Episode 4 - Anjaneya continues his search in the palace

Anjaneya continued his search for Sita in the palace of Ravana. The palace was comparable in its magnificence to the abodes of the Lord of Wealth, Kubera, and the Lord of Heaven, Indra. The Pushpaka Vimana, carved with gems, outshone other objects. It was originally built for Lord Brahma, the Creator, by Viswakarma, the divine architect. Kubera had obtained it through his penance, as a boon, from Lord Brahma. Ravana, in turn, appropriated it for himself, by force from Kubera. The airplane had in-built rooms. It was carved with gold, silver and all kinds of precious stones like rubies, gems and corals on all sides. It was sweet-smelling with several scents applied to it and seemed to be inviting Anjaneya by its flavour.

Anjaneya also found a richly-decorated hall in the airplane looking like a noble, beautiful lady. There was a beautiful carpet in the hall. This was a place for the enjoyment of Ravana. The hall was strewn with sweet-smelling flowers and was reverberating with sounds of birds. It was filled with delicacies and drinks. There were beautiful women everywhere. The hall, with its capacity to please all the five senses, was like a mother. There were golden lights everywhere. Anjaneya wondered whether the Pushpaka airplane was Heaven itself or the fruit of great penance.

In the Vimana (airplane) there were beautiful women drunk and sleepy, after a night’s enjoyment. Those women, who were sleeping, looked like lotuses contracted due to the absence of the sun and those who were awake, looked like bright shining lotuses upon the arrival of the sun. Many women slept together in a jumbled fashion. Some were embracing and kissing one another, thinking that it was Ravana. Their limbs, ornaments and garlands were so joined together that they looked like creepers full of flowers. They were so well and closely knit that it was difficult to tell what part belonged to whom. Anjaneya thought that they were stars falling down from the sky with a little Punya (fruit of good deeds) left, in the shape of those beautiful women. It was like a garden of women comparable to a garden of autumn creepers bedecked with flowers.

The ladies were descendants of Rajarshis (sage kings), Gandharvas, Rakshasas and others. Some of those were won over by Ravana in the course of his battles and some joined him out of love for him. Except the noble lady Sita, already married, none of them had past romantic links with any other man. Anjaneya felt that by abducting Sita, the devoted wife of Rama (Pativrata), Ravana committed a grave crime.