Ramayana, Book 2, The

<SPAN name="toc289" id="toc289"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf290" id="pdf290"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXVII" id="CantoII-LXVII" 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 LXVII. The Praise Of Kings.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>That night of sorrow passed away,</div> <div>And rose again the God of Day.</div> <div>Then all the twice-born peers of state</div> <div>Together met for high debate.</div> <div>Jáválí, lord of mighty fame.</div> <div>And Gautam, and Kátyáyan came,</div> <div>And Márkandeya's reverend age,</div> <div>And Vámadeva, glorious sage:</div> <div>Sprung from Mudgalya's seed the one,</div> <div>The other ancient Kaśyap's son.</div> <div>With lesser lords these Bráhmans each</div> <div>Spoke in his turn his several speech,</div> <div>And turning to Vaśishṭha, best</div> <div>Of household priests him thus addressed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“The night of bitter woe has past,</span></div> <div>Which seemed a hundred years to last,</div> <div>Our king, in sorrow for his son,</div> <div>Reunion with the Five has won.</div> <div>His soul is where the blessed are,</div> <div>While Ráma roams in woods afar,</div> <div>And Lakshmaṇ, bright in glorious deeds,</div> <div>Goes where his well-loved brother leads.</div> <div>And Bharat and Śatrughna, they</div> <div>Who smite their foes in battle fray,</div> <div>Far in the realm of Kekaya stay,</div> <div>Where their maternal grandsire's care</div> <div>Keeps Rájagriha's city fair.</div> <div>Let one of old Ikshváku's race</div> <div>Obtain this day the sovereign's place,</div> <div>Or havoc and destruction straight</div> <div>Our kingless land will devastate.</div> <div>In kingless lands no thunder's voice,</div> <div>No lightning wreaths the heart rejoice,</div> <div>Nor does Parjanya's heavenly rain</div> <div>Descend upon the burning plain.</div> <div>Where none is king, the sower's hand</div> <div>Casts not the seed upon the land;</div> <div>The son against the father strives.</div> <div>And husbands fail to rule their wives.</div> <div>In kingless realms no princes call</div> <div>Their friends to meet in crowded hall;</div> <div>No joyful citizens resort</div> <div>To garden trim or sacred court.</div> <div>In kingless realms no Twice-born care</div> <div>To sacrifice with text and prayer,</div> <div>Nor Bráhmans, who their vows maintain,</div> <div>The great solemnities ordain.</div> <div>The joys of happier days have ceased:</div> <div>No gathering, festival, or feast</div> <div>Together calls the merry throng</div> <div>Delighted with the play and song.</div> <div>In kingless lands it ne'er is well</div> <div>With sons of trade who buy and sell:</div> <div>No men who pleasant tales repeat</div> <div>Delight the crowd with stories sweet.</div> <div>In kingless realms we ne'er behold</div> <div>Young maidens decked with gems and gold,</div> <div>Flock to the gardens blithe and gay</div> <div>To spend their evening hours in play.</div> <div>No lover in the flying car</div> <div>Rides with his love to woods afar.</div> <div>In kingless lands no wealthy swain</div> <div>Who keeps the herd and reaps the grain,</div> <div>Lies sleeping, blest with ample store,</div> <div>Securely near his open door.</div> <div>Upon the royal roads we see</div> <div>No tusked elephant roaming free,</div> <div>Of three-score years, whose head and neck</div> <div>Sweet tinkling bells of silver deck.</div> <div>We hear no more the glad applause</div> <div>When his strong bow each rival draws,</div> <div>No clap of hands, no eager cries</div> <div>That cheer each martial exercise.</div> <div>In kingless realms no merchant bands</div> <div>Who travel forth to distant lands,</div> <div>With precious wares their wagons load,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page175"></span><SPAN name="Pg175" id="Pg175" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>And fear no danger on the road.</div> <div>No sage secure in self-control,</div> <div>Brooding on God with mind and soul,</div> <div>In lonely wanderings finds his home</div> <div>Where'er at eve his feet may roam.</div> <div>In kingless realms no man is sure</div> <div>He holds his life and wealth secure.</div> <div>In kingless lands no warriors smite</div> <div>The foeman's host in glorious fight.</div> <div>In kingless lands the wise no more,</div> <div>Well trained in Scripture's holy lore,</div> <div>In shady groves and gardens meet</div> <div>To argue in their calm retreat.</div> <div>No longer, in religious fear,</div> <div>Do they who pious vows revere,</div> <div>Bring dainty cates and wreaths of flowers</div> <div>As offerings to the heavenly powers.</div> <div>No longer, bright as trees in spring,</div> <div>Shine forth the children of the king</div> <div>Resplendent in the people's eyes</div> <div>With aloe wood and sandal dyes.</div> <div>A brook where water once has been,</div> <div>A grove where grass no more is green,</div> <div>Kine with no herdsman's guiding hand—</div> <div>So wretched is a kingless land.</div> <div>The car its waving banner rears,</div> <div>Banner of fire the smoke appears:</div> <div>Our king, the banner of our pride,</div> <div>A God with Gods is glorified.</div> <div>In kingless lands no law is known,</div> <div>And none may call his wealth his own,</div> <div>Each preys on each from hour to hour,</div> <div>As fish the weaker fish devour.</div> <div>Then fearless, atheists overleap</div> <div>The bounds of right the godly keep,</div> <div>And when no royal powers restrain,</div> <div>Preëminence and lordship gain.</div> <div>As in the frame of man the eye</div> <div>Keeps watch and ward, a careful spy,</div> <div>The monarch in his wide domains</div> <div>Protects the truth, the right maintains.</div> <div>He is the right, the truth is he,</div> <div>Their hopes in him the well-born see.</div> <div>On him his people's lives depend,</div> <div>Mother is he, and sire, and friend.</div> <div>The world were veiled in blinding night,</div> <div>And none could see or know aright,</div> <div>Ruled there no king in any state</div> <div>The good and ill to separate.</div> <div>We will obey thy word and will</div> <div>As if our king were living still:</div> <div>As keeps his bounds the faithful sea,</div> <div>So we observe thy high decree.</div> <div>O best of Bráhmans, first in place,</div> <div>Our kingless land lies desolate:</div> <div>Some scion of Ikshváku's race</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Do thou as monarch consecrate.”</span></div> </div> <SPAN name="toc291" id="toc291"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf292" id="pdf292"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXVIII" id="CantoII-LXVIII" 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 LXVIII. The Envoys.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Vaśishṭha heard their speech and prayer,</div> <div>And thus addressed the concourse there,</div> <div>Friends, Bráhmans, counsellors, and all</div> <div>Assembled in the palace hall:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Ye know that Bharat, free from care,</span></div> <div>Still lives in Rájagriha<SPAN id="noteref_339" name="noteref_339" href="#note_339"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">339</span></span></SPAN> where</div> <div>The father of his mother reigns:</div> <div>Śatrughna by his side remains.</div> <div>Let active envoys, good at need,</div> <div>Thither on fleetest horses speed,</div> <div>To bring the hero youths away:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Why waste the time in dull delay?”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Quick came from all the glad reply:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Vaśishṭha, let the envoys fly!”</span></div> <div>He heard their speech, and thus renewed</div> <div>His charge before the multitude:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Nandan, Aśok, Siddhárth, attend,</span></div> <div>Your ears, Jayanta, Vijay, lend:</div> <div>Be yours, what need requires, to do:</div> <div>I speak these words to all of you.</div> <div>With coursers of the fleetest breed</div> <div>To Rájagriha's city speed.</div> <div>Then rid your bosoms of distress,</div> <div>And Bharat thus from me address:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“The household priest and peers by us</span></div> <div>Send health to thee and greet thee thus:</div> <div>Come to thy father's home with haste:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Thine absent time no longer waste.”</span></div> <div>But speak no word of Ráma fled,</div> <div>Tell not the prince his sire is dead,</div> <div>Nor to the royal youth the fate</div> <div>That ruins Raghu's race relate.</div> <div>Go quickly hence, and with you bear</div> <div>Fine silken vestures rich and rare,</div> <div>And gems and many a precious thing</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >As gifts to Bharat and the king.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>With ample stores of food supplied,</div> <div>Each to his home the envoys hied,</div> <div>Prepared, with steeds of swiftest race,</div> <div>To Kekaya's land<SPAN id="noteref_340" name="noteref_340" href="#note_340"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">340</span></span></SPAN> their way to trace.</div> <div>They made all due provision there,</div> <div>And every need arranged with care,</div> <div>Then ordered by Vaśishṭha, they</div> <div>Went forth with speed upon their way.</div> <div>Then northward of Pralamba, west</div> <div>Of Apartála, on they pressed,</div> <div>Crossing the Máliní that flowed</div> <div>With gentle stream athwart the road.</div> <div>They traversed Gangá's holy waves</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page176"></span><SPAN name="Pg176" id="Pg176" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>Where she Hástinapura<SPAN id="noteref_341" name="noteref_341" href="#note_341"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">341</span></span></SPAN> laves,</div> <div>Thence to Panchála<SPAN id="noteref_342" name="noteref_342" href="#note_342"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">342</span></span></SPAN> westward fast</div> <div>Through Kurujángal's land<SPAN id="noteref_343" name="noteref_343" href="#note_343"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">343</span></span></SPAN> they passed.</div> <div>On, on their course the envoys held</div> <div>By urgency of task impelled.</div> <div>Quick glancing at each lucid flood</div> <div>And sweet lake gay with flower and bud.</div> <div>Beyond, they passed unwearied o'er,</div> <div>Where glad birds fill the flood and shore</div> <div>Of Śaradaṇḍá racing fleet</div> <div>With heavenly water clear and sweet,</div> <div>Thereby a tree celestial grows</div> <div>Which every boon on prayer bestows:</div> <div>To its blest shade they humbly bent,</div> <div>Then to Kulingá's town they went.</div> <div>Then, having passed the Warrior's Wood,</div> <div>In Abhikála next they stood,</div> <div>O'er sacred Ikshumatí<SPAN id="noteref_344" name="noteref_344" href="#note_344"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">344</span></span></SPAN> came,</div> <div>Their ancient kings' ancestral claim.</div> <div>They saw the learned Bráhmans stand,</div> <div>Each drinking from his hollowed hand,</div> <div>And through Báhíka<SPAN id="noteref_345" name="noteref_345" href="#note_345"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">345</span></span></SPAN> journeying still</div> <div>They reached at length Sudáman's hill:</div> <div>There Vishṇu's footstep turned to see,</div> <div>Vipáśá<SPAN id="noteref_346" name="noteref_346" href="#note_346"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">346</span></span></SPAN> viewed, and Śálmalí,</div> <div>And many a lake and river met,</div> <div>Tank, pool, and pond, and rivulet.</div> <div>And lions saw, and tigers near,</div> <div>And elephants and herds of deer,</div> <div>And still, by prompt obedience led,</div> <div>Along the ample road they sped.</div> <div>Then when their course so swift and long,</div> <div>Had worn their steeds though fleet and strong,</div> <div>To Girivraja's splendid town</div> <div>They came by night, and lighted down.</div> <div>To please their master, and to guard</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">The royal race, the lineal right,</div> <div>The envoys, spent with riding hard,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">To that fair city came by night.<SPAN id="noteref_347" name="noteref_347" href="#note_347"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">347</span></span></SPAN></div> </div> <SPAN name="toc293" id="toc293"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf294" id="pdf294"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXIX" id="CantoII-LXIX" 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 LXIX. Bharat's Dream.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The night those messengers of state</div> <div>Had past within the city's gate,</div> <div>In dreams the slumbering Bharat saw</div> <div>A sight that chilled his soul with awe.</div> <div>The dream that dire events foretold</div> <div>Left Bharat's heart with horror cold,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page177"></span><SPAN name="Pg177" id="Pg177" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>And with consuming woes distraught,</div> <div>Upon his aged sire he thought.</div> <div>His dear companions, swift to trace</div> <div>The signs of anguish on his face,</div> <div>Drew near, his sorrow to expel,</div> <div>And pleasant tales began to tell.</div> <div>Some woke sweet music's cheering sound,</div> <div>And others danced in lively round.</div> <div>With joke and jest they strove to raise</div> <div>His spirits, quoting ancient plays;</div> <div>But Bharat still, the lofty-souled,</div> <div>Deaf to sweet tales his fellows told,</div> <div>Unmoved by music, dance, and jest,</div> <div>Sat silent, by his woe oppressed.</div> <div>To him, begirt by comrades near,</div> <div>Thus spoke the friend he held most dear:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Why ringed around by friends, art thou</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >So silent and so mournful now?”</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Hear thou,”</span> thus Bharat made reply,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“What chills my heart and dims mine eye.</span></div> <div>I dreamt I saw the king my sire</div> <div>Sink headlong in a lake of mire</div> <div>Down from a mountain high in air,</div> <div>His body soiled, and loose his hair.</div> <div>Upon the miry lake he seemed</div> <div>To lie and welter, as I dreamed;</div> <div>With hollowed hands full many a draught</div> <div>Of oil he took, and loudly laughed.</div> <div>With head cast down I saw him make</div> <div>A meal on sesamum and cake;</div> <div>The oil from every member dripped,</div> <div>And in its clammy flood he dipped.</div> <div>The ocean's bed was bare and dry,</div> <div>The moon had fallen from the sky,</div> <div>And all the world lay still and dead,</div> <div>With whelming darkness overspread.</div> <div>The earth was rent and opened wide,</div> <div>The leafy trees were scorched, and died;</div> <div>I saw the seated mountains split,</div> <div>And wreaths of rising smoke emit.</div> <div>The stately beast the monarch rode</div> <div>His long tusks rent and splintered showed;</div> <div>And flames that quenched and cold had lain</div> <div>Blazed forth with kindled light again.</div> <div>I looked, and many a handsome dame,</div> <div>Arrayed in brown and sable came</div> <div>And bore about the monarch, dressed,</div> <div>On iron stool, in sable vest.</div> <div>And then the king, of virtuous mind,</div> <div>A blood-red wreath around him twined,</div> <div>Forth on an ass-drawn chariot sped,</div> <div>As southward still he bent his head.</div> <div>Then, crimson-clad, a dame appeared</div> <div>Who at the monarch laughed and jeered;</div> <div>And a she-monster, dire to view,</div> <div>Her hand upon his body threw.</div> <div>Such is the dream I dreamt by night,</div> <div>Which chills me yet with wild affright:</div> <div>Either the king or Ráma, I</div> <div>Or Lakshmaṇ now must surely die.</div> <div>For when an ass-drawn chariot seems</div> <div>To bear away a man in dreams,</div> <div>Be sure above his funeral pyre</div> <div>The smoke soon rears its cloudy spire.</div> <div>This makes my spirit low and weak,</div> <div>My tongue is slow and loth to speak:</div> <div>My lips and throat are dry for dread,</div> <div>And all my soul disquieted.</div> <div>My lips, relaxed, can hardly speak,</div> <div>And chilling dread has changed my cheek</div> <div>I blame myself in aimless fears,</div> <div>And still no cause of blame appears.</div> <div>I dwell upon this dream of ill</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Whose changing scenes I viewed,</div> <div>And on the startling horror still</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">My troubled thoughts will brood.</div> <div>Still to my soul these terrors cling,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Reluctant to depart,</div> <div>And the strange vision of the king</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" >Still weighs upon my heart.”</span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />