رامايانا

BOOK I.3 CANTO I. NARAD.* To sainted Narad, prince of those Whose lore in words of wisdom flosvs, Whose constant care and chief delight Were Scripture and ascetic rite, The good Valmiki, first and best 1 Comparison with the Ganges is implied, that river being called the purifier of the world. 2 'This name may have been given to the father of Valmiki allegorically. If we look at the derivation of the word (pra, before, and chetas, mind) it is as if the poet were called the son of Prometheus, the Forethinker.' SCHLEQEL. 3 Called in Sanskrit also Bdla-Kdnda, and in Hindi Bdl-Kdnd, i. e. the Book describing Rama's childhood, bdla mean- ing a boy up to his sixteenth year. 4 A divine saint, son of Brahma. He is the eloquent messenger of the Gods, a musician of exquisite skill, and the in- ventor of the vind or Indian lute. He bears a strong resemblance to Hermes or Mercury. 3 This mystic syllable, said to typify the supreme Deity, the Gods collectively, the Vedas, the three spheres of the world, the three holy fires, the three steps of Vishnu etc., prefaces the prayers and most venerated writings of the Hindus. TIIE RAM AY AN. Hook 1. TIIE RAM AY AN. Hook 1. Of hcnr.it sa'"nta, these words addressed:1 * In a:i tlii.s -.vor'id, 1 pray tiiee, wiio Js virtuous, heroic, true ? Firm in his vows, of grateful mind, To every creature good and kind ? Bounteous, and holy, just, and wise, Alone most fair to all men's eyes? Devoid of envy, firm, and sage, Whose tranquil soul ne'er yields to rage? "Whom, when his warrior wrath is high, Do Gods embattled fear and fly ?…