September 30 - Sargas 53 and 54 of Kishkindha Kanda.
Two interesting sargas that reveal the thought processes of the vanaras including Angada and Tara in the face of their failure to discover Sita's whereabouts.
Then, Hanuman's strategem and considered advice in private to Angada.
***
The vanaras were now at the seashore. That place was also full of trees.
ततस्ते ददृशुर्घोरं सागरं वरुणालयम् ।
अपारमभिगर्जन्तं घोरैरूर्मिभिरावृतम् ॥
विन्ध्यस्य तु गिरेः पादे सम्प्रपुष्पितपादपे ।
उपविश्य महाभागाश्चिन्तामापेदिरे तदा ॥
"Then the vanaras beheld the frighteningly vast ocean, the abode of god Varuna. It was endless and intractable, was roaring with terrifying waves.
"And also, since they were at the foothills of the mountain range that ended there, They also saw big trees. Their branches were bending down, laden with huge quantities of bright flowers, a clear sign of the arrival of spring. This plunged those glorious vanaras into a mood of deep despair. "
दृमान्वासन्तिकान्दृष्ट्वा बभूवुर्भयशङ्किताः।
"Looking at the trees clearly heralding the season of spring, the vanaras went into fright and bewilderment."
Prince Angada, heroic in his youth and of a huge physical build read everyone's mood. There were clear signs that they had certainly transgressed Sugriva's ultimatum of one month,. He thought over the matter and spoke:
"Oh, dear vanaras, we started our journey in Ashvayuja month. We had clear instructions on what we had to accomplish. Do you realise that the set time limit is long past?
"You are all exemplary in bravery and have adhered to my instructions, and spared no effort to search for Sita. Now that we have failed, there is no scope for feeling cheerful. I think the only course is for all of us to lie down here and fast unto death.
"Let us bid farewell in our minds to our families and dear ones. It will be better than suffering a painful torturous death that awaits us from the king.
"I well know how Sugriva hated me. It was not he who chose to install me as the prince. It was the great Sri Rama who would wrong no one in this world. So now Sugriva will grab his chance to destroy me.
"I shall now sit here on the sacred shores of the sea and lay down my life." (The ancient method of suicide was to lie down without food and water, stop one's breath through yoga and give up the body. The Jains practise that even now as a sacred custom.)
The vanaras joined a chorus that Sugriva would kill them all in the presence of their families. What a terrible thought!
The vanara Tara, senior and respected among them all, now spoke.
"Why die? Let us simply go back into that wondrous magical cave of plenty we just emerged from. There we will have all the food and drink and live happily. Nobody, not Sugriva nor even Indra, can come and enter there and discover us." The vanaras jumped at this happy solution. So they need not die!
***
Hanuman was quietly looking on. He respected Tara, who, Valmiki mentions here, was moon-faced and good at heart. But such a course as he recommended? No way.
Hanuman knew Angada was a brave and able successor to Vali and Sugriva. Angada had great intellect, "ashtangas" of physical attributes, four kinds of strength, and the ourteen qualities mandated for a great king. So Angada should be saved from taking the wrong course. Hanuman should stop Angada from listening to Tara, something as unwise as Indra taking advice from Shukra (the preceptor of asuras- Indra's enemies!)
There are four strategems stated in ancient wisdom to be pursued by anyone who wants to do something successfully in his interactions with others in important situations. Sama, Dana, Bheda, Danda. Sama is playing up to the person's ego and winning him over by praise. Dana is giving gifts and inducements. Bheda is creating a division and getting the person not to listen to his counsellors (divide and rule). Danda is the use of force to get your way.
Hanuman, Valmiki says, decided on Bheda. He called Angada aside and spoke:
त्वं समर्थतरः पित्रा युद्धे तारेय वै ध्रुवम् ।
दृढं धारयितुं शक्तः कपिराज्यं यथा पिता ॥
"Dear prince Angada, let me tell you that you are certainly more capable than your deceased father Vali (and hence Sugriva). You are the worthy son of the wise queen Tara. After Vali and Sugriva, there is no question that you shall rule the kingdom of vanaras very well and for long.
"But Angada, suppose we all go into that cave now. Do you think these vanaras will continue to obey you? They will sorely miss their families and life in Kishkindha. Some of them will surely betray you and go back. It will be a short step from there for Sugriva to come after you for defying his orders.
"You can't hold us down by any strategy from defying you and going back. At least some of us like Jambavan, Nila, Nala and me. Then imagine. Would you like to take on the mighty Sugriva and his army who will come to punish you? Not at all a wise course."
Hanuman now adds a vital point.
"You may think you are safe inside that impenetrable cave. Not at all correct. Lakshmana's fierce arrows will break into that cave and shatter it in an instant as if it is a leaf-wrapping of food. You know that Lakshmana has an inexhaustible quiver of such arrows. In fact, he can even split mountains with thunderbolt-like strikes. (See how Hanuman takes Lakshmana's name. Angada had seen Lakshmana in his full fury. He had little knowledge of Sri Rama's prowess).
"Then these monkeys will not stay by your side.
"There is a much, much, better way. Let us all go back to Sugriva in all humility. Let us confess to him what efforts we made and how we have failed. I know for a fact that Sugriva is a reasonable man. He is good-intentioned like your father and likes to have pleasant relationships. He is true to his promise. He will spare you for sure. Your mother is very dear to Sugriva and he would never do anything that displeases her. So, go back!"
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
