Chapter CXLVIII: Section VI

Wending about at will on the roofs of seven-storied edifices, that monkey capable of assuming any form that he chose, began to range Lanka with speed. And (at length) that auspicious one arrived at the mansion of the Rakshasa chief, surrounded by a shining wall hued like the Sun; protected by terrible Rakshasas, like a mighty forest by lions. And as that foremost of monkeys saw the mansion, with fretted arches plated with silver and embellished with gold,-- beautifully abounding in splendid courts and gateways; containing elephant-drivers, and heroes knowing no fatigue; ever coursed by irrisistible steeds drawing cars, and curious vehicles, Covered over with skins of lions and tigers, resounding with bells hung thereon, and embosoming effigies of ivory, gold and silver,--the locality of mighty cars, and the home of mighty car-warriors; filled all around with many thousands of divers beauteous and dainty birds and beasts; well protected by meek Raksha warders at the outskirts; thronged about with magnificent dames of the first order; containing gems of joyous damsels--the abode of the foremost Rakshasas--sounding like the sea with the sounds of superb ornaments; affluent with regal insignia and excellent sandals; crowded with mighty ones, like a vast forest with lions; reasonant with trumpets and drums; and ringing with the blares of conchs; where the ever adored offspring of the Parvas was always worshipped by the Rakshasas; solemn like the sea; and resounding like the ocean itself,--the mighty mansion of the high-souled(Ravana); clad in costly jewels; scattered with precious gems--as that mighty monkey beheld (Ravana's residence), he set about searching for Sita.[250] And that mighty monkey concluded. "This is the ornament of Lanka bodied forth beautifully to the view, covered with elephants, steeds and chariots." And there in the vicinity of Ravana's mansion,[251] Hanuman began to range the dwellings of the Rakshasas from one to another, as well as all the gardens (located there). And without experiencing any agitation, he observing (everything), ranged the palaces. Then that one endowed with wondrous motion, with a bound entered Prahasta's palace; and then with another, that (monkey) possessed of energy entered the abode of Mahaparcwa. Then that mighty monkey entered into the abode of Kumbhakarna, resembling a mass of clouds; and thereafter that of Vibhishana; and then that of Mahodara, and then that of Virupaksha; and then the abode of Vidyujjibha, and then that of Vidyunmala;--and then that mighty monkey with a bound entered into the abode of Vahudanshtra. And then that leader of monkey-bands gifted with great speed leapt into the abode of Suka, and next into that of the intelligent Sarana, and next into that of Indrajit. And that foremost of monkeys went to the mansion of Jambumala, and of Sumala,--and (then) to the abode of Rashmiketu, and Suryyasachu. And (next) that powerful monkey leapt into the mansion of Vajrakaya; and (next) the Wind-god's offspring entered the house of Dhumraksha, and (next) that of Sampati, and the grim Vidyudrupa, and Phana, and Vighana, and Sukanabha, and Chakra, and Satha, and Kapatha, and Hraswakarna, and Danshtra, and the Rakshasa Lomasa, and Yudhyonmatta, and Matta, and the horseman, Dhwajagriva, and of Vidyujjibha and Vijibha, and of Hastimukha, and of Karala, and Vicala, and of Sonitaksha. The illustrious offspring of the Wind, Hanuman, one after another, leapt into all these noble edifices. And that redoubtable monkey observed the affluence of all these (Rakshasas) possessed of prosperity. And having bounded over the mansions of all situated around, that one blessed with auspiciousness, at length came to the very mansion of the monarch of the Rakshasas. And that tiger-like monkey--the best of his species--ranging around, saw Rakshasis of frightful eyes, alternately mounting sentry over the couch of Ravana-- bearing darts and maces in their hands, and equipped with javelins and clubs. And (there) in the residence of that lord of the Rakshasas, he beheld various bands of Rakshasis, as well as Rakshasas of gigantic frames, upraising various kinds of weapons; and steeds of exceeding fleetness, red, and white, and black; and first-rate elephants, possessed of eminent grace, capable of crushing hostile elephants, and well trained in arts relative to their species--like Airavata himself in conflict. And there in that mansion he saw (all these elephants), destroyers of hostile hosts--like unto pouring clouds, or hills, sending up fountains, rumbling like unto clouds, and invincible in battle by foes. And that monkey, son unto the Wind-god, saw in the mansion of the lord of Rakshasas, Ravana, hosts by thousands; and cars of various forms of glittering gold, furnished all over with golden net-works, resembling the risen sun; and graceful grots; and picture galleries; and sporting saloons, mountains composed of wood,[252] captivating structures dedicated to dalliance, and dwellings for day-dalliance,[253]--saw he in the mansion of the Rakshasa monarch. And he beheld that charming mansion resembling Mandara, filled with places for peacocks[254]; thronged with pennons and flagstaffs,--a very mine of countless gems,--a field of treasures spread around,--where persons of intrepid calmness were engaged in acts tending to the safety of the treasures,--resembling the mansion herself of Kuvera. And on account of the lustre shed by the gems, as well as the energy of Ravana himself, that mansion appeared splendid like the ray-furnished Sun in all his glory. And the chief of monkey-bands saw bed-steads and seats of gold and white vessels. And Hanuman entered the mighty mansion, containing clay formed by _Madha_[255] and _Asava_;[256] filled with gemmed cans; charming; free from impediments; resembling the mansion herself of Kama,--like the abode of Kuvera,--resonant with the sounds of bangles and the tinklings of zones, as well as with the beat of _mridanga_-hides and other eloquent musical instruments; with palaces close on each other; thronged with hundreds of females (like unto) jewels; and containing capacious enclosures.

[250] The syntactical co-herence is, as is natural in so colossal a
sentence, grievously loose here. I have, however, tried my best to
supply the _lacuna_ in the passage.--T

[251] Ramanuja says that _Hanuman began to range the dwellings about the
wall environing Ravana's mansion.--T._

[252] Designed for sport.--T.

[253] The conception of day-dalliance met with in _Vidya Sundara_ of
Bharata Chandra Roy, the Bengali poet, is found to have first
originated with Valmiki.--T.

[254] Sportive peacocks.

[255] Spirituous liquor distilled from the blossoms of the _Bassia
latifolia._ According to some, a spirit distilled from grapes.--T.

[256] Spirit distilled from sugar or molasses.--T.