17. Hanuman’s Reverence and the Triumph of Hope
Hanuman first bowed his head in deep reverence, remembering Sita Devi. Then he said:
“You all saw me leap into the sky from the top of Mount Mahendra. I should tell you what happened thereafter. From amidst the sea rose a lofty golden hill before me. Thinking that it wished to check me, I was about to topple it. But the hill, whose name was Mainak, told me lovingly that all it wanted was to provide me with an opportunity for a little respite on my way. I had to refuse the kind offer due to the urgency of my mission.
The Encounter with Surasa
I was then confronted by the demoness Surasa, the mother of the serpents. She had received a boon stating that if she stood in a traveller’s way, that traveller could not help but enter her mouth—meaning she swallowed anyone she confronted. When my request to her to let me pass did not yield any results, I reduced myself to the size of a fly, entered her mouth, and came out in the twinkling of an eye. Thus, I fulfilled her condition without being swallowed. This pleased her, and she let me proceed.
Facing Simhika
I had not gone far when I felt someone grabbing at my shadow on the sea. This was another demoness, infamous as Simhika, who could capture any creature by seizing its shadow. She looked forward to swallowing me up, her mouth fearfully agape. I instantly made a dive into her mouth and dashed out through the rear part of her body, tearing her apart in the process. Then I arrived at Lanka and tried to enter the city stealthily.
The Guardian of Lanka
The city was guarded by a spirit who also bore the name Lanka. She tried to stop me, but after experiencing my strength, she wisely refrained from obstructing my entry into the city.
Finding Sita Devi
I searched for Sita Devi in the palace of Ravana as well as in the fascinating buildings surrounding it. At last, to my great delight, I found her a prisoner in a garden. She looked like sorrow itself, surrounded by a number of demonesses who kept a continuous vigil over her. My delight at discovering her soon transformed into sadness at her plight.
A Great Mother
After recounting the details of my meeting with Sita Devi, I said:
“Great is Mother Sita. Whoever sees her would be overwhelmed with devotion. She is the wife of a great hero. It is fitting that she desires her husband to vanquish Ravana and rescue her. But I appeal to you all to consider if it would not be right for us to kill Ravana ourselves and free Sita Devi. In that case, we could present her personally before Sri Rama instead of merely delivering the news. To be frank, I could kill Ravana myself. Although his son Meghnad possesses the Weapon of Brahma, it could do me no harm. If you allow me, I could also put an end to the audacious Meghnad. Angada and Jambavan would be sufficient to destroy all other demons. Besides, we have with us Maind and Dwividha, whom nobody can kill due to certain boons. Tell me what you think of my proposal.”
The Disagreement
Angada, inspired by my words, said, “I fully agree with what our hero has said. It is wrong to appear before Sri Rama without Sita Devi, since we have already located her. Hanuman has killed a number of demons. Should we not be able to kill the rest? Let us lose no time in raiding Lanka.”
But Jambavan pleaded, “I appreciate your sentiment, O Angada, but we must not act without the knowledge of Sri Rama.”
Rama had asked the Vanaras to locate Sita, not to act on their own. Furthermore, Sita Devi herself had declined to leave with me. The Vanaras considered these facts and found Jambavan’s advice the most sensible.
The Return to Madhuyan
The Vanaras leaped into the sky and advanced towards Sugriva’s palace, alighting at Madhuyan, a royal orchard on the outskirts of Kiskindhya. Seeking Angada’s permission to drink wine while relaxing in the orchard, Angada granted it, appreciating the great joy the Vanaras felt at the success of their mission. However, once they began drinking, they forgot where to stop. Intoxicated, they soon raised a riot of joy! Some sang loudly, while others danced wildly. Many climbed the beautiful trees, plucking fruits and flowers to hurl at each other.
The Chaos in Madhuvan
Dadhimukh, the maternal uncle of Sugriva and in charge of the garden, came running to the scene. He tried his best to dissuade the Vanaras from causing any mischief in the garden, but his words fell on deaf ears. I even encouraged my comrades, saying, “Make merry in your own way. I will see who has the courage to stop you!”
Angada proved no better. He announced, “If Hanuman were to ask me to do anything, even evil, I would not hesitate. Now that he asks us to be merry, whom do we care for?”
The Aftermath of Celebration
This only encouraged the Vanaras further. They went wild with excitement, driving away the guards of the orchard. Dadhimukh, unable to bear this, tried to control his grand-nephew Angada forcibly. But the young Angada was more than a match for him. After receiving a few hard blows, Dadhimukh fled the orchard to meet Sugriva.
A Warning to Sugriva
Concerned by Dadhimukh’s agonized face, Sugriva feared for the safety of his kingdom. He asked, most anxiously, what was troubling Dadhimukh.
“O my king! What has never happened during either your father Ruksharaja’s rule or yours has happened today. Angada and his party have invaded Madhuvan and are wreaking havoc. My guards have been beaten, and I was not spared either. Now it is for you to decide what to do,” Dadhimukh replied.
The Arrival of Rama and Lakshmana
Just then, Rama and Lakshmana arrived. Lakshmana asked Sugriva, “What is the matter with Dadhimukh? Why does he look so sad?” Sugriva explained, “The party of Vanaras that proceeded south in search of Sita Devi has just returned. They have camped in our orchard Madhuvan and are drinking. I believe they are celebrating their success.”
Good News Expected
Rama and Lakshmana looked delighted at the news. Sugriva replied, “Let us not mind the conduct of the Vanaras. I believe they have succeeded. Please return to the orchard and tell Angada that we eagerly await news of their achievements.”
The Report to Rama
Dadhimukh returned to Madhuvan and said to Angada, “I apologize for disturbing your merrymaking. As the crown-prince, you have every right to enjoy yourself in this garden. But now you must proceed to Sri Rama’s presence.”
Angada announced to the Vanaras, “Listen, friends, news of our arrival has already reached Sri Rama. I hope you have rested enough, and the excellent honey has revived your spirits. We must not delay any longer.”
Angada rose into the sky with a joyful jump, followed by the other Vanaras.
Anticipation of Good News
Meanwhile, Sugriva told Rama, “I had set a specific period for the Vanaras to return. That period has now passed. If they returned without success, they would feel guilty and not be making a stir in the orchard. I am confident we are about to hear good news.”
Hanuman’s Report
Soon the Vanaras descended before Rama and Sugriva, maintaining a respectful distance. I stepped forward and prostrated myself before Rama, Lakshmana, and Sugriva, saying, “I have found Sita Devi.”
“Where is she?” asked Rama eagerly. I turned in the direction of Sita Devi and bowed my head. Then, turning back to Rama, I said, “Across the sea lies Lanka, the city of the demon-king Ravana. Sita Devi resides there, in a garden, as a prisoner. She constantly weeps, and she might have taken her own life if I had not met her at the right moment. However, she will not live for more than a month. You must do everything necessary within this period to rescue her.”
Evidences of His Journey
I recounted an episode where Sita mentioned a crow attacking her while Rama camped on Mount Chitrakut. I did this at her request so Rama would have no doubt that I had truly met Sita Devi. I then handed over to Rama the jewel that Sita had given me. Rama took it and was overwhelmed with emotion.
With tears rolling down, he told Sugriva, “This jewel reminds me of so many sweet moments of the past. This was given to Sita by King Janaka. It adorned her forehead during our marriage. In this jewel, I see not only Sita but also King Janaka and King Dasharatha.”
