Book 4 — Canto XLII. The Army Of The West.

Then to Susheṇ Sugríva bent,

And thus addressed him reverent:

“Two hundred thousand of our best

With thee, my lord, shall seek the west.

Explore Suráshṭra's714] distant plain,

Explore Váhlíka's715 wild domain,

And all the pleasant brooks that flee

Through mountains to the western sea.

Search clustering groves on mountain heights,

And woods the home of anchorites.

Search where the breezy hills are high,

Search where the desert regions lie.

Search all the western land beset

With woody mountains like a net.

The country`s farthest limit reach,

And stand upon the ocean beach.

There wander through the groves of palm

Where the soft air is full of balm.

Through grassy dell and dark ravine

Seek Rávaṇ and the Maithil queen.

Go visit Somagiri's716 steep

Where Sindhu717 mingles with the deep.

There lions, borne on swift wings, roam

The levels of their mountain home,

And elephants and monsters bear,

Caught from the ocean, to their lair.

You Vánars, changing forms at will,

With rapid search must scour the hill,

And his sky-kissing peak of gold

Where loveliest trees their blooms unfold.

There golden-peaked, ablaze with light,

Uprises Páriyátra's718 height

Where wild Gandharvas, fierce and fell,

In bands of countless myriads dwell.

Pluck ye no fruit within the wood;

Beware the impious neighbourhood,

Where, very mighty, strong, and hard

To overcome, the fruit they guard.

Yet search for Janak's daughter still,

For Vánars there need fear no ill.

Near, bright as turkis, Vajra719 named,

There stands a hill of diamond framed.

Soaring a hundred leagues in pride,

With trees and creepers glorified.

Search there each cave and dark abyss

By waterfall and precipice.

Far in that sea the wild waves beat

On Chakraván's720 firm-rooted feet.

Where the great discus,721 thousand rayed,

By Vísvakarmá's722 art was made.

When Panchajan723 the fiend was slain.

And Hayagríva,724 fierce in vain,

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Thence taking shell and discus went

Lord Vishṇu, God preëminent.

On! sixty thousand hills of gold

With wondering eyes shall ye behold,

Where in his glory every one

Is brilliant as the morning sun.

Full in the midst King Meru,725 best

Of mountains, lifts his lofty crest,

On whom of yore, as all have heard,

The sun well-pleased this boon conferred:

“On thee, O King, on thee and thine

Light, day and night, shall ever shine.

Gandharvas, Gods who love thee well

And on thy sacred summits dwell,

Undimmed in lustre, bright and fair,

The golden sheen shall ever share.”

The Viśvas,726 Vasus,727 they who ride

The tempest,728 every God beside,

Draw nigh to Meru's lofty crest

When evening darkens in the west,

And to the parting Lord of Day

The homage of their worship pay,

Ere yet a while, unseen of all,

Behind Mount Asta's729 peaks he fall.

Wrought by the heavenly artist's care

A glorious palace glitters there,

And round about it sweet birds sing

Where the gay trees are blossoming:

The home of Varuṇ730 high-souled lord,

Wrist-girded with his deadly cord.731

With ten tall stems, a palm between

Meru and Asta's hill is seen:

Pure silver from the base it springs,

And far and wide its lustre flings.

Seek Rávaṇ and the dame by brook,

In pathless glen, in leafy nook

On Meru's crest a hermit lives

Bright with the light that penance gives:

Sávarṇi732 is he named, renowned

As Brahmá's peer, with glory crowned.

There bowing down in reverence speak

And ask him of the dame you seek.

Thus far the splendid Lord of Day

Pursues through heaven his ceaseless way,

Shedding on every spot his light;

Then sinks behind Mount Asta's height,

Thus far advance: the sunless sea

Beyond is all unknown to me.

Susheṇ of mighty arm, long tried

In peril, shall your legions guide.

Receive his words with high respect,

And ne'er his lightest wish neglect.

He is my consort's sire, and hence

Deserves the utmost reverence.”