The herniit heard his sons' reply, And burning rage inflamed his eye. Then forth his words of fury burst: 'Audacious speech, by virtue curbed! It lifts on end each shuddering hair— My charge to scorn! my wrath to dare! You, like V&sishtha's evil brood, Shall make the flesh of dogs your food A thousand years in many a birth, And punished thus shall dwell on earth.'
Thus on his sons his curse he laid, Then calmed again that youth dismayed, And blessed him with his saving aid; ' When in the sacred fetters bound, And with a purple garland crowned, At Vishnu's post thou standest tied, With lauds be Agni glorified. And these two hymns of holy praise Forget not, Hermit's son, to raise In the king's rite, and thou shalt be Lord of thy wish, preserved, and free.'
He learnt the hymns with mind intent, And from the hermit's presence went. To Ambarisha thus he spake: * Let us our onward journey take. Haste to thy home, O King, nor stay The lustral rites with slow delay.'
The boy's address the monarch cheered, And soon the sacred ground he neared. The convocation's high decree Declared the youth from blemish free; Clothed in red raiment he was tied A victim at the pillar's side. Ti) ere bound,the Fire-God's hymn he raised, And Indra and Unendra praised. Thousand-eyed Vishnu, pleased to hear The mystic laud, iueliaed his ear, And won by worship, swift to save, Long life to £unahsepha gave.
The king in bounteous measure gained The fruit of sacrifice ordained, By grace of Him who rules the skies, Lord Indra of the thousand eyes.
And Visvamitra evermore. Pursued his task on Pushkar's shore Until a thousand years had past In fierce austerity "and fast.
CANTO LXIII. MENAKA.
A thousand years had thus flown by When all the Gods within the sky, Eager that he the fruit might gain Of fervent rite and holy pain, Approached the great ascetic, now Bathed after toil and ended vow. Then Brahma, speaking for the rest With sweetest words the sage addressed: ' Hail, Saint! This high and holy name Thy rites have won, thy merits claim.'
Thus spoke the Lord whom Gods revere, And sought again his heavenly sphere. But Visvamitra, more intent/ His mind to sterner penance bent.
So many a season rolled away, When iMeuaka, fair nymph, one day Came down from Paradise to lave Her perfect limbs in Pushkar s wave, The glorious son of Kusik saw That peerless shape without a flaw Flash thro ugh the flood's translucent shroud Like lightning gleaming through a cloud. He saw her in that lone retreat, Most beautiful from head to feet, And by Kandarpa'a1 might subdued He thus addressed her as he viewed: ' Welcome, sweet nymph! O deign,! pray, In these calm shades awhile to stay. To me some gracious favour show, For love has set my breast aglow.'
He spoke. The fairest of the fair Made for awhile her dwelling there, While day by day the wild delight Stayed vow austere and fervent rite There as tlie winsome charmer wove Her spells around him in the grove, And bound him in a golden chain. Five sweet years fled, and five again. Then Visvamitra woke to shame, And, fraught with anguish, memory came For quick he knew, with anger fired, That all the Immortals had conspired 1 The Indian Cupid, Canto LXIV.
RAMAYAN.
75 To lap his careless soul in ease, And mar his long austerities.
* Ten years have past, each day and night Unheeded in delusive flight.
So long my fervent rites were stayed, While thus I lay by love betrayed.'
As thus long sighs the hermit heaved, And, touched with deep repentance,grieved, He saw the fair one standing nigh With suppliant hands and trembling eye.
With gentle words he bade her go, Then sought the northern hills of snow.
With firm resolve he vowed to beat The might of love beneath his feet.
Still northward to the distant side Of IJausiki,1 the hermit hide, And gave his life to penance there With rites austere most hard to bear.
A thousand years went by, and still He laboured on the northern hill With pains so terrible and drear That all the Gods were chilled with fear, And Gods and saints, for swift advice, Met in the halls of Paradise.
' Let Kusik's son,' they counselled, * be A Mighty saint by just decree.'
Hi? ear to hear their counsel lent The Sire of worlds, omnipotent.
To him enriched by rites severe He spoke in accents sweet to hear: ' Hail, Mighty Saint! dear son, all hail!
Thy fervour wins, thy toils prevail.
Won by thy vows and zeal intense I give this high preeminence.'
He to the General Sire replied, 1 ' The same as she whose praises Visva- mitra has already sung in Canto XXXV, and whom the poet brings yet alive upon the scene in Canto LXI. Her proper name was Saty avati (Truthful); the patrony- mic, Kausiki was preserved by the river into which she is said to have been changed, and is still recognized in the corrupted forms Kusa and Kusi. The river flows from the heights of the Himalaya towards the Ganges, bounding on the east the country of Videha (Beharj. The name is no doubt half hidden in the Cosoagus of Pliny and the Kossoanos of Arrian. But each author has fallen into the same error in his enu- meration of these rivers (Condochatem, Erannoboam, Cosoagum, Sonum). The Erannoboas, (Hiranyavaha) and the Sone are not different streams, but well-known names of the same river. Moreover the order is disturbed, in which on the right and left they fall into the Ganges. To be consistent with geography it should be written: Erannoboam sive Sonum,Condo- <shatein (Gandaki), Cosoagum.' SCHLEGEL.
Not sad, nor wholly satisfied: * When thou, O Brahma, shalt declare The title, great beyond compare, Of Brahman saint my worthy meed, Hard earned by many a holy deed, Then may I deem in sooth 1 hold Each sense of body well controlled.' Then Brahma cried, « Not yet, not yet; Toil on awhile 0 Anchoret! ' Thus having said to heaven he went, The saint, upon his task intent, Began his labours to renew, Which sterner yet and fiercer grew. His arms upraised, without a rest, With but one foot the earth he pressed; The air his food, the hermit stood Still as a pillar hewn from wood. Around him in the summer days Five mighty fires combined to blaze. In floods of rain no veil was spread Save clouds, to canopy his head. In the dank dews both night and day Couched in the stream the hermit lay. Thus, till a thousand years had fled, He plied his task of penance dread. Then Vishnu and the Gods with awe The labours of the hermit saw, And £akra, in his troubled breast, Lord of the skies, his fear confessed, And brooded on a plan to spoil The merits of the hermit's toil. Encompassed by his Gods of Storm He summoned Kambha, fair of form, And spoke a speech for woe and weal, The same to mar, the God to heal.
CANTO LXIV.
RAMBHA'.
'A great emprise, O lovely maid, To save the Gods, awaits thine aid: To bind the son of Kusik sure, And take his soul with love's sweet lure.1 Thus orderd by the Thousand-eyed The suppliant nymph in fear replied: * O Lord of Gods, this mighty sage Is very fierce and swift to rage.
I doubt not, he so dread and stern On me his scorching wrath will turn. Of this, my lord, am I afraid: Have mercy on a timid maid.' Her suppliant hands began to shake, When thus again Lord Indra spake; * 0 Rambha, drive thy fears away, And as I bid do thou obey.
In Koil's form, who takes the heart When trees in spring to blossom start, I, with Kandarpa for my friend, Close to thy side miae aid will lend.
76 THE RAMAYAX.
Book I.
Do thou thy beauteous splendour arm With every grace and winsome charm, And from his awful rites seduce This Kusik's son, the stern recluse.'
Lord Indra ceased. The nymph obeyed: In all her loveliest charms arrayed, "With winning ways and witching smile She sought the hermit to beguile. The sweet note of that tuneful bird The saint with ravished bosom heard, And on his heart a rapture passed As on the nymph a look he cast. But when he heard the bird prolong His sweet incomparable song, And saw the nymph with winning smile, The hermit's heart perceivd the wile. And straight he knew the Thousand-eyed A plot against his peace had tried. Then Kusik's son indignant laid His curse upon the heavenly maid: ' Because thou wouldst my soul engage Who right to conquer love and rage, Stand, till ten thousand years have flown, Ill-fated maid, transformed to stone. A Brahman then, in glory strong, Mighty through penance stern arid long, Shall free thee from thine altered shape: Thou from my curse shalt then escape.' But when the saint had cursed her so, His breast was burnt with fires of woe, Grieved that 1 ng effort to restrain. His mighty wrath was all in vain. Cursed by the angry sage's power, She stood in stone that selfsame hour. Kandarpa heard the words he said, And quickly from his presence fled. His fall beneath his passion's sway Had reft the hermit's meed away. Unconquered yet his secret foes, The humbled saint refused repose: ' No more shall rage my bosom till, Sealed be my lips, my tongue be still. My very breath henceforth I hold "Until a thousand years are told: Victorious o'er each erring sense, I'll dry my frame with abstinence, Until by penance duly done A Brahman's rank be bought and won. For countless years, as still as death, I taste no food, I draw no breath, And as I toil my frame shall stand Unharmed by time's destroying hand.'
CANTO LXV.
'S TRIUMPH.
Then from Himalaya's heights of snow, The glorious saint prepared to go, And dwelling in the distant east His penance and his toil increased. A thousand years his lips he held Closed by a vow unparalleled, And other marvels passing thought, Unrivalled in the world, he wrought. In all the thousand years his frame Dry as a log of wood became. By many a cross and check beset, Rage had not stormed his bosom yet. With iron will that naught could bend He plied his labour till the end. So when the weary years were o'er, Freed from his vow so stern and sore, The hermit, all his penance sped, Sate down to eat his meal of bread. Then Indra, clad in Brahman guise', Asked him for food with hungry eyes. The mighty saint, with steadfast soul, To the false Brahman gave the whole, And when no scrap for him remained, Fa.- ting and faint, from speech refrained. His silent vow he would not break: No breath he heaved, no word he spake. Then as he checked his breath, behold!* Around his brow thick smoke-clouds rolled And the three worlds, as if o'erspread With ravening flames, were filled with dread.
dread.
Then God and saint and bard, convened. And Naga lord, and snake, and fiend, Thus to the General Father cried, Distracted, sad, and terrified: 4 Against the hermit, sore assailed, Lure, scathe, and ssorn have naught availed, Proof against rage and treacherous art He keeps his vow with constant heart. Now if his toils assist him naught To gain the boon his soul has sought, He through the worlds will ruin send That tixt and moving things shall end. The regions now are dark with doom, No friendly ray relieves the gloom. Each ocean foams with maddened tide, The shrinking hills in fear subside. Trembles the earth with feverous throes, The wind in fitful tempest blows. No cure we see with troubled eyes: And atheist brood on earth may rise. The triple world is wild with care, Or spiritless in dull despair. Before that saint the sun is dim, His blessed light eclipsed by him. Now ere the saint resolve to bring Destruction on each living thing, Let us appease, while yet we may, Him bright as fire, like fire to slay. Yea, as the fiery flood of Fate Lays all creation desolate, He o'er the conquered Gods may reign: O, grant him what he longs to gain.'
Canto LXVI.
THE RAM AY AN.
77 Then all the Blest, by Brahma led, Approached the saint and sweetly said: 'Hail, Brahman Saint! for such thy place: Thy vows austere have won our grace. A Brahman's rank thy penance stern And ceaseless labour richly earn. I with the Gods of Storm decree Long life, 0 Brahman Saint, to thee. May peace and joy thy soul possess: Go where thou wilt in happiness.'
Thus by the General Sire addressed, Joy and high triumph filled his breast. His head in adoration bowed, Thus spoke he to the Immortal crowd: 'If I, ye Gods, have gained at last Both length of days and Brahman caste, Grant that the high mysterious name, And holy Vedas, own my claim, And that the formula to bless The sacrifice, its lord confess. And let Vasishtha, who excels In Warriors' art and mystic spells, In love of God without a peer. Confirm the boon you promise hern.'
With Brahma's son Vasishtha, best Of those who pray with voice repressed, The Gods by earnest prayer prevailed, And thus his new-made friend he hailed: 'Thy title now is sure and good To rights of saintly Brahmanhood.' Thus spake the sage. The Gods, content, Back to their heavenly mansions went. And Visvamitra, pious-souled, Among the Brahman saints enrolled, On reverend Vasishtha pressed The honours due to holy guest. Successful in his high pursuit, The sage, in penance resolute, Walked in his pilgrim wanderings o'er The whole broad land from shore to shore. 'Twas thus the saint, O Raghu's son, His rank among the Brahrnans won. Best of all hermits, Prince, is he; In him incarnate Penance see. Friend of the right, who shrinks from ill, Heroic powers attend him still.'
The Brahman, versed in ancient lore, Thus closed his tale, and said no more. To ^atananda Kusik's son Cried in delight, Well done! well done! Then Janak, at the tale amazed, Spoke thus with suppliant hands upraised: 'High fate is mine, O Sage, I deem, And thanks I owe for bliss supreme, That thou and Raghu's children too Have come my sacrifice to view. To look on thee with blessed eyes Exalts my soul and purifies. Yea, thus to see thee face to face Enriches me with store of grace.
Thy holy labours wrought of old, And mighty penance, fully told, Rama and I with great delight Have heard, O glorious Anchorite. Unrivalled thine ascetic deeds: Thy might, O Saint, all might exceeds. No thought may scan, no limit bound The virtues that in thee are found. The story of thy wondrous fate My thirsty ears can never sate. The hour of evening rites is near: The sun declines in swift career. At early dawn, O Hermit, deign To let me see thy face again. Best of ascetics, part in bliss: Do ihou thy servant now dismiss.'
The saint approved, and <rlad and kind Dismissed the king with joyful mind. Around the sage King Janak went With priests and kinsmen reverent. Then Visvamitra, honoured so, By those high-minded, rose to go, And with the princes took his way To seek the lodging where they lay, CANTO LXVI.
JANAK'S SPEECH.
With cloudless lustre rose the sun; The king, his morning worship done, Ordered his heralds to invite The princes and the anchorite. With honour, as the laws decree, The monarch entertained the three. Then to the youths and saintly man Videha's lord this speech began: ' O blameless Saint, most welcome thou! If I may please thee tell me how. Speak, mighty lord, whom all revere, 'Tis thine to order, mine to hear,' Thus he on mighty thoughts intent; Tnen thus the sage most eloquent: * King Daiaratha 8 sons, this pair Of warriors famous everywhere, Are come that best of bows to see That lies a treasure stored by thee. This, mighty Janak, deign to show, That they may look upon the bow. And then, contented, homeward go,1 Then royal Janak spoke in turn: ' O best of Saints, the story learn Why this famed bow, a noble prize, A treasure in my palace lies. A monarch, Devarat by name, Who sixth from ancient.\ irni came, Held it as ruler of the land, A pledge in his successive hand. This bow the mighty Kudra bore 78 THE RAMA YAN.
Boole L At Daksha's1 sacrifice of yore, When carnage of the Immortals stained The rite that Daksha had ordained.; Then as the Gods'sore wounded fled, Victorious Kudra, mocking, said: 'Because, O God?, ye gave me naught When I rny rightful portion sought, Your dearest parts I will not spare, But with my bow your frames will tear.'
The Sons of Heaven, in wild alarm, Soft flatteries tried his rage to charm. Then Bhava, Lord whom Gods adore, Grew kind and friendly as before, And every torn and mangled limb Was safe and sound n stored by him. Thenceforth this bow, the gem of bows, That freed the God of Gods from foes, Stored by our great forefathers lay A treasure and a pride for aye. Once, as it chanced, I ploughed the ground, When sudden, 'neath the share was found An infant springing from the earth, Named Sita from her secret birth.2 In strength and grace the maiden grew, IVly cherished daughter, fair to view. I vowed her, of no mortal birth, Meet prize for noblest hero's worth. In strength and grace the maiden grew, And many a monarch came to woo. To all the princely suitors I Gave, mighty Saint, the same reply; * I give not thus my daughter, she Prize of heroic worth shall be.3 To Mithila the suitors pressed Their power and might to manifest. To all who came with hearts aglow I offered Siva's wondrous bow.
1 * Daksha was one of the ancient Pro- genitors or Prajapatis created by Brahma. The sacrifice which is here spoken of and in which $aukar or ^iva (called also here Kudra and Bhava) smote the Gods because he had not been invited to share the sacred oblations with them, seems to refer to the origin of the worship of $iva, to its in- crease and to the struggle it maintained •with other older forms of __ worship.'
GORRESIO.
2 Sita means a furrow, ' Great Erectheus swayed, That owed his nurture to the blue-eyed maid, But from the teeming furrow took his'birth, The mighty offspring of the foodf ul earth.'
Iliad, Book II.
3 ' The whole'story of Sita, as willjbe seen in the course of the poem has a great analogy with the ancient myth of Pro- serpine,' GOKKESIO.
Not one of all the royal band Cculd raise or take the bow in hand. The suitors' puny might I spurned, And back the feeble princes turned.. Kn raged thereat, the warriors met, With force combined my town beset. Stung to the heart with scorn and shame, With war and threats they madly came, Besieged my peaceful walls, and'long To Mithila did grievous wrong. There, wasting all, a year they lay, And brought my treasures to decay, Filling my soul, O Hermit chief, With bitter woe and hopeless grief. At last by long-wrought penance I Won favour with the Gods on high, Who with my labours well content A four- fold host to aid me sent. Then swift the baffled heroes fled To all the winds discomfited — Wrong-doers, with their lords and host, And all their valour's idle boast. This heavenly bow, exceeding bright, These youths shall see, O Anchorite. Then if young Rama's hand can string The bow that baffled lord and king, To him I give, as I have sworn, My Sita, not of woman born.'
CANTO LXVII.
THE BREAKING OF THE BOW.
Then spoke again the great recluse: "This mighty bow, O King, produce.'
King Janak, at the saint's request, This order to his train addressed: * Let the great bow be hither borne, Which flowery wreaths and scents adorn.'
Scon as the monarch's words were said, His servants to the city sped: Five thousand youths in number, all Of manly strength and stature tall, The ponderous eight- wheeled chest that held The heavenly bow, with toil propelled. At length they brought that iron chest, And thus the godlike king addressed: ' This best of bows, O lord, we bring, Respected by each chief and king, And place it for these youths to see, If, Sovereign, such thy pleasure be.'
With suppliant palm to palm applied King Janak to the strangers cried: ' This gem of bows, O Brahman Sage, Our race has prized from age to age, Too strong for those who yet have reigned, Though great in might each nerve they strained, Canto THE RAM AY AN.
79 Titan and fiend its strength defies, God, spirit, minstrel of the skies. And bard above and snake below Are baffled by this glorious bo\V. Then how may human prowess hcpe "With such a bow as this to cope / What man with valour's choicest gift This bow can draw, or string, or lift? Yet let the princes, holy Seer, Behold it: it is present here.'
Then spoke the hermit pious-souled: ' Rama, dear son, the bow behold.' Then Rama at his word unclosed The chest wherein its might reposed, Thus crying, as he viewed it: ' Lo! I lay mine hand upon the bow: May happy luck my hope'attend Its heavenly strength to lift or bend.'
* Good luck be thine,' the hermit cried: ' Assay the task! ' the king replied. Then Kaghu's son, as if in sport, Before the thousands of the court, The weapon by the middle'Taised That all the crowd in wonder gazed. With steady arm the string he drew Till burst the mighty bow in two.
As snapped the bow, an awful clang, Loud as the shriek of tempests, rang. The earth, affrighted, shook amain As when a hill is rent in twain. Then, senseless at the fearful sound, The people fell upon the ground: None save the king, the princely pair, And the great saint, the shock could bear, When woke to sense the stricken train, And Janak's soul was calm again, With suppliant hands and reverent head, These words, most eloquent, he said: * O Saint, Prince Rama stands alone: His peerless might he well has shown. A marvel has the hero wrought Beyond belief, surpassing thought. My child, to royal Rama wed, New glory on our line will shed: And true my promise will remain That hero's worth the bride should gain, Dearer to me than light and life, My Sita shall be Rama's wife. If thou, O Brahman, leave concede, My counsellors, with eager speed, Borne in their flying cars, to fair Ayodhya's town the news shall bear, With courteous message to entreat The king to grace my royal seat. This to the monarch shall they tell, The br'de is his who won her well: And his two sons are resting here Protected by the holy seer. So, at his pleasure, let them lead The sovereign to my town with speed.'
The hermit to his prayer inclined And Janak, lord of virtuous mind, With charges, to Ayodhya sent His ministers: and forth they went.
CANTO LXVIII.
THE ENVOYS' SPEECH.
Three nights upon the road they passed To rest the steeds that bore them fast, And reached Ayodhya's town at last, Then straight at Dasaratha's call They stood within the royal hall, Where, like a God, inspiring awe, The venerable king they saw.
With suppliant palm to palm applied, And all their terror laid aside, • They spoke to him upon the throne With modest words, in gentle tone; * Janak, Videha's king, O Sire, Has sent us hither to inquire The health of thee his friend most dear, Of all thy priests and every peer. • Next Kusik's son consenting, thus King Janak speaks, dread liege, by us: ' I made a promise and decree That valour's prize my child should be.
Kings, worthless found in worth's assay, With mien dejected turned away.
Thy sons, by Visvamitra led, Unurged, my city visited, And peerless in their might have gained My daughter, as my vow ordained.
Full in a vast assembly's view Thy hero Rama broke in two The gern of bows, of monstrous size, That came a treasure from the skies.
Ordained the prize of hero's might, Sita my child is his by right.
Fain would I keep my promise made, If thou, O King, approve and aid.
Come to my town thy son to see: Bring holy guide and priest with thee.
O lord of king?, my suit allow, And let me keep my promised vow.
So joying for thy children's sake Their triumph too shalt thou partake, With Visvamitra's high consent.'
* Such words with friendship eloquent Spoke Janak, fair Videha's king, By ^atananda's counselling.'
The envoys thus the king addressed, And mighty joy his heart possessed. To Vamadeva quick he cried, Vasishtha, and his lords beside: ' Lakshman, and he, my princely boy Who fills Kausalya's soul with joy, By Visvamitra guarded well Among the good Videhans dwell, so THE RAM AY AN.
Boole I.
Their ruler Janak, prompt to own The peerless might my child has shown, To him would knit in holy ties His daughter, valour's lovely prize.
If Janak's plan seem good to you, Come, speed we to his city too, Kor let occasion idly by.'
He ceased. There came a glad reply From priest and mighty saint and all The councillors who thronged the hall. Then cried the king with joyous heart: * To-morrow let us all depart.'
That night the envoys entertained With honour and all care remained.
CANTO LXIX. DAgARATHA'S VISIT.
Soon as the shades of night had fled, Thus to the wise Sumantra said The happy king, while priest and peer, Each in his place, were standing near: 'Let all my treasurers to-day, Set foremost in the long array, With gold and precious gems supplied In bounteous store, together ride. And send you out a mighty force, Foot, chariot, elephant, and horse. Besides, let many a car of state, And noblest steeds, my will await. Vasishtha, Vamadeva sage, And Markandeya's reverend age, Javali, Kasyap's godlike seed, And wise Katyayana, shall lead. Thy care, Sumantra, let it be To yoke a chariot now for me, That so we part without delay: These envoys hasten me away.'
So fared he forth. That host, with speed, Quadruple, as the king decreed, With priests to head the bright array, Followed the monarch on his way. Four days they travelled on the road, And eve Videha's kingdom showed. Janak had left his royal seat The venerable king to greet, And, nablest, with these words addressed That noblest lord, his happy guest: ' Hail, best of kings: a blessed fate Has led thee, Monarch, to my state. Thy sons, supreme in high emprise, Will gladden now their father's eyes. And high my fate, that hither leads Vasishtha, bright with holy deeds, Girt with these sages far-renowned, Like Indra with the Gods around. Joy 1 joy! for vanquished are my foes: Joy! for my house in glory grows, With Raghu's noblest sons allied, Supreme in strength and valour's pride. Tomorrow with its early light Will shine on my completed rite. Then, sanctioned by the saints and thee, The marriage of thy Rama see.'
Then Dasaratha, best of those Whose speech in graceful order flows, With gathered saints on every side, Thus to the lord of earth replied: * A truth is this I long have known, A favour is the giver's own. What thou shalt bid, O good and true, We, as our power permits, will do.'
That answer of the truthful lord, With virtuous worth and honour stored, Janak, Videha's noble king, Heard gladly, greatly marvelling. With bosoms filled with pleasure met Long-parted saint and anchoret, And linked, in friendship's tie they spent The peaceful night in great content.
Rama and Lakshman thither sped, By sainted Visvamitra led, And bent in filial love to greet Their father, and embraced his feet. The aged king, rejoiced to hear And see again his children dear, Honoured by Janak's thoughtful care, With great enjoyment rested there. King Janak, with attentive heed, Consulted first his daughters' need, Ana ordered all to speed the rite; Then rested also for the night.
CANTO LXX. THE MAIDENS SOUGHT.
Then with the morn's returning sun, King Janak, when his rites were done, Skilled all the charms of speech to know, Spoke to wise Satananda so: 1 My brother, lord of glorious fame, My younger, Kusadhwaj by name, Whose virtuous life has won renown, Has settled in a lovely town, Srinkasya, decked with grace divine, Whose glories bright as Pushpak's shine, While Ikshumati rolls her wave Her lofty rampart's foot to lave. Him, holy priest, I long to see: The guardian of my rite is he: That my dear brother may not miss A share of mine expected bliss.'
Thus in the presence of the priest The royal Janak spoke, and ceased. Then came his henchmen, prompt and brave, Canto LXX.
THE RAM AY AN.
81 To whom his charge the monarch gave.
Soon as they heard his will, in haste With fleetest steeds away they raced, To lead with them that lord of kings, As Indra's call Lord Vishnu brings.
Sankasya's walls they duly gained, And audience of the king obtained.
To him they told the news they brought Of marvels past and Janak's thought.
Soon as the king the story knew From those good envoys swift and true, To Janak's wish he gave assent, And swift to Mithila he went.
He paid to Janak reverence due, And holy $atarianda too, Then sate him on a glorious seat For kings or Gods celestial meet.
Soon as the brothers, noble pair Peerless in might, were seated there, They gave the wise Sudaman, best Of councillors, their high behest: 'Go, noble councillor,' they cried, ' And hither to our presence guide Ikshvaku's son, Ayodhya's lord, Invincible by foeman's sword, With both his sons, each holy seer, And every minister and peer.'
Sudaman to the palace flew, And saw the mighty king who threw Splendour on Raghu's splendid race, Then bowed his head with seemly grace: 'O King, whose hand Ayodhya sways, My lord, whom Mithila obeys, Yearns with desire, if thou agree, Thee with thy guide and priest to see.'
Soon as the councillor had ceased.
The king, with saint and peer and priest, Sought, speeding through the palace gate, The hall where Janak held his state.
There, with his nobles round him spread, Thus to Videha's lord he said: 'Thou knowest, King, whose aid divine Protects Ikshvaku's myal line.
In every need, whate'er befall, The saint Vaaishtha speaks for all.
If Visvamitra so allow, And all the saints around me now, The sage will speak, at my desire, As order and the truth require.'
Soon as the king his lips had stilled, Up rose Vasishtha, speaker skilled, And to Videha's lord began In flowing words that holy man: ' From viewless Nature Brahma rose, No change, no end, no waste he knows. A son had he Marichi styled, And Kasyap was Marichi's child. From him Vivasvat sprang: from him Manu whose fame shall ne'er be dim. Manu, who life to mortals gave, Begot Ikshvaku good and brave.
First of Ayodhya's kings was he, Pride of her famous dynasty.
From him the glorious Kukshi sprang, Whose fame through all the regions rang.
Rival of Kukshi's ancient fame, His heir, the great Vikukshi, came, His son was Vana, lord of might; His Anaranya, s'trong to tight.
His son was Prithu, glorious name; From him the good Trisanku came.
He left a son renowned afar, Known by the name of Dhundhumar.
His son, who drove the mighty car, Was Yuvanasva, feared in war.
He passed away. Him followed then His son Mandhata, king of men.
His son was blest in high emprise, Susandhi, fortunate and wise.
Two noble sons had he, to wit Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.
Bharat was Dhruvasandhi's son, And giorious fame that monarch won.
The warrior Asit he begot.
Asit had warfare, fierce and hot, With rival kings in many a spot, Haihayas, Talajanghas styled, And £asivindus, strong and wild.
Long time he strove, but forced to yield Fled from his kingdom and the field.
With his two wives away he fled Where high Himalaya lifts his head, And, all his wealth and glory past, He paid the dues of Fate at last.
The wives he left had both conceived — So is the ancient tale believed — One, of her rival's hopes afraid Fell poison in her viands laid.
It chanced that Chyavan, Bhrigu's child, Had wandered to that pathless wild, And there Himalaya's lovely height Detained him with a strange delight.
There came the other widowed queen, With lotus eyes and beauteous mien, Longing a noble son to bear, And wooed the saint with earnest prayer.
When thus Kalindi,1 fairest dame, With reverent supplication came, To her the holy sage replied: 'Born with the poison from thy side, O happy Queen, shall spring ere long An infant fortunate and strong.
Then weep no more, and check thy sighs, Sweet lady of the lotus eyes.'
The queen, who loved her perished lord, For meet reply, the saint adored, And, of her husband long bereaved, She bore a son by him conceived.
Because her rival mixed the bane 1 A different lady from the Goddess of the Jumna who bears the same name.
THE RAMAYAX.
Zoolc I.