With folded hands, Hanuman addressed the ascetic woman, her form adorned in deerskin and sacred beads, garlands of holiness draped upon her, her matted locks gleaming with purity.
“O noble recluse! Have mercy upon us. We are weary from our arduous journey, tormented by thirst and hunger. Unwittingly, we ventured into this vast and impenetrable cave, seeking but a sip of water to quench our parched throats. Yet, within its depths, an astonishing vision arrests our senses—an ethereal realm where golden trees glimmer like the tender rays of the sun, their fruits exuding pristine nourishment, their cascades of gold and silver adorned with sparkling gems.
Who claims dominion over such riches? Who fashioned these luminous trees and sacred vines, their fragrance perfuming the air with celestial delight? Whose divine power conjured golden fish and turtles to dwell in these waters of radiance? Tell us, O ascetic, whose virtue wrought this splendour? Was it the might of penance, or did some celestial hand bestow this treasure upon the earth?”
Yet beneath his awe, Hanuman’s heart harboured but one true hope—the discovery of Sita, the very life-breath of Rama. Wealth and grandeur held no allure for him.
The ascetic woman, serene and knowing, beheld Hanuman and spoke:
“O foremost among the vanaras, hear me well. This golden abode is the creation of Maya, the son of Aditi, blessed by Brahma himself. A master of divine architecture, he built this sanctuary by the merit of his penance. The demon-guru Shukracharya, moved by his unrivaled skill, bestowed upon him immense wealth and boundless prowess. Yet, even the great Maya fell to the whims of fate. Enamoured of the celestial nymph Hema, he was bereft of her by Indra’s divine decree. Brahma, in his wisdom, granted this sanctum to Hema.
As for me, O Hanuman, I am Swayamprabha, daughter of Meru Savarni, the ninth Manu. A boon companion to Hema, I stand as the guardian of this sacred haven, where neither gods nor demons may tread unbidden. Your arrival here is no mere chance—it is destiny that has led you to me. Tell me, O valiant one, what quest compels you to traverse these treacherous forests?”
With clarity and unwavering resolve, Hanuman replied:
“Know, O noble ascetic, that we serve Rama, the scion of the Ikshvaku lineage, equal to Indra in might. He, along with his virtuous consort Sita and his devoted brother Lakshmana, dwelled in the Dandaka Forest until the demon king Ravana wrenched Sita from Janasthana and bore her away.
Sugriva, the mighty vanara king and ally of Rama, has entrusted us with the mission of locating Sita. Angada, our leader, has commanded us to scour the domains of sage Agastya and the vast lands guarded by Yama himself. We have traversed forests, mountains, and oceans, yet her whereabouts remain shrouded in mystery. Exhausted, despondent, we took respite beneath a great tree’s shade, when fate guided our weary steps to this cavern of wonders. Your mercy has relieved us of hunger and thirst, for which we are ever grateful.”
The ascetic Swayamprabha, hearing their righteous cause, smiled with divine grace.
“Your words, O son of Vayu, bear the weight of truth and duty. My heart rejoices in your noble purpose. I seek no recompense, for I abide by dharma alone. Yet I see your burden—for the decree of your king has bound you in time’s relentless grasp. Know this, O vanaras—whoever enters this realm is fated never to return, by Brahma’s command. And yet, by the power of my penance, I shall release you.”
She then instructed them, “Shut your eyes, O warriors, lest the spell of this place hold your captive forever.”
With unwavering faith in their mission, Hanuman, Angada, Jambavan, and the others obeyed. Eyes firmly closed, hands clenched in resolve, they surrendered to her divine will. And in but a moment, she transported them beyond the cavern’s embrace.
When they opened their eyes, the great Vindhya mountains loomed before them, their forests teeming with life. The sacred ocean stretched vast and unending, its waves whispering secrets of distant lands.
“O noble Vanaras, may success be yours,” Swayamprabha blessed them. “My duty calls me back to my sacred abode. Go forth with courage, and let destiny guide your steps.”
The warriors, though freed from the cavern, stood at the crossroads of duty and time. Their unwavering focus had led them thus far, yet had they but asked her guidance on Ravana’s domain, their journey might have taken another course. But such is the nature of those who walk the path of dharma—they seek only what is just, never what is beyond their own resolve.
Bound by principle, guided by wisdom, and strengthened by their allegiance to Rama, they pressed onward, their fate intertwined with the unfolding will of the cosmos.
