by those monkeys running restlessly from place to
place. And some of them looked like mountain-peaks,
and some looked like buffaloes. And some were
of the hue of autumnal clouds and the faces of some
were red as vermillion. And some rose high, and
some fell down, and some cut capers, and some scattered
the dust, as they mustered together from various directions.
And that monkey army, vast as the sea at full tide,
encamped there at Sugriva’s bidding. And
after those foremost of monkeys had mustered from every
direction, the illustrious descendant of Raghu, with
Sugriva by his side, set out in an auspicious moment
of a very fair day under a lucky constellation, accompanied
by that host arrayed in order of battle, as if for
the purpose of destroying all the worlds. And
Hanuman, the son of the Wind-god, was in the van of
that host, while the rear was protected by the fearless
son of Sumitra. And surrounded by the monkey-chiefs,
those princes of Raghu’s house with fingers
cased in guana skin, shone, as they went, like the
Sun and the Moon in the midst of the planets.
And that monkey host armed with stones and Sala and
Tala trees, looked very much like a far-extending
field of corn under the morning sun. And that
mighty army, protected by Nala and Nila and Angada
and Kratha and Mainda and Dwivida, marched forth for
achieving the purpose of Raghava. And encamping
successively, without interruption of any kind, on
wide and healthy tracts and valleys abounding with
fruits and roots and water and honey and meat, the
monkey host at last reached the shores of the briny
sea. And like unto a second ocean, that mighty
army with its countless colours, having reached the
shores of sea, took up its abode there. Then
the illustrious son of Dasaratha, addressing Sugriva
amongst all those foremost monkeys, spoke unto him
these words that were suited to the occasion, ’This
army is large. The ocean also is difficult to
cross. What contrivance, therefore, commends
itself to thee for crossing the ocean?’ At these
words, many vain-glorious monkeys answered, ’We
are fully able to cross the sea.’ This
answer, however, was not of much use, as all could
not avail of that means. Some of the monkeys proposed
to cross the sea in boats, and some in rafts of various
kinds. Rama, however, conciliating them all,
said, ’This cannot be. ’The sea here
is a full hundred Yojanas in width. All the monkeys,
ye heroes, will not be able to cross it. This
proposal, therefore, that ye have made, is not consonant
to reason. Besides we have not the number of boats
necessary for carrying all our troops. How, again,
can one like us raise such obstacles in the way of
the merchants? Our army is very large. The
foe wilt make a great havoc if a hole is detected.
Therefore, to cross the sea in boats and rafts doth
not recommend itself to me. I will, however, pray
to the Ocean for the necessary means. Foregoing
food, I will lie down on the shore. He will certainly
show himself to me. If, however, he doth not show