The Ramcharitmanas 3
Page 6
The crowds on foot, the chariots,
The troops of shape-shifting demons—
A mighty army that defied description?
Here were forests, orchards, groves and gardens,
Lakes, wells, ponds and pools, all lovely to behold.
Daughters of men, Nagas, gods and Gandharvas,
Captivated the hearts of munis with their beauty,
And mighty wrestlers as vast as mountains
Bellowed and thundered,
As they grappled in the many wrestling-grounds,
Wrathfully challenging each other.
Countless warriors, hideous and formidable,
Carefully guarded the city in every direction,
While here and there vile demons gorged themselves
On buffaloes, men, cows, donkeys and goats.
Tulsidas has told a little of their story
Because they will give up their bodies
At the pilgrimage site of Raghubir’s arrow
And so most certainly attain salvation.
Seeing the numerous city guards,
The monkey thought to himself,
‘I will take a very tiny form
And enter the town by night.’
(3)
The monkey took on a form as small as a gnat,
And set off for Lanka, invoking the Lord in human form.
At the city gates, a Rakshasi called Lankini, stood guard.2
She called out, ‘Where are you going, disregarding me?
Don’t you know my speciality, fool?
Every thief here is my food!’
The mighty monkey punched her with a fist,
So that she staggered and fell to the ground, vomiting blood.
Then, recovering from the blow, Lankini stood up,
And full of fear, folded her hands and humbly said,
‘After giving the boon to Ravan,
Brahma told me before he left,
“When you reel from a monkey’s blow,
Know that the destruction of the demons is at hand.”
Sire, I must have done many good deeds,
That I can see Ram’s envoy with my own eyes.
Place all the joys of heaven and the bliss of salvation
In one scale of the balance, sire—
But they cannot, even all together, equal
The bliss of a moment’s communion with the good.
(4)
Enter the city, and accomplish your task,
Keeping the king of Koshalpuriv in your heart.’
Poison turns into nectar, an enemy becomes a friend,
The ocean reduces to a small puddle, fire becomes cold,
And Sumeru becomes like a grain of dust, Garud,
For him upon whom Ram looks with favour.
Assuming a tiny form, Hanuman
Entered the city, invoking the divine Lord.
He searched each and every mansion,
And saw countless warriors everywhere.
He then entered Dashanan’s palace,
So exceedingly marvellous, it defied description.
The monkey saw Ravan sleeping there,
But could not see Vaidehi anywhere in the palace.
He then saw another lovely mansion,
Which had its own temple to Hari set apart.
The house had painted upon it Ram’s weapons—
Its beauty was more than words can tell.
Seeing there a cluster of tender, young tulsi plants,
The monkey chief rejoiced.3
(5)
‘Lanka is the abode of countless demons,
How could a good man make a home here?’
As the monkey began thus pondering to himself,
Vibhishan awoke,
And began repeating ‘Ram, Ram’ in prayer.
With a joyful heart, the monkey recognized a true devotee.
‘I will most certainly make his acquaintance,
For a good man will not hurt my mission.’
Taking on a Brahman’s form, he called out,
And, hearing him, Vibhishan at once rose and hurried out.
Paying him homage, he asked after his well-being, and said,
‘O Brahman, tell me your story.
Are you one of Hari’s servants,
For my heart is filled with love at sight of you,
Or are you Ram himself, loving friend of the lowly,
Who has come here to make me deeply blessed?’
Then Hanumant told him all—
Ram’s story, and his own name.
Hearing Ram’s story, their bodies trembled with joy,
And their hearts grew absorbed in remembering his virtues.
(6)
‘Listen, son of the Wind, I live here
Like the poor tongue in the midst of teeth.
Revered sir, knowing that I have no master,
Will the master of the solar dynasty ever show me his favour?
My impure, Rakshasa body is not fit for spiritual endeavours,
Nor is there love for his lotus feet in my heart.
But now I have hope, Hanuman,
For without Hari’s grace, one can never meet a saint.
It is only because Raghubir has showed me his favour,
That you, of your own accord, revealed yourself to me.’
‘Listen, Vibhishan, it is the Lord’s way—
He is ever loving towards his servants.
Tell me, what noble descent can I claim?
I am just a frivolous monkey, deficient in every way.
Why, he who takes our name in the morning,
Gets no food through the rest of the day!
This is how vile I am! But listen, my friend,
Raghubir has been gracious even to me!’
Remembering the Lord’s virtues,
Hanuman’s eyes filled with tears.
(7)
‘Is it any wonder then that those who, knowing this, forget such a master
And wander in pursuit of sensual pleasures, should be unhappy?’
In this way he related Ram virtues,
And found inexpressible peace.
Then Vibhishan related the whole story
Of the manner in which Janak’s daughter was living there,
And Hanumant said, ‘Listen, brother,
I want to see mother Janaki.’
Vibhishan explained how he might do so,
And the Wind’s son left, bidding him farewell.
Assuming his earlier, tiny form he went
To the ashok grove where lived Sita.
Beholding her, he paid her homage in his heart.
She spent the watches of the nights sitting up,
Her body thin and wasted, a single braid of matted hair wound upon her head,4
Repeating to herself the list of Raghupati’s virtues.
Her eyes were fixed upon her own feet,
But her heart was absorbed in the contemplation of Ram’s lotus feet.
The son of the Wind grew exceedingly sorrowful
Upon seeing Janaki so sad.
(8)
He remained hidden amongst the leaves of a tree,
And wondered to himself, ‘What shall I do?’
At that very moment, Ravan came—
With him were many women in rich attire.
The scoundrel tried every means to win Sita over—
Sweet words, gifts, threats, and even distrust of her Lord.
Said Ravan, ‘Listen, wise and beautiful one,
I will make Mandodari and all these other queens
Your handmaidens, I promise,
If you will look at me but once.’
Placing a blade of grass between herself and Ravan,
And remembering her most beloved lord of Avadh, Vaidehi replied,
‘Listen, ten-faced one, can a firefly’s glimmer
Ever make a lotus bloom?
Think about this!’ Janaki continued,
‘Have you no id
ea of Raghubir’s arrows, wretch?
You deceitful scoundrel! You carried me away when I was alone!
You have no shame, you brazen cad!’
Hearing himself likened to a firefly,
And Ram to the sun,
Ravan, deeply humiliated by her harsh words,
Drew his sword and roared in rage.
(9)
‘Sita, you have insulted me!
I will cut off your head with my sharp sword!
Obey me this instant,
My pretty one, or else lose your life!’
‘Lovely as a garland of blue lotuses is my Lord’s arm,
And as mighty as an elephant’s trunk, Dashkandhar!
Only that arm will touch this neck, or else your cruel sword!
Listen well, fool—this is my solemn vow!
O glittering Chandrahas,5 take away the searing anguish
Of my separation from Raghupati!
Your noble blade is cold and sharp—
Relieve me, then, of my burden of sorrow,’ cried Sita.
Hearing her words, Ravan rushed again to kill her,
But Mai’s daughterv intervened with prudent counsel.
So he summoned all the demon women and said,
‘Go, scare Sita in every way.
If she does not yield to me in a month’s time,
I will draw this sword and kill her!’
Dashkandhar then returned to his palace,
While the horde of demon women
Assumed hideous forms of every kind
To frighten Sita.
(10)
But amongst them was a Rakshasi called Trijata—
She was devoted to Ram’s feet, and was discerning and wise.
She gathered them all and told them her dream.
‘Serve Sita, for your own sakes.
In my dream, I saw a monkey set fire to Lanka,
And the entire demon army killed.
The ten-headed one was mounted, naked, upon an ass,
With shaven head, and all his twenty arms broken.
In this manner, he went towards the south,6
And it seemed that Vibhishan got Lanka.
Raghubir’s victory was proclaimed in the city,
And then the Lord sent for Sita.
This dream, I solemnly declare,
Will come true in a few days.’
Hearing her, they all grew afraid,
And fell at the feet of Janak’s daughter.
They then went off here and there,
While Sita thought anxiously to herself,
‘A month must pass before
This vile Rakshasa will kill me.’
(11)
Folding her hands, she implored Trijata,
‘Mother, you are my friend in adversity.
Now quickly find a way for me to leave this body,
For I cannot bear this intolerable pain of separation any more.
Fetch some wood and build a pyre,
And then, Mother, set it on fire,
So that it may prove my love to be true, wise one—
For who can bear to hear Ravan’s sharp and painful words?’
Hearing her words, Trijata clasped her feet and comforted her,
Reminding her of the Lord’s majesty, might and glory.
‘Listen, beautiful princess, it is night and there is no fire to be had.’
So saying, she left for her own home.
Said Sita, ‘Even providence has turned against me!
No fire to be had, so no end to my anguish!
I see bright sparks of fire in the sky,
Yet not a single star falls to earth.
The moon, though burning brightly, refuses to rain fire,
As if he knows what a luckless one I am.
Ashok tree, listen to my prayer. Your name means “without sorrow”—
Be true to it and take away my grief.
Your tender new leaves are red like flames,
So give me fire and do not prolong my agony any further.’
Watching Sita so distraught with the grief of separation,
Each instant passed like a kalpa for Hanuman.
The monkey reflected to himself,
And then threw down the ring
Like a falling spark from the ashok tree.
Joyfully she rose and caught it in in her hand.
(12)
Then she saw that lovely ring,
Beautifully inscribed with Ram’s name.
Recognizing the ring, she gazed at it in wonder,
Her heart turbulent with joy and sorrow.
‘No one can conquer the invincible Raghurai,
Nor can such a ring be made through maya!’
As Sita was reflecting upon the various possibilities,
Hanuman began to speak sweet words,
Recounting Ramchandra’s virtues.
The instant she heard him, her sorrow fled,
And she listened with all her heart
As Hanuman told the whole story from the start.
‘You who tell this tale which is nectar to my ears—
Why do you not show yourself?’
So Hanuman climbed down and approached her,
But Sita, startled, turned away.
‘I am Ram’s messenger, Mother Janaki,
I swear it truly by that ocean of mercy.
I am the one who has brought this ring, Mother—
Ram gave it as his token for you.’
‘Tell me, how can men keep company with monkeys?’
So he told her the story of how their alliance was formed.
Hearing the monkey’s affectionate words,
Trust arose in her heart,
And she recognized him as a servant of the merciful Lord,
In thought, word and deed.
(13)
Knowing him to be one of Hari’s followers, she felt great affection for him.
Her eyes filled with tears, and her body trembled with emotion.
‘I was drowning in the ocean of separation, Hanuman,
But now, dear son, you have become my raft.
Tell me now of their welfare, I beseech you—
How is he, that abode of bliss, Khar’s enemy, and his young brother?
Raghurai is soft-hearted and kind, monkey,
So why is he being so cruel?
His innate nature is to please his devotees—
But does Raghunayak ever remember me?
Will my eyes ever be soothed, dear Hanuman,
By looking upon his dark and tender form?’
She could speak no more, and her eyes filled with tears.
‘Ah, my Lord, you have completely forgotten me!’
Seeing Sita so distraught by separation,
The monkey replied in sweet and respectful tones,
‘Mother, the Lord and his younger brother are both well,
Except that the abode of mercy is sorrowful in your sorrow.
Do not be so sad, Mother,
For Ram loves you twice as much as you love him.
Now compose yourself, Mother,
And hear Raghupati’s message.’
But even as he said these words, the monkey’s voice faltered,
And his eyes filled with tears.
(14)
‘Ram says, “Ever since I have been separated from you, Sita,
All things have become contrary for me.
Tender new leaves upon the trees are like tongues of fire,
The night like the night of all-destroying time, and the moon is as scorching as the sun.
Clusters of water-lilies seem like forests of spears,
While rain clouds shower boiling oil.
Things that used to soothe now give pain—
Soft, cool and fragrant breezes now are like a serpent’s breath.
Sorrow lessens by speaking of it—
But whom can I tell? There is no one who will understand.
The secret of such love as m
ine and yours,
My beloved, only my heart knows,
And this heart remains always with you.
Know this to be the essence of my love.”’
Hearing her Lord’s message, Vaidehi
Lost herself in love.
Said the monkey, ‘Take courage, Mother,
And remember Ram, the bringer of joy to his servants.
Reflect upon Raghupati’s majesty,
And listening to my words, discard all fear.
The demon hordes are like moths,
Raghupati’s arrows the flame.
Consider the demons reduced to ashes,
Mother, and take courage in your heart!
(15)
Had Raghubir but known where you were,
He would not have delayed.
When the sun of Ram’s arrows rises, O daughter of Janak,
Can the darkness of the demon hordes remain?
I would have taken you away this instant, Mother,
But, I swear upon Ram, I have not received his command to do so.
Be patient for a few days more, Mother,
Till Raghubir arrives with the monkeys.
Slaying all the demons, he will take you away,
And Narad and the other munis will sing his fame in all the three worlds.’
‘Son, are all the monkeys like you?
The demon warriors are mighty and strong,
And I have grave misgivings in my heart.’
Hearing this, the monkey revealed his true form,
His body as vast as a golden mountain,
Terrible in battle, mighty and valiant.
Then Sita believed in her heart and was comforted,
And the Wind god’s son took on his tiny form once more.
‘Listen, Mother, we creatures of the trees
Have no great strength or intelligence of our own,
But by the Lord’s power, even the tiniest snake
Can eat Garud himself.’
(16)
The monkey’s words, steeped in devotion, majesty, glory and power,
Soothed Sita’s heart.
Recognizing him as being beloved of Ram, she blessed him,
‘Dear son, be ever an abode of strength and virtue.
Be ever free from old age and death, my son, and a treasure-house of good qualities,
And may Raghunath ever shower you with his grace.’
The instant he heard her blessing ‘May the Lord shower you with his grace’,
Hanuman became utterly immersed in love.