Chapter CLXXVI: Section XXXIV

HEARING those words of Sita stricken with grief, Hanuman, the foremost of the monkeys, replied in soothing words, "O worshipful lady, by Rama's decree I come as a messenger unto thee. He is safe and sound, O Vaidehi, and has asked of thy welfare. O worshipful dame, Rama, the son of Dacaratha, the master of the Vedas, and the foremost of those conversant with Vedas hath enquired of thy welfare. And the highly effulgent Lakshmana, the beloved follower of thy husband, worn with grief, bows his reverential head unto thee." Hearing of the welfare of those two lions among men, the worshipful dame, with all her frame worked up with rapture, again spake unto Hanuman, saying--"Verily the wise saw of the people appears to me to be true that once in a hundred years true joy appears to a living man". Sita, at that time, attained such a wonderful joy, as would have been acquired by her in the company (of Rama and Lakshmana). And they confidingly conversed with each other. Hearing those words of Sita,racked with sorrow, Hanuman, the son of the Wind-god drew a little nearer to her. The more Hanuman approached her the more Sita suspected him as Ravana. "Alas! Alas! why have I spoken to him? It is the Ravana, who hath appeared again in a new disguise." And leaving off the Asoka branch, that one having a blameless person, overwhelmed with grief, sat down on the earth. In the meantime the mighty-armed monkey bowed unto Janaka's daughter, but she, worked up with fear, did not cast again her looks towards him. And beholding him bow unto her, Sita, having a moon-like countenance, sighing, spake unto that monkey in sweet accents--"If thou art that Ravana's self, who, changing thy shape by magic art, want to distress me again--this thy vile deed doth not behove thee. Thou art surely that Ravana, whom I saw at Janasthana, in a mendicant's guise, renouncing his own shape, O night-ranger, O thou wearing shapes at will! it doth not behove thee to distress me who am poorly and famished with fasts. But no, thou canst not be (the fiend) whom I suspect, since I have such joy from seeing thee. And may good betide thee if thou art Rama's messenger. I do ask thee, O foremost of monkeys, something about Rama that is pleasant unto me. O monkey, do thou relate the glories of my dear Rama. Thou art (thus) shaking my mind O gentle one, like unto water breaking down the banks of a river. Alas! this dream has afforded me immense pleasure since, I, who have been separated from my lord for so long a time, have beheld this monkey sent by Raghava. I do not sink even if I can behold in dream the heroic Raghava along with Lakshmana--but dream even is jealous of my well-being. Nor do I regard this as dream. To behold a monkey in a dream doth not lead to prosperity--whereas I have attained it.[348] Or is it mental derangement? Or have I been possessed by a devil? Or have I run mad? Or is it the sultry vapour floating over sands and appearing at a distance like water? No, it is not madness--for derangement of mind is the sign of madness--I have not lost sense and I do distinctly perceive me and the monkey." Thinking thus in many a way and ascertaining the strength (of the monkey and the Rakshasa) Sita took him for the lord of the Rakshasas, wearing shapes at will. And having arrived at this decision, Janaka's daughter--Sita, ceased from talking with that monkey. And apprised of Sita's thought, Hanuman, the Wind god's son, (replied) in words sweet unto her and enhancing her delight--"Bright as the sun that lights the sky and dear as the moon to every eye, he pleases all his subjects with bounties like unto those of Vaisrabana.[349] He is gifted with prowess like unto the greatly famed Vishnu, truthful and sweet-speeched like unto Vachaspati.[350] Graceful, grateful to the eye and beautiful like unto Kandarva's[351] self, he displays his wrath in a proper quarter--the foremost of men and of a mighty car. The whole world of creation (liveth safe) in the shadow of the arms of that high-souled one. Thou shalt soon see the consequences he shall reap by whom, assuming the shape of a dear, Raghava was taken away from the hermitage and thou wert stolen away from that lonely place. And soon shall that powerful (hero) destroy Ravana in the battle, with fiery arrows, discharged angrily. I have been sent by him as a messenger to thee. Worn with grief in thy separation he hath enquired of thy welfare, as well the highly effulgent Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra's joy, bowing reverentially unto thee. The king of monkey hosts, by name Sugriva--Rama's friend, hath also enquired of thy welfare, worshipful dame. Rama, Sugriva and Lakshmana, have thee always in their minds. Blessed are we, O Vaidehi, that thou dost still live, subject as thou art to the Rakshasees. Thou shalt soon behold Rama, and Lakshmana of a mighty car, and Sugriva of unmitigated prowess in the midst of the million of monkey hosts. I am Sugriva's minister, by name Hanuman. I have entered this city of Lanka after crossing over the great main. And by means of my prowess and placing my feet on the head of the vicious-souled Ravana, I have come here to see thee. I am not he (Ravana) for whom thou art taking me, O worshipful dame. Do thou renounce thy suspicion and rely on my words."

[348] Here prosperity means joy--Sita attained an immense treasure of
joy on beholding Rama's messenger--Hanuman--T.

[349] Another name of Kuvera, the god of gold.--T.

[350] The god of speech.--T.

[351] Cupid or the god of love in Hindu mythology described as the most
beautiful of the celestials.--T.