“Entering the auspicious city, which is under a curse and protected by the king of Rakshasas, O Lord of monkeys, do you freely roam about everywhere and search for the chaste daughter of King Janaka at your pleasure.” (Lanka speaking… Read More ›
valmiki
Good Things For Bad People
“Beholding Lanka, which was unimaginable and had an amazing appearance, that great monkey [maha-kapi] became morose and also delighted, as he was very much anxious to see Vaidehi.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.55) acintyāmadbhutākārāṃ dṛṣṭvā laṅkāṃ mahākapiḥ | āsīdviṣṇḍo hṛṣṭaśca… Read More ›
That Don’t Impress Me
“And wonderful golden archways belonging to the Rakshasas everywhere illuminated the well-decorated city of Lanka.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.54) kāñcanāni ca citrāṇi toraṇāni ca rakśasām | laṅkāmuddyotayāmāsuḥ sarvataḥ samalaṃkṛtām It’s ironic that the entryway into a city filled with… Read More ›
Wealth Management
“He [Hanuman] saw in that great city seven and eight story buildings inlaid with crystal and decorated with gold. Those houses of the Rakshasas shone brightly with their surfaces studded with vaidurya gems and decorated with strings of pearls.” (Valmiki… Read More ›
Shorn of Brilliance
“When the evening came the very powerful Hanuman quickly jumped up and entered the beautiful city, which had great pathways that were well-divided, was filled with rows of mansions, and had golden columns and golden latticed windows that made it… Read More ›
Slight of Hand
“At night, on the sun having set, Maruti [Hanuman] contracted his body. Becoming the size of a cat, he was a wonderful sight to behold.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.49) sūrye cāstaṃ gate rātrau dehaṃ saṃkśipya mārutiḥ | vṛṣadaṃśakamātraḥ san… Read More ›
I Want It Now
“Having made up his mind thus, that heroic monkey, Hanuman, eager to see Vaidehi, wished for the sun to set.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.48) iti saṃcintya hanumān sūryasyāstamayaṃ kapiḥ | ācakāṃkśe tato vīro vaidehyā draśanotusakaḥ One who knows the… Read More ›
Pulling Rank
“Therefore, reducing my own form to a small size, I will enter Lanka at night for accomplishing Raghava’s task.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.46) tadahaṃ svena rūpeṇa rajanyāṃ hrasvatāṃ gataḥ । laṅkāmabhipatiṣyāmi rāghavasyārthasiddhaye “Do you know who I am?”,… Read More ›
Careful What You Wish
“It is my thinking that not even the wind can pass through here unnoticed. Certainly there is nothing here that is unknown to the mighty Rakshasas.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.44) vāyurapyatra nājñātaścarediti matirmama | na hyastyaviditaṃ kiṃcidrākśasānāṃ balīyasām… Read More ›
Tied Interests
“If I am seen by the Rakshasas, then this work performed on behalf of Rama, who is self-realized and desires the destruction of Ravana, would go for naught.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 2.42) mayi dṛṣṭe tu rakśobhī rāmasya viditātmanaḥ… Read More ›