THE RAMAYAN.
Others, with all their strength applied, Cast /igorous plants and shrubs aside, In shelving valleys rooted deep, And levelled every dale and steep. Bach pit and hole that stopped the way They filled with stones, and mud, and clay, And ail the ground that rose and fell With busy care was levelled well. They bridged ravines with ceaseless toil, And pounded fine the flinty soil, ttow here, now there, to right and left, A passage through the ground they cleft, And soon the rushing flood was led Abundant through the new-cut bed, Which by the running stream supplied With ocean's boundless waters vied. In dry arid thirsty spots they sank Full many a well and ample tank, And altars round about them placed To deck the station in the waste. With well -wrought plaster smoothly spread. With bloomy trees that rose o'erhead, With banners waving in the air, And wild birds singing here and there, With fragrant sandal -water wet, With many a flower beside it set, Like the Gods' heavenly pathway showed That mighty host's imperial road. Deft workmen, chosen for their skill To do the high-souled Bharat's will, In every pleasant spot where grew Trees of sweet fruit and fair to view, As he commanded, toiled to grace With all delights his camping-place. And they who read the stars, and well Each lucky sign and hour could tell, Raised carefully the tented shade Wherein high-minded Bharat stayed. With ample space of level ground, With broad deep moat encompassed round; Like Mandar in his towering pride, With streets that ran from side to side; Enwreathed with many a palace tall Surrounded by its noble wall; With roads by skilful workmen made, Where many a glorious banner played; With stately mansions, where the dove Sat nestling in her cote above. Rising aloft supremely fair Like heavenly cars that float in air, Ea3h camp in beauty and in bliss Matched Indra's own metropolis. ^ As shines the heaven on some fair night With moon and constellations filled, The prince's royal road was bright, Adorned by art of workmen skilled.
CANTO LXXXL THE ASSEMBLY.
Ere yet the dawn had ushered in The day should see the march begin, Herald and bard who rightly knew Each ni3e degree of honour due, Their loud auspicious voices raised, And royal Bharat blessed and praised. With sticks of gold the drum they smote, Which thundered out its deafening note, Blew loud the sounding shell, and blent Each high and low -toned instrument. The mingled sound of drum and horn Through all the air was quickly borne, And as in Bharat's ear it rang, Gave the sad prince another pang.
Then Bharat, starting from repose, Stilled the glad sounds that round him rose, ' I am not king: no more mistake: ' Then to Satrughna thus he spake: ' O see what general wrongs succeed Sprung from Kaikeyi's evil deed! Dhe king my sire has died and thrown <>esh miseries on me alone. ?he royal bliss, on duty based, Which' our just high-souled father graced, Wanders in doubt and sore distress _,ike a tossed vessel rudderless. And he who was our lordly stay Roams in the forest far away, Expelled by this my mother, who To duty's law is most untrue.'
As royal Bharat thus gave vent To bitter grief in wild lament, Gazing upon his face the crowd Of pitying women wept aloud. His lamentation scarce was o'er, When Saint Vasishtha, skilled in lore Of royal duty, dear to fame, To join the great assembly came. Girt by disciples ever true Still nearer to that hall he drew, Resplendent, heavenly to behold, Adorned with wealth of gems and gold: E'en so a man in duty tried Draws near to meet his virtuous bride. He reached his golden seat o'eiiaid With coverlet of rich brocade, There sat, in all the Vedas read, And called the messengers, and said: 4 Go forth, let Brahman, Warrior, peer, And every captain gather here: Let all attentive hither throng: to, hasten: we delay too long, atrughna, glorious Bharat bring, The noble children of the king^ i The commentator says ' batrughna accompanied by the other sons of the king.
THE RAMAYAN.
tioolc II.
Yudhajit1 and Sumantra, all The truthful and the virtuous call.' He ended: soon a mighty sound Of thickening tumult rose around, As to the hall they bent their course With car, and elephant, and horse, The people all with glad acclaim Welcomed Prince Bliarat as he came: E'en as they loved their king to greet, Or as the Gods Lord Indra2 meet. The vast assembly shone as fair With Bharat's kingly face As Dasaratha's self were there To glorify the place.- It gleamed like some unruffled lake Where monsters huge of mould With many a snake their pastime take O'er shells, sand, gems, and gold.
CANTO LXXXIL THE DEPARTURE.
The prudent prince the assembly viewed Thronged with its noble multitude, Resplendent as a cloudless night When the full moon is in his "height; While robes of every varied hue A glory o'er the synod threw. The priest in lore of duty skilled Looked on the crowd the hall that tilled, And then in accents soft and grave To Bharat thus his counsel gave: ' The king, dear son, so good and wise, Has gone from earth and gained the skies, Leaving to thee, her rightful lord, This rich wide land with foison stored. And still has faithful Rama stood Firm to the duty of the good, And kept his father's hest aright, As the c?oon keeps its own dear light. Thus sire and brother yield to thee This realm from all annoyance free: Rejoice thy lords: enjoy thine own: Anointed king, ascend the throne. Let vassal Princes hasten forth From distant lands, west, south, and north, From Kerala,3 from every sea, And bring ten million gems to thee.' As thus the sage Vasishtha spoke, A storm of grief o'er Bharat broke. And longing to be just and true, 1 Not Bharat's uncle, but somecouncillor.
* Satakratu, Lord of a hundred sacrifices, the performance of a hundred Asvamedhas or sacrifices of a horse entitling the sacri- ficer to this exalted dignity.
8 The modern Malabar.
His thoughts to duteous Rama flew.
With sobs arid sighs and broken tones, E'en as a wounded mallard moans, He mourned with deepest sorrow moved, And thus the holy priest reproved: ' O, how can such as Bharat dare The power and sway from him to tear, Wise, and devout, and true, and chaste, With Scripture lore and virtue graced?
Can one of Dasaratha's seed Be guilty of so vile a deed?
The realm and I are Kama's: thou Shouldst speak the words of justice now.
For he, to claims of virtue true, Is eldest born and noblest too: Nahush, Dilipa could not be More famous in their lives than he.
As Dasaratha ruled of right, So Rama's is the power and right.
If I should do this sinful deed And forfeit hope of heavenly meed, My guilty act would dim the shine Of old Ikshvaku's glorious line.
Nay, as the sin my mother wrought Is grievous to my inmost thought, I here, my hands together laid, Will greet him in the pathless shade.
To Rama shall my steps be bent, My King, of men most excellent, Raghu's illustrious son, whose sway Might hell, and earth, and heaven obey.'
That righteous speech, whose every word Bore virtue's stamp, the audience heard; On Rama every thought was set, And with glad tears each eye was wet. Then, if the power I still should lack To bring my noble brother back, [ in the wood will dwell, and share 3 is banishment with Lakshman there. 3y every art persuasive I To bring hirn from the wood will try, And show him to your loving eyes. 3 Brahmans noble, good, and wise. E'en now, the road to make and clear, Sach labourer pressed, and pioneer lave I sent forward to precede ['he army I resolve to lead.'
Thus, by fraternal love possessed, 3is firm resolve the prince expressed, hen to Sumantra, deeply read n holy texts, he turned and said: Sumantra, rise without delay, nd as 1 bid my words obey. ive orders for the march with speed, .nd all the army hither lead.' The wise Sumantra, thus addressed, beyed the high-souled chief's behest, le hurried forth with joy inspired Ind gave the orders he desired. )elight each soldier's bosom filled, And through each chief and captain thrilled, Canto LXXXIIL THE RAMAYAN.
To hear that march proclaimed, to bring .Hear llama back from wandering". From house to house the tidings flew; Each soldier's wife the order knew, And as she listened blithe and gay Her husband urged to speed away. Captain and soldier soon declared The host equipped and all prepared With chariots matching thought for speed And wagons drawn by ox and steed. When Bharat by Vasishtha's side, His ready host of warriors eyed. Thus in Sumantra's ear he spoke: * My car and horses quickly yoke.' Surnantra hastened to fulfil With ready jov his master's will, And quickly with the chariot sped Drawn by fleet horses nobly bred. Then glorious Bharat, true, devout, Whose genuine valour none could doubt. Gave in fit words his order out; For he would seek the shade Of the great distant wood, and there Win his dear brother with his prayer: ' Surnantra, haste! my will declare The host be all arrayed. I to the wood my way will take, To Rama supplication make, And for the world's advantage sake, Will lead him home again.' Then, ordered thus, the charioteer Who listened with delighted ear, Went forth and gave his orders clear To captains of the train. He gave the popular chiefs the word, And with the news his friends he stirred, And not a single man deferred Preparing for the road. Then Brahman, Warrior, Merchant, thrall, Obedient to Sumantra's call, Each in his house arose, and all Yoked elephant or camel tall, Or ass or noble steed in stall, And full appointed showed.
CANTO LXXXIIL THE JOURNEY BEGUN.
Then Bharat rose at early morn, And in his noble chariot borne Drove forward at a rapid pace Eager to look on Rama's face.
The priests and lords, a fair array, In sun -bright chariots led the way.
Behind, a well appointed throng, Nine thousand elephants streamed along.
Then sixty thousand cars, and then, With various arms, came fighting men.
A hundred thousand archers showed In lengthened line the steeds they rode—' A mighty host, the march to grace Of Bharat, pride of Raghu's race. Kaikeyi and Sumitra came, And good Kausalya, dear to fame: By hopes of Rama's coming cheered They in a radiant car appeared. On fared the noble host to see Rama and Lakshmaij, wild with glee, And still each other's ear to please, Of Rama spoke in words like these: * When shall our happy eyes behold Our hero true, and pure, and bold, So lustrous dark, so strong of arm, Who keeps the world from woe and harm? The tears that now our eyeballs dim Will vanish at the sight of him, As the whole world's black shadows fly When the bright sun ascends the sky.' Conversing tnus their way pursued The city's joyous multitude, And each in mutual rapture pressed A friend or neighbour to his breast* Thus every man of high renown, And every merchant of the town, And leading subjects, joyous went Toward Rama in his banishment. And those who worked the potter's wheel, And artists skilled in gems to deal; And masters of the weaver's art, And those who shaped the sword and dart; And they who golden trinkets made, And those who plied the fuller's trade; And servants trained the bath to heat, And they who dealt in incense sweet; Physicians in their business skilled.
And those who wine and mead distilled; And workmen deft in glass who wrought, And those whose snares the peacock caught; With them who bored the ear for rings, Or sawed, or fashioned ivory things: And those who knew to mix cement, Or lived by sale of precious scent; And men who washed, and men who sewed, And thralls who mid the herds abode; And fishers of the flood, and they Who played and sang, and women gay j And virtuous Brahmaus, Scripture-wise, Of life approved in all men's eyes; These swelled the prince's lengthened train, Borne each in car or bullock wain. Fair were the robes they wore upon Their limbs where red-hued unguents shone. These all in various modes conveyed Their journey after Bharat made; The soldiers' hearts with rapture glowed, Following Bharat on his road Their chief whose tender love would fain Bring his dear brother home again. With elephant, and horse, and car, The vast procession travelledjfar, THE RAM AY AN.
Book II.
And came where Ganga's waves below The town of Sringavera1 flow.
There, with his friends and kinsmen nigh, Dwelt Guha, Rama's dear ally, Heroic guardian of the land With dauntless heart and ready hand.
There for a while the mighty force That followed Bharat stayed its course, Gazing on Ganga's bosom stirred By many a graceful water-bird.
When Bharat viewed his followers there, And Ganga's water, blest and fair, The prince, who lore of words possessed, His councillors and lords addressed: * The captains of the army call: Proclaim this day a halt for all, That so to-morrow, rested, we May cross this flood that seeks the sea.
Meanwhile, descending to the shore, The funeral stream I fain would pour From Ganga's fair auspicious tide To him, my father glorified.'
Thus Bharat spoke: each peer and lord Approved his words with one accord, And bade the weary troops repose In separate spots where'er they chose. There by the mighty stream that day, Most glorious in its vast array The prince's wearied army lay In various groups reclined. There Bharat's hours of night were spent, While every eager thought he bent On bringing home from banishment His brother, great of mind.
CANTO LXXXIV.
GUHAS ANGER.
King Guha saw the host spread o'er The wide expanse of Ganga's shore, With waving flag and pennon graced, And to his followers spoke in haste: 4 A mighty army meets my eyes, That rivals Ocean's self in size: Where'er I look my very mind No limit to the host can find. Sure Bharat with some evil thought His army to our land has brought. See, huge of form, his flag he rears, That like an Ebony-tree appears. He comes with bonds to take and chain, Or triumph o'er our people slain: And after. Rama will he slay, — Him whom his father drove away: The power complete he longs to gain. And — task too hard — usurp the reign.
1 Now district.
Sungroor, in the Allahabad So Bharat comes with wicked will His brother Rama's blood to spill. But Rama's slave and friend am I; He is my lord and dear ally. Keep here your watch in arms arrayed Near Ganga's flood to lend him aid. And let my gathered servants stand And line with troops the river strand. Here let the river keepers meet. Who fle*h and roots and berries eat; A hundred fishers man each boat Of the five hundred here afloat, And let the youthful and the strong Assemble in defensive throng. But yet, if, free from guilty thought 'Gainst Rama, he this land have sought, The prince's happy host to day Across the flood shall make its way.'
He spoke: then bearing in a dish A gift of honey, meat, and fish, The king of the Nishadas drew Toward Bharat for an interview. When Bharat's noble charioteer Observed the monarch hastening near, He duly, skilled in courteous lore, The tidings to his master bore: * This aged prince who hither bends His footsteps with a thousand friends, Knows, firm ally of Rama, all That may in Dandak wood bf fall I: Therefore, Kakutstha's son, admit The monarch, as is right and fit: For doubtless he can clearly tell Where Kama now and Lakshman dwell.'
When Bharat heard Sumantra*'s rede, To his fair words the prince agreed: 'Go quickly forth,' he cried, 'and bring Before my face the aged king.' King Guha, with his kinsmen near, Rejoiced the summoning to hear: He nearer drew, bowed low his head, And thus to royal Bharat said: 'No mansions can our country boast, And unexpected comes thy host: But what we have 1 give thee all: Rest in the lodging of thy thrall. See. the Nishadas here have brought The fruit and roots their hands have sought: And we have woodland fare beside, And store of meat both fresh and dried. To rest their weary limbs, I pray This night at least thy host may stay: Then cheered with all we can bestow To-morrow thou with it mayst go.'
CANTO LXXXV.
GUHA AND BHARAT.
Thus the Nishadas' king besought: The prince with spirit wisdom-fraught Canto LXXXVI.
THE RAMA Y AN.
Replied in seemly words that blent Deep matter with the argument: ' Thou, friend of him whom I revere, With honours high hast met me here, For thou alone wouldst entertain And feed to-day so vast a train.'
In such fair words the prince replied, Then, pointing to the path he cried: ' Which way aright will lead my feet To Bharadvaja's calm retreat; For all this land near Ganga s streams Pathless and hard to traverse seems? ' Thus spoke the prince: King Guha heard Delighted every prudent word, And gazing on that forest wide, Raised suppliant hands, and thus replied: ' My servants, all the ground who know, 0 glorious Prince, with thee shall go With constant care thy way to guide, And I will journey by thy side.
But this thy host so wide d is p read Wakes in my heart one doubt and dread, Lest, threatening Kama good and great, 111 thoughts thy journey stimulate.' But when King Guha, ill at ease, Declared his fear in words like these, As pure as is the cloudless sky With soft voice Bharat made reply: 4 Suspect me not: ne'er come the time For me to plot so foul a crime! He is my eldest brother, he Is like a father dear to me.
1 go to lead my brother thence Wiio makes the wood his residence.
ISIo thought but this thy heart should frame: This simple truth my lips proclaim.'
Then with glad cheer King Guha cried, With Bharat's answer gratilied: ' Blessed art thou: on earth I see None who may vie, O Prince, with thee, Who canst of thy free will resign The kingdom which unsought is thine. For this, a name that ne'er shall die, Thy glory through the worlds shall fly, Who fain wouldst balm thy brother's pain And lead the exile home again.'
As Guha thus, and Bharat, each To other spoke in friendly speech, The Day-God sank with glory dead, And night o'er all the sky was spread, Soon as King Guha's thoughtful care Had quartered all the army there, Well honoured, Bharat laifi his head Beside Satrughna on a bed. But grief for Rama yet oppressed High-minded Bharat's faithful breast- Such torment little was deserved By him who ne'er from duty swerved. The fever raged through every vein And burnt him with its inward pain: So when in woods the flames leap free The fire within consumes the tree, From heat of burning anguish sprung The sweat upon his body hung, As when the sun with fervid glow On high Himalaya melts the snow. As, banished from the herd, a bull Wanders alone and sorrowful, Thus sighing and distressed, In misery and bitter grief, With fevered heart that mocked relief, Distracted in his mind, the chief Still mourned and found no rest.
CANTO LXXXVI.
GUHA'S SPEECH.
Guha the king, acquainted well With all that in the wood befell, To Bharat the unequalled told The tale of Lakshman mighty -souled: ' With many an earnest word I spake To Lakshman as he stayed awake, And with his bow and shaft in hand To guard his brother kept his stand: 1 Now sleep a little, Lakshman, see This pleasant bed is strewn for thee: Hereon thy weary body lay, And strengthen thee with rest, I pray, Inured to toil are men like these, But thou hast aye been nursed in ease.
Rest, duteous-minded! I will keep My watch while Rama lies asleep: For in the whole wide world is none Dearer to me than Raghu's son.
Harbour no doubt or jealous fear: I speak the truth with heart sincere: For from the grace which he has shown Will glory on my name be thrown; Great store of merit shall I gain, And duteous, form no wish in vain.
Let me enforced by many a row Of followers, armed with shaft and bow For well -loved Rama's weal provide Who lies asleep by Sita's side.
For through this wood I often go, And all its shades conceal I know: And we with conquering arms can meet A four-fold host arrayed complete.'
' With words like these I spoke, designed To move the high-souled Bharat's mind, But he upon his duty bent, Plied his persuasive argument: ' O, how can slumber close mine eyea When lowly couched with Sita liea The royal Rama? can I give My heart to joy, or even live?
He whom no mighty demon, no, Nor heavenly God can overthrow, See, Guha, how he lies, alas, THE RAMADAN.
Book II.
With Sit& couched on gathered grass.
By varied labours, long, severe, By many a prayer and rite austere, He, Dasaratha's cherished son, By JFortunestarnpedjfrom Heaven was won.
Now as his son is forced to fly, The king ere long will surely die: Heft of his guardian hand, forlorn In widowed grief this land will mourn.
E'en now perhaps, with toil o'erspent, The women cease their loud lament, And cries of woe no longer ring Throughout the palace of the king.
But ah for sad Kausalya! how Fare she and mine own mother now?
How fares the king? this night, I think, Some of the three in death will sink.
With hopes upon £atrughna set My mother may survive as yet, But the sad queen will die who bore The hero, for her grief is sore.
His cherished wish that would have made Dear Rama king, so long delayed, * Too late! too late! ' the king will cry, And conquered by his misery die.
When Fate has brought the mournful day Which sees my father pass away, How happy in their lives are they Allowed his funeral rites to pay.
Our excile o'er^ with him who ne'er Turns from the oath his lips may swear, May we returning safe and well Again in fair Ayodhya dwell.'
Thus Bharat stood with mai.y a sigh Lamenting, and the night went by.
Soon as the morning light shone fair In votive coils both bound their hair* And then I sent them safely o'er A iid left them on the farther shore.
With Sita then they onward passed, Their coats of bark about them cast^ Their locks like hermits' bound, The mighty tamers of the foe, Each with his arrows and his bow, Went over the rugged ground, Proud in their strength and undeterred Like elephants that lead the nerd, And gazing oft around.
CANTO LXXXVIL GUHA'S STORY.
That speech of Guha Bharat heard With grief and tender pity stirred, And as his ears the story drank, Deep in his thoughtful heart it sank, His large full eyes in anguish rolled, His trembling limbs grew stiff and cold; Then fell he, like a tree uptorn, In woe too grievous to be borne. When Guha saw the long- armed chief Whose eye was like a lotus leaf, With lion shoulders strong and fair, I High -mettled, prostrate in despair,— ' Pale, bitterly afflicted; he Reeled as in earthquake reels a tree. But when S^abrughna standing nigh Saw his dear brother helpless lie, Distraught with woe his head he bowed* Embraced him oft and wept aloud. Then Bharat's mothers came, forlorn Of their dear king, with fasting worn, And stood with weeping eyes around The hero prostrate on the ground. Kausalya, by her woe oppressed, The senseless Bharat's limbs caressed, As a fond cow in love and fear Caresses oft her youngling dear: Then yielding to her woe she saidj Weeping and sore disquieted: ' What torments j O my son, are these Of sudden pain or swift disease? The lives of us and all the line Depend, dear child, on only thine. Rama and Lakshman forced to flee1, I live by naught but seeing thee: For as the king has past away Thou art my only help to-day. Hast thou, perchance, heard evil news Of Lakshmap, which thy soul subdues, Or Rama dwelling with his spouse— My all is he— neath forest boughs?'
Then slowly gathering sense and strength The weeping hero rose at length, And words like these to Guha spake, That bade Kausalya comfort take: ' Where lodged the prince that night? and where Lakshman the brave, and Sita fair? Show me the couch whereon he lay$ Tell me the food he ate, I pray.' Then Guha the Nishadas' king Replied to Bharat's questioning: < Of all I had I brought the best To serve my good and honoured guest Food of each varied kind I chose, And every fairest fruit that grows. Rama the hero truly brave Declined the gift 1 humbly gave: His Warrior part he ne'er forgot, And what I brought accepted not: ' No gifts, my friend, may we accept t Our law is, Give, and must be kept.' ' The high-souled chief, O Monarch, thtia With gracious words persuaded us. Then calm and still, absorbed in thought, He drank the water Lakshman brought, And then, obedient to his vows, He fasted with his gentle spouse. J5o Lakshman too from food abstained, Canto LXXXVIII.
THE RAM AY AN.
And sipped the water that remained: Then with ruled lips, devoutly staid, The three1 their evening worship paid. Then Lakshman with unwearied care Brought heaps of sacred grass, and there With his own hands he quickly spread, For Rama's rest, a pleasant bed, And faithful Sita's too, where they Reclining each by other lay. Then Lakshman bathed their feet, and drew A little distance from the two. Here stands the tree which lent them shade, Here is the grass beneath it laid. Where Rama and his consort spent The uight together ere they went. Lakshman, whose arms the foeman quell. Watched all the night as sentinel, And kept his great bow strung: His hand was gloved, his arm was braced, TWO well- tilled quivers at his waist, With deadly arrows, hung. I took my shafts and trusty bow, And with that tamer of the foe Stood ever wakeful near, And with my followers, bow in hand, Behind me ranged, a ready band, Kept watch o'er Indra's peer.'
CANTO LXXXVIII.
THE INGUDr TREE, When Bharat with each friend and peer Had heard that tale so full and clear, They went together to the tree The bed which Rama pressed to see.
Then Bharat to his mothers said: * Behold the high-souled hero's bed: These tumbled heaps of grass betray Where he that night with Sita lay: Unmeet, the heir of fortune high Thus on the cold bare earth should He, The monarch's son, in counsel sage, Of old imperial lineage.
That lion- lord whose noble bed With finest skins of deer was spread,— <• How can he now endure to press The bare earth, cold and comfortless!
This sudden fall from bliss to grief Appears untrue, beyond belief: My senses are distraught: I seem To view the fancies of a dream.
There is no deity so great, No power in heaven can master Fate, Jf Rama, Dasaratha's heir, Lay on the ground and slumbered there; And lovely Sit6, she who springs From fair Videha's ancient kings, 1 Rama, Lakshman, and Sumantra.
Rama's dear wife, by all adored, Lay on the earth beside her lord.
Here was his couch, upon this heap He tossed and turned in restless sleep: On the hard soil each manly limb Has stamped the grass witli signs of him, That night, it seems, fair Sita spent Arrayed in every ornament, For here and there my eyes behold Small particles of glistering gold.
She laid her outer garment her^?
For still some silken threads appear.
How dear in her devoted eyes Must be the bed where Rama lies, Where she so tender could repose And by his side forget her woes.
Alas, unhappy, guilty me!
For whom the prince was forced to flee, And chief of Raghu's sons and best, A bed like this with Sita pressed.
Son of a royal sire whose hand Ruled paramount o'er eyery land, Could he who every joy bestows, Whose body like the lotus shows.
The friend of all, who charms the sight, Whose flashing eyes are darkly bright, Leave the dear kingdom, his by right.
Unmeet for woe. the heir of bliss, And lie upon a bed like this?
Great joy and happy fate are thine, 0 Lakshman, marked with each fair sign, Whose faithful footsteps follow still Thy brother in his hour of ill.
And blest is Sita, nobly good.
Who dwells with Rama in the wood.
Ours is, alas, a doubtful fate Of Rama reft and desolate.
My royal sire has gained tfye skiee, In woods the high-souled hero lies; The state is wrecked and tempest-tossed, A vessel with her rudder lost.
Yet none in secret thought has planned With hostile might to seize the land: Though forced in distant wilds to dwell, The hero's arm protects it well.
Unguarded, with deserted wall, No elephant or steed in stall, My father's royal city shows Her portals open to her foes, Of bold protectors reft and bare, Defenceless in her dark despair: But still her foes the wish restrain, As men from poisoned cates refrain.
1 from this hour my nights will pass Couched on the earth or gathered grass, Eat only fruit and roots, and wear A coat of bark, and matted hair. I in the woods will pass, content, For him the term of banishment; So shall I still unbroken save The promise which the hero gave, THE RAM AY AN.
Boole II While I remain for Rama there, datnighua will my exile share, And Kama hi his home again, With Lakshman, o'er Ayodhya reign, For him,,o rule* and guard the state, The twice-born men shall consecrate. O, may the Gods 1 serve incline To grant this earnest wish of mine! If when I bow before his feet And with all moving arts entreat, He still deny my prayer, Then with my brother will I live: He must, he must permission give, ttoaining in forests there.'
CANTO LXXXIX.
THE PASSAGE OF GANGA.
That night the son of Raghu lay On Ganga's bank till break of day: Then with the earliest light he woke And thus to brave ^atrughna spoke: 4 Rise up, £atrughna, from thy bed: Why sleepest thou? the night is fled. See how the sun who chases night Wakes every lotus with his light. Arise, arise, and first of all The lord of &rmgavera call, For he his friendly aid will lend Our army o'er the flood to send.'