Ramayana, Book 2, The

<SPAN name="toc265" id="toc265"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf266" id="pdf266"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LV" id="CantoII-LV" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto LV. The Passage Of Yamuná.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The princely tamers of their foes</div> <div>Thus passed the night in calm repose,</div> <div>Then to the hermit having bent</div> <div>With reverence, on their way they went.</div> <div>High favour Bharadvája showed,</div> <div>And blessed them ready for the road.</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page160"></span><SPAN name="Pg160" id="Pg160" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>With such fond looks as fathers throw</div> <div>On their own sons, before they go.</div> <div>Then spake the saint with glory bright</div> <div>To Ráma peerless in his might:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“First, lords of men, direct your feet</span></div> <div>Where Yamuná and Gangá meet;</div> <div>Then to the swift Kálindí<SPAN id="noteref_330" name="noteref_330" href="#note_330"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">330</span></span></SPAN> go,</div> <div>Whose westward waves to Gangá flow.</div> <div>When thou shalt see her lovely shore</div> <div>Worn by their feet who hasten o'er,</div> <div>Then, Raghu's son, a raft prepare,</div> <div>And cross the Sun born river there.</div> <div>Upon her farther bank a tree,</div> <div>Near to the landing wilt thou see.</div> <div>The blessed source of varied gifts,</div> <div>There her green boughs that Fig-tree lifts:</div> <div>A tree where countless birds abide,</div> <div>By Śyáma's name known far and wide.</div> <div>Sítá, revere that holy shade:</div> <div>There be thy prayers for blessing prayed.</div> <div>Thence for a league your way pursue,</div> <div>And a dark wood shall meet your view,</div> <div>Where tall bamboos their foliage show,</div> <div>The Gum-tree and the Jujube grow.</div> <div>To Chitrakúṭa have I oft</div> <div>Trodden that path so smooth and soft,</div> <div>Where burning woods no traveller scare,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >But all is pleasant, green, and fair.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>When thus the guests their road had learned,</div> <div>Back to his cot the hermit turned,</div> <div>And Ráma, Lakshmaṇ, Sítá paid</div> <div>Their reverent thanks for courteous aid.</div> <div>Thus Ráma spake to Lakshmaṇ, when</div> <div>The saint had left the lords of men:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Great store of bliss in sooth is ours</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >On whom his love the hermit showers.”</span></div> <div>As each to other wisely talked,</div> <div>The lion lords together walked</div> <div>On to Kálindí's woody shore;</div> <div>And gentle Sítá went before.</div> <div>They reached that flood, whose waters flee</div> <div>With rapid current to the sea;</div> <div>Their minds a while to thought they gave</div> <div>And counselled how to cross the wave.</div> <div>At length, with logs together laid,</div> <div>A mighty raft the brothers made.</div> <div>Then dry bamboos across were tied,</div> <div>And grass was spread from side to side.</div> <div>And the great hero Lakshmaṇ brought</div> <div>Cane and Rose-Apple boughs and wrought,</div> <div>Trimming the branches smooth and neat,</div> <div>For Sítá's use a pleasant seat.</div> <div>And Ráma placed thereon his dame</div> <div>Touched with a momentary shame,</div> <div>Resembling in her glorious mien</div> <div>All-thought-surpassing Fortune's Queen.</div> <div>Then Ráma hastened to dispose,</div> <div>Each in its place, the skins and bows,</div> <div>And by the fair Videhan laid</div> <div>The coats, the ornaments, and spade.</div> <div>When Sítá thus was set on board,</div> <div>And all their gear was duly stored,</div> <div>The heroes each with vigorous hand,</div> <div>Pushed off the raft and left the land.</div> <div>When half its way the raft had made,</div> <div>Thus Sítá to Kálindí prayed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Goddess, whose flood I traverse now,</span></div> <div>Grant that my lord may keep his vow.</div> <div>For thee shall bleed a thousand kine,</div> <div>A hundred jars shall pour their wine,</div> <div>When Ráma sees that town again</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Where old Ikshváku's children reign.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus to Kálindí's stream she sued</div> <div>And prayed in suppliant attitude.</div> <div>Then to the river's bank the dame,</div> <div>Fervent in supplication, came.</div> <div>They left the raft that brought them o'er,</div> <div>And the thick wood that clothed the shore,</div> <div>And to the Fig-tree Śyáma made</div> <div>Their way, so cool with verdant shade.</div> <div>Then Sítá viewed that best of trees,</div> <div>And reverent spake in words like these:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Hail, hail, O mighty tree! Allow</span></div> <div>My husband to complete his vow;</div> <div>Let us returning, I entreat,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Kauśalyá and Sumitrá meet.”</span></div> <div>Then with her hands together placed</div> <div>Around the tree she duly paced.</div> <div>When Ráma saw his blameless spouse</div> <div>A suppliant under holy boughs,</div> <div>The gentle darling of his heart,</div> <div>He thus to Lakshmaṇ spake apart:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Brother, by thee our way be led;</span></div> <div>Let Sítá close behind thee tread:</div> <div>I, best of men, will grasp my bow,</div> <div>And hindmost of the three will go.</div> <div>What fruits soe'er her fancy take,</div> <div>Or flowers half hidden in the brake,</div> <div>For Janak's child forget not thou</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >To gather from the brake or bough.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus on they fared. The tender dame</div> <div>Asked Ráma, as they walked, the name</div> <div>Of every shrub that blossoms bore,</div> <div>Creeper, and tree unseen before:</div> <div>And Lakshmaṇ fetched, at Sítá's prayer,</div> <div>Boughs of each tree with clusters fair.</div> <div>Then Janak's daughter joyed to see</div> <div>The sand-discoloured river flee,</div> <div>Where the glad cry of many a bird,</div> <div>The sáras and the swan, was heard.</div> <div>A league the brothers travelled through</div> <div>The forest noble game they slew:</div> <div>Beneath the trees their meal they dressed</div> <div>And sat them down to eat and rest.</div> <div>A while in that delightful shade</div> <div>Where elephants unnumbered strayed,</div> <div>Where peacocks screamed and monkeys played,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page161"></span><SPAN name="Pg161" id="Pg161" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>They wandered with delight.</div> <div>Then by the river's side they found</div> <div>A pleasant spot of level ground,</div> <div>Where all was smooth and fair around,</div> <div>Their lodging for the night.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc267" id="toc267"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf268" id="pdf268"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LVI" id="CantoII-LVI" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto LVI. Chitrakúta</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Ráma, when the morning rose,</div> <div>Called Lakshmaṇ gently from repose:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Awake, the pleasant voices hear</span></div> <div>Of forest birds that warble near.</div> <div>Scourge of thy foes, no longer stay;</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >The hour is come to speed away.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The slumbering prince unclosed his eyes</div> <div>When thus his brother bade him rise,</div> <div>Compelling, at the timely cry,</div> <div>Fatigue, and sleep, and rest to fly.</div> <div>The brothers rose and Sítá too;</div> <div>Pure water from the stream they drew,</div> <div>Paid morning rites, then followed still</div> <div>The road to Chitrakúṭa's hill.</div> <div>Then Ráma as he took the road</div> <div>With Lakshmaṇ, while the morning, glowed,</div> <div>To the Videhan lady cried,</div> <div>Sítá the fair, the lotus-eyed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Look round thee, dear; each flowery tree</span></div> <div>Touched with the fire of morning see:</div> <div>The Kinśuk, now the Frosts are fled,—</div> <div>How glorious with his wreaths of red!</div> <div>The Bel-trees see, so loved of men,</div> <div>Hanging their boughs in every glen.</div> <div>O'erburthened with their fruit and flowers:</div> <div>A plenteous store of food is ours.</div> <div>See, Lakshmaṇ, in the leafy trees,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Where'er they make their home.</div> <div>Down hangs, the work of labouring bees</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">The ponderous honeycomb.</div> <div>In the fair wood before us spread</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">The startled wild-cock cries:</div> <div>Hark, where the flowers are soft to tread,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">The peacock's voice replies.</div> <div>Where elephants are roaming free,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">And sweet birds' songs are loud,</div> <div>The glorious Chitrakúṭa see:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">His peaks are in the cloud.</div> <div>On fair smooth ground he stands displayed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Begirt by many a tree:</div> <div>O brother, in that holy shade</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" >How happy shall we be!”</span><SPAN id="noteref_331" name="noteref_331" href="#note_331"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">331</span></span></SPAN></div> <div>Then Ráma, Lakshmaṇ, Sítá, each</div> <div>Spoke raising suppliant hands this speech</div> <div>To him, in woodland dwelling met,</div> <div>Válmíki, ancient anchoret:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O Saint, this mountain takes the mind,</span></div> <div>With creepers, trees of every kind,</div> <div>With fruit and roots abounding thus,</div> <div>A pleasant life it offers us:</div> <div>Here for a while we fain would stay,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And pass a season blithe and gay.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then the great saint, in duty trained,</div> <div>With honour gladly entertained:</div> <div>He gave his guests a welcome fair,</div> <div>And bade them sit and rest them there,</div> <div>Ráma of mighty arm and chest</div> <div>His faithful Lakshmaṇ then addressed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Brother, bring hither from the wood</span></div> <div>Selected timber strong and good,</div> <div>And build therewith a little cot;</div> <div>My heart rejoices in the spot</div> <div>That lies beneath the mountain's side,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Remote, with water well supplied.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Sumitrá's son his words obeyed,</div> <div>Brought many a tree, and deftly made,</div> <div>With branches in the forest cut,</div> <div>As Ráma bade, a leafy hut.</div> <div>Then Ráma, when the cottage stood</div> <div>Fair, firmly built, and walled with wood,</div> <div>To Lakshmaṇ spake, whose eager mind</div> <div>To do his brother's will inclined:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Now, Lakshmaṇ as our cot is made,</span></div> <div>Must sacrifice be duly paid</div> <div>By us, for lengthened life who hope,</div> <div>With venison of the antelope.</div> <div>Away, O bright-eyed Lakshmaṇ, speed:</div> <div>Struck by thy bow a deer must bleed:</div> <div>As Scripture bids, we must not slight</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >The duty that commands the rite.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Lakshmaṇ, the chief whose arrows laid</div> <div>His foemen low, his word obeyed;</div> <div>And Ráma thus again addressed</div> <div>The swift performer of his hest:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Prepare the venison thou hast shot,</span></div> <div>To sacrifice for this our cot.</div> <div>Haste, brother dear, for this the hour,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And this the day of certain power.”</span></div> <div>Then glorious Lakshmaṇ took the buck</div> <div>His arrow in the wood had struck;</div> <div>Bearing his mighty load he came,</div> <div>And laid it in the kindled flame.</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page162"></span><SPAN name="Pg162" id="Pg162" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>Soon as he saw the meat was done,</div> <div>And that the juices ceased to run</div> <div>From the broiled carcass, Lakshmaṇ then</div> <div>Spoke thus to Ráma best of men:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“The carcass of the buck, entire,</span></div> <div>Is ready dressed upon the fire.</div> <div>Now be the sacred rites begun</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >To please the God, thou godlike one.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Ráma the good, in ritual trained,</div> <div>Pure from the bath, with thoughts restrained,</div> <div>Hasted those verses to repeat</div> <div>Which make the sacrifice complete.</div> <div>The hosts celestial came in view,</div> <div>And Ráma to the cot withdrew,</div> <div>While a sweet sense of rapture stole</div> <div>Through the unequalled hero's soul.</div> <div>He paid the Viśvedevas<SPAN id="noteref_332" name="noteref_332" href="#note_332"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">332</span></span></SPAN> due.</div> <div>And Rudra's right, and Vishṇu's too,</div> <div>Nor wonted blessings, to protect</div> <div>Their new-built home, did he neglect.</div> <div>With voice repressed he breathed the prayer,</div> <div>Bathed duly in the river fair,</div> <div>And gave good offerings that remove</div> <div>The stain of sin, as texts approve.</div> <div>And many an altar there he made,</div> <div>And shrines, to suit the holy shade,</div> <div>All decked with woodland chaplets sweet,</div> <div>And fruit and roots and roasted meat,</div> <div>With muttered prayer, as texts require,</div> <div>Water, and grass and wood and fire.</div> <div>So Ráma, Lakshmaṇ, Sítá paid</div> <div>Their offerings to each God and shade,</div> <div>And entered then their pleasant cot</div> <div>That bore fair signs of happy lot.</div> <div>They entered, the illustrious three,</div> <div>The well-set cottage, fair to see,</div> <div>Roofed with the leaves of many a tree,</div> <div>And fenced from wind and rain:</div> <div>So, at their Father Brahmá's call,</div> <div>The Gods of heaven, assembling all,</div> <div>To their own glorious council hall</div> <div>Advance in shining train.</div> <div>So, resting on that lovely hill,</div> <div>Near the fair lily-covered rill,</div> <div>The happy prince forgot,</div> <div>Surrounded by the birds and deer,</div> <div>The woe, the longing, and the fear</div> <div>That gloom the exile's lot.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc269" id="toc269"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf270" id="pdf270"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LVII" id="CantoII-LVII" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto LVII. Sumantra's Return.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>When Ráma reached the southern bank,</div> <div>King Guha's heart with sorrow sank:</div> <div>He with Sumantra talked, and spent</div> <div>With his deep sorrow, homeward went.</div> <div>Sumantra, as the king decreed,</div> <div>Yoked to the car each noble steed,</div> <div>And to Ayodhyá's city sped</div> <div>With his sad heart disquieted.</div> <div>On lake and brook and scented grove</div> <div>His glances fell, as on he drove:</div> <div>City and village came in view</div> <div>As o'er the road his coursers flew.</div> <div>On the third day the charioteer,</div> <div>When now the hour of night was near,</div> <div>Came to Ayodhyá's gate, and found</div> <div>The city all in sorrow drowned.</div> <div>To him, in spirit quite cast down,</div> <div>Forsaken seemed the silent town,</div> <div>And by the rush of grief oppressed</div> <div>He pondered in his mournful breast:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Is all Ayodhyá burnt with grief,</span></div> <div>Steed, elephant, and man, and chief?</div> <div>Does her loved Ráma's exile so</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Afflict her with the fires of woe?”</span></div> <div>Thus as he mused, his steeds flew fast,</div> <div>And swiftly through the gate he passed.</div> <div>On drove the charioteer, and then</div> <div>In hundreds, yea in thousands, men</div> <div>Ran to the car from every side,</div> <div>And, <span class="tei tei-q" >“Ráma, where is Ráma?”</span> cried.</div> <div>Sumantra said: <span class="tei tei-q" >“My chariot bore</span></div> <div>The duteous prince to Gangá's shore;</div> <div>I left him there at his behest,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And homeward to Ayodhyá pressed.”</span></div> <div>Soon as the anxious people knew</div> <div>That he was o'er the flood they drew</div> <div>Deep sighs, and crying, Ráma! all</div> <div>Wailed, and big tears began to fall.</div> <div>He heard the mournful words prolonged,</div> <div>As here and there the people thronged:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Woe, woe for us, forlorn, undone,</span></div> <div>No more to look on Raghu's son!</div> <div>His like again we ne'er shall see,</div> <div>Of heart so true, of hand so free,</div> <div>In gifts, in gatherings for debate,</div> <div>When marriage pomps we celebrate,</div> <div>What should we do? What earthly thing</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Can rest, or hope, or pleasure bring?”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus the sad town, which Ráma kept</div> <div>As a kind father, wailed and wept.</div> <div>Each mansion, as the car went by,</div> <div>Sent forth a loud and bitter cry,</div> <div>As to the window every dame,</div> <div>Mourning for banished Ráma, came.</div> <div>As his sad eyes with tears o'erflowed,</div> <div>He sped along the royal road</div> <div>To Daśaratha's high abode.</div> <div>There leaping down his car he stayed;</div> <div>Within the gates his way he made;</div> <div>Through seven broad courts he onward hied</div> <div>Where people thronged on every side.</div> <div>From each high terrace, wild with woe,</div> <div>The royal ladies flocked below:</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page163"></span><SPAN name="Pg163" id="Pg163" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>He heard them talk in gentle tone,</div> <div>As each for Ráma made her moan:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“What will the charioteer reply</span></div> <div>To Queen Kauśalyá's eager cry?</div> <div>With Ráma from the gates he went;</div> <div>Homeward alone, his steps are bent.</div> <div>Hard is a life with woe distressed,</div> <div>But difficult to win is rest,</div> <div>If, when her son is banished, still</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >She lives beneath her load of ill.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Such was the speech Sumantra heard</div> <div>From them whom grief unfeigned had stirred.</div> <div>As fires of anguish burnt him through,</div> <div>Swift to the monarch's hall he drew,</div> <div>Past the eighth court; there met his sight,</div> <div>The sovereign in his palace bright,</div> <div>Still weeping for his son, forlorn,</div> <div>Pale, faint, and all with sorrow worn.</div> <div>As there he sat, Sumantra bent</div> <div>And did obeisance reverent,</div> <div>And to the king repeated o'er</div> <div>The message he from Ráma bore.</div> <div>The monarch heard, and well-nigh brake</div> <div>His heart, but yet no word he spake:</div> <div>Fainting to earth he fell, and dumb,</div> <div>By grief for Ráma overcome.</div> <div>Rang through the hall a startling cry,</div> <div>And women's arms were tossed on high,</div> <div>When, with his senses all astray,</div> <div>Upon the ground the monarch lay.</div> <div>Kauśalyá, with Sumitrá's aid,</div> <div>Raised from the ground her lord dismayed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Sire, of high fate,”</span> she cried, <span class="tei tei-q" >“O, why</span></div> <div>Dost thou no single word reply</div> <div>To Ráma's messenger who brings</div> <div>News of his painful wanderings?</div> <div>The great injustice done, art thou</div> <div>Shame-stricken for thy conduct now?</div> <div>Rise up, and do thy part: bestow</div> <div>Comfort and help in this our woe.</div> <div>Speak freely, King; dismiss thy fear,</div> <div>For Queen Kaikeyí stands not near,</div> <div>Afraid of whom thou wouldst not seek</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Tidings of Ráma: freely speak.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>When the sad queen had ended so,</div> <div>She sank, insatiate in her woe,</div> <div>And prostrate lay upon the ground,</div> <div>While her faint voice by sobs was drowned.</div> <div>When all the ladies in despair</div> <div>Saw Queen Kauśalyá wailing there,</div> <div>And the poor king oppressed with pain,</div> <div>They flocked around and wept again.</div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />