Sundar Kaanda
153 - Sri Rama's march to the beach alongwith the army of monkeys
Chaupais
Description
The mighty bears and monkeys bowed their head at the Lord's lotus feet and roared. Sri Rama surveyed the whole monkey host and cast on them His gracious lotus-like eyes. Emboldened by His grace the monkey chiefs vied as it were with huge mountains equipped with wings. Sri Rama then sallied forth glad of heart and many were the delightful and auspicious omens that occurred to Him . It was in the fitness of things that good omens should appear at the time of His departure (on an expedition) whose glory itself embodies all blessings. Videha's Daughter came to know of the Lord's march; the throbbing of Her left limbs apprised Her of the same as it were. But what were good omens for Janaka's Daughter foreboded evil for Ravana.* Who could adequately describe the army as it marched with its countless monkeys and bears roaring. With no weapon other than their sharp claws, they carried rocks and trees (that they had uprooted on the way) and marched now in the air and now on land, for they had unhampered motion everywhere. The bears and monkeys roared like lions as they marched, while the elephants guarding the eight cardinal points shook and trumpeted.