Then fiercer for the tight he burned, And at the foe his chariot turned, While all his followers lifting high Their maees charged with furious cry. Dire, yet more dire the battle grew, As rocks and trees and arrows flew. The giant shot his shafts like rain, And Vanars fell in myriads slain. Sugriva, Angad, Nila'felt The wounds his hurtling arrows dealt, His shafts the blood of Gnya drank; Hanuman reeled and Mainda sank. Bright as the glances of the sun Came the swift darts they could not shun, Caught in the arrowy nets he wove. In vain the sons of Raghu strove: And Rama, by the darts oppressed, His brother chieftain thus addressed: 'See, first this giant warrior sends Destruction mid our Vanar friends, And now his arrows thick and fast Their binding net around us cast. To Brahma's grace the chieftain owes The matchless power and might he shows; And mortal strength in vain contends With him whom Brahma's self befriends, Then let us still with dauntless hearts Endure this storm of pelting darts. Soon must we sink bereaved of sense; And then the victor, hurrying hence, Will seek his father in his hall And tell Mm of his foemen's fall.' He ceased: o'erpowered by shaft and spell The sons of Raghu reeled and fell. The Rakshas on their bodies gazed; And, mid the shouts his followers raised, Sped back to Lanka to relate In Ravan's hall the princes' fate.
CANTO LXXIV.
THE MEDICINAL HERBS.
The shades of falling night concealed The carnage of the battle field, Canto LXXIV.
THE RAMAYAN.
Which, hearing each a blazing brand, Hanuman and Vibhislmn scanned, Moving with slow and anxious tread Among the dying and the dead. Sad was the scene of slaughter shown Where'er the torches' light was thrown. Here mountain forms of Variars lay Whose heads and limbs were lopped away Arms legs and fingers strewed the ground, And severed heads lay thick around. The earth was moist with sanguine streams. And sighs were heard and groans aud screams.
There lay Sugriva still and cold, There Augad, once so brave and bold. There Jambavan his might reposed, There Vegadarsi's eyes were closed; There in the dust was Nala's pride, And Dwivid lay by Mainda's side. Where'er they looked the ensanguined plain Was strewn with myriads of the slain;! They sought with keenly searching eyes King -lambavan supremely wise. His strength hail failed by slow decay, And pierced with countless shafts he lay. They saw, and hastened to his side, And tliiLs the sage Vibhishan cried: ' Thee, monarch of the bears, we seek: Speak if thou yet art living, speak.' Slow came the aged chief's reply; Scarce could he say with many a sigh: Torn with keen shafts which pierce each My strength is gone, my sight is dim; Yet though I scarce can raise mine eyes, Thy voice. 0 chief. I recognize. O, while these ears can hear thee, say, Has Hanunian survived this day "i ' ; Why ask,' Vibhishan cried,' for one Of lower rank, the Wind-God's son? Hast thou forgotten, first in place, The princely chief of liaghu's race? Can King Sugriva claim no care, And Angad, his imperial heir?'
' Yea, dearer than my noblest friends Is he on whom our hope depends. For if (he Wind-God's son survive, All we though dead are yet alive. But if his precious life be fled Though living still we are but dead: He is our hope and sure relief.' Thus slowly spoke the aged chief: Then to his side Hanuman came. And with low reverence named his name.
1 In such cases as this I am not careful to reproduce the numbers of the poet. which in the text which I follow are 670(100000; the Bengal recension being content with thirty million less.
Cheered by the face he longed to view The wounded chieftain lived anew. 'Go forth,' he cried, 'O strong and brave> And in their woe the Vanars save. 'No might but thine, supremely great, May help us in our lost estate. The trembling bears and Vanars cheer, Calm their sad hearts, dispel their fear* Save Raghu'd noble sons, and heal The deep wounds of the winged steel. High o'er the waters of the sea To far Himalaya's summits nee. Kailasa there wilt thou behold, Ana Kri.shabh with his peaks of gold. Between them see a mountain rise Whose splendour will enchant thine eyes;: His sides are clothed above, below, With all the rarest herbs that grow. Upon that mountain's lofty crest Four plants, of sovereign powers possessed,. Spring from the soil, and flashing there Shed radiance through the neighbouring air.
One draws the shaft: one brings again The breath of life to warm the slain: One heals each wound; one gives anew To faded cheeks their wonted hue. Fly, chieftain, to that mountain's brow Arid bring those herbs to save us now.'
Hanuman heard, and springing through The air like Vishnu's discus1 tievv. The sea was passed: beneath him, gay With bright-winged birds, the mountains lay, And brook and lake and lonely glen, And fertile lands with toiling men. On, on he sped: before him rose The mansion of perennial snows. There soared the glorious peaks as fair As white clouds in the summer air. Here, bursting from the leafy shade, In thunder leapt the wild cascade. He looked on many a pure retreat Dear to the Gods' and sages' feet: The spot where Brahma dwells apart, The place whence Budra launched hi$ dart;?
Vishnu's high seat and Indra's home, And slopes where Yama's servants roam. There was Kuvera's bright abode; There Brahma's mystic weapon glowed. There was the noble hill whereon The discus or quoit, a sharp-edged circular missile is the favourite weapon of Vishnu.
* To destroy Tripura the triple city in the sky, air and earth, built by Maya for a celebrated Asur or demon, or as another commentator explains, to destroy Kail* darpa or Love.
THE RAM AY AN.
Bool: VI Those herbs with wondrous lustre shone, And, ravished by the glorious sight, Han urn an rested on the height. He, moving down the glittering peak, The healing herbs began to seek; But, when lie thought to seize the prize, They hid them from his eager eyes. Then to the hill in wrath he spake: ' Mine arm tin's day shall vengeance take: If thou wilt feel no pity, none, In this great need of Raghu's son,' He ceased: his mighty arms he bent And from the trembling mountain rent His huge head with the life it bore, Snakes, elephants, and golden ore. O'er hill and plain and watery waste His rapid way again he traced, And mid the wondering Vanars laid His burthen through the air conveyed, The wondrous herbs' delightful scent To all the host new vigour lent. Free from all darts and wounds and pain The sons of Raghu lived again, And dead and dying Vanars healed Rose vigorous from the battle field.
CANTO LXXV.
THE NIGHT ATTACK.
Sugriva spake in words like these: 4 Now, Vanar lords, the occasion seize. For now, of sons and brothers reft, To Ravan little hope is left; And if our host his gates assail His weak defence will surely fail.'
At dead of night the Vanar bands Rushed on with torches in their hands. Scared by tho corning of the host Each giant warder left his post. Where'er the Vanar legions came Their way was marked with hostile flame That spread in fury to devour Palace and temple, gate and tower. Down came the walls and porches, down Came stately piles that graced the town. In many a liouse the fire was red, On sandal wood and aloe fed, And scorching flames in billows rolled O'er diamonds and pearls and gold. On cloth of wool, on silk brocade, On linen robes their fury preyed. Wheels, poles and yokes were burned, and all The coursers' harness in the stall; And elephants' and chariots' gear, The sword, the buckler, and the spear. Scared by the crash of falling beams, Mid lamentations, groans "and screams, Forth rushed the giants through the flames And with them dragged bewildered dames Each, with o'erwhelming terror wild, Still clasping to her breast a child. The swift lire from a cloud of smoke Th rough many a gilded lattice broke, And. melting pearl and coral, rose O'er balconies and porticoes. The startled crane and peacock screamed As with strange light the courtyarc gleamed, And tierce unusual glare was thrown On shrinking wood and heated stone. From burning stall and stable freed Kushed frantic elephant and steed, And goaded by the driving bla/e Fled wildly through the crowded ways. As earth with fervent heat will glow When comes her final overthrow; From gate to gate, from court to spire Proud Lanka was one blaze of fire, And every headland, rock and bay Shone bright a hundred leagues away, Forth, blinded by the heat and flame Ran countless giants huge of frame; And, mustering for fierce attack, The Vanars charged to drive them back, While shout and scream and roar and cry Reechoed through the earth and sky. There Kama stood with strength renewed, And ever, as the foe he viewed, Shaking the distant regions rang His mighty bow's tremendous clang. Then through the gates Nikumbha hied, And Kumbha by his brother's side, Sent forth — the bravest and the best — To battle by the king's behest. There fought the chiefs in open field, And Angad fell and Dwivid reeled. Sugriva saw: by rage impelled He crushed the bow which Kumbha held. About his foe Sugriva wound His arms, and, heaving from the ground The giant hurled him o'er the bank; And deep beneath the sea he sank. Like mandar hill with furious swell Up leapt the waters where he fell.
Again he rose: he sprang to land And raised on high his threatening hand: Full 011 Sugriva's chest it came And shook the Vanar's massy frame, But on the wounded bone he broke His wrist — so furious was the stroke. With force that naught could stay or check, Sugriva smote him neath the neck, The fierce blow crashed through flesh and bone And Kumbha lay in death overthrown. Sfikumbha saw his brother die, And red with fury flashed his eye. He dashed with mighty sway and swing Canto XCIII.
THE RAM AY AN.
His axe against the Vanar king; But shattered on that living rock It split in fragments at the shock.
Sugriva. rising to the blow, liaised his huge hand and smote his foe.
And in the dust the giant lay Gasping in blood his soul away.1 CANTO XCIII, KAVAN'S LAMENT.
They sought the king, a mournful train, And cried. ' My lord, thy son is slain. By Lakshman's hand, before these eyes, The warrior fell no more to rise. 2STo time is this for vain regret: Thy hero sou a hero met; And he whose might in battle pressed Lord Indra and the Gods confessed, Whose power was stranger to defeat, Has gamed in heaven a blissful seat.
The monarch heard the mournful tale: His heart was faint, his cheek was pale; His fleeting sense at length regained, In trembling tones he thus complained: 4 Ah me, my son, my pride: the boast And glory of the giant host. Could Lakshman's puny might defeat The foe whom Indra feared to meet? Could not thy deadly arrows split Proud Mandar's peaks, O Indrajit, 1 I have briefly despatched Kumbha and Nikumbha, each of whom has in the text a long Canto to himself. When they fall Ravan sends forth Makaraksha or Crocodile-Eye, the son of Khara who was slain by Rama in the forest before the abduction of Sita. The account of his sallying forth, of his battle with Kama and of his death by the fiery dart of that hero occupies two Cantos which I entirely pass over. Indrajit again comes forth and, rendered invisible by his magic art slays countless Vanars with his unerring arrows. He retires to the city and re- turns bearing in his chariot ah effigy of Sita, the work of magic, weeping and wailing by his side. He grasps the lovely image by the hair and cuts it down with his scimitar in the sight of the enraged Hanimian and all the Vanar host. At last after much fighting of the usual kind Indrajit's chariot is broken in pieces, his charioteer is slain, and he himself falls by Lakshman's hand, to the inexpressible delight of the high-souled saints, the nymphs of heaveu and other celestial beings, And the Destroyer's self destroy? And wast them conquered by a boy? I will not weep: thy noble deed Has blessed thee with immortal meed Gained by each hero in the skies Who fighting for his sovereign dies. Now, fearless of all meaner foes. The guardian Gods1 will taste repose: But earth to rne. with hill and plain, In desolate, for thou art slain. Ah, whither hast thou fled, and left Thy mother, Lanka, me bereft; Left pride and state and wives behind,. And lordship over all thy kind? I fondly hoped thy hand should pay Due honours on my dying day: And couldst thou, O beloved, flee And leave thy funeral rites to me? Life has no comfort left me, none, O Indrajifc my son, my son.'
Thus wailed he broken by his woes: But swift the thought of vengeance rose, In awful wrath his teeth he gnashed, And from his eyes red lightning flashed. Hot from his mouth came lire and smoke, As thus the king in fury spoke: • Through many a thousand years of yore The penance and the pain I bore, And by fierce torment well sustained The highest grace of Brahma gained, His plighted word my life assured, From Gods of heaven and fiends secured. He armed my limbs with burnished mail Whose lustre turns the sunbeams pale, In battle proof gainst heavenly bands With thunder in their threatening hands. Armed in this mail myself will go With Brahma's gift my deadly bow, And, cleaving through the foes my way, The slayers of my son will slay.'
Then,' by his grief to frenzy wrought, The captive in the grove he sought. Swift through the shady path he sped: Earth trembled at his furious tread. Fierce were his eyes: his monstrous hand Held drawn for death his glittering brand.
1 The Lokapalas are sometimes regard- ed as deities appointed by Brahma at the creation of the word to act as guardians of different orders of beings, but more commonly they are identified with the deities presiding over the four cardinal and four intermediate points of the com- pass, which, according to Manu V.90, are 1, Indra, guardian of the East: 2, Agni, of the South-east; 3, Yama, of the South; 4, Surya, of the South-west; 5, Varuna, of the West; 6, Pavana or Vayu. of the North-west; 7, Kuvera. of the North; 8r Soina or Chandra, of the North-east, THE RAM AY AN.
Book VI.
There weeping stood the Maithil dame: She shuddered as the giant came.
Near drew the rover of the night And raised his sword in act to smite; But, by his nobler heart impelled, One Rakshas lord his arm withheld: * Wilt thou, great Monarch,' thus he cried, 4 Wilt thou, to heavenly Gods allied, Blot for all time thy glorious fame, The slayer of a gentle dame?
What! shall a woman's blood be spilt To stain thee with eternal guilt, Thee deep in all the Veda's lore?
Far be the thought for evermore.
Ah look, and let her lovely face This fury from thy bosom chase.'
He ceased: the prudent counsel pleased The monarch, and his wrath appeased; Then to his council hall in haste The giaut lord his steps retraced.1 CANTO XCVI.
RAVAN'S SALLY.
The groans and cries of dames who wailed The ears of Lanka's lord assailed, For from each house and home was sent The voice of weeping and lament. In troubled thought his head he bowed, Then fiercely looking on the crowd Of nobles near his throne he broke The silence, and in fury spoke: 'This day my deadly shafts shall fly, And Raghu's sons shall surely die. This day shall countless Vanars bleed And dogs and kites and vultures feed. Go. bid them swift my car prepare, Bring the great bow I long to bear: And let my host with sword and shield And spear be ready for the field.'
From street to street the captains passed And Rakshas warriors gathered fast. With spear and sword to pierce and strike, And axe and club and mace and pike.5* 1 I omit two (Jantos in the first of which Hama with an enchanted Gandharva weapon deals destruction among the Rakshases sent out by Ravan. and in the second the Rakshas dames' lament the slain and mourn over the madness of Kavan.
* I'omit several weapons for which I cannot find distinctive names, and among them the tiataglud or Centlcide, supposed by some to be a kind of ti re*arms or rocket, but described by a commentator on the Mahabharata as a stone or cylindrical piece of wood studded with iron spikes.
Then Ravan's warrior chariot1 wrought With gold and rich inlay was brought. Mid tinkling bells and weapons' clang The monarch on the chariot sprang, Which, decked with gems of every hue, Eigiit steeds of noble lineage drew. Mid roars of drum and shell rang out From countless throats a joyful shout, As, girt with hosts in warlike pride, Through Lanka's streets the tyrant hied. Still, louder than the roar of drums, Went up the cry ' He comes, he comes, Our ever conquering lord who trod Beneath his feet both fiend and God.' On to the gate the warriors swept Where Raghu's sons their station kept. When Ravan's car the portal passed The sun in heaven was overcast. Earth rocked and reeled from side to side And birds with boding voices cried, Against the standard of the king A vulture flapped his horrid wing. Big gouts of blood before him dropped, His trembling steeds in terror stopped. The hue of death was on his cheek, And scarce his flattering tongue could speak, speak, When, terrible with flash and flame, Through murky air a meteor came. Still by the hand of Death impelled His onward way the giant held. The Vanars in the field afar Heard the loud thunder of his car, And turned with warriors1 tierce delight To meet the giant in the fight. He came: his clanging bow he drew And myriads of the Vanars slew. Some through the side and heart he cleft, Some headless on the plain were left. Some struggling groaned with mangled thighs, Or broken arms or blinded eyes.2 1 The chariots of Kavan's present army are said to have been one hundred and fifty million in number with three hundred million elephants, and twelve hundred million horses and asses. The footmen are merely said to have been 'unnumbered.'
* I omit Cantos XCVII.. XCVIII.,and XCIX, which describe in the usual way three single combats between Sugriva and Angadonthe Vanar side and Virupaksha. Mahodar, and Mahapargva on the side of the giants. The weapons of the Vanars are trees and rooks: the giants fight with swords, axes, and bows and arrows. The details are generally the same as those of preceding duels. The giants fall, oiie ia each Canto.
Canto CI.
THE RAM AY AN.
CANTO C.
RAVAN IN THE FIELD.
Still Raghu's son endured, and bore Thatcrown of shafts though wounded sore.
O'er a dire dart a spell he spoke With mystic power to aid the stroke.
In vain upon the foe it smote Rebounding from the steelproof coat.
The giant armed his bow anew, And wondrous weapons hissed and flew, Terrific, deadly, swift of flight, Beaked like the vulture and the'kite, Or bearing heads of fearful make, Of lion, tiger, wolf and snake.1 Then Raina, troubled by the storm Of flying darts in every form Shot by an arm that naught could tire, Launched at the foe his dart of fire, Which, sacred to the Lord of Flame, Burnt and consumed where'er it came.
And many a blazing shaft beside The hero to his string applied.
With fiery course of dazzling hue Swift to the mark each missile flew, Some flashing like a shooting star, Some as the tongues of lightning are; One like a brilliant plant, one In splendour like the morning sun.
Where'er the shafts of Kama burned The giant's darts were foiled and turned.
Far into space his weapons fled, But as they flew struck thousands dead.
CANTO CI.
I^AKSHMAN'S FALL.
When Ravan saw his darts repelled, With double rage his bosom swelled. He summoned, wroth but undismayed, A mightier charm to lend its aid. And, fierce as fire before the blast, A storm of missiles thick and fast, Spear, pike and javelin, mace and brand, Ca^me hurtling from the giant's hand. But, mightier still, the arms employed By Raghu's son their force destroyed, And every dart fell dulled and spent By powers the bards of heaven had lent. With his huge mace Vibhishan slew The steeds that Mva^'s chariot drew.
1 It is not very easy to see the advant- age of having arrows headed in the way mentioned. Fanciful names for war-en- gines and weapons derived from their re- semblance to various animals are not con- fined to India. The "War-wolf was. used by Edward I. at the siege of Breehin, ;he " Cat-house" and the " Sow " were used by Edward ill. at the seigepf Dunbar.
THE RAM AY AN.
Boole VI.
Then Ravan hurled in deadly ire A ponderous spear that flashed like fire: But Rama's arrows checked its way, And harmless on the earth it lay, The giant seized a mightier spear, Which Death himself would shun with fear, Vibhishan with the stroke had died, But Lakshman's hand his bowstring plied, And flyiug arrows thick as hail Smote fiercely on the giant's mail. Then Ravan turned his aim aside, On Lakshman looked and fiercely cried: 1 Thou, thou again my wrath hast braved, And from his death Vibhishan saved. Now in his stead this spear receive Whosedeadly point thy heart shall cleave.'
He ceased: he hurled the mortal dart By Maya forged with magic art. The spear, with all his fury flung, Swift, flickering like a serpent's tongue, Adorned with many a tinkling bell, Smote Lakshman, and the hero fall. When Rama saw, he heaved a sigh, A tear one rnbment dimmed his eye. But tender grief was soon repressed A nd thoughts of vengeance filled his breast. The air around him flashed and gleamed As from his bow the arrows streamed; And Lanka's lord, the foeman's dread, O'envhelmed with terror turned and fled.
CANTO CII. LAKSHMAN HEALED.
But Rama, pride of Raghu's race, Gazed tenderly on Lakshman's face, And, as the sight his spirit broke, Turned to Sushen and sadly spoke: ' Where is my power and valour? how Shall I have heart for battle now, When dead before my weeping eyes My brother, noblest Lakshman, lies? My tears in blinding torrents "flow, My hand unnerved has dropped my bow. The pangs of woe have blanched my cheek, My heart is sick, my strength is weak. Ah me, my brother 1 Ah, that I By Lakshman's side might sink and die: Life, war and conquest, all are vain If Lakshman lies in battle slain, Why will those eyes my glances shun? Hast thou no word of answer, none? Ah, is thy noble spirit flown And gone to other worlds alone? Couldst thou not let thy brother seek Those worlds with thee"? O speak, O speak Kise up once more, my brother, rise, Look on me with thy loving eyes. Were not tky steps beside me still In gloomy wood, on breezy hill? Did not thy gentle care assuage Thy brother's grief and fitful rage? Didst thou not all his troubles share, His guide and comfort in despair?'
As llama, vanquished, wept and sighed The Vanar chieftain thus replied: ' Great Prince, unmanly thoughts dismiss, Nor yield thy soul to grief like this. In vain those burning tears are shed: Our glory Lakshinan is not dead. Death on his brow no mark has set, Where beauty's lustre lingers yet. Clear is the skin, and tender hues Of lotus flowers his palms suffuse. O Rama, cheer thy trembling heart; Not thus do life and body part. Now, Hanuman, to thee I speak: Hie hence to tall Mahodaya's1 peak Where herbs of sovereign virtue grow Which life and health and strength bestow. Bring thou the leaves to balm his pain, And Lakshman shall be well again,' He ceased: the Wind -God's son obeyed Swift through the clouds his way he made. He readied the hill, nor stayed to find The wondrous herbs of healing kind, From its broad base the mount he tore With all the shrubs and trees it bore, Sped through the clouds again and showed To wise Sushen his woody load. * Sushen in wonder viewed the hill, And culled the sovereign salve of ill. JSoon as the healing herb he found, The fragrant leaves he crush ed and ground, Then over Lakshman's face he bent, Who, healed andstrengthened by the scenj Of that blest herb divinely sweet, Rose fresh and lusty on his feet.
CANTO GUI.
INDRA'S CAR.
Then Raghu's son forgot his woe; Again he grasped his fallen bow And hurled at Lanka's lord amain The tempest of his arrowy rain.
1 Apparently a peak of the Himalayi chain.
* This exploit of Hanuman is relatec with inordinate prolixity in the Benga recension (Gorresio's text). Among othe adventures he narrowly escapes bein« shot by Bharat as he passes over Nandi grama near Ayodhya. Hanuman stay Bharat in time, and gives him an accoun of what has befallen Rama and SH& i] the forest and in LaoMc Canto CVL THE RAM AY AN.
Drawn by the steeds his lords had brought, Again the giant turned and fought, And drove nis glittering chariot nigh As springs the Day-God through the sky. Then, as his sounding bow he bent, Like thunderbolts his shafts were sent, As when dark clouds in rain time shed Fierce torrents on a mountain's head. High on his car the giant rode, On foot the son of Raghu strode. The Gods from their celestial height Indignant saw the unequal fight. Then he whom heavenly hosts revere, Lord Indra, called his charioteer: 1 Haste, Matali,' he cried, 'descend; To Raghu's son my chariot lend. With cheering words the chief address; And all the Gods thy deed will bless.'
He bowed; he brought the glorious car Whose tinkling bells were heard afar; Fair as the sun of morning, bright With gold and pearl and lazulite. He yoked the steeds of tawny hue That swifter than the tempest flew. Then down the slope of heaven he hied And stayed the car by Rama's side. « Ascend, O Chief.1 he" humbly cried, * The chariot which the Gods provide, The mighty bow of Indra see, Sent by the Gods who favour thee; Behold this coat of glittering mail, And spear and shafts which never fail.'
Cheered by the grace the Immortals showed The chieftain on the chariot rode. Then as the car-borne warriors met The awful fight raged fiercer yet. Each shaft that Ravan shot became A serpent red with kindled flame, And round the limbs of Rama hung With fiery jaws and quivering tongue. But every serpent fled dismayed When Raghu's valiant son displayed The weapon of the Feathered King,1 And loosed his arrows from the string. But Ravan armed his bow anew, And showe'rs of shafts at Rama flew, While the fierce king in switt career Smote with a dart the charioteer. An arrow shot by Ravan's hand Laid the proud banner on the sand, And Indra's steeds of heavenly strain Fell by the iron tempest slain. On Gods and spirits of the air Fell terror, trembling, and despair. The sea's white billows mounted high 1 As Garud the king of birds is the mortal enemy of serpents the weapon sacred to him is of course best calculated to deatioy the serpent arrows of Ravan, With froth and foam to drench the sky, The sun by lurid clouds was veiled, The friendly lights of heaven were paled; And, fiercely gleaming, fiery Mars Opposed the beams of gentler stars.
Then Rama's eyes with fury blazed As Indra's heavenly spear he raised. Loud rang the bells: the glistering head Bright flashes through the region shed. Down came the spear in swift descent: The giant's lance was crushed and bent. Then Ravan's horses brave and fleet Fell dead beneath his arrowy sleet. Fierce on his foeman R&ma pressed, And gored with shafts his mighty breast, And spouting streams of crimson dyed The weary giant's limbs and side.1 CANTO CVI.
GLORY TO THE SUN.
There faint and bleeding fast, apart Stood Ravan raging in his heart.
Then, moved with ruth for Rama's sake, Agastva* came and gently spake: *Bend, Rama, bend thy heart and ear The everlasting truth to hear Which all thy hopes through life will blesa And crown thine arms with full success.
The rising sun with golden rays, Light of the worlds, adore and praise; The universal king, the lord By hosts of heaven and fiends adored.
He tempers all with soft control: He is the Gods' diviner soul; And Gods above and fiends below And men to him their safety owe.
He Brahma, Vishnu, &va, he Each person of the glorious Three, Is every God whose praise we tell, The King of Heaven,3 the Lord of Hell:4 Each God revered from times of old, The Lord of War,6 the King of Gold:6 1 I omit Cantos CIV. and 0V. in which the fight is renewed and Ravan severely reprimands his charioteer for timidity and want of confidence in his master's prowess, and orders him to charge straight at Rama on the next occasion.
2 I he celebrated saint who has on former occasions assisted.Rama with his gifts and counsel.
3 Indra.
4 Yama.
* Karttikeya, THE RAMAYAN.
Book VL