i Spirits and Gods who haunt the place, Content with scanty fare remain, As merit's meed they strive to gain. Made perfect here, the saints supreme, On cars that mock the Day-God's glearn,— Their mortal bodies cast aside,— Sought heaven transformed and glorified. Here Gods to living things, who win. Their favour, pure from cruel sin, Give royal rule and many a good, Canto XII.
THE RAM AY AN.
Immortal life and spirithood.
Now, Lakshman, we are near the place: Do ttiou precede a little space, And tell the mighty saint that I With Sita at my side am nigh.'
CANTO XII.
THE HEAVENLY BOW.
He spoke; the younger prince obeyed: Within the bounds his way he made, And thus addressed, whom first he met, A pupil of the anchoret: 'Brave Rama, eldest born, who springs From Dasaratha, hither brings His wife the lady Sita; he Would fain the holy hermit see. Lakshman am I — if happy fame E'er to thine ears has brought the name— His younger brother, prompt to do His will, devoted, fond, and true. We, through our royal sire's decree, To the dread woods were forced to flee. Tell the great Master, I entreat, Our earnest wish our lord to greet.'
He spoke: the hermit rich in store Of fervid zeal and sacred lore, Sought the pure shrine which held the fire, To bear his message to the sire. Soon as he reached the saint most bright In sanctity's surpassing might, He cried, uplifting reverent hands: ' Lord Rama near thy cottage stands.' Then spoke Agastva's pupil dear The message for his lord to hear: ' Rama and Lakshman, chiefs who spring From Dasaratha, glorious king, Thy hermitage e'en now have sought, And lady Sita, with them brought. The tamers of the foe are here To see thee, Master, and revere. 'Tis thine thy further will to say: ' Deign to command, and we obey.' • When from his pupil's lips he knew The presence of the princely two. And Sita born to fortune high, The glorious hermit made reply: ' Great joy at last is mine this day That Rama hither finds his way, For long my soul has yearned to see The prince who comes to visit me. Go forth, go forth, and hither bring The royal three with welcoming: Lead Rama in and place him near: Why stands he not already here? ' Thus ordered by the hermit, who, Lord of his thoughts, all duty knew, His reverent hands together laid, The pupil answered and obeyed. Forth from the place with speed he ran, To Lakshman came and thus began: ' Where is he'? let not Rama wait, But speed, the sage to venerate.'
Then with the pupil Lakshman went Across the hermit settlement, And showed him.Rama where he stood With Janak's daughter in the wood. The pupil then his message spake Which the kind hermit bade him take.; Then led the honoured Rama thence And brought him in with reverence, As nigh the royal Rama came With Lakshman and the Maithil dame, He viewed the herds of gentle deer Roaming the garden free from fear. As through the sacred grove he trod He viewed the seat of many a God, Brahm£ and Agni,1 Sun and Moon, And His who sends each golden boon;2 Here Vishnu's stood, there Bhaga's3 shrine, And there Mahendra's, Lord divine; Here His who formed this earthly frame,4 His there from whom all beings came.5 Vtiyu's,6 and His who loves to hold The great noose, Vanm? mighty-souled: Here was the Vasus'8 shrine to see, Here that of sacred Gayatri,9 The king of serpents10 here had place, And he who rules the feathered race.1 1 Here Kartikeya,1 * warrior lord, And there was Justice' -King adored. Then with disciples girt about The mighty saint himself came out: Through fierce devotion bright as tlame Before the rest the Master came: And then to Lakshman, fortune -blest, Rama these hasty words addressed: ' Behold, Agastya's self draws near, The mighty saint whom all revere; With spirit raised I meet my lord With richest wealth of penance stored.'
The strong-armed hero spake, and ran Forward to meet the sunbright man. Before him, as he came, he bent And clasped his feet most reverent, Then rearing up his stately height Stood suppliant by the anchorite, While Lakshman's strength and Sitas grace Stood by the pride of Raghu's race.
1 The God of fire.
2 Kuvera, the God of riches.
3 The Sun. 4 Brahma, the creator, a £iva. 6 The Wind-God.
7 The God of the sea.
8 A class of demi-gods, eight in number.
9 The holiest text of the Vedas, deified. 10 Vasuki. n Garud.
J* The War-God, THE HAM A YAN.
Book III.
The sage his arms round Rama threw And welcomed him with honours due, Asked, was all well, with question sweet, And bade the hero to a seat.
With holy oil he fed the flame, He brought the gifts which strangers claim, And kindly waiting on the three With honours due to high degree, He gave with hospitable care A simple hermit's woodland fare.
Then sat the reverend father, first Of hermits, deep in duty yersed, And thus to suppliant Rama, bred In all the lore of virtue, said: *Did the false hermit, Prince, neglect To hail his guest with due respect, He must,— the doom the perjured meet,— His proper flesh hereafter eat.
A car-borne king, a lord who sways The earth, and virtue's law obeys, 'Worthy of highest honour, thou Hast sought, dear guest, my cottage now.'
He spoke: with fruit and hermit fare, With every bloom the branches bare, Agastya graced his honoured guest, And thus with gentle words addressed: ' Accept this mighty bow, divine, Whereon red gold and diamonds shine; 'Twas by the Heavenly Artist planned For Vishnu's own almighty hand; This God-sent shaft of sun bright hue, Whose deadly flight is ever true, By Lord Mahendra given of yore: This quiver with its endless store, Keen arrows hurtling to their aim Like kindled fires that flash and flame: Accept, in golden sheath encased, This sword with hilt of rich gold graced.
Armed, whilom, with this best of bows Lord Vishnu slew his demon foes, And mid the dwellers in the skies Won brilliant glory for his prize.
The bow, the quivers, shaft, and sword Received from me, O giorious lord: These conquest to thine arm shall bring, As thunder to the thunder's King.'
The splendid hermit bade him take The noble weapons as he spake, And as the prince accepted each lu words like these renewed his speech: CANTO XIII.
AGASTYA'S COUNSEL.
* O Rdma, great delight I feel, Pleased, Lakshman, with thy faithful zeal, That you within these shades I see With Sita come to honour me.
But wandering through the rough rude wild Has wearied Janak's gentle child: With labours of the way oppressed The Maithil lady longs for rest. Young, delicate, and soft, and fair, Such toils as these untrained to bear, Her wifely love the dame has led The forest's troubled ways to tread. Here, Rama, see that naught annoy Her easy hours of tranquil joy: A glorious task has she assayed, To follow thee through woodland shade. Since first from Nature's hand she came, A woman's mood is still the same, When Fortune smiles, her love to show, And leave her lord in want and woe. No pity then her heart can feel, She arms her soul with warrior's steel, Swift as the storm or Feathered King, Uncertain as the lightning's wing. Not so thy spouse: her purer mind Shrinks from the faults of womaukind; Like chaste Arundhati1 above, A paragon of faithful love. Let these blest shades, dear Rama, be A home for Lakshman, her, and thee.7 With raised hands reverently meek He heard the holy hermit speak, And humbly thus addressed the sire Whose glory shone like kindled tire: * How blest am I, what thanks I owe That our great Master deigns to show His favour, that his heart can be Content with Lakshman, Sita, me. Show me, I pray, some spot of ground Where thick trees wave and springs abound, That I may raise my hermit cell And there in tranquil pleasure dwell.'
Then thus replied Agastya, best Of hermits, to the chief's request: When for a little he had bent His thoughts, upon that prayer intent: 'Beloved son, four leagues away Is Panchavati bright and gay: Thronged with its deer, most fair it looks With berries, fruit, and water-brooks. There build thee with thy brother's aid A cottage in the quiet shade, And faithful to thy sire's behest, Obedient to the sentence, rest. For well, O sinless chieftain, well I know thy tale, how all befell: Stern penance and the love I bore Thy royal sire supply the lore. To me long rites and fervid zeal The wish that stirs thy heart reveal, And hence my guest 1 bade thee be, That this pure grove might shelter thee.
1 One of the Pleiades generally regard- ed as the inodd of wifely excellence.
Canto XIV.
THE RAM AY AN.
So now, thereafter, thus I speak: The shades of Panchavati seek; That tranquil spot is bright and fair, And Sit& will be happy there. Not far remote from here it lies, A grove to charm thy loving eyes. Godavari's pure stream is nigh: There Sita's days will sweetly fly. Pure, lovely, rich in many a charm, O hero of the mighty arm, 'Tis gay with every plant and fruit, And throngs of gay birds never mute. Thou, true to \irtue's path, hast might To screen each trusting anchorite, And wilt from thy new home defend The hermits who on thee depend. ISow yonder, Prince, direct thine eyes Where dense Madhuka1 woods arise: Pierce their dark shade, and issuing forth Turn to a fig-tree on the north: Then onward up a sloping mead Flanked by a hill the way will lead: There Panchavati, ever gay With ceaseless bloom, thy steps will stay.'
The hermit ceased: the princely two With seemly honours bade adieu: With reverential awe each youth Bowed to the saint whose word was truth, And then, dismissed with Sita, they To Panchavati took their way. Thus when each royal prince had grasped His warrior's mighty bow, and clasped His quiver to his side, With watchful eyes along the road The glorious saint Agastya showed, Dauntless in right the brothers strode, Aud Sita with them hied, CANTO XIV.
JATAYUS.
Then as the son of Raghu made "is way to Panchavati's shade, mighty vulture he beheld f size and strength unparalleled. The princes, when the bird they saw, Approached with reverence and awe, And as his giant form they eyed, * Tell who thou art,' in wonder cried. The bird, as though their hearts to gain, Addressed them thus in gentlest strain: ' In me, dear sons, the friend behold Your royal father loved of old.'
He spoke: nor long did Rama wait His sire's dear friend to venerate: 1 The Madhuka, or, as it is now called, Mahuwa, is the Bassia latifolia, a tree from whose blossoms a spirit is extracted, He bade the bird declare his name And the high race of which he came. When Raghu's son had spoken, he Declared his name and pedigree, His words prolonging to disclose How all the things that be arose: 'List while J tell, O Kaghu's son, The first-born Fathers, one by one, Great Lords of Life, whence all in earth And all in heaven derive their birth. First Kardam heads the glorious race Where Vikrit holds the second place, With Sesba, Sansray next in line, And Bahuputra's might divine. Then Sthanu and Marichi came, Atri, and Kratu's forceful frame. Pulastya followed, next to him AngiraV name shall ne'er be dim. Prachetas, Pulah next, and then Daksha, Vivasvat praised of men: Arishtanemi next, and last Kasyap in glory unsurpassed. From Daksha,— fame the tale has told—: Three-score bright daughters sprang of old Of these fair-waisted nymphs the great Lord Kasyap sought and wedded eight, Aditi, Diti, KaJaka, Tamra, Danu, and Anald, And Krodhavasa swift to ire, And Manu' glorious as her sire. Then when tiie mighty Kasyap cried Delighted to each tender bride: 'Sons shalt thou bear, to rule the three Great worlds, in might resembling me,' 1 ' I should have doubted whether IV! anu could have been the right reading here, but that it occurs again in verse 29, where it is in like manner followed in verse 31 by Anala, so that it would certainly seem that the name Manu is intended to stand for a female, the daughter of Daksha. The Gauda recension, followed by Signer Gorresio (III 20, 12), adopts an entirely different reading at the end of the line, viz. Baldm Atibaldm api, "Bala and Atibila," instead of Manu and Anald. I see that Professor Roth s. v. adduces the authority of the Amara Kosha and of the Commentator on Panini for stating that the word sometimes means " the wife of Manu." In the following text of the Mahabharata 1. 2553, also, Manu appears to be the name of a female: Anavadydm^ Manum, Vansdm, Asurdm, Mdrganapri- yam, Anupdm*) Subhagdm, Bhdswi iti 'Prddhdvyajdyata\\ "Pradha (daughter of Daksha) bore Anavadya, Manu, Vansa, Marganapriya, Anupa, Subhaga, and Bhasi." ' Muir's Sanskrit Text, Vol. I. p, THE RAM AY AN.
Boole III.
Aditi, D«ti,andDauti Obeyed his will as consorts true, And Kalaka; but all the rest Kef used to hear their lord's behest.
First Aditi conceived, and she, Mother of thirty Gods and three, The Vasus and Adityas bare, Rudras, and Asvins, heavenly pair.
Of Diti sprang the Daityas: fame Delights to laud their ancient name.
In days of yore their empire dread O'er earth and woods and ocean spread.
Danu was mother of a child, O hero, Aivagriva styled, And Narak next and Kalak came Of Kalaka, celestial dame.
Of Tamra, too, five daughters bright In deathless glory sprang to light.
Ennobling fame still keeps alive The titles of the lovely five: Immortal honour still she claims For Krauncbi, Bhasi, $yeni's names, And wills not that the world forget 6uki or Dhritarashtri yet.
Then Kraunchi bare the crane and owl, And Bhasi tribes of water fowl: Vultures and hawks that race through air With storm-fleet pinions ¥i bare, All swans and geese on mere and brook Their birth from Dhritarashtri took, And all the river-haunting brood Of ducks, a countless multitude.
From Suki Nala sprang, who bare Dame Vinata surpassing fair.
From fiery Krodhavasa ten Bright daughters sprang, O King of men: Mrigi and Mrigarnanda named, Hari and Bhadramada famed, £arduli, Sveta fair to see, Matangi bright, and iSurabhi, Surasa marked with each fair sign, And Kadruma, all maids divine.
Mrigi, O Prince without a peer, Was mother of the herds of deer.
The bear, the Yak, the mountain roe Their birth to Mrigarnanda owe; And Bhadramada joyed to be Mother of fair Iravati, Who bare Airavat,1 huge of mould, Mid warders of the earth, enrolled.
From Hari lordly lions trace, With monkeys of the wild, their race.
From the great dame £arduli styled Sprang pards, Langurs,2 and tigers wild.
Matangi, Prince, gave birth to all Matangas, elephants strong and tall, 1 The elephant of Indra.
'J Goldngulas, described as a kind of monkey, of a black colour, and having a tail like a cow.
And £veta bore the beasts who stand One at each wind, earth's warder band.1 Next Surabhi the Goddess bore Two heavenly maids, O Prince, of yore, Gandharvi — dear to fame is she — And her sweet sister Rohini.
With kine this daughter filled each mead, And bright Gandharvi bore the steed.2 Surasa bore the serpents:3 all The snakes Kadru their mother call.
Then Manu, high-souled Kasyap's4 wife, To all the race of men gave life, The Brahmans first, the Kshatriya caste, Then Vaisyas, and the oftdras last.
Sprang from her mouth the Brahman race j Her chest the Kshatriyas' natal placs: The Vaisyas from her thighs, 'tis said, The Rudras from her feet were bred.
From Anala all trees that hang Their fair fruit-laden branches sprang.
The child of beauteous Suki bore Vinata, as I taught before: And Surasa and Kadru were Born of one dame, a noble pair.
Kadru gave birth to countless snakes That roam the earth in woods and brakes.
Arun and Garud swift of flight By Vinata were given to light, And sons of Arun red as morn Sampati first, then I was born, Me then, O tamer of the foe, Jatayus, son of Syeni, know.
Thy ready helper will I be, And guard thy house, if thou agree: When thou and Lakshman urge the chase By Sita's side shall be my' place.'
With courteous thanks for promised aid, The prince, to rapture stirred, Bent low, and due obeisance paid, Embraced the royal bird.
1 Eight elephants attached to the four quarters and intermediate points of the compass, to support and guard the earth.
2 Some scholars identify the centaurs with the Gandharvas.
3 The hooded serpents, says the com- mentator Tirtha, were the offspring of Surasa: all others of Kadru.
4 ' The text reads Kasyapa, " a descend- ant of Kasyapa," who according to Bam. II. 10, 6, ought to be Vivasvat. But as it is stated in the preceding part of this passage III. 14, 11 f. that Manu was one of Kasyapa's eight wives, we must here read Kasyapa. The Gauda recension reads (III. 20, 80) Manur manushydms clta tathd janaydmdsa Edghava, instead <>f the corresponding line in the Bombay exU- tion,' Muir's Sanskrit Text, Vol. l.p- U7, Canto XV.
THE RAM AY AN.
He often in the days gone by Had heard his father tell How, linked with him in friendship's tie, He loved Jatayus well. He hastened to his trusted friend His darling to confide, And through the wood his steps to bend By strong Jatayus' side. On to the grove, with Lakshman near, The prince his way pursued, To free those pleasant shades from fear And slay the giant brood, CANTO XV.
PANCHAVATT.
Arrived at Panchavati's shade Where silvan life and serpents strayed, Rama in words like these addressed Lakshman of vigour unrepressed: * Brother, our home is here: behold The grove of which the hermit told: The bowers of Panchavati see Made fair by every blooming tree. Now, brother, bend thine eyes around; With skilful glance survey the ground: Here be some spot selected, best Approved for gentle hermits1 rest, Where thou, the Maithil dame, and I May dwell while seasons sweetly fly. Some pleasant spot be chosen where Pure waters gleam and trees are fair, Some nook where flowers and wood are found And sacred grass and springs abound.1 Then Lakshman, Sita, standing by, Raised "reverent hands, and made reply: 'A hundred years shall flee, and still Will I obey my brother's will: Select thyself a pleasant spot; Be mine the care to rear the cot.' The glorious chieftain, pleased to hear That loving speech that soothed his ear, Selected with observant care A spot with every charm most fair. He stood within that calm retreat, A shade for hermits' home most meet, And thus Sumitra's son addressed, While his dear hand in his he pressed: ' See, see this smooth and lovely glade Which flowery trees encircling shade: Do thou, beloved Lakshman rear A pleasant cot to lodge us here. I see byond that feathery brake The gleaming of a lilied lake, Where flowers in sunlike glory throw Fresh odours from the wave below. Agastya's words now find we true, He told the charms which here we view: 17 Here are the trees that blossom o'er Godavari's most lovely shore. Whose pleasant flood from side to side With swans and geese is beautified, And fair banks crowded with the deer That steal from every covert near. The peacock's cry is loud and shrill From many a tall and lovely hill, Green- belted by the trees that wave Full blossoms o'er the rock and cave. Like elephants whose huge fronts glow With painted streaks, the mountains show Long lines of gold and silver sheen With copper's darker hues between. With every tree each hill is graced, Where creepers blossom interlaced. Look where the Sal's long branches sway, And palms their fanlike leaves display; The date-tree and the Jak are near, And their long stems Tamalas rear. See the tall Mango lift his head, Asokas all their glory spread, The Ketak her sweet buds unfold, And Champacs hang their cups of gold.1 The spot is pure and pleasant: here Are multitudes of birds and deer. O Lakshman, with our father's friend What happy hours we here shall spend!' He spoke: the conquering Lakshman heard, heard, Obedient to his brother's word. Raised by his toil a cottage stood To shelter Rama in the wood. Of ample size, with leaves o'erlaid, Of hardened earth the walls were made. The strong bamboos his hands had felled For pillars fair the roof upheld, And rafter, beam, and lath supplied Well interwrought from side to side. Then Sami* boughs he deftly spread Enlaced with knotted cord o'erhead, Well thatched above from ridge to eaves With holy grass, and reed, and leaves. The mighty chief with careful toil Had cleared the ground and smoothed the soil 1 The original verses merely name the trees. I have been obliged to amplify slightly and to omit some quas versa dicere non est; e. g. the tinisa (Dalbergia ougeiniensis), punndga (Rottleria tinc- toria) tilaka (not named), syandana (Dal- bergia ougeiniensis again) vandana (un- known) nip a (Nauclea Kadamba) lakucha (Artoearpus jacucha), dhava (Grislea to- mentosa),Asvakarna (another name for the Sal), Sami (Acacia Suma) khadira (Mimosa catechu) kintuka (Butea frondosa) pdtala (Bignonia suaveolens).
* Acacia Suma.
THE RAM AY AN.
Boole III.
Where now, his loving labour done, Rose a fair home for Raghu's son. Then when his work was duly wrought, Godavaris sweet stream he sought, Bathed, plucked the lilies, and a store Of fruit and berries homeward bore. Then sacrifice he duly paid, And wooed the Gods their hopes to aid, And then to Rama proudly showed The cot prepared for his abode. Then Raghu's son with Sita gazed Upon the home his hands had raised, And transport thrilled his bosom through His leafy hermitage to view. The glorious son of Kaghu round His brother's neck his arms en wound, And thus began his sweet address Of deep-felt joy and gentleness: * Well pleased am I, dear lord, to see This noble work performed by thee. For this. — sole grace I can bestow, — • About thy neck mine arms I throw. So wise art thou, thy breast is filled With grateful thoughts, in duty skilled, Our mighty father, free from stain, In thee, his offspring, lives again.'
Thus spoke the prince, who lent a grace To fortune, pride of Raghu's race; Then in that spot whose pleasant shade Gave store of fruit, content he stayed. With Lakshman and his Maithil spouse He spent his days neath sheltering boughs, As happy as a God on high Lives in his mansion in the sky.
CANTO XVI.
WINTER.
CANTO XVI.
WINTER.
While there the high-souled hero spent His tranquil hours in sweet content, The glowing autumn passed, and then Came winter so beloved of men.
One morn, to bathe, at break of day To the fair stream he took his way. Behind him, with the Maithil dame Bearing a pitcher Lakshman came, And as he went the mighty man Thus to his brother chief began: 'The time is come, to thee more dear Than all the months that mark the year; The gracious seasons' joy and pride, By which the rest are glorified. A robe of hoary rime is spread O'er earth, with corn engarlanded. The streams we loved no longer please, But near the fire we take our ease. Now pious men to God and shade Offer young corn's fresh sprouted blade, Aud purge away their sins with rice Bestowed in humble sacrifice.
Rich stores of milk delight the swain, And hearts are cheered that longed for gain. Proud kings whose breasts for conquests flow bannered troops to smite the foe. Dark is the north: the Lord of Day To Yama's south1 has turned away: And she — sad widow— shines no more, Reft of the bridal mark'-4 she wore, Himalaya's hill, ordained of old The treasure-house of frost and cold, Scarce conscious of the feebler glow, Is truly now the Lord of Snow. Warmed by the noontide's genial rays Delightful are the glorious days: But how we shudder at the chill Of evening shadows and the rill! How weak the sun, how cold the breeze! How white the rime on grass and trees! The leaves are sere, the woods have lost Their blossoms killed by nipping frost. Neath open skies we sleep no more: December's nights with rime are hoar: Their triple watch 3 in length extends With hours the shortened daylight lends. No more the moon's sun-borrowed rays Are bright, involved in misty haze, As when upon the mirror's sheen The breath's obscuring cloud is seen, E'en at the full the faint beams fail To struggle through the darksome veil: Changed like her hue. they want the grace That parts not yet from iSita's face. Cold is the western wind, but how Its piercing chill is heightened now, Blowing at early morning twice As furious with its breath of ice! See how the dewy tears they weep The barley, wheat, and woodland steep, Where, as the sun goes up the sky, The curlew and the saras cry, See where the rice plants scarce uphold Their full ears tinged with paly gold, Bending their ripe heads slowly down Fair as the date tree's flowery crown. Though now the sun has mounted high Seeking the forehead of the sky, Such mist obscures his struggling beams, No bigger than the moon he seems. Though weak at first, his rays at length Grow pleasant in their noonday strength, And where a while they chance to fall Fling a faint splendour over all.
1 The south is supposed to be the resi- dence of the departed.
* The sun.
3 The night is divided into three watches of four hours each.
Canto XV II.
THE RAM AY AN.
See, o'er the woods where grass is wet With hoary drops that cling there yet, With soft light clothing earth and bough There steals a tender glory now. Yon elephant who longs to drink, Still standing on the river's brink, Plucks back his trunk in shivering haste From the cold wave he fain would taste. The very fowl that haunt the mere Stand doubtful on the bank, and fear To dip them in the wintry wave As cowards dread to meet the brave. The frost of night, the rime of dawn Bind flowerless trees and glades of lawn: Benumbed in apathetic chill Of icy chains they slumber still. You hear the hidden saras cry From floods that wrapped in vapour lie, And frosty-shining sands reveal Where the unnoticed rivers steal. The hoary rime of dewy night, And suns that glow with tempered light Lend fresh cool flavours to the rill That sparkles from the tompost hill. The cold has killed the lily's pride: Leaf, filament, and flower have died: With chilling breath rude winds have blown, blown, The withered stalk is left alone. At this gay time, O noble.st chief, The faithful Bharat, worn by grief, Lives in the royal town where he Spends weary hours for love of thee. From titles, honour, kingl}r sway, From every joy he turns away: Couched on cold earth, his days are passed With scanty fare and hermit's fast. This moment from his humble bed He lifts, perhaps, his weary head, And girt by many a follower goes To bathe where silver Sarju flows. How, when the frosty morn is dim, Shall Sarju be a bath for him Nursed with all love and tender care, So delicate and young and fair? How bright his hue I his brilliant eye With the broad lotus leaf may vie. By fortune stamped for happy fate, His graceful form is tall and straight. In duty skilled, his words are truth: He proudly rules each lust of youth. Though his strong arm smites down the foe, In gentle speech his accents flow. Yet every joy has he resigned And cleaves to thee with heart and mind. Thus by the deeds that he has done A home in heaven has Bharat won, For in his life he follows yet Thy steps, O banished anchoret. Thus faithful Bharat, nobly wise, The proverb of the world belies: 1 ISTo men, by mothers' guidance led, The footsteps of their fathers tread.' How could Kaikeyi, blest to be Spouse of the king our sire, and see A son like virtuous Bharat, blot Her glory with so foul a plot 1 ' Thus in fraternal love he spoke, And from his lips reproaches broke: But Rama grieved to hear him chide The absent mother, and replied: * Cease, 0 beloved, cease to blame Our royal father's second dame. Still speak of Bharat first in place Of old Ikshvaku's princely race. My heart, so firmly bent but now To dwell in woods and keep my vow, Half melting as I hear thee speak Of Bharat's love, grows soft and weak, With tender joy I bring to mind His speeches ever sweet and kind, That dear as Amrit took the sense With most enchanting influence. Ah. when shall I, no more to parfc, Meet Bharat of the mighty heart? When, O iny brother, when shall we The good and brave Satrughna see / * Thus as he poured his fond lament The son of Raghu onward went: They reached the river, and the three Bathed them in fair Godavari.
Libations of the stream they paid To every deity and shade, With hymns of praise, the Sun on high And sinless Gods to glorify.
Fresh from the purifying tide Resplendent Rama came, With Lakshman ever by his side, And the sweet Maithil dame.