September 23 - Sargas 39 and 40 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Valmiki mentions the several vanara chiefs and their immense armies as they descend on Rishyamuka. Their martial spirit is beginning to light up like a huge fire.
Sugriva, on instruction from Sri Rama, begins to despatch the armies in different directions, starting with the eastward search for Sita. His encyclopaedic knowledge of the terrain, landmarks, and peoples does not fail to impress us.
***
Sri Rama embraces Sugriva and praises his great quality of extending unstinting help in searching for Sita. He compares his reliable nature of friendship to the constancy of Indra who always gives rain and the sun god who always dispels darkness. Sri Rama expresses confidence that now with Sugriva's help, he will be able to retrieve Sita after killing the rakshasas.
Suddenly the skies darken as if it is nightfall. Millions of vanaras of every size and description descend in hordes there, filling up the skies like dense clouds, Valmiki gives a detailed description of each contingent, where they came from, who was their leader, and how they celebrated their arrival. It is a long list and many vanara chiefs are mentioned - Tara, Sushena, Nala, Nila, Kesari, even Jambavan (bears), Gavaksha (golongulas with cow tails), Dhumra (also bears), Durmukha, Panasa, Angada, Mainda, and Dvivida (twins sired by the Ashwini twin gods), Sarabha, Kumuda, Vahni, Ramhi and so on.
कैलासशिखराकारैर्वानरैभीमविक्रमैः ।
वृतः कोटिसहस्रेण हनुमान्प्रत्यदृश्यत ॥
"Hanuman was seen to arrive, surrounded by ten billion vanaras who were of terrific valour who looked like the mighty Kailasa peak itself."
The vanaras leapt up and roared constantly in martial enthusiasm. They looked fierce and dangerous.
All the vanaras came and bowed down to Sugriva. He then presented the vanara chiefs by name to Sri Rama, introducing their mountainous locations, their army strength and so on. They all had magical strength and could assume any form they wished and explore any region on earth or underwater.
***
Sugriva now bowed down to Sri Rama and said they awaited his orders. Sri Rama replied, embracing Sugriva, "oh mighty warrior and lord of vanaras, I wish to know whether Vaidehi is alive or not. Also where the rakshasa Ravana lives. "
अधिगम्य तु वैदेहीं निलयं रावणस्य च ।
प्राप्तकालं विधास्यामि तस्मिन्काले सह त्वया ॥
"Oh Sugriva, after coming to know where Vaidehi is and where Ravana resides, I shall decide the proper time and course of action in consultation with you."
Sri Rama makes it clear that neither he nor Lakshmana will issue any commands to the vanara army. Sugriva is their supreme leader and the only one who should command them. So let Sugriva kindly decide and issue his orders.
***
Sugriva called one of his able commanders by the name of Vinata. He was huge like a mountain. In a voice resembling thunder, Sugriva gave him his orders in the presence of Sri Rama and Lakshmana.
देशकालनयैर्युक्तः कार्याकार्यविनिश्चये ।
वृतश्शतसहस्रेण वानराणां तरस्विनाम् ॥
अधिगच्छ दिशं पूर्वां सशैलवनकाननाम् ।
तत्र सीतां च वैदेहीं निलयं रावणस्य च ॥
मार्गध्वं गिरिशृङ्गेषु वनेषु च नदीषु च ।
"Oh Vinata, you are adept in taking timely decisions and knowing what to do. Surrounded by lakhs of vanaras, all of great valour, go eastward in the region full of mountains and forests. Go and search thoroughly for Sita and also explore Ravana's residence, looking in every mountain peak and forest and even in rivers."
Valmiki then makes Sugriva give an incredible amount of detail of the various regions and peoples they will encounter in the eastern direction. He names all the mighty rivers, their different types of waters; silkworms and silver mines; cannibals with long ears; people of golden complexion and handsome looks, tiger-like men, forest dwellers and aborigines; regions beyond the Java island, mineral and gem deposit-rich lands; divine constructions by Vishwakarma and Garuda's abode; many kinds of demons; royal swans, lotuses with golden filaments, and so on. Even the golden peak Jatarupashila on which resides the divine snake Ananta is described. Sugriva mentions where Vishnu in his Trivikrama form placed his two steps.
The vanaras are told that they cannot proceed beyond a certain horizon as there is no light there. They should exert themselves tirelessly to locate Sita. They should return successfully within one month with happy faces.
In any case, if they delay their return beyond a month, they shall all be put to death.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
