October 14 - Sarga 9 of Sundara Kanda.
Valmiki now describes all the women sleeping in Ravana's private quarters. No sign of Sita.
***
Valmiki concludes the description of the incredible Pushpaka Vimana that Hanuman sees and even climbs into, by saying,
ब्रह्मणोऽर्थे कृतं दिव्यं दिवि यद् विश्वकर्मणा ।
विमानं पुष्पकं नाम सर्वरत्नविभूषितम् ॥
परेण तपसा लेभे यत् कुबेरः पितामहात् ।
कुबेरमोजसा जित्वा लेभे तद् राक्षसेश्वरः ॥
"That special aerial vehicle, decorated with all jewels and ornaments, had indeed been made in heaven by the engineer-architect Vishwakarma for the cosmic creator, Brahma himself. Later, by extreme penance, Kubera had obtained it as a boon from Brahma, who was his grandfather. It was later captured as a war trophy after his victory over Kubera by the king of rakshasas, Ravana."
***
Hanuman then steps into a special area, several miles wide and broad, ostensibly the inner quarters of Ravana. He is drawn to it irresistibly by its many fragrances and delightful attractions. Valmiki pointedly describes the pillars, hallways, carpets, windows, stairways, and many other areas, each more impressive than the others.
तां शोकनाशिनीं दिव्यां श्रियः संजननीमिव ।
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थैस्तु पञ्च पञ्चाभिरुत्तमैः ॥
तर्पयामास मातेव तदा रावणपालिता ।
स्वर्गोऽयं देवलोकोऽयमिन्द्रस्यापि पुरी भवेत् ।
सिद्धिर्वेयं परा हि स्यादित्यमन्यत मारुतिः ॥
"Hanuman saw that inner palace which instantly banished all sorrow and gave rise to a great sense of prosperity. It fulfilled the cravings of all five senses completely and was as complete an experience of bliss as given by one's own mother to a child. This was the inner palace maintained by Ravana.
"Hanuman thought, this could very well be what we know as heaven. Indra's abode. This offers the supreme achievement of comfort, luxury, prosperity, and pleasure that anyone may ever imagine or desire."
Let us pause for a moment and ask why Hanuman thinks thus. This is the inner palace housing the women that Ravana brings for his own pleasure. What normal woman would reject this kind of pleasure and prosperity?
***
That inner palace was lit with thousands of bright lamps, but much more so by the glory of the lord of rakshasas, Ravana.
Ravana's large harem of women slept there. Some were his lawfully wedded wives. Many were royal women who had wantonly succumbed to his temptations. But Valmiki says no one had been abducted like Sita.
The women, anointed with perfumes, beautiful, very well groomed, wearing the best of clothes, wearing many garlands and ornaments, intoxicated with the best of liquor, appeared to have sported for long into the night. They were sleeping in disarray, ornaments and clothes and make-up disturbed. But they all slept peacefully, embracing one another in a strange display, getting the much needed rest between successive fun-filled days. Valmiki compares them to many delightful things like stars that surround the moon called Ravana, lotuses blooming in the radiance of Ravana, and so on.
Hanuman sees this orgiastic scene in Ravana's palace. The only thought that keeps recurring in Hanuman's mind is his wish that Sita should not been abducted and should have been happy herself in the company of her dear lord, Sri Rama.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
