Then those successful monkeys with
Hanuman at their head, duly bowed unto Rama and Lakshmana and Sugriva.
And Rama then taking up his bow and quiver, addressed those monkeys,
saying, "Have you been successful? Will ye impart life unto me? Will ye
once more enable me to reign in Ayodhya after having slain my enemy in
battle and rescued the daughter of Janaka? With the princess of Videha
unrescued, and the foe unslain in battle, I dare not live, robbed of
wife and honour!" Thus addressed by Rama, the son of _Pavana_, replied
unto him, saying, "I bring thee good news, O Rama; for Janaka's daughter
hath been seen by me. Having searched the southern region with all its
hills, forests, and mines for some time, we became very weary. At length
we beheld a great cavern. And having beheld it, we entered that cavern
which extended over many _Yojanas_. It was dark and deep and overgrown
with trees and infested by worms. And having gone a great way through
it, we came upon sun-shine and beheld a beautiful palace. It was, O
Raghava, the abode of the _Daitya Maya_. And there we beheld a female
ascetic named _Prabhavati_ engaged in ascetic austerities. And she gave
us food and drink of various kinds. And having refreshed ourselves
therewith and regained our strength, we proceeded along the way shown by
her. At last we came out of the cavern and beheld the brimy sea, and on
its shores, the _Sahya_, the _Malaya_ and the great _Dardura_ mountains.
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