September 28 - Sargas 49 and 50 of Kishkindha Kanda.
The vanaras, led by Angada and Tara, and showing full confidence in Hanuman, move through difficult terrains and dense forests with much difficulty.
If we remember how the police of two states, Karnataka and Tamilnadu, found it hard to locate Dr.Rajkumar and Veerappan and how that search went on for months and even so unsuccessfully, we can begin to appreciate what the vanaras were up against.
Ravana was the fiercest rakshasa, and an unconquerable emperor, commanding a large terrain and a huge army, with his box of tricks and powers. This was the dense, dense, south Indian Western ghats rain forest range, intractable for most of history, till some roads were built a few hundred years ago. Wild animals like tigers and elephants roamed in large numbers.
Also, remember that drinking water bodies in mountains are always few and far between.
***
Angada, who was in charge of the large contingent of vanaras, noticed that they were tired, hungry, thirsty, and very disheartened. The period of 30 days was about to end. And absolutely no inkling of where Sita might be.
Imagine Colombus or Vasco da Gama leading a ship of tired sailors with depleted food and water. How did he motivate the sailors to carry on?
Prince Angada shows his leadership qualities when he speaks to the gathered vanaras under the tree:
वनानि गिरयो नद्यो दुर्गाणी गहनानि च ।
दरी गिरिगुहाश्चैव विचिताः सर्वमन्ततः ॥
तत्र तत्र सहास्माभिर्जानकी न च दृश्यते ।
तथा रक्षोऽपहर्ता च सीतायाश्चैव दुष्कृती ॥
"Dear vanaras, we have searched thoroughly everywhere, in dense forests, on mountains, in rivers, in massive forts and deep caves. But we have found no trace of the glorious queen Janaki Sita nor of the despicable rakshasa who abducted her.
"The time limit set by the draconian lord Sugriva is over. The only course left for us is to carry on in our search without let up."
विहाय तन्द्रीं शोकं च निद्रां चैव समुत्थिताम् ।
विचिनुध्वं यथा सीतां पश्यामो जनकात्मजाम् ॥
अनिर्वेदं च दाक्ष्यं च मनसश्चापराजयः ।
कार्यसिद्धिकराण्याहुस्तस्मादेतद्ब्रवाम्यहम् ॥
"Giving up laziness, defeatism, even sleep that is overpowering us, we should redouble our efforts until we succeed in our search for Sita.
"The wise maintain that zeal, capability, and fortitude will surely overcome defeat and achieve success in whatever one undertakes. That is why I am saying this."
Angada again says that Sugriva will treat failure harshly and that they were all committed to serving the cause of Sri Rama. So there was no question of giving up.
The vanara Gandhamadana, although weakened by thirst, added in his parched voice that Angada was right and they should carry out his command.
The vanaras got up and resumed the search. Difficult mountains, dense forests, and many deep and dark caves ...nothing was left unexplored. Again they were fully exhausted and came to rest under a large tree.
***
The 30-day time limit was over. Hanuman continued his assiduous efforts, searching every nook and corner of every forest, mountain, and cave. The monkeys did not want to lose each other. So they trundled together, holding each other through dark regions.
Suddenly they saw the mouth of a large cave, describable as a rikshabilam (cave of bears). It was covered with creepers and bushes. (Imagine a scene from Avatar). The vanaras were naturally curious, but also afraid. It looked like the abode of a rakshasa and seemed to be harbouring many kinds of animals.
Hanuman, whom Valmiki compares here to a huge mountain, came and spoke:
अस्माच्चापि बिलद्धंसाः क्रौञ्चाश्च सह सारसैः ।
जलाद्राश्चक्रवाकाश्च निष्पतन्ति स्म सर्वशः ॥
नूनं सलिलवानत्र कूपो वा यदि वा ह्रदः ।
तथा चेमे बिलद्वारे स्निग्धास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः ॥
"Look, friends, this cave is interesting. Out of it are flying swans and cranes and egrets. The chakravaka birds coming out are dripping wet and covered with red pollen. Therefore I am certain there is a hospitable place inside, and a plentiful source of water, surely a well or a pond. There appear to be many trees on the other side too, which may yield us our fruits."
Taking a lead, Hanuman entered that dark cave. The vanaras followed him, very edgily. It was indeed too dark for anyone else to see, but not for these vanaras who had powers to see even in great darkness. That foreboding place was yet scary for them, and they walked holding one another. They could hear the cries of tigers and lions inside.
Lo and behold! Some distance had been covered when the place opened up to reveal an enchanting, veritable, heaven. The vanaras were disoriented by hunger, thirst, and exhaustion, and had walked in a strange darkness. So they took time to get adjusted to this.
They saw a stunning sight of a rich forest, all lit up, with tall sala, tamala, tala, champaka, naga and other trees.
The trees were divine. They had golden fruits and glitter of their own. The vanaras also saw altars and palace-fronts all decorated with gold, silver, and gems. There were strangely attractive fishes and tortoises. The palaces had attractive windows encrusted with pearls. Honey and fruits were dripping from the trees. Golden bees were buzzing around.
The vanaras saw beds and couches all decorated and fit for kings. There were even vehicles; utensils made of precious metals. A wide array of eatables was on display; many kinds of drinks. Here and there lay heaps of gold.
Stop and think. If you were a vanara there at that moment, what would be your thought!? Well, perhaps, you had stumbled on Ravana's secret palace and hideout! So Sita must be......
Just then, the vanaras saw an old lady. She was an ascetic, dressed in barks and deerskin. She shone with a rare lustre, acquired through tapas, no doubt. She looked like someone who never ate. The vanaras were frightened stiff.
Hanuman approached the lady.
ततो हनूमान् गिरसंनिकाशः
कृताञ्जलिर्तामभिवाद्य वृद्धाम् ।
पप्रच्छ का त्वं भवनं बिलं च
रत्नानि चेमानि वदस्व कस्य ॥
"Thereupon, Hanuman, who was looking like a mountain in size, bowed down to that old woman and spoke words of respect. Then he inquired of her who she was, and to whom that cave palace with its treasures and everything else belonged."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
