Yuddha Kanda 3

Lanká.

1 He ceased: and Raghu’s son gave heed,

Attentive to his prudent rede:

Then turned again, with hope inspired,

To Hanumán, and thus inquired:

2 “Light were the task for thee, I ween,

To bridge the sea that gleams between

The mainland and the island shore.

Or dry the deep and guide as o’er.

Fain would I learn from thee whose feet

Have trod the stones of every street,

Of fenced Lanká’s towers and forts,

And walls and moats and guarded ports,

And castles where the giants dwell,

And battlemented citadel.

O Váyu’s son, describe it all,

With palace, fort, and gate, and wall.”

3 He ceased: and, skilled in arts that guide

The eloquent, the chief replied:

4 “Vast is the city, gay and strong,

Where elephants unnumbered throng,

And countless hosts of Rákshas breed

Stand ready by the car and steed.

Four massive gates, securely barred,

All entrance to the city guard,

With murderous engines fixt to throw

Bolt, arrow, rock to check the foe,

And many a mace with iron head

That strikes at once a hundred dead.

Her golden ramparts wide and high

With massy strength the foe defy,

Where inner walls their rich inlay

Of coral, turkis, pearl display.

Her circling moats are broad and deep,

Where ravening monsters dart and leap.

By four great piers each moat is spanned

Where lines of deadly engines stand.

In sleepless watch at every gate

Unnumbered hosts of giants wait,

And, masters of each weapon, rear

The threatening pike and sword and spear.

My fury hurled those ramparts down,

Filled up the moats that gird the town,

The piers and portals overturned,

And stately Lanká spoiled and burned.

Howe’er we Vánars force our way

O’er the wide seat of Varuṇ’s sway,

Be sure that city of the foe

Is doomed to sudden overthrow,

Nay, why so vast an army lead?

Brave Angad, Dwivid good at need,

Fierce Mainda, Panas famed in fight,

And Níla’s skill and Nala’s might,

And Jámbaván the strong and wise,

Will dare the easy enterprise.

Assailed by these shall Lanká fall

With gate and rampart, tower and wall.

Command the gathering, chief: and they

In happy hour will haste away.”