1126 An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. [No. 131. 



This being the case, Hunooman took upon himself to perform the feat, 

 and accordingly sprang from the shore into the air, cleared the sea, and 

 alighted safely at Lunka, but he was immediately attacked by the goddess of 

 the island ; however, he gave her such a violent blow on the breast that 

 she fell senseless ; on recovering half an hour afterwards, she exclaimed, 

 " You have struck me as the thunder-bolt cleaves the earth, so will you 

 strike and conquer Lunka!" Then Hunooman transformed himself into a 

 small cat, and entering the capital of Lunka searched about everywhere for 

 Seta ; at last he found her sitting under a Sensoopa tree in the orchard 

 Usoka, as Sumpaty had said. He then resumed his own shape, and pros- 

 trating himself at her feet, delivered to her the signet of Rama, and ac- 

 quainted her with the measures that had been taken to restore her to 

 liberty. Seta gave him an emerald ornament called Seromany to deliver 

 to Rama. The next day Hunooman began to tear up all the trees in the 

 orchard. The astonished gardeners fled to Ravana, and told him that a 

 wonderful monkey was tearing up trees by the roots, the leaves of 

 which even had defied the blast of the tempest. Ravana hearing this, 

 sent one lak of giants to kill him, but Hunooman slew them all. Rava- 

 na then sent the sons of his eight prime ministers with a large retinue, 

 but they shared the same fate. He next sent five generals with a large 

 force of disciplined troops, but with no better success. Ravana's second 

 son, Ukshaya-koomar, a valiant hero next entered the lists, but he also bit 

 the dust. At last the eldest son, Indrajit, went forth to battle. He aimed 

 many arrows at Hunooman without effect, finally he aimed the sacred 

 arrow Bramhastrum, which overthrew Hunooman, who was immediately 

 seized, and carried to the presence of Ravana, who enquired who he was, 

 and why he came there. Hunooman replied, " I am a servant of Rama, 

 who sent me to see Seta." Ravana then asked him, why he had des- 

 troyed the orchard. He answered, " I did it in order to obtain an inter- 

 view with you; in order to tell you that if you do not deliver up Seta, 

 you will be slain by Rama, who has pledged himself to the penitents 

 to kill you with his own hand ; otherwise I should have killed you 

 myself." Ravana enraged at hearing these words, ordered his attendants 

 to execute him ; but Vebeshun, the younger brother of Ravana, stepped 

 forward, and represented that it would be unjust to slay an ambassador, 

 but that some more lenient punishment might be inflicted. Ravana 

 admitting the propriety of this advice, ordered his attendants to bring 

 tar, wax, camphor, and oil cloth, and having twisted them round the tail 

 of Hunooman to set fire to it, and after carrying him through the town, 

 to thrust him out of the gate of the city. These orders were immediately 

 carried into execution ; but no sooner had they lighted his tail, than he 



