Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

VII. In the Nilgiri Mountains - 109
Ah, my lost and loving Sita! writhing in a Raksha’s power,
As the lightning shakes and quivers in this dark tempestuous shower,
Shadows thicken on the prospect, dower and leaf are wet with rain,
And each passing object, Lakshman, wakes in me a thought of pain!
Joyously from throne and empire with my Sita I could part,
As the stream erodes its margin, Sita’s absence breaks my heart,
Rain and tempest cloud the prospect as they cloud my onward path,
Dubious is my darksome future, mighty is my foeman’s wrath!
Ravan monarch of the Rakshas, – so Jatayu said and died, –
In some unknown forest fastness doth my sorrowing Sita hide,
But Sugriva true and faithful seeks the Raksha’s secret hold,
Firm in faith and fixed in purpose we will face our foeman bold!”
VI. The Quest for Sita
[115] Past the rains, the marshalled Vanars gathered round Sugriva bold,
And unto a gallant chieftain thus the king his purpose told:
“Brave in war and wise in counsel! take ten thousand of my best,
Seek the hiding-place of Ravan in the regions of the East.
Seek each ravine rock and forest and each shadowy hill and cave,
Far where bright Sarayu’s waters mix with Ganga’s ruddy wave,
And where Jumna’s dark blue waters ceaseless roll in regal pride,
And the Sone through leagues of country spreads its torrent far and wide,
Seek where in Videha’s empire castled towns and hamlets shine,
In Kosala and in Malwa and by Kasi’s sacred shrine,
Magadh rich in peopled centres, Pundra region of the brave,
Anga rich in corn and cattle on the eastern ocean wave.
Seek where clans of skilful weavers dwell upon the eastern shore,
And from virgin mines of silver miners work the sparkling ore,
In the realms of uncouth nations, in the islets of the sea,
In the mountains of the ocean, wander far and wander free!”