‘Look for Sītā and for Rāvaṇa’s home in Marīcipaṭṭanam and in the pleasant Jātipura, in Avantī and Angalopā in the dense forests, the kingdoms and the coastal cities. At the point where the river Sindhu flows into the sea, there is an enormous mountain with a hundred peaks, covered with trees. It is called Hemagiri. There are winged lions that live on its slopes and they carry off fish and other water creatures and elephants to their nests. The monkeys who can take any form at will should search this sky-touching mountain with its varied trees carefully.
‘The monkeys will see the peaks of the golden mountain Pāriyātra, which is not normally visible, standing out from the ocean. Hundreds of thousands of gandharvas live there. They are fierce and as bright as the fire, and they can take any form they choose. The monkeys, even though they are strong and brave, should not go too close to them, nor should they take any fruit from this region. The gandharvas are very powerful and courageous and they guard their roots and fruits zealously. Make every effort to find Sītā there and you will have nothing to fear from the gandharvas if you behave like monkeys.
‘Mount Cakravān occupies about a quarter of that ocean and that is where Viśvakarmā made the disc with a thousand spokes. Viṣṇu killed Pancajana and the dānava Hayagrīva there and took the disc and the conch shell from them. Look for Sītā and Rāvaṇa on the broad slopes and deep caves of that mountain.
‘In that immeasurably deep ocean stands Mount Varāha, sixty-four yojanās high with golden peaks. There is a golden city there called Prāgjyotiśa and the wicked dānava Naraka lives there. Look for Sītā and Rāvaṇa on the broad slopes and deep caves of that mountain.
‘When you have passed that, you will see a mountain made entirely of gold. Even the insides of its caves and the water that flows from them is gold. Lions and tigers and elephants and boar roar and bellow all the time, taking pride in their own voices. Indra, whose horses are black, was crowned king by the gods on that mountain and it is called Meghavān.
‘When you have passed that mountain which is protected by Indra, go to the sixty thousand golden hills that shine like the rising sun and are covered with flowering trees that glow golden. In the middle of them is the king, the best of all mountains, Mount Meru. Long ago, the sun god was pleased with the mountain and gave it a boon. “Whoever comes to you, by day or night, shall be turned into gold by my grace. The gods and the gandharvas and dānavas that live here shall glow golden and shall be devoted to me!” The gods go to Mount Meru every evening to worship the sun and the sun, after he has received their worship, goes to the mountain behind which he sets and becomes invisible to all creatures. The sun travels ten thousand yojanās in half an hour and reaches the top of the mountain.
‘There is a huge, shining mansion on its peak that was built by Viśvakarmā. It is surrounded by trees, and birds of all kinds gather there. That is the home of the great-souled Varuṇa, who carries the noose. Look for Sītā and Rāvaṇa in those lakes and rivers that are hard to access. The great sage Merusavarṇi lives there. This righteous sage is Brahmā’s equal and he glows with his own splendour. Prostrate yourselves before him and ask him where Sītā is.
‘When the night is over, the sun lights up the world of living beings by passing from the mountain of the rising sun to the mountain where it sets. Beyond this, it is not possible to go, best of monkeys. Beyond this there is no sun and nothing familiar. Go up to the mountain of the setting sun to look for Sītā and for Rāvaṇa’s home and return here within a month. If you do not, I will have to punish you.
‘My valiant father-in-law, Suṣeṇa, is going with you. Listen to what he says and obey him at all times. This mighty one is my teacher and mentor. I know that you are all brave and strong and capable of acting by yourselves. But you must search the western region under his direction. When you have found Rāma’s wife, we shall have repaid our debt for the favour that he did us.’
Sugrīva then summoned the powerful chief Śatabali. ‘Take hundreds of thousands of monkeys who are your equals in valour and your ministers and explore the northern region which has Mount Himavān as its crest. Look there for Rāma’s blameless wife. When we have accomplished this task, we shall have done what Rāma wants and in doing so, we will have freed ourselves from debt and will have achieved our dearest goal.
‘Search the regions of the Mlecchas, of the Pulindas and Sūrasena, the countries of the Prasthalas, the Bharatas, the Kurus, the Madras, the Kambhojas and the Yavanas. Search the coastal lands of the Śākas, the kingdoms of the Bāhlikas, Ṛṣikas, Pauravas and the Ṭankaṇas. Look in China and the regions beyond China, in Nihāra, Daradā and in the Himālayas, among the forests and groves.
‘Go to Somāśrama, where the gods and gandharvas play and then on to the golden-peaked Mount Kāla. Look for Sītā in the caves and crevices of that mountain. Crossing over that, you will come to Mount Sudarśana whose insides consist entirely of gold. Look in those forests and streams and caves for Sītā and Rāvaṇa. One hundred yojanās from there is a barren waste, with no mountains, trees or rivers and no form of life. Pass through that awful place quickly and make for the white Mount Kailāsa which will bring you great happiness. Kubera’s home, white as a cloud and decorated with gold, is situated there. Viśvakarmā built it for him. There is a beautiful pool in his gardens, filled with lotuses and lilies, where hordes of lovely apsarases come to play. Kubera, the god of wealth and the king of the yakṣas lives there happily with his guhyakas, honoured by all beings. Look for Rāvaṇa and Sītā in those moonlit hills, forests and caves.
‘Go carefully into the caves of Mount Kraunca, for they are hard to access and entry into them is not easy. Great celestial sages who shine like the sun live there and even the gods worship them. Search through the peaks and valleys and slopes and caves of this mountain. Look especially carefully on the main peak of the Kraunca mountain as well as on the next mountain which is treeless and on Mount Mānasa, the home of the birds. No beings, not even the gods, dānavas and rākṣasas can go there, but you should explore the area carefully.
‘After you have crossed Mount Kraunca, you will come to the mountain named Mainaka where the asura Maya lives, in a home that he built himself. Search on the slopes of the mountain and in its caves and in the homes of the horse-faced women who live there, wherever those homes may be. Beyond that lies the region in which the siddhas and the Vālakhilyas and the Vaikhānasas live in their hermitages, practising austerities. Honour them, for their austerities have made them pure and given them magical powers. Ask them for news of Sītā. Lake Vaikhānasa is covered with lotuses and sun-bright swans play in its waters. The elephant Sarvabhauma, Kubera’s mount, wanders in that region with his mates.
‘Beyond that lies a region that has neither sun nor moon nor stars, that has neither beginning nor end. But it is illuminated by the god-like people who live there. They have won magical powers and the ability to illuminate themselves by the practise of austerities and they enjoy their leisure in that place. Then you will come to the river Śailoda with its banks of bamboo. These bamboos carry the siddhas to the other side of the river and back. Thousands of streams run there, fed by pools with golden lotuses which have petals the colour of lapis. There are huge bodies of water there, covered with lotuses, some the colour of blood, some gold, and some bright as the rising sun. All over the area, there are fields of bright lilies the colour of sapphire with filaments of shining gold. The river banks spill the roundest pearls and the rarest gems of every kind. The mountains there blaze like fire. Made primarily of gold, they are filled with gems and jewels.
‘The divinely scented trees have fruits and flowers all year round. They fulfil all your wishes and even to touch them is to experience heaven. There are other trees there that produce clothes adorned with pearls and lapis for men and women. There are others that produce golden couches, exquisitely worked and beyond price. Still others produce flowers that have never been seen before and the finest food and drink, even young and
lovely women whose charms are irresistible. Gandharvas, kinnaras, siddhas, nāgas and vidyādharas, bright as the sun, seek their pleasures there with their women. The air is always filled with music and song and laughter that delights the hearts of all creatures. There is no one there who is unhappy, nor anyone who is without his beloved and each day their pleasures and happiness increases.
‘Beyond this region lies the northern ocean in the middle of which stands the great golden mountain Somagiri. Those who go to the realms of Indra and Brahmā and the world of the gods can see that king of mountains. Even though the region is sunless, it is lit up by the glow of the mountain. Brahmā, the soul of the universe, lives here, waited on by ṛṣis.
‘You must not go beyond the Kurus for any reason whatsoever for the regions beyond are closed to all creatures. Even the gods cannot go beyond Somagiri. Take a look at it and return as quickly as you can. The monkeys can go no further than this. Beyond this there is no sun and nothing familiar. Search in all the places that I have mentioned and also in the places that I have not, as you think best.
‘You are like the wind and the fire. When you have accomplished your goal and found Sītā, you will have pleased Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, and gratified me even more! And when you have done that, you will be free to go wherever you want with your families and loved ones. You can seek your pleasure, for I will have honoured you and placed infinite resources at your disposal!’
Sugrīva had a special message for Hanumān because he felt sure that of all the monkeys, he was the one most likely to be successful. ‘Not on earth or in the sky, not in the heavens or the abode of the gods, nor in the waters is there anyone to rival your skills, bull among monkeys! You know all the worlds with their oceans and mountains. You know all the gods, the gandharvas, asuras and nāgas who inhabit them. Mighty monkey, your speed, power, energy and splendour can be compared only to your father’s, the wind god’s! There is no creature on earth who is your equal and so I look to you to find Sītā. I find strength and wisdom, courage, knowledge of place and time, as well as familiarity with modes of diplomacy and negotiation in you alone!’
Rāma understood Hanumān’s unique gifts and realized that he was particularly well equipped to make the mission a success. He thought to himself, ‘The king of the monkeys clearly feels that Hanumān is the most likely to succeed and so I, too, must assume that he is the most capable of all. He must have proved his capacities by his past achievements for his master to have singled him out like this!’
Rāma gazed at the enterprising monkey with deep satisfaction and felt as if his ends had already been achieved. He gave Hanumān his signet ring with his name engraved upon it so that Sītā would recognize him as a messenger from Rāma. ‘By this sign, best of monkeys, Sītā will know that you have come from me and will receive you without fear. Your visible energy, spirit and valour, as well as Sugrīva’s words indicate to me that you shall be successful!’
The great monkey took the ring and honoured it by placing it upon his head. Then he touched Rāma’s feet and joined his palms and set off on his journey. At the head of the monkey army, Hanumān, son of the Wind, looked like the moon surrounded by stars in a cloudless sky. ‘Son of the Wind, with your strength and courage that rivals a lion’s, I depend on you to find Sītā!’ said Rāma.
Three
* Triśiras obviously had three heads, as indicated by his name.
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This collection published 2011
Copyright © Arshia Sattar, 2011
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Valmiki Ramayana Page 13