Beneath his feet the sandals laid, And these with fond affection gave To Bharat's hand, the good and brave. Then Hliarat bowed his reverent head And thus again to Rama said: Through fourteen seasons will I wear The hermit's clre'ss and matted hair: With fruit and roots my life sustain, And still beyond the realm remain, Longing for thee to come again. The rule and all affairs of state L to these shoes will delegate. And if, O tamer of thy foes. When fourteen years have reached their close, I see thee not that day return, The kindled fire my frame shall burn.'
Then Rama to his bosom drew Dear Bharat and Satrughna too: ' Be, never wroth,' he cried, ' with her, Kaikeyi's guardian minister: This, glory of Jkshvaku's line, Is Sita's earnest prayer-and mine.' He spoke, and as the big tears fell, To his dear brother bade farewell. Round RAma, Bharat strong and bold In humble reverence paced, When the bright sandals wrought with gold Above his brows were placed. The royal elephant who led The glorious pomp he found, And on the monster's mighty head Those sandals duly bound. Then noble Rama, born to swell The glories of his race, To all in order bade farewell With love and tender grace— To brothers, counsellers, and peers,— Still firm, in duty proved, Firm, as the Lord of Snow uprears His mountains unremoved. No queen, for choking 8obs and sighs, Could say her last adieu: Then Rama bowed, with flooded eyes, And to his cot withdrew.
CANTO CXIII. BHARAT'S RETURN.
Bearing the sandals on his head Away triumphant Bharat sped, And clomb, Satrughna by his side, The car wherein he wont to ride. Before the mighty army went The lords for counsel eminent, Vasishtha, Varnadeva next, J&valij pure with prayer aud text Canto CXIV.
THE RAMA7AN.
Then from that lovely river they Turned eastward on their homeward way: With reverent steps from left to right They circled Chitrakuta's height. And viewed his peaks on every side With stains of thousand metals dyed. Then Bharat saw, not far away. Where Bhardvaja's dwelling lay, And when the chieftain bold and sage Had reached that holy hermitage, Down from the car he sprang to greet The saint, and bowed before his feet. High rapture filled the hermit's breast, Who thus the royal prince addressed: 1 Say, Bharat, is thy duty done? Hast thou with Rama met, my son? ' The chief whose soul to virtue clave This answer to the hermit gave: ' I prayed him with our holy guide: But Raghu's son our prayer denied, And long besought by both of us lie answered Saint Vasishtha thus: 'True to my vow, I still will be Observant of my sire's decree: Till fourteen years complete their course That promise shall remain in force.' The saint in highest wisdom taught, These solemn words with wisdom fraught, To him in lore of language learned Most eloquent himself returned: ' Obey my rede: let Bharat hold This pair of sandals decked with gold: They in Ayodbya shall ensure Our welfare, and our bliss necure.' When Kama heard the royal priest He rose, and looking to the east Consigned the sandals to my hand That they for him might guard the land. Then from the high-souled chief's abode I turned upon my homeward road, Dismissed by him, and now this pair Of sandals to Ayodhya bear.'
To iiim the hermit thus replied, By Bharat's tidings gratified: • No marvel thoughts so just and true, Thou best of all who right pursue, Should dwell in thee. () Prince of men, As waters gather in the glen. He is not dead: we mourn in vain: Thy blessed father lives again, Whose noble son we thus behold Like Virtue's self in human mould.'
He ceased: before him Bharat fell To clasp his feet, and said farewell: HLs reverent steps around him bent, -And onward to Ayodhya went. His host of followers stretching far With many an elephant and car, Waggon and steed, and mighty train, Traversed their homeward way again, O'er holy Yamuna they sped, Fair stream, with waves engarlaDded, And then once more the rivers' queen, The blessed Ganga's self was seen. Then making o'er that flood his way, Where crocodiles and monsters lay, The king to Sringavera drew His host and royal retinue. His onward way he thence pursued, And soon renowned Ayodhya viewed. Then burnt by woe and sad of cheer Bharat addressed the charioteer: * Ah, see, Ayodhya dark and sad, Her glory gone, once bright and glad: Of joy and beauty reft, forlorn, In silent grief she seems to mourn.'
CANTO CXIV.
BHARAT'S DEPARTURE.
Deep, pleasant was the chariot's sound As royal Bharat, far renowned, Whirled by his mettled coursers fast Within Ayodhya's city passed. There dark and drear was every home Where cats and owls had space to roam, As when the shades of midnight fall Witli blackest gloom, and cover all: As Rohini, dear spouse of him Whom Rahu hates,1 grows faint and dim, When, as she shines on high alone The demon's shade is o'er her thrown; As burnt by summer's heat a rill Scarce trickling from her parent hill, With dying fish in pools half dried, And fainting birds upon her side: As sacrificial flames arise When holy oil their food supplies, But when no more the fire is fed Sink lustreless and cold and dead: Like some brave host that filled the plain, With harness rent and captains slain, When warrior, elephant, and steed Mingled in wild confusion bleed: As when, all spent her store of worth, Hocks from her base the loosened earth: Like a sad fallen star no more Wearing the lovely light it wore: So mournful in her lost estate Was that sad town disconsolate, Then car-borne Bharat, good and brave, Thus spake to him the steeds who drave: 4 Why are Ayodhya's streets so rnute? Where is the voice of lyre and lute? Why sounds not, as of old, to-day The music of the minstrel's lay?
1 The spouse of Rohini is the Moon: Rahu is the demon who causes eclipse*, THE RAM AT AN.
Boole II.
Where are the wreaths they used to twine? Where are the blossoms and the wine? Where is the cool refreshing scent Of sandal dust with aloe blent? The elephant's impatient roar, The din of ca.rs, I hear no more: No more the horse's pleasant neigh Kings out to meet me on my way. Ayodhya's youths, since Rama's flight, Have lost their relish for delight: Her men roam forth no more, nor care Bright garlands round their necks to wear. All grieve for banished Rama: feast, And revelry and song have ceased: Like a black night when floods pour down, So dark and gloomy is the town. When will he come to make them gay Like some auspicious holiday? When will my brother, like a cloud At summer's close, make glad the crowd?'
Then through the streets the hero rode, And passed within his sire's abode, Like some deserted lion's den, Forsaken by the lord of men. Then to the inner bowers he came, Once happy home of many a dame, Now gloomy, sad, and drear, Dark as of old that sunless day When wept the Gods in wild dismay; 1 There poured he many a tear.
CANTO CXV.
Then when the pious chief had seen Lodged in her home each widowed queen, Still with his burning grief oppressed His holy guides he thus addressed: ' I go to Nundigram: adieu, This day, my lords to all of you: I go, my load of grief to bear, Reft of the son of Raghu, there. The king my sire, alas, is dead, And Rama to the forest fled; There will I wait till he, restored, Shall rule the realm, its rightful lord.' They heard the high-souled prince's speech, And thus with ready answer each >f those great lords their cheif addressed, 4< l 'Once,' says the Commentator Tirtha» {° *£e battle between the Gods and demons the Gods were vanquished, and the sun was overthrown by Kahu. At the request >f the Gods Atri undertook the manage- ment of the sun for a week.'
* Now Nundgaon, in Oudh, With saint Vasishtha and the rest: 4 Good are the words which thou hast said, By brotherly affection led, Like thitie own self, a faithful friend, True to thy brother to the end: A heart like thine must all approve, Which naught from virtue's path can move.'
Soon as the words he loved to hear Fell upon Bharat's joyful ear, Thus to the charioteer he spoke: ' My car with speed, Sumantra. yoke.' Then Bharat with delighted mien Obeisance paid to every queen, And with Satrughna by his side Mounting the car away he hied. With lords, and priests in long array The brothers hastened on their way. And the great pomp the Brahmans led With Saint Vasishpha at their head. Then every face was eastward beiit As on to Nundigrani they went. Behind the army followed, all Unsummoned by their leader's call, And steeds and elephants and men Streamed forth with every citizen. As Bharat in his chariot rode His heart with love fraternal glowed, And with the sandals on his head To Nundigram he quickly sped. Within the town he swiftly pressed, Alighted, and his guides addressed: ' To me in trust my brother's hand Consigned the lordship of the land, When he these gold-wrought sandals gave As emblems to protect and save.' Then Bharat bowed, and from his head The sacred pledge deposited, And thus to all the people cried Who ringed him round on every side; 1 Haste, for these sandals quickly bring The canopy that shades the king. Pay ye to them all reverence meet As to my elder brother's feet, For they will right and law maintain Until King Rama come again.
My brother with a loving mind These sandals to my charge consigned: I till he come will guard with care The sacred trust for liaghu's heir. My watchful task will soon be done, The pledge restored to Raghu's son; Then shall I see, his wanderings o'er, These sandals on his feet once more. My brother I shall meet at last, The burthen from my shoulders cast; To Rama's hand the realm restore And serve my elder as before. When Rama takes again this pair Of sandals kept with pious care. And here his glorious reign begins, I shall be cleansed from all my sins, Canto CXVL THE RAM AY AN.
When the glad people's voices ring With welcome to the new-made king, Joy will be mine four- fold as great As if supreme 1 ruled the state.'
Thus humbly spoke in sad lament The chief in fame preeminent: Thus, by his reverent lords obeyed, At Nandigram the kingdom swayed. With hermit's dress and matted hair He dwelt with all his army there. The sandals of his brother's feet Installed upon the royal seat, He, all his powers to them referred, Affairs of state administered, In every care, in every task, Wheri golden store was brought, He first, as though their rede to ask, Those royal sandals sought.
CANTO CXVI.
THE HERMIT'S SPEECH.
When Bharat took his homeward road Still Rama in the wood abode: But soon he marked the fear and care That darkened all the hermits there. For all who dwelt before the hill Were sad with dread of coming ill: Each holy brow was lined by thought, And Rama's side they often sought. With gathering frowns the prince they eyed, And then withdrew and talked aside.
Then Raghu's son with anxions breast The leader of the saints addressed: ' Can aught that I have done displease, O reverend Sage, the devotees? Why are their loving looks, O say, Thus sadly changed or turned away? Has Lakshman through his want of heed Offended with 'unseemly deed? Or is the gentle Sita, she Who loved to honour you and me— Is she the cause of this offence, Failing in lowly reverence? ' One sage, o'er whom, exceeding old, Had many a year of penance rolled, Trembling in every aged limb Thus for the rest replied to him: * How could we, O beloved, blame Thy lof ty-souled Videhan dame, Who in the good of all delights, And more than all of anchorites? But yet through thee a numbing dread Of fiends among our band has spread; Obstructed by the demons' art The trembling hermits talk apart. For Ravan's brother, overbold, Named Khara, of gigantic mould, Vexes with fury fierce and fell All those in Janasthan1 who dwell.
Resistless in his cruel deeds, On flesh of men the monster feeds: Sinful and arrogant is he, And looks with special hate on thee.
Since thou, beloved son, hast made Thy home within this holy shade, The fiends have vexed with wilder rage The dwellers of the hermitage.
In many a wild and dreadful form Around the trembling saints they swarm, With hideous shape and foul disguise Their terrify our holy eyes.
They make our loathing souls endure Insult and scorn and sights impure, And Hocking round the altars stay The holy rites we love to pay.
In every spot throughout the grove With evil thoughts the monsters rove, Assailing with their secret might Each unsuspecting" anchorite.
Ladle and dish away they fling, Our fires with floods extinguishing, And when the sacred flame should burn They trample on each water-urn.
Now when they see their sacred wood Plagued by this impious brotherhood, The troubled saints away would roam And seek in other shades a home: Hence will we fly, 0 Kama, ere The cruel fiends our bodies tear.
Not far away a forest lies Rich in the roots and fruit we prize, To this will I and all repair And join the holy hermits there: Be wise, and with us thither flee Before this Khara injure thee.
Mighty art thou, 0 Rama, yet Each day with peril is beset.
If with thy consort by thy side Thou in this wood wilt still abide.'
He ceased: the words the hero spake The hermit's purpose failed to break: To Raghu's son farewell he said, And blessed the chief and comforted; .Then with the rest the holy sage Departed from the hermitage.
So from the wood the saints withdrew, And Rama bidding all adieu In lowly reverence bent: Instructed by their friendly speech, Blest with the gracious love of each, To his pure home he went. Nor would the son of Raghu stray A moment from that grove away From which the saints had fled. And many a hermit thither came Attracted by his saintly fame And the pure life he led.
1 A part of the great Dandak forest, THE RAM AY AN.
Boole IL CANTO CXVII.
ANASU'YA', But dwelling in that lonely spot Left by the hermits pleased him not.
' I met the faithful Bharat here, The townsmen, and my mother dear: The painful memory lingers yet, And stings me with a vain regret.
And here the host of Bharat camped, And many a courser here has stamped, And elephants with ponderous feet Have trampled through the calm retreat.1 So forth to seek a home he hied, His spouse and Lakshman by his side, He came to Atri's pure retreat, Paid reverence to his holy feet, And from the saint such welcome won As a fond father gives his son.
The noble prince with joy unfeigned As a dear guest he entertained, And cheered the glorious Lakshman too And Sita with observance due.
Then Anasuya at the call Of him who sought the good of all, His blameless venerable spouse, Delighting in her holy vows, Canie from her chamber to his side: To her the virtuous hermit cried: * Receive, 1 pray, with friendly grace This dame of Maithil monarchs' race; To Rama next made known his wife, The devotee of saintliest life: ' Ten thousand years this votaress bent On sternest rites of penance spent; She when the clouds withheld their rain, And drought ten years consumed the plain, Caused grateful roots and fruit to grow And ordered Gauga here to flow: So from their cares the saints she freed, Nor let these checks their rites impede.
She wrought in Heaven's behalf, and made Ten nights of one, the Gods to aid:1 Let holy Anasuya be An honoured mother, Prince, to thee.
Let thy Videhan spjuae draw near To her whom all that live revere, Stricken in years, whose loving mind Is slow to wrath and ever kind.'
He ceased: and Rama gave asieut, And said, with eyes on Sita bent: ' O Princess, thou hast heard with me This counsel of the devotee: Now that her touch thy soul may bless, Approach the saintly votaress: 1 When the saint Mandavya had doomed some saint's wife, who was Anasuya's friend, to become a widow on the morrow.
Dome to the venerable dam'e, Far known by Anasuya's name: J'he mighty things that she has done High glory in the world have won.'
Thus spoke the son of Raghu: she Approached the saintly devotee, Who with her white locks, old and frail, Shook like a plantain in the gale. To that true spouse she bowed her head, Arid * Lady, I am Sita,' said: Raised suppliant hands and prayed her tell That all was prosperous and well.
The aged matron, when she saw Fair Sita true to duty's law, Addressed her thus: ' High fate is thine Whose thoughts to virtue still incline. Thou, lady of the noble mind, Hast kin and state and wealth resigned To follow Rama forced to tread Where solitary woods are spread. Those women gain high spheres above Who still unchanged their husbands love, Whether they dwell in town or wood, Whether their hearts be ill or good. Though wicked, poor, or led away In love's forbidden paths to stray, The noble matron still will deem. Her lord a deity supreme. Regarding kin and friendship, I Can see no better, holier tie, And every penance-rite is dim Beside the joy of serving him. But dark is this to her whose mind Promptings of idle fancy blind, Who led by evil thoughts away Makes him who should command obey. Such women, O dear Maithil dame, Their virtue lose and honest fame, Enslaved by sin and folly, led. In these unholy paths to tread. But they who good and true like thee The present and the future see, Like men by holy deeds will rise To mansions in the blissful skies.
ISo keep thee pure from taint of sin, Still to thy lord be true, And fame and merit shalt thou win, To thy devotion due,' CANTO CXVIII.
ANASUTA'S GIFTS.
Thus by the holy dame addressed Who banished envy from her breast, Her lowly reverence kita paid, And softly thus her answer made: ' No marvel, best of dames, thy speech The duties of a wife should teach i Canto CXVITL THE RAM AY AN.
Yet I, O lady, also know Due reverence to my lord to show, Were he the meanest of the base, Unhonoured with a single grace, My husband still I ne'er would leave, But firm through all to him would cleave: Still rather to a lord like mine Whose virtues high-exalted shine, Compassionate, of lofty soul, With every sense in due control, True in his love, of righteous mind, Like a dear sire and mother kind. E'en as he ever loves to treat Kausalya with observance meet, Has his behaviour ever been To every other honoured queen. Nay, more, a sonlike reverence shows The noble Kama e'en to those On whom the king his father set His eyes one moment, to forget. Deep in my heart the words are stored, Said by the mother of my lord, When from my home I turned away In the lone fearful woods to stray. The counsel of my mother deep Impressed upon my soul I keep, When by the fire 1 took my stand, And Rama clasped in his my hand. And in my bosom cherished yet, My friends' advice I ne'er forget: Woman her holiest offering pays When she her husband's will obeys. Good Savitri her lord obeyed, And a high saint in heaven was made, And for the self-same virtue thou Hast heaven in thy possession now. And she with whom no dame could vie, Now a bright Goddess in the sky, Sweet Rohini the Moon's dear Queen, Without her lord is never seen: And many a faithful wife beside For her pure love is glorified.'
Thus Sita spake: soft rapture stole Through Anasuya's saintly soul: Kisses on Sita's head she pressed, And thus the Maithil dame addressed: ' I by long rites and toils endured Rich store of merit have secured: From this my wealth will I bestow A blessing ere I let thee go. So right and wise and true each word That from thy lips mine ears have heard, I love thee: be my pleasing task To grant the boon that thou shalt ask.' Then Sita marvelled much, and while Played o'er her lips a gentle smile, * All has been done, O Saint,' she cried, And naught remains to wish beside. She spake: the lady's meek reply Swelled Anasuya's rapture high: *Sit&,' she said, ' my gift to-day Thy sweet contentment shall repay. Accept this precious robe to wear, Of heavenly fabric, rich and rare, These gems thy limbs to ornament, This precious balsam sweet of scent.
0 Maithil dame, this gift of mine Shall make thy limbs with beauty shine, And breathing o'er thy frame dispense Its pure and lasting influence.
This balsam on thy fair limbs spread Mew radiance on thy lord shall shed, As Lakshmi's beauty lends a grace To Vishnu's own celestial face.'
Then Sita took the gift the dame Bestowed on her in friendship's name, The balsam, gems, and robe divine, And garlands wreathed of bloomy twine; Then sat her down, with reverence meet, At saintly Anasuya's feet. The matron rich in rites and vows Turned her to Rama's Maithil spouse, And questioned thus in turn to hear A pleasant tale to charm her ear: * Sita, 'tis said that Raghu's soa Thy hand, mid gathered suitors, won.
1 fain would hear thee, lady, tell The story as it all befell: Do thou repeat each thing that passed, Reviewing all from first to last.'
Thus spake the dame to Sita: she Replying to the devotee, ' Then, lady, thy attention lend,' Rehearsed the story to the end: ' King Janak, just and brave and strong, Who loves the right and hates the wrong. Well skilled in what the law ordains For Warriors, o'er Videha reigns. Guiding one morn the plough, his hand Marked out for rites the PRO red land, When, as the ploughshare cleft the earth, Child of the king I leapt to birth. Then as the ground he smoothedandcleared, He saw me all with dust besmeared, And on the new-found babe, amazed The ruler of Videha gazed. In childless love the monarch pressed The welcome infant to his breast: ' My daughter,' thus he cried, 'is she:' And as his child he cared for me. Forth from the sky was heard o'erhead As 'twere a human voice that said: 'Yea, even so: great King, this child Henceforth thine own be justly styled,' Videha's monarch, virtuous-souled, Rejoiced o'er me with joy untold, Delighting in his new -won prize, The darling of his heart and eyes. To his chief queen of saintly mind The precious treasure he consigned, And by her side she saw me grow, Nursed with the love which mothers know.'
THE RAMA YAN.
Boole II.
Then as he saw the seasons fly, And knew my marriage-time was nigh, My sire was vexed with care, as sad As one who mourns the wealth he had: ' Scorn on the maiden's sire must wait From men of high and low estate: The virgin's father all despise, Though Indra's peer, who rules the skies.' More near he saw, and still more near, The scorn that filled his soul with fear, On trouble's billowy ocean tossed, Like one whose shattered bark is lost. My father knowing how I came, No daughter of a mortal dame. In all the regions failed to see A bridegroom meet to match with me. Each way with anxious thought he scanned, And thus at length the monarch planned: * The Bride's Election will I hold, With every rite prescribed of old.' It pleased King Varun to bestow Qurver and shafts and* heavenly bow Upon my father's sire who reigned, "When Daksha his great rite ordained. Where was the man might bend or lift With utmost toil that wondrous gift? Not e'en in dreams could mortal king Strain the great bow or draw the string. Of this tremendous bow possessed, My truthful father thus addressed The lords of many a region, all Assembled at the monarch's call: 4 Whoe'er this bow can manage, he The husband of my child shall be.' The suitors viewed with hopeless eyes That wondrous bow of mountain size, Then to my sire they bade adieu, And all with humbled hearts withdrew. At length with Visvamitra came This son of Raghu. dear to fame, The royal sacrifice to view Near to my father's home he drew, His brother Lakshman by his side, Kama, in deeds heroic tried. My sire with honour entertained The saint in lore of duty trained, Who thus in turn addressed the king: ' Kama and Lakshman here who spring From royal Dasaratha, long To see thy bow so passing strong.' Before the prince's eyes was laid That marvel, as the Brahman prayed. One moment on the bow he gazed, Quick to the notch the string he raised, Then, in the wandering people's view, The cord with mighty force he drew. Then with an awful crash as loud As thunderbolts that cleave the cloud, The bow beneath the matchless strain Of arms heroic snapped in twain, Thus, giving purest water, he, My sire, to Rama offered me. The prince the offered gift declined Till he should learn his father's mind; So horsemen swift Ayodhya sought And back her aged monarch brought. Me then my sire to Kama gave, Self -ruled, the bravest of the brave. And Urmila, the next to me, Graced with all gifts, mo^t fair to see, My sire with Raghu's house allied. And gave her to be Lakshman's bride. Thus from the princes of the land Lord Rama won my maiden hand, And him exalted high above Heroic chiefs I truly love,' CANTO CXIX.
THE FOREST.
When Anasuya, virtuous-souled, Had heard the tale by Sita told, She kissed the lady's brow and laced Her loving arms around her waist. * With sweet-toned words distinct and clear Thy pleasant tale has charmed mine ear, How the great king thy father held That Maiden's Choice unparalleled. But now the sun has sunk from sight, And left the world to holy Night. Hark! how the leafy thickets sound With gathering birds that twitter round: They sought their food by day, and all Flock homeward when the shadows fall. See, hither comes the hermit band, Each with his pitcher in his hand: Fresh from the bath, their locks are wet, Their coats of bark are dripping yet. Here saints their fires of worship "tend, And curling wreaths of smoke ascend: Borne on the flames they mount above, Dark as the brown wings of the dove. The distant trees, though well-nigh bare, Gloom thickenend by the evening air, And in the faint uncertain light Shut the horizon from our sight. The beasts that prowl in darkness rove On every side about the grove, And the tame deer, at ease reclined Their shelter near the altars find. The night o'er all the sky is spread, With lunar stars engarlanded, And risen in his robes of light The moon is beautifully bright. Now to thy lord I bid thee go: Thy pleanant tale has charmed me so: One thing alone I needs must pray, Before me first thyself array: Here in thy heavenly raiment shine, And glad, dear love, these eyes of mine.'
Canto I.
THE RAMAYAN.
Then like a heavenly Goddess shone Fair Sita with that raiment on. She bowed her to the matron's feel, Then turned away her lord to meet. The hero prince with joy surveyed His Sita in her robes arrayed, As glorious to his arms she came With love-gifts of the saintly dame. She told him how the saint to show Her fond affection would bestow That garland of celestial twine, Those ornaments and robes divine. Then Rama's heart, nor Lakshman's less, Was filled with pride and happiness, For honours high had Sita gained, Which mortal dames have scarce obtained. There honoured by each pious sage Who dwelt within the hermitage, Beside his darling well content That sacred night the hero spent.
The princes, when the night had fled, Farewell to all the hermits said, Who gazed upon the distant shade, Their lustral rites and offerings paid. The saints who made their dwelling there In words like these addressed the pair: ' O Princes, monsters tierce and fell Around that distant forest dwell: On blood from human veins they feed, And various forms assume at need, With savage beasts of fearful power That human flesh and blood devour. Our holy saints they rend and tear When met alone or unaware, And eat them in their cruel joy: These chase, O Rama, or destroy. By this one path our hermits go To fetch the fruits that yonder grow: By this, 0 Prince, thy feet should stray Through pathless forests far away.'
Thus by the reverent saints addressed, And by their prayers auspicious blessed, He left the holy crowd: His wife and brother by his side, Within the mighty wood he hied. So sinks the Day-God in his pride Beneath a bank of cloud.
BOOK III.
CANTO I.
THE HERMITAGE.