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Tren having sent away that mighty host of monkeys, Sugriva despatched to the South others competent to perform the several tasks entrusted to them. And appointing the exceedingly mighty Angada as the leader of those heroic monkeys, ‘that hero, the lord of monkey bands, conversant with the -@untries intended to be explored, despatched heroes endowedwith speed and prowess, headed by Angada, Nila the son Fire, and the monkey Hanuman, and the exceedingly tgetic Jimbavin, son unto the Great-father, and Suhotra, fend Sarfri, and Saraguima, Gaya, Gavakshya, and Gavaya, Sashena, Vrishabha, Mainda, Dwivida, and Gandhamadana, and Ulkamukha and Ananga~—sons of lire both. And the lord of monkeys began to describe unto the monkey-chicfs those tracts in those directions, that were difficult of access. "Ye will behold Vindhya having an hundred summits, and fetinshed with various trees and shrubs, and the romantic fiver Narmada, frequented by mighty serpents; and the Godavari, * and that mighty river, the captivating Krishuaveni, aad the Mekhalas and Utkalas, and the cities of Dacarna; aad Avravanti and Avanti, and the Vidarbhas and Nishtikas aad the charming Mahishakas.f And ye will see also the Matsyas and Kalingas and Kaugikas all round, and the forest of Dandaka, with mountains, rivers and caverns; and the river vari,t and the Andhras, and Paundras, the Cholas, the andyas, and the Keralas. ‘Then shall ye repair to the atain Ayomukha,§ plated with ore, having taking sum- * The commentator says, “The Godavari flowing through the countries to east of the Vindya mountains.”"—T. + Some texts read—Rishtikas instead. —T. _ $ The tract, according to RamAnuja, watered by the GodAvari in the viciwty of Dandaka. —T. § Another name of this hill is Malaya-—T.

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mits, graceful, furnished with picturesque flowering woods,— the mighty mountain having groves of excellent sandal. At the foot of the Malaya mountain endeued with exceeding energy, ye will behold the noble stream Kaveri, of pleasant waters, where sport troops of Apsaris. (There) ye will see that foremost of saints, Agastya, resembling the sun. Permitted by that gratified high-souled one, ye will cross over the great river, Tamraparni, abounding in alligators. Like a youthful female in relation to her lover, she (Tamraparni’, with both her waters as well as islets concealed under beautiful sandal woods, bathes in the sea. Proceeding (therefrom), the monkeys shall see the grand golden gates belonging to the walls of the capital of the Pandyas. Then arriving at the main, ye shall ascertain your ability or otherwise of crossing the same. In the bosom of the deep there, Agastya hath placed that foremost of mountains—the charming Mahendra, having picturesque plateaus ; golden, and beautiful,—with a portion of it sunk in the great ocean. For aye, He of a thousand eyes at Parvas visiteth this mountain embellished by various blossoming trees and creepers; beauteous with divinities, and saints, and the foremost Yakshas and Apsaras ; thronged by numbers of Siddhas and Charanas ; and of surpassing loveliness. On its other shore is an island extending over an hundred yojanas, inaccessible to men,* and of splendid aspect. Do ye explore it all round. There, in particular, ye must every way search for Sita. That country belongs to the impious Ravana, worthy of being slain—the lord of Rakshasas, like unto the thousand-eyed (deity) in splendour. In the midst of the Southern sea belonging to him (R4&vana), there is a Rakshasi, named Ang4, who procureth her pray by casting her shadow. Having (by your search) satisfied yourselves as to those countries where ye might suspect Sit& to be, do ye, your doubts dispelled, proceeding beyond that, (Lanka), search for the spouse of that monarch endeued with * “Because,” says the commentator, “of the profusion of gold in it."—T,

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unbounded energy. In the sea extending over an hundred yojanas, a lovely hill, named Pushpitaka, the abode of Siddhas and Chiaranas ; resembling the rays of the sun or the moon,— resting on the waters of the ocean, looks splendid, piercing the heavens with its giant peaks, Of this (mountain), there is a particular golden summit, which the sun approaches. It is incapable of being beheld by the ungrateful or the atheistical. Bowing your heads down unto this hill, let the monkeys search on. Leaving behind that irrepressible one, (ye will come upon) a mountain difficult of approach, extending over fourteen yojanas, named Suryyavan. Passing by that also, (ye will see) a mountain, named Vidyut, filled with trees, beautiful at all seasons, and bearing all desirable fruits. There, feeding upon excellent and costly fruits and roots, and drinking delicious honey, let the monkeys pass beyond it. There is the hill named Kunjara, grateful both to the eye and the mind,—where Vigwakarm& had built the abode of Agastya.* There (rises) that stately golden pile, adorned with various gems, extending over one yojana, and ten in height. In itt also there is that palace, which is the abode of snakes; having spacious ways, incapable of being captured, guarded around, and protected by dreadful snakes and sharptoothed serpents of virulent poison; where dwelleth V4suki, the exceedingly terrible king of snakes. Proceeding heedfully, ye must explore that Bhogavati palace ; as also whatever concealed places may lie there. Going beyond that place, (ye will see) the mighty mountain named Rbhrishava, in the form of a bull, full of all gems, and possessed of grice,— where are produced excellent Gogirshaka, Padmaka, and Haricydma sandals, and which in effulgence resembles fire. But, seeing that sandal, ye must by no means ask any questions: certain Gandharbas, named Rohitas, are on guard over that wood—the lords of Gandharbas, in splendour like * i.e. in that hill, + i.e. in that hill.

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unto five suns,—Cailusha, Gramani, Ciksha, Cuka, and Babhru. After that, (Rhishava), at the extremity of the Earth is the abode of persons of pious acts, whose bodies are composed of — the Sun, the Moon and Fire. And there reside persons who have won the heavenly regions. After that are the awful regions of the ancestral manes, which ye must not approach. This is the metropolis of Yama, covered by deep gloom. Ye heroic monkey chiefs, ye can seek thus _ far. Further there is no course for those endeued with motion. Having examined all these, as well others that may come within your ken, it behoves you, after having ascertained Vaidehi’s course, to return (hither). He that, returning within a month, shall say,—“I have seen Sitd,’ shall pass his days in happiness, enjoying affluence like mine own and indulging all pleasures. He shall be dearer unto me than life itself, and none dearer (unto me) than he ; and although he might commit innumerable wrongs, still should he become my friend. Possessed of immeasurable strength and prowess, and sprung from lines crowned with sterling virtues, do ye strive manfully in such a glorious way that the king’s daughter may be recovered.”