, engaged in the welfare of Raghava, hath laid seige to Lanka. Thus have I described unto thee the entire monkey host stationed in mount Suvela. As for what remaineth to be done, thou art the master".

[82] Righteousness.

[83] Moon.

[84] Another meaning is,--_"The monkey, Vegadarci--who is Death himself
in the shape of a monkey"._ But I give the more acceptable sense.
T.

[85] Fire.