I am no foe
of thine! Listen, O Rama, to these words, and having listened, do what
is proper! If, at thy command, I get a way for the passage of thy army,
others then, from strength of their bows, will command me to do the
same! In thy army there is a monkey of the name of Nala, who is a
skilful mechanic. And endued with great strength, Nala is the son of
_Tashtri_, the divine artificer of the Universe. And whether it is wood,
or grass or stone, that he will throw into my waters, I will support the
same on my surface, and thus wilt thou have a bridge (over which to
pass)!" And having said these words, the genius of the Ocean
disappeared. And Rama awaking, called Nala unto him and said, "Build
thou a bridge over the sea! Thou alone, I am sure, art able to do it!"
And it was by this means that the descendant of Kakutstha's race caused
a bridge to be built that was ten _Yojanas_ in width and a hundred
_Yojanas_ in length. And to this day that bridge is celebrated over all
the world by the name of _Nala's bridge_. And having completed that
bridge, Nala, of body huge as a hill, came away at the command of Rama.
[54] There is a difference of reading here. Some texts read
fifty seven.
[55] A difference of reading is observable here.
[56] As a purificatory ceremony, called the Achamana. To this
day, no Hindu can perform any ceremony without going through the
Achamana in the first instance.
"'And while Rama was on this side of the ocean, the virtuous Vibhishana,
the brother of the king of the Rakshasas accompanied by four of his
counsellors, came unto Rama.
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