Ramayana By Valmiki

The Ramayana By Rishi Valmiki

Chapter 5 Sundara Kanda

Ramayan: Sundar Kanda – Book Of Beauty

Canto I – Leap To Lanka

Hanuman stood on the mountain and saluted the gods presiding over the quarters. He repeated the glorious mantra “Ram, Ram, Ram” ~ and concentrated on Ram. He then shook himself and roared like thunder. He swung his tail in the sky until it looked like a hooded serpent. Placing his hands on the rock, he sucked in his waist and folded his legs. Thrusting his neck far out, he held his breath and concentrating his mind on Ram, and repeating the Ram mantra , he took a flying leap. He was absolutely confident of his ability to jump over the ocean and find Sita. Because of the force with which he jumped, trees were uprooted and some even sped with him, scattering their flowers on the sea.
Hanuman coursed through the air, like a thunder-cloud. Varuna, the god of the waters, wanted to help him and asked the mountain, called Mainaka, to rise up from the waters and give him a resting place. Hanuman saw it rising and thought it was an impediment in his path and tried to push it off but the mountain took on the form of a lady and told him that she had been sent to give him a resting place.

Hanuman was pleased but refused her offer, since he was in a desperate hurry. The watching gods wanted to test his determination and sent Surasa, the mother of the serpents to block his path. She came in the form of a huge rakshasi and tried to gobble him up.

She said, “No one can pass, without entering my mouth”. So Hanuman started growing in size and she also enlarged her mouth to suit his stature. Then suddenly, he became small as a thumb and entered her mouth and came out again.

“Now that I have done what you told me to do, let me pass”, he said. She was pleased and allowed him to proceed. Then, there was another sea-monster, who tried to catch him by his shadow but Hanuman swooped down and killed her and carried on with his journey. Soon he saw signs of land and realised that he had reached his destination.

He thought that he would be the cynosure of all eyes if he went into Lanka in this huge form, so he changed himself into a small, insignificant looking monkey and stood on the peak overlooking Lanka, in order to survey the land. He saw a magnificent city built on a hill, surrounded by a moat. It was so well guarded that it would be almost impossible to get into it. The mansions were glittering in the evening light and the hill was covered with trees and flowering bushes. He could also see the clean white roads, bordered by green, luscious looking grass.

Situated as it was on top of the hill, Lanka looked, as if it was floating on air, for there were some clouds surrounding it. Hanuman nimbly jumped from rock to rock, as he made his way to the northern gate, guarded by fierce looking rakshasas. He felt that it would be an impossible task for an army to enter Lanka. First of all, how would Ram, accompanied by a hoard of monkeys, cross the sea, which he had just crossed. Even if they succeeded in crossing, how would they assail this bastion which looked impregnable. The lockout posts would be able to see anyone as soon as they landed on the shore.

“Even my father, the god of wind, would not be able to enter this city, undetected”, he thought to himself. Anyway he decided that he would go and discover the whereabouts of Sita, for that was his immediate task. He waited till darkness had set in and then shrunk his body even further, to that of a small cat and went near the gate. He saw seven and eight-storied palaces having pillars, gloaming with pearls and coral. Precious stones were studded on the walls and the perfume of incense was rising from the hearths. He waited till a pale moon floated across the sky, accompanied by her attendants, the stars. He was so small that he could easily have slipped through the bars of the gate but as he tried to do so, he was accosted by the rakshasi who was the guardian of the gate “Who are you”? she demanded. “You look like a monkey. Why have you come here? Tell the truth or forfeit your life. No one can enter Lanka without my permission”.

Hanuman spoke humbly, “Tell me, 0 lady, who you are? Why are you standing in this frightening pose”

She said gruffly, “My name is Lankini and I am here to obey the orders of the king. I have been ordered to kill anyone who enters without reason and I am going to kill you, unless you tell me the purpose of your visit”.

Unruffled by this apparition, Hanuman said, “Madam, I have heard about the beauty of Lanka and have come here to see it for myself. ] just want to see its glories and then I’ll go away. I have not come here to stay”.

She was not impressed by his sweet words and said, “You are a stupid little monkey. You will have to fight with me. If you wish to enter”.

So saying she gave him a box on his face. Without saying a word Hanuman boxed her back with his left hand. Even though he did not use all his strength, she fell down with a thud. She was really astonished to be felled by a small cat-like monkey.

She said, “I had a boon from Brahma that I would be invincible. But he also warned me that I would be vanquished by a monkey. When such a thing happened, he told me that it was a foreboding of disaster for the rakshasas. I see now, that the time has come for Ravana to be vanquished. I suppose that you have come in search of Sita. You are at liberty to enter the city and do what you wish”. So saying Lankini vanished from the city forever.

Having got rid of the presiding deity of the city, Hanuman entered the fabulous city of Lanka and stared spellbound. Wherever he looked he saw nothing but beauty. There was music everywhere, tinkle of anklets on women’s feet, the rustle of silks and satins, perfume of jasmine and sandalwood and palaces gleaming in the silvery sheen of the moon. The army was parading the streets but he was so small that no one noticed him. At one place he saw the fabulous, aerial chariot of Ravana which he had stolen from his brother, Kubera.

It was called, Pushpaka, or the flower chariot. Pushpa means flower, and the chariot was covered with flowers and many wonderful things. He jumped on to the platform surrounding it and gazed fascinated.