Skandapurana 3.1.2

The seers said:

How, O highly fortunate Sūta, by Rāma of untiring deeds,

was the bridge built across the lord of rivers, the bottomless abode of Varuṇa?

And how many sacred fords are there at the bridge on Mount Gandhamādana?

Tell this to us who have faith, O best of Purāṇa reciters.

The venerable Sūta said:

Indeed, how the bridge was constructed across the abode of Varuṇa by Rāma,

that I will explain to you, O eminent sages.

By command of his father, Rāma lived in the Daṇḍaka forest,

accompanied by Sītā and Lakṣmaṇa, collected in mind at Pañcavaṭī.

While that great-souled descendant of Raghu was dwelling there,

his wife was abducted by Rāvaṇa under the pretext of Mārīca, O twice-born.

Searching for his wife in the forest, Rāma, the son of Daśaratha,

went to the bank of the Pampā, filled with grief and bewilderment.

There the son of Daśaratha saw a certain monkey.

Then that descendant of Raghu was questioned by the monkey: 'Who are you?'

he truly related his own story to him from the beginning.

Then, questioned by Rāghava: “Who are you?”

that monkey also made known to the great-souled Rāghava:

“I am the monkey named Hanūmān, the minister of Sugrīva.

And dispatched by him, who desires alliance with you two, I have come.

Therefore come quickly to Sugrīva; may good fortune be yours.”

Saying “So be it,” that Rāma went with him, O best of sages,

and approaching Sugrīva, made friendship witnessed by fire.

Then Rāma also promised him the slaying of Vālin,

and Sugrīva [promised] the bringing back of Vaidehī, O twice-born.

Having thus made an agreement and inspired trust in each other,

endowed with supreme joy, the lord of men and the lord of monkeys,

stayed on Mount Ṛṣyamūka, O best of brahmins.

And to inspire confidence in Sugrīva, the body of Dundubhi

Rāghava swiftly cast away for many a yojana with his big toe.

Seven palmyra trees were pierced right through by the great-souled Rāghava.

Then, delighted in mind, the heroic Sugrīva said to Rāma:

“I have no fear even from Indra and the other gods, O Rāghava,

since I have obtained you, possessing great prowess, as a friend.

Having slain the lord of Laṅkā, I will bring back your wife.”

Then, accompanied by Sugrīva, the mighty Rāmacandra,

along with Lakṣmaṇa, went swiftly to Kiṣkindhā, ruled by Vālin.

Then Sugrīva roared, desiring the arrival of Vālin.

And Vālin, unable to tolerate the roar of his younger brother,

came forth from the inner apartments and fought with his younger brother.

Struck by the blows of Vālin's fists, intensely distressed,

Sugrīva swiftly fled to where the mighty Rāma was.

Then the mighty-armed Rāma, on Sugrīva's neck,

bound a creeper as a mark, and then urged him to battle.

Having summoned Vālin again with a roar,

Sugrīva, at Rāma's instigation, then engaged in hand-to-hand combat with him.

Then Rāghava struck Vālin with a single arrow.

When Vālin was slain, Sugrīva gained Kiṣkindhā.

Then, when the rainy season had passed, Sugrīva, the king of monkeys,

taking a great army of monkeys to bring back Sītā quickly,

came into the presence of the two prince-brothers.

He dispatched the monkeys with the desire of searching for Sītā.

When Vaidehī had been discovered in Laṅkā by the son of the wind-god,

and the crest-jewel was delivered, Rāghava felt both joy and sorrow.

Accompanied by Sugrīva, his younger brother, the wise son of the wind-god,

and other monkeys headed by Jāmbavat and Nala,

that Rāma, followed [by them] at the abhijit muhūrta, O twice-born,

traversed various regions and reached Mount Mahendra.

Then, having gone to Cakratīrtha, he made his dwelling there.

Right there that righteous Vibhīṣaṇa came,

the brother of the king of the rākṣasas, together with four counselors.

Rāma welcomed him with a noble reception.

Sugrīva, however, suspected: “Could this one be a spy?”

Rāghava, by his gestures and his upright, beneficial conduct,

saw him to be free of malice, and honored him.

He consecrated Vibhīṣaṇa over the whole kingdom of the rākṣasas,

and made him an eminent minister, equal to the son of the sun-god.

Having reached Cakratīrtha, the delight of the Raghu race dwelt [there].

Reflecting, the glorious Rāghava spoke to Sugrīva and the others,

these timely words in the midst of the monkey chiefs:

“What means do you have for crossing this ocean?

This army is vast, and the ocean is hard to cross.

This blue reservoir of waters is agitated with restless waves,

thronged with leaping fish, huge crocodiles, conches, and pearl-oysters,

in places engulfed by submarine fire, foamy, and exceedingly terrifying.”

covered with dark clouds drawn by powerful winds,

roaring like the clouds of doomsday, full of noise, tossed up by the gale: // 38

“How shall we cross the unshakeable ocean, the abode of Varuṇa,

all surrounded by the armies of the mighty monkeys? // 39

By what means might we reach the lord of rivers and streams?

How can we, with the whole army, quickly cross the abode of Varuṇa, // 3.1.2.40

stretching for a hundred yojanas, difficult even for the mind to reach?

Indeed, there are many obstacles ahead; how is the princess of Mithilā to be regained? // 41

From hardship we have reached greater hardship today, left without shelter,

before the ocean of great waters and great winds, offering no refuge. // 42

What means shall we devise for the forest-dwellers to cross?

Fallen from kingship, arrived in the forest, Sītā abducted, father dead— // 43

even more intolerable than these is the grief of crossing the ocean!

Fie, fie on the roar of the ocean! Fie on this mass of water! // 44

How could those words of the great seer born from a jar prove false?

That which he said: ‘Having slain the wicked Rāvaṇa, go swiftly

to pure Gandhamādana for the expiation of your sin’?” // 45

Śrī Sūta said:

Hearing these words of Rāma, Sugrīva and the other leaders then // 46

spoke with joined palms to that mighty descendant of Raghu:

“We shall cross it with boats and with various rafts.” // 47

Then, in the midst of the tens of millions of monkeys, Vibhīṣaṇa spoke:

“King Rāghava ought to seek refuge with the ocean. // 48

This ocean, the abode of Varuṇa, was dug out by the sons of Sagara;

the sea ought to perform this service for Rāma, its kinsman.” // 49

Addressed thus by Vibhīṣaṇa, the wise rākṣasa,

Rāghava consoled all the monkeys and said this: // 3.1.2.50

“Across an expanse of a hundred yojanas, all the monkeys are unable

to cross this most terrifying ocean on rafts and floats. // 51

There are not enough boats for so vast an army, O bull-like monkeys!

And how could one like us cause ruin to merchants? // 52

Moreover, our army is widespread, and the enemy might strike us when vulnerable;

therefore crossing by rafts and floats does not please me at all. // 53

What Vibhīṣaṇa has said pleases me, O monkeys.

I shall attend upon this ocean to obtain a path. // 54

If it does not show the path, then I shall burn it

with irresistible great weapons blazing with extreme fire and wind.” // 55

Having spoken thus, Rāghava together with the son of Sumitrā sipped water,

and lay facing the ocean according to the rule upon a bed of kuśa grass. // 56

Then, on the shore of the lord of rivers and streams, spread with kuśa grass,

the mighty-armed Rāma lay down like the sacrificial fire upon the altar. // 57

Pillowing his head upon his arm resembling the coil of Śeṣa,

the capable descendant of Raghu, with his right arm, waited upon the abode of sea-monsters. // 58

While Rāma slept on the earth spread with kuśa grass,

intent on his vow, three nights passed by. // 59

Having fasted there for three nights, knowing prudent policy and devoted to dharma,

Rāma then waited upon the ocean to obtain a path. // 3.1.2.60

Yet the dull-witted ocean did not show itself to Rāma then,

even though worshiped by the restrained Rāma as was fitting. // 61

Even so, the ocean did not show its form to Rāma.

Then, enraged at the ocean, his eyes reddish at the corners, // 62

Rāma spoke thus to Lakṣmaṇa who stood nearby:

“Today, with sea-monsters pierced by my arrows, the abode of Varuṇa // 63

I shall make waterless in an instant, O son of Sumitrā!

With its nets of conches and oyster shells, along with its fishes and monsters, slowly // 64

today I shall dry up the ocean with unfailing arrows.

Endowed as I am with forbearance, this abode of sea-monsters // 69

deems me powerless; fie on forbearance towards such a being!

The ocean does not show its form to me through conciliation. // 66

Bring my bow, O son of Sumitrā, and arrows resembling venomous serpents!”

"I will dry up the ocean; let the monkeys go on foot! .. 67 ..

This [ocean] has transgressed its bounds, agitated with thousands of waves;

I will strip the abode of Varuṇa of its bounds with arrows! .. 68 ..

I will dry up the great ocean crowded with great Dānavas,

abounding in great sea-monsters and crocodiles, turbulent with immense waves." .. 69 ..

Having spoken thus, bow in hand, his eyes agitated with wrath,

Rāma became invincible, like Śiva, the destroyer of Tripura. .. 3.1.2.70 ..

Drawing his bow in anger, making the world tremble with his arrows,

he released fierce shafts, just as Bhava [shot arrows] against the three cities. .. 71 ..

Those blazing and terrible arrows, illuminating the ten directions,

entered the water of the ocean filled with arrogant Dānavas. .. 72 ..

Then the ocean, terrified, trembling, with folded hands,

having no other refuge, O brahmins, rose up himself from Pātāla. .. 73 ..

He took refuge in Rāghava, the cause of the state of absolute liberation;

becoming [manifest], O brahmins, he praised Rāghava with pleasing words: .. 74 ..

.. The ocean said: ..

"I bow to your lotus feet, O Rāghava, husband of Sītā, bestower of bliss through serving your feet!

I bow to the dust of your glorious feet, which brought liberation to Gautama's wife, and is served by the hosts of gods. .. 76 ..

Homage to the tearer of the body of Sunda's beloved! Homage, homage to you, protector of Kauśika's sacrifice!

Homage to the breaker of Mahādeva's bow! Homage, homage to the destroyer of the hosts of rākṣasas! .. 76 ..

Rāma, Rāma! I bow to you, who grant the desires of your devotees,

who descended into the lineage of Raghu desiring to accomplish the purpose of the gods! .. 77 ..

[I bow to] Nārāyaṇa, without beginning or end, the giver of liberation, auspicious, the imperishable!

Rāma, Rāma, mighty-armed one! Protect me, who have sought refuge! .. 78 ..

Restrain your wrath, O king of kings! Forgive me, O abode of compassion!

Earth, wind, space, water, and luminaries, O descendant of Raghu,

remain according to the natures with which they were created

by Brahmā, the Supreme Lord; and my nature is unfathomable depth. .. 3.1.2.80 ..

Shallowness would be a deviation [from my nature]; this truth I speak.

Neither out of greed, nor desire, nor fear, nor passion, O descendant of Raghu,

could I ever abandon the quality born of my nature.

Yet I will render assistance for the crossing of your army." .. 82 ..

To the ocean, lord of rivers, who spoke thus, Rāma said:

"With my army I must go to Laṅkā ruled by Rāvaṇa. .. 83 ..

Therefore dry up now for the purpose of my crossing."

Addressed thus, the abode of Varuṇa spoke again to Rāghava: .. 84 ..

"Listen attentively, O Rāma, and having heard, act as must be done.

If by your command I dry up for you wishing to go with your army, .. 85 ..

others too will command me thus by the power of their bow.

I shall speak of another means for the crossing of your army. .. 86 ..

There is here a monkey named Nala, approved by artisans,

the mighty son of Tvaṣṭṛ Viśvakarman, O descendant of Kakutstha. .. 87 ..

Whatever wood, grass, or stone he throws into me,

all that I will support; that will become your bridge. .. 88 ..

By that bridge go to Laṅkā ruled by Rāvaṇa."

Having spoken thus, when he had disappeared, Rāma said to Nala: .. 89 ..

"Build a bridge over the ocean, for you are capable, O wise one!"

Then Nala spoke these words to Rāma, the best of upholders of dharma: .. 3.1.2.90 ..

"I will construct a bridge across the fathomless abode of Varuṇa.

A boon was granted to me by my father, and in skill I am equal to him. .. 91 ..

A boon was granted to my mother on Mount Mandara by Viśvakarman:

'Your son will be equal to me in craftsmanship.' .. 92 ..

I am his legitimate son, equal indeed to Viśvakarman.

Let the eminent monkeys build the bridge this very day as desired!" .. 93 ..

Then, dispatched by Rāma, those most powerful monkeys

brought mountains, mountain peaks, creepers, grass, and trees, .. 94 ..

huge-bodied, with the speed of Garuḍa and the wind.

Nala built the great bridge in the midst of the lord of rivers and streams, .. 95 ..

ten yojanas broad and a hundred yojanas long.

Thus Rāma, the delight of Jānakī, caused the bridge to be built. .. 96 ..

through Nala, the lord of monkeys, the son of Viśvakarman.

Reaching such a bridge built by Rāmacandra,

all sinful mortals are liberated from all sins.

Śiva is not so pleased with vows, gifts, austerities, and oblations,