Hari Om.
Let us begin the fiftieth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Anxiety was building up in the south bound squad. The fact that this was the most likely direction of success added its own pressure. To top that, difficult-to-reach places, tireless efforts, sparse food and lack of success heightened the tension. The spirits were drooping. The leader had to step in. He reminded the squad of their might, of the challenge and most of all, the sternness of sugrIva’s order. The king had said that those who do not return within a month shall face execution and then what could be the result of an unsuccessful expedition? The vAnaras picked themselves up post the pep-talk of angada and re-visited the vast and expansive regions of the vindhyas, still without success. The vAnara army was fighting its southbound spirits. Onwards…
As hanumAn, tAra and other vAnaras led by angada were searched through the vindhyas with its inaccessible caves, high rocks, lakes, streams and infested with lions and tigers and reached the south-western tip of the ranges, the stipulated one month deadline was over.
आसेदुस्तस्य शैलस्य कोटिं दक्ष्णिपश्चिमाम्।
तेषां तत्रैव वसतां स कालो व्यत्यवर्तत।।4.50.3।।
It was a large networked effort, well coordinated among hanumAn, gaja, gavaksha, gavaya, Sarabha, gandhamAdana, mainda, dvivida, sushENa, jAmabvAn, nala, prince angada and tAra. They mounted a sterling effort in the range of mountains in the southern direction and thoroughly searching there, they found a large cave by name Rkshabila which was being guarded by a demon. All of them were troubled by hunger and thirst, were tired and pined for water. In such a state, they found the giant cave covered with creepers on it. Their excitement and bewilderment was enhanced as they saw krauncha, swans, geese and chakravAka birds, drenched in waters and feet covered with red lotus pollen flew out of the inaccessible and the fragrant cave!
With mixed feelings of cynicism and joy, the mighty vAnaras beheld the cave that looked impenetrable like the abode of the lord of the demons, filled with a variety of species, pitch dark, reverberating with the roars of lions and tigers and this was a hair-raising experience. Making his own assessment of it, the mountainous hanumAn suggested –
“We have extensively searched the mountain ranges in the southern direction without being able to see maithilI and we are tired. Further, from this cave we have seen the emergence of birds soaked in water. Therefore, there must be a waterbody like a well or a lake present inside. Further, the lustrous greenery of the foliage in the mouth of the cave also attests to the presence of water in this cave”.
So saying, the mighty and illustrious vAnaras, undeterred by the darkness and the challenges of the cave, they held each others hands and ventured for a yOjana inside the densely forested cave. Done in by thirst, emaciated, tired and with long faces, the vAnaras desperately looked around in the cave and soon enough encountered a well lit and lovely spot just when they lost hope in their lives due to exhaustion.
ते कृशा दीनवदनाः परिश्रान्ताः प्लवङ्गमाः।।4.50.23।।
आलोकं ददृशुर्वीरा निराशा जीविते यदा।
Seeing light at last, the vAnaras went near and beheld a variety of foliage – sAla, tAla, punnAga, kakubha, vanjula, dhava, champaka, nAga and karNikAra trees, all in full bloom and bearing fruits. There were creepers around the trees bearing golden fruits that shone like the Sun. They saw further, colourful and shining gems studded all over. Then they beheld the serene water tank that was home to glowing lotuses and golden fish and tortoise.
जातरूपमयैर्मत्स्यैर्महद्भिश्च सकच्छपैः।।4.50.29।।
नळिनीस्तत्र ददृशुः प्रसन्नसलिलावृताः।
There, the vAnaras also beheld beautiful houses, well decorated windows studded with gold, silver, pearls and gems. The houses had golden couches, pots made of gold, silver and bronze. There was fragrance of the incense agaru and sandalwood wafting in the air and a delightful collection of fruits and roots, rich drinks, collection of costly clothes, blankets made of exquisite animal skins. In some places, they beheld pure gold heaped up and shining like blazing fire. The trees in the gardens were in full bloom, bore fruits as well and golden bees buzzed busily making fragrant honey.
तत्र तत्र विचिन्वन्तो बिले तस्मिन्महाबलाः।।4.50.38।।
ददृशुर्वानराश्शूराः स्त्रियं काञ्चिददूरतः।
Searching around in that cave, the mighty vAnaras spotted a woman not so far away; she was clad in ascetic clothes, looked ascetic with restrained food habits and glowing like fire. The vAnaras were taken aback to see her. They were in great surprise and approaching her, the great and towering hanumAn, paid obeisance to that old woman and gently inquired – “who are you, whose cave is this, to whom do these mansions, gems and jewels belong”.
Here we conclude the fiftieth sarga of the kishkindhA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 4.51. A much needed fueling break
Previous: 4.49. Fighting the southbound spirits!
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
