November 21 - sarga 63 of Sundara Kanda.
Dadhimukha gets a most unexpected response from King Sugriva.
***
उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ कस्मात्त्वं पादयोः पतितो मम।
अभयं ते भवेद्वीर सर्वमेवाभिधीयताम् ॥
अभयं ते भवेद्वीर सर्वमेवाभिधीयताम् ॥
"Oh brave warrior, Dadhimukha, please rise. Why have you fallen at my feet? Do not fear. I shall take care of you. Please tell me what occasions your distress."
Relieved to hear King Sugriva's reassuring words, Dadhimukha narrates the strange happenings in Madhuvana.
नैवर्क्षरजसा राजन्न त्वया नापि वालिना।
वनं निसृष्टपूर्वं हि भक्षितं तच्च वानरैः ॥
वनं निसृष्टपूर्वं हि भक्षितं तच्च वानरैः ॥
" Oh, King, I regret to inform you that something untoward has happened. What had never transpired - either in your father, King Riksharaja's time, or Vali's time, or under your rule, has happened. The Madhuvana which has never been trespassed has been vandalized by unruly vanaras."
Dadhimukha continues that the vanaras were violent and hurt all the guards and did not care for any of his warnings.
***
Hearing this narrative, Lakshmana, who was sitting next to Sugriva, asked, curiously,
"Oh, King! Why has this caretaker of your garden come here? What is wrong?"
"Oh, Lakshmana, Dadhimukha here is reporting that the vanara heroes under Angada have invaded Madhuvana on their return journey. My surmise is that they would not have conducted themselves thus if they had not succeeded in their mission."
दृष्टा देवी न सन्देहो न चान्येन हनूमता ।
न ह्यन्यः साधने हेतुः कर्मणोऽस्य हनूमतः ।
कार्यसिद्धिर्हनुमति मतिश्च हरिपप्लुवे ॥
व्ववसायश्च वीर्यं च श्रुतं चापि प्रतिष्ठितम् ।
जाम्बवान् यत्र नेता स्यादङ्गदश्च महाबलः ॥
अङ्गदप्रमुखैर्वीरैर्हतं मधुवनं किल ।
"Oh Lakshmana, I am sure that Sita has been sighted, and without doubt by Hanuman alone. Verily, there is none else comparable to Hanuman in accomplishing this task. None compares with him in succeeding in tasks, or intelligence. His task orientation and his bravery are indeed well-proven and famous.
"In addition, the army led by the venerable Jambavan, having Angada as their commander, cannot fail in their mission. There is ample proof of their success since they have enjoyed themselves so much, pretty much ruining the famed garden!"
Whereas Dadhumukha does not know what to say or understand, Lakshmana and Sri Rama feel immensely cheered up. Sugriva's logic that a failed mission would not have elicited such celebrations makes a lot of sense.
श्रुत्वा कर्णसुखां वाणीं सुग्रीववदनाच्च्युतम् ।
प्राहृष्यत भृशं रामो लक्ष्मणश्च महायशाः ॥
"Listening to the nectarine words of good tidings from King Sugriva, Sri Rama and Lakshmana felt wonderfully happy, and showed it in their radiant faces."
Sugriva told Dadhimukha, "Know, sir, that I am indeed pleased that the vanaras have enjoyed themselves so thoroughly. It does not matter that Madhuvana now needs some tidying up. Worry not. But go back at once and tell Angada and everyone else that I am expecting them to report to me immediately, with no delay."
Seeing Sri Rama and Lakshmana cheered up, Sugriva felt very happy. He felt a thrill of joy all over his limbs.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
