Tulsidas

“ Ráma is the protector of suppliants; Kharári is a very ocean of compassion; turn to him for protection, and the Lord will forget your offences and will shelter you.
Chaupái.
Take Ráma's lotus feet to your heart and reign for ever at Lanká. The glory of saint Pulastya [12] is stainless as the moon; do not make yourself a spot on its brightness. Unless Ráma's name be in it, no speech has any charm: Think and see for yourself, apart from pride and vanity. Without her clothes, Rávan, a modest woman, however richly adorned with jewels, is a shameful sight ”

“ Ráma, my brother, is no mortal king, but the sovereign of the universe, the Fate of Fate itself, the Supreme Spirit, the imperishable and uncreated God, the benefactor of cows and of Bráhmans, of the earth and of the gods: who in his infinite mercy has assumed the form of humanity, to rejoice his votaries and to break the ranks of the impious; the champion of the Veda and true religion, the saviour of the immortals. ”

“ My affection, reverend dame, will thus be attesed." Who could bear to listen to such an agonizing cry ? When she heard her speech, she clasped her feet and would fain comfort her by reciting the majesty and might and glory of her lord. "Hearken, fair lady; there is no fire to be had at night;" and so saying she went away home. Sitá exclaimed: "Heaven is unkind; without fire my pain cannot be cured. I see the heaven all bright with sparks, but not a single star drops to the earth. The moon is all ablaze, but no fire comes from it, as if it knew what a poor wretch I am. ”

“ Of one fault I am myself conscious, in that I still continue to live, though separated from you. But this, my lord, is the fault of my eyes which prevent my soul from taking flight. In this furnace of bereavement which is fanned by my sighs, my body is as it were a heap of cotton and would be consumed in a moment, but my eyes drop such a flood in self-commiseration that it cannot catch fire. Síta's distress is so utterly overwhelming and you are so pitiful that it is better not to describe it.
Dohá 31.
O fountain of mercy, cach single moment seems an age ere it passes. ”

“ Wait patiently, madam, for a few days, and he will arrive with his monkeys, will slaughter the demons, and take you away, so that Nárad and the other seers will glorify him in all the three spheres of creation." "Are all the monkeys, my son, like you? the demon warriors are very powerful, and my soul is sorely disquieted." On hearing this, the monkey showed himself in his natural form, his body in bulk like a mountain of gold, terrible in battle, and of vast strength; then Síta took comfort at heart, and he again resumed a diminutive apppearance. ”

“ By Ráma's favour their strength is unbounded; they reckon the three spheres of creation as of no more account than a blade of grass. I have heard say, O Rávan, that the monkey chiefs number eighteen thousand billions; and in the whole of the army, my Iord, there is not a single monkey who would not conquer you in battle. They are all wringing their hands in excess of passion: Why does not Ráma give us some order, either to swallow the ocean with all its fish and serpents, or at least to fill it up with piles of trees and mighty mountains, and then crush Rávan and lay him low in the dust. ”

“ Raghunáth relieves the distress of every suppliant. O my lord, give him back Sita and worship him with disinterested affection. The lord has never abandoned any one who has fled to him for protection, though he were guilty of having ruined the whole world. Know of a truth, Rávan, that it is the Lord, he who has for name 'the saviour from every calamity,' who has now appeared among us. ”

“ So saying, the monkey's voice failed him and his eyes filled with tears.
Chaupái.
Then he proceeded to tell her of Ráma's forlorn condition. "Every thing—says he—is changed into its opposite. The fresh buds upon the trees burn like fire; night seems as the night of death, and the moon scorches like the sun. A bed of lotuses seems a prickly brake, and the rain-clouds drop boiling oil. The trees only add to my pain, and the softest and most fragrant breeze is like the breath of a serpent. Nothing relieves my torture, and to whom can I declare it? for there is no one who will understand. ”

“ The sinful body is of no avail, if the soul has no love for his lotus feet. But now, Hanumán, I have gained confidence; for it is only by Hari's favour that one meets a good man, and it is the result of his kindness that you have so readily revealed yourself to me." "Listen, Vibhíshan, to my experience of the Lord; he is ever affectionate to his servants. Say who am I and of what noble descent; a wanton monkey, of no merit whatever, a creature the mention of whose name in the early morning makes a man go fasting for the whole day. ”

“ To use entreaties to a churl, to lavish affection upon a rogue, to deal liberally with a born miser, to discourse of divine wisdom with a man devoted to self, to speak of detachment from the world to the covetous, to tell of Hari to a man under the influence of passion or love, is all the same as sowing the sand in hope of a harvest." So saying, Ráma strung his bow, a proceeding that pleased Lakshman mightily. The Lord let fly the terrible shaft; a burning pain ensued in the bosom of ocean ”

“ As she hearkened to the monkey's speech, so full of glorious faith and noble confidence, her mind became easy; she recognized his love for Ráma and gave him her blessing: "May you abound, my son, in all strength and virtue; may neither age nor death affect your good qualities, and may you be ever constant in your devotion to Ráma, and may the Lord be gracious to you." Hearing these words, Hanumán became utterly overwhelmed with emotion ”

“ I am a demon, utterly vile of nature, who have never observed any pious practices, and yet the lord, to whose vision even the saints have not attained, for all their profound meditation, has been pleased to take me to his heart. ”

“ If you desire your own welfare and glory, with a reputation for wisdom, a prosperous issue and every other happiness, turn away from the face of another man's wife as from the moon on its fourth day. [18] Though a man were lord of the fourteen spheres, he cannot set himself to oppose the Universal. However amiable and accomplished a person may be, no one will speak well of him if he shows even the slightest covetousness. ”

“ Said the King of Lanká: Who are you, monkey, and by whose might have you wrought the destruction of the grove? What, do not you hear me? I see you are an uncommonly bold varlet. For what offence did you put the demons to death? Speak, wretch; as you value your life." "Hearken, Rávan; He by whose might Maya creates this universal sphere; by whose might Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva produce, maintain and destroy the world; by whose might the thousand-headed serpent supports on his pate the mundane egg with its mountains and forests ”

“ When Brahma granted Rávan's prayer, the Creator gave me a sign before he left, 'When worsted by a monkey, know then that it is all over with the demons.' My meritorious deeds, my son, must have been very many that I have been rewarded with the sight of Ráma's messenger.
Dohá 4.
In one scale of the balance put the bliss of heaven and the final emancipation of the soul from the body, but it will be altogether outweighed by a fraction of the joy that results from communion with the saints. ”

“ He heard what the monkey said, but smiled as though he heard not. "I eat the fruit, my lord, because I was hungry, and then like a monkey began breaking the boughs. Every one, master, loves his life more than aught else; those good-for-nothing fellows fell upon me, and I gave them blow for blow. Thereupon your son put me in bonds—bonds that I am in no way ashamed of—for my only object is to accomplish my master's business. Rávan, I implore you with folded hands, abandon your pride and attend to my advice. Have some consideration for your own family ”

“ But Mandodari was sore troubled at heart, saying, 'Heaven is against my lord.' While he was sitting in court, he received intelligence that the whole army had crossed the sea. Then he enquired of his ministers, 'Tell me what you think best to be done.' They all laughed and replied, "Remain quiet. You have conquered gods and demons without any trouble; of what account can men and monkeys be?" ”

“ After raising the monkey, the Lord embraced him and took him by the hand and seated him close by his side: "Tell me, O monkey, about Rávan's stronghold, of Lanká, and how you were able in such an offhand way to burn down his fort." Seeing his lord so gracious, Hanumán replied in terms of singular modesty: "A monkey forsooth is a creature of singular prowess to skip about as he does from bough to bough. When I leaped across the sea, burnt down the golden city, routed the demon host and laid waste the grove, it was all done through your power, Raghurái ”

“ The monkey king rejoined: "Mark my words, Sire; the craft of these demons is past all telling. Why should he come thus of his own accord? The villain's object is to spy out our secrets. My idea is that we ought to keep him prisoner." "Friend, you have reasoned with much worldly wisdom; but I have a vow to befriend all suppliants." Hanumán was delighted to hear these words from the Lord, the God who shows compassion on all who flee to him.
Dohá 43.
"The men who abandon a suppliant, from suspicion that he may be an enemy, are vile and criminal, and misfortune will keep her eye upon them. ”

“ In such wise the All-merciful marched onwards, till he arrived at the sea-shore, where the host of bears and fighting monkeys began to devour all the fruit they found.
Chaupái.
On the other hand the demons had been living in great fear, ever since the time the monkey had left, after burning down the city. Every one kept at home thinking to himself: "There is no hope of safety for the demon race; if his messenger was so unspeakably powerful, how can the city escape when he comes himself." ”

“ Hearken, my lord; unless you give up Síta, neither Sambhu nor Brahma can help you.
Dohá 36.
Ráma's arrows are like serpents, and the demon host so many frogs; delay not, but do the best you can before they have snapped you up."
Chaupái.
The monster heard her prayer and laughed aloud; his arrogance is known throughout the world. "A woman is naturally cast in a timorous mould, and even in prosperity has a mind ill at ease. If the monkey army comes, the poor wretches will all be eaten up by the demons. The very guardians of the spheres tremble for fear of me ”

“ He regards all things as alike, without any preference, and with a soul unmoved either by joy, sorrow or fear. A saint like this is as fixed in my soul as money is in the heart of a miser. Good men like you are my friends, and it is only for their benefit that I have become incarnate. ”

“ On hearing the monkey's words, he ground his teeth in a fury. "Quick, some of you, and put an end to this fool's life." The demons obeyed and rushed forward to slay him, but Vibhíshan and his ministers advanced and bowing the head made humble petition: "It is against all state craft; an ambassador must not be killed. Punish him in some other way, Sire." All exclaimed to one another, 'this is sound counsel, friend.' Rávan on hearing it, replied with a langh: "Let the monkey go then, but mutilate him first. ”

“ While the monkey was thus reasoning within himself, Vibhíshan awoke and at once began to repeat Ráma's name in prayer. The monkey was delighted to find a true believer. "Shall I at once make myself known to him? A good man will never spoil any undertaking." Assuming the form of a Bráhman, he raised his voice in speech. As soon as Vibhíshan heard him, he rose to meet him, and bowing low, asked after his welfare, saying, "Tell me, reverend Sir, who you may be; if a servant of Hari, you have my hearty affection ”

“ Men who forsake such a lord to worship any other are mere beasts without the tails and horns. All the monkeys were charmed with the Lord's amiability, who had recognized a servant and claimed him for his own. Then the All-wise, who dwelleth in the hearts of all, assuming any form at will, though himself formless and passionless, the champion of religion, the friend of men, and the destroyer of all the demon race, spoke and said: "Hearken, monkey-king, valiant monarch of Lanká ”

“ The elephants of the eight quarters trembled, the earth reeled, the mountains tottered, and the ocean was agitated; the sun and the moon, gods, saints, Nágas, and Kinnars, all rejoiced to know that their troubles were over. Myriads upon myriads of enormous fighting monkeys pressed onwards, snapping and snarling, singing glory to Ráma's conquering might and hymning the praises of Kosala's lord. The huge serpent king could not snpport the burden ”

“ I would not abandon any one who had fled to me for protection, even though he had been guilty of the murder of a million Bráhmans. Directly any creature appears before me, I blot out the sins of all his past lives. No one who is essentially wicked can delight in my service ”

“ These two villains who thus magnify my enemies, is there no one here who will rid me of them? "Mályaván thereupon returned home, but Vibhíshan with clasped hands spoke yet again: "In every one's breast, my lord, so the Vedas and Puránas declare, either wisdom or unwisdom finds a dwelling. Where wisdom dwells, there too is every kind of prosperity; and where unwisdom, there is final destruction. In your breast malignant unwisdom has established herself ”