Quick Guha hastened to produce, For the king's son, that sacred juice, ["hen Rama of his long locks made, And Lakshman's too, the hermit braid.
TEE RAM AT AN.
Boole II.
And the two royal brothers there With coats of bark and matted hair, Transformed in lovely likeness stood To hermit saints who love the wood. So Kama, with his brother bold, A pious anchorite enrolled, Obeyed the vow which hermits take, And to his friend, King Guha, spake: * May people, treasure, army share, And fenced forts, thy constant care: Attend to all: supremely hard The^sovereign's task, to watch and guard.'
Ikshvaku's son, the good and brave, This last farewell to Guha gave, And then, with Lakshman and his bride, Determined, on his way he hied. Soon as he viewed, upon the shore, The bark prepared to waft them o'er Impetuous Ganga's rolling tide, To Lakshman thus the chieftain cried: ' Brother, embark; thy hand extend, Thy gentle aid to Sita lend: With care her trembling footsteps guide, And place the lady by thy side.' When Lakshman heard, prepared to aid. His brother's words he swift obeyed. Within the bark he placed the dame, Then to her side the hero came. Next Lakshman's elder brother, lord Of brightest glory, when on board, Breathing a prayer for blessings, meet For priest or warrior to repeat. Then he and car-borne Lakshman bent, Well-pleased, their heads, most reverent, Their hands, with Sita, having dipped, As Scripture bids, and water sipped, Farewell to wise Sumantra said, And Guha, with the train he led. So Rama took, on board, his stand, And urged the vessel from the land. Then swift by vigorous arms impelled Her onward course the vessel held, And guided by the helmsman through The dashing waves of Ganga flew. Half way across the flood they came, When Sita, free from spot and blame, Her reverent hands together pressed, The Goddess of the stream addressed: • May the great chieftain here who springs From Dasaratha, best of kings, Protected by thy care, fulfil His prudent father's royal will. When in the forest he has spent His fourteen years of banishment, With his dear brother and with me His home again my lord shall see. Returning on that blissful day, I will to thee mine offerings pay, Dear Queen, whose waters gently flow, Who canst all blessed gifts bestow.
or, three-pathed Queen, though wander- ing here, hy waves descend from Brahma's sphere »pouse of the God o'er floods supreme, Chough rolling here thy glorious stream. \> thee, fair Queen, my head shall bend, "o thee shall hymns of praise ascend, When my brave lord shall turn again, And, joyful, o'er his kingdom reign, ["o win thy grace, O Queen divine, A hundred thousand fairest kine, And precious robes and finest meal Among the Brahmans will I deal. A hundred jars of wine shall flow, kVhen to my home, O Queen, I go; With these, and flesh, and corn, and rice, Will I, delighted, sacrifice. Sach hallowed spot, each holy shrine That stands on these fair shores of thine, Sach fane and altar on thy banks Shall share my offerings and thanks. Nith me and Lakshman, free from harm, May he the blameless, strong of arm, Eleseek Ayodhya from the wild, O blameless Lady undefiled!'
As, praying for her husband's sake, The faultless dame to Ganga spake, To the right bank the vessel flew With her whose heart was right and true. Soon as the bark had crossed the wave, The lion leader of the brave, Leaving the vessel on the strand, With wife and brother leapt to land. Then Rama thus the prince addressed Who filled with joy Sumitra's breast: ' Be thine alike to guard and aid In pe&pled spot, in lonely shade. Do thou, Sumitra's son, precede: Let Sita walk where thou shalt lead. Behind you both my place shall be, To guard the Maithil dame and thee. For she, to woe a stranger yet, No toil or grief till now has met; The fair Videhan will assay The pains of forest life to-day. To-day her tender feet must tread Rough rocky wilds around her spread: No tilth is there, no gardens grow, No crowding people come and go.'
The hero ceased: and Lakshman led Obedient to the words he said: And Sita followed him, and then Came Raghu's pride, the lord of men. With Sita walking o'er the sand They sought the forest, bow in hand, But still their lingering glances threw Where yet Sumantra stood in view. Sumantra, when his watchful eye The royal youths no more could spy, Turned from the spot whereon he stood Homeward with Guha from the wood; Canto LI II.
THE RlMAYAN.
Still on the brothers forced their way Where sweet birds sang on every spray, Though scarce the eye a path could find Mid flowering trees where creepers twined. Far on the princely brothers pressed, And stayed their feet at length to rest Beneath a fig-tree's mighty shade With countless pendent shoots displayed. Reclining there a while at ease, They saw, not far, beneath fair trees A lake with many a lotus bright That bore the name of Lovely Sight. Rama his wife's attention drew, And Lakshman's, to the charming view: ' Look, brother, look how fair the flood Glows with the lotus, llower and bud 1 ' They drank the water fresh and clear, And with their shafts they slew a deer. A fire of boughs they made in haste, And in the flame the meat they placed. So Kaghu's sons with Sita shared The hunter's meal their hauds prepared, Then counselled that the spreading tree Their shelter and their home should be.
CANTO LIII.
RAMA'S LAMENT.
When evening rites were duly paid, Keclined beneath the leafy shade, To Lakshman thus spake Rama, best Of those who' glad a people's breast: ' Now the first night has closed the day That saw us from our country stray, And parted from the charioteer; Yet grieve not thou, my brother dear. Henceforth by night, when others sleep, Must we our careful vigil keep, Watching for Sita's welfare thus, For her dear life depends on us. Bring me the leaves that lie around, And spread them here upon the ground, That we on lowly beds may lie, And let in talk the night go by.'
So on the ground with leaves o'erspread, He who should press a royal bed, Rama with Lakshman thus conversed, And many a pleasant tale rehearsed: 'This night the king,' he cried, * alas! In broken sleep will sadly pass. Kaikeyi now content should be, For mistress of her wish is she. So fiercely she for empire yearns, That when her Bharat home returns, She in her greed, may even bring Destruction on our lord the king. What can he do, in feeble eld, Reft of all aid and me expelled, His soul enslaved by love, a thrall Obedient to Kaikeyi 's call?
As thus I muse upon his woe And all his wisdom's overthrow, Love is, methinks, of greater might To stir the heart than gain and right.
For who, in wisdom's lore untaught.
Could by a beauty's prayer be bought To quit his own obedient son, Who loves him, as my sire has done?
Bharat, Kaikeyi's child, alone Will, with his wife, enjoy the throne, And blissfully his rule maintain O'er happy Kosala's domain.
To Bharat's single lot will fall The kingdom and the power and all, When fails the king from length of days, And Rarna in the forest strays.
Whoe'er, neglecting right and gain, Lets conquering love his soul enchain, To him, like Dasaratha's lot, Comes woe with feet that tarry not.
Methinks at last the royal dame, Dear Lakshmun, has secured her aim, To see at once her husband dead, Her son enthroned, and Rama fled.
Ah me 1 I fear, lest borne away By frenzy of success, she slay Kausalya, through her wicked hate Of me, bereft, disconsolate; Or her who aye for me has striven Sumitra, to devotion given.
Hence, Lakshman, to Ayodhya speed, Returning in the hour of need.
With Sita I my steps will bend Where Dandak's mighty woods extend.
No guardian has Kausalya now: O, be her friend and guardian thou.
Strong hate may vile Kaikeyi lead To many a base unrighteous deed, Treading my mother 'neath her feet When Bharat holds the royal seat.
Sure in some antenatal time Were children, by Kausalya's crime, Torn from their mothers1 arms away, And hence she mourns this evil day.
She for her child no toil would spare Tending me long with pain and care; Now in the hour of fruitage she Has lost that son, ah, woe is me.
O Lakshman, may no matron e'er A son so doomed to sorrow bear As I, my mother's heart who rend With anguish that can never end.
The Sarika,1 methinks, possessed More love than glows in Rama's breast, Who, as the tale is told to us, Addressed the stricken parrot thus: 1 The Maind or Gracula religiosa, a favourite cage-bird, easily taught to talk THE RAM AY AN.
Book 11.
' Parrot, the capturer's talons tear, While yet alone thou flutterest there, Before his mouth has closed on me: ' So cried the bird, herself to free. Reft of her son, in childless woe, My mother's tears for ever flow: Ill-fated, doomed with grief to strive, "What aid can she from me derive? Pressed down by care, she cannot rise From sorrow's flood wherein she lies. In righteous wrath my single arm Could, with my bow, protect from harm Ayodhya's town and all the earth: But what is hero prowess worth? Lest breaking duty's law I sin, And lose the heaven I strive to win, The forest life to-day I choose, And kingly state and power refuse.'
Thus mourning in that lonely spot The troubled chief bewailed his lot, And tilled with tears, his eyes ran o'er; Then silent sat. and spake no more. To him, when ceased his loud lament, Like fire whose brilliant might is spent, Or the great sea when sleeps the wave, Thus Lakshman consolation gave: 'Chief of the brave who bear the bow, E'en now Ayodhya, sunk in woe, By thy departure reft of light Is gloomy as the moonless night. Unfit it seems that thou, O chief, Shouldst so afflict thy soul with grief, So with thou Site's heart consign To deep despair as well as mine. Not I, O Kaghu's son, nor she Could live one hour deprived of thee: "We were, without thine arm to save, Like fish deserted by the wave. Although my mother dear to meet, ^atrughna, and the king, were sweet, On them, or heaven, to feed mine eye Were nothing, if thou wert not by.'
Sitting at ease, their glances fell Upon the beds, constructed well, And there the sons of virtue laid Their limps beneath the fig-tree's shade.
CANTO LIV.
BHARADVAJA'S HERMITAGE.
So there that night the heroes spent Under the boughs that o'er them bent, And when the sun his glory spread, Upstarting, from the place they sped. On to that spot they made their way, Through the dense wood that round them lay, Where Yamuna's1 swift waters glide 1 The Jumna.
To blend with Ganga's holy tide. Charmed with the prospect ever new The glorious heroes wandered through Full many a spot of pleasant ground, Rejoicing as they gazed around. With eager eye and heart at ease, On countless sorts of flowery trees. And now the day was half-way sped When thus to Lakshman Rama said: * There, there, dear brother, turn thine eyes; See near Prayag1 that smoke arise: The banner of our Lord of Flames The dwelling of some saint proclaims. Near to the place our steps we bend Where Yamuna and Ganga blend. I hear and mark the deafening roar When chafing floods together pour. See, near us on the ground are left Dry logs, by labouring woodmen cleft, And the tall trees, that blossom near Saint Bharadvaja's home, appear.'
The bow-armed princes onward pass ed, And as the sun was sinking fast They reached the hermit's dwelling, set Near where the rushing waters met. The presence of the warrior scared The deer and birds as on he fared, And struck them with unwonted awe: Then Bharadvaja's cot they saw. The high-souled hermit soon they found Girt by his dear disciples round: Calm saint, whose vows had well been wrought, Whose fervent rites keen sight had bought. Duly had flames of worship blazed When Rama on the hermit gazed: His suppliant hands the hero raised, Drew nearer to the holy man With his companions, and began, Declaring both his name and race And why they sought that distant place; • Saint, Dasaratha's children we, Rama and Lakshman, come to thee. This my good wife from Janak springs, The best of fair Videha's kings; Through lonely wilds, a faultless dame, To this pure grove with me she came. My younger brother follows still Me banished by my father's will: Sumitra's son, bound by a vow, — He roams the wood beside me now. Sent by my father forth to rove, We seek, O.Saint, some holy grove, Where lives of hermits we may lead, And upon fruits and berries feed.'
When Bharadvaja, prudent-souled, Had heard the prince his tale unfold, Water he bade them bring, a bull, And honour-gifts in dishes full, 1 The Hindu name of Allahabad.
Canto LV.
THE RAMAYAN.
And drink and food of varied taste, Berries arid roots, before him placed, And then the great ascetic showed A cottage'for the guests' abode. The saint these honours gladly paid To Rama who had thither strayed, Then compassed sat by birds and deer And many a hermit resting near. The prince received the service kind, And sat him down rejoiced in mind. Then Bharadvaja silence broke, And thus the words of duty spoke: ' Kakutstha's royal son, that thou Hadst sought this grove I knew ere now. Mine ears have heard thy story, sent Without a sin to banishment. Behold, O Prince, this ample space Near where the mingling floods embrace, Holy, and beautiful, and clear: Dwell with us, and be happy hera' By Bharadvaja thus addressed, Earn a whose kind and tender breast All living things would bless and save, In gracious words his answer gave: 4 My honoured lord, this tranquil spot, Fair home of hermits, suits me not: For all the neighbouring people here Will seek us when they know me near: With eager wish to look on me, And the Videhan dame to see, A crowd of rustics will intrude Upon the holy solitude. Provide, O gracious lord, I pray, Some quiet home that lies away, Where my Videhan spouse may dwell Tasting the bliss deserved so well.'
The hermit heard the prayer he made: A while in earnest thought he stayed, And then in words like these expressed His answer to the chief's request: 'Ten leagues away there stands a hill Where thou mayst live, if such thy will: A holy mount, exceeding fair; Great saints have made their dwelling there: There great Langurs1 in thousands play, And bears amid the thickets stray; Wide-known by Chitrakuta's name, It rivals Gandhamadan's2 fame. Long as the man that hill who seeks Gazes upon its sacred peaks, To holy things his soul he gives And pure from thought of evil lives. There, while a hundred autumns fled, Has many a saint with hoary head Spent his pure life, and won the prize, By deep devotion, in the skies: 1 The Langur is a large monkey.
2 A mountain said to lie to the east of Meru, Best home, I ween, if such retreat, Far from the ways of men. be sweet: Or let thy years of exile flee Here in this hermitage with me.'
Thus Bharadvaja spake, and trained In lore of duty, entertained The princes and the dame, and pressed His friendly gifts on every guest.
Thus to Prayag the hero went, Thus saw the saint preeminent, And varied speeches heard and said: Then holy night o'er heaven was spread. And Rama took, by toil oppressed, With Sita and his brother, rest; And so the night, with sweet content, In Bharadvaja's grove was spent. But when the dawn dispelled the night, Kama approached the anchorite, And thus addressed the holy sire Whose glory shone like kindled fire: ' Well have we spent, O truthful Sage, The night within thy hermitage: Now let my lord his guests permit For their new home his grove to quit.'
Then, as he saw the morning break, In answer Bharadvaja spake: ' Go forth to Chitrakuta's hill, Where berries grow, and sweets distil: Full well, I deem, that home will suit Thee, Kama, strong and resolute. Go forth, and Chitrakuta seekr Famed mountain of the Varied Peak. In the wild woods that gird him round All creatures of the chase are found: Thou in the glades shalt see appear Vast herds of elephants and deer. With Sita there shalt thou delight To gaze upon the woody height; There with expanding heart to look On river, table-land, and brook, And see the foaming torrent rave Impetuous from the mountain cave. Auspicious hill! where all day long The lapwing's cry, the Ko'il's song Make all who listen gay: Where all is fresh and fair to see, Where elephants and deer roam free, There, as a hermit, stay.'
CANTO LV.
THE PASSAGE OF YAMUNA'.
The princely tamers of their foes Thus passed the night in calm repose, Then to the hermit having bent With reverence, on their way they went. High favour Bharadvaja showed, And blessed them ready for the road, THE RAM AY AN.
Book IT.
With such fond looks as fathers throw On their own sons before they go. Then spake the saint with glory bright To Rama peerless in his might: * First, lords of men, direct your feet Where Yamuna and Ganga meet; Then to the swift Kalindi1 go, Whose westward waves to Ganga flow. When thou shalt see her lovely shore Worn by their feet who hasten o'er, Then, Raghu's son, a raft prepare, And cross the Sun-born river there. Upon her farther bank a tree, Near to the landing wilt thou see. The blessed source of varied gifts, There her green boughs th at Eig tree lifts: A tree where countless birds abide, By 3yama's name known far and wide. Sita.'revere that holy shade: There be thy prayers for blessing prayed. Thence for a league your way pursue, And a dark wood shall meet your view, Where tall bamboos their foliage show, The Gum-tree and the Jujube grow. To Chitrakuta have I oft Trodden that path so smooth and soft, Where burning woods no traveller scare, But all is pleasant, green, and fair.' When thus the guests their road had learned, learned, Back to his cot the hermit turned, And Rama, Lakshman, Sita paid Their reverent thanks'f or courteous aid. Thus Rama spake to Lakshman, when The saint had left the lords of men: ' Great store of bliss in sooth is ours On whom his love the hermit showers.' As each to other wisely talked, The lion lords together walked On to Kalindi's woody shore; And gentle Sita went before. They reached that flood, whose waters flee With rapid current to the sea; Their minds a while to thought they gave And counselled how to cross the wave. At length, with logs together laid, A mighty raft the brothers made. Then dry bamboos across were tied, And grass was spread from side to side. And the great hero Lakshman brought Cane and Rose-Apple boughs.and wrought, Trimming the branches smooth and neat, For Sita's use a pleasant.seat. And Kama placed thereon his dame Touched with a momentary shame, Resembling in her glorious mien All-thought-surpassing Fortune's Queen Then Rama hastened to dispose.
1 Another name of the Jumna, daughter of the Sun.
Each in its place, the skins and bows, And by the fair Videhan laid The coats, the ornaments, and spade. When Sita thus was set on board, And all their gear was duly stored, The heroes, each with vigorous hand, Pushed off the raft and left the land. When half its wav the raft had made, Thus Sita to Kalindi prayed: * Goddess, whose flood I traverse now, Grant that my lord may keep his vow. For thee shall bleed a thousand kine, A hundred jars shall pour their wine, When Rama sees that town again Where old Ikshvaku's children reign.'
Thus to Kalindi's stream she sued And prayed in suppliant attitude. Then to the river's bank the dame, Fervent in supplication, came. They left the raft that brought them o'er, And the thick wood that clothed the shore, And to the Fig-tree £yama made Their way, so cool with verdant shade. Then Sita viewed that best of trees, And reverent spake in words like these: ' Hail, hail, 0 mighty tree! Allow My husband to complete his vow; Let us returning, I entreat, Kausalyft and Sumitra meet.' Then with her hands together placed Around the tree she duly paced. When Rama saw his blameless spouse A suppliant under holy boughs, The gentle darling of his heart, He thus to Lakshman spake apart: ' Brother, by thee pur way be led; Let Sita close behind thee tread: I, best of men, will grasp my bow, And hindmost of the three will go. What fruits soe'er her fancy take, Or flowers half hidden in the brake, For Janak's child forget not thou To gather from the brake or bough.'
Thus on they fared. The tender dame Asknd Rjima, as they walked, the name Of every shrub that blossoms bore, Creeper, and tree unseen before: And Lakshman fetched, at Sita's prayer, Boughs of each tree with clusters fair. Then Janak's daughter joyed to see The sand-discoloured river flee, Where the glad cry of many:i bird, The saras and the swan, was heard, A league the brothers travelled through The forest: noble game they slew: Beneath the trees their meal they dressed And sat them down to eat and rest. A while in that delightful shade Where elephants unnumbered strayed, Where peacocks screamed and monkeys played, Canto LVJ.
THE RAM AY AN.
They wandered with delight. Then by the river's side they found A pleasant spot of level ground, Where all was smooth and fair around, Their lodging for the night.
CANTO LVI. CHITRAKUTA.
Then Rama, when the morning rose, Called Lakshman gently from repose: ' Awake, the plea'saut voices hear Of forest birds that warble near. Scourge of thy foes, no longer stay; The hour is come to speed away.'
The slumbering prince unclosed his eyes When thus his brother bade him rise, Compelling, at the timely cry, Fatigue, and sleep, and rest to fly. The brothers rose and Sita too; Pure water from the stream they drew, Paid morning rites, then followed still The road to Chitrakuta's hill. Then Rama as he took the road WithLakshman,whilethemorning,glowed, To the Videhan lady cried, Sita the fair, the lotus-eyed; ' Look round thee, dear; each flowery tree Touched with the fire of morning see: The Kinsuk, now the Frosts are tied, — How glorious with his wreaths of red! The Bel-trees see, so loved of men, Hanging their boughs in every glen. O'erburthened with their fruit and flowers: A plenteous store of food is ours. See, Lakshman, in the leafy trees, Where'er they make their home, Down hangs, the work of labouring bees The ponderous honeycomb. In the fair wood before us spread The startled wild-cock cries: Hark, where the flowers are soft to tread, The peacock's voice replies. Where elephants are roaming free, And sweet birds' songs are loud, The glorious Chitrakuta see: His peaks are in the cloud. On fair smooth ground he stands dis- played, Begirt by many a tree: O brother, in that holy shade H6vv happy shall we be P * We have often looked on that green hill: it is the holiest spot of that sect of the Hindu faith who devote them selves to this incarnation of Vishnu. The whole neighbourhood is llama's country. Every Then Rama, Lakshman, Sita, each Spoke raising suppliant hands this speech To him, in woodland dwelling met, Valmiki, ancient anchoret: *O Saint, this mountain takes the mind, With creepers, trees of every kind, With fruit and roots abounding thus, A pleasant life it offers us: Here for a while we fain would stay, And pass a season blithe and gay.'
Then the great saint, in duty trained, With honour gladly entertained: He gave his guests a welcome fair, And bade them sit and rest them there. Kama of mighty arm and chest His faithful Lakshman then addressed:, ' Brother, bring hither 'from the wood Selected timber strong and good, And build therewith a little cot; My heart rejoices in the spot That lies beneath the mountain's side, Remote, with water well supplied.'
Suinitra's son his words obeyed, Brought many a tree, and deftly made, With branches in the forest cut, As Rama bade, a leafy hut. Then Rama, when the cottage stood Fair, firmly built, and walled with wood, To Lakshman spake, whose eager mind To do his brother's will inclined: ' Now, Lakshman as our cot is made, Must sacrifice be duly paid By us, for lengthened life who hope, With venison of the antelope. Away, O bright-eyed Lakshman, speed: Struck by thy bow a deer must bleed: As Scripture bids, we must not slight The duty that commands the rite.'
Lakshman, the chief whose arrows laid His foemen low, his word obeyed; And Rama thus again addressed The swift performer of his nest: • Prepare the venison thou hast shot, To sacrifice for this our cot. Haste* brother dear, for this the hour, And this the day of certain power.' Then glorious Lakshman took the buck His arrow in the wood had struck; Bearing his mighty load he came, And laid it in the kindled flame.
headland has some legend, every cavern is connected with his name; some of the wild fruits are still called Sitdphal, being the reputed food of the exile. Thousands and thousands annually visit the spot, and round the hill is a raised foot-path, on which the devotee, with naked feet, treads full of pious awe.' Calcutta Jtteviery. Vol, XXIII.
THE RAMAYAN.
Boole II Soon as he saw the meat was done, And that the juices ceased to run From the broiled carcass, Lakshraan then Spoke thus to Rama best of men; * The carcass of the buck, entire, Is ready dressed upon the lire.
Now be the sacred rites begun To please the God, thou godlike one.* Rama the good, in ritual trained, Pure from the bath, with thoughts re- strained, Hasted those verses to repeat Which make the sacrifice complete, The hosts celestial came in view, And Rama to the cot withdrew, While a sweet sense of rapture stole Through the unequalled hero's soul. He paid the Visvedevas'1 due, And Rudra's right, and Vishnu's too, Nor wonted blessings, to protect Their new-built home, did he neglect. With voice repressed he breathed the prayer, Bathed duly in the river fair, And gave good offerings that remove The stain of sin, as texts approve. And many an altar there he made, And shrines, to suit the holy shade, All decked with woodland chap lets sweet, And fruit and roots and roasted meat, With muttered prayer, as texts require, Water, and grass and wood and tire. So Rama, Lakshman, Sita paid Their offerings to each God and shade, And entered then their pleasant cot That bore fair signs of happy lot. They entered, the illustrious three, The well-set cottage, fair to see, Hoofed with the leaves of many a tree, And fenced from wind and rain: So, at their Father Brahma's call, The Gods of heaven, assembling all, To their own glorious council hall Advance in shining train. So, resting on that lovely hill, Near the fair lily-covered rill, The happy prince forgot, Surrounded by the birds and deer, The woe, the longing, and the fear That gloom the exile's lot.
CANTO LVII.
SO MANTRA'S RETURN.
When Rama reached the southern bank, King Guha's heart with sorrow sank: 1 Deities of a particular class in which five or ten are enumerated. They are worshipped particularly at the funeral obsequies in honour of deceased progenitors, He with Sumantra talked, and spent With his deep sorrow, homeward went. Sumantra, as the king decreed, Yoked to the car each noble steed, And to Ayodhya's city sped With his sad heart disquieted. On lake and brook and scented grove His glances fell, as on he drove: City and village came in view As o'er the road his coursers flew. On the third day the charioteer, When now the hour of night was near, Came to Ayodhya's gate, and found The city all in sorrow drowned. To him, in spirit quite cast down, Forsaken seemed the silent town, And by the rush of grief oppressed He pondered in his mournful breast: 4 Is all Ayodhya burnt with grief, Steed, elephant, and man, and chief? Does her loved Rama's exile so Afflict her with the fires of woe? ' Thus as he mused, his steeds flew fast, And swiftly through the gate he passed. On drove the charioteer, and then In hundreds, yea in thousands, men Ran to the car from every side, And, ' Rama, where is Rama?' cried. Sumantra said: 'My chariot bore The duteous prince to Ganga's shore; I left him there at his behest, And homeward to Ayodhya pressed.1 Soon as the anxious people knew That he was o'er the flood, they drew Deep sighs, and crying, Rama"! all Wailed, and big tears began to fall. He heard the mournful words prolonged, As here and there the people thronged: 'Woe, woe for us, forlorn, undone, No more to look on Raghu's son! His like again we ne'er shall see, Of heart so true, of hand so free, In gifts, in gatherings for debate. When marriage pomps we celebrate. What should we do? What earthly thing Can rest, or hope, or pleasure bring? '