Ramayana, Book 2, The

<SPAN name="toc319" id="toc319"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf320" id="pdf320"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXXXII" id="CantoII-LXXXII" 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 LXXXII. The Departure.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The prudent prince the assembly viewed</div> <div>Thronged with its noble multitude,</div> <div>Resplendent as a cloudless night</div> <div>When the full moon is in his height;</div> <div>While robes of every varied hue</div> <div>A glory o'er the synod threw.</div> <div>The priest in lore of duty skilled</div> <div>Looked on the crowd the hall that filled,</div> <div>And then in accents soft and grave</div> <div>To Bharat thus his counsel gave:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“The king, dear son, so good and wise,</span></div> <div>Has gone from earth and gained the skies,</div> <div>Leaving to thee, her rightful lord,</div> <div>This rich wide land with foison stored.</div> <div>And still has faithful Ráma stood</div> <div>Firm to the duty of the good,</div> <div>And kept his father's hest aright,</div> <div>As the moon keeps its own dear light.</div> <div>Thus sire and brother yield to thee</div> <div>This realm from all annoyance free:</div> <div>Rejoice thy lords: enjoy thine own:</div> <div>Anointed king, ascend the throne.</div> <div>Let vassal Princes hasten forth</div> <div>From distant lands, west, south, and north,</div> <div>From Kerala,<SPAN id="noteref_360" name="noteref_360" href="#note_360"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">360</span></span></SPAN> from every sea,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And bring ten million gems to thee.”</span></div> <div>As thus the sage Vaśishṭha spoke,</div> <div>A storm of grief o'er Bharat broke.</div> <div>And longing to be just and true,</div> <div>His thoughts to duteous Ráma flew.</div> <div>With sobs and sighs and broken tones,</div> <div>E'en as a wounded mallard moans,</div> <div>He mourned with deepest sorrow moved,</div> <div>And thus the holy priest reproved:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O, how can such as Bharat dare</span></div> <div>The power and sway from him to tear,</div> <div>Wise, and devout, and true, and chaste,</div> <div>With Scripture lore and virtue graced?</div> <div>Can one of Daśaratha's seed</div> <div>Be guilty of so vile a deed?</div> <div>The realm and I are Ráma's: thou,</div> <div>Shouldst speak the words of justice now.</div> <div>For he, to claims of virtue true,</div> <div>Is eldest born and noblest too:</div> <div>Nahush, Dilípa could not be</div> <div>More famous in their lives than he.</div> <div>As Daśaratha ruled of right,</div> <div>So Ráma's is the power and right.</div> <div>If I should do this sinful deed</div> <div>And forfeit hope of heavenly meed,</div> <div>My guilty act would dim the shine</div> <div>Of old Ikshváku's glorious line.</div> <div>Nay, as the sin my mother wrought</div> <div>Is grievous to my inmost thought,</div> <div>I here, my hands together laid,</div> <div>Will greet him in the pathless shade.</div> <div>To Ráma shall my steps be bent,</div> <div>My King, of men most excellent,</div> <div>Raghu's illustrious son, whose sway</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Might hell, and earth, and heaven obey.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>That righteous speech, whose every word</div> <div>Bore virtue's stamp, the audience heard;</div> <div>On Ráma every thought was set,</div> <div>And with glad tears each eye was wet.</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Then, if the power I still should lack</span></div> <div>To bring my noble brother back,</div> <div>I in the wood will dwell, and share</div> <div>His banishment with Lakshmaṇ there.</div> <div>By every art persuasive I</div> <div>To bring him from the wood will try,</div> <div>And show him to your loving eyes,</div> <div>O Bráhmans noble, good, and wise.</div> <div>E'en now, the road to make and clear,</div> <div>Each labourer pressed, and pioneer</div> <div>Have I sent forward to precede</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >The army I resolve to lead.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus, by fraternal love possessed,</div> <div>His firm resolve the prince expressed,</div> <div>Then to Sumantra, deeply read</div> <div>In holy texts, he turned and said:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Sumantra, rise without delay,</span></div> <div>And as I bid my words obey.</div> <div>Give orders for the march with speed,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And all the army hither lead.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The wise Sumantra, thus addressed,</div> <div>Obeyed the high-souled chief's behest.</div> <div>He hurried forth with joy inspired</div> <div>And gave the orders he desired.</div> <div>Delight each soldier's bosom filled,</div> <div>And through each chief and captain thrilled,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page191"></span><SPAN name="Pg191" id="Pg191" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>To hear that march proclaimed, to bring</div> <div>Dear Ráma back from wandering.</div> <div>From house to house the tidings flew:</div> <div>Each soldier's wife the order knew,</div> <div>And as she listened blithe and gay</div> <div>Her husband urged to speed away.</div> <div>Captain and soldier soon declared</div> <div>The host equipped and all prepared</div> <div>With chariots matching thought for speed,</div> <div>And wagons drawn by ox and steed.</div> <div>When Bharat by Vaśishṭha's side,</div> <div>His ready host of warriors eyed,</div> <div>Thus in Sumantra's ear he spoke:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“My car and horses quickly yoke.”</span></div> <div>Sumantra hastened to fulfil</div> <div>With ready joy his master's will,</div> <div>And quickly with the chariot sped</div> <div>Drawn by fleet horses nobly bred.</div> <div>Then glorious Bharat, true, devout,</div> <div>Whose genuine valour none could doubt,</div> <div>Gave in fit words his order out;</div> <div>For he would seek the shade</div> <div>Of the great distant wood, and there</div> <div>Win his dear brother with his prayer:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Sumantra, haste! my will declare</span></div> <div>The host be all arrayed.</div> <div>I to the wood my way will take,</div> <div>To Ráma supplication make,</div> <div>And for the world's advantage sake,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Will lead him home again.”</span></div> <div>Then, ordered thus, the charioteer</div> <div>Who listened with delighted ear,</div> <div>Went forth and gave his orders clear</div> <div>To captains of the train.</div> <div>He gave the popular chiefs the word,</div> <div>And with the news his friends he stirred,</div> <div>And not a single man deferred</div> <div>Preparing for the road.</div> <div>Then Bráhman, Warrior, Merchant, thrall,</div> <div>Obedient to Sumantra's call,</div> <div>Each in his house arose, and all</div> <div>Yoked elephant or camel tall,</div> <div>Or ass or noble steed in stall,</div> <div>And full appointed showed.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc321" id="toc321"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf322" id="pdf322"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXXXIII" id="CantoII-LXXXIII" 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 LXXXIII. The Journey Begun.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Bharat rose at early morn,</div> <div>And in his noble chariot borne</div> <div>Drove forward at a rapid pace</div> <div>Eager to look on Ráma's face.</div> <div>The priests and lords, a fair array,</div> <div>In sun-bright chariots led the way.</div> <div>Behind, a well appointed throng,</div> <div>Nine thousand elephants streamed along.</div> <div>Then sixty thousand cars, and then,</div> <div>With various arms, came fighting men.</div> <div>A hundred thousand archers showed</div> <div>In lengthened line the steeds they rode—</div> <div>A mighty host, the march to grace</div> <div>Of Bharat, pride of Raghu's race.</div> <div>Kaikeyí and Sumitrá came,</div> <div>And good Kauśalyá, dear to fame:</div> <div>By hopes of Ráma's coming cheered</div> <div>They in a radiant car appeared.</div> <div>On fared the noble host to see</div> <div>Ráma and Lakshmaṇ, wild with glee,</div> <div>And still each other's ear to please,</div> <div>Of Ráma spoke in words like these:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“When shall our happy eyes behold</span></div> <div>Our hero true, and pure, and bold,</div> <div>So lustrous dark, so strong of arm,</div> <div>Who keeps the world from woe and harm?</div> <div>The tears that now our eyeballs dim</div> <div>Will vanish at the sight of him,</div> <div>As the whole world's black shadows fly</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >When the bright sun ascends the sky.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Conversing thus their way pursued</div> <div>The city's joyous multitude,</div> <div>And each in mutual rapture pressed</div> <div>A friend or neighbour to his breast.</div> <div>Thus every man of high renown,</div> <div>And every merchant of the town,</div> <div>And leading subjects, joyous went</div> <div>Toward Ráma in his banishment.</div> <div>And those who worked the potter's wheel,</div> <div>And artists skilled in gems to deal;</div> <div>And masters of the weaver's art,</div> <div>And those who shaped the sword and dart;</div> <div>And they who golden trinkets made,</div> <div>And those who plied the fuller's trade;</div> <div>And servants trained the bath to heat,</div> <div>And they who dealt in incense sweet;</div> <div>Physicians in their business skilled,</div> <div>And those who wine and mead distilled;</div> <div>And workmen deft in glass who wrought,</div> <div>And those whose snares the peacock caught;</div> <div>With them who bored the ear for rings,</div> <div>Or sawed, or fashioned ivory things;</div> <div>And those who knew to mix cement,</div> <div>Or lived by sale of precious scent;</div> <div>And men who washed, and men who sewed,</div> <div>And thralls who mid the herds abode;</div> <div>And fishers of the flood, and they</div> <div>Who played and sang, and women gay;</div> <div>And virtuous Bráhmans, Scripture-wise,</div> <div>Of life approved in all men's eyes;</div> <div>These swelled the prince's lengthened train,</div> <div>Borne each in car or bullock wain.</div> <div>Fair were the robes they wore upon</div> <div>Their limbs where red-hued unguents shone.</div> <div>These all in various modes conveyed</div> <div>Their journey after Bharat made;</div> <div>The soldiers' hearts with rapture glowed,</div> <div>Following Bharat on his road,</div> <div>Their chief whose tender love would fain</div> <div>Bring his dear brother home again.</div> <div>With elephant, and horse, and car,</div> <div>The vast procession travelled far,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page192"></span><SPAN name="Pg192" id="Pg192" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>And came where Gangá's waves below</div> <div>The town of Śringavera<SPAN id="noteref_361" name="noteref_361" href="#note_361"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">361</span></span></SPAN> flow.</div> <div>There, with his friends and kinsmen nigh,</div> <div>Dwelt Guha, Ráma's dear ally,</div> <div>Heroic guardian of the land</div> <div>With dauntless heart and ready hand.</div> <div>There for a while the mighty force</div> <div>That followed Bharat stayed its course,</div> <div>Gazing on Gangá's bosom stirred</div> <div>By many a graceful water-bird.</div> <div>When Bharat viewed his followers there,</div> <div>And Gangá's water, blest and fair,</div> <div>The prince, who lore of words possessed,</div> <div>His councillors and lords addressed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“The captains of the army call:</span></div> <div>Proclaim this day a halt for all,</div> <div>That so to-morrow, rested, we</div> <div>May cross this flood that seeks the sea.</div> <div>Meanwhile, descending to the shore,</div> <div>The funeral stream I fain would pour</div> <div>From Gangá's fair auspicious tide</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >To him, my father glorified.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus Bharat spoke: each peer and lord</div> <div>Approved his words with one accord,</div> <div>And bade the weary troops repose</div> <div>In separate spots where'er they chose.</div> <div>There by the mighty stream that day,</div> <div>Most glorious in its vast array</div> <div>The prince's wearied army lay</div> <div>In various groups reclined.</div> <div>There Bharat's hours of night were spent,</div> <div>While every eager thought he bent</div> <div>On bringing home from banishment</div> <div>His brother, great of mind.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc323" id="toc323"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf324" id="pdf324"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXXXIV" id="CantoII-LXXXIV" 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 LXXXIV. Guha's Anger.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>King Guha saw the host spread o'er</div> <div>The wide expanse of Gangá's shore,</div> <div>With waving flag and pennon graced,</div> <div>And to his followers spoke in haste:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“A mighty army meets my eyes,</span></div> <div>That rivals Ocean's self in size:</div> <div>Where'er I look my very mind</div> <div>No limit to the host can find.</div> <div>Sure Bharat with some evil thought</div> <div>His army to our land has brought.</div> <div>See, huge of form, his flag he rears,</div> <div>That like an Ebony-tree appears.</div> <div>He comes with bonds to take and chain,</div> <div>Or triumph o'er our people slain:</div> <div>And after, Ráma will he slay,—</div> <div>Him whom his father drove away:</div> <div>The power complete he longs to gain,</div> <div>And—task too hard—usurp the reign.</div> <div>So Bharat comes with wicked will</div> <div>His brother Ráma's blood to spill.</div> <div>But Ráma's slave and friend am I;</div> <div>He is my lord and dear ally.</div> <div>Keep here your watch in arms arrayed</div> <div>Near Gangá's flood to lend him aid,</div> <div>And let my gathered servants stand</div> <div>And line with troops the river strand.</div> <div>Here let the river keepers meet,</div> <div>Who flesh and roots and berries eat;</div> <div>A hundred fishers man each boat</div> <div>Of the five hundred here afloat,</div> <div>And let the youthful and the strong</div> <div>Assemble in defensive throng.</div> <div>But yet, if, free from guilty thought</div> <div>'Gainst Ráma, he this land have sought,</div> <div>The prince's happy host to-day</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Across the flood shall make its way.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>He spoke: then bearing in a dish</div> <div>A gift of honey, meat, and fish,</div> <div>The king of the Nishádas drew</div> <div>Toward Bharat for an interview.</div> <div>When Bharat's noble charioteer</div> <div>Observed the monarch hastening near,</div> <div>He duly, skilled in courteous lore,</div> <div>The tidings to his master bore:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“This aged prince who hither bends</span></div> <div>His footsteps with a thousand friends,</div> <div>Knows, firm ally of Ráma, all</div> <div>That may in Daṇḍak wood befall:</div> <div>Therefore, Kakutstha's son, admit</div> <div>The monarch, as is right and fit:</div> <div>For doubtless he can clearly tell</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Where Ráma now and Lakshmaṇ dwell.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>When Bharat heard Sumantra's rede,</div> <div>To his fair words the prince agreed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Go quickly forth,”</span> he cried, <span class="tei tei-q" >“and bring</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Before my face the aged king.”</span></div> <div>King Guha, with his kinsmen near,</div> <div>Rejoiced the summoning to hear:</div> <div>He nearer drew, bowed low his head,</div> <div>And thus to royal Bharat said:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“No mansions can our country boast,</span></div> <div>And unexpected comes thy host:</div> <div>But what we have I give thee all:</div> <div>Rest in the lodging of thy thrall.</div> <div>See, the Nishádas here have brought</div> <div>The fruit and roots their hands have sought:</div> <div>And we have woodland fare beside,</div> <div>And store of meat both fresh and dried.</div> <div>To rest their weary limbs, I pray</div> <div>This night at least thy host may stay:</div> <div>Then cheered with all we can bestow</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >To-morrow thou with it mayst go.”</span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />