The Ramayana, Book 4: Kishkindha Kanda

SECTION VI.

Sugriva well pleased again addressed Rāghava, the son of Raghu, saying, “O Rāma, this servant of thine, foremost of my counsellors, Hanumān, hath related unto me the reason of thy arrival in this lone forest. Thy wife, Maithili daughter of Mithila, Sītā, daughter unto Janaka, separated from thee as well as the intelligent Lakshmana, and weeping in consequence, was carried off by a Rāksha a demon or nocturnal spirit. Seeking for opportunities of doing mischief, that Rāksha, having slain Jatāyu, hath caused unto thee the grief that comes of separation from one’s wife. But thou wilt soon be relieved from the sorrow that comes of separation from one’s wife. Her will I bring like unto the ravished Devaçruti a celestial or divine nymph. O repressor of foes, whether she be in the nether regions or under the sky, I will, bringing thy wife, make her over unto thee. O Rāghava, know my words to be true. O mighty-armed one, like unto poison, thy wife is incapable of being digested even by the gods and Asuras a class of divine beings or anti-gods with Indra at their head. O mighty-armed one, leave off sorrow, I will bring back thy beloved. From guess I find that it was doubtless Mithila’s daughter whom I saw when she was being carried away by that Rāksha of terrific deeds. She was crying, ‘Rāma, Rāma, Lakshmana, Lakshmana,’ and in the lap of Rāvana she looked like the wife of the Snake-chief. Seeing me along with my four counsellors stationed at the hill, she dropped down her scarf and her ornaments. All these, O Rāghava, I have taken and kept with me. I will bring them. It behoveth thee to recognise them.” Thereupon Rāma spoke unto the sweet-speeched Sugriva, ‘Bring them, at once, my friend. Why dost thou tarry?’ Having been thus addressed, Sugriva swiftly entered a deep cavern in the mountain, with the view of doing what was dear unto Rāghava. Then taking the scarf as well as the ornaments.