The Town-destroyer, Thousand-eyed, Who smote fierce Bali till he died, Joined suppliant hands, and thus replied: ' Thy children heavenly forms shall wear; The names devised by thee shall bear, And, Maruts called by my decree, Shall Amrit drink and wait on me. From fear and age and sickness freed, Through the three worlds their wing3 shall speed/ Thus in the hermits' holy shade Mother and son their compact made, And then, as fame relates, content, Home to the happy skies they went. This is the spot — so men have told — Where Lord Mahendra3 dwelt of old, This is the blessed region where His votaress mother claimed his care. Here gentle Alambusha bare To old Ikshvaku, king and sage, Visala, glory of his age, Bv whom, a monarch void of guilt, Was this fair town Visala built.
1 A few verses are here left untranslated on account of the subject and language "being offensive to modern taste, i * In this myth of Indra destrying the unborn fruit of Diti with his thunder- bolt, from which afterwards came the Maruts or Gods of Wind and Storm, geolo- gical phenomena are, it seems, represented under mythical images. In the great Mother of the Gods is, perhaps, figured the dry earth: Indra the God of thunder rends it open, and there issue from its rent bosom the Maruts or exhalations of the earth. But such ancient myths are diffi- cult to interpret with absolute certainty.1 GORRESIO.
» Wind.
3 Indra, with m-ahd, great, prefixed, THE RAMAYAN.
Boole 1.
His son was Hemachandra, still Renowned for might arid warlike skill. From him the great Suchandra came; His son, Dhumrasva, dear to fame. Next followed royal Srinjay; then Famed Sahadeva, lord of men. Next came Kusasva, good and mild, Whose son was Somadatta styled, And Sumati, his heir, the peer Of Gods above, now governs here. And ever through Ikshvaku's grace, Visala's kings, his noble race, Are lofty-souled, and blest with length Of days, with virtue, and with strength. This night, O prince, we here will sleep; And when the day begins to peep, Our onward way will take with thee, The king of Mithila to see.'
Then Sumati, the king, aware Of Visvamitra's advent there, Came quickly forth with honour meet The lofty-minded sage to greet. Girt with his priest and lords the king Did low obeisance, worshipping. With suppliant hands, with head inclined, Thus spoke he after question kind: ' Since thou hast deigned to bless my sight, And grace awhile thy servant's seat, High fate is mine, great Anchorite, And none may with my bliss compete.'
CANTO XLVIII.
INDRA AND AHALYA, When mutual courtesies had past, Visala's ruler spoke at last: * These princely youths, O Sage, who vie In might with "children of the sky, Heroic, born for happy fate, With elephants' or lions' gait, Bold as the tiger or the bull, With lotus eyes so large and full, Armed with the quiver, sword, and bow, Whose figures like the Asvins1 show, Like children of the deathless Powers, Come freely to these shades of ours,3 — How have they reached on foot this place? What do they seek, and what their race? As sun and moon adorn the sky, This spot the heroes glorify. Alike in stature, port, and mien, The same fair form in each is seen.'
He spoke; and at the monarch's call The best of hermits told him all, 1 The Heavenly Twins. a Not banished from heaven as the in- terior Gods and demigods sometimes wer e.
How in the grove with him they dwelt, And slaughter to the demons dealt. Then wonder filled the monarch's breast, Who tended well each royal guest. Thus entertained, the princely pair Remained that night and rested there, And with the morn's returning ray To Mithila pursued their way.
When Janak's lovely city first Upon their sight, yet distant, burst, The hermits all with joyful cries Hailed the fair town that met their eyes. Then Rama saw a holy wood, Close, in the city's neighbourhood, O'ergrown, deserted, marked by age, And thus addressed the mighty sage: ' O reverend lord, I long to know What hermit dwelt here long ago.' Then to the prince his holy guide, Most eloquent of men, replied: * O Rama, listen while I tell Whose was this grove, and what befell When in the fury of his rage The high saint cursed the hermitage. This was the grove — most lovely then — Of Gautam, O thou best of men. Like heaven itself, most honoured by The Gods who dwell above the sky. Here with Ahalya, at his side His fervid task the ascetic plied. Years fled in thousands. On a day It chanced the saint had gone away, When Town-destroying Indra came, And saw the beauty of the dame. The sage's form the God endued, And thus the fair Analyst wooed: ' Love, sweet! should brook no dull delay But snatch the moments when he may.' She knew him in the saint's disguise, Lord Indra of the Thousand eyes, But touched by love's unholy fire, She yielded to the God's desire.
'Now, Lord of Gods!' she whispered, 'flee, From Gautam save thyself and me.' Trembling with doubt and wild with dread Lord Indra from the cottage fled; But fleeing in the grove he met The home-returning anchoret, Whose wrath the Gods and fiends would shun, Such power his fervent rites had won. Fresh from the lustral flood he came, In splendour like the burning flame, With fuel for his sacred rites, And grass, the best of eremites. The Lord of Gods was sad of cheer To see the mighty saint so near, And when the holy hermit spied In hermit's garb the Thousand-eyed, Canto L.
THE RAM AY AN.
61 He knew the whole, his fury broke Forth on the sinner as he spoke: Because my form thou hast assumed, And wrought this folly, thou art doomed. -For this my curse to thee shall cling, Henceforth a sad and sexless thing.'
No empty threat that sentence came, It chilled his soul and marred his frame, His might and godlike vigour fled, And every nerve was cold and dead.
Then on his wife his fury burst, And thus the guilty danie he curbed: 'For countless years, disloyal spouse, Devoted to severest vows, Thy bed the ashes, air thy food, Here shalt thou live in solitude. This lonely grove thy home shall be, And not an eye thy form shall see. When Kama, Dasaratha's child, Shall seek these shades then drear and wild, His cjming shall remove thy stain, Aad make the sinner pure again. Due honour paid to him. thy guest, Shall cleanse thy fond and erring breast. Thee to my side in bliss restore, And give thy proper shape once more.'1 Thus to his guilty wife he said, Then far the holy Gautam fled. And on Himalaya's lovely heights Spent the long years in sternest rites.'
CANTO XLIX.
AHALYA FREED.
Then Kama, following still his guide, Within the grove, with Lakshman, hied. Her vows a wondrous light had lent To that illustrious penitent. He saw the glorious lady, screened From eye of man, and Grod. and liend, Like some bright portent which the care Of Brahma launches through the air, Designed by his illusive art To flash a moment and depart: Or like the flame that leaps on high To sink involved in smoke and die: 1 ' Rumania says: 'In the same manner, if it is said that Indra was the seducer of Ahalya. this does not imply that the God Indra committed such a crime, but Indra means the sun, and Ahalya (from ahan and li) the night; and as the night is seduced and ruined by the sun of the morning, therefore is Indra called the paramour of Ahalya.' MAX MULLER, History of Ancient Sanskrit Literature, Or like the full moon shining through The wintry mist, then lost to view: Or like the sun's reflection, cast Upon the flood, too bright to last: So was the glorious dame till then Removed from Gods' and mortals' ken, Till — such was Gautam's high decree — Prince Kama c.ame t) set her free.
Then, with great joy that dame to meet, The sons of Raghu clasped her feet; And she. remembering Gautanvs oath, With gentle grace received them both; Then water for their feet she gave, Guest-gift, and all that strangers crave.
The prince, of courteous rule aware, Received, as meet, the lady's care. Then flowers came down in copious rain, And moving to the heavenly strain Of music in the skies that rang, The nymphs and minstrels danced and sang: And all the Gods with one glad voice Praised the great dame, and cried, 'Rejoice! Through fervid rites no more defiled, But with thy husband reconciled.' Gautam, the holy hermit knew — For naught escaped his godlike view — Tiiat Rama lodged beneath that shade, And hasting there his homage paid. He took Ahalya to his side, From sin and folly purified, And let his new-found consort bear In his austerities a share.
Then Rama, pride of Kaghu's race, Welcomed by Gautam, face to face, Whj every highest honour showed, To Mithilti pursued his road.
CANTO L.
JANAK.
The sons of Raghu journeyed forth, Bending their steps 'twixt east and north. Soon, guided by the sage, they found, Enclosed, a sacrificial ground. Then to the best of saints, his guide, In admiration Rama cried: ' The high-souled king no toil has spared, But nobly for his rite prepared. How many thousand Brahmans here, From every region, far and near, Well read in holy lore, appear! How many tents, that sages screen, With wains in hundreds, here are seen! Great Brahman, let us find a place Where we may stay and rest a space.' The hermit did as Rama prayed, And iu a spot his lodging made, THE RAM AY AN.
Boole I.
Far from the crowd, sequestered, clear, With copious water flowing near.
Then Janak, best of kings, aware Of Visvamitra lodging there, With Satananda for his guide — The priest on whom he most relied. His chaplain void of guile and stain — And others of his priestly train, Bearing the gift that greets the guest, To meet him with all honour pressed. The saint received with gladsome mind Each honour and observance kind: Tli en of his health he asked the king, And how his rites were prospering, Janak, with chaplain and with priest, Addressed the hermits, chief and least, Accosting all, in due degree, With proper words of courtesy. Then, with his palms together laid, The king his supplication made: 'Deign, reverend lord, to sit thee down With these good saints of high renown.' Then sate the chief of hermits there, Obedient to the monarch's prayer. Chaplain and priest, and king and peer, Sate in their order, far or near. Then thus the king began to say: ' The Gods have blest my rite to-day, And with the sight of thee repaid The preparations I have made. Grateful am I, so highly blest, That thou, of saints the holiest, Hast come, O Brahman, here with all These hermits to the festival. Twelve days, O Brahman Sage, remain — For so the learned priests ordain — And then, O heir of Kusik's name, The Gods will come their dues to claim.'
With looks that testified delight Thus spake he to the anchorite, Then with his suppliant hands upraised, He asked, as earnestly he gazed: * These princely youths, O Sage, who vie In might with children of the sky, Heroic, born for happy fate, With elephants' or lions' gait, Bold as the tiger and the bull, With lotus eyes so large and full, Armed with the quiver, sword and bow, Whose figures like the Asvins show, Like children of the heavenly Powers, Come freely to these shades of ours,— How have they reached on foot this place? What do they seek, and what their race 1 As sun and moon adorn the sky, This spot the heroes glorify: Alike in stature, port, and mien, The same fair form in each is seen.'1 1 *The preceding sixteen lines have occurred before in Canto XLVIII. This Thus spoke the monarch, lofty-souled: The saint, of heart unfathomed, told How, sons of Dasaratha, they Accompanied his homeward way, How in the hermitage they dwelt, ' And slaughter to the demons dealt: Their journey till the spot they neared Whence fair Visala's towers appeared: Ahalya seen and freed from taint; Their meeting with her lord the saint; And how they thither came, to know The virtue of the famous bow.
Thus Visvamitra spoke the^whole To royal Janak. great of soul. And when this wondrous tale was o'er, The glorious hermit^said no more.
CANTO LI.
VISVAMITRA.
Wise Visvamitra's tale was done: Then sainted Gautam's eldest son, Great Satananda, far-renowned, Whom long austerities had crowned With glory.— as the news he heard The down upon his body stirred, — Filled full of wonder at the sight Of Rama, felt supreme delight.
When Satananda saw the pair Of youthful princes seated there, He turned him to the holy man Who sate at ease, and thus began: 4 And didst thou, mighty Sage, in truth1 Show clearly to this royal youth My mother, glorious far and wide, Whom penance-rites have sanctified?
And did my glorious mother — she, Heiress of noble destiny — Serve her great guest with woodland store, Whom all should honour evermore 1 Didst thou the tale to Rama tell Of what in ancient days befell, The sin, the misery, and the shame Of guilty God and faithless dame?
And, O thou best of hermits, say, Did Rama's healing presence stay Her trial? was the wife restored Again to him, my sire and lord?
Say, Hermit, did that sire of mine Receive her with a soul benign, When long austerities in time Had cleansed her from the taint ofjcrimef Homeric custom of repeating a passage of several lines is strange to our poet. This is the only instance 1 remember. The repetition of single lines is common enough.' SCHLEGEL.
Canto LII.
THE RAM AY AN.
And, son of Kusik, let me know, Did my great-minded father show Honour to Rama, and regard, Before he journeyed hitherward? J The hermit with attentive ear Marked all the questions of the seer: To him for eloquence far-famed, His eloquent reply he framed: ' Yea, 'twas my care no task to shun, And all I had to do was done; As Renuka and Bhrigu's child, The saint and dame were reconciled.* When the great sage had thus replied, To Rama $atananda cried: 'A welcome visit, Prince, is thine, Thou scion of King Raghu's line, With him to guide thy way aright, This sage invincible in might, This Brahman sage, most glorious-bright, By long austerities has wrought A wondrous deed, exceeding thought: Thou knowest well, O strong of arm, This sure defence from scathe and harm. None, Rama, none is living now In all the earth more blest than thou, That thou hast won a saint so tried In fervid rites thy life to guide. Now listen, Prince, while I relate His lofty deeds and wondrous fate. He was a monarch pious-souled, His foemen in the dust he rolled; Most learned, prompt at duty's claim, His people's good his joy and aim.
Of old the Lord of Life gave birth To mighty Kusa, king of earth. His son was Kusanabha, strong, Friend of the right, the foe of wrong. Gadhi, whose fame no time shall dim, Heir of his throne was born to him, And Visvamitra, Gadhi's heir, Governed the land with kingly care. While years unnumbered rolled away The monarch reigned with equal sway. At length, assembling many a band, He led his warriors round the land- Complete in tale, a mighty force, Oars, elephants, and foot, and horse. Through cities, groves, and floods he passed, O'er lofty hills, through regions vast. He reached Vasishtha's pure abode, Where trees, and flowers, and creepers glowed, Where troops of sylvan creatures fed; Which saints and angels visited. Gods, fauns, and bards of heavenly race, And spirits, glorified the place; The deer their timid ways forgot, And holy Brahmans thronged the spot. Bright in their souls, like fire, were these, Made pure by long austerities, Bound by the rule of vows serere, And each in glory Brahma's peer. Some fed on water, some on air, Some on the leaves that withered there. Roots and wild fruit were others' food; All rage was checked, each sense subdued, There Balakhilyas1 went and came. Now breathed the prayer, now fed the flame: flame: These, and ascetic bands beside, The sweet retirement beautified. Such was Vasishtha's blest retreat, Like Brahma's own celestial seat, Which gladdened Visvamitra's eye*, Peerless for warlike enterprise.
CANTO LII.
VA&ISHTHA'S FEAST.
Right glad was Visvamitra when He saw the prince of saintly men. Low at his feet the hero bent, And did obeisance, reverent.
The king was welcomed in, and shown A seat beside the hermit's own, Who offered him, when resting there, Fruit in due course, and woodland fare. And Visvamitra, noblest king, Received Vasishtha's welcoming, Turned to his host, and prayed him tell That he and all with him were well. Vasishtha to the king replied That all was well on every side, That fire, and vows, and pupils throve, And all the trees within the grove. A.nd then the son of Brahma, best Of all who pray with voice suppressed, Questioned with pleasant words like these The mighty king who sate at ease: *And is it well with thee? 1 pray; And dost thou win by virtuous sway Thy people's love, discharging all The duties on a king that fall? Are all thy servants fostered well? Do all obey, and none rebel? Hast thou, destroyer of the foe, No enemies to overthrow? Does fortune, conqueror! still attend Thy treasure, host, and every friend? Is it all well? Does happy fate On sons and children's children wait?7 He spoke. The modest king replied That all was prosperous far and wide.
1 Divine personages of minute size pro- duced from the hair of Brahma, and pro- bably the origin of * That small infantry Warred on by cranes.'
THE RAM AY AN.
Boole I.
Thus for awhile the two conversed, As each to each his tale rehearsed, And as the happy moments flew, Their joy and friendship stronger grew. When such discourse had reached an end, Thus spoke the saint most reverened To royal Visvjimitra, while His features brightened with a smile: '() mighty lord of men, I fain Would banquet thee and all thy train In mode that suits thy station high: And do not thou my prayer deny. Let my good lord with favour take The offering that I fain would make, And let me honour, ere we part, My royal guest with loving heart.'
Him Visvamitra thus addressed: ' Why make, O Saint, this new request? Thy welcome and each gracious word Sufficient honour have conferred. Thou gavest roots and fruit to eat, The treasures of this pure retreat, And water for my mouth and feet; And — boon I prize above the rest — Thy presence has mine eyesight blest. Honoured by thee in every way, To whom all honour all should pay, I now will go. My lord, Good-bye 1 Regard me with a friendly eye.'
Him speaking thus Vasishtha stayed, And still to share his banquet prayed. The will of Gadhi's son he bent, And won the monarch to consent, Who spoke in answer, ' Let it be, Great Hermit, as it pleases thee.' When, best of those who breathe the prayer, He heard the king his will declare, He called the cow of spotted skin, All spot without, all pure within. ' Come, Dapple-skin,' he cried, « with speed; Hear thou my words and help at need. My heart is set to entertain This monarch and his mighty train With sumptuous meal and worthy fare; JBe thine the banquet to prepare. Each dainty cate, each goodly dish, Of six-fold taste1 as each may wish — All these, O cow of heavenly power, Rain down for me in copious shower: Viands and drink for tooth and lip, To eat, to suck, t > quaff, to sip — Of these sufficient, and to spare, O plenty-giving cow, prepare.'
1 Sweet, salt, pungent, bitter, acid, and astringent, CANTO LI1I. VlSVA'MITRA'S REQUEST.
Thus charged, O slayer of thy foes, The cow from whom all plenty flows, Obedient to her saintly lord, Viands to suit eacli taste, outpoured. Honey she gave, and roasted grain, Mead sweet with flowers, and sugar-cane. Each beverage of flavour rare, An food of every sort, were there: Hills of hot rice, and sweetened cakes, And curdled milk and soup in lakes. Vast beakers foaming to the brim With sugared drink prepared for him, And dainty sweetmeats, deftly made, Before the hermit's guests were laid. So well regaled, so nobly fed, The mighty army banqueted, And all the train, from chief to least, Delighted in Vasishtha's feast. Then Visvamitra, royal sage, Surrounded by his vassalage, Prince, peer, and counsellor, and all From highest lord to lowest thrall, Thus feasted, to Vasishtha cried With joy, supremely gratified: * Rich honour I, thus entertained, Most honourable lord, have gained: Now hear, before I journey hence, My words, 0 skilled in eloquence. Bought for a hundred^thqusand kme, Let Dapple-skin, O Saint, be mine. A wondrous jewel is thy cow, And gems are for the monarch s brow.1 To me her rightful lord resign This Dapple-skin thou callest thine.
The great Vasishtha, thus addressed, Arch-hermit of the "holy breast, To Visvamitra answer made, The king whom all the land obeyed: Not for a hundred thousand,— nay, Not if ten million thou wouldst pay, With silver heaps the price to swell,— Will I my cow, O Monarch, sell. Unmeet for her is such a fate. That I my friend should alienate. As glory with the virtuous, she For ever makes herjjhome withfme. On her mine offerings which ascend To Gods and spirits all depend: My very life is due to her, My guardian, friend, and minister.
i ' Of old hoards and minerals in the earth, the king is entitled toihalf by reason of his general protection, >nd because he is the lord paramount of the soil.' j MAMJ, Book VIII. 39.
Canto LIV.
THE RAM AY AN.
65 The feeding of the sacred flame,1 The dole which living creatures claim.2 The mighty sacrifice by fire, Each formula the rites require,3 And various saving lore beside, Are by her aid, in sooth, supplied.
The banquet which thy host has shared, Believe it, was by her prepared.
In her mine only treasures lie, She cheers mine heart and charms mine eye.
And reasons more could I assign Why Dapple-skin can ne'er be thine.'
The royal sage, his suit denied, With eloquence more earnest cried: 'Tusked elephants, a goodly train, Each with a golden girth and chain, Whose goads with gold well fashioned shine — Of these be twice seven thousand thine. And four-horse cars with gold made bright, With steeds most beautifully white, Whose bells make music as they go, Eight hundred, Saint, will I bestow. Eleven thousand mettled steeds From famous lands, of noble breeds — These will I gladly give, O thou Devoted to each holy vow. Ten million heifers, fair to view, Whose sides are marked with every hue— These in exchange will I assign; But let thy Dapple-skin be mine. Ask what thouwilt, and piles untold Of priceless gems and gleaming gold, O best of Brahmans, shall be thine; But let thy Dapple-skin be mine.'
The great Vasishtha, thus addressed, Made answer to the king's request: * Ne'er will I give my cow away, My gem, my wealth, my life and stay. My worship at the moon's first show, And at the full, to her I owe; And sacrifices small and great, Which largess due and gifts await. From her alone, their root, O King, 1 Ghi or clarified butter, * holy oil,' being one of the essentials of sacrifice.
1 'A Brahman had five principal duties to discharge every day: study ana teaching the Veda, oblations to the manes or spirits of the departed, sacrifice to the Gods, hos- pitable offerings to men, and a gift of food to all creatures. The last consisted of rice or other grain which the Brahman was to offer every day outside his house in the open air. MANU, Book III. 70.' GORRESIO.
3 These were certain sacred words of invocation such a svdkd vashat, etc., pro- nounced at the time of sacrifice, My rites and holy service spring. What boots it further words to say? I will not give my cow away Who yields me what I ask each day.'
CANTO LIV.
THE BATTLE.
As Saint Vasishtha answered so, .Nor let the cow of plenty go, The monarch, as a last resource, Began to drag her off by force.
While the king's servants tore away Their moaning, miserable prey, Sad, sick at heart, and sore distressed, She pondered thus within her breast: 4 Why am I thus forsaken? why Betrayed by him of soul most high, Vasishtha, ravished by the hands Of soldiers of the monarch's bands?
Ah me! what evil have I done Against the lofty -minded one, That he, so pious, can expose The innocent whose love he knows? ' In her sad breast as thus she thought, And heaved deep sighs with anguish fraught, With wondrous speed away she fled, And back to Saint Vasishtha sped. She hurled by hundreds to the ground The menial crew that hemmed her round, And flying swifter than the blast Before the saint herself she cast. There Dapple-skin before the saint Stood moaning forth her sad complaint, And wept and lowed: such tones as couie From wandering cloud or distant drum, * O son of Brahma,' thus cried she, * Why hast thou thus forsaken me, That the king's men, before thy face, Bear off thy servant from her place? ' Then thus the Brahman saint replied To her whose heart with woe was tried, And grieving for his favourite's sake. As to a suffering sister spake: 4 1 leave thee not: dismiss the thought j Nor, duteous, hast thou failed in aught This king, o'erweening in the pride Of power, has reft thee from rny side. Little, I ween, my strength could do 'Gainst him, a mighty warrior too. Strong, as a soldier born and bred. — Great, as a king whom regions dread. See 1 what a host the conqueror leads, With elephants, and cars, and steeds. O'er countless bands his pennons fly; So is he mightier far than I.'
THE Book I.
He spoke. Then she, in lowly mood, To that high saint her speech renewed: ' So judge not they who wisest are: The Brahman's might is mightier far. For Brahmans strength from Heaven derive, And warriors bow when Brahmans strive, A boundless power tis thine to wield: To such a king thou shouldst not yield, Who, very mighty though he be,— So fierce thy strength, -must bow to thee. Command me, Saint. Thy power divine Has brought me here and made me thine; And I, howe'er the tyrant boast, Will tame his pride and slay his host.1 Then cried the glorious sage: * Create A mighty force the foe to mate.'
She lowed, and quickened into life, Pahlavas,1 burning for the strife, King Visvamitra's army slew Before the very leader's view. The monarch in excessive ire, His eyes with fury darting fire, Rained every missile on the foe Till all the Pahlavas were low. She, seeing all her champions slain, Lying by thousands on the plain. Created, by her mere desire, Yavans and $akas, fierce and dire. And all the ground was overspread With Yavans and with Sakas dread: A host of warriors bright and strong, And numberless in closest throng: The threads within the lotus stem, So densely packed, might equal them, In gold-hued mail 'against war's attacks, Each bore a sword and battle-axe. The royal host, where'er these came, Pell as if burnt with ravening flame.
The monarch, famous through the world Again his fearful weapons hurled, 1 ' It is well known that the Persians were called Pahlavas by the Indians. The Sakas are nomad tribes inhabiting Central Asia, the Scythes of the Greeks, whom the Persians also, as Herodotus tells us, called Sakse just as the Indians did. Lib. VII 64 OL yap Hepaai Travraq rovq Sicv^ae. KaXlovvi Sa/cac. The name Yavans seems to be used rather indefinitely for nations situated beyond Persia to the west After the time of Alexander the Great the Indians as well as the Persians called the Greeks also Yavans.' SCHLEGEL.
Lassen thinks that the Pahlavas were the same people as the Ilafcruec of Hero- dotus, and that this non- Indian people, dwelt on the north-west confines of India, That made Kambojas,1 Barbars,* all, With Yavans, troubled, flee and fall.
CANTO LV.
THE HERMITAGE BURNT.
So o'er the field that host lay strown, By Visvamitra's darts o'erthrown. Then thus Vasishtha charged the cow: * Create with all thy vigour now.'
Forth sprang Kambojas, as she lowed; Bright as the sun their faces glowed. Forth from her udder Barbars poured,— Soldiers who brandished spear and sword,— And Yavans with their shafts and darts, And i3akas from her hinder parts. And every pore upon her fell, And every hair-producing cell, With Mlechchhas3 and Kiratas4 teemed, And forth with them Haritas streamed. And Visvamitra's mighty force, Car, elephant, and foot, and horse, Fell in a moment's time, subdued By that tremendous multitude. The monarch's hundred sons, whose eyes Beheld the rout in wild surprise, Armed with all weapons, mad with rage, Rushed fiercely on the holy sage. One cry he raised, one glance he shot, And all fell scorched upon the spot: Burnt by the sage to ashes, they With horse, and foot, and chariot, lay. The monarch mourned, with shame and pain, His army lost, his children slain, Like Ocean when his roar is hushed, Or some great snake whose fangs are crushed: 1 See page 13, note 6. a Barbarians, non-Sanskrit-speaking tribes.