Give wondrous beauty to the view. See, too, this pleasant water near Our cavern home is fresh and clear; And lilies gay with flower and bud Are glorious on the lovely flood. This cave that faces north and east Will shelter us till rain has ceased; And towering hills that rise behind Will screen us from the furious wind, Close by the cavern's portal lies And level stone of ample size And sable hue, a mighty block Long severed' from the parent rock. Now let thine eye bent northward rest Vitex Negundo.
A while upon that mountain crest, High as a cloud that brings the rain, And dark as iron rent in twain. Look southward, brother, now and view A cloudy pile of palwr hue Like Mount Kailasa's topmost height Where ores of every tint are bright. See, Lakshrnan, see before our cave That clear brook eastward roll its wave As though 'twere Ganga's infant rill Down streaming from the three-peaked hill. See, by the water's gentle flow Asoka, sal, and sandal grow. And every lovely tree most fair With leaf and bud and flower is there. See where, beneath the bending trees That fringe her bank, the river flees, Clothed with their beauty like a maid In all her robes and gems arrayed, While from the sedgy banks are heard The soft notes of each amorous bird. O see what lovely islets stud Like gems the bosom of th« flood, And sarases and wild swans crowd About her till she laughs aloud. See, lotus blooms the brook o'erspread, Some tender blue, some dazzling red, And opening lilies white as snow Their buds in rich profusion show. There rings the joyous peacock's scream, There stands the curlew by the stream, And holy hermits love to throng Where the sweet waters speed along. Ranged on the grassy margin shine Gay sandal trees in glittering line, And all the wondrous verdure seems The offspring of creative dreams, O conquering Prince, there cannot be A lovelier place than this we see. Here sheltered on the beauteous height Our days will pass in calm delight. Nor is Kishkindha's city, gay With grove and garden, far away. Thence will the breeze of evening bring Sweet music as the minstrels sing; And, when the Vanars dance, will come The sound of tabour and of drum. Again to spouse and realm restored, Girt by his friends, the Vanar lord Great glory has acquired; and how Can he be less than happy now? ' This said, the son of Raghu made His dwelling in that pleasant shade Upon the mountain's shelving side That sweetly all his wants supplied. But still the hero's troubled mind No comfort in his woe could find, Yet mourning for his stolen wife Dearer to Rama than his life, Chief when he saw the Lord of Night Rise slowly o'er the eastern height, T HE RA MA YAN.
Book IV.
He tossed upon his leafy bed With eyes by sleep unvisited. Outwelled the tears iu ceaseless flow, And every sense was numbed by woe. Each pang that pierced the' mourner through Smote Lakshman's faithful bosom too, Who, troubled for his brother's sake, With wisest words the prince bespake: * Arise, my brother, and be strong: Thy hero heart has mourned too long. Thou knowest well that tears and sighs Will mar the mightiest enterprise. Thine was the soul that loved to dare: TH serve the Gods was still thy care; And ne'er may sorrow's sting subdue A heart so resolute and true. How canst thou hope to slay in fight The giant cruel in his might? Unwearied must the champion be Who strives with such a foe as he. Tear out this sorrow by the root: Again be bold and resolute. Arise, my brother, and subdue The demon and his wicked crew. Thou canst destroy the earth, her seas, Her rooted hills and giant trees Unseated by thy furious hand: And shall one fiend thy power withstand? Wait through this season of the rain Till suns of autumn dry the plain, Then shall tby giant foe, and all His host and realm, before thee fall. I wake thy valour that has slept Amid the tears thine eyes have wept; As drops of oil in worship raise The dormant flame to sudden blaze.' The sou of Raghu heard: he knew His brother's rede was wise and true; And, honouring his friendly guide, In gentle words he thus replied: ' Whate'er a hero rirm and bold, Devoted, true, and lof ty-souled Should speak by deep affection led, Such are the words which thou hast said. 1 cast away each pensive thought That brings the noblest plans to naught, And each uninjured power will strain Until the purposed end we gain. Thy prudent words will I obey, And till the close of rain-time stay, When Ring Sugriva will invite To action, and the streams be bright. The hero saved in hour of need Repays the debt with friendly deed; But hated by the good are they Who take the boon and ne'er repay.'
CANTO XXVIll.
THE RAINS.
1 See, brother, see' thus Rama cried On Malyavat's1 dark-wooded side, 'A chain! of clouds, like lofty hill-s, The sky with gathering shadow fills. Nine montas those clouds have borne the load Conceived from sunbeams as they glowed, And, having drunk the seas, give birbh, Arid drop their offspring on the earth. Easy it seems at such a time Tuat flight of cloudy stairs to climb, And, from their summit, safely won, Hang flowery wreaths about the sun. See how the flash of evening's red Fringes the fleecy clouds o'erhead Till all the sky is streaked and lined With bleeding wounds incarnadined. Or the wide firmament above Shows like a lover sick with lov£, And, pale with cloudlets, heave^ a sigh In the soft breeze that wander^ by. See, by the fervent heat emlX'owried, Now drenched with recent showers, the ground ground Pours out in floods her gushing tears, Like Sita wild with torturing fears. So softly blows this cloud- born breeze Cool through the boughs of camphor trees That one might hold it in the cup Of hollowed hands and drink it up, See, brother, where that rocky steep, Where odorous shrubs in rain-drop^ weep, Shows like Sugriva when they shed The royal balm upon his head. Like students at their task appear Those hills wtiose misty peaks are near: Black deerskin* garments wrought of cloud Their forms with fitting mantles shroud; Each torrent from the summit poured Supplies the place of sacred cord;3 And winds that in their caverns moan 1 Malyavat: "The name of this moun- tain appears to me to be erroneous, and I think that instead of Malyavat should be read Malayavat. Malaya is a group oi mountains situated exactly in that sou them part of India where Rama now was while Malyavat is placed to the north east." GORRESIO.
* Mantles of the skin of the black ante lope were the prescribed dress of ascetici and religioiio students.
3 The sacred cord worn as the badge o; religious initiation by men of the threi twice-born castes.
Canto XXIX, THE RAM AY AN.
Sound like the voice's undertone.1 From east to west red lightnings flaph, And, quivering neath the golden lash, The great sky like a generous steed Groans inly at each call to speed. Yon lightning, as it flashes through The giant cloud of sable hue, Kecails my votaress Sit& pressed Mid struggles to the demon's breast. See, on those mountain ridges stand Sweet shrubs that bud and bloom expand. The soft rain ends their pangs of grief. And drops its pearls on nower anti leaf. But all their raptures stab me through And wake my pining love anew.2 Now through the air no wild bird flies, Each lily shuts her weary eyes; And blooms of opening jasmin show The parting sun has ceased to glow. No captain now for conquest burns, But homeward with his host returns; For roads and kings' ambitious dreams Have vanished neath descending streams. This is the watery month3 wherein The Saman's4 sacred chants begin, A'sh&dha3 past, now KosaFs lord6 The harvest of the spring has stored,7 And dwells within his palace freed 1 The hum with which students con their tasks.
* I omit here a long general description of the rainy season which is not found in the Bengal recension and appears to have been interpolated by a far inferior and much later hand than Yalmiki's. It is composed in a metre different from that of the rest of the Canto, and contains figures of poetical rhetoric and common- places which are the delight of more re- cent poets.
3 Praushthapada or Bhadra, the modern Bhadon, corresponds to half of August and half of September.
4 The Samaa or Sama-veda, the third of the four Vedas, is really merely a reproduction of parts of the Rig-veda, transposed and scattered about piece-meal, only 78 verses in the whole being, it is said, untraceable to the present recension of the Kig-veda.
5 AshMha is the month corresponding to parts of June and July.
6 Bharat, who was regent during Rama's absence.
? Or with Gorresio, following the gloss of another commentary, " Has completed every holy rite and accumulated stores of merit."
From every care of pressing need.
Full is the moon, and fierce and strong Impetuous Sarju1 roars along As though Ayodhya's crowds ran out To greet their king with echoing shout.
In this sweet time of ease and rest No care disturbs Sugriva's breast, The foe that marrecihis peace o'erthrown, And queen and realm once more his own, Alas, a harder fate is mine, Reft both of realm and queen to pmev And, like the batik which floods erode, I sink beneath my sorrow's load.
Sore on my soul my miseries weigh, And these long rains our action stay, While R&van seems a mightier foe Than 1 dare hope to overthrow.
I saw the roads were barred by rain, I knew the hoped of war were vain; Nor could I bid Sugriva rise.
Though prompt to aid my enterprise.
K'en now I scarce can urge my friend On whom his house and realm depend, Who, after toil and peril past, Is happy with his queen tit last.
Sugriva after rest will know The hour is come to strike the blow, Nor will his grateful soul forget My succour, or deny the debt.
I know his generous heart, and hence Await the time with confidence When he his friendly zeal will show, And brooks again untroubled flow.1 » CANTO XXIX.
HANUMAN'S COUNSEL.
No flash of lightning lit the sky.
No cloudlet marred the blue on high.
The Saras3 missed the welcome rain, The moon's full beams were bright again, Sugriva, lapped in bliss, forgot The claims of faith, or heeded not; And by alluring joys misled The path of falsehood learned to tread.
In careless ease he passed each hour, And dallied in his lady's bower: Each longing of his heart was stilled, And every lofty hope fulfilled.
With royal Ruma by his 8idet Or Tara yet a dearer bride» 1 The river on which Ayodhy& wa» built,.
2 I omit a iloka or four lines oa grati- tude and ingratitude repeated word for word from the last Canto.
3 The Indian crane; a magnificent bird easily domesticated.
mi< RAMA YA\.
He spent each joym* dny and night, Ju revelry and wild delight, Like Indra whom the nymphs entice To taste the jovs of Paradise. The power to courtiers' hands resigned, To all their acts his eyes were blind. All doubt, all fear he cast aside And lived with pleasure for his guide. But sage Hanuman, firm and true, Whose heart the lore of Scripture knew, Well trained to meet occasion, trained In all by duty's law ordained, Strove with his prudent speech to find Soft access to the monarch's mind. He, skilled in every gentle art Of eloquence that wins the heart, SugrivK from his trance to wake, His salutary counsel spake: ' The realm is won, thy name advanced, The glory of thy house enhanced, And now thy foremost care should be To aid the friends who succoured Uiee. He who is firm and faithful found To friendly ties in honour bound, Will see his nn.me.nnd fame increase And his blest kingdom thrive in peace. Wide sway is his who truly boasts That friends and treasure, self and hosts, All blent in one harmonious whole, Are subject to his firm control. Do thou, whose footsteps never stray From the clear bounds of duty's way, Assist, as honour bids thee, now Thy friends, observant of thy vow. For if all cares we lay not by, And to our friend's assistance fly. We, after, toil in idle hasre, And all the late endeavour waste. Up! nor the promised help delay Until the hour have slipped away. Up! and with Raghu s son renew The search for Sita lost to view. The hour is come: he hears the call, But not on thee reproaches fall From him who labours to repress His eager spirit's restlessness. Long joined to thee in friendly ties He made thy fame and fortune rise, In gentle gifts by none excelled, In splendid might unparalleled. Up, to his succour, King! repay The favour of that prosperous day, And to thy bravest captains send Prompt mandates to assist thy friend. The cry for help thou wilt not spurn Although no grace demands return: And wilt thou uot thine aid afford To him who realm and life restored? Exert thy power, and thou hast won The love of.Dasaratha's son: And wilt thou for his summons wait, And. till he call thee, hesitate? Think not the hero needs thy power To save him in the desperate hour: tie with his arrows could subdue The Gods and all the demon crew, And only waits that he may see Redeemed the promise made by thee. For thee he risked his life and 'fought, For thee that great deliverance wrought. 'I hen let u* trace through earth and bkie His lady wheresoe'er she lies. Through realms above, beneath, we flee, And plant our footsteps on the sea. Then why, O Lord of Vanars, still Delay us waiting for thy will '* (Jjve thy commands, O King, and say What task has each, and where the way. Before thee myriad Vanars stand To sweep through heaven, o'er seas anland.'
land.'
Sugriva heard the timely rede That roused him in the day of need, And thus to Nila prompt and brave H is heat the imperial Vanar gave: ' Go, Nila, to the distant hosts That keep in arms their several posts> And all the armies that protect The quarters,.1 with their chiefs, collect. To all the limitaries placed In intermediate regions haste, And bid each captain rise and lead His squadrons to their king with speed,, Uo tiiou meanwhile with ^strictest care All that the time requires prepare. The loitering Vanar who delays To gather here ere thrice five days, Shall surely die for his offence, Condemned for sinful negligence.'
CANTO XXX, KAMA'S LAMENT.
But Rama in the autumn night Stood musing on the mountain height, While grief and love that scorned contro Shook with wild storms the hero's soul. Clear was the sky, without a cloud The glory of the' moon to shroud. And bright with purest silver shone Each hill the soft beams looked upon. He knew Sugriva's heart was bent On pleasure, gay and negligent. He thought on Janak's child forlorn From his fond arms for ever torn. He mourned occasion slipping by, And faint with anguish heaved each sigh 1 The troops who guard the frontiers o; the north, south, east, and west.
Canto THE RAM AY AN.
He sat where many a varied streak Of rich ore marked the mountain peak.
He raised his eyes the sky to view.
And to his love his sad thoughts flew.
He heard the Saras cry, and taint With sorrow poured his love-born plaint: 1 She. she who mocked the softest tone Of wild birds' voices with her own, — Where strays she now, ray love who played So happy in our hermit shade?
How can my absent love behold The bright trees with their flowers of gold, And all their gloaming glory see With eyes that vainly look for me?
How is it with my darling when From the deep tangles of the glen Float carols of each bird elate With rapture singing to his mate?
In vain my weary glances rove From lake to hill, from stream to grove: I find no rapture in the scene, And languish for my fawn -eyed queen, Ah, does strong love with wild unrest, Born of the autumn, stir her breast?
And does the gentle lady pine Till her bright eyes shall look in mine?'
Thus RaghuVson in piteous tone, O'er whelmed with sorrow, made his moan. E'en as the bird that drinks the rains l To Indra thousand-eyed complains. Then Lakshman who had wandered through The copses where the berries grew, Returning to the cavern found Hia brother chief in sorrow drowned, And pitying the woes that broke The spirit of the hero spoke: ' Why cast thv strength of soul away, And weakly yield to passion's sway? Arise, my brother, do and dare Ere action periah in despair. Recall the firmness of thy heart, And nerve thee for a hero's part. Whose is the hand unscathed to seize The red flame quickened by the breeze? Where is the foe will dare to wrong Or keep the Maithil lady long?' Then with pale lips that sorrow dried The son of Haghu thus replied: Lord Indra thousand-eyed has sent The sweet rain from the firmament, Sees the rich promise of the grain, And turns him to his rest again. The clouds with voices loud and deep, Veiling each tree upon the steep, Up on the thirsty earth have shed Their precious burthen, and are fled.
1 The Chataka, Cuculus Melanoleucus, is supposed to drink nothing but the water of the clouds.
Now in kings' hearts ambition glows: They rush to battle with their foes; A But in riugriva's sloth I see No care for deeds of chivalry.
Bee, Lakshman, on each breezy height A thousand autumn blooms are bright.- See how the wings of wild swans gleam On every islet or the stream.
Four months of flood and rain are past: A hundred years they seemed to last To me whom toil and trouble tried, My Sita severed from my side.
f:>he, gentlest woman, weak and young, t'.till to her lord unwearied cluug.
fctill by the exile's side she stood In the wild ways of Daudak wood, I, ike a fond bird disconsolate Ii parted from her darling mate.
fcugriva, lapped in soft repose, Untouched by pity for my woe?, Scorns the poor exile, dispossessed, By K&van'i* mightier arm oppressed, The wretch who cornea to sue and pray From his lost kingdom far away.
Hence fall* on me the Vanar's scorn, A suitor friendless and forlorn.
The time is come: with heedless eye He sees the hour of action fly, — Unmindful, now his hopes succeed, Of promise made in stress of need.
Go seek him sunk in bliss and sloth, Forgetful of his royal oath, And as mine envoy thus upbraid The monarch for his help delayed: ' Vile is the wretch who will not pay The favour of an earlier day, Hope in the suppliant's breast awakes, And then hi* plighted promise breaks.
Noblest, mid all of women born, Who keeps the words his lips have sworn, Yea, if those words be good or ill.
Maintains his faith unbroken still.
The thankless who forget to aid The friend who helped them when they prayed, Dishonoured in their death shall lie, And dogs shall pass -their corpses by. Sure thou wouldst see my strained arm hold My bow of battle backed with gold, Wouldat gaze upun its awful form Like lightning flashing through the storm.. And hear the clanging bowstring fond As thunder from a labouring clouql ' His valour and his strength 1 knov;, But pleasure's sway now sinks them low, With thee, my brother, for ally. That strength and valour I defy.
1 The time for warlike expeditions began when the rain.3 had ceased.
THE RAM AY AN.
Book IV He promised, when the rains should end, The succour of his arm to lend. Those months are past: he dares forget, And, lapped in pleasure, slumbers yet. No thought disturbs his careless breast For us impatient and distressed, And, while we sadly wait and pine, Girt by his lords he quaffs the wine. Go, brother, go, his palace seek, And boldly to Sugriva speak. Thus give the listless king to know "What waits him if my anger glow: Still open, to the gloomy God, Lies the sad path that Bali trod. ' Btill to thy plighted word be true, Lest thou. O King, that path pursue. I launched the shaft I pointed well, And Bali, only Bali, fell. But, if from truth thou dare to stray, Both thee and thine this hand shall slay.' Thus be the Vanar king addressed, Then add thyself what seems the best.
CANTO XXXI, THE ENVOY.
Thus Rfana spoke, and Lakshman then Made answer to the prince of men: ' Yea, if the Vanar, underterrei By fear of vengeance, break his word, Loss of his royal power ere long Shall pay the traitor for the wrong, Nor deem I him BO void of sense TO brave the bitter consequence. But if enslaved to joy he lie, And scorn thy grace with blinded eye, Then let him join his brother slain: Unmeet were such a wretch to reign. Quick rises, kindling in my breast, The wrath that will not be repressed, And bids me in my fury slay The breaker of his faith to-day, 3/et Bali's son thy consort trace With bravest chiefs of Vanar race.'
Thus spoke the hero, and aglow With rage of battle seized his bow, But Rama thus in gentler mood With fitting words his speech renewed; 'No hero with a soul like thine To paths of sin will e'er incline. He who his angry heart can tama Is worthiest of a hero's name. Not thine, my brother, be the part So alien from the tender heart, NOT let thy feet by wrath misled Forsake the path they loved to tread. Frora harsh and angry words abstain; "7/i t.h gentle speech a hearing gain, And tax Sugriva with the crime Of failing faith and wasted time.'
Then Lakshman, bravest of the brave, Obeyed the best that Rama gave, To whom devoting every thought The Vanar's royal town he sought. As Mandar's mountain heaves on high II is curved peak soaring to the sky, So Lakshman showed, his dread bow ben Like Indra's1 in the firmament. His brother's wrath, his brother's woe Inflamed his soul to fiercest glow. The tallest trees to earth were cast As furious on his way he passed, And where he stepped, so fiercely fleet, The stones were shivered by his feet. He reached Kishkindha's city deep Embosomed where the hills were steep, Where street and open square were lined With legions of the Vanar kind. Then, as his lips with fury swelled, The lord of Raghu's line beheld A stream of Vauar chiefs outpoured To do obeisance to their lord. But when the mighty prince in view Of the thick coming Vanars drew. They turned them in amaze to seize Crags of the rock and giant trees. He saw, and fiercer waxed his ire, As oil lends fury to the fire. Scarce had the Yanar chieftains seen That wrathful eye, that troubled mien Fierce as the God's who rules the dead. When, turned in wild affright, they fled, Speeding in breathless terror all Sought King Sugriva's council ball, And there made known their tale of fea; That Lakshman, wild with rage, was neai The king, untroubled by alarms, Held Tara in his amorous arms, And in the distant bower with her Heard not each clamorous messenger. Then, summoned at the lords' behest, Forth from the city portals pressed, Each like some elephant or cloud, The Vanars in a trembling crowd: Fierce warriors all, with massive jaws And terrors of their tiger claws. Some matched ten elephants, and some A hundred's strength could overcome. Some chieftains, mightier than the rest, Ten times a hundred's force possessed. With eyes of fury Lakshman viewed The Vanars' tree-armed multitude. Thus garrisoned from side to side The city walls assault defied. Beyond the moat that girt the wall Advanced the Vanar chiefs; and all Upon the plain in firm brigade, Impetuous warriors, stood arrayed.
1 The raiobow, Canto XXX It.
THE RAM AY AN.
Red at the sight flashed Lakshman's eyes, His bosom heaved tumultuous sighs, And forth the fire of fury broke Like flame that flashes through the smoke. Like some fierce snake the hero stood: His bow recalled the expanded hood, And 111 his shaft-head bright and keen The flickering of its tongue was seen: And in his own all-conquering might The venom of its deadly bite. Prince Angad marked his angry look, And every hope his heart forsook. Then, his large eyes With fury red, To Angad Lakshman turned and said: ' Go tell the king that Lakshman waits For audience at the city gates, Whose heart, O tamer of thy foes, Is heavy with his brother's woes. Bid him to Rama's word attend, And ask if lie will aid his friend. Go, let the king my message learn: Then hither with all speed return.'
Prince Angad heard and wild with grief Cried as he looked upon the chief: * 'Tis Lakshman's self: impelled by ire He seeks the city of my sire.' At the tierce words and furious look Of Raghu's son he quailed and shook, Back through the city gates he sped, And, laden with the tale of dread, Sought King Sugriva, filled his ears And Ruina's with his doubts and fears. To Ruma and the king he bent, And clasped their feet most reverent, Clasped the dear feet of Tara, too, And told the startling tale anew.
But King Sugrfva's ear was dulled, By love and wine and languor lulled, Nor did the words that Angad spake The slumberer from his trance awake, tiut soon as Us gnu's sou came nigh The startled Vanais raised a cry, Vnd strove to win his grace, while dread Kach anxious heart disquieted. They saw, and, as they gathered round, blose from the mighty throng a sound Lake torrents when they downward dash, Or thunder with the lightning's flash. The shouting of the Vanars broke Sugriva's slumber, and he woke: Still with the wine his eyes were red, rlis neck with flowers was garlanded. Roused at the voice of Angad came Two Vanar lords of rank and fame; One Yaksha, one Prabhava hight,— Wise counsellors of gain and right. They came and raised their voices high, And told that Raghu's son was nigh: 1 Two brothers steadfast in their truth, Each glorious in the bloom, of youth, Worthy of rule, have left the skies, And clothed their forms in men's disguise. One at thy gates, in warlike hands Holding his mighty weapon, stauda. His message is the charioteer That brings the eager envoy near, Urged onward by his bold intent, And by the best of Rama sent.1 The gathered Vanars saw and fled, And raised aloud their cry of dread. Son of Queen Tara, Angad ran To parley with the godlike man. Still fiery-eyed with rage and hate Stands Lakshman at the city gate, And trembling Vanars scarce can fly- Scathed by the lightning of his eye. Go with thy son, thy kith and kin, The favour of the prince to win, And bow thy reverent head that so His fiery wrath may cease to glow. What righteous Rama bids thee. do, And to thy plighted word be true.1 CANTO XXXII.
HANUMAN'S COUNSEL.