To Hanuman, the joy of thinking that Mandodari for Sita was short lived. It disappeared faster than it had taken hold of him who refused to believe that Sita separated from Rama would neither eat, drink or sleep, let alone be near a man, even if he were Indra. So while Ravana and his wives were lost to the intoxication of wine and the weariness of song and dance slept, Hanuman continued with his search. Eager eyes roved and noiseless feat carried him through every hallway chamber and corridor. Slipping into the banquet hall, he saw that the palace of the rakshasa lord lacked no luxury! Gold and silver vessels were filled with meats of every kind. Some were fresh and some pickled. There was pork, venison, boar, buffalo, rhino, and roasted birds like the peacock, dove, fowl and others. Fruits of every description filled bowls of gold and their aroma filled the halls, whose opulence glowed in the light of dazzling lamps. Wines and liquors laced with syrups of sugar, honey fruit and flower were held in crystal, gold and silver pitchers. While the aroma of spiced foods mingled with the scent of fresh flowers contained in vases of crystal and gold. Gem encrusted seats rested on exotic carpets and on those carpets rolled empty goblets and wine jars seeming to claim responsibility to the drunken disorder that must have prevailed. Bodies of men and women lay sprawled all over with the greatest of abandon, victims of heady bliss induced by the most exotic of wines. As Hanuman went stepping over strewn bodies, jars goblets and broken jewels, uninvited and without warning a twinge of guilt smote him, 'Is this not a transgression of righteousness to store so wantonly at these women?' he asked himself. Though he had not found what he had come to look for, he felt he had seen much of what he would rather not have seen! Quailing at the thought he quickly soothed his ruffled sense of decorum, telling himself. "Where else would I look for Sita except among other women? I certainly cannot look for her among a herd of deer! And I have looked at them all with purity in my heart and serenity in my mind."
Summary
To Hanuman, the joy of thinking that Mandodari for Sita was short lived. It disappeared faster than it had taken hold of him who refused to believe that Sita separated from Rama would neither eat, drink or sleep, let alone be near a man, even if he were Indra. So while Ravana and his wives were lost to the intoxication of wine and the weariness of song and dance slept, Hanuman continued with his search. Eager eyes roved and noiseless feat carried him through every hallway chamber and corridor. Slipping into the banquet hall, he saw that the palace of the rakshasa lord lacked no luxury! Gold and silver vessels were filled with meats of every kind. Some were fresh and some pickled. There was pork, venison, boar, buffalo, rhino, and roasted birds like the peacock, dove, fowl and others. Fruits of every description filled bowls of gold and their aroma filled the halls, whose opulence glowed in the light of dazzling lamps. Wines and liquors laced with syrups of sugar, honey fruit and flower were held in crystal, gold and silver pitchers. While the aroma of spiced foods mingled with the scent of fresh flowers contained in vases of crystal and gold. Gem encrusted seats rested on exotic carpets and on those carpets rolled empty goblets and wine jars seeming to claim responsibility to the drunken disorder that must have prevailed. Bodies of men and women lay sprawled all over with the greatest of abandon, victims of heady bliss induced by the most exotic of wines. As Hanuman went stepping over strewn bodies, jars goblets and broken jewels, uninvited and without warning a twinge of guilt smote him, 'Is this not a transgression of righteousness to store so wantonly at these women?' he asked himself. Though he had not found what he had come to look for, he felt he had seen much of what he would rather not have seen! Quailing at the thought he quickly soothed his ruffled sense of decorum, telling himself. "Where else would I look for Sita except among other women? I certainly cannot look for her among a herd of deer! And I have looked at them all with purity in my heart and serenity in my mind."