Hari Om.
Let us begin the third sarga of the sundara kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Comfortably reaching the farther southern shore of the ocean, a feat no one else in the vAnara contingent were capable or even believed they could, hanumAn stood gazing at the city of lanka which was present on top of the trikUTa mountain. Having accomplished the difficult task of crossing the ocean, an infinitely more difficult task lay ahead – entering into lanka incognito and locating the whereabouts of sItA. Grasping about the formidability of the task and the warriors who guarded the city, the vAnara’s initial impression was it seemed like a lost cause – there was not much that rAma or anyone could even if they managed to come thus far! As he neared the gates of the city, the confidence grew slightly and he was confident that only a few of them – himself, angada, sugrIva and nIla could come this far. Mulling his options of how to pull off the mission of finding sItA without being exposed to the demons and spilling and thereby spoiling his task and rAghava’s mission, the supremely wise hanumAn, at the fall of the night, as moon rose and filled the world with his cool light, opted to assume a form as small as the cat and move about in lanka for his quest. Onwards…
Revelling in excellence, the wise hanumAn, the son of the wind god, perched on the lamba mountain that resembled a rain-bearing dark cloud entered into the city of lanka, full of beautiful gardens and pools, at the stroke of night fall. The city had high rises white in color like the autumnal clouds, tastefully decorated with arches and flags and having golden ramparts. The roar of the sea could be heard and the sea breeze was blowing gently with the small bells making a jingling sound. The city was well protected by a strong army like the city of bhOgavatI. The capital of kubEra, protected by the serpents. He lost no time in moving nearer and looking around. He was struck by wonder and surveyed the thresholds of the houses studded with gold and gems, the staircases decorated with cat-eyed gems. The city resounded with gentle music emanating from the krauncha, peacock, swans and musical instruments alike. Beholding the lovely city of the demon king which was opulent, hanumAn thought it resembled lord indra’s golden city on the mEru mountain called vasvOkasArA. Other than kumuda, angada, sushENa, mainda, dvivida, kuSaparva, kEtumAla and myself, not many can lay seize on this city which is being guarded by a vigilant and weapon wielding army – he thought to himself.
समीक्ष्य तु महाबाहू राघवस्य पराक्रमम्।
लक्ष्मणस्य च विक्रान्तमभवत् प्रीतिमान् कपिः।।5.3.17।।
Reflecting on the valour of the mighty rAma and lakshmaNa, hanumAn felt joyous. The lights emanating from the giant mansions dispelled the darkness. The city appeared like a young and opulent maiden who was robed in a jewel-studded attire, with the granaries as her ear rings and the weaponries as her breasts.
The city of lanka, in the form of its presiding deity, beheld the mighty vAnara, the son of the wind god entering the city. With her terrible face, she raised herself, accosted hanumAn and letting out a loud roar stood in front of him and said –
कस्त्वं केन च कार्येण इह प्राप्तो वनालय।
कथयस्वेह यत्तत्त्वं यावत्प्राणा धरन्ति ते।।5.3.23।।
“O vAnara, dweller of the forests, who are you and what business brings you here. Tell me while you are still alive. This lanka, well protected by the forces of rAvaNa cannot be entered into by you”.
The heroic hanumAn replied to the one in front of her –
“Sure, I shall tell you as a matter of fact all that you are asking. Who are you, standing here at the threshold of the city with your ugly eyes and why are you obstructing my way and threatening me with your terrible slurs.”
That deity capable of assuming any form, flew into a rage upon hearing the affront-laden repartee and spoke back harshly to hanumAn –
“I am the under the command of the great demon king rAvaNa and protect this impenetrable city. You cannot enter inside ignoring me and you shall soon be free of your life forces and go into the sleep of death, killed by me. O vAnara, I am verily the city of lanka herself and listen, I am telling you, I protect this city by all means”.
Determined like a rock upon listening to her words, the wise and energetic hanumAn tried to engage her and said –
“I am very keen and curious to behold the city of lanka, roam around freely inside and see the various places like the forests, gardens and the key residences inside”.
The deity of lanka resumed raining her verbal wrath upon hearing the words of hanumAn –
“You dimwit, worst of the vAnaras, without prevailing upon me, it is not possible for you to enter into this city ruled by the king of demons”.
hanumAn gently insisted to her that he shall go back the way he came after seeing around the city. At this, the lanka deity got livid, let out a loud roar and struck the best of the vAnaras with her palm. The great vAnara, at this slap, let out a loud and valorous roar, in controlled anger, clenched the fingers of his left hand into a fist and hit her back. Considering that she was a woman, he did not go all out to thrash her.
ततः संवर्तयामास वामहस्तस्य सोऽङ्गुलीः।
मुष्टिनाऽऽभिजघानैनां हनुमान् क्रोधमूर्छितः।।5.3.40।।
स्त्री चेति मन्यमानेन नातिक्रोधः स्वयं कृतः।
The lanka deity was shattered at this hit by hanumAn and fell on to the ground in a heap at once. Taking pity on the felled deity of lanka, the wise hanumAn didn’t continue his assault. In a choked voice, greatly agitated, with her pride shattered, she addressed hanumAn –
“O mighty vAnara, mercy, mercy, save me! O gentle giant, true heroes have full control over what they do and stay within their limits. I am verily the form of the city of lanka who has been defeated by your might. Listen, O leader of the vAnaras, in the yore, the lord brahma had bestowed this boon on me and that is bound to be true. He said, when a vAnara brings me under his control by his might, then I must know that the end of the demons is near.
यदा त्वां वानरः कश्चिद्विक्रमाद्वशमानयेत्।।5.3.47।।
तदा त्वया हि विज्ञेयं रक्षसां भयमागतम्।
I am reminded by those words of lord brahma today, which of course have to be true. sItA shall bring about the complete destruction of the evil minded rAvaNa and all the demons.
O best of vAnaras, go forth and enter the cursed city of lanka administered by rAvaNa. You may accomplish the quest of the daughter of janaka in there by comfortably carrying out your work all over”.
तत्प्रविश्य हरिश्रेष्ठ पुरीं रावणपालिताम्।।5.3.50।।
विधत्स्व सर्वकार्याणि यानि यानीह वाञ्छसि।
Here we conclude the third sarga of the sundara kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 5.04. The resolute sneaks in to lanka
Previous: 5.02. hanumAn mulls his options
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 
