Ramayana, Book 2, The

<SPAN name="toc325" id="toc325"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf326" id="pdf326"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXXXV" id="CantoII-LXXXV" 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 LXXXV. Guha And Bharat.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus the Nishádas' king besought:</div> <div>The prince with spirit wisdom-fraught</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page193"></span><SPAN name="Pg193" id="Pg193" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>Replied in seemly words that blent</div> <div>Deep matter with the argument:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Thou, friend of him whom I revere,</span></div> <div>With honours high hast met me here,</div> <div>For thou alone wouldst entertain</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And feed to-day so vast a train.”</span></div> <div>In such fair words the prince replied,</div> <div>Then, pointing to the path he cried:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Which way aright will lead my feet</span></div> <div>To Bharadvája's calm retreat;</div> <div>For all this land near Gangá's streams</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Pathless and hard to traverse seems?”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus spoke the prince: King Guha heard</div> <div>Delighted every prudent word,</div> <div>And gazing on that forest wide,</div> <div>Raised suppliant hands, and thus replied:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“My servants, all the ground who know,</span></div> <div>O glorious Prince, with thee shall go</div> <div>With constant care thy way to guide,</div> <div>And I will journey by thy side.</div> <div>But this thy host so wide dispread</div> <div>Wakes in my heart one doubt and dread,</div> <div>Lest, threatening Ráma good and great,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Ill thoughts thy journey stimulate.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>But when King Guha, ill at ease,</div> <div>Declared his fear in words like these,</div> <div>As pure as is the cloudless sky</div> <div>With soft voice Bharat made reply:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Suspect me not: ne'er come the time</span></div> <div>For me to plot so foul a crime!</div> <div>He is my eldest brother, he</div> <div>Is like a father dear to me.</div> <div>I go to lead my brother thence</div> <div>Who makes the wood his residence.</div> <div>No thought but this thy heart should frame:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >This simple truth my lips proclaim.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then with glad cheer King Guha cried,</div> <div>With Bharat's answer gratified:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Blessed art thou: on earth I see</span></div> <div>None who may vie, O Prince, with thee,</div> <div>Who canst of thy free will resign</div> <div>The kingdom which unsought is thine.</div> <div>For this, a name that ne'er shall die,</div> <div>Thy glory through the worlds shall fly,</div> <div>Who fain wouldst balm thy brother's pain</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And lead the exile home again.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>As Guha thus, and Bharat, each</div> <div>To other spoke in friendly speech,</div> <div>The Day-God sank with glory dead,</div> <div>And night o'er all the sky was spread.</div> <div>Soon as King Guha's thoughtful care</div> <div>Had quartered all the army there,</div> <div>Well honoured, Bharat laid his head</div> <div>Beside Śatrughna on a bed.</div> <div>But grief for Ráma yet oppressed</div> <div>High-minded Bharat's faithful breast—</div> <div>Such torment little was deserved</div> <div>By him who ne'er from duty swerved.</div> <div>The fever raged through every vein</div> <div>And burnt him with its inward pain:</div> <div>So when in woods the flames leap free</div> <div>The fire within consumes the tree.</div> <div>From heat of burning anguish sprung</div> <div>The sweat upon his body hung,</div> <div>As when the sun with fervid glow</div> <div>On high Himálaya melts the snow.</div> <div>As, banished from the herd, a bull</div> <div>Wanders alone and sorrowful.</div> <div>Thus sighing and distressed,</div> <div>In misery and bitter grief,</div> <div>With fevered heart that mocked relief,</div> <div>Distracted in his mind, the chief</div> <div>Still mourned and found no rest.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc327" id="toc327"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf328" id="pdf328"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXXXVI" id="CantoII-LXXXVI" 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 LXXXVI. Guha's Speech.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Guha the king, acquainted well</div> <div>With all that in the wood befell,</div> <div>To Bharat the unequalled told</div> <div>The tale of Lakshmaṇ mighty-souled:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“With many an earnest word I spake</span></div> <div>To Lakshmaṇ as he stayed awake,</div> <div>And with his bow and shaft in hand</div> <div>To guard his brother kept his stand:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Now sleep a little, Lakshmaṇ, see</span></div> <div>This pleasant bed is strewn for thee:</div> <div>Hereon thy weary body lay,</div> <div>And strengthen thee with rest, I pray,</div> <div>Inured to toil are men like these,</div> <div>But thou hast aye been nursed in ease.</div> <div>Rest, duteous-minded! I will keep</div> <div>My watch while Ráma lies asleep:</div> <div>For in the whole wide world is none</div> <div>Dearer to me than Raghu's son.</div> <div>Harbour no doubt or jealous fear:</div> <div>I speak the truth with heart sincere:</div> <div>For from the grace which he has shown</div> <div>Will glory on my name be thrown:</div> <div>Great store of merit shall I gain,</div> <div>And duteous, form no wish in vain.</div> <div>Let me enforced by many a row</div> <div>Of followers, armed with shaft and bow</div> <div>For well-loved Ráma's weal provide</div> <div>Who lies asleep by Sítá's side.</div> <div>For through this wood I often go,</div> <div>And all its shades conceal I know:</div> <div>And we with conquering arms can meet</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >A four-fold host arrayed complete.”</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“With words like these I spoke, designed</span></div> <div>To move the high-souled Bharat's mind,</div> <div>But he upon his duty bent,</div> <div>Plied his persuasive argument:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O, how can slumber close mine eyes</span></div> <div>When lowly couched with Sítá lies</div> <div>The royal Ráma? can I give</div> <div>My heart to joy, or even live?</div> <div>He whom no mighty demon, no,</div> <div>Nor heavenly God can overthrow,</div> <div>See, Guha, how he lies, alas,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page194"></span><SPAN name="Pg194" id="Pg194" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>With Sítá couched on gathered grass.</div> <div>By varied labours, long, severe,</div> <div>By many a prayer and rite austere,</div> <div>He, Daśaratha's cherished son,</div> <div>By Fortune stamped, from Heaven was won.</div> <div>Now as his son is forced to fly,</div> <div>The king ere long will surely die:</div> <div>Reft of his guardian hand, forlorn</div> <div>In widowed grief this land will mourn.</div> <div>E'en now perhaps, with toil o'erspent,</div> <div>The women cease their loud lament,</div> <div>And cries of woe no longer ring</div> <div>Throughout the palace of the king.</div> <div>But ah for sad Kauśalyá! how</div> <div>Fare she and mine own mother now?</div> <div>How fares the king? this night, I think,</div> <div>Some of the three in death will sink.</div> <div>With hopes upon Śatrughna set</div> <div>My mother may survive as yet,</div> <div>But the sad queen will die who bore</div> <div>The hero, for her grief is sore.</div> <div>His cherished wish that would have made</div> <div>Dear Ráma king, so long delayed,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Too late! too late!”</span> the king will cry,</div> <div>And conquered by his misery die.</div> <div>When Fate has brought the mournful day</div> <div>Which sees my father pass away,</div> <div>How happy in their lives are they</div> <div>Allowed his funeral rites to pay.</div> <div>Our exile o'er, with him who ne'er</div> <div>Turns from the oath his lips may swear,</div> <div>May we returning safe and well</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >gain in fair Ayodhyá dwell.”</span></div> <div>Thus Bharat stood with many a sigh</div> <div>Lamenting, and the night went by.</div> <div>Soon as the morning light shone fair</div> <div>In votive coils both bound their hair.</div> <div>And then I sent them safely o'er</div> <div>And left them on the farther shore.</div> <div>With Sítá then they onward passed,</div> <div>Their coats of bark about them cast,</div> <div>Their locks like hermits' bound,</div> <div>The mighty tamers of the foe,</div> <div>Each with his arrows and his bow,</div> <div>Went over the rugged ground,</div> <div>Proud in their strength and undeterred</div> <div>Like elephants that lead the herd,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And gazing oft around.”</span></div> </div> <SPAN name="toc329" id="toc329"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf330" id="pdf330"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-LXXXVII" id="CantoII-LXXXVII" 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 LXXXVII. Guha's Story.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>That speech of Guha Bharat heard</div> <div>With grief and tender pity stirred,</div> <div>And as his ears the story drank,</div> <div>Deep in his thoughtful heart it sank.</div> <div>His large full eyes in anguish rolled,</div> <div>His trembling limbs grew stiff and cold;</div> <div>Then fell he, like a tree uptorn,</div> <div>In woe too grievous to be borne.</div> <div>When Guha saw the long-armed chief</div> <div>Whose eye was like a lotus leaf,</div> <div>With lion shoulders strong and fair,</div> <div>High-mettled, prostrate in despair,—</div> <div>Pale, bitterly afflicted, he</div> <div>Reeled as in earthquake reels a tree.</div> <div>But when Śatrughna standing nigh</div> <div>Saw his dear brother helpless lie,</div> <div>Distraught with woe his head he bowed,</div> <div>Embraced him oft and wept aloud.</div> <div>Then Bharat's mothers came, forlorn</div> <div>Of their dear king, with fasting worn,</div> <div>And stood with weeping eyes around</div> <div>The hero prostrate on the ground.</div> <div>Kauśalyá, by her woe oppressed,</div> <div>The senseless Bharat's limbs caressed,</div> <div>As a fond cow in love and fear</div> <div>Caresses oft her youngling dear:</div> <div>Then yielding to her woe she said,</div> <div>Weeping and sore disquieted:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“What torments, O my son, are these</span></div> <div>Of sudden pain or swift disease?</div> <div>The lives of us and all the line</div> <div>Depend, dear child, on only thine.</div> <div>Ráma and Lakshmaṇ forced to flee,</div> <div>I live by naught but seeing thee:</div> <div>For as the king has past away</div> <div>Thou art my only help to-day.</div> <div>Hast thou, perchance, heard evil news</div> <div>Of Lakshmaṇ, which thy soul subdues,</div> <div>Or Ráma dwelling with his spouse—</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >My all is he—neath forest boughs?”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then slowly gathering sense and strength</div> <div>The weeping hero rose at length,</div> <div>And words like these to Guha spake,</div> <div>That bade Kauśalyá comfort take:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Where lodged the prince that night? and where</span></div> <div>Lakshmaṇ the brave, and Sítá fair?</div> <div>Show me the couch whereon he lay,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Tell me the food he ate, I pray.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Guha the Nishádas' king</div> <div>Replied to Bharat's questioning:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Of all I had I brought the best</span></div> <div>To serve my good and honoured guest</div> <div>Food of each varied kind I chose,</div> <div>And every fairest fruit that grows.</div> <div>Ráma the hero truly brave</div> <div>Declined the gift I humbly gave:</div> <div>His Warrior part he ne'er forgot,</div> <div>And what I brought accepted not:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“No gifts, my friend, may we accept:</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Our law is, Give, and must be kept.”</span></div> <div>The high-souled chief, O Monarch, thus</div> <div>With gracious words persuaded us.</div> <div>Then calm and still, absorbed in thought,</div> <div>He drank the water Lakshmaṇ brought,</div> <div>And then, obedient to his vows,</div> <div>He fasted with his gentle spouse.</div> <div>So Lakshmaṇ too from food abstained,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page195"></span><SPAN name="Pg195" id="Pg195" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>And sipped the water that remained:</div> <div>Then with ruled lips, devoutly staid,</div> <div>The three<SPAN id="noteref_362" name="noteref_362" href="#note_362"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">362</span></span></SPAN> their evening worship paid.</div> <div>Then Lakshmaṇ with unwearied care</div> <div>Brought heaps of sacred grass, and there</div> <div>With his own hands he quickly spread,</div> <div>For Ráma's rest, a pleasant bed,</div> <div>And faithful Sítá's too, where they</div> <div>Reclining each by other lay.</div> <div>Then Lakshmaṇ bathed their feet, and drew</div> <div>A little distance from the two.</div> <div>Here stands the tree which lent them shade,</div> <div>Here is the grass beneath it laid,</div> <div>Where Ráma and his consort spent</div> <div>The night together ere they went.</div> <div>Lakshmaṇ, whose arms the foeman quell,</div> <div>Watched all the night as sentinel,</div> <div>And kept his great bow strung:</div> <div>His hand was gloved, his arm was braced,</div> <div>Two well-filled quivers at his waist,</div> <div>With deadly arrows, hung.</div> <div>I took my shafts and trusty bow,</div> <div>And with that tamer of the foe</div> <div>Stood ever wakeful near,</div> <div>And with my followers, bow in hand,</div> <div>Behind me ranged, a ready band,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Kept watch o'er Indra's peer.”</span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />