Madhu Vana Dhvaṃsam

On the way back to Kishkindhā from Mahendra mountain, the vānara search party was full of joy at having found Sītā. They came to the Madhu Vana, a sacred grove that belonged to Sugrīva and was strictly forbidden to all. In their joy they broke every rule. Dadhimukha, the guardian of the grove, went to Sugrīva to complain. Sugrīva understood from their wildness that the search had succeeded, and Rāma and Lakshmaṇa were glad even before the party arrived.

Entering the Madhu Vana

The vānara search party was flying back from Mahendra toward Kishkindhā. They passed near the Madhu Vana. It was a grove of rare beauty that had been Sugrīva’s family forest for generations. It was full of every kind of fruit tree and was most famous for its honey.

A strict rule held for this vana (forest): no one could enter it or enjoy its fruit without the king’s clear leave. It had never been touched, even in the days of the vānara kings Ṛksharaja and Vāli.

The vānaras asked Aṅgada for leave to enter. Aṅgada was carried along by the joy they all felt at finding Sītā, and he gave leave. The whole party came down into the grove and gave themselves up to wild celebration. They ate every fruit they could find, drained the stores of honey, knocked down trees, and drove off the birds and animals of the grove. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

Dadhimukha tries to stop them

Dadhimukha was an elderly vānara and the guardian of the Madhu Vana. He came with the other wardens and tried to stop the ruin. He told the vānaras to leave and reminded them of the rule. They paid no heed to him at all.

When the wardens tried to block them by force, the vānaras were still full of the strength that had carried them across the ocean and burned Laṅkā. They hit the wardens with their fists and kicked them with their knees. They seized them by the limbs and threw them. They showed them “the path of the devas,” which means they sent them flying through the air. Even Dadhimukha, old and respected as he was, was roughly handled and thrown. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

Dadhimukha goes to Sugrīva

Dadhimukha had nowhere else to turn. He flew to Kishkindhā, where Sugrīva was staying with Rāma and Lakshmaṇa. He bowed down before Sugrīva and told him that the Madhu Vana had been destroyed. He told in detail how the vānaras had beaten the wardens, would accept no restraint, ate all the fruit and honey, and left the grove in ruins.

While he was speaking, Lakshmaṇa saw the old vānara’s distress. He asked Sugrīva what was going on and why Dadhimukha was so upset. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

Sugrīva understands

Sugrīva heard Dadhimukha’s report. He was not angry at the ruin of the grove he loved. He smiled. He told Lakshmaṇa with full certainty:

“This Madhu Vana has never been touched, not in my father’s time, not in Vāli’s time, not in mine. The vānaras who have come back would not dare to enter it like this if they had failed in their task. Only success could make them so bold. Only the certainty that they have found Sītā could make them do this. The leader of this journey would not allow such behaviour unless he too were bursting with joy. I have no doubt: Sītā has been found. The one who found her is Hanumān, and no one else. No one else had the courage, wisdom and strength for this task.”

He told Lakshmaṇa to look, and the search party could already be seen coming through the sky. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 63)

Rāma’s joy

Sugrīva turned to Śrī Rāma, who had been sitting in grief and waiting for news. He said, “Calm yourself, Rāma. Sītā has been found. There is no doubt.”

Even before the party landed and gave its full report, Rāma’s face changed. The months of grief and doubt lifted. When Hanumān landed, bowed, and said the two words Dṛshṭā Sītā (Sītā has been seen), Rāma embraced him with a feeling he could not hold back. (Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapter 64)

Sources

• Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Sundara Kāṇḍa, Chapters 63-64