Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/468

404 Nothing is difficult for him to whom you are propitious; a mere shred of cotton, were it your pleasure, could burn up the whole submarine fire."

The Lord smiled much to hear these words, and recognized him as indeed a loving servant. "Ask of me a boon, my son, some choice blessing; to-day I will make you happy for ever." " Faith, my lord, is the greatest of blessings; of your favour grant me this else unattainable boon." On hearing the monkey's pious request the Lord, Bhaváni, responded. 'So be it.' O Umá, he who knows Ráma's true nature can take pleasure in nothing but his worship: and he who takes this truth to heart has attained to the virtue of faith in Ráma. When the assembled monkeys heard the Lord's reply, they cried 'glory, glory, glory, to the All-merciful, the All-blessed.' Raghupati then summoned the monkey-chief and told him to make preparations for the march: "What need now for any delay? At once issue orders to the monkeys." The gods, who had witnessed the spectacle, rained down many flowers and returned with joy from the lower air to their own celestial spheres.

In obedience to Sugríva's summons all his hosts of captains came in, differing in colour, but all unequalled in strength, a vast multitude of monkeys and bears.

They bowed the head at the Lord's lotus feet, those roaring bears and gigantic monkeys. Ráma beheld all the monkey host, and turned upon them the gracious glance of his lotus eyes. Each monkey chief was as much emboldened by his favour as Sumeru would be by the recovery of his wings. Ráma then sallied forth exulting, and many were the glad and auspicious omens that befell him. It was only befitting that his march should be attended by favourable omens, since in him abide all glory and auspiciousness. Jánaki knew of his departure, for her left side throbbed as if to tell her. Every good omen that befell her was converted into an omen of ill for Rávan. Who could adequately describe the army on the road, with the terrible roaring of the monkeys and the