Poison Becomes Nectar as Hanuman Searches Palace after Palace
Sundara Kanda, Chaupai 5
Doha 5 · Movement 1 of 2
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Lankini sends Hanuman inward with the king of Kosala held within his heart. For one upon whom Rama casts his gracious glance, poison becomes nectar, enemies make friendship, the ocean contracts to a cow's hoofprint, fire becomes cool, and the weight of Sumeru becomes no more than dust.
Hanuman resumes his tiny form and enters remembering Bhagavan. He searches one mansion after another while innumerable warriors stand throughout the city. Ravana's palace opens in indescribable strangeness and splendor. The demon king lies asleep, but Vaidehi is nowhere within those chambers.
Then another house draws Hanuman's attention. It is beautiful in a different way. A temple of Hari stands separately within it. In the heart of Ravana's city, among guarded palaces and sleeping power, the signs of worship disclose a hidden orientation toward Rama.
Hanuman passes through Ravana's sleeping palace and finds a separate house quietly turned toward Hari.
Read the passage from the Manas
प्रबिसि नगर कीजे सब काजा। हृदयँ राखि कौसलपुर राजा।। गरल सुधा रिपु करहिं मिताई। गोपद सिंधु अनल सितलाई।। गरुड़ सुमेरु रेनू सम ताही। राम कृपा करि चितवा जाही।। अति लघु रूप धरेउ हनुमाना। पैठा नगर सुमिरि भगवाना।। मंदिर मंदिर प्रति करि सोधा। देखे जहँ तहँ अगनित जोधा।। गयउ दसानन मंदिर माहीं। अति बिचित्र कहि जात सो नाहीं।। सयन किए देखा कपि तेही। मंदिर महुँ न दीखि बैदेही।। भवन एक पुनि दीख सुहावा। हरि मंदिर तहँ भिन्न बनावा।।
Enter the city and accomplish all tasks, keeping the King of Kosalapuri in your heart. Poison becomes nectar, enemies become friends. The ocean shrinks to a cow's hoofprint, and fire grows cool. Garuda and Mount Sumeru become like specks of dust for the one upon whom Rama casts His gracious glance. Hanuman assumed a very small form and entered the city, remembering Bhagavan. He searched palace after palace and saw countless warriors stationed everywhere. He went into Ravana's palace, whose wondrous beauty could not be described. The monkey saw Ravana sleeping there, but Sita was nowhere to be found in that palace. Then he noticed another beautiful mansion where a temple of Hari had been built apart from the rest.