it was by the might of the blessed Râma that the rocks made a way across the sea. How dull of soul then are they who leave Râma to worship any other lord,
Chaupdi
When they had completed the bridge and made it thoroughly secure, the All-merciful was glad of heart at the sight. The passage of the host was beyond all telling, with the clamour of the multitude of warlike monkeys. The gracious Râma mounted a spot near the bridge and gazed upon the mighty deep. Then all the creatures of the sea showed themselves, in their anxiety to behold the lord of compassion; every kind of crocodile, alligator, fish, and serpent, with bodies a hundred leagues in length and of enormous bulk. After them were others, such that a single one could devour all the first swarm while they again trembled no less before one of the swarm that followed them. They could not take their eyes off the Lord, and in the general gladness of heart all were happy together. You could not see the water, so thickly they covered it, as they gazed in delight on the vision of Hari. At their lord's command the army marched on; who can describe the magnitude of the monkey host?
Pohd 5.
The bridge was so thronged with the crowd that some of the monkeys took to flying through the air, while others crossed over on the backs of sea monsters.
Chaupdi
When they had completed the bridge and made it thoroughly secure, the All-merciful was glad of heart at the sight. The passage of the host was beyond all telling, with the clamour of the multitude of warlike monkeys. The gracious Râma mounted a spot near the bridge and gazed upon the mighty deep. Then all the creatures of the sea showed themselves, in their anxiety to behold the lord of compassion; every kind of crocodile, alligator, fish, and serpent, with bodies a hundred leagues in length and of enormous bulk. After them were others, such that a single one could devour all the first swarm while they again trembled no less before one of the swarm that followed them. They could not take their eyes off the Lord, and in the general gladness of heart all were happy together. You could not see the water, so thickly they covered it, as they gazed in delight on the vision of Hari. At their lord's command the army marched on; who can describe the magnitude of the monkey host?
Pohd 5.
The bridge was so thronged with the crowd that some of the monkeys took to flying through the air, while others crossed over on the backs of sea monsters.
When the two brothers had gazed a while at the spectacle, the gracious Râma smilingly advanced and crossed over with the host. The throng of monkey chiefs was more than I can describe. On the opposite shore the Lord pitched his tent, and told all the monkeys that they might go and feast on the goodly fruit and roots. On hearing this the bears and monkeys ran off in all directions. To please Râma every tree was laden with fruit, whether it was in season or out of season, without any regard to the time of year. They devour the sweet fruit and shake the trees, and hurl masses of rock at the city of Lankâ. If ever they found a straggling demon, they all hemmed him in and led him a pretty dance, and finally bit off his nose and ears with their teeth and so let him go, after making him hear of their lord's great deeds. Those who had lost their nose and ears went and told all to Râvan. When he heard of the bridging of the sea, the Ten-headed started up and cried in consternation:
“What! he has bridged the sea, with all the springs and streams that fall therein, the great deep with all its waters! Can it be true that ocean trembles, the Lord of rivers, the store-house of the waters, the receptacle of the floods?”
“What! he has bridged the sea, with all the springs and streams that fall therein, the great deep with all its waters! Can it be true that ocean trembles, the Lord of rivers, the store-house of the waters, the receptacle of the floods?”
Then becoming conscious of the agitation he had displayed, he turned with a smile to the palace, full of frantic imaginations. When Mandodari heard that the Lord had arrived and had made nothing of bridging the sea, she took her spouse by the hand and led him to her own apartment, and besought him in these humble and winning words, bowing her head at his feet and holding up the hem of her mantle: “Be not angry, my beloved, but hearken to my speech. You should fight, my lord, with one whom you may be able to subdue either by wit or strength. But the difference between you and Râma is like that between a poor little fire-fly and the sun. He who slew the monsters Madhu and Kaitabha, who worsted Diti’s valiant son, Hiranyaksha, who put Bali in bonds and slew Sahasra-bâhu, he it is who has now become incarnate to relieve earth of its burdens. O my lord, do not fight against Him, in whose hands are Death and fate and our very life.
Bow your head at Râma’s lotus feet and give Him back Sîtâ; then resign your throne to your son and retire into the woods and there worship Raghunâth.
He is pitiful to the humble, like a tiger, who will not devour a man who comes to meet him. All that you had to do you have done long ago; you have vanquished gods and demons and all creation. The saints, O Râvan, have laid down this rule, that a king in his old age should retire to the forest. There, O my spouse, make your prayers to Him, who is the creator, preserver and destroyer, even Râma, ever gracious to the humble; put away your self-love and pride, my lord, and worship Him. He for whom the greatest saints perform all their labours, for whom kings leave their throne to become hermits, is this very king of Kosala, this Râma, who has come here to show mercy upon you. Only submit to my advice, my spouse, and the glory of your renown shall spread through the three spheres.”
Bow your head at Râma’s lotus feet and give Him back Sîtâ; then resign your throne to your son and retire into the woods and there worship Raghunâth.
He is pitiful to the humble, like a tiger, who will not devour a man who comes to meet him. All that you had to do you have done long ago; you have vanquished gods and demons and all creation. The saints, O Râvan, have laid down this rule, that a king in his old age should retire to the forest. There, O my spouse, make your prayers to Him, who is the creator, preserver and destroyer, even Râma, ever gracious to the humble; put away your self-love and pride, my lord, and worship Him. He for whom the greatest saints perform all their labours, for whom kings leave their throne to become hermits, is this very king of Kosala, this Râma, who has come here to show mercy upon you. Only submit to my advice, my spouse, and the glory of your renown shall spread through the three spheres.”
So saying she clasped him by the feet, her eyes full of tears and trembling in every limb. “O my lord, worship Râma, and your prosperity shall never be shaken.”
Râvan raised the daughter of Maya from the ground and began, the fool, to boast of his own might. “Hearken, my beloved, you are disturbed by idle fears; is there any warrior in the world my equal? Varuna, Kuver, the Wind-god, Yama, and Fate, and all the regents of the eight quarters, have been subdued by the might of my arm. Gods, demons and kinnars are all in my power: what cause can have arisen for these fears of yours?” Having thus said everything that he could to comfort her, he again went and took his seat in the council. But Mandodari knew at heart that his arrogance was doomed to destroy him. In the council he enquired of his ministers: “In what way shall we fight the enemy?” They replied: “Hearken, demon-king; why question us thus again and again? Consider now and say what there is to be afraid of; men, monkeys and bears are our natural food.”
But Prahasta, after listening to all they said, clasped his hands and cried: “Do not, my lord, act contrary to sound judgment; your counsellors have mighty little sense.”
Râvan raised the daughter of Maya from the ground and began, the fool, to boast of his own might. “Hearken, my beloved, you are disturbed by idle fears; is there any warrior in the world my equal? Varuna, Kuver, the Wind-god, Yama, and Fate, and all the regents of the eight quarters, have been subdued by the might of my arm. Gods, demons and kinnars are all in my power: what cause can have arisen for these fears of yours?” Having thus said everything that he could to comfort her, he again went and took his seat in the council. But Mandodari knew at heart that his arrogance was doomed to destroy him. In the council he enquired of his ministers: “In what way shall we fight the enemy?” They replied: “Hearken, demon-king; why question us thus again and again? Consider now and say what there is to be afraid of; men, monkeys and bears are our natural food.”
But Prahasta, after listening to all they said, clasped his hands and cried: “Do not, my lord, act contrary to sound judgment; your counsellors have mighty little sense.”
He has spoken merely to please his master; but good results do not come in that way. A single monkey leaped the ocean and came hither; what he did you all know by heart. Were none of you hungry then, that you did not seize and devour him when he set fire to the city? Pleasant to hear, but fraught with future trouble, is the advice which your counsellors have given their lord. Come, sir, tell me now, is he a mere man that we can devour, who has bridged the sea without any trouble and has crossed over to Suvela with all his army? What they say is all idle boasting. Hearken, sire, with due respect to my prayer, and do not in your arrogance account me a coward. There are plenty of people in the world who are ready to make or listen to pleasant speeches; but few, my lord, who care either to hear or to give wholesome advice, if it sounds unpleasant. Hearken now to wise counsel; first send an envoy, and when you have restored Sita, do your best to make friends with him.