66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

his reply.”
Properly armed, Lakshmana left immediately. He was
overwhelmed with the seriousness of his mission, and his
mind was fixed on reaching his destination in the shortest
time possible. He moved swiftly, looking neither to his left
nor right. He avoided a familiar path leading to Kiskinda, the
old pathway trodden by them when Sugreeva went forth to
encounter Vali. Now Lakshmana, feeling uncertain about
their relationship with Sugreeva, chose a different route. It
was also a measure of precaution as he did not wish to be
observed by Sugreeva’s spies. He reached Kiskinda
leaping along from crag to crag.
Observers at the outpost went to Angada with the news of
Lakshmana’s arrival. Angada hastened out to meet him, but
even from a distance understood what temper he was in,
and withdrew quietly; he rushed to Sugreeva’s palace, which
had been designed and built by a master architect and was
so gorgeous and comfortable that Sugreeva hardly ever left
it. His bed chamber was strewn with flowers, and he lay
surrounded by beauties with long tresses and heavy breasts,
who provided his comforts, and sang and entertained him.
The company of beautiful women, with their dizzying
perfumes and the scent of flowers and rare incense, and
above all much wine imbibed, left him in a daze of ecstasy.
Sugreeva lay inert, unmindful of the world outside; Angada
softly entered, respectfully saluted his recumbent uncle, and