This article is part of “Sundara Kandam of Sage Valmiki”

Fourth Chapter

Travel inside the city of Lanka

 ( Description of his impressions of the city of Sri Lanka)

That Resplendent monkey chief and great Hero Hanuman winning over the great goddess of City of Lanka, who in her valor could take any shape that she wishes, entered the city by jumping over the wall and not by crossing the gate.  1

(When your intention is to destroy the city , it is believed that you should not enter by the gate) Hanuman who always does good deeds  to the king of monkeys ,Sugreeva, entered the city and placed his left leg on the head of his enemy. 2

(It is believed if your first step is of left leg , you bring calamity to the city/house)

That monkey who was the son of the God of wind and who has entered the city at night, reached the main avenue of the city which was decorated by precious gems and flowers. and he saw round the city with extreme courage.  3-4

That city which was full of music created by drums and which was full of sounds of happiness, had a lot of great buildings with windows decorated by diamonds like the great elephant of deva loka and looked like the sky decorated by clouds. 5

That city shined with the good  houses of the crowd of Rakshasas  6

That city with buildings of the type Padmam (lotus), Swasthikam(like swastika) and with palaces like Vardhamanam(ever increasing) had many beautifully constructed good houses and shined greatly  like the sky by its clouds .  7

Hanuman who does only good service to the King of monkeys , with an intention of completing the work of Sri Rama, completely saw that city which was decorated by pictures, garlands and ornaments and became happy.  8

That Son of God of wind, who was going from one house to another house saw houses of many sizes and shapes all over.  9

He heard the three sweet musical sounds of Thara, Madhyama and Manthra, which emanated from head, throat and belly respectively from the voluptuous ladies who were like the Apasra (court dancers) of deva loka.  10

In the houses of Lords, sounds of  the waist belt, sounds made of anklets, sounds while climbing stairs. Sounds of clapping hands and enthusiastic shouts were heard here and there. 11

He also heard sound of chanting of Manthras(Sacred poems) from the houses of Rakshasas.  12

He also saw Rakshasas who were experts in the knowledge of Vedas and also them who were shouting poems in praise of Ravana.  13

He also saw several spies among the great army of Rakshasa who were standing round the main avenue of the city. 14

See also  Pasupata Brahmana Upanishad

He also saw those who were doing penance for performing Yaga, those with uncut hair, those whose head was shaved off completely, those who had covered themselves with hide of cow, those who had one hand full of Durbha grass as weapons, those who had fire pits as weapons, those who had spear and thorn pointed stick as weapons, those who had ordinary sticks as weapons, those who had only one eye, those who had only one ear, those who had hanging stomachs and chests, those who were fierce looking archers, those who carried swords, those who had slanted mouth, those who carried pestle and mortars as weapons, those who were handicapped, those who were dwarfs, those who carried big steel rods, those who shined in peculiar shirts made of steel, those who were not very fat, those who were not very thin, those who were tall, those who were dwarf, those who were very white, those who were very black, those who were very hunch backed, those who were midgets, those who were ugly looking, those who were in different shapes, those who were handsome, those who were holding flags, those who were holding small flags, those who were having trees and spears as weapons, those who were having mace as weapon and also those who were carrying different type of weapons. 15-20

That great monkey further saw those who had in their hands rope and a stone, those who were wearing garlands, those who had applied perfumes, those who were wearing costly ornaments, those who were wearing different types of dresses, those who had joined the army in their free will, those who were carrying many sharp spears and those who were very strong people and carried the Vajrayudha(ace made of diamond) 21-22

Before the harem he saw lakhs of very careful sentries appointed by the king of Rakshasas. 23

Then the monkey chief saw the very famous and huge palace of the king of Rakshasas constructed on the mountain top, surrounded by walls and moats full of lotus flowers  which had a very precious golden tower. 24-25

The great monkey entered the beautiful palace of the king of Rakshasas which was pretty, which was similar to heaven, which was echoing divine sounds, which was full of sounds of horses, which had the jingling sound of ornaments, which was protected by chariots, palanquins, planes, wonderful horses bringing only good and four-tusked elephants which were like a series of white clouds and which was decorated by thick fat animals and birds and which was protected in all sides by Rakshasas. 26-30

That Hanuman entered the harem of Ravana which had surrounding walls made of gold and silver, which was decorated by costly pearls and other precious stones and which was full of scented smoke emanating from good quality myrrh and sandalwood. 31

Thus ends the fourth chapter of Sundara Kanda which is in the Ramayana which is the first epic written by Valmiki.

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