Chapter CLII: Section X

And there Hanuman employed in looking around, saw a grand dais made of crystal; and embellished with jewels; comparable to one belonging to the celestial regions; furnished with superb and costly sofas, having their parts painted and composed of ivory, gold, and lapis lazulis; with highly precious canopies. At one place thereof he saw a white umbrella, adorned with beautiful wreaths, resembling the lord of the stars himself. And Hanuman saw a splendid sofa garnished with gold, bearing garlands of _acoka_ blossoms,--flaming like fire; around which persons kept waving with their hands _chowris_ furnished with hair[275]; rife with perfumes of various kinds; odorous with rich _dhupa_, spread with excellent sheets; covered with the skins of rams; and decked on all sides with chaplets of gorgeous flowers. And that excellent and mighty monkey beheld therein the heroic sovereign of the Rakshasas, Ravana, resembling a mass of clouds; with flaming and brilliant ear-rings; having reddened eyes; of gigantic arms; wearing a cloth composed of golden threads; his person daubed with fragrant red sandal; looking like a crimson cloud at eve fraught with lightning; covered with noble ornaments; endowed with eminent grace; capable of wearing forms at will; resembling Mandara affluent with trees and woods and shrubs;--sleeping, having given up sport at night; adorned with elegant ornaments; dear unto the daughters of the Rakshasas,--the source of happiness unto Rakshasas;--who had ceased from drinking,--asleep on a shining bedstead,--and respiring like a (kissing) serpent.[276] And reaching there, Hanuman, waxing wondrous agitated, shrank back, as if in fear. And then arriving at the staircase, the mighty monkey, stationing himself on a dais in the middle of the stairs, gazed at the inebriate, Rakshasa, resembling a tiger. And as the sovereign of the Rakshasas was sleeping, his graceful bed resembled a grand cascade, beside which stands an elephant breathing odour. And Hanuman saw the arms of the huge-bodied lord of Rakshasas, fastened with bracelets,--stretched (there),-- like unto the banners of Indra; which had been wounded by the tusk-ends of Airavata, whose plump parts bad been riven by _vajra_; and which had been torn by the discus of Vishnu; well developed; having equal and elegant parts; with hard joints; fraught with strength; with thumbs having nails bearing auspicious marks; having rings (on the fingers); covered; formed like bludgeons; round; resembling the trunks of elephants; cast on the white bed like unto five-hooded serpents; smeared and adorned with cool, fragrant, and excellent sandal resembling the blood of hares; pressed by paragons; odorous with incense; resisting (in battle) Yakshas, and Pannagas, Gandharbas, gods and Danavas; and the monkey saw his arms resting on the bed, like unto two beautiful and mighty serpents sleeping in the entrails of Mandara. And with both those well developed arms of his, the lord of Rakshasas resembling a hill, looked handsome like Mandara with its summits. And breath bearing the aroma of the mangoe, and the _Pannaga_, the sweet scent of the _Vakula_, the savour of viands fraught with the six kinds of tastes, and the perfume of wines, came out of the mighty mouth of the sovereign of the Rakshasas, filling, as it were, that entire chamber. And (Hanuman) beheld (Ravana), with his countenance, aglow with ear-rings and decked with a golden diadem embellished with pearls and jewels; daubed with red sandal; and adorned with; an elegant chain; having a large, broad, and full-developed breast; with a white silken cloth on, falling off his person; furnished with blood-red eyes; covered with costly yellow sheets; appearing like a mass of unrighteousness; breathing like a serpent, or an elephant asleep in the mighty Ganga during the rains;--four lamps set on the golden pilars illumining four sides; even as lightnings display the entire surface of a mass of clouds. (And Hanuman) also saw in the mansion of the Raksha chief, the wives of that huge-bodied one dear unto his wives,--lying at his feet. And that protector of monkey-bands saw them, having countances resembling the Moon displayed; decked out with elegant ear-rings; bearing unfading garlands[277] by way of ornamentation; lying on the arms and lap of the lord of the Rakshas. And the monkey saw women bearing noble ornaments,--lying down. And he saw golden bracelets and ear-rings at the nether ends of the women's ears,--set with diamonds and lapises. And with their fair countenances resembling the Moon, graced with comely ear-rings, that terrace looked beautiful, like the welkin embellished with stars. The slender-waisted wives of the sovereign of the Rakshasas, overcome with languor consequent on drink and amorous encounter, were fast asleep at the very places where they were seated. And another transcendentally beautiful damsel possessed of lovely limbs, skilled in dance, was fast asleep, betraying comely movements (during sleep). And another was seen asleep, embracing a _vina_,--like a lotus with spreading petals, resting by the side of a raft. And another dark-eyed wench was asleep with her _mudduka_[278] on her lap, like a loving mother having a boy. Another damsel possessed of graceful limbs and a shapely bust, was lying down, hugging her kettle-drum,--like a woman embracing her lover, obtained after a long time. And one lotus-eyed female was asleep, embracing her _vina_; like an amorous damsel hugging her fair paramour. And another girl of restrained self, given to dancing, had come under the sway of sleep, embracing her _vipanchi_[279] like a female sleeping with her lover. And another having inebriate eyes, was fast asleep, embracing her _mridanga_ with her charming, plump, and tender limbs, resembling gold. Another female of faultless features, endeued with a slender frame, having been overcome by lassitude consequent on drink, was asleep.with her _panava_ on the ends of her lower garment, held fast with her hands. Another woman was sleeping soundly, embracing her _dindima_[280] with another bound at her back; like a female taking both her lover and her child. Another damsel having eyes resembling lotus-petals, having come under the influence of liquor, was asleep, firmly holding her _aramvara_[281] with her hands. Another woman, intoxicated by wine, was discovered asleep, with her water-vessel upset; and, in consequence, appearing like a well-washed variegated wreath in spring. Another, coming under the masterdom of slumber, was sleeping, holding with her hands her twin breasts resembling golden jars. And another lotus-eyed and moon-faced fair one, coming under the governance of slumber, (was asleep), embracing another furnished with shapely hips. And eminently beautiful dames were asleep, embracing musical instruments; like wenches pressing lustful (lovers), with their breasts. And that monkey saw that lady, endeued with beauty, lying down apart in an excellent bed; adorned with ornaments containing pearls and jewels; and as if decorating that charming mansion with her grace. And the monkey saw there the yellow-hued Mandodari, having the splendour of gold; the object of (Ravana's) desire; beautiful exceedingly,--the mistress of the inner apartment,--lying down. And seeing (Mandodari) adorned with ornaments, the offspring of the Wind-god guessed,--"This one endowed with the wealth of youth and beauty might be Sita." And demonstrating great joy, that leader of monkey-bands rejoiced exceedingly. And thereat, (Hanuman) struck at his arms with his hands, kissed his tail, exhibited signs of glee, frolicked, sang, darted towards the pillars, shot up to the top thereof, and jumped down to the earth,--manifesting his monkey-nature.

[275] The commentator throws out a conjecture that artificial figures
are here meant; which mechanically performed the function herein
assigned to them.--T.

[276] The commentator, however, interprets: _like an elephant_. Serpent
is, I fancy, a happy rendering of _naga.--T._

[277] _i. e._ celestial females.--T.

[278] A kind of musical instrument.--T.

[279] A kind of _Vina.--T._

[280] A kind of musical instrument.--T.

[281] A kind of musical instrument.--T.