Kishkindha Kanda, Sarga 50

Meaning

Joining hands with Tāra and Aṅgada, the monkey, Hanumān for his part began to explore the caves as well as the dense forests of the Vindhyan range as also the caves inhabited by lions and tigers, round about in the corners of that lord of mountains, rugged slopes and by the side of big waterfalls. (1-2)

Meaning

They now reached the south-western summit of that mountain. While they continued on that summit the time appointed by Sugrīva for the search clearly slipped away. (3)

Meaning

That region, vast as it was, was also difficult to explore inasmuch as it was full of caves and impenetrable forests. Yet Hanumān, son of the wind-god, scoured the whole of the mountain in that region. (4)

Meaning

Having explored the areas covered by a network of mountains while combing the southern quarter apart from one another, yet not very far from one another, Gaja, Gavākṣa, Gavaya, Śarabha, Gandhamādana and Mainda, as also Dwivida, Hanumān, also Jāmbavān, Aṅgada, the Prince Regent, and the monkey Tāra presently saw there a cave, Ṛkṣabila by name, which had its mouth open, though the cave was difficult of access and was guarded by a demon (Maya by name). Overcome by hunger and thirst as they were and exhausted too, and seeking water, they for their part cast their eyes on the large cave, which was screened by climbers and trees. Herons and swans and cranes as well as Cakrawāka birds (a species of red geese) wet with water, their limbs reddened with the pollen of lotuses, emerged from the cave. Reaching that cave, which was emitting fragrance and was difficult to enter, the aforesaid jewels among the monkeys thereupon stood bewildered in mind through wonder. Hope of getting water inside the cave having been instilled in them by the sight of birds wet with water, the said leaders of monkeys, who were full of spirit and possessed of extraordinary strength and were transported with joy at the prospect of obtaining water, approached that cave, which was crowded with every kind of creature and resembled Pātāla (the abode of the rulers of Daityas, nay, which was fearful and difficult to behold and hard to penetrate into in everyway. Thereupon Hanumān, son of the wind-god, who looked like a mountain-peak and was capable of entering forests which were difficult to penetrate into, spoke as follows to the redoubtable monkeys: “Having combed the southern quarter consisting of regions covered with a network of mountains we all feel exhausted, yet we are not finding Sītā (a princess of Mithilā). And from this cave emerge on all sides swans and herons with cranes as also Cakrawāka birds (a species of red geese) wet with water. Surely, therefore, there must be a well of fresh water or pool in the cave. (5—16)

Meaning

“Moreover, these trees at the entrance of the cave are green.” Spoken to, as aforesaid, by Hanumān, all the monkeys entered that cave, which was enveloped in darkness, and found it impenetrable by the rays of the sun and the moon and as such causing the hair to stand on end. Encouraged by seeing lions as well as other beasts and birds of different species emerging from the cave those tigers among monkeys penetrated deep into the cave veiled by darkness. Neither did their vision fail nor their spirit nor, again, their prowess. (17—19)

Meaning

Their movement was uninterrupted like that of the wind as also their vision in the darkness. Having penetrated deep into that cave with speed, the aforesaid elephants among monkeys for their part caught sight of an excellent spot which was not only clear to view but also delightful. Catching hold of one another, they then headed to a distance of a Yojana (or eight miles) in that terrible cave thick with trees of every species. Seeking water, seized as they were with thirst and, therefore, bewildered and absent-minded, they progressed through that cave for some time free from lassitude. When the said heroic monkeys—which were emaciated through hunger and thirst and exhausted and looked melancholy—grew despondent about their life, they beheld a light. Reaching the aforesaid bright region, a light grove, the gentle ones saw there trees of gold possessing the brilliance of a blazing fire—sal, palmyra and Tamāla, Punnāga, Vañjula, Dhava, Campaka and Nāga as well as Karṇikāra trees in blossom with wonderful golden clusters of flowers and tender crimson leaves for their chaplets, nay, entwined by climbers and adorned with gold ornaments (yielded by the trees themselves). They also beheld trees of gold dazzling like the rising sun and shining brightly with their own bodies and standing on bases of cat’s-eye gems, as well as lotus plants possessing the hue of blue cat’s-eye gems and surrounded by birds. (20—28)

Meaning

They further saw in that grove lotus-ponds full of pellucid water, nay, hemmed in with giant trees of gold shining brightly as the morning sun and adorned with golden fish and also with big lotuses. The monkeys also saw there palaces of gold as well as of silver and also on all sides mansions of gold, silver and earthly substances such as bricks, lime etc., and set with cat’s-eye gems, with air-holes of gold and protected with lattices of pearls. They further beheld on all sides trees laden with blossom and fruit and shining brightly as coral and ruby with golden bees hovering about them, as also honeys of various kinds on all sides and, even so, spacious couches and seats of various kinds set with gems and gold, again heaps of vessels of gold, silver and bell-metal and also collections of aloe-wood and sandal-wood of the Divya class, pure foods as well as roots and fruits, costly conveyances (palanquins etc.,) and delicious honeys, piles of costly ethereal textiles as also piles of excellent blankets and deerskins. The monkeys also saw dazzling and immaculate heaps of gold placed here and there and resplendent as fire. Looking about here and there in that cave, the heroic monkeys, which were possessed of extraordinary brilliance, beheld a certain woman at a short distance from them. Nay, they found her to be an ascetic woman clad in bark and black antelope skin, restrained in her diet and burning as it were with glory on that spot. Full of astonishment the monkeys halted there at some distance on all sides. Of them, Hanumān approached her with the following question: “Who are you and whose cave is this?” (29—40)

Meaning

Greeting that aged woman with joined palms, Hanumān, who greatly resembled a mountain, then put the following question to her: “Who are you and to whom do this cave, building and these precious stones belong? Pray, speak out.” (41)