Chapter CXXXIII: Section LVIII

When the monkeys, whose lives had well nigh departed out of them, had spoken these piteous words, the vulture, in solemn accents, with tears in his eyes, said unto the monkeys, --"Ye monkeys, ye have said that my younger brother, named Jatayu, hath been slain in battle by the powerful Ravana. On account of my age and want of wings, I, although hearing this, bear it. Nor have I strength to-day to clear scores touching my brother's enmity. Formerly, while engaged in the destruction of Vritra, he and I, burning for victory, soared in the sky near the flaming sun, garlanded by glory. Thence impetuously wheeling round, we went to the celestial regions along the etherial way. And it came to pass that, coming midway of the sun, Jatayu was faint. Witnessing my brother severely struck by the solar rays, and exceedingly stupified, I from affection shadowed him with my wings. Thereat, my pinions scathed, I dropped down on Vindhya, ye foremost of monkeys; and staying here, I could not know the circumstances that have befallen my brother." Thus addressed by Jatayu's brother, Sampati, the eminently wise prince Angada answered,--"if thou art indeed the brother of Jatayu, having heard what I have related, tell (us) if thou knowest touching the abode of that Rakshasa. Tell us if thou knowest anent that short-sighted worst of Rakshasas, Ravana, whether staying far or near." Thereat, rejoicing the monkeys, the exceedingly energetic elder brother of Jatayu spoke words worthy of him,--"Ye monkeys, my pinions have been burnt; and I am a vulture shorn of strength. Therefore I will help Rama well by my words. I know the realms of Varuna, and Vishnu's Trivikrama[182] worlds, the wars of the gods and Asuras, and the churning for ambrosia. And albeit age hath deprived me of energy, and albeit my life hangs loosely on me, yet, if this is Rama's work, it should be done by me first. I have seen a youthful and beautiful female, adorned with all ornaments, carried away by the wicked Ravana,--the lady (all the while) crying, 'O Rama!' 'O Rama!' 'O Lakshmana!' And taking her ornaments from her person, she was throwing them on the ground. Her silken cloth seemed like the solar splendour on the summit of a mountain; and herself beside the sable Rakshasa, looked like the lightning in the welkin (beside clouds). From your relation of Rama, I conclude that she must be Sita. Now listen to me as I tell you about the abode of that Rakshasa. Son unto Vicravana and brother unto Vaicravana, the Rakshasa named Ravana resides in the city of Lanka. And the lovely city of Lanka, reared by Vicwakarma, lieth a full hundred _yojanas_ hence on an island in the sea; furnished with golden gateways, filled with variegated daises, lordly gold-gleaming palaces; and girt round with great walls hued like sunshine. There stayeth Vaidehi, forlorn and clad in a silken cloth,--confined in the inner apartment of Ravana, and carefully guarded by Rakshasis. In Lanka protected all round by the sea, ye shall behold Janaka's daughter, Maithili. At the end of the ocean after a full hundered _yojanas_, arriving at its southern shore, ye shall see Ravana. Ye monkeys, do ye hie thither speedily with vigor. I perceive by my knowledge that having seen (that place), ye shall come back. The first course belongs to fork-tailed shrikes and others living on grain; the second, to those that live on animals and fruits; the third is ranged by Bhashas; the fourth by Kraunchas, Kuvaras and hawks; the fifth by vultures; the sixth belongs to swans endowed with youth and beauty; and the next to the Vainateyas. We have derived our origin from Vainateya.[183] (By despatching you thither), I shall avenge the heinous deed perpetrated by the cannibal, as well as the wrong done by Ravana unto my brother. Resting here, I see Ravana and Janaki. We have excellent _Sauparna_[184] clairvoyance. For this reason, as well as owing to the energy consequent on our feeding on certain kinds of flesh, we, ye monkeys, can see a little further than an hundred _yojanas_. Therefore (the Deity) hath ordained such food for us as are fraught with the power of making one see from a great distance. And the abode of cocks and others being underneath trees, their sight is limited to the extent which they require to see. Do ye look about for means to cross over the salt waters. Having met with Vaidehi, do ye, having achieved success, come back. I wish to be taken by you to the ocean--abode of Varuna. I will offer water unto (the manes of) my high-souled brother, who hath gone to heaven." Thereat those heroes, the monkeys possessed of exceeding energy, carried to the destined spot on the shore of the ocean, Sampati, whose wings had been scathed. Then carrying that lord of vultures back to the self-same place, the monkeys, furnished with information (concerning Sita), experienced great joy.

[182] _i. e._ the worlds enveloped by his three steps during his Dwarf
Incarnation.--T.

[183] Aruna, son unto Vinata.--T.

[184] Clairvoyance attained by success in knowledge respecting the
spiritual Golden eyes. Thus far the commentator. We leave the
abstruse point to the apostles of theosophy and spiritism for
illucidation.--T.