Dying of Thirst, the Searchers Follow Birds into a Hidden Cave
Kishkindha Kanda, Chaupai 24
Doha 24 · Movement 1 of 2
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The searchers cross forests and mountains, killing each demon they meet with a single blow and surrounding every sage to ask for news. At last dense wilderness confuses their path. Terrible thirst overcomes the company, and no water appears. Hanuman understands that without water the warriors are close to death.
He climbs a mountain peak and searches the four directions. In the earth below he sees a wondrous cave. Chakravakas, herons, swans, and many other birds move around its mouth and fly inward. Their wings reveal what rock and shadow conceal: life is entering where water may be found.
The son of the wind descends, leads the company to the opening, and shows them the sign. Hanuman goes first. The others follow him into the cave without delay, leaving the burning wilderness for an unknown darkness beneath the ground.
Birds vanish into the earth, and Hanuman leads the thirsty company after them.
Read the passage from the Manas
कतहुँ होइ निसिचर सैं भेटा। प्रान लेहिं एक एक चपेटा।। बहु प्रकार गिरि कानन हेरहिं। कोउ मुनि मिलत ताहि सब घेरहिं।। लागि तृषा अतिसय अकुलाने। मिलइ न जल घन गहन भुलाने।। मन हनुमान कीन्ह अनुमाना। मरन चहत सब बिनु जल पाना।। चढ़ि गिरि सिखर चहूँ दिसि देखा। भूमि बिबिर एक कौतुक पेखा।। चक्रबाक बक हंस उड़ाहीं। बहुतक खग प्रबिसहिं तेहि माहीं।। गिरि ते उतरि पवनसुत आवा। सब कहुँ लै सोइ बिबर देखावा।। आगें कै हनुमंतहि लीन्हा। पैठे बिबर बिलंबु न कीन्हा।।
Wherever they met demons, they would slay them with a single blow. They searched mountains and forests in countless ways, and whenever they met a sage, they all gathered around him to inquire. Overcome by terrible thirst, they grew desperately distressed; lost in a dense wilderness, they could find no water. Hanuman perceived in his mind that without water, all would surely perish. Climbing to a mountaintop, he gazed in all four directions and saw a wondrous cave opening in the earth. Chakravaka birds, herons, and swans were flying about, and many birds were entering that very cave. The son of the wind descended from the mountain and brought everyone to see the cave. With Hanuman leading the way, they entered the cave without delay.