October 10 - Sarga 2 of Sundara Kanda. Hanuman sees the fascinating landscape and impressive architecture of Lanka. Harbouring many doubts about the challenge ahead, he enters into the city at night taking an insignificant form.
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I forgot to write how Jambavan begins to speak with Hanuman and what he says to motivate him to leap over the ocean.
बलं बुद्धिश्च तेजश्च सत्त्वं च हरिपुङ्गव ।
विशिष्टं सर्वभूतेषु किमात्मानं न बुद्ध्यसे ॥
"Dear Hanuman, you, a hero among vanaras! You are endowed with incomparable strength, intelligence, radiance, innate glory, and indeed this is special in you as compared to all other living beings. How come you are not aware of your own glory?"
I remembered this while reading the sarga today. Hanuman has already done something nobody could think of - he has leapt across in the ocean in a single leap. He has tackled big demonic challenges. Now comes the time for him to bring out his A-game.
Hanuman is pleased with himself for having crossed the ocean effortlessly. He thinks this was nothing, as right now he feels capable enough to leap much greater distances. (We see how he shows it later in Yuddha Kanda!)
Hanuman sees the verdant splendour of Lanka. Trees are abloom, full of fruits and buds and flowers all emitting a radiance and a fine fragrance. He can see that even in the fading light of the setting sun. Valmiki, with his encyclopaedic knowledge of vegetation, lists over twenty different trees.
Hanuman sees lakes and water bodies with birds like swans and waterfowl frolicking. There are many pleasure gardens.
From the top of Trikuta mountain, Hanuman looks at the capital of Lanka. It is glorious, richly decorated, and fiercely guarded. The city is vibrant and fit for the gods. The city seems suspended like a jewel in the sky. He compares its architecture by Vishwakarma to a model of a rare human figure with fort ramparts for hips and loins, water moats for clothes, spiked tridents held by guards looking like locks of hair, tall towers for ear-rings. Is this not like Kailasa, the abode of Shiva? Bhogavati, the capital of the netherworld? Amaravati, Kubera's city?
Hanuman suddenly turns his thought to the project ahead. How will vanaras ever come here? Only Angada, Nila, Sugriva and he can leap across the ocean. Even after coming here, what can be done to tackle this terrific rakshasa army under Ravana?
Again Valmiki brings up the strategems possible - Saama, Daana, Bheda, DanDa....nothing will work here, it seems. War seems out of the equation.
Well.... यावज्जानामि वैदेहीं यदि जीवति वा न वा ...first Hanuman has to find out if Sita is still alive. Indeed a million dollar question as someone would say today. Thereafter only can Hanuman plan what to do to fulfil Sri Rama's mission. He should somehow go and meet Sita in private.
भूतास्चार्था विपद्यन्ते देशकालविरोधिताः ।
विक्लवं दूतमासाद्य तमः सूर्योदये यथा ॥
अर्थानर्थान्तरे बुद्धिर्निश्चितापि न शोभते ।
घातयन्ति हि कार्याणि दूताः पण्डितमानिनः ॥
"If an incompetent messenger acts at an inopportune place and time, the best-laid plans will be dashed like darkness disappears in an instant at sunrise."
"Messengers who combine overconfidence with ineptitude act foolishly and destroy even well-designed stratagems by not knowing the difference between what will work and what will not and when."
The biggest challenge is to avoid detection by the rakshasas. Even if he were to take up a rakshasa form, it will not be safe. Even any other form is risky. Indeed,
वायुरप्यत्र नाज्ञातस्चरेदिति मतिर्मम - "I think this place is so fiercely guarded that even the wind cannot pass over here without being detected and checked."
Hanuman is almost panicky - he does not want to waste his leaping across the ocean, be caught and killed, and destroy the sacred mission of Sri Rama.
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."
At sunset, Hanuman assumes the form as big as a domestic cat. He surreptitiously enters the city. Walking down the royal main street of Lanka, he sees mansions of gold and silver, seven and eight stories tall, inlaid with crystals and gems! Golden archways, all well-lit. The impressive sight of Lanka only makes Hanuman sad. How will he find out where Sita is?
Just then the moon rises and illumines the entire Lanka. The moon is compared by Valmiki to a swan floating in a celestial lake called Lanka.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
