riva's bidding. And after those foremost of monkeys had mustered from
every direction, the illustrious descendant of Raghu, with Sugriva by
his side, set out in an auspicious moment of a very fair day under a
lucky constellation, accompanied by that host arrayed in order of
battle, as if for the purpose of destroying all the worlds. And Hanuman,
the son of the Wind-god, was in the van of that host, while the rear was
protected by the fearless son of Sumitra. And surrounded by the
monkey-chiefs, those princes of Raghu's house with fingers cased in
_guana_ skin, shone, as they went, like the Sun and the Moon in the
midst of the planets. And that monkey host armed with stones and _Sola_
and _Tola_ trees, looked very much like a far-extending field of corn
under the morning sun. And that mighty army, protected by Nala and Nila
and Angada and Kratha and Mainda and Dwivida, marched forth for
achieving the purpose of Raghava. And encamping successively, without
interruption of any kind, on wide and healthy tracts and valleys
abounding with fruits and roots and water and honey and meat, the monkey
host at last reached the shores of the brimy sea. And like unto a second
ocean, that mighty army with its countless colours, having reached the
shores of sea, took up its abode there. Then the illustrious son of
Dasaratha, addressing Sugriva amongst all those foremost monkeys, spoke
unto him these words that were suited to the occasion, "This army is
large. The ocean also is difficult to cross. What contrivance,
therefore, commends itself to thee for crossing the ocean?" At these
words, many vain-glorious monkeys answered, "We are fully able to cross
the sea." This answer, however, was not of much use, as all could not
avail of that means. Some of the monkeys proposed to cross the sea in
boats, and some in rafts of various kinds. Rama, however, conciliating
them all, said, "This cannot be. The sea here is a full hundred
_Yojanas_ in width. All the monkeys, ye heroes, will not be able to
cross it. This proposal, therefore, that ye have made, is not consonant
to reason. Besides we have not the number of boats necessary for
carrying all our troops. How, again, can one like us raise such
obstacles in the way of the merchants? Our army is very large. The foe
wilt make a great havoc if a hole is detected. Therefore, to cross the
sea in boats and rafts doth not recommend itself to me. I will, however,
pray to the Ocean for the necessary means.