45. ACROSS THE OCEAN (PART - 2)

Vibishana explained, "It was not my purpose to seek the crown of Lanka, but since you confer it on me, I have to accept it. Believe me, sir, my only purpose in coming here was to be with you and receive your grace." Day by day they

conferred, and Vibishana explained the disposition of Ravana's troops, the nature of his weapons, and the strength of his army, all of which enabled Rama to draw up a precise plan of attack on Lanka.

Rama's next phase of operation was to try and cross the seas. He stood on the shore of the ocean and the more he looked at it, the more desperate he felt as to how he was to cross it with his army. He prayed and fasted for seven days

and summoned the sea god and ordered, "Make way for my armies."

The sea god said, "I am as much subject to the laws of nature as other elements. What can I do?"

Whereupon Rama felt angry and threatened to shoot his arrows into the sea so that all the water might evaporate and facilitate his passage. The sea god implored him to desist and not to destroy the sea and its living creatures, and

suggested, "I will accept and put to the best use whatever is brought to me to bridge the sea."

Rama's angry mood left him and he said, "So be it." Very soon his monkey army brought in mud, huge rocks, and even pieces of mountains; men, monkeys, and all animals helped in this task. It was said that even the little squirrel rolled along pebbles to fill up the sea, and a day came when there was a passage created by their combined efforts, and Rama's army marched across and landed on the soil of Lanka.