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Tues resigning that line of thought,* that mighty monkey, regaining his equanimity, set out in another direction of thought touching Sita. “Separated from Rama, that lady is incapablet of sleeping, or eating, or decorating ther person), or drinking. And she is incapable of associating with any other person, although he were the sovereign of the celcstiais himself. And even in all heaven there is none who is equal to Rama. She - is some other.” Assuring himself of this, that foremost of monkeys, eager to behold Sita, again began to range in that place set apart fur drinking. Some were tired out with sporting ; some with singing; some with dancing; and some were fast asleep through intoxication. And some supported themselves on murajas, mridangas, ort chelikas; and some women were sleeping on excellent sheets. And that leader of monkeybands saw (that place of drinking) filled with thousands of women, adorred with ornaments engaged (in their sleep) in depicting each other’s loveliness ; and explaining the sense of songs; conversant with season and place; understanding the meanings of words chiming in with season and place ¢ ; and skilful at play. And at other places also he saw thousands of superb and youthful dames fast asleep,— employed in talking of each other's beauty. And that leader of monkey bands saw (women) versed in season and _ place, and understanding the meanings of words consonant with season and place. And in the midst of them all, the lord of the R&kshasas looked splendid like an ox in a spacious stall * se. that Mandodari was Sita.—T. + The text has sa saptum arhati; lit., it behoveth (Sitd) not to sleep. The sense, however, is as given above.—T. $ All this, remarks Rimanuja, appeared from their talk during sleep.—T. 116

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in the midst of stately kine. And surrounded by them, the Rakshasa chief appeared beautiful like a gigantic elephast in a forest, surrounded by female elephants. And in the abode of the huge-bodied Rakshasa chief, that tiger-like monkey saw that place of drinking, furnished with every object of desire. And in that place set apart for drinking, he saw heaps of the flesh of buffaloes, deer, and boats, arranged separately. And that tiger-like monkey saw in capacious golden vessels flesh of fowls and peacocks, which remained (after the repast!. And Hanuman saw the flesh of boars, and Iddhrinasas* Su/yas, deer. and peacocks, seasoned with curds and Sauzarchala;t and Artkalas,t and goats of various kinds,—flesh of hare half-fed,— E-fagalyas,§ and buffaloes,—all chopped and dressed; and lickable and drinkable viands sharp and mild ; and edibles sharp and mild; and Régakhdéndavas|| containing sugar and acid, capable of improving a vicious palate. And with large and costly stray bangles and bracelets ; and scattered cans,— and diverse hinds of fruit; and wreaths of flowers, the pavement attained exceeding beauty. And with elegantly jointed bedsteads, arranged (around:, the scene of wassail appeared aflame without fire. And with meat consisting of many ingredients, fraught with diverse tastes, seasoned with many substances, and dressed by skilful cooks,—arranged separate lv in the scene of revel; and with noble and pleasant wines natural€ and artificial,—dsavas trom sugar; and Médhvika Sand dsavas {rom flowers and fru'ts; and impregnated separately * Aspevies of birds, having, according to Vishaudharma, dark throats, red veins, and white wings. According to others, a kind of goats. —T. t A kind of salt.—T. t A kind of partrizes.—T. ¢ A kind of fish—T. | According to some, a prepurativn of the juice of grapes and pomegrae ates, mixed with suzar, efc. According to others, black cakes having ss kinds of relishes.—T. Natural wines—such as Addameari etc., which require no preparation—T. $ Prom honey. According to some, from grapes.—T.

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with different kinds of fragrant dust,—the pavement, furnished with inuumerable garlands, surrounded with golden water: vessels and crystal bowls, and golden water-pots, looked exceedingly beautiful. And the monkey saw that foremost of all places set apart for drinking, containing silvern and golden jars. And that mighty monkey saw golden wine-vessels studded with gems, all filled with wine; and some with half full of liquor, some with their wine entirely exhausted,and some full of liquor, And (at some spots) he saw various kinds of viands, and at others wines ranged in rows, and at others the wine-vessels remaining half full. And there were many bedsteads belonging to fair ones, remaining vacant; and at some places excellent women were sleeping touching each other. And at one place, a female, borne down by the force of sleep, forcibly possessing herself of another’s cloth, and wrapping herself therewith,—went to the bed of that one, and was indulging in sleep.—And with their breath, their variegated wreaths and the cloth on their persons were stirring gently, as if with a mild-blowing breeze. And laden with the odours of cool sandal,and of sweet-tasting Sidhu ;* and of diverse wreaths and flowers, and with perfumes of various kinds,—and entrancedf with (the aroma‘of sandals suitable for use after ablution, and of dhuwpas, the air, impregnated with excellent scent, was there breathing around the car Pushpaka. And in the residence of the Raksha, there were some wenches sable, yet cxceedingly witching; and some were dark-hued; and the frames of some were of a golden brilliance. And their beauty, in consequence of their coming under the governance of sleep, and their being bereft of their senses by Madana, resembled that of lotuses in a sleep. Thus that highly energetic monkey saw everything * Spirit distilled from mollasses.—T. + Murchchhita—The commentator says, means. sp-eading. 1, however, here presume to go by my own light, feeble as that may be. Entraxced will, I dare say, recommend itsclf to the poetical in especial.—T.

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thoroughly in the inner apartment of Ravana,—but he saw not Janaka’s daughter. And seeing those females, that mighty monkey, apprehending loss of righteousness, was seized with an exceeding great fear®. ““Beholding a female, who is the religiously wedded wife of another, while she is asleept, verily causeth loss of righteousness. My sight surely never seeketh others’ wives; but | have beheld this one that hath ravished another’s spouse.” And that iotelligent one, intent on attaining a knowledge of things capable of being arrived at on grounds of judgment, again reflected effectively as to his course of action: ‘All these unsuspecting wives of Ravana have been beheld by me; yet there are no signs that my mind hath undergone any alleration. In respect of the enlistment of the senses on behalf of any course of action good or evil, it is verily mind which is the cause; and hercin my mind is righteously disposed. And I could not search for Vaidehi elsewhere ; for in the matter of search, people always search for women even among women. And people search for creatures among the species to which they happen to belong: none searcheth for a lost lady among female deer. Therefore have I with a pere heart explored the entire inner apartment of Ravana; bet Janaka’s daughter I see not.” And Hanum§n endowed with prowess saw the daughters of gods, and Gandharbas, and Nagas; but he saw not Janaki. And not seeing her, that hero, having beheld other magnificent dames, coming out of that place, set about searching for Sit& (afresh). And leaving the place of wassail, the graceful off<pring of the Wind-god, taking extreme care, again began to search for Sit& all aboot (another quarter). * R-membering, says the commentator, the injunction of the scriptures, “None should see a nude female."—T. t And therefore presuniably incapable of tating care af hevself.—T.