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 It was so very typical of Maruti, when he regained his composure to enquire about the welfare of Rama. His second question was about the condition of Jambavan, for only he knew the names of the herbs that would remedy the situation. Both Vibishana and Hanuman search him and find him soon, in a semiconscious state.
Jambavan right at the outset, even without verification, says 'The asthra would not have had any effect on Rama, who is the Veda of all Vedas. I know he would be safe.' Indrajit would acknowledge this later, in aghast. 'dhala malark kizavan thandha padaikkalam'
the weapon that was given by the one who rules the lotus (Brahma) 'thazalin saarthi' was ignited (or was honoured with the burning of camphor)
'alavu iladhu amaya vittadhu' and launched with unlimited energy
'iraamanai neeki andru' not excluding Rama. 'vilaivu iladhu' It had no effect on him.
'meni theendila meendadhu' did not touch his body and returned.
Jambavan then mentions three herbs - to resuscitate the dead, to restore severed limbs and to extricate the pieces of weapons that are embedded in the body - and elaborately gives the location. Hanuman was to bring the herbs before sunrise to use the herbs for good. 'These herbs', said Jambavan 'came out of the ocean of milk when it was churned for elixir and are preserved in a mountain beyond the
Kailash.'
Hanuman flew to the mountain. One important verse that deserves attention has not been discussed much to this date. It says Hanuman, when he reached Uttaraguru felt so bad, when he saw the sun above him in the sky. And then he pacifies himself saying
 'kadhirin selvan metrisai ezuvaan allan' The sun never rises in the West.
'vidindhadhum andru' This is not sunrise (this must be sunset).
'meru maatrinan vadapaal thondrum enbadhu maraigal vallor
saatrinar' Those well versed in the holy books have remarked that the Sun would appear on the Western sky to those who are on the north of Meru. This reference is obviously to the time zone. This deserves to be studied by deeply by scholars as this may hold a clue to the location of the hills that were mentioned in the epics. This observation that the sun would be setting on the one side of the world while it is still night on the other side needs to be examined, if we remember that this fact was written by Valmiki thousands of years ago and by Kamban, a thousand years ago, much before the West realised this fact.
When he reached the mountain of herbs, Hanuman was in such a hurry that he was impatient to look for them. Many interpret the verse to mean that he forgot the description of the herbs. It was not so. He says to himself
'ingu nindru innana marundhu endru enninnai singumaal kaalam'
If I look for those three herbs (in this forest of shrubs, bushes, trees and other forms of vegetation) I will lose considerable time. Better lift this mountain and take it there. Let Jambavan identify them.
Hari Krishnan
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