03.267
Markandeya said.
Then, right there where Rāma was seated with them, the foremost monkeys assembled, having come at Sugrīva's command. (03-267-1)
Suṣeṇa, the illustrious father-in-law of Vali, surrounded by a crore of swift monkeys, approached Rāma. (03-267-2)
Amongst the hundreds of crores, the elephant and the wild ox, and the two mighty monkey lords may be seen separately. (03-267-3)
O great king, Gavākṣa, who had a round tail and a terrifying appearance, was seen dragging sixty crore thousands. (03-267-4)
But the renowned Gandhamādana, the inhabitant of Gandhamādana, gathered ten million thousands of powerful monkeys. (03-267-5)
A wise monkey of great strength named Panasa draws (leads) ten crores, twelve, and thirty-five. (03-267-6)
The illustrious Dadhimukha, who was also an elder and powerful among the vanaras, led the great army of the vanaras endowed with terrible energy. (03-267-7)
Jambavan was seen along with a hundred thousand crores of mighty, dark, lion-faced bears. (03-267-8)
O great king, these and many other monkey chiefs, innumerable, came for the sake of Rāma. (03-267-9)
A loud sound, like the roaring of lions whose splendor resembles śirīṣa flowers, is heard here and there from those running about. (03-267-10)
Some of them were like mountain peaks, some like buffaloes, some resembled autumn clouds, and some had forests of powdered cinnabar. (03-267-11)
Rising, falling, leaping, the monkeys–while some stirred up clouds of dust–gathered together from all sides. (03-267-12)
Then, with Sugriva's approval, the great host of monkeys, resembling the full ocean, established an encampment there. (03-267-13)
Then, when all the best of monkeys had assembled together, on an auspicious lunar day, under a favorable constellation, at an appropriate moment, and when worship had been performed. (03-267-14)
With that well-arrayed army, as if shaking the worlds, the illustrious Rāghava, together with Sugrīva, set out at that time. (03-267-15)
Hanuman, son of the wind, was at the front of the army, while Saumitri, fearless, protected the rear. (03-267-16)
The two descendants of Raghu, having fastened finger-guards, shone there, surrounded by eminent monkeys, just as the moon and sun shine surrounded by the planets. (03-267-17)
That monkey army, wielding śāla, tāla trees and rocks as weapons, shone forth like a vast rice granary at sunrise. (03-267-18)
The vast army, guarded by Nala, Nīla, Aṅgada, Kṛtha, Mainda, and Dvivida, proceeded for the accomplishment of Rāghava’s purpose. (03-267-19)
According to the proper method, in the most excellent root-fruits, abundant honey and flesh, water and fish, as well as in auspicious things. (03-267-20)
In the same way as they had dwelt undisturbed on the mountain peaks, the monkey army then approached the salt ocean. (03-267-21)
That army, resembling a second ocean and adorned with many banners, upon reaching the Vela forest, made its encampment at that time. (03-267-22)
Then the illustrious Rāma, descendant of Daśaratha, spoke these timely words to Sugrīva in the midst of the chiefs of the monkeys. (03-267-23)
What means do you all consider for crossing the ocean? This is a great army, and the ocean too is difficult to cross. (03-267-24)
There, other monkeys, proud of their skills, indeed spoke; while some were capable in crossing the ocean, not all the monkeys were capable of crossing it in its entirety. (03-267-25)
Some endeavored with boats, and others with various rafts; but Rama, comforting them all, said, "No (do not do so)." (03-267-26)
Heroes, none of all the monkeys are capable of crossing the ocean spanning a hundred yojanas; this is not your fixed resolve. (03-267-27)
There are not many boats for the army to carry across; and regarding the harm to the merchants, how should someone like us act? (03-267-28)
It is possible that the enemy may destroy our extensive army at its weak points; and I do not approve here of crossing by rafts and boats. (03-267-29)
But I will cross this ocean by some means; if I remain behind fasting, then he will show me. (03-267-30)
If he does not show the way, then I will burn him with mighty missiles, unstoppable, ablaze with intense fire and wind. (03-267-31)
Having said this, Rāghava, together with Saumitri, performed purificatory rites and then lay down facing the ocean on a bed of kuśa grass in the prescribed manner. (03-267-32)
Then the ocean, the glorious god, lord of rivers and streams, surrounded by groups of aquatic beings, appeared to Rāghava in a dream. (03-267-33)
Having thus addressed his mother Kausalya with sweet words, he said this, being surrounded by hundreds of mines of jewels. (03-267-34)
Rāma said to him, "Tell me, O best of men, what assistance shall I give you here? I am of the Ikṣvāku line, your kinsman." (03-267-35)
O lord of rivers and streams, I desire the path given for the army, by which having gone I may kill the ten-necked one, the disgrace of the Paulastya family. (03-267-36)
If you do not show me the path when I am asking thus, I will dry you up with arrows endowed with the mantras of divine weapons. (3-267-37)
Thus, when he heard Rāma speak in this manner, the abode of Varuṇa, standing with joined palms and feeling disturbed, spoke as follows. (03-267-38)
I do not wish to oppose you; nor am I one who causes obstacles for you. Listen to this instruction, Rāma, and having heard it, do your duty. (03-267-39)
If I give you the path for your army as commanded, then others too will likewise force me under threat of the bow. (03-267-40)
Here there is a monkey named Nala, esteemed by craftsmen, the powerful son of Tvaṣṭṛ, the divine architect Viśvakarman. (03-267-41)
Whatever wood, grass, or stone is thrown upon me, I will support all of it; it will become a bridge for you. (03-267-42)
Having thus spoken and when he had disappeared, Rama said to Nala: "Build a bridge across the ocean; you are indeed regarded as capable by me." (03-267-43)
By that means, Kākutstha (Rāma) had the bridge built—ten yojanas in breadth and one hundred yojanas in length. (03-267-44)
The bridge of Nala, thus renowned, which is even today famous on earth, is sustained like a mountain, having been constructed by placing Rāma's command at the forefront. (03-267-45)
There, that righteous-souled Vibhīṣaṇa, the brother of the king of the rākṣasas, approached together with his four counselors. (03-267-46)
Rāma, who was magnanimous, received him with words of welcome. But to Sugrīva, the spy truly became a source of suspicion for this reason. (03-267-47)
Rāghava, when he had truly become satisfied by his actions and by his proper conduct and gestures, then honored him. (03-267-48)
He anointed Vibhīṣaṇa as king over the whole kingdom of the rākṣasas, and appointed him as a counseller and friend of Lakṣmaṇa also. (03-267-49)
On Vibhīṣaṇa's counsel, the lord of men crossed the great ocean together with his army by that bridge, all within a month. (03-267-50)
Then, after going and reaching the gardens of Laṅkā in many ways, the monkeys shattered both the large and the many gardens. (03-267-51)
There, Rāvaṇa's ministers, the rākṣasas Śuka and Sāraṇa, were present. Vibhīṣaṇa seized those two spies who had taken the form of monkeys. (03-267-52)
When those two night-roamers had assumed the demon form and displayed it, then Rama afterwards dismissed the army. (03-267-53)
After having stationed the army in the grove, the brave hero then sent the intelligent monkey Angada to Ravana as a messenger. (03-267-54)
