Amrita Collected Papers by A M Ghatage

SR No.: 006968
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jitendra B Shah
Publisher: Kasturbhai Lalbhai Smarak Nidhi Ahmedabad
Total Pages: 530
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 10 MB

Page 134

Māhārāştri Language and Literature
125
into rage towards his enemy Rāvana, whom he now wishes to conquer by marching against Lankā. He crosses the mountain Vindhya and the army of the monkeys arrives on the shore of the ocean (i).
Rāma now views the vast ocean stretching before him and the poet picks up the occasion to display his power in describing the ocean in an elaborate manner which covers the major portion of the Āśvāsaka 152. The effect of this obstacle in their way is very different on different persons, Rāma looking at it without much concern, Lakşmaņa not losing his courage, and Sugrīva looking at his army of the monkeys. But, the monkeys are disheartened at the unexpected difficulty and look admiringly towards Hanumanta who has crossed and recrossed it (ii).
Sugrīva now views his drooping followers and to put courage in them delivers his fiery speech in which he points out to them their duty and shows them the necessity of overcoming the obstacle, as death is far more preferable to infamy. This speech, however, has no effect on the army. Another speech is made in which he promises to overcome the difficulty himself if his followers are not willing to take up the risk which enkindles the fire of heroism in the army. The whole of the chapter abounds in good many moral sayings 153 and maxims with appropriate illustrations from nature, which does credit to the author and more than justifies the remark of Dandin that it is a veritable ocean of good sayings (iii). Now gets up Jāmbavat, the oldest in the army, with a long line of experience behind him, on which he harps so often, and who now tries to combat the agitation in the army with sober words, importing a slow and thoughtful action on their and on Sugrīva's part and gives a real appreciation of the magnitude of the danger. He hints that Rāma is fully capable of subduing the ocean and suggests that the ocean itself should be requested to give a free path on its waters of his own accord. At this moment there arrives Bibhisana from the sky, whom Māruti easily recognizes to be a friend and carries him to Rāma who greets him with praise and suggests that he will be made the lord of Lankā (iv).
The fifth chapter opens with the description of Rāma again suffering from the pangs of separation in the moon-light night, and early in the morning he makes his mind to chastise the ocean. He then hits it with his arrow which emits fire and thousand of other arrows from itself and plays havoc on the ocean and its acquatic animals. The author devotes the whole of this chapter to the graphic and minute description of Rāma's shooting the arrow and the plight of fishes, serpents and the surging up of the waves. The