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Have crossed over the ocean incapable of being epressed, that one endowed with great strength, staying at he plateau of Chitrakuta, and having refreshed himself, cast iis eyes on Lanka. And covered with showers of blossoms voured down by the trecs, that monkey possessed of prowess hen appeared there like Pushpamaya.* And having cleared n hundred yoyanas, that monkey gifted with first-rate wrowess, did not heave sighs or feel any fatigue. “I am ompetent to bound over many hundreds of yojanas. What hen is this end of the ocean measuring an hundred yojanas mly 2” And that foremost of those endowed with energy nd the prime of monkeys,—gifted with speed, went to aanka,t having crossed over the mighty main. And seeing ilue lawns, and perfumed woods, replete with honey and filled rith mountains, he held his way by the central thoroughfare. ind that foremost of monkeys, the energetic Hanuman, went y hills filled with trees, and ranges of blossoming woods. ind stationing himself in that mountain, the offspring of the Nind-god beheld woods and groves and Lanka established t the brow of the mountain. And that elephant of a monkey urveyed Savalas, and Karnitkéras, and dates in full flower, *sydlas, Muchulindas, Kutajas and Ketakas, Piyangus ‘arm with aroma, and Nifas, and Saptachchhadas ; Asanas, Xoviddras, and flowering Karavtras, and trees bearing lossoms, filled with swans and KAédvandavas, and covered rith lotuses and lilies; and charming sporting hillst and rious watery expanses; and extensive tracts covered * A monkey so named.—T. + Descending, remarks the comentator, from the mountain-summit.—T. $+ Sporting hills according to Kataka, According to others, dkrira means a ove in general.—T. 112

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with diverse trees bearing flowers and fruits at all seasons, and gardens exceedingly beautiful to behuld. And drawing near unto Lanka embellished with lilies and environed by a moat filled with lotuses, that one graced with auspiciousness, that graceful monkey, Hanum&n, beheld Lanka vigilantly guarded by RAvana, in consequence of Sit& having been carried away,—with Rakshasas bearing fierce bows ranging all around,—that mighty and captivating capital surrounded by a golden wall, filled with edifices resembling cliffs and looking like autumnal clouds, and elevated yellowish highways ; abounding in hundreds of banners mounted on the walls, and beautified with pennons and streamers ; with noble golden gateways painted with plants; and resembling the metropolis of the very sovereign of the celestials. And that graceful monkey saw Lanka situated on the top of the mountain, filled with splendid yellow-white palaces, like unto a city stationed in the sky: ruled by the lord of Rakshasas and reared by Vicwakarma himself. And the monkey, Hanuman, beheld Lanka, as if moving in the sky: with her walls furnished with daises for her hips, the immense waters and woods for her cloth, Sataghnis and darts for her hair-ends: and pennons on her walls for ear-rings,—built as if by the agency of the Mind; and constructed by Vigwakarma himself. And arriving at the Northern gate resembling the mansion of Kailaga, and cleaving, as it were, the welkin, and as if holding the firmament with lofty and glorious edifices, and observing the sea; his dreadful enemy, Rd&vana ; the city teeming with poisonous snakes,—as well as the method of defence (displayed in it)—the monkey reflected,—"Even if the monkeys came here, they should fail to achieve success; for Lanka is incapable of being taken in battle by the celestials themselves. Even if the mighty-armed Raghava should reach this terrible-looking and impregnable Lanh& reared by Ravana,what could he do ? Opportunity find I none either for conciliation with the Rakshasas, or for (winning them over) by

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gifts, or for sowing dissensions among them, or for conquering them in fight. Of all the monkeys, four only endowed with (exceptional) celerity,—viz., V4li’s son, Nila, the intelligent king, and myself, have the power to come over here. WhenI have ascertained whether Vaidehi is alive or not, I shall, after interviewing Janaka’s daughter, think about this.” Then that elephantine monkey, stationed on the summit of that mountain, for a while bethought himself as to the success of Rama.* “I cannot in this form succeed in entering the city of the Rakshasas, guarded by wily and powerful Rakshasas. I should, while engaged in searching for Janaki, deceive all the strong and highly energetic Rakshasas gifted with prowess. For attaining this mighty object, it behoveth me to enter Lanka at night in a shape invisible yet well suited to the end in view.” And beholding the city in that state, difficult of being subdued by the celestials and Asuras (combined), Hanum§4n, sighing momentarily, thought within himself,—‘“How can I, without being discovered by the impious lord of R&kshasas, Ravana, succeed in seeing Janaka’s daughter, Maithili? How can the work of Rama cognizant of self (be so managed that it) may not be brought to naught? How can I see Janaka’s daughter singly in secret? Actions on the very eve of success, on being obstructed by adverse season and place, and through the agency of unreflecting envoys, come to nought, even as darkness is dispelled on sunrise. And in respect of what should be undertaken and what not, even the certain decision (of a master assisted by his counsellors), because of a heedless messenger, doth not appear in all its beauty: messengers (foolish) yet proud of their knowledge, bring every business to nought. How can I so manage that my business may not suffer? How can I avoid recklessness ? How can my bounding over the deep bear fruit? On my being seen by the Rakshasas, * About rescuing his wife.—T.

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the work of Rama cognizant of self, desirous of the destraction of Ravana, shall be marred. Even if I wear a Rakshasa form, I cannot anywhere remain undiscovered by the Rikshasas. What shall I say of any other form? Even the wind, I conceive. doth not stray here, unperceived. Nothing whatever is here that is unknown to the Ra&kshasas of redoubtable deeds. Should [ stay here embodied in my native form, I shall come by destruction; and the interest also of my master shall suffer. Therefore, diminishing myself, Ishall at night, for compassing the welfare of Raghava, enter Lanka in my own form. Entering at night R&vana’s capital difficult of access, I shall, obtaining entry into every dwelling seek Janaka’s daughter.” Having made up his mind thus, the heroic Hanuman, extremely eager to see Vaidehi, wished for the setting of the sun. On the sno having set, at night the Wind-god’s son, contracting his person, reducing himself to the dimensions of a cat, became wonderful to behold. And at dusk, the powerfal Hanuman, springing up, entered the charming city of Lank with its well divided highways; furnished with rows of edifices having golden pillars, and net-works,—resembling the metropolis of the Gandharbas. And he saw that splendid city containing seven-storied and eight-storied edifices, studded with crystal and adorned with gold. And the dwellings of the Rakshasas were embellished with these (ornaments). And graceful golden gateways belonging to the Rakshasas everywhere lent splendour unto Lanki adorned all over. Beholding Lank&, wonderful and of inconceivable loveliness, the mighty monkey, desirous of beholding Vaidehi, became depressed and delighted at the same time. And he (entered Lank&) engarlanded with yellow edifices joined together, with the ornamented arches of her gateways furnished with nets of precious gold; famed (all ever the world); ruled by the arm of Ravana, and vigilantly guarded by night-rangers of dreadful strength. And a

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if ministering unto him,* the Moon furnished with many thousands of rays arose with the stars in the midst of the sky, spreading lunar light over all creatures. And that heroic monkey beheld the Moon possessing the sheen of a conch, and hued like milk or the lotus-stalk, arisen and afloat (in the welkin), like a swan swimming in a tank.