s: Before the crowd that round her pressed.


s: And words from heaven her honour cleared.


s: Ten thousand years and hundreds ten,(41)


s: With all his kin the heavens shall gain.


s: And Śúdras listening(42) ne’er shall fail


s: The smooth-floored shallow, pure and bright,


s: And all his heart with ruth was stirred.


s: In shock of grief be termed a śloke.”(46)


s: And mused in deepest thought enthralled.


s: Then glorious Brahmá,(47) Lord Most High,


s: Mute, with clasped hands, his head he bent,


s: Brought offerings,(48) and prepared a seat.


s: But still the hermit’s thoughts were bent


s: Where all could see, where none could tell.


s: The streams shall flow, the mountains stand,


s: Then clearly, through his virtue’s might,


s: Whate’er befell, through all their life,


s: How the king grieved and groaned, and cried,


s: The friendship made, which both had sought:


s: Sweet-voiced, who dwelt beside him there


s: And triple measure,(57) wrought with care


s: The youth within their hearts had stored


s: They showed their sire in face and frame,


s: As though from some fair sculptured stone


s: Praised the sweet minstrels more and more:


s: One saint a black-deer’s hide would bring,


s: Would promise health and length of days;


s: While he the votive steed(60) would slay,


s: Through each man’s frame and heart and soul.


s: Thus Ráma spoke: their breasts were fired,


s: While every heart with transport swelled,


s: Through countless years, from Manu’s days.


s: And flocks and herds and wealth of grain.


s: Twelve measured leagues from end to end,


s: With towering Sál trees belted round,(65)


s: With chess-board line and even square.(67)


s: And wains for draught and cars for speed.


s: And merchants with their precious things


s: With bards and minstrels gathered there,


s: All dressed in raiment bright and clean,


s: High-souled were all. The slanderous word,


s: Their race’s honour ne’er was stained.(71)


s: Cheered by his grandsons, sons, and wife,


s: And fought till death, but never turned.


s: From Váhlí’s(72) hills and Sindhu’s(73) sand,


s: They rivalled well the world-spread fame


s: Of the great stock from which they came,


s: Well skilled in business, fair and just,


s: They gained the people’s love and trust,


s: They spoke kind thoughts in gentle speech.


s: Ere his tongue spoke, to learn his thought,


s: Would they their lips with falsehood stain.


s: With skill and knowledge, sense and tact,


s: A son, when years came round, should spring.


s: “Here dwells,” ’twas thus the seer began,


s: Shall bid the priests some cure declare:


s: But when they hear the monarch’s speech,


s: Sons whom his prayers have begged in vain.”


s: “Hear, King, the plot our thoughts have framed,


s: Well skilled to sing, and play, and dance


s: And ply their trade with smile and glance


s: While fragrant robes were floating free,


s: Come, tell us, if thou wilt, the truth.”


s: They heard his speech, and gave consent,


s: They smiled, and spoke sweet words like these,


s: And luscious mead their stores supplied.


s: For, strange to him, their form beguiled


s: Then round his neck fair arms were flung,


s: The pleasing charm of that strange bowl,


s: Then, lest the sire should find them there,


s: Pleased with the gracious words they said


s: And asked the swains and neatherds there


s: Through the full streets where shell and drum


s: He deemed that all his task was wrought,


s: Graced like the king with love and praise


s: This righteous course for offspring’s sake.”


s: With fitting guard and priest, be freed,(86)


s: For wandering fiends, whose watchful spite


s: To ancient priests he spoke, who, trained


s: “Here guards be stationed, good and sage


s: Your hearts the meanest guest to slight;


s: Priest, Warrior, Merchant, lowly thrall,


s: Call those who rule Suráshṭra’s(90) land,


s: All those who wrought with stone and wood,


s: Then joy thrilled through Vaśishṭha’s breast


s: When forth the world’s great ruler went.


s: The circling year had filled its course,


s: And back was brought the wandering horse:


s: The priests, who all the Scripture knew,


s: Then from the plant(94) the juice was squeezed,


s: And those high saints with minds well pleased


s: And hymned the King whom none can blame.


s: Their sweet-toned hymn of praise and prayer,


s: None, all those days, was seen oppressed


s: “Give forth, give forth,” and “Eat your fill.”


s: Thousands on thousands, took their share


s: Where cunning craftsmen fixed them fast;


s: And flowers and scent around them flung.


s: Like the great saints who star the north.(102)


s: With twice nine pits and formed three-fold


s: And healing herbs that spring from earth:


s: And with sweet wreaths the victim graced;


s: Then came three priests, their care to lead


s: Of him who chanted forth the prayer,(104)


s: To guard these realms our hands were weak.


s: That largess pleased those Bráhmans well,


s: The high-souled monarch’s rite to grace.


s: Bear all his rage though sore distressed.


s: “O Lord whose hand fierce Madhu(106) slew,


s: Friend of the suffering worlds art thou,


s: This common scourge, this rankling thorn


s: Whom the three worlds too long have borne


s: The host of heaven, and plagues with woe


s: Who plays in Nandan’s(107) heavenly shade.


s: When thus the suppliant Gods had prayed,


s: And whence this dread, ye Gods declare.”


s: God, saint, and nymph, and minstrel throng


s: Prepared the rite that wins an heir.(109)


s: Of matchless splendour, strength, and size


s: They scarce could count the vision true.


s: “For Vishṇu’s sake, the strong and true,


s: With heavenly arts and prudence fraught,


s: As they who drink the immortal juice.(111)


s: Each minstrel of the heavenly quire,(112)


s: Each faun,(113) of children strong and good


s: Whose feet should roam the hill and wood.


s: The heavenly Aśvins,(120) swift and fair,


s: And swift as Garuḍ’s(123) self could flee.


s: Endowed with might that none could mate,


s: In each the strength, the might, the mien


s: Their strength could shake the hills amain,


s: And with their furious shout could scare


s: Thousands on thousands still they swarmed.


s: And turned, their pathless homes to seek,


s: Now when the high-souled monarch’s rite,


s: They heard, and turned them from the court


s: The rites were o’er, the guests were sped:


s: Great gifts of countless price she bore,


s: Honoured with all her heart could please,


s: Of his good queens he spake this speech:


s: The Earth, the Streams, the circling Sky,


s: Still fixing on his friend each thought.


s: With such deep love his breast was fraught.


s: Wreathed with her Champacs’(126) leafy crown.


s: Those rites are o’er, the steed is slain;


s: Raised suppliant hands and humbly bowed.


s: “See, honour’s source, thy son’s dear bride.”


s: Performed the rite that frees from stain,(129)


s: ’Twas Chaitra’s ninth returning day.(130)


s: Then danced the nymphs’ celestial throng,


s: The drums of heaven pealed loud and long,


s: Where minstrels played and singers sang,


s: Like some proud banner cheered his sight,


s: The king, whose mien his transport showed,


s: All well with friends, and kith and kin,


s: Hail, Saint, from whom all honours flow,


s: And while each hair with joy arose,(142)


s: Two fiends who change their forms at will


s: Impede that rite with cursed skill.(143)


s: When thus the rite is mocked and stayed,


s: The muttered curse, the threatening word,


s: The suffering guest, the suppliant friend.


s: My power shall shield the youth from harm,


s: And spread through all the worlds his name.


s: My word is pledged, nor pledged in vain.


s: Those wicked fiends, those impious twain,


s: Who, stabbed with pangs too sharp to bear,


s: Then slowly gathering thought and strength


s: Their skill the demons’ might may break:


s: The bounds to strength and weakness set.


s: Whom conscious might inspires with pride.”


s: Gods, spirits, bards of heavenly birth,(145)


s: With all my friends their lord to back.”


s: Then words like these the saint returned,


s: Earth rocked and reeled throughout her frame,


s: Saw the whole world convulsed with dread,


s: Arms from the Gods themselves concealed,


s: These arms to him, when earth he swayed,


s: Brought forth by Daksha’s lovely seed,(146)


s: Sped their dear son with rite and prayer:


s: Whose sweet pure touch just waved the trees.


s: Whose locks were like the raven’s wing:(147)


s: As the young Aśvins,(149) heavenly pair,


s: Two fire-born Gods of War seemed they.(150)


s: Thee powers of darkness ne’er shall smite


s: Thou, when thy lips pronounce the spell,


s: And now these spells of might shall cast


s: Fresh radiance o’er the gifts thou hast.”


s: Raised suppliant hands, bowed low his head,


s: From him whose might these gifts enhanced,


s: The hermit’s wants those youths supplied,


s: Rise, Chief, and let those rites be done


s: Their lives through many a lengthened age


s: ’Gainst Stháṇu’s(155) self, on rites austere


s: One night, fair boy, we here will spend,


s: Then with sweet talk the guests remained,


s: The high-souled men with thoughtful care


s: They reached the southern shore at last,


s: Like some vast cloud that fills the sky?


s: Dháo, Sál, Bignonia, Bel,(161) are found,


s: Here, mourning friendship’s broken ties,


s: His brightness soiled with mud and clay,


s: High transport thrilled his bosom through.


s: These two fair realms has long distressed.


s: That spirits’ strength is weak and small:


s: She gained the strength that arms her now.


s: And matched, for such was Brahmá’s dower,


s: And mad with rage that fills her breast,


s: Such, through all time, should be the care


s: Thus spoke the saint. Each vigorous word


s: With winged darts, as she charged amain,


s: And thus the conquering chief addressed:


s: That night they slept and took their rest;


s: The weapons I have learnt to wield.(165)


s: And these two spears, the best e’er flew,


s: Skull-wreath and mace that smashes bone.


s: And strong Desire with conquering touch,


s: And takes his fortune, strength, and life.


s: That spoils the foeman’s strength in fight.


s: Pure, with glad cheer and joyful breast,


s: The powers that can these arms restrain.”


s: Thus spoke the prince. The sage austere,


s: Called forth the names of those great charms


s: Bright ones that wear what forms they please;


s: “Depart,” he cried, “where each may list,


s: From thine own lips, my lord, to learn.”


s: Thus spoke the prince of boundless might,


s: And when with power his proud heart swelled,


s: And thus with prayers the God addressed:


s: Through all the worlds, tremendous, vast,


s: And with the third through heaven he went.


s: Thus longing for the strife, they prayed,


s: Six days and nights their watch to keep.


s: Grass, ladles, flowers, the splendour shone,


s: “Now, Lakshmaṇ, thou these fiends shalt see,


s: Hath struck him senseless with the smart,


s: When thus the fiends were slain in fight,


s: And sought, while yet the light was faint,


s: Gained from the Gods this bow, the price


s: Their halt on Śona’s(171) distant shore.


s: In glorious deeds each nerve they strained,


s: And then through Magadh’s plains and groves


s: And danced, and laughed, and sang, and played.


s: “I love you all, sweet girls,” he cried,


s: All life pervadest, through and through,


s: While tears and shame were in their eyes.


s: What wretch has scorned all heavenly laws?


s: Who thus your forms could curve and break?


s: Touched with their heads his feet, and cried:


s: From virtue’s path in scorn would stray.


s: We felt the Wind-God’s crushing stroke.”


s: “With patience, daughters, bear your fate,


s: Thoughts for your good my mind shall fill.”


s: Till the great hermit, pleased with her,


s: “Thou hast, by heavenly grace sustained,


s: Each glance that on their forms he threw


s: “The rites were o’er, the maids were wed,


s: Dense shades of night the landscape hide,


s: “Well done! well done,” with reverence cried;


s: The three-pathed Gangá’s tale to learn.”


s: Where springs the stream called Bhrigu’ rill.


s: Which none, O Chief, but thou shall claim.


s: With his sweet speech the saint replied:


s: “Yourselves, O Queens, the choice decide.


s: Whose fame throughout the world should sound


s: Whose rind, when burst and cleft in two,


s: Till, youthful age and strength complete,


s: A land the best for rites declared(183)—


s: Reft of the steed the priests, distressed,


s: Haste, King! now let the thief be slain;


s: Till the steed comes, will here remain.”


s: Their eager hearts with transport burned


s: Through earth’s recesses forced their way.


s: That in earth’s core their dwelling make.


s: They dug, in ire that naught could stay,


s: Through sixty thousand leagues their way,


s: Cleaving the earth with matchless strength


s: Till hell itself they reached at length.


s: Thus digging searched they Jambudvip(184)


s: The heart of God, bard, fiend, and snake,


s: Addressed their Lord in words like these:


s: Pierce the whole earth with mine on mine,


s: This marred the rite, and caused us ill,


s: And so their guiltless blood they spill.”


s: And guards, in Kapil’s form, his bride.(186)


s: The Three-and-thirty,(187) freed from fear,


s: Sought their bright homes with hopeful cheer.


s: When thus the whole broad earth was cleft,


s: “We searched the earth from side to side,


s: While countless hosts of creatures died.


s: Till through earth’s depths you force your way.


s: Deep through the earth their way they made.


s: When, with the changing moon, distressed,


s: Their downward search through earth delayed.


s: Like some huge hill, of monstrous girth,


s: They marvelled and were filled with awe.


s: They gained the tract ’twixt east and north


s: Digging through earth their course they held.


s: Whose size and strength pass Nature’s law,


s: Who bears the world’s tremendous weight,


s: Passed on with step more light and free,


s: And reached with careless heart the place


s: The rites performed, with brighter fame,


s: “To cleanse their dust, the heavenly tide?


s: Long with this thought his bosom skilled


s: And gained the heaven his deeds had won.


s: With senses checked, with arms upraised,


s: Five fires(195) around and o’er him blazed.


s: Well hast thou wrought thine awful task:


s: The Sire, when thus the king had prayed,


s: While with one toe the earth he pressed,


s: The year had past. Then Umá’s lord,(198)


s: There, many lengthening seasons through,


s: The seventh, the brightest and the best,


s: Where fish and dolphins through the stream


s: Then they whom heavenly doom had hurled,


s: Touched the pure wave, and freed from sin


s: Moved by their suit, he soothed their fears


s: “Well done! great Prince of men, well done!


s: From heaven and flow through earth and hell—


s: Though with fierce prayers the boon he sought.


s: Flowed through the land and filled the sea.


s: Three-pathed, the best of all that flow.


s: This planned, they seized the Serpent King,


s: And churned with all their heart and soul.


s: “Save us, O save us, Lord!” they prayed.


s: Then come, and for thy birthright’s sake,


s: He spoke, and vanished from their sight,


s: And bear up Mandar’s threatening weight.”


s: A thousand years had reached their close,


s: The gentle sage(205) with staff and can,


s: Each had her maids. The tongue would fail—


s: Hence those who loved that nymph so fair


s: Uchchaihśravas,(208) the generous steed,


s: As Beauty’s Queen and Fortune know.(210)


s: Still churned and wrought the troubled main.


s: For the rich spoil, ’twixt these and those


s: O’er the three worlds with bard and sage


s: “Thy prayer is heard, dear saint! Remain


s: Whom the three worlds shall serve with fear.”


s: While yet she wrought her rites austere,


s: Wood, water, fire, and grass he brought,


s: Sweet roots and woodland fruit he sought,


s: Shalt see the worlds before him bow.”(212)


s: Which Indra’s hand in seven had cleft:(213)


s: Be theirs through heaven’s unbounded space


s: Joined suppliant hands, and thus replied:


s: “Thy children heavenly forms shall wear;


s: Through the three worlds their wings shall speed.”


s: Of days, with virtue, and with strength.


s: This night, O prince, we here will sleep;


s: With suppliant hands, with head inclined,


s: “Since thou hast deigned to bless my sight,


s: Whose figures like the Aśvins(216) show,


s: Come freely to these shades of ours,(217)—


s: How have they reached on foot this place?


s: Then wonder filled the monarch’s breast,


s: Hailed the fair town that met their eyes.


s: “Love, sweet! should brook no dull delay


s: “Now, Lord of Gods!” she whispered, “flee,


s: Trembling with doubt and wild with dread


s: Whose wrath the Gods and fiends would shun,


s: And wrought this folly, thou art doomed,


s: It chilled his soul and marred his frame,


s: Shall seek these shades then drear and wild,


s: Shall cleanse thy fond and erring breast,


s: And give thy proper shape once more.”(218)


s: Spent the long years in sternest rites.”


s: Guest-gift, and all that strangers crave.


s: The nymphs and minstrels danced and sang:


s: Praised the great dame, and cried, “Rejoice!


s: Bending their steps ’twixt east and north.


s: “The high-souled king no toil has spared,


s: The Gods will come their dues to claim.”


s: How have they reached on foot this place?


s: The same fair form in each is seen.”(219)


s: Serve her great guest with woodland store,


s: Had cleansed her from the taint of crime?


s: This Bráhman sage, most glorious-bright,


s: Through cities, groves, and floods he passed,


s: Where trees, and flowers, and creepers glowed,


s: Gods, fauns, and bards of heavenly race,


s: Bright in their souls, like fire, were these,


s: All rage was checked, each sense subdued,


s: Now breathed the prayer, now fed the flame:


s: Questioned with pleasant words like these


s: When, best of those who breathe the prayer,


s: “Come, Dapple-skin,” he cried, “with speed;


s: Of six-fold taste(221) as each may wish—


s: Mead sweet with flowers, and sugar-cane.


s: And gems are for the monarch’s brow.(222)


s: The dole which living creatures claim.(224)


s: She cheers mine heart and charms mine eye.


s: Whose goads with gold well fashioned shine—


s: And four-horse cars with gold made bright,


s: Sad, sick at heart, and sore distressed,


s: And heaved deep sighs with anguish fraught,


s: Nor, duteous, hast thou failed in aught.


s: For Bráhmans strength from Heaven derive,


s: So fierce thy strength,—must bow to thee.


s: In gold-hued mail ’against war’s attacks,


s: Soldiers who brandished spear and sword,—


s: With Mlechchhas(229) and Kirátas(230) teemed,


s: The monarch mourned, with shame and pain,


s: Or some great snake whose fangs are crushed:


s: Whose banner shows the pictured bull,(232)


s: What brings thee here? what boon to gain?


s: That Gods, and saints, and Titans wield,


s: The monarch’s breast with glory swelled.


s: His breast the full moon’s beams have shone.


s: He sought that hermit’s grove, and there


s: Launched his dire weapons through the air,


s: Till scorched by might that none could stay


s: Called, “Fear not, friends, nor seek to fly.


s: That God-sent might is more than steel.”


s: And Fate’s dread net, and Brahmá’s noose,


s: The Wind-God’s dart, the Troubler dread,


s: From his fierce hand two spears were thrown,


s: And that which hanging skulls compose:(233)


s: Then Gádhi’s son, when these had failed,


s: And the three worlds were filled with dread,


s: Then, thus addressed, the saint, well pleased,


s: “Ah! Warriors’ strength is poor and slight;


s: Burning with rage, o’erwhelmed with grief,


s: That mighty saint, thy priest and guide,


s: Such speech of theirs the monarch heard,


s: And cried, while rage their bosoms burned,


s: This said, with lofty thoughts inspired,


s: A curse has plagued with outcast’s doom?”


s: Pure are my lips from falsehood’s stain,


s: Transported, where thou fain wouldst be.


s: He summoned next, and spoke this speech:


s: Thick-speaking as with rage they burned:


s: The offerings that the prince would make,


s: Their answer when the arch-hermit heard,


s: His tranquil eyes with rage were blurred;


s: The flesh of dogs their maws shall sate.


s: No pity through his breast shall thrill.


s: Thus, girt with hermit, saint, and priest,


s: Addressed the saints who gathered round:


s: Fierce is our lord as fire, and straight


s: His speech had scarcely reached its close,


s: By thy great master’s curse brought low,


s: He threatened, blind with rage and hate,


s: And with soft words to soothe him tried:


s: Thy countless stars in heaven shall stay:


s: Had sought their homes of heavenly rest,


s: Offers this check our rites to bar:(240)


s: To Pushkar’s(241) wood where hermits rest,


s: And hastened back the rites to end.(242)


s: Had heard the boy’s heart-rending plaint.


s: He soothed his grief, his tears he dried,


s: Answered their sire with scorn and jest:


s: And punished thus shall dwell on earth.”


s: There bound, the Fire-God’s hymn he raised,


s: Flash through the flood’s translucent shroud


s: Like lightning gleaming through a cloud.


s: “Ten years have past, each day and night


s: And, touched with deep repentance, grieved,


s: That all the Gods were chilled with fear,


s: “Hail, Mighty Saint! dear son, all hail!


s: And take his soul with love’s sweet lure.”


s: Stand, till ten thousand years have flown,


s: Shall free thee from thine altered shape;


s: Fasting and faint, from speech refrained.


s: Around his brow thick smoke-clouds rolled


s: With ravening flames, were filled with dread.


s: Lure, scathe, and scorn have naught availed,


s: “Hail, Bráhman Saint! for such thy place:


s: The whole broad land from shore to shore.


s: Friend of the right, who shrinks from ill,


s: Spoke thus with suppliant hands upraised:


s: Soft flatteries tried his rage to charm.


s: Once, as it chanced, I ploughed the ground,


s: Stung to the heart with scorn and shame,


s: Which flowery wreaths and scents adorn.”


s: The ponderous eight-wheeled chest that held


s: Too strong for those who yet have reigned,


s: Though great in might each nerve they strained.


s: And the great saint, the shock could bear.


s: That hero’s worth the bride should gain.


s: The health of thee his friend most dear,


s: Kings, worthless found in worth’s assay,


s: So fared he forth. That host, with speed,


s: And, noblest, with these words addressed


s: Then, sanctioned by the saints and thee,


s: And linked in friendship’s tie they spent


s: Skilled all the charms of speech to know,


s: Whose glories bright as Pushpak’s shine,


s: Then came his henchmen, prompt and brave,


s: The king, with saint and peer and priest,


s: Sought, speeding through the palace gate,


s: There, with his nobles round him spread,


s: Whose fame through all the regions rang.


s: Long time he strove, but forced to yield


s: It chanced that Chyavan, Bhrigu’s child,


s: And wooed the saint with earnest prayer.


s: Because his feet were spotted o’er.(250)


s: Their lips with falsehood ne’er were stained.


s: Each peerless youth with peerless bride.”


s: Spread wide his name through heaven and earth,


s: These peerless pairs will join their hands.


s: To the great Lords the worlds who shield.


s: Then spake the king with hands upraised:


s: “Boundless your virtues, lords, whose sway


s: For each young prince the Bráhmans shared.


s: Each brought a calf, each filled a pail.


s: When the worlds’ guardians round him shine.


s: Asks if the friends thy prayers would bless


s: Has breathed the prayer and vowed the vow,


s: Skilled in the laws which Scriptures teach,


s: Each vow is vowed and prayed each prayer,


s: Fresh wreaths of fragrant flowers thereon.


s: Stood filled with incense rich and rare;


s: Shell-bowls, and spoons, and salvers dressed


s: With gifts that greet the honoured guest;


s: In equal lengths, while prayers were said.


s: While Gods and saints were heard to swell


s: And homeward then their brides they led.


s: King, princes, saints their sense retained,


s: When his wild form, that struck with awe,


s: Then single fight our strength shall try,


s: One to the Three-eyed God(256) was given,


s: Were praise for might Lord Vishṇu’s due,


s: Or his whose Neck is stained with Blue.(257)


s: And prayed them that the strife might cease,


s: But this my bow, whose shafts smite down


s: Whose penance awful strength had gained,


s: Strong in the strength that penance earned,


s: My strength, O Chief, thou deemest slight,


s: Then Gods, and saints and heavenly choir


s: Then when his swelling heart had shrunk,


s: Scarce his voice ventured, low and weak,


s: Lord of the Worlds, hast dimmed my brow.


s: Those glorious worlds to him were barred,


s: Then straight the airy quarters cleared,


s: While Gods and saints unnumbered praised


s: Glad crowds with garlands thronged the ways


s: Passed with her lord each blissful hour.


s: With riches, troops of faithful friends,


s: He thought and wrought to please and heal.


s: Lodged in her soul, each thought on her,


s: Each heart could commune free with heart.


s: Like arms from his own body sprung.(259)


s: Throned with the Gods, a priceless meed.


s: And mettled steeds could mount and tame.


s: From side to side, my first-born’s sway,


s: Himself, his realm, to bless and please.


s: Beneath the white umbrella’s(260) shade.


s: Then when the gathered throng had learned


s: Thousands of years have o’er thee rolled,


s: Our gallant prince, so brave and strong,


s: Screened by the shade that shelters thee.”


s: Their hearts’ true wish he sought to know:


s: He keeps each sense with strict control.


s: Asks how each son, each servant thrives,


s: For Ráma’s strength, health, length of days.


s: With hearts sincere, their wish the same,


s: Wreaths of white flowers and roasted rice,


s: Fresh curds with streams of milk bedewed


s: With leaves and flowery wreaths entwine,


s: With long swords girt upon their thighs,


s: Of heaven;(262) whose valour filled the land,


s: Dear to the moon, of moonbeams grown,(263)


s: The hearts of all, and chained each look,


s: Raised suppliant hands and named his name,(264)


s: And with strange sheen suffused the hall,


s: Then swelled his breast with joy and pride


s: Raised his joined hands his sire to greet.


s: In life’s best joys my share have borne;


s: Then on the throne shalt thou be placed.


s: To Fortune’s Queen, with utterance checked,


s: Absorbed, with half-shut eyes, the queen


s: To both his mothers(268) bowed his head,


s: The fast, that joy may bless his reign.”


s: “Prince, thou hast won thy father’s grace,


s: That with the king’s in splendour strove,


s: The eager concourse blocked each square,


s: And decked with flowers and garlands green


s: Full-thronged were those delightful bowers


s: His mind from worldly thoughts withdrew,


s: And breathed devout, with voice restrained,


s: The priests to raise their voices prayed.


s: In streets, and where the cross-ways met,


s: Where merchants’ shops their wealth displayed,


s: And ribands round the staves were twined.


s: The royal street with flowers was strown


s: Praised the good king in converse there:


s: “Our high-souled king! He throws a grace


s: Who from the south, north, east, and west,


s: This way and that way strayed the crowd,


s: Where heaps of flowers were fresh and sweet,


s: Whose streets were full of Bráhman bands


s: With wreaths and sweetmeats in their hands.


s: And through the town, where’er she gazed,


s: The queen, sore troubled, spoke in turn;


s: The wealth, the substance, and the power


s: With more than mother’s love hast pressed


s: Empowered, like death, to launch the blow;


s: While Bharat’s wife shares Bharat’s fall.”


s: Will friendship spring from intercourse.


s: Such fame on earth their friendship wins


s: The fiends by night with strength renewed


s: To give the boons when thou shouldst need.


s: Go, Queen, the mourner’s chamber(270) seek,


s: So round the lines of breast and limb.(271)


s: “Dear Queen, they build the bridge in vain


s: The string of priceless pearls that hung


s: Fair wreaths of flowers to twine my brow,


s: Stripped of her gems and wreath, the queen


s: Like heaven obscured with gathering cloud,


s: And deemed the prize she sought her own.


s: The bright-hued wreath that bound her hair,


s: Like some fair nymph of heaven dismayed.(272)


s: Here loitered dwarf and hump-backed maid,


s: Through all the months in ceaseless store


s: With many a lake the grounds were graced;


s: Seats gold and silver, here were placed;


s: The mourner’s cell with rage distraught.”


s: “I know not, Queen, why thou shouldst be


s: Whom, darling, wouldst thou punished see?


s: Pierced by his darts who shakes the mind,(274)


s: Smiled, playing with her hair, and said:


s: “Hast thou not learnt, wild dame, till now


s: Speak, darling, I will grant thy prayer.”


s: Heaven, quarters, day and night, give ear.


s: With treacherous arts and oaths enwound,


s: Wouldst grant my first and second prayer.


s: Those offered boons, pledged with thee then,


s: Whose righteous soul observes each trust.


s: At length, when slowly strength returned,


s: “Fell traitress, thou whose thoughts design


s: Perchance the words that, all these days,


s: Has loved the good should choose the wrong.


s: Were children yet, wouldst fain declare.


s: ’Gainst him in whom these virtues shine,


s: Thy fame for truth unsmirched with stain?


s: Learn from that tale, the Hawk and Dove,(275)


s: The rights of truth thou wouldst forget,


s: He heard her speech full fraught with ill,


s: His sad faint words addressed the queen:


s: When prudent friends my counsels shared,


s: Her lord’s disgrace, his father’s death.


s: Ah! thou hast slain me, murderess, while


s: How shall my son, to please whose taste,


s: The deftest cooks, with earrings graced,


s: Fond wives may from their husbands flee,


s: Who wouldst my heart and heartstrings tear,


s: Heart-struck by her presumptuous speech,


s: “Great Monarch, ’twas thy boast till now


s: But yet the moon-crowned night could bring


s: To good, sweet dame, thou shouldst be kind;


s: She saw the tears his speech that broke,


s: And by his truth made heaven his own.(277)


s: Through all the world its might extends:


s: While thus the high-souled monarch spoke


s: “What speech is this? Such words as these


s: He traversed, where the people thronged,


s: Of guards with truncheons in their hands.


s: The seat prescribed of fig-wood wrought,


s: Grain, sacred grass, the garden’s spoil,


s: Kine, Bráhmans, teachers fill the court,


s: Here merchants with their followers crowd,


s: “Quick, quick, my beauteous Ráma bring.”


s: There gathered fast the chiefs of trade,


s: The twice-born chiefs, with zealous heed,


s: There water, brought for sprinkling thence


s: Parched rice and grass, the garden’s spoil,


s: Fresh milk, eight girls in bright attire,


s: And shone like moonbeams through the air;


s: And bards and minstrels swelled the crowd.


s: His voice, and thus the monarch praised:


s: And filled with thoughts of joy, he went.


s: He heard glad words, their theme the same,


s: Or clouds through Autumn’s sky that ride:


s: And shrill-toned peacocks’ plumage gleamed.


s: While Ráma’s friends, beloved and tried,


s: He reached the chamber door, where stood


s: Well skilled the tuneful chords to sweep,


s: Through crowded halls that rock-like rose,


s: Whose ears were ringed with polished gold,


s: Dark as the stream the spearman’s thrust


s: As, with joined hands in reverence raised,


s: As He, the worlds who formed and planned,


s: And black deer’s skin and roebuck’s horn


s: Where watched the friends who loved him best.


s: It flashed with gems and burnished gold,


s: Like youthful elephants, tall and strong,


s: And steeds who all their kind surpassed,


s: First marched a band of warriors trained,


s: Thy sire and his have graced the throne,


s: Round homes of Gods, where cross-roads met,


s: Through three broad courts, where bowmen kept


s: Their watch and ward, his coursers swept,


s: The king, with eyes still brimming o’er,


s: Sick and perplexed, distraught with woe,


s: While pallor o’er his bright cheek spread,


s: Thus by the high-souled prince addressed,


s: When the dried stream has ceased to flow.


s: Then, not till then, my lips shall speak,


s: Who loved the right and spoke the truth,


s: Transfixed with darts and bathed in gore


s: Till nine long years and five shall end.


s: Nor quailed beneath the murderous stroke:


s: My realm and wealth, mine own dear life,


s: From the sore shame, and give him peace.


s: On coursers ne’er for fleetness matched,


s: Checked not her needless words, nor spared


s: Wept with loud cries, but spoke no word.


s: Round them with reverent stops he paced,


s: Lost the bright look all hearts that charmed,


s: That hope would mar, that bliss destroy.


s: Lest the sad change their hearts might rend,


s: Spared from the blow each faithful friend.


s: The world’s protection, hope, and stay.”


s: Of their young calves,(287) the ladies grieved,


s: Smote with new grief the monarch’s ears,


s: His heaving heart could scarce restrain,


s: To keep the doors, were stationed there.


s: As texts prescribe, with grace implored,


s: With wreaths, and curds, and cates, and wood,


s: Their lengthened days and fame be thine,


s: Raised reverent bands, and, touched with shame,


s: And raised her fainting from the ground.


s: Though to the childless wife there clings


s: For seventeen years since thou wast born


s: And fasts, and vows, and prayers are vain.


s: Still lifeless lies and comes to naught.


s: Then shall her streets with blood be dyed


s: ’Tis meet that force his steps should stay.


s: The flames shall first surround my head.


s: My might shall chase thy grief and tears,


s: Down her sad cheeks the torrents rolled,


s: As one who spills a Bráhman’s blood.”(288)


s: Thus spake the queen, and wept, and sighed:


s: And countless things of life bereft.(289)


s: Peers of the Gods, my steps shall guide,


s: It bends her ’neath its matchless weight:


s: Then with joined hands and reverent head


s: As bursts to view, when brands blaze high,


s: Thus to the queen, half senseless still,


s: And Lakshmaṇ, burnt with heart-felt pain,


s: Shall she, like some poor widowed thing,


s: Then round the queen in reverence passed,


s: To aid what rites should grace the heir,—


s: Whose choice approved, whose mind conceived


s: Then, brother, thou wilt cease to grieve


s: Breathed fierce and fast in wrath of soul.


s: His threatening brows so darkly frowned,


s: They made his glare, which none might brook,


s: He raised and shook his hand(291) aloft.


s: Now bent, now raised its stately height.


s: Wilt thou, when power and might are thine,


s: Though threatening Fate his hopes assail,


s: That threatens, as, with furious stride,


s: Not the great Lords whose sleepless might


s: Protects the worlds, shall stay the rite


s: Though earth, hell, heaven combine their powers:


s: My fearless strength will still prevail.


s: My power shall all their force restrain.


s: Crushed in the murderous onslaught bleed,


s: Struck by my keen brand’s trenchant blade,


s: When armed with brace and glove I stand,


s: Who then shall vaunt his might? who dare


s: These arms which breathe the sandal’s scent,


s: These hands which precious gifts bestow,


s: Which guard the friend and smite the foe,


s: While tears and sobs her utterance broke,


s: Whose pleasant words all hearts enchain,


s: On roots and fruit which woodlands give;


s: Whose offerings flowed from weeping eyes,


s: While round the flame the smoke grew hot


s: Heard his fond mother’s speech, and then


s: Long for the crime their souls shall ache.


s: Till twice seven years have reached an end,


s: Whose sweet words take the hearts of all,


s: While her long eyes with tears were dim,


s: Go forth, dear child whom naught can bend,


s: With those sweet tones she loves to hear.


s: Who keeps the worlds, their help afford,


s: Fortnights and seasons, nights and days,


s: Years, months, and hours, protect thy ways,


s: And Nárad(295) and the sainted seven(296)


s: Shall watch thee from their starry heaven.


s: Moves not or moves, for thee shall care.


s: All gods, each light in heaven that glows,


s: Fear not, by mightier guardians screened,


s: Fly, gnat, and worm, and creeping thing.


s: Thy paths who keep, thy steps who guide.


s: Fire, wind, and smoke, each text and spell


s: Thus with due praise the long-eyed dame,


s: With wreaths of flowers and precious scent


s: For Ráma’s bliss and health, the priest,


s: Poured forth, when Vritra(300) was destroyed,


s: Who sought the drink that cheers the skies,


s: Outbursting from the dwarf’s disguise,(303)


s: And that prized herb whose sovereign power


s: And spoke glad words though crushed by woe,


s: The pangs with which her heart was wrung.


s: She bent, she kissed his brow, she pressed


s: Then grief and care shall leave no trace,


s: And radiant with her prayers that blessed,


s: As through the crowded street he passed,


s: She marked that cheek where anguish fed,


s: With clammy drops, his grief she viewed,


s: Then whence, my lord, this grief and care?


s: Where are the myriads should have filled


s: The streets, and followed home their king


s: His grace, and more the king’s, to earn.


s: Through all that time, my blameless spouse,


s: “What words are these that thou hast said?


s: Where Daṇḍak’s pathless wilds are spread,


s: What duty bids, and trained each thought,


s: Doubt not; the earth will yield me roots,


s: While the white swan’s and mallard’s wings


s: ’Tis hard to ford each treacherous flood,


s: Through thorns and creeper-tangled ways,


s: What fruit the wind from branches blows:


s: Each wandering guest who meets him there.


s: The gift of flowers his hands have sought—


s: The nights are black, the wild winds roar;


s: The wilds are naught but grief and pain.


s: Thy father’s doom which sends thee there;


s: But follow, love, where thou shalt guide.


s: The root, the leaf, the fruit which thou


s: For ten long years, and three, and one.”


s: Then, as the spark from wood is gained,(305)


s: Down rolled the tear so long restrained:


s: And with sweet words, that bade her wake


s: Storms heaven and wins a blessing thence


s: By those their elders’ souls who please.


s: Win worlds where Gods and minstrels are,


s: Trembler, whose bright eyes thrill me through.


s: When Lakshmaṇ, who had joined them there,


s: His mien was changed, his eyes o’erflowed,


s: His brother’s feet with fervour pressed,


s: Where countless birds and beasts are found,


s: O’er the three worlds to stretch my sway.”


s: Thus Lakshmaṇ spake, with earnest prayer


s: Who sends good things in plenteous shower,


s: “Nay, through thy might each queen will share


s: I’ll bring thee roots and berries sweet.


s: Filled by his speech with joy and pride,


s: With heavenly coats of sword-proof mail,


s: Those wondrous arms which gleamed and glowed,


s: Of flowers on case, and hilt, and sheath.


s: With steps made swift by anxious thought


s: With armlets, bracelets, collars, rings,


s: Gems, robes, and plenteous wealth confer—


s: Then straight the servants went and bore


s: Back to their chief the wealth in store.


s: Then round his head his staff he whirled,


s: So dense the crowd that blocked the ways,


s: Such words, disturbed in grief, they said:


s: Though he has known the sweets of power,


s: Yes, we will leave each well-loved spot,


s: Like the great sun when wrapped in shade


s: So lay the world’s great lord and pride,


s: Then with a voice that well-nigh failed,


s: Drawn round me shall they fill the place


s: Straight to the monarch’s presence hied.


s: His son with raised palms toward him draw,


s: And clasp thy feet, my King, once more.”


s: That naught can turn thee back, or guide


s: With hidden guile like smouldering flame.


s: Thou fain wouldst keep my plighted word.


s: Wast pleased to grant the queen ere now,


s: Filled with the wild deer’s peaceful herds


s: These weeping crowds who throng the court;


s: He gnashed his teeth, his eyes were red,


s: With scorn, as though its lightning stroke


s: Kings, when their sires have passed away,


s: That fills the wood, the flood, the field.


s: The king whose might all earth confessed,


s: Poured forth his words of bane and balm,


s: Nor could the eyes that watched her view


s: She turned to him and scarce could speak:


s: The wine-cup’s dregs, all dull and dead,


s: Whence the light foam and life are fled.”


s: Spoke her dire speech untouched by shame.


s: This hope, vile Queen, so fondly nursed?”


s: Then great Siddhárth, inflamed with rage,


s: For pleasure when he drowned a child.”(311)


s: Straight the the king his sire and said:


s: “Whence comes this dread?” the monarch cried;


s: To please their troubled minds he strove,


s: O’er mountain heights, through pathless shade,


s: From the queen’s hand she took the dress.


s: Who matched heaven’s minstrel monarch,(312) cried:


s: Our hearts with her loved presence cheer.


s: The city’s wealth shall swell his train.


s: O’er realms his father yields, to reign.


s: Nay, shouldst thou from the earth arise,


s: Birds, deer, and beasts from lea and fold


s: They cried out, “Shame upon thee, King!”


s: What least transgression canst thou find


s: Who fain the Maithil bride wouldst press


s: That, when I dwell afar, her life resigned,


s: She may not pass to Yáma’s realm for woe.”


s: Scarce had the sire, with each dear queen,


s: Convulsed with woe, his soul that shook,


s: While his full eyes their torrents shed,


s: That the light car which gold made fair,


s: With best of steeds, was standing there.


s: And spoke, well skilled in place and time,


s: Brought the rich stores, and gave them all


s: And tricked those limbs, whose lines foretold


s: Young wives are thankless, false in soul,


s: What right, truth, Scripture, rule ordain—


s: She joined her palms with reverent grace


s: Which thou, O honoured Queen, hast taught.


s: I know, have heard, and deep have stored


s: Not me, good Queen, shouldst thou include


s: Its own sweet light the moon shall leave


s: The stringless lute gives forth no strain,


s: Nor failed those words her heart to reach.


s: Girt by my friends, thine eyes shall dwell.”


s: “If from these lips, while here I dwelt,


s: Then straight, like curlews’ cries, upwent


s: Bowed down and clasped his mother’s feet.


s: From this good law the just ne’er swerve,


s: All strength grew weak, all spirit failed,


s: Steeds neighed and shook the bells they bore,


s: With torrents streaming from their eyes,


s: Thou, Lakshmaṇ, too, hast well deserved,


s: Whose lips speak naught but words of love.


s: Thy path with him to heaven shall lead.”


s: When their great lord and guide is slain.


s: The glorious sire, looked troubled then,


s: From their sad eyes who filled the road.


s: Who, used to bliss, in cars should ride,


s: Which hold the calves for whom they yearn,


s: “Stay,” cried the king, “thy chariot stay:”


s: Dismissed the crowd that toward him pressed,


s: The troubled breast which rage had filled.


s: Of their young calves, thus sadly grieved.


s: When Doom’s wild tempest sweeps the waves,


s: Forgot the ties that joined their lives;


s: Thee whom no virtuous thoughts restrain,


s: The steps we took around the flame,(317)


s: Roused from his bed, though lord of all,


s: The glittering snakes that made them gay.


s: Scarce could he speak these words of woe:


s: With these sad words her lord addressed:


s: Cast to the ground the demons’ due.(318)


s: Far banished when their lives are young,


s: And decked with wreaths her banners wave


s: For him, dear Queen, thou shouldst not grieve.


s: The same high course with him will hold,


s: For him through forest glades shall spring


s: His sweet pure soul, his beauty’s charm,


s: With spear, shaft, sword rejoiced to go.


s: Thou, blameless lady, shouldst the whole


s: To greet thee, girt by all his friends.”


s: Their love, whose signs his glad eye drank.


s: The more the people, round him thronged,


s: For speechless things are swift to hear,


s: Back with our chief! not wood-ward hence;


s: And burnt with grief they spoke this speech—


s: There still, like wives at home, shall dwell,


s: To thee whose kind heart feels for all.”


s: Both bird and beast, to seek their rest.


s: Will mourn us vanished from their sight.


s: They blind their eyes with endless tears.


s: And with kind words their hearts sustain,


s: On this first night, my thirst to slake,


s: All night he watched, nor sought repose,


s: “Woe worth the sleep that stole our sense


s: Who sweetly speaks, who thinks no wrong?


s: And their sad hearts with grief were wrung,


s: And from their eyes, oppressed with woe,


s: Where stores of precious wealth were massed,


s: It seemed that death had touched and chilled


s: Those hearts which piercing sorrow filled.


s: Each pool and fountain, lake and stream,


s: The trees that clustering blossoms bear,


s: The world’s support, and lord, and friend.


s: And night through all the sky held sway.


s: And fields which showed the tillers’ care,


s: And crossed the stream whose cooling tide


s: Voiced like a wild swan, loud and clear,


s: And cried, with suppliant hands upraised:


s: The car-borne chieftain passed the bound


s: Where countless shrines and stakes(323) appear:


s: Filled with the voice of praise and prayer:


s: O’er her pure breast no weeds were spread,


s: Where deer, and bird, and glittering snake,


s: Brought forth the gift for honoured guest,


s: “Welcome, dear Prince, whose arms are strong;


s: With thee and those who with thee dwell;


s: For these good steeds who brought me here


s: Drawn from the stream by Lakshmaṇ’s hand.


s: Then sat him down ’neath distant boughs.


s: With words like these the prince addressed:


s: Was brought for thee, for thee is spread;


s: On this, my Prince, thine eyelids close,


s: For life, or aught that’s bright and fair?


s: Behold the conquering chief, whose might


s: Well marked, like him, with favouring signs.


s: That town which countless thousands fill,


s: Grieved for the king, his death will share.


s: With mournful cries, Too late, too late!


s: Come, cross the flood that seeks the sea,


s: “A boat,” he cried, “swift, strong, and fair,


s: Than if three worlds confessed thy reign.


s: “I find no heart, my friend, like thine,


s: With love’s great burthen worn and weak:


s: This care, my faithful friend, be thine.


s: As when from hosts, whose chiefs are slain,


s: Yet how speak truth and grieve the dame?


s: That guides the steed and curbs his will:


s: Will swift as light-winged moments flee;


s: That from my lips thou here hast heard.”


s: Thus spake the prince, and strove to cheer


s: The sovereign’s task, to watch and guard.”


s: With care her trembling footsteps guide,


s: Well-pleased, their heads, most reverent,


s: “May the great chieftain here who springs


s: For, three-pathed Queen, though wandering here,


s: Though rolling here thy glorious stream.


s: To thee, fair Queen, my head shall bend,


s: With these, and flesh, and corn, and rice,


s: That stands on these fair shores of thine,


s: With her whose heart was right and true.


s: Mid flowering trees where creepers twined.


s: With countless pendent shoots displayed.


s: So on the ground with leaves o’erspread,


s: When fails the king from length of days,


s: And filled with tears, his eyes ran o’er;


s: Like fire whose brilliant might is spent,


s: Shouldst so afflict thy soul with grief,


s: Their limbs beneath the fig tree’s shade.


s: Through the dense wood that round them lay,


s: “There, there, dear brother, turn thine eyes;


s: Calm saint, whose vows had well been wrought,


s: Whose fervent rites keen sight had bought.


s: Where thou mayst live, if such thy will:


s: Great saints have made their dwelling there:


s: There great Langúrs(328) in thousands play,


s: There her green boughs that Fig-tree lifts:


s: There be thy prayers for blessing prayed.


s: When thus the guests their road had learned,


s: Their reverent thanks for courteous aid.


s: They reached that flood, whose waters flee


s: Their minds a while to thought they gave


s: They left the raft that brought them o’er,


s: And the thick wood that clothed the shore,


s: Beneath the trees their meal they dressed


s: Where peacocks screamed and monkeys played,


s: With Lakshmaṇ, while the morning, glowed,


s: “Look round thee, dear; each flowery tree


s: O’erburthened with their fruit and flowers:


s: Hark, where the flowers are soft to tread,


s: On fair smooth ground he stands displayed,


s: Spoke raising suppliant hands this speech


s: Fair, firmly built, and walled with wood,


s: Pure from the bath, with thoughts restrained,


s: With voice repressed he breathed the prayer,


s: All decked with woodland chaplets sweet,


s: Through seven broad courts he onward hied


s: From them whom grief unfeigned had stirred.


s: Past the eighth court; there met his sight,


s: Raised from the ground her lord dismayed:


s: “Sire, of high fate,” she cried, “O, why


s: While her faint voice by sobs was drowned.


s: Then straight he called, the news to hear


s: Son of earth’s king, his sad night spend


s: Earth-couched, as one that has no friend?


s: Like the bright Twins to view displayed,


s: The woods that hang ’neath Mandar’s peak.


s: Sweet converse, from the skies expelled.”


s: Whose sobbing voice came faint and weak,


s: Thus he, while tears his utterance broke,


s: Pray that all health his life may bless.


s: Say to the strong-armed chief who brings


s: Stricken in years he feels their weight;


s: Spake breathing fast these words of ire:


s: To whom his subjects’ fond hearts cling—


s: She seemed with dull and wandering sense,


s: Which till that hour she ne’er could know,


s: She raised her face which grief had dried


s: “Their locks in votive coils they wound,


s: Scarce could I move each stubborn horse:


s: Thy realms, great Monarch, mourn the blow,


s: And shoot, and bud, and flower are dead.


s: Have lost the scent that charmed of old.


s: Their long clear eyes with sorrow drowned


s: Foe, friend, or neutral, there was seen.


s: But ah, the prince, whose arms are strong,


s: The hump-back’s words its monsters dread:


s: His utterance choked by tears that rolled


s: Still with their natural tints they spread


s: Where sleeps my strong-armed hero, where,


s: Like wine when tasteless dregs are left,


s: His dauntless soul were still unchanged:


s: Would purge the impious world from wrong.


s: Like sea-born tribes who eat their brood.


s: The queen’s stern speech the monarch heard,


s: Joined suppliant hands, her heart to touch,


s: And spake in the answer, trembling much:


s: Shouldst never launch, though sorrow-stirred,


s: Forth from my heart, through anguish, broke;


s: Since the wild woods have lodged my son:


s: When rushing floods increase his waves.”


s: With anxious thought where all was pain.


s: But grieves when fruit should bend the trees.


s: And strengthened love’s delicious flame.


s: Where dwell the spirits of the dead.(335)


s: The darkening clouds each hour increased


s: Their bright wings heavy from the shower,


s: The birds, new-bathed, had scarce the power


s: Whose high tops swayed beneath the breeze.


s: Till, with glad deer, each flooded steep


s: Poured, some unstained, while others dyed


s: In that sweet time, when all are pleased,


s: This one keen shaft that strikes me through


s: They with parched lips their pangs must bear,


s: Eats through the river’s yielding side.”


s: Helpless I stood, faint, sorely grieved:


s: With writhing limb and struggling breath,


s: The rankling shaft that pierced him through.


s: Thus far described the unequalled scene,


s: Like birds with clipped wings, side by side,


s: With none their helpless steps to guide.


s: Thy mother thirsts, and thou hast played,


s: Thou art thy friendless parents’ friend.


s: I scarce could move my faltering tongue,


s: While mind, and sense, and nerve I strung


s: Has wrought a deed thou hast not planned,


s: Rent from his limbs distained with gore;


s: Will cheer, when evening rites are done,


s: Berries and roots, like some dear guest?


s: Who bare thee, child, will go with, thee.(337)


s: Win, through thy truth, the sphere where those


s: By those whose sacred fires have glowed,


s: Whose liberal hands have fields bestowed:


s: Whose guilty hand has slaughtered thee.”


s: On a bright car, with flame that glowed,


s: The hour shall come when, crushed by woes


s: Like these I feel, thy life shall close:


s: Nor yet his tears and groans were stayed.


s: The pair; and straight to heaven they passed.


s: His son, though far from right he stray,


s: By whom my cares were soothed and charmed,


s: The minstrels, trained to play and sing,


s: And singers, with their songs of praise,


s: There as they poured their blessings choice


s: And hailed their king with hand and voice,


s: They trembled, and their dread increased,


s: Like the tall reeds that fringe the brook.


s: There lapped in sleep each wearied queen,


s: And swift the troubling thought came o’er


s: At the loud shriek that round them rang,


s: When the king’s voice in death was stilled,


s: Poured forth their tears, and weeping so,


s: Of sorrowing friends who mourned their chief,


s: Where lay the king who breathed no more.


s: With gushing tears that drowned each eye


s: When thus for woe the king to heaven had fled,


s: And still on earth his lovely wives remained.


s: With dying light the sun to rest had sped,


s: And night triumphant o’er the landscape reigned.


s: Of household priests him thus addressed:


s: Goes where his well-loved brother leads.


s: Young maidens decked with gems and gold,


s: Of three-score years, whose head and neck


s: Bring dainty cates and wreaths of flowers


s: Protects the truth, the right maintains.


s: The world were veiled in blinding night,


s: Vaśishṭha heard their speech and prayer,


s: Send health to thee and greet thee thus:


s: To Kekaya’s land(340) their way to trace.


s: Through Kurujángal’s land(343) they passed.


s: Where glad birds fill the flood and shore


s: And through Báhíka(345) journeying still


s: Then when their course so swift and long,


s: Had worn their steeds though fleet and strong,


s: Thus spoke the friend he held most dear:


s: “What chills my heart and dims mine eye.


s: The leafy trees were scorched, and died;


s: His long tusks rent and splintered showed;


s: And flames that quenched and cold had lain


s: Reserved, O large-eyed Prince, for thee.”


s: “Go forth, dear child: how blest is she,


s: The strong-wheeled cars were yoked, and they


s: They drank their fill and bathed them there,


s: Through all her streets where erst a throng


s: Each tree that graced the garden grieves,


s: That charmed us from each warbling throat.


s: Scarce shall I find my friends who dwell


s: Each kinsman’s house looks dark and grim,


s: Their courts unswept, with dust o’erspread,


s: Heard the sad words which pierced him through,


s: Pierced to the heart with grief sincere,


s: The best of conquerors poured his sighs,


s: Thou shouldst not mourn for him, my son.”


s: “The high-souled monarch wept and sighed,


s: By Fate and Death’s dread coils enwound,


s: Then Bharat’s soul with fear was stirred


s: And claimed the throne, my son, for thee.


s: Struck down by grief and well-nigh slain?


s: And through thy crimes his death he met,


s: For their dear sons their sad tears flow.


s: The load his mightier strength sustained?


s: By strength of mind and brooding thought,


s: Whence did the thought, O thou whose eyes


s: This sudden change that steals thy sense?


s: Because thy hand, that stayed for naught,


s: My throning ne’er thine eyes shall bless,


s: What worlds await thee, Queen, for this?


s: And hence, though dear their kinsmen are,


s: “Not thine the fault, great God, not thine


s: The long-armed chief, her lord and king,


s: Where hermit saints their dwelling make.


s: This hideous crime which thou hast wrought


s: Has gained the earth, his right and due,


s: And slowly gathering sense and strength,


s: Hers whose fell deeds I loathe and fear:


s: With taunts like these her bitter tongue


s: And thus bespake the queen, whose breast


s: Be his who willed the prince should fly.


s: Whose heart allowed the prince’s flight.


s: Are still, thank Heaven! to virtue true.


s: Till all his strength and reason failed,


s: When thou, my sire, hast sought the sky,


s: And servants, while their eyes brimmed o’er


s: Their tender hearts with woe distressed.


s: Canto LXXVII. The Gathering Of The Ashes.


s: And goats whose hair was white and fine,


s: The prince whom rites had freed from stain;


s: Didst thou not give with thoughtful care


s: When thou, our king and sire, hast died?


s: Their father’s priest, all lore who knew,


s: Since flames consumed thy father’s clay:


s: He showed like Indra’s flag,(355) whereon


s: Fierce rains have dashed and suns have shone.


s: Performed the rites that claimed their care.


s: Yet here was Lakshmaṇ, brave and strong,


s: In glittering robes, the hump-back maid.


s: “His rage,” they cried, “on us will fall,


s: Dragged on the ground the hump-back maid


s: Who shrieked aloud and screamed for aid.


s: And chains and glittering trinkets burst


s: Had slaughtered e’en this hump-back maid,


s: He calmed the rage his breast that stirred,


s: So rules the house from which we spring:


s: Our way through pathless spots to guide.”


s: Their glorious speech, their favouring cries


s: Deft workmen skilled to frame the wheel,


s: Guides of the way, and craftsmen skilled,


s: To sink the well, make bricks, and build;


s: And those whose hands the tree could hew,


s: Like the great sea whose waves leap high


s: They felled each stump, removed each stone,


s: Others, with all their strength applied,


s: They filled with stones, and mud, and clay,


s: They bridged ravines with ceaseless toil,


s: A passage through the ground they cleft,


s: With well-wrought plaster smoothly spread,


s: With streets that ran from side to side;


s: As shines the heaven on some fair night,


s: With sticks of gold the drum they smote,


s: Stilled the glad sounds that round him rose,


s: Which our just high-souled father graced,


s: Looked on the crowd the hall that filled,


s: Has gone from earth and gained the skies,


s: From distant lands, west, south, and north,


s: Shouldst speak the words of justice now.


s: Might hell, and earth, and heaven obey.”


s: Bore virtue’s stamp, the audience heard;


s: And through each chief and captain thrilled,


s: With chariots matching thought for speed,


s: And with the news his friends he stirred,


s: Then Bráhman, Warrior, Merchant, thrall,


s: In lengthened line the steeds they rode—


s: And those who worked the potter’s wheel,


s: And those who shaped the sword and dart;


s: And those whose snares the peacock caught;


s: These swelled the prince’s lengthened train,


s: Their limbs where red-hued unguents shone.


s: The soldiers’ hearts with rapture glowed,


s: Their chief whose tender love would fain


s: There, with his friends and kinsmen nigh,


s: The prince, who lore of words possessed,


s: May cross this flood that seeks the sea.


s: There Bharat’s hours of night were spent,


s: “Go quickly forth,” he cried, “and bring


s: The fruit and roots their hands have sought:


s: Raised suppliant hands, and thus replied:


s: No thought but this thy heart should frame:


s: Who fain wouldst balm thy brother’s pain


s: “With words like these I spoke, designed


s: By Fortune stamped, from Heaven was won.


s: How fares the king? this night, I think,


s: “Too late! too late!” the king will cry,


s: His trembling limbs grew stiff and cold;


s: Then slowly gathering sense and strength


s: “Where lodged the prince that night? and where


s: Then calm and still, absorbed in thought,


s: The three(362) their evening worship paid.


s: Brought heaps of sacred grass, and there


s: Then Lakshmaṇ bathed their feet, and drew


s: Here stands the tree which lent them shade,


s: His hand was gloved, his arm was braced,


s: Has stamped the grass with signs of him.


s: The friend of all, who charms the sight,


s: The state is wrecked and tempest-tossed,


s: Though forced in distant wilds to dwell,


s: “Hast thou in comfort passed,” he cried,


s: “Awake, each kinsman, rise, each friend!


s: The household priest went first in place,


s: Some buoyed with pitchers crossed the tide,


s: The prince with cheering words addressed


s: “The grace-gift bring, my friend to greet.”


s: Then, duty-skilled, with friendly speech


s: With kith and kin and friends most dear,


s: “Why art thou here, O Prince, whose band


s: Thy life till fourteen years shall end”—


s: Thou shouldst, O Saint, thy favour lend:


s: The gifts which honoured strangers greet,


s: Bharat, with reverent hands raised high,


s: Springs might be marred and cots o’erthrown,


s: Lord Indra at their head, the three(365)


s: And some with wine from flowers distilled,


s: While some their fresh cool streams retain


s: Let wreaths, where fairest flowers abound,


s: Spring from the trees that bloom around.


s: That kissed those scented hills and threw


s: And through each ear it softly thrilled,


s: With fresh green grass that charmed the sight


s: There, brought from Northern Kuru, stood


s: There mansions rose with four wide halls,


s: Square was its shape, its halls were wide,


s: The kingly throne, with prince and peer,


s: With trees that tower and plants that twine,


s: Well dressed, whatever pleased their mind.


s: Beside the stream his limbs they stripped


s: With soft hands rubbed his limbs and dried,


s: And danced and laughed and sang and played.


s: Boiled, stewed, and roasted, varied cheer,


s: And soup that charmed the taste and smell,


s: Lakes gleamed, that lent digestive aid,(368)


s: “Well have I passed the night: thy feast


s: “Ere the fourth league from here be passed,


s: And clasped his feet, o’erwhelmed with shame.


s: She who, transfixed with torturing pangs,


s: My brothers’ lives are wrapped in gloom,


s: The king has sought his heavenly sphere,—


s: Gold-girthed, with flags that wooed the gale,


s: Marched with their bright bells’ tinkling chime


s: Some cars were huge and some were light,


s: Like the young moon and sun that glowed.


s: And countless steeds the land o’erspread,


s: Like darksome clouds that veil the skies.


s: But see, swift winds those clouds dispel


s: Their leader’s speech the warriors heard,


s: “Soon shall we meet,” thought every man,


s: Which sweet birds with their music fill,


s: There through the wild birds’ populous home


s: See, love, the trees that clothe his side


s: With flower and fruit and light and shade,


s: Play the bright Daughters of the Air.(370)


s: Where breathes the man who would not feel


s: As the young morning breeze that springs


s: And ripe fruits glow and sweet birds sing.


s: Bright with the fair moon’s tender grace:


s: The trees with which her banks are lined


s: These best of saints, my large-eyed spouse,


s: There flows the stream like lucid pearl,


s: From boughs the whistling breezes sweep,


s: And ne’er my thoughts with longing stray


s: And trees their graceful branches swayed


s: “Does this fair cave beneath the height,


s: That block of stone so smooth and square


s: How the gum streams from trees and plants


s: The loud Bhringráj(375) repeats his call:


s: Thine arms are thrown round me, my dear.”


s: With mighty joy that thrilled him through.


s: Like the young sun’s first gleaming ray,


s: Whose wings where’er he chose could fly,


s: The prince, who heard the deafening sound,


s: ’Tis hard to reach this mountain height,


s: “Quick, quick, my lord, put out the fire,


s: Whose hand was first to strike the blow:


s: Himself has sought this sheltering wood?


s: Thou shouldst not join with Bharat’s name


s: Should sons their father’s life-blood spill,


s: “Give him the realm,” my speech shall be,


s: Thus spoke the prince whose chief delight


s: With downcast eye and cheek that burned:


s: Our sire himself has sought this place.”


s: O’er plains where gay trees bloomed he went,


s: Through boughs in tangled net-work bent,


s: “Here Ráma dwells,” he thought; “at last


s: His brother’s cot with leaves o’erspread,


s: And see those smoke-wreaths thick and dark:


s: Like some great saint, who loves to treat


s: Through me, through me these sorrows fall


s: Well roofed with boughs of palm, and Sál,


s: Bright gleaming like the Day-God’s rays:


s: Falls on the prince whose right is bliss!


s: “Dear lord”—through tears and sobbing came,


s: Thus questioned by the prince, at length


s: Athirst for sway, her hopes are crossed,


s: But ne’er shouldst thou in childish thought


s: Then, heir of bliss, he sought the skies.


s: Whom all revered, must guide thee still,


s: Whose life in virtuous thoughts and deeds


s: For thee he longed, for thee he grieved,


s: Rained down the torrents from their eyes.


s: With words of comfort soothed his grief:


s: Sharp pangs of grief smote Sítá through:


s: With eyes from which the torrents poured.


s: Then where the stream that swiftly flowed


s: Filled from the stream his hollowed hand,


s: Stretched out his arm and weeping cried:


s: “Bharat,” the soldiers cried, “’tis plain,


s: Then, with their consorts gathered near,


s: Whose cheeks were wet, whose eyes were dim,


s: Some to his feet with reverence pressed,


s: Each friend, with kindly words addressed,


s: And pressed their feet with many a tear.


s: Shone like three fires that heavenward rise


s: Like a great bridge the floods have rent,


s: With Tárkshya,(381) birds that wing the sky;


s: Ne’er can that tree, thus nursed in vain,


s: Must fall by Time’s strong hand attacked;


s: Death, when the traveller wins the goal,


s: Nor think with heedless hearts the while


s: So wives and children, friends and gold,


s: Our lord the king, o’er earth who reigned,


s: Praised by the good, no tears should dim


s: The prince, while nobles round him pressed:


s: By haste, his consort’s wrath, and dread.


s: Canst thou, whose thoughts to duty cleave,


s: Let thy sires’ realm, from trouble free,


s: From the three debts(384) acquittance earn,


s: And cheer with boons each faithful friend.


s: “How firm his steadfast will,” they cried,


s: And e’en the mournful queens were filled


s: And bent their heads, then weeping stilled


s: Shouldst keep our father’s promise true:


s: Thus numerous sons are sought by prayer,


s: By crafty knaves these rules were framed,


s: Keep lustral rites, quit pleasures here.”


s: “Thy words that tempt to bliss are fair,


s: Stainless and stained and high and mean;


s: Stained with this soul destroying crime?


s: The subjects too their lives will mould.


s: We shrink from him who scorns the truth.


s: Those claims I shrink from, which the base,


s: To man’s best care have right and claim;


s: Base were the deed thy lips would teach,


s: And please with fruit and roots and flowers


s: We rank the Buddhist with the thief,(388)


s: Have wrought good deeds, whose glories high


s: The twice-born hence pure lives maintain,


s: There earth was formed that stretches wide.


s: Whose fame through all the regions rang.


s: Long time he strove, but forced to yield


s: It chanced that Chyavan, Bhrigu’s child,


s: And wooed the saint with earnest prayer.


s: Righteous and true and brave and strong;


s: Whose virtuous life was free from blame.


s: First to their sires their birth they owe,


s: And all thy friends, this place is filled:


s: Their pleasant words still soft and mild,


s: Thus streched, to force redress for wrongs


s: Thy virtuous friends, and mark their rede.


s: Whate’er he bought, or pledged, or sold:


s: The monarch’s name from falsehood clear.


s: Thrilling their breasts who came to view


s: All those who know thee, warrior, friend,


s: When fourteen years have reached their close,


s: When the bright sandals wrought with gold


s: High rapture filled the hermit’s breast,


s: Till fourteen years complete their course


s: Whom Ráhu hates,(396) grows faint and dim,


s: Like some brave host that filled the plain,


s: Where are the wreaths they used to twine?


s: Bright garlands round their necks to wear.


s: Like a black night when floods pour down,


s: At summer’s close, make glad the crowd?”


s: Shall rule the realm, its rightful lord.”


s: They heard the high-souled prince’s speech,


s: Of those great lords their chief addressed,


s: “Good are the words which thou hast said,


s: Which naught from virtue’s path can move.”


s: With gathering frowns the prince they eyed,


s: Have trampled through the calm retreat.”


s: She when the clouds withheld their rain,


s: And drought ten years consumed the plain,


s: So from their cares the saints she freed,


s: Nor let these checks their rites impede,


s: She wrought in Heaven’s behalf, and made


s: Ten nights of one, the Gods to aid:(400)


s: Who with her white locks, old and frail,


s: Raised suppliant hands and prayed her tell


s: Who still unchanged their husbands love,


s: But firm through all to him would cleave:


s: That from thy lips mine ears have heard,


s: “All has been done, O Saint,” she cried,


s: Who loves the right and hates the wrong,


s: When, as the ploughshare cleft the earth,


s: Then as the ground he smoothed and cleared,


s: Nursed with the love which mothers know.


s: Though Indra’s peer, who rules the skies.”


s: The scorn that filled his soul with fear,


s: Each way with anxious thought he scanned,


s: Strain the great bow or draw the string.


s: Quick to the notch the string he raised,


s: Graced with all gifts, most fair to see,


s: “With sweet-toned words distinct and clear


s: With gathering birds that twitter round:


s: Fresh from the bath, their locks are wet,


s: Here saints their fires of worship tend,


s: The distant trees, though well-nigh bare,


s: And glad, dear love, these eyes of mine.”


s: Which mortal dames have scarce obtained.


s: The saints who made their dwelling there


s: By this, O Prince, thy feet should stray


s: And by their prayers auspicious blessed,


s: The court, well-swept, was bright and fair,


s: Tall trees their hallowed branches spread,


s: And solemn offerings burnt with fire,(403)


s: Their food by roots and fruit supplied,—


s: Those mighty saints the chieftain viewed,


s: His youthful grace, his strength of limb,


s: To Lakshmaṇ too their looks they raised,


s: With eyes that closed not lest their sight


s: Their stores of roots and fruit they brought.


s: They poured their blessings on his head,


s: Then, reverent hand to hand applied,(405)


s: Huge, hideous, tall, with monstrous face,


s: Huge-faced, like Him who rules the dead,


s: With mighty tusks which blood-drops dyed.


s: Scared by his speech so fierce and wild,


s: Then drowned in tears, o’erwhelmed by grief,


s: That echoed through the wood, cried out:


s: From Brahmá’s grace the boon have gained


s: Shafts winged with gold that left the wind


s: In his fierce hand his spear he grasped,


s: And wild with rage, pierced through and through,


s: So loud the roar which chilled with fear,


s: He seemed, like Indra’s flagstaff, dread


s: Who smites, and worlds have ceased to be,


s: Then rushed they on, and crushed and beat


s: There stands the high-born Maithil dame,


s: For loving Rambhá’s(409) charms too well.


s: Then in the boundless wood they strayed,


s: And earth beneath his feet unpressed(411)


s: Wreathed with gay garlands, o’er his head


s: These are the steeds whose fame we know,


s: Of heavenly race through heaven they go:


s: Since thou, O Prince, hast cheered my sight,


s: Be thine, with me, those worlds to gain.”


s: Whereon light rafts like blossoms glide;


s: On skin, blood, flesh, and bones it fed,


s: Till forth, transformed, with radiant hue


s: Who feed the quenchless flame,(414) he rose:


s: Good Samprakshálas,(417) saints who live


s: Those who with leaves their lives sustain


s: And those who pound with stones their grain:


s: Whose corn, save teeth, no winnow knows:


s: Whose single foot their weight sustains:


s: Or the five fires(418) unflinching bear.


s: With light that heavenly knowledge lent,


s: To guard his subjects’ wealth and lives,


s: And blood of slaughtered saints has dyed


s: Throughout the world ’twere vain to seek


s: Your lives from threatening foes will free.


s: And slay these fiends, the hermits’ foes,


s: Through woods for many a league he passed,


s: There coats of bark, like garlands strung,


s: Thy presence, saint, with thee to speak.


s: Then words like these he spoke, and pressed


s: Till thou shouldst come, O dear to fame:


s: King of the Hundred Offerings,(421) said,


s: This grove of ours has naught to dread.”


s: Armed with their murderous barbs, would deal


s: First good Sutíkshṇa, as elsewhere, when he saw


s: Slept through the night. When morning broke,


s: His feet, and strained them to his breast;


s: The pleasant homes where hermits dwell,—


s: The reeds that fringe the pool and lake.


s: Round him with circling steps they paced,


s: Fair quivers round their waists she tied,


s: And sword which ne’er a spot might know.


s: Such shame, my lord, as still must cling


s: None yet has found, none e’er shall see.


s: Has ne’er been found, shall ne’er be seen:


s: But for the third, the lust that strives,


s: Fond thirst of blood where hate is none,—


s: Where bird and beast from strife forbore,


s: From penance rites each thought withdrew,


s: With heedless soul he spurned the right,


s: Mayst thou, thus armed with shaft and bow,


s: Who watch in woods when pressed by foes.


s: What, matched with woods, is bow or steel?


s: Well skilled the warrior’s path to trace,


s: And those pure saints who love the shade


s: Who should be sought, to me should sue.”


s: But though our saints for food are slain


s: The charming strain, with wonder stirred,


s: To Dharmabhrit(424) the sage, and spake:


s: With power his rites austere had bought.


s: Thus with their hearts by fear oppressed


s: Though lore of earth and heaven he knew,


s: Blend sweetly with their tinkling zones.”


s: “How wondrous are these words of thine!”


s: Here for the months, content, he stayed,


s: Here for four months his home would fix,


s: Here for eight months and there for three


s: Here weeks, there fortnights, more or less,


s: And the great saint with reverence greet.


s: That thou shouldst thus thy wish declare,


s: Eight leagues beyond this still retreat:


s: With many a branching Pippal(426) crowned:


s: There sweet birds’ voices ne’er are mute,


s: And trees are gay with flower and fruit.


s: There many a lake gleams bright and cool,


s: While swan, and crane, and mallard’s wings


s: And thou wilt see, two leagues from thence


s: May spend sweet hours neath shady trees,


s: He saw dark woods that fringed the road,


s: And distant hills like clouds that showed,


s: Beneath the flowers and fruit they show.


s: Fresh from the odorous grass, and brings


s: Of blossoms which his hands have sought.


s: He dressed and fed those gathered priests.


s: The fiend with ram-like bleating stirred:


s: Fierce fiends who loved each cruel deed,


s: “’Tis done, ’tis done,” fierce Ilval cried,


s: “Forth, brother, from thy prison break.”


s: Had wrought the suffering Bráhmans wrong,


s: And straight, consumed to dust, he died.


s: This grove which lakes and fair trees grace


s: But when the night had reached its close,


s: Plants, trees by hundreds round him grew,


s: With Fortune’s favouring signs, addressed:


s: High fame throughout the world has bought:


s: Where white clouds rise from flames beneath,


s: Where bark-coats lie with many a wreath,


s: Where silvan things, made gentle, throng,


s: With ruth for suffering creatures filled,


s: There stands his home, whose dreaded might


s: Made glorious through the worlds by him.


s: Sought heaven transformed and glorified,


s: E’er to thine ears has brought the name—


s: Sought the pure shrine which held the fire,


s: Soon as he reached the saint most bright


s: And His who sends each golden boon;(430)


s: Here Vishṇu’s stood, there Bhaga’s(431) shrine,


s: Here His who formed this earthly frame,(432)


s: His there from whom all beings came.(433)


s: The great noose, Varuṇ(435) mighty-souled:


s: The king of serpents(438) here had place,


s: And he who rules the feathered race.(439)


s: While Lakshmaṇ’s strength and Sítá’s grace


s: Asked, was all well, with question sweet,


s: He brought the gifts which strangers claim,


s: Hast sought, dear guest, my cottage now.”


s: Like kindled fires that flash and flame:


s: This sword with hilt of rich gold graced.


s: These conquest to thine arm shall bring,


s: Pleased, Lakshmaṇ, with thy faithful zeal,


s: But wandering through the rough rude wild


s: Since first from Nature’s hand she came,


s: Where thick trees wave and springs abound,


s: Thronged with its deer, most fair it looks


s: That this pure grove might shelter thee.


s: Pierce their dark shade, and issuing forth


s: With ceaseless bloom, thy steps will stay.”


s: Bowed to the saint whose word was truth,


s: The bird, as though their hearts to gain,


s: Great Lords of Life, whence all in earth


s: Three-score bright daughters sprang of old.


s: “Sons shalt thou bear, to rule the three


s: Vultures and hawks that race through air


s: Sprung pards, Lángúrs,(445) and tigers wild.


s: One at each wind, earth’s warder band.(446)


s: With kine this daughter filled each mead,


s: And bright Gandharví bore the steed.(447)


s: Then Manu, high-souled Kaśyap’s(449) wife,


s: The Bráhmans first, the Kshatriya caste,


s: That roam the earth in woods and brakes.


s: How, linked with him in friendship’s tie,


s: Some nook where flowers and wood are found


s: That loving speech that soothed his ear,


s: With painted streaks, the mountains show


s: Look where the Sál’s long branches sway,


s: And Champacs hang their cups of gold.(450)


s: He spoke: the conquering Lakshmaṇ heard,


s: Had cleared the ground and smoothed the soil


s: And transport thrilled his bosom through


s: With grateful thoughts, in duty skilled,


s: He spent his day’s neath sheltering boughs,


s: Offer young corn’s fresh sprouted blade,


s: And hearts are cheered that longed for gain,


s: Proud kings whose breasts for conquests glow


s: The leaves are sere, the woods have lost


s: Their triple watch(454) in length extends


s: With hours the shortened daylight lends.


s: Changed like her hue, they want the grace


s: Such mist obscures his struggling beams,


s: Though weak at first, his rays at length


s: Grow pleasant in their noonday strength,


s: With soft light clothing earth and bough


s: Plucks back his trunk in shivering haste


s: Bind flowerless trees and glades of lawn:


s: With chilling breath rude winds have blown,


s: Couched on cold earth, his days are passed


s: Though his strong arm smites down the foe,


s: And cleaves to thee with heart and mind.


s: Sought his fair home beneath the boughs.


s: By Chitrá’s(457) side, his dear delight.


s: With young Kandarpa’s(458) grace endued:


s: Loved his sweet glance and forehead’s grace:


s: Him whose bright hair on high brows clung:


s: She whose fierce accents counselled fear,


s: Him whose soft tones were sweet to hear:


s: She whose false lips maintained the wrong,


s: Thy name, and race, and sire would learn.


s: With sparkling eyes where passion blazed:


s: The long-toothed fiend with loathly breast,


s: Like Death’s dire noose which chills with fear,


s: “Ne’er should we jest with creatures rude,


s: Strike, lord of men, the monstrous fiend,


s: He spoke: then Lakshmaṇ’s wrath rose high,


s: He drew that sword which none could stay,


s: With fearful shrieks the fiend exclaimed,


s: While streams of blood kept falling fast,


s: With blood-stained limbs and troubled eye,


s: That marred those features once so fair.


s: Death’s noose around his neck he throws,


s: Strong, fierce as death, ’twas thine to choose


s: What hand has maimed and marred thee thus?


s: What God or fiend this deed has wrought,


s: Beneath whose hand fierce Páka(459) died.


s: Whose blood in foaming streams shall burst


s: From whose dead corpse shall birds of air


s: Fair as the Minstrels’ King(460) are they,


s: Their line from Gods or Dánav(461) race.


s: Fair, blooming, young, with dainty waist,


s: And with your might these creatures kill.


s: Soon as your matchless strength shall lay


s: And their hearts’ blood delighted quaff.”


s: That peerless chief whose tones were mild:


s: With brandished pike and mace and lance,


s: Thou, vanquished in the desperate field,


s: Thy bow, thy strength, thy life shalt yield.”


s: And twice seven shafts to meet them sent,


s: Through the fiends’ breasts a passage tore,


s: The shattered fiends to earth were cast,


s: Bathed in their blood and breathless, lay.


s: Those twice seven giants, brave and strong,


s: Though madly fierce their spears they plied,


s: I saw them, famed for strength and speed,


s: Whose sharks are doubt and terror, where


s: Who dwells where Daṇḍak’s thickets grow.


s: O’erwhelmed with grief, and swooned away.


s: In these fierce words an utterance found:


s: My warrior’s axe shall stretch him slain,


s: First moved to ire by taunts and stings,


s: My swords, my shafts of brilliant sheen,


s: Were the bright wheels whereon it rolled.


s: Fish, flowers, trees, rocks, the panels bore;


s: Then banners waved, and shield and sword


s: The murderous bludgeon, lance, and pike.


s: The driver urged each gold-decked steed.


s: Then forth the warrior’s coursers sprang,


s: The monarch’s steeds, though strong and fleet,


s: Perched on the staff enriched with gold,


s: And from the south long, wild, and shrill,


s: Thick shades of darkness strange and dread,


s: There screamed the vulture and the crane,


s: With gaping mouth that hissed and flamed,


s: And stars like fireflies shed their light,


s: The lilies drooped, the brooks were dried,


s: With flower and fruit was stripped and bare.


s: The wild wind ceased, yet, raised on high,


s: And from the heavens with flash and flame


s: His left arm throbbed: he knew full well


s: The shuddering hair the chieftain gazed,


s: “By sense of mightiest strength upborne,


s: In heaven with these keen shafts of mine.


s: And shall these two my wrath withstand!”


s: Who heard their chief’s triumphant boast,


s: Of high-souled saints their hopes expressed,


s: Beneath them stretching far, they viewed


s: And harsh with loud-voiced thunder, rain


s: My shafts with wreaths of smoke are white,


s: All signs foretell the dangerous strife,


s: Each sight, each sound gives warning clear


s: With shout and roar the fiends draw nigh.


s: Where thickest trees their branches wave.


s: The saints made free from spot and stain,


s: “There twice seven thousand giants stand


s: Their hearts with doubt and terror rent,


s: With sight and sound that counselled fear.


s: Long, loud and deep their war-cry pealed,


s: And swelled his bulk with martial pride.


s: And strained that bow which foemen feared,


s: The strong-armed chief his weapon swayed.


s: Upon the unconquered prince, who strained


s: With sword and club, with mace and pike,


s: With spear and axe to pierce and strike,


s: With well-aimed shaft each murderous stroke.


s: Shafts none could ward, and none endure:


s: Each smote, each stayed a foeman’s breath


s: Their pennoned bows were cleft, nor mail


s: Through arms, and bracelets which they wore,


s: Through gold-decked horse and charioteer,


s: When scorched by flame, from Ráma’s steel.


s: The mightiest still the fight maintained,


s: With Sáls, rocks, palm-trees in their hands


s: These casting rocks like hail, and these


s: Mangled, and gashed, and torn, and cleft.


s: Dire was the sight, the plain o’erspread


s: The splintered spear, the shivered mace,


s: He called five thousand fiends, and gave


s: Ne’er had they turned their backs in flight.


s: Spears, swords, and clubs, and rocks, and trees,


s: Like Indra’s bolts which rend and blast.


s: And then the gold-decked steeds who drew


s: Hurled from his car, steeds, driver slain,


s: He seized his mace, strong, heavy, dread,


s: Fierce Dúshaṇ seized that ponderous mace


s: Like Indra’s staff when storms have blown.


s: Well hast thou fought, Kakutstha’s son!”


s: As though Death’s toils were round them cast,


s: And straight his course toward Ráma held.


s: Those shafts with feathers bright as gold,


s: Like flames which wreaths of smoke enfold,


s: Smote down the fiends like tall trees rent


s: Thus twice seven thousand fiends, a band


s: Stretched on the earth, all smitten dead,


s: Eight other shafts flew straight and fleet,


s: Sent forth three rapid darts, and rolled


s: Forth spouting streams of blood and smoke,


s: Of Ráma’s might which naught could tame.


s: He plied the string and poised the dart.


s: With shafts whose stroke no life might bear


s: That filled with flash and flame the air,


s: Their way through mail and harness joints,


s: Then pierced in shoulder, breast, and side,


s: And with his well-wrought shafts, whereon


s: Three, with the crescent heads they bore,


s: “Thou with the host ’twas thine to lead,


s: Though the three worlds confess him lord,


s: But fade like trees whose roots are dried.


s: Shafts bright with gold to tear and rend,


s: Fight with all strength thou callest thine,


s: Still, like the palm-tree’s fruit, this day


s: Then Khara’s eyes with wrath glowed red,


s: And claim the praise not thine by right?


s: Who taint their warrior race with shame,


s: Vaunts the high race from which he springs,


s: That should be said: but time constrains.


s: Trees, shrubs were scorched beneath the blast,


s: Thou, rent by shafts, this day shalt die:


s: With froth and blood thy skin shall deck.


s: While streams of blood each limb shall steep,


s: Thou on earth’s breast shalt take thy sleep


s: Within those bounds, their brethren slain,


s: Fierce as their lord, thy dames shall know,


s: What thou shouldst say and leave unsaid.


s: He knows not right from wrong, each sense


s: Stayed with his shafts its onward flight,


s: Whose mortal stroke no life might brook:


s: Of Brahmá’s staff, and glowed with flame:


s: Then fell the fiend: the quenchless flame


s: By steaming bolts that tamed their pride:


s: With the bright hosts who sing and play,


s: For three short hours had scarcely flown,


s: The twice seven thousand fiends, whose will


s: Could change their shapes, in death were still,


s: With eyes like night and voice that comes


s: That glorious chief, that prince of kings,


s: To his fierce might would yield and fall.


s: Round neck and arm rich gems are twined:


s: ’Mid dames who part the long black hair.


s: Who is the wretch whose thought would bring


s: Earth’s loftiest with threatening stroke?


s: Whence falls the blow that would destroy


s: While his great arms all flight prevent,


s: Spread with the fourteen thousand slain,


s: Roared like a cloud that brings the rain,


s: Bright as the sun’s full splendour shone


s: By fierce Airávat’s(484) tusk impressed.


s: His arms were strong, his teeth were white,


s: The sea whose faith naught else can shake,


s: Stole Pushpak thence, the car that through


s: Fiends, Gods, and warriors of the skies,—


s: O conquering chief, the prince, who boasts,


s: Know, twice seven thousand, fierce in might,


s: Has freed the saints from dread of harm,


s: For clods and dust that strew the ground,


s: Soon wilt thou, if thou canst not learn,


s: Who maimed thee thus, of form most fair.”


s: While rang through air his battle-shout.


s: He fought, and twice seven thousand, all


s: She shines the wood’s bright Goddess, Queen


s: The cranes ’mid wreaths of lightning play.


s: On bending boughs the flowers were fair.


s: There hermits dwelt who tamed each sense


s: Gandharvas, Kinnars,(488) thronged the place,


s: And plants which balmy sweets distilled,


s: High soared the mountain peaks that bore


s: Fair towns which grain and treasure held,


s: That pride for great deliverance wrought


s: Still marked where Garuḍ sought to rest,


s: The twice seven thousand fell o’erthrown


s: This wretch, his Warrior tribe’s disgrace


s: Harsh, wicked, fierce and greedy-souled,


s: Then when the chiefs have parted thence,


s: His heart grew faint, his cheek was pale,


s: Then, trained in all the rules that teach


s: Thou hast not learnt, by proof untaught,


s: Destroy themselves, the king, the state,


s: “What thou hast promised shall be done.”


s: This groundless charge has ne’er been heard,


s: Nor shouldst thou speak the slanderous word.


s: Thy realm, thy bliss, thine own dear life.


s: And with his shafts which flash and glow


s: Thou ne’er canst win—the thought forego—


s: Scan strength and weakness, count the cost,


s: With glorious eyes, most bright to view,


s: By pride of conscious strength beguiled,


s: At length, restored to strength and pride,


s: With knots well smoothed and barbs well bent,


s: Have names(493) that strike upon mine ear


s: The friends he loved, the power and sway,


s: And, when thy king thy thoughts would know,


s: When the blunt speech brings grief and pain.


s: Draw nigh, and wandering through the brake


s: When both her guards have left her side,


s: When thou, my friend, this aid hast lent,


s: With thee, my friend, this day shall crown.


s: So all should strive with heart and will


s: Armed with his shafts and bow and sword,


s: Will-governed, through the yielding skies.


s: Will seize the dame and bear her thence.”


s: With roseate bloom his flanks were dyed,


s: His shape was fair, compact, and slight;


s: Now gambolled close with leap and bound,


s: She stooped, her hands with flowers to fill,


s: Quick, quick, my lord, this deer to view.


s: As through the wood her clear tones rang,


s: But doubt was strong in Lakshmaṇ’s breast,


s: Who thus his thought and fear expressed:


s: Ere now have kings who sought this place


s: Lord of the world, shown aught so fair.”


s: And strong and beauteous Kinnars(494) stray.


s: How thou wouldst gaze with wondering eyes


s: It charmed thy heart, O chieftain, too.”


s: The hair lies smooth and bright and fine,


s: And now my shaft shall strike his heart.


s: Then turned and showed his stately head.


s: Then like the moon with clouds o’erspread


s: The hunter’s heart was wroth and grieved,


s: Alive with sparks that hissed and flamed,


s: Scarce from the ground one foot he sprang,


s: Half lifeless, as he pressed the ground,


s: Gasp, smeared with blood, in deadly throe,


s: In words of bitter scorn exclaimed exclaimed


s: Thy brother’s death thou fain wouldst see.


s: There lives not one whose heart would dare


s: The mightiest strength can ne’er withstand


s: Bright flashed her eye as Lakshmaṇ spoke


s: With bitter taunts that pierced and stung:


s: Or word like this thou ne’er hadst said.


s: Thou, wretch, thine aid wilt still deny,


s: And from the fiend’s left shoulder slung


s: While both the chiefs were far from view,


s: Thus threatening draws Śaniśchar(496) nigh


s: With her bright teeth and each fair limb


s: Pride of the worlds, like Beauty’s Queen


s: Like a sweet spring with bloom o’erspread,


s: Thine eyes are large and pure and bright.


s: How bright, how fine each flowing tress!


s: That dainty waist with ease were spanned,


s: In youth’s soft prime thy years are few,


s: Should make the woods her dwelling-place.


s: The sweetest wreath should bind thy hair,


s: And longed in heart to steal her thence,


s: Spoke to my lord brief words like these:


s: Mine honour pure from falsehood’s stain.’ ”


s: But still keep true the words he spake.”


s: Five thousand maids shall round thee stand,


s: Like some fair Bodh tree strong and tall,


s: Mount Mandar,(501) towering o’er the land,


s: Thou, death-doomed like the fly that sips


s: Snakes, spirits, birds that roam the air


s: The wind is hushed or breathless is fear.


s: Filled with fierce forms and giant bands,


s: Thou, beauteous Queen, with me shalt dwell


s: “Thou scarce,” he cried, “hast heard aright


s: His limbs were decked with glittering gold.


s: Like some dark cloud the monster showed,


s: For love, whose words were soft and sweet.


s: Marked his huge teeth and ponderous arm,


s: Then rose the fiend, and toward the skies


s: Bore his poor helpless struggling prize:


s: The dame who loathed his proffered love.


s: Thou who couldst leave bliss, fortune, all,


s: That these dark boughs and coverts hide,


s: By thee, dear bird, can ne’er be stayed,


s: That thou should steal his precious one?


s: The lightning flame that smote and slew.


s: The prudent man his strength will spare,


s: Which gives him life and strength renewed,


s: And thou shalt stain the earth with gore


s: Shalt fall like fruit from shaken bough,


s: The will-moved car that shone like fire,


s: Cried with glad voice, Well done! well done!


s: The vulture’s strength was failing fast.


s: Caught like the fish that finds too late


s: Soon shall thou stain the earth with gore,


s: Which the dire fruits of crime succeed.”


s: Swelled the fiend’s lips, his body shook


s: Whose back like some dark cloud was hued,


s: “That touch, thou impious King, shall be


s: Gleamed like the lightning’s flashing flame.


s: Touched by the Day-God’s tempered beams.


s: White lustre through the lips’ fine red,


s: From her sweet neck fair flowers were shed,


s: The wind-stirred blossoms, sweet to smell,


s: Like fallen stars when virtues fail.(504)


s: These bowed their wind-swept heads and said:


s: Wept, wild with woe, the startled fawns,


s: That voice whose sweetness naught could mar,


s: From those red eyes which sorrow swelled,


s: Though backed by all thy legions’ power.


s: With death-doomed sight thine eyes behold


s: Where thorns with iron points are spread.


s: Were twice seven thousand fiends o’erthrown:


s: “For these,” she thought, “my path may show,


s: That closed not in their first surprise,


s: “O ten-necked King,” they cried, “attend:


s: The dread she-fiends who filled the hall:


s: To those she-fiends who thronged the place,


s: Of glorious power and strength possessed:


s: Where the fierce giants fought and fell.


s: Hence boundless wrath that spurns control


s: There swelled on high the tambour’s sound,


s: Showed his bright chambers, line on line,


s: His gardens bright as lightning’s flame,


s: This glorious power, this pomp and sway,


s: Whose days are short, whose light is dim,


s: The bridge of right, the friend of truth.


s: Whose glories through the worlds extend.


s: Will smite thee with the vengeful blade.


s: Thou stretched before his feet hadst lain


s: Thou scorched this day wouldst fall and die


s: He who from heaven the moon could throw,


s: Thy strength and power: each sense is dead.


s: That haughty strength, that power and pride


s: Caught in Death’s toils their eyes are blind,


s: O’er which the priest his prayer has said,


s: If o’er thy head twelve months shall fly


s: My cooks shall mince thy flesh with steel


s: To those she-fiends his speech addressed:


s: Where bright trees bore each rarest fruit,


s: “This deed will free the worlds from woe


s: “Sleep,” cried the heavenly Monarch, “close


s: Now I, with Sleep, this place have sought,


s: And his bright wreath was fresh and gay.


s: Which thou hast brought me, of thy grace,


s: Bring health to them and bliss renewed!”


s: That raised his hair and dimmed his cheek,


s: With voice that mocked my accents cried,


s: Move round him from the left, and raised


s: With brows whence all the light had fled.


s: Though sharp and fierce their tenour ran,


s: Each bird with notes of warning screams,


s: Though the hot sun still darts his beams.


s: And filled, I ween, thy heart with fear,


s: “’Tis as I feared,” he cried, and there,


s: And thus, while anguish wrung his breast,


s: Through my left eye, and arm, and heart.”


s: Lakshmaṇ, with Fortune’s marks impressed,


s: From whom thy lord need shrink dismayed.


s: Those words thy causeless fear that woke.


s: Her heart with woe was still distraught.


s: And yet couldst leave the cottage, spurred


s: It seemed, were accent, voice, and tone,


s: Through his left eye keen throbbings shot,


s: Still on those dreadful signs he thought,—


s: Drooped fainting round the lonely bower.


s: For fruit and blossoms though the grove?


s: Each grove and glade he searched with care,


s: Named Heartsease,(507) give me what thou art,


s: That moon-bright face, that polished brow,


s: Red lips, bright teeth—what are they now?


s: The ruthless fiends have grasped and rent.


s: Through groves with restless step he sped


s: Hence to the shades weighed down by woe.


s: Where is thy faith, that thou canst speed


s: The wretch who stains his soul with lies.


s: Longed for his weal, the chief addressed


s: Through wood, o’er hill, by pool and brook,


s: They roamed each mount, nor spared to seek


s: “The wood is searched from side to side,


s: Our eyes have searched the hill with all


s: Still for his spouse he mourned, and shrill


s: Then, his sad soul with pain distraught,


s: O’erpowered by love’s strong influence, he


s: “Thou, fairer than their bloom, my spouse,


s: Thine arms are like the plantain’s stem:


s: Round Bharat’s neck thy fond arms twine,


s: Weighed down beneath his whelming grief,


s: Ne’er, brother, ne’er have I complained;


s: While, as he bore her through the skies,


s: In tones of fear which, wild and shrill,