Remembering the convention that forbade entry into enemy country through its gates, Hanuman climbed over its ramparts! And as his intention was to benefit Sugriva and harm Ravana he set his left foot first into that kingdom of the rakshasas, an inauspicious act supposed to bring bad luck to its ruler! Served by the winds and girdled by the blue seas the splendor of Lanka was breath taking. Miles and miles, of nature's incredible charms, manmade mansions groves and gardens held Hanuman spellbound. Thoroughfares sprinkled with water scented with sandal had pearls scattered over them! In that city which rang with unceasing music and laughter, women roamed the streets filling them with the jingle of their jewellery and the swishing of their silks. Vying with those were voices that sang the chant of the vedas while some sang praise of Ravana. Pleased with himself for being in the domain of the demons, inviolable and inaccessible even to the gods Hanuman looked forward to soon finding Sita. In that ambience of unsurpassed splendor walked men and women of peerless beauty who were pure, brilliant and intellectual. Women bright as the stars, with dark eyes, long lashes and skin that glowed like molten gold were ravishing! Some among them, the shy ones hid in the arms of their men companions, some sat on terraces with their mates while the brazen sang and danced with abandon and without restraint! All around men were getting into drunken brawls as they insulted and abused each other in their intoxication. Lanka also had its share of good men, who were devout, intelligent and learned who commanded great respect. Hanuman saw the wicked, the ugly and the deformed whose evil minds matched their distorted bodies! Some wore skins while some wore nothing. Carrying clubs, maces flashing blades and more, roamed the grisly legions. They came in all sizes, shapes and colours. There were the tall, the short, the dark and the fair. Some had matted hair, some were clean shaven while yet others had hair all over. There were one-eyed rakshasas, long eared rakshasas whose ears hung down to their knees, whose bellies and breasts were pendulous and whose fangs protruded fearfully. The hunch-backed, the ugly, the morbid and the handsome mingled with the beautiful the intelligent and the vivacious to lend awe and diversity to the city of Lanka. Beholding the many wonders of the rakshasa stronghold Hanuman quickly slipped though its gate way and into the opulence of the home of Ravana the lord of the rakshasas surrounded by lofty ramparts and pristine white lotuses floating on the dark fathomless waters of its moat. Eluding the watchful eyes of ferocious guards he had at last come to where he hoped to find Sita.
Summary
Remembering the convention that forbade entry into enemy country through its gates, Hanuman climbed over its ramparts! And as his intention was to benefit Sugriva and harm Ravana he set his left foot first into that kingdom of the rakshasas, an inauspicious act supposed to bring bad luck to its ruler! Served by the winds and girdled by the blue seas the splendor of Lanka was breath taking. Miles and miles, of nature's incredible charms, manmade mansions groves and gardens held Hanuman spellbound. Thoroughfares sprinkled with water scented with sandal had pearls scattered over them! In that city which rang with unceasing music and laughter, women roamed the streets filling them with the jingle of their jewellery and the swishing of their silks. Vying with those were voices that sang the chant of the vedas while some sang praise of Ravana. Pleased with himself for being in the domain of the demons, inviolable and inaccessible even to the gods Hanuman looked forward to soon finding Sita. In that ambience of unsurpassed splendor walked men and women of peerless beauty who were pure, brilliant and intellectual. Women bright as the stars, with dark eyes, long lashes and skin that glowed like molten gold were ravishing! Some among them, the shy ones hid in the arms of their men companions, some sat on terraces with their mates while the brazen sang and danced with abandon and without restraint! All around men were getting into drunken brawls as they insulted and abused each other in their intoxication. Lanka also had its share of good men, who were devout, intelligent and learned who commanded great respect. Hanuman saw the wicked, the ugly and the deformed whose evil minds matched their distorted bodies! Some wore skins while some wore nothing. Carrying clubs, maces flashing blades and more, roamed the grisly legions. They came in all sizes, shapes and colours. There were the tall, the short, the dark and the fair. Some had matted hair, some were clean shaven while yet others had hair all over. There were one-eyed rakshasas, long eared rakshasas whose ears hung down to their knees, whose bellies and breasts were pendulous and whose fangs protruded fearfully. The hunch-backed, the ugly, the morbid and the handsome mingled with the beautiful the intelligent and the vivacious to lend awe and diversity to the city of Lanka. Beholding the many wonders of the rakshasa stronghold Hanuman quickly slipped though its gate way and into the opulence of the home of Ravana the lord of the rakshasas surrounded by lofty ramparts and pristine white lotuses floating on the dark fathomless waters of its moat. Eluding the watchful eyes of ferocious guards he had at last come to where he hoped to find Sita.