A promise to return

  

A promise to return

Hanuman prepared to leave Lanka bearing Sita's messages to Rama and Lakshmana and a plea from her to return as soon as possible. Ravana's one-year deadline had nearly come to an end and Sita knew that time was running out.

Sita told Hanuman to ask Rama why he had not come to Lanka to rescue her. She said, "Tell him that I said, 'O bull among men, you directed that fatal arrow towards the crow for pecking at me. Would you not render unto me that compassion, intermingled with immense strength? I heard that compassion is great dharma.

I know that the gods cannot withstand your strength in battle. Why would you not release your weapons at this Rakshasa? Why does Lakshmana not rescue me at Rama's command?'"

Rama will come

Hanuman comforted her and said, "I swear to you, Rama has turned away from all pleasures out of his love for you. Lakshmana is tormented by Rama's sorrow. The time for grief is over. Those two lions among men will soon arrive. Rama will kill Ravana in battle and take you with him to Ayodhya." He asked Sita if there was anything else she wanted to tell Rama, Lakshmana, or Sugriva, the Vanara king.

Sita replied, "Offer to the son of the great Kaushalya my obeisance and ask after his well-being on my behalf.

"Ask after the well-being of Sumitra's son, Lakshmana, who followed Rama into the forest, abandoning all luxuries, and even his parents. He even protected Rama in the forest. He considers me as his mother and Rama as his father, and is dearer to Rama than even I am. He could not have known I was being abducted. He carries whatever burden is on him.

"You do not need much instruction, great Vanara. Act in such a way that Rama comes quickly. Tell him I will bear my life somehow for a month, but no longer."

A token for Rama

Sita removed her crown jewel, the Chudamani, which she wore on top of her head, tied it in a garment, and handed it to Hanuman.

"This will remind him of three persons: myself. his mother, and the great king Dasharatha," she said. Hanuman accepted the powerful jewel with due respect, circumambulated her, and slipped it onto his finger.

Hanuman suddenly felt lighter, as if a huge burden had been lifted. He felt a deep sense of delight for he had finally seen Sita.

Sita asked him if he wanted to stay and rest. "Your company is a reprieve from this otherwise torturous existence. The ocean is immense -how will the Vanara army cross over the ocean?" she asked.

"How will the princes come? There are, perhaps, only three who can cross this distance: yourself, Vishnu's mount, Garuda, or the wind. You are indeed up to the task of my rescue, but it shall befit Rama to come himself. Act so that it comes about that way."

Hanuman reassured her. "Sugriva is honest and determined, and the Vanara are under his orders. Do not worry about their strength. They are all as powerful as me or stronger. If I could come here, there is no doub they will too. Enough grief now, wipe away your sorrov The brothers will come soon defeat Ravana, and take you safely to Ayodhya."

Sita replied, "Your words comfort me, like rain on parched earth. For a month I shall live, but no more."

A test of Ravana's strength

Hanuman left the grove, but felt that he had only accomplished a part of the task. He could not go back across the ocean, just yet, he thought. It was important to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the enemy. "Of the four means for engaging others. conciliation will not work with Rakshasas. Nor will the employment of wealth because they are themselves prosperous. Bringing abon divisions will be ineffective too because they are proud and mighty people. This only leaves the exercise of fouz I must figure out a way to compel Ravana to send his army to fight me, so that I get a sense of his strength." Hanuman decided that there was only one way t do that. "First, I will destroy this grove, like fice that runs through a dry forest," he thought. "Then, I will slay the Rakshasas that Ravana sends to attack me. Only then will I return to the king of the Vanaras."

ALTERNATIVE ACCOUNT

RAVANA'S IMPATIENCE

In the medieval Sanskrit text Adhyatma Ramayana, it is made clear that Ravana actually seeks death at the bands of the Supreme Lord manifested as Rama, and is left wondering why Rama had not yet arrived. The night Hanuman enters Lanka, Ravana dreams of a Vanara who can change his shape at will in the Astioka grove. On waking, Ravana decides to go and torment Sita while the Vanara watches to that he is forced to go and tell Rama, compeling him to come quickly. Ravana then insults Rama in Sita's presence through statements that can be read as praise and insults.