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Hearne Sdrana’s words, pregnant and truthful, king Ravana addressed him, saying,—“Even if the gods, Gandharvas and D&navas should attack me, Sita will I not part with from fear of all creatures. O amiable one, thou, having been hard handled by the monkeys and distressed in consequence, deemst it fit that Sita should be rendered back this very day. What foe of mine is there who is competent to conquer me in battle 7” Having uttered this rough speech, ‘the graceful Ra4vana—lord of the Rakhasas—desirous of surveying (the monkey-hosts), ascended an edifice white like snow, and elevated like many palms (placed one upon another). And transported with passion, Ravana in company with those spies, saw the sea, mountains and forests. And they beheld the Earth enveloped with monkeys, and the mighty host of monkeys, boundless and irresistible. And having seen this, king Ravana asked Sarana,—“Who among these monkeys are the foremost, who are the heroes, and who possessed of great strength ? Who, bursting with spirits, stay all about the fore ? Whom doth Sugriva listen to? And who are the leaders of the monkey-leaders ? O Sirana, relate thou all this unto me. And what is the prowess of the monkeys ?” Thereat, Sarana, knowing the chiefs (of the monkey-army), spoke unto the sovereign of Rakshasas, who had asked (him), as to who were the heads of the rangers of the woods. ‘This monkey, that, setting up roars, stayeth in front of Lanka, surrounded by hundreds and thousands of monkey-leaders, by whose tremendous shouts Lanka trembleth with her wall, gateways, hills, woods and forests, and who is posted in front of the forces of the high-souled Sugriva—master of all the monkeys—is the heroic leader of monkey-bands named Nila. And that one, possessed of prowess, who,folding up his arms,

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paceth the gound on foot, who, facing Lanka, from wrath is frequently yawning, who resembles a mountain-peak and is like the filaments of a lotus, who, enraged again and again, soundeth his tail,and the ten cardinal points resound with the sounds of whose tail,—is he who hath been sprinkled by Sugriva—king of monkeys—the heir apparent,named Angada. He challengeth thee to the fight. The worthy son of V4&li and ever dear unto Sugriva, he putteth forth his prowess, as Varuna doth for Sakra. That that well-wisher of Raghava,the vehement Hanuman,hath seen Janaka’s daughter, was owing to the advice of this one. That powerful (hero) is proceeding, taking innumerable bands belonging to the lord of monkeys, for the purpose of beating thee by means of his soldiery. Following V&li’s son, and surrounded by a mighty force, stayeth in the field the heroic Nala, the builder of the bridge. Those that with their limbs lying inactive, and setting up roars and ululations, are following this one,* are heroes dwelling in Chandana.t With his own | army alone, the silver-hued Sweta of dreadful prowess hopes to subdue Lanka. Marshalling his monkey-forces and cheering up his soldiers, that intelligent monkey, famed over. the three regions, having speedily met with Sugriva, is retracing his steps. From days of yore on the banks of the Gomati there is a mountain, (named) Ramya, (otherwise) called Sanrochana. The mount abounds with various trees. There that leader of bands, named Kumuda, governs his kingdom. And he that cheerfully draweth after him hundreds and thousands of monkeys, and the long grim hairs of whose tail, coppery, yellow, sable and white, are cast about, is the energetic monkey, Chanda, eager for encounter. And he hopes to conquer I.anka by help of his own forces. * The reference is prospective. It means the monkey, Sweta, in the next sloka.—T, + This may mean some wood of sandals; but the commentator is silent over it.—T.

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And this one, resembling a lion, tawny and furnished with a long mane, who, remaining apart, vieweth ali Lanka as if consuning her with his eyes, dwelleth for ever and a day in Vindhya, the mountain Krisha, Sahya, and the mount Sudargana, and, a leader of bands, is named Rambha. Three hundred Kotis of the foremost of monkeys, dreadful and fierce and possessed of terrific prowess, surrounding (him) go in his wake for the purpose of demolishing Lanka by their (native) might. And he that expandeth his ears and yawneth again and agaia, who defieth the fear of death and doth not move his forces, who trembleth for wrath and eyeth frequently askance,—and behold the lashing of his tail !—and who setteth up leonine shouts, O king, with great energy and with fear cast off—resideth in the romantic mount, Salweya, and, a leader of companies, is named Sarabha. To him, O king, belong forty hundred thousands of powerful leaders. And he that stayeth, like unto a mighty mass of clouds covering up the sky, in the midst of the monkeyheroes, as doth Vasava in the centre of the celestials, whose lofty shout is heard (mingled with) the uproar set up by the foremost monkeys, burning for battle, dwelleth in the excellent hill P&rijatra; and, ever irrepressible in fight, is named Panaga, a leader of (monkey)-bands. Fifty dacs of leaders with their forces arranged, environ this commander of monkeys. He that stayeth gracing the dreadful array overflowing with talk, stationed on the shore of the ocean,— resembling a second sea and like unto Durdara*—is the leader named Vitata. And he rangeth, drinking of (the waters of) the Veni,—best among streams—and his forces are sixty lacs of monkeys. And the monkey, named Krathana, challengeth thee to conflict. He hath (under him) powerful and vigorous generals, and forces well divided. And the monkey owning that person of the hue of red chalk, and, who, elated with strength, disregardeth all the monkeys,—is * Name of a celebrated monkey-leader.—T. 148

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named Gavaya, who approacheth thee wrathfully. Seventy lacs (of troops) girt him round ; and by their means he hopes to bring down Lank&. These are the heroes, incapable of being borne, whose numbers cannot be enumerated. These are the leaders and the heads thereof, as well as the forces set in order of battle.” ;