66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

Adisesha in whose coils Vishnu rested. Whatever might be
the form and shape, when they spoke and acted, their
physical appearance passed unnoticed.
Kiskinda was peopled and ruled by what might broadly
speaking be named a monkey race; but they were beings
endowed with extraordinary intelligence, speech,
immeasurable strength and nobility, and were of godly
parentage too.
Rama, in his desperate quest of Sita, was journeying
southwards and crossed the frontiers of Kiskinda. Although
he was an incarnation of Vishnu, the Supreme God, in
human form, as we have seen, he was subject to human
limitations of understanding and the despairs arising
therefrom. Following Sita’s trail by hearsay and hints, he and
Lakshmana arrived on the frontiers of Kiskinda. Their entry
was not unobserved. The companion and helper of
Sugreeva, ruler of the monkey clan, was Hanuman, who will
later take his place in the Ramayana as a major character.
Hanuman, watching for intruders, noticed Rama and
Lakshmana far off on the mountain path. Assuming the
shape of a young scholar, he went down and remained
hidden behind a tree on their path. When they approached,
he observed them closely and reflected within himself. “So
noble-looking! Who are they? They are clad in tree bark, hair
matted and knotted, ascetics. But they bear enormous bows
on their shoulders. Ascetics armed like warriors or warriors