5.10. A fleeting moment of misplaced joy

Hari Om.

Let us begin the tenth sarga of the sundara kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.

Entering into the palace of rAvaNa, hanumAn takes an objective look at the pushpaka vimAna and admires its workmanship and then moves on. He finds a huge hall with a very attractive carpet laid like huge spread of lawn on the earth. And on that carpet he saw uncountable women deeply in intoxicated sleep having indulged in food and passion and out of their senses presently. They were all women who were captives of rAvaNa in war or those who were enamoured by him and came seeking him. The indulgent women had ornaments and pendants which shone resplendently like the moon itself. Seeing them happy and indulgent in rAvaNa’s harem, hanumAn thought for a moment if only sItA also enjoyed the same proximity with rAma and as happy it would be so appropriate. Onwards…

Continuing his quest in those inner chambers, hanumAn saw a magnificent large couch, rich, golden in its make, tastefully studded with crystals and gems laced with strips of ivory. Over that couch, he saw a parasol white in color and glittering like the moon. The couch shining like the sun in golden color had a well-made bed and the bed spread made of soft sheep skin. It was laced with floral decorations and was delightfully fragrant. Women fanned that bad with fans made of the fur of the chAmari deer.

On that couch lied the king of the demons. He wore glittering ear rings, had strong shoulders and wore a silver coloured cloth. He looked handsome and could assume any form at will. His eyes had a tinge of the red. He was well decked with golden ornaments that glittered gloriously at the night light like the clouds in the evening sky sporting lightning streaks. He looked as if he was the giant mountain mandara with all its flora. He was the darling of the demonesses and conferred joy on them. He was in deep sleep having been indulgent in the night. The great and best of vAnaras, hanumAn, beheld such a warrior who was sleeping, sighing heavily like the hissing of the serpent. At the sight of him, he was briefly taken aback and retraced a couple of steps.

निःश्वसन्तं यथा नागं रावणं वानरर्षभः।

आसाद्य परमोद्विग्नस्सोपासर्पत्सुभीतवत्।।5.10.12।।

Climbing onto another high point in that room, he continued to gaze at the sleeping demon king. The sleeping demon on the giant couch resembled the praSravana mountain hosting a mighty elephant dripping with ichor. The mighty arms of the demon king were strapped with gold. The arms that were muscular, solid, strong and well built, bore the scars made by the elephant of indra – the airAvata, by the thunderbolt of indra and by the discus of vishNu in earlier combats. The arms resembled the trunk of an elephant and the fingers resembled a five hooded serpent. The arms were well massaged by the best of women masseurs and fragrant red sandal paste was applied on them. The sight of these arms struck fear in the hearts of yakshas, serpents, gods, demi gods and demons and make them cry out. Further, hanumAn thought the mighty arms lay like two menacing serpents on top of a mountain or they even looked like two peaks of the mandara mountain which was akin to the demon himself.

The glow of his dazzling ear rings lit up his face. The glorious bejewelled crown was set aside, his necklace was a bit displaced from its usual place as he was asleep. White and yellow silk clothes that covered his upper body had slid a little. He sighed deeply like an angry serpent was hissing. As he exhaled, smell of mango, variety of drinks that he had consumed and smell of flowers filled up the room. He looked like a heap of black legume or an elephant that was asleep on the banks of the river ganga. On four courners of his bed, hanumAn saw four lamps that were lighting up the place.

He further noticed that his dear and beautiful wives were sleeping by his feet. They were wearing garlands of fresh flowers, golden ornaments, beautiful ear rings and were experts in dance and music. They were sleeping resting on the arms and lap of the demon king, exhausted by drinking and indulgence.

One of them, who was an expert dancer slept in the pose of dance. Another slept hugging her musical instrument, vINA and looked as if a lotus had held on to a boat in a river!

काचिद्वीणां परिष्वज्य प्रसुप्ता सम्प्रकाशते।

महानदीप्रकीर्णेव नलिनी पोतमाश्रिता।।5.10.37।।

Yet another beauty slept with the drums in her arms and looked like a mother holding her child in the arms. Yet another charming woman slept hugging the done tambura like she was embracing a long secured lover while yet another clasped on to a flute with similar feelings. Now here was another sleeping holding the mRdangas. Thus he beheld all the beauties in the harem of rAvaNa who were burning with passion and slept embracing various instruments or one another like they secured a long lost lover. Going further, hanumAn saw on separate well-made beds young and beautiful women in deep sleep.

मुक्तामणिसमायुक्तैर्भूषणैः सुविभूषिताम्।

विभूषयन्तीमिव तत्स्वश्रिया भवनोत्तमम्।।5.10.51।।

गौरीं कनकवर्णाभामिष्टामन्तः पुरेश्वरीम्।

कपिर्मन्दोदरीं तत्र शयानां चारुरूपिणीम्।।5.10.52।।

He then saw a fair woman clad in silk and was well decked with ornaments of pearls and gems as if she was illuminating the entire palace. She was mandOdarI, the foremost among the wives of rAvaNa.

स तां दृष्ट्वा महाबाहुर्भूषितां मारुतात्मजः।

तर्कयामास सीतेति रूपयौवनसम्पदा।।5.10.53।

हर्षेण महता युक्तो ननन्द हरियूथपः।

The mighty hanumAn, seeing the bejewelled woman, for a moment deliberated within himself if she could be sItA and in great delight rejoiced.

आस्फोटयामास चुचुम्ब पुच्छं ननन्द चिक्रीड जगौ जगाम।

स्तम्भानरोहन्निपपात भूमौ निदर्शयन् स्वां प्रकृतिं कपीनाम्।।5.10.54।।

In that joy, he clapped, kissed his tail, delighted, danced, hummed, celebrated and showing the true nature of monkeys climbed up the pillar and slid on to the floor!