Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/460

396 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; again and again he bowed his head at her feet, and with clapsed hands spoke thus: "Now, lady, I am fully rewarded; for your blessing is known to be effectual. But hearken, madam, I am frightfully hungry and I see the trees laden with delicious fruit." "Know, my son, that this grove is guarded by most valiant and formidable demons." "I am not afraid of them, mother, if only you will keep your mind easy."

Seeing the monkey so strong and sagacious, Jánaki said: "Go, my son, and eat of this pleasant fruit, with your heart fixed on Hari's feet."

He bowed his head and went and entered the garden and having eaten of the fruit began breaking down the trees. A number of stalwart watchmen were posted there; some he killed, the others went and called for help: "My lord, an enormous monkey has come and rooted up the Asoka grove; he has eaten the fruit and broken down the trees, and with many a blow laid the watchmen on the ground." On hearing this, Rávan despatched a number of his champions. At the sight of them Hanumán roared like thunder and overthrew the whole demon host; a few, more dead than alive, ran off shrieking. He then sent the young prince Aksha, who took with him an immense number of his best warriors. Seeing them approach he seized a tree, which he brandished and with an awful roar swept them down with it.

Some he hacked, some he crushed, some he laid low in the dust; some got back and cried "My lord, this monkey is too strong for us."

When he heard of his son's death, the king of Lanká was furious, and he sent the valiant Meghnád. "Do not kill him, my son, but bind him; I would