The Ramayana

by Valmiki

  ‘I grew angry when I saw how miserable she was and I realized what else I had to do. Eager to fight the rākṣasas, I made my body as large as a mountain and set about destroying the grove. The deformed rākṣasis woke up and saw the chaos in the grove and the agitation of the birds and animals. They were terrified when they saw me and ran off to report to Rāvaṇa. Rāvaṇa sent the mighty kinkara warriors after me, armed with spears and maces and clubs. I killed fifty thousand of them with an iron bar. The ones that survived went to tell Rāvaṇa that his army had been decimated and I decided to attack the palace temple.

  ‘There, too, I killed hundreds of rākṣasas and shattered the building that was the jewel of Lankā. I killed Jambumālī, the son of Prahasta, and his forces with my club. And I slew the seven sons of Rāvaṇa s ministers as well as five of his mighty generals. Then Rāvaṇa sent his son Akṣa, a skilled warrior, to face me. I grabbed him by his feet when he leapt into the air. I whirled him around and flung him to the ground. Rāvaṇa was enraged and sent Indrajit, his invincible son, to do battle with me. He launched a huge attack and felled me with Brahmā’s weapon. Then the rākṣasas bound me with ropes and led me to Rāvaṇa.

  ‘Wicked Rāvaṇa asked me why I had come there and why I had killed the rākṣasas. I told him I had done everything for Sītā and that I was the son of the Wind. I also declared that I was a monkey, one of Sugrīva’s ministers and a messenger from Rāma. I told Rāvaṇa that Sugrīva sent him greetings and that he had made an alliance with Rāma for ‘Sītā’s rescue. I said Sugrīva asked that Sītā be returned to Rāma, otherwise his army of monkeys would arrive and destroy Lankā.

  ‘Rāvaṇa stared at me with his red eyes as if he would burn me up, and ordered that I should be killed. Then his brother, the wise Vibhīṣaṇa, pleaded with the king that I should be spared because killing a messenger was not the right thing to do. Rāvaṇa ordered that my tail be set on fire and the rākṣasas wrapped my tail up with strips of cotton and bark. They set it alight and pounded me with their fists. But I felt no pain and decided to set fire to the city. The rākṣasas bound me and dragged me, covered with flames, through the city, announcing what I had done.

  ‘I contracted my large body and slipped through the ropes that bound me and returned to my natural form. I picked up an iron bar and killed the rākṣasas and then leapt to the top of the city gates in a single mighty bound. I set fire to the city with its massive gates and highways with my burning tail and everyone there mistook that conflagration for the doomsday fire. I was suddenly filled with doubt that I had burned Sītā along with Lankā but I heard the cātaṇas reassuring me that Sītā was safe. I went to see Sītā, again and again she sent me away.

  ‘I have told you everything exactly as it happened. Now let us do what remains to be done!’ concluded Hanumān.

  ‘Rāma and Sugrīva’s mission will be accomplished because of Sītā’s powers and my leap over the ocean,’ he continued. ‘Sītā’s ascetic power is so great that she can uphold the worlds or burn them in her anger. The only reason Rāvaṇa was not destroyed when he touched her was because of the merit from his austerities. Even a burning flame cannot do what Sītā can when she is roused to anger!

  ‘But now, that good woman sits miserably under a tree in Rāvaṇa’s grove. Surrounded by cruel rākṣasīs, she is emaciated and tormented by grief, lustreless as the moon hidden by clouds. She is devoted to her marital vows and stands firm in her dharma. She is not in the least interested in arrogant Rāvaṇa. She thinks of nothing but Rāma all the time, with her whole heart.’

  Angada took permission from the elders and addressed the monkeys. ‘Now that this matter has been reported to you all, it seems proper that the princes be reunited with Sītā. I can reach Lankā and kill Rāvaṇa with my own strength. How much easier, then, it would be when I am accompanied by heroic warriors like yourselves who are skilled in the use of weapons and are eager to fight!

  ‘I will kill Rāvaṇa and his sons and his servants in battle! I will slay the rākṣasas and counter the infallible weapons the gods gave Indrajit! I will create a rain of rocks and stones which could destroy even the gods in battle, to say nothing of these rākṣasas!

  ‘If the sea were to overflow or the mountains tremble, Jāmbavān would not be perturbed at all. A rākṣasa army in battle holds no fear for him! Hanumān alone massacred the vanguard of the rākṣasa army. Panasa and Nīla can make Mount Mandara quake with the power of their feet, how will the rākṣasas face them? Dvivida and Mainda are capable of attacking the gods and the asuras, the yakṣas and the gandharvas and the nāgas. They are born from the aśvins and Brahmā gave them boons. They used their strength to drink the nectar of the gods and they can destroy Lankā with its horses and elephants and chariots in their anger.

  ‘I do not think it is right for us to return to Rāma without Sītā, now that we have seen her. It is not worthy of us, famed for our courage, that we should report that we saw Sītā and did not bring her back with us. Hanumān has already killed a number of heroic rākṣasas. There is nothing left for us to do except rescue Sītā. Let us take her and return!’

  ‘What you have said is true,’ said Jāmbavān. ‘But we must do what will ensure Rāma success!’ Hanumān agreed and all the monkeys went to the top of Mount Mahendra and leapt off.

  Chapter Ten

  The monkeys seemed to cover the sky with their huge bodies which were the size of mountains. They were delighted with the success of their mission and eager to see Rāma again and give him the good news. The golden monkeys flew through the sky and arrived at a beautiful little grove called Madhuvana. It was under Sugrīva’s protection and was closed to all creatures. Dadimukha, Sugrīva’s uncle, took care of it.

  When the monkeys got there, they were delirious with joy and began to behave wild and crazy. They begged Dadimukha for some honey and he gave them permission to eat the honey they found. The monkeys were thrilled and they danced and sang and ran all over the place. They leapt and fell and babbled and giggled. Some of them leaned against each other for support, some leapt from tree to tree, others threw themselves to the ground from high mountains. In their excitement, they jumped from the ground to the tops of trees, they sang and laughed and yelled and shouted to each other and made a huge commotion. There was not a single one of them who was sober and they seemed utterly insatiable.

  Dadimukha watched as the grove was destroyed, its trees stripped of their leaves and flowers. He grew angry and tried to restrain the drunken monkeys, but puffed up with pride, they were rude to him. Dadimukha became even more determined to protect the grove and did whatever he could. He quarreled with some of the monkeys and tried to conciliate others. He yelled at some and slapped others. But the drunken monkeys could not be restrained. They knew their strength and hit back at Dadimukha and dragged him around, not realizing their mistake. They attacked him with their nails and teeth and punched him and kicked him and in their intoxication, they laid waste the grove.

  ‘Collect the honey calmly!’ said Hanumān and Angada gave them permission to drink the honey they had collected. The monkeys honoured Angada and rushed into the grove like a river in spate. Delighted that they had found Sītā, they violently attacked the guards. They pounced on them and beat them up. They grabbed potfuls of honey, knocked over other pots, tossed away honey combs and feasted to their hearts’ content. They tore branches off trees and finally, exhausted, they spread leaves under the trees and lay down. Utterly insane and drunk with honey, they threw things at each other and stumbled around. Some whistled and others sang happily, some of them fell asleep.

  The guards who had been repelled by the monkeys ran to Dadimukha and complained that they had been kicked and beaten. ‘The grove has been destroyed because of the power of Hanumān’s boons. Those monkeys crushed us under their feet and nearly killed us!’ they cried. Dadimukha was angry but he rallied the guards and said, ‘Come! We shall go to the grove and attack the monkeys who have eaten th
e honey. We will fend them off!’

  The guards followed Dadimukha back to the grove quickly, armed with trees and rocks. The drunken monkeys, led by Hanumān, charged towards the guards, eager for a fight. Angada attacked noble Dadimukha with a tree. In his intoxication, he did not realize that Dadimukha was his relative and threw him to the ground. Dadimukha’s arms were crushed and he was covered with blood. He lost consciousness for a moment and when he recovered his senses, he withdrew to a quiet place and said to his assistants, ‘Let them be! We shall go to where Sugrīva, our master, sits with Rāma! I will tell the king all about Angada’s appalling behaviour and he will punish these monkeys. This grove belongs to Sugrīva and his ancestors and he loves it very much. It is closed even to the gods. Sugrīva is sure to punish these greedy monkeys and their friends. When these wicked creatures who have ignored the king’s orders have been killed, our rage will have borne fruit!’

  Dadimukha leapt into the air with the guards and he reached Sugrīva’s home in the forest in the twinkling of an eye. He saw Rāma and Sugrīva and stepped down from the sky onto the firm earth. Looking miserable, he honoured Sugrīva by placing his forehead at the monkey’s feet.

  ‘Stand up, stand up!’ cried Sugrīva in agitation. ‘Why have you fallen at my feet? Have no fear and tell me truthfully what the matter is!’

  ‘The grove which has been closed to all except you, Vālī and your father has been destroyed by monkeys, great king!’ said Dadimukha. ‘The guards tried to stop them but they pushed them away. Even now they eat and drink the honey there without a care in the world!’ Dadimukha told them what the monkeys had done and how they had behaved.

  ‘Who is this forest guard, this monkey who stands before you? Why is he so unhappy and what has he just told you?’ asked Lakṣmaṇa.

  ‘Noble Dadimukha says that a troop of monkeys led by Angada has consumed a large amount of honey,’ replied Sugrīva. ‘They would never have done such a thing if they had failed in their mission! Since the grove has been destroyed, I am sure they have met with success!

  ‘I am also positive that it was Hanumān who saw Sītā. He is the only one capable of doing that! He is intelligent and strong and resolute. With Jāmabavān as the leader of the expedition and Angada as the commander of the troops and Hanumān as its moving spirit, this group of monkeys had to be successful!

  ‘The monkeys must have arrived at the grove after searching the southern region. They attacked the guards and beat them up and then they violated the grove. Dadimukha has come here to tell me this. Ah, Lakṣmaṇa! Understand what has really happened. The monkeys have seen Sītā and so they are celebrating by drinking honey! Otherwise, they would never have laid waste that divine grove which was given to us as a boon!’

  Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa rejoiced when they heard the good news from Sugrīva. ‘I am delighted that the successful monkeys have destroyed the grove,’ said Sugrīva to Dadimukha. ‘They are forgiven for their behaviour. I cannot wait to see the monkeys led by Hanumān. Now that they have succeeded in their task, the princes and I want to hear all about the efforts that were made to find Sītā!’

  Dadimukha bowed to Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva and leapt into the sky. He returned to the grove and saw that the monkeys were no longer drunk. But they were still excited and they were urinating honeyed water all over the place. Dadimukha went up to Angada and with his palms joined, he said sweetly, ‘Don’t be angry with these guards who attacked you under my instructions. Crown prince, you are the master of this grove! Forgive us for the mistake we committed in our ignorance! Your father was the king of all the monkeys before. You and Sugrīva are no different from him.

  ‘I went and reported everything to Sugrīva, your uncle. He told me to bring all the monkeys there as soon as possible. He was thrilled that you had arrived here and is not at all angry about the destruction of the grove. “Send them here quickly!” he said to me.’

  ‘I am sure Rāma has heard all this, too,’ said the eloquent Angada. ‘We should not stay here much longer since we have been successful in our mission. You have drunk honey to your hearts’ content and you have rested. There is nothing left to do except return to Sugrīva. But I will do whatever you think best. Even though I am the crown prince, I am not capable of commanding you all. You are the ones who made the mission a success and it would be improper for me to tell you what to do!’

  ‘Which master would speak like this?’ said the monkeys. ‘Drunk with their sovereignty, most would think they are masters of all! No one other than you would be so humble. We are ready to leave immediately and return to Sugrīva! But we cannot take a single step without your command. Tell us what we should do!’

  ‘Let us go!’ said Angada and leapt into the sky. The monkeys followed him, filling the sky like smoke from the sacrificial fire, thundering like clouds driven by the wind.

  Sugrīva saw Angada coming and said to Rāma who was still overcome with grief, ‘Have faith, Rāma! They would not have returned unless they had seen Sītā, for the stipulated time has long passed! Prince Angada, best of all the monkeys, would never have come back to me if he had not been successful! His face would be woebegone and his mind troubled if he had failed. That grove has been in my family for generations. He would never have destroyed it in celebration if he had failed.

  ‘I am sure Hanumān is the one who has seen Sītā. No one else was equal to the task! Don’t worry, Rāma!’

  The sky was filled with the sound of the monkeys roaring as they came back to Kiṣkindha, as if announcing their success. Sugrīva was delighted and curled and uncurled his tail with joy. Led by Hanumān and Angada, the monkeys returned, eager to see Rāma.

  Hanumān bowed his head and told Rāma that Sītā was a prisoner but that she was unharmed. Then they all went to the pleasantly wooded summit of Mount Prasravaṇa and honoured Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sugrīva. They began to tell him all about Sītā’s trials, her imprisonment in Rāvaṇa’s palace, the harassment by the rākṣasīs, her love for Rāma and the two month period that Rāvaṇa had given her to live.

  ‘Where is Sītā? What is happening to her? How does she feel about me? Tell me everything about her!’ said Rāma anxiously as the monkeys were recounting their exploits. They pushed Hanumān forward and urged him to tell Rāma everything.

  ‘I leapt over the ocean that was one hundred yojanās across because I wanted to see Sītā,’ began Hanumān. ‘Rāvaṇa’s city is called Lanka and it is situated on the southern shore of the southern ocean. There, in Rāvaṇa’s inner apartments, I saw the chaste Sītā. She lives there with her mind firmly fixed on you, Rāma!

  ‘I saw her surrounded by hideous rākṣasīs in the pleasure garden. They guard her and torment her all the time. That virtuous woman, who is not used to suffering, is now overwhelmed by discomfort. Her hair in a single braid, vulnerable and terribly anxious about you, she is pale and thin and lies on the ground like a lotus in winter. She ignores Rāvaṇa and has decided to end her life, Rāma.

  ‘I somehow managed to locate Sītā who is so devoted to you. I gained her confidence by reciting the glories of the Ikṣvāku clan and then I told her everything. I told her about the alliance between you and Sugrīva and she was very happy. Restrained, chaste and devoted to you is how I saw Janaka’s daughter. She occupies herself with the practise of austerities. She gave’ me a story as a token of recognition for you. She told me about the incident with the crow in Citrakūṭa, Rāma.

  ‘She said to me, “Tell Rāma all that you have seen here in great detail. While you are speaking in front of Sugrīva, give Rāma this jewel which I have taken great pains to look after. Tell Rāma that I have preserved this jewel I wear in my hair and tell him that when I see it, even in my misery, I feel better, for I feel as if I am seeing Rāma. Tell him I can stay alive only for another month because I am a prisoner of the rākṣasas.”

  ‘I have told you everything, Rāma!’ said Hanumān as he gave Sītā’s jewel to Rāma. ‘Let us prepare to cr
oss the ocean!’

  Rāma pressed the jewel to his heart and wept aloud with Lakṣmaṇa. Tears streamed from his eyes as he said to Sugrīva, ‘My heart melts at the sight of this jewel, as a loving cow spills milk at the thought of her calf! Sītā’s father gave her this jewel when she got married and it shone all the brighter when she fixed it in her hair. My beloved’s beauty enhances the splendour of this jewel and today, when I look at it, I feel as if I am looking at her!

  ‘What did Sītā say? Satisfy my thirst for her by telling me what she said. Tell me again what she said. Tell me again and again! What could cause me greater sadness than seeing this jewel born from the ocean and not seeing Sītā? Sītā can survive for another month, but I cannot live for another second without my dark-eyed beloved!

  ‘Take me to where she is! I cannot live without her for another moment now that I have news of her! How does my shy and gentle darling survive among those terrifying rākṣasas? Her face must be as pale as the autumn moon released from darkness but covered by clouds! Tell me, Hanumān, what did Sītā say? Tell me!’ begged Rāma.

  Hanumān repeated what Sītā had said. He recounted the incident with the crow in Citrakūṭa that Sītā had told him about. ‘Then she asked me to say to you, “Rāma, you are the best of all warriors, why do you not employ your weapons against the rākṣasas? No one, not the nāgas, gandharvas, asuras nor the troops of māruts, can face you in battle. If you have any feelings left for me, Rāma, kill Rāvaṇa with your arrows quickly!

  ‘“Why does Lakṣmaṇa not protect me under the orders of his brother?” she asked me,’ continued Hanumān. ‘“Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa equal Vāyu and Agni in splendour. Even the gods cannot defeat them. Why have they forsaken me? I must have done something terrible since they do not rescue me even though they are together!”

  ‘I heard Sītā’s sad words and said to her, “I swear to you that Rāma is overwhelmed with grief for you. And Lakṣmaṇa is also very upset. I have found you! This is not the time for sorrow! In a short while, your troubles will be over! Those magnificent princes will turn Lankā to ashes in their eagerness to see you! Rāma will kill vile Rāvaṇa and his family in battle and take you back to his own city. Give me something that Rāma will recognize and that will make him happy!”