Ramayana, Book 2, The

<SPAN name="toc343" id="toc343"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf344" id="pdf344"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-XCIV" id="CantoII-XCIV" 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 XCIV. Chitrakúta.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>There long the son of Raghu dwelt</div> <div>And love for hill and wood he felt.</div> <div>Then his Videhan spouse to please</div> <div>And his own heart of woe to ease,</div> <div>Like some Immortal—Indra so</div> <div>Might Swarga's charms to Śachí show—</div> <div>Drew her sweet eyes to each delight</div> <div>Of Chitrakúṭa's lovely height:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Though reft of power and kingly sway,</span></div> <div>Though friends and home are far away,</div> <div>I cannot mourn my altered lot,</div> <div>Enamoured of this charming spot.</div> <div>Look, darling, on this noble hill</div> <div>Which sweet birds with their music fill,</div> <div>Bright with a thousand metal dyes</div> <div>His lofty summits cleave the skies.</div> <div>See, there a silvery sheen is spread,</div> <div>And there like blood the rocks are red.</div> <div>There shows a streak of emerald green,</div> <div>And pink and yellow glow between.</div> <div>There where the higher peaks ascend,</div> <div>Crystal and flowers and topaz blend,</div> <div>And others flash their light afar</div> <div>Like mercury or some fair star:</div> <div>With such a store of metals dyed</div> <div>The king of hills is glorified.</div> <div>There through the wild birds' populous home</div> <div>The harmless bear and tiger roam:</div> <div>Hyænas range the woody slopes</div> <div>With herds of deer and antelopes.</div> <div>See, love, the trees that clothe his side</div> <div>All lovely in their summer pride,</div> <div>In richest wealth of leaves arrayed,</div> <div>With flower and fruit and light and shade,</div> <div>Look where the young Rose-apple glows;</div> <div>What loaded boughs the Mango shows;</div> <div>See, waving in the western wind</div> <div>The light leaves of the Tamarind,</div> <div>And mark that giant Peepul through</div> <div>The feathery clump of tall bamboo.<SPAN id="noteref_369" name="noteref_369" href="#note_369"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">369</span></span></SPAN></div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page203"></span><SPAN name="Pg203" id="Pg203" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>Look, on the level lands above,</div> <div>Delighting in successful love</div> <div>In sweet enjoyment many a pair</div> <div>Of heavenly minstrels revels there,</div> <div>While overhanging boughs support</div> <div>Their swords and mantles as they sport:</div> <div>Then see that pleasant shelter where</div> <div>Play the bright Daughters of the Air.<SPAN id="noteref_370" name="noteref_370" href="#note_370"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">370</span></span></SPAN></div> <div>The mountain seems with bright cascade</div> <div>And sweet rill bursting from the shade,</div> <div>Like some majestic elephant o'er</div> <div>Whose burning head the torrents pour.</div> <div>Where breathes the man who would not feel</div> <div>Delicious languor o'er him steal,</div> <div>As the young morning breeze that springs</div> <div>From the cool cave with balmy wings,</div> <div>Breathes round him laden with the scent</div> <div>Of bud and blossom dew-besprent?</div> <div>If many autumns here I spent</div> <div>With thee, my darling innocent,</div> <div>And Lakshmaṇ, I should never know</div> <div>The torture of the fires of woe,</div> <div>This varied scene so charms my sight,</div> <div>This mount so fills me with delight,</div> <div>Where flowers in wild profusion spring,</div> <div>And ripe fruits glow and sweet birds sing.</div> <div>My beauteous one, a double good</div> <div>Springs from my dwelling in the wood:</div> <div>Loosed is the bond my sire that tied,</div> <div>And Bharat too is gratified.</div> <div>My darling, dost thou feel with me</div> <div>Delight from every charm we see,</div> <div>Of which the mind and every sense</div> <div>Feel the enchanting influence?</div> <div>My fathers who have passed away,</div> <div>The royal saints, were wont to say,</div> <div>That life in woodland shades like this</div> <div>Secures a king immortal bliss.</div> <div>See, round the hill at random thrown,</div> <div>Huge masses lie of rugged stone</div> <div>Of every shape and many a hue,</div> <div>Yellow and white and red and blue.</div> <div>But all is fairer still by night:</div> <div>Each rock reflects a softer light,</div> <div>When the whole mount from foot to crest</div> <div>In robes of lambent flame is dressed;</div> <div>When from a million herbs a blaze</div> <div>Of their own luminous glory plays,</div> <div>And clothed in fire each deep ravine,</div> <div>Each pinnacle and crag is seen.</div> <div>Some parts the look of mansions wear,</div> <div>And others are as gardens fair,</div> <div>While others seem a massive block</div> <div>Of solid undivided rock.</div> <div>Behold those pleasant beds o'erlaid</div> <div>With lotus leaves, for lovers made,</div> <div>Where mountain birch and costus throw</div> <div>Cool shadows on the pair below.</div> <div>See where the lovers in their play</div> <div>Have cast their flowery wreaths away,</div> <div>And fruit and lotus buds that crowned</div> <div>Their brows lie trodden on the ground.</div> <div>North Kuru's realm is fair to see,</div> <div>Vasvaukasárá,<SPAN id="noteref_371" name="noteref_371" href="#note_371"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">371</span></span></SPAN> Naliní,<SPAN id="noteref_372" name="noteref_372" href="#note_372"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">372</span></span></SPAN></div> <div>But rich in fruit and blossom still</div> <div>More fair is Chitrakúṭa's hill.</div> <div>Here shall the years appointed glide</div> <div>With thee, my beauty, by my side,</div> <div>And Lakshmaṇ ever near;</div> <div>Here shall I live in all delight,</div> <div>Make my ancestral fame more bright,</div> <div>Tread in their path who walk aright,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And to my oath adhere.”</span></div> </div> <SPAN name="toc345" id="toc345"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf346" id="pdf346"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-XCV" id="CantoII-XCV" 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 XCV. Mandákiní.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Ráma, like the lotus eyed,</div> <div>Descended from the mountain side,</div> <div>And to the Maithil lady showed</div> <div>The lovely stream that softly flowed.</div> <div>And thus Ayodhyá's lord addressed</div> <div>His bride, of dames the loveliest,</div> <div>Child of Videha's king, her face</div> <div>Bright with the fair moon's tender grace:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“How sweetly glides, O darling, look,</span></div> <div>Mandákiní's delightful brook,</div> <div>Adorned with islets, blossoms gay,</div> <div>And sárases and swans at play!</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page204"></span><SPAN name="Pg204" id="Pg204" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>The trees with which her banks are lined</div> <div>Show flowers and fruit of every kind:</div> <div>The match in radiant sheen is she</div> <div>Of King Kuvera's Naliní.<SPAN id="noteref_373" name="noteref_373" href="#note_373"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">373</span></span></SPAN></div> <div>My heart exults with pleasure new</div> <div>The shelving band and ford to view,</div> <div>Where gathering herds of thirsty deer</div> <div>Disturb the wave that ran so clear.</div> <div>Now look, those holy hermits mark</div> <div>In skins of deer and coats of bark;</div> <div>With twisted coils of matted hair,</div> <div>The reverend men are bathing there,</div> <div>And as they lift their arms on high</div> <div>The Lord of Day they glorify:</div> <div>These best of saints, my large-eyed spouse,</div> <div>Are constant to their sacred vows.</div> <div>The mountain dances while the trees</div> <div>Bend their proud summits to the breeze,</div> <div>And scatter many a flower and bud</div> <div>From branches that o'erhang the flood.</div> <div>There flows the stream like lucid pearl,</div> <div>Round islets here the currents whirl,</div> <div>And perfect saints from middle air</div> <div>Are flocking to the waters there.</div> <div>See, there lie flowers in many a heap</div> <div>From boughs the whistling breezes sweep,</div> <div>And others wafted by the gale</div> <div>Down the swift current dance and sail.</div> <div>Now see that pair of wild-fowl rise,</div> <div>Exulting with their joyful cries:</div> <div>Hark, darling, wafted from afar</div> <div>How soft their pleasant voices are.</div> <div>To gaze on Chitrakúṭa's hill,</div> <div>To look upon this lovely rill,</div> <div>To bend mine eyes on thee, dear wife,</div> <div>Is sweeter than my city life.</div> <div>Come, bathe we in the pleasant rill</div> <div>Whose dancing waves are never still,</div> <div>Stirred by those beings pure from sin,</div> <div>The sanctities who bathe therein:</div> <div>Come, dearest, to the stream descend,</div> <div>Approach her as a darling friend,</div> <div>And dip thee in the silver flood</div> <div>Which lotuses and lilies stud.</div> <div>Let this fair hill Ayodhyá seem,</div> <div>Its silvan things her people deem,</div> <div>And let these waters as they flow</div> <div>Our own beloved Sarjú show.</div> <div>How blest, mine own dear love, am I;</div> <div>Thou, fond and true, art ever nigh,</div> <div>And duteous, faithful Lakshmaṇ stays</div> <div>Beside me, and my word obeys.</div> <div>Here every day I bathe me thrice,</div> <div>Fruit, honey, roots for food suffice,</div> <div>And ne'er my thoughts with longing stray</div> <div>To distant home or royal sway.</div> <div>For who this charming brook can see</div> <div>Where herds of roedeer wander free,</div> <div>And on the flowery-wooded brink</div> <div>Apes, elephants, and lions drink,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Nor feel all sorrow fly?”</span></div> <div>Thus eloquently spoke the pride</div> <div>Of Raghu's children to his bride,</div> <div>And wandered happy by her side</div> <div>Where Chitrakúṭa azure-dyed</div> <div>Uprears his peaks on high.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc347" id="toc347"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf348" id="pdf348"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-XCVI" id="CantoII-XCVI" 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 XCVI. The Magic Shaft.</span><SPAN id="noteref_374" name="noteref_374" href="#note_374"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">374</span></span></SPAN></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus Ráma showed to Janak's child</div> <div>The varied beauties of the wild,</div> <div>The hill, the brook and each fair spot,</div> <div>Then turned to seek their leafy cot.</div> <div>North of the mountain Ráma found</div> <div>A cavern in the sloping ground,</div> <div>Charming to view, its floor was strown</div> <div>With many a mass of ore and stone,</div> <div>In secret shadow far retired</div> <div>Where gay birds sang with joy inspired,</div> <div>And trees their graceful branches swayed</div> <div>With loads of blossom downward weighed.</div> <div>Soon as he saw the cave which took</div> <div>Each living heart and chained the look,</div> <div>Thus Ráma spoke to Sítá who</div> <div>Gazed wondering on the silvan view:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Does this fair cave beneath the height,</span></div> <div>Videhan lady, charm thy sight?</div> <div>Then let us resting here a while</div> <div>The languor of the way beguile.</div> <div>That block of stone so smooth and square</div> <div>Was set for thee to rest on there,</div> <div>And like a thriving Keśar tree</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >This flowery shrub o'ershadows thee.”</span></div> <div>Thus Ráma spoke, and Janak's child,</div> <div>By nature ever soft and mild,</div> <div>In tender words which love betrayed</div> <div>Her answer to the hero made:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O pride of Raghu's children, still</span></div> <div>My pleasure is to do thy will.</div> <div>Enough for me thy wish to know:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Far hast thou wandered to and fro.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus Sítá spake in gentle tone,</div> <div>And went obedient to the stone,</div> <div>Of perfect face and faultless limb</div> <div>Prepared to rest a while with him.</div> <div>And Ráma, as she thus replied,</div> <div>Turned to his spouse again and cried:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Thou seest, love, this flowery shade</span></div> <div>For silvan creatures' pleasure made,</div> <div>How the gum streams from trees and plants</div> <div>Torn by the tusks of elephants!</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page205"></span><SPAN name="Pg205" id="Pg205" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>Through all the forest clear and high</div> <div>Resounds the shrill cicala's cry.</div> <div>Hark how the kite above us moans,</div> <div>And calls her young in piteous tones;</div> <div>So may my hapless mother be</div> <div>Still mourning in her home for me.</div> <div>There mounted on that lofty Sál</div> <div>The loud Bhringráj<SPAN id="noteref_375" name="noteref_375" href="#note_375"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">375</span></span></SPAN> repeats his call:</div> <div>How sweetly now he tunes his throat</div> <div>Responsive to the Koïl's note.</div> <div>Or else the bird that now has sung</div> <div>May be himself the Koïl's young,</div> <div>Linked with such winning sweetness are</div> <div>The notes he pours irregular.</div> <div>See, round the blooming Mango clings</div> <div>That creeper with her tender rings,</div> <div>So in thy love, when none is near,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Thine arms are thrown round me, my dear.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus in his joy he cried; and she,</div> <div>Sweet speaker, on her lover's knee,</div> <div>Of faultless limb and perfect face,</div> <div>Grew closer to her lord's embrace.</div> <div>Reclining in her husband's arms,</div> <div>A goddess in her wealth of charms,</div> <div>She filled his loving breast anew</div> <div>With mighty joy that thrilled him through.</div> <div>His finger on the rock he laid,</div> <div>Which veins of sanguine ore displayed,</div> <div>And painted o'er his darling's eyes</div> <div>The holy sign in mineral dyes.</div> <div>Bright on her brow the metal lay</div> <div>Like the young sun's first gleaming ray,</div> <div>And showed her in her beauty fair</div> <div>As the soft light of morning's air.</div> <div>Then from the Keśar's laden tree</div> <div>He picked fair blossoms in his glee,</div> <div>And as he decked each lovely tress,</div> <div>His heart o'erflowed with happiness.</div> <div>So resting on that rocky seat</div> <div>A while they spent in pastime sweet,</div> <div>Then onward neath the shady boughs</div> <div>Went Ráma with his Maithil spouse.</div> <div>She roaming in the forest shade</div> <div>Where every kind of creature strayed</div> <div>Observed a monkey wandering near,</div> <div>And clung to Ráma's arm in fear.</div> <div>The hero Ráma fondly laced</div> <div>His mighty arms around her waist,</div> <div>Consoled his beauty in her dread,</div> <div>And scared the Monkey till he fled.</div> <div>That holy mark of sanguine ore</div> <div>That gleamed on Sítá's brow before,</div> <div>Shone by that close embrace impressed</div> <div>Upon the hero's ample chest.</div> <div>Then Sítá, when the beast who led</div> <div>The monkey troop, afar had fled,</div> <div>Laughed loudly in light-hearted glee</div> <div>That mark on Ráma's chest to see.</div> <div>A clump of bright Aśokas fired</div> <div>The forest in their bloom attired:</div> <div>The restless blossoms as they gleamed</div> <div>A host of threatening monkeys seemed.</div> <div>Then Sítá thus to Ráma cried,</div> <div>As longingly the flowers she eyed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Pride of thy race, now let us go</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Where those Aśoka blossoms grow.”</span></div> <div>He on his darling's pleasure bent</div> <div>With his fair goddess thither went</div> <div>And roamed delighted through the wood</div> <div>Where blossoming Aśokas stood,</div> <div>As Śiva with Queen Umá roves</div> <div>Through Himaván's majestic groves.</div> <div>Bright with purpureal glow the pair</div> <div>Of happy lovers sported there,</div> <div>And each upon the other set</div> <div>A flower-inwoven coronet.</div> <div>There many a crown and chain they wove</div> <div>Of blooms from that Aśoka grove,</div> <div>And in their graceful sport the two</div> <div>Fresh beauty o'er the mountain threw.</div> <div>The lover let his love survey</div> <div>Each pleasant spot that round them lay,</div> <div>Then turned they to their green retreat</div> <div>Where all was garnished, gay, and neat.</div> <div>By brotherly affection led,</div> <div>Sumitrá's son to meet them sped,</div> <div>And showed the labours of the day</div> <div>Done while his brother was away.</div> <div>There lay ten black-deer duly slain</div> <div>With arrows pure of poison stain,</div> <div>Piled in a mighty heap to dry,</div> <div>With many another carcass nigh.</div> <div>And Lakshmaṇ's brother saw, o'erjoyed,</div> <div>The work that had his hands employed,</div> <div>Then to his consort thus he cried:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Now be the general gifts supplied.”</span></div> <div>Then Sítá, fairest beauty, placed</div> <div>The food for living things to taste,</div> <div>And set before the brothers meat</div> <div>And honey that the pair might eat.</div> <div>They ate the meal her hands supplied,</div> <div>Their lips with water purified:</div> <div>Then Janak's daughter sat at last</div> <div>And duly made her own repast.</div> <div>The other venison, to be dried,</div> <div>Piled up in heaps was set aside,</div> <div>And Ráma told his wife to stay</div> <div>And drive the flocking crows away.</div> <div>Her husband saw her much distressed</div> <div>By one more bold than all the rest,</div> <div>Whose wings where'er he chose could fly,</div> <div>Now pierce the earth, now roam the sky.</div> <div>Then Ráma laughed to see her stirred</div> <div>To anger by the plaguing bird:</div> <div>Proud of his love the beauteous dame</div> <div>With burning rage was all aflame.</div> <div>Now here, now there, again, again</div> <div>She chased the crow, but all in vain,</div> <div>Enraging her, so quick to strike</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page206"></span><SPAN name="Pg206" id="Pg206" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>With beak and wing and claw alike:</div> <div>Then how the proud lip quivered, how</div> <div>The dark frown marked her angry brow!</div> <div>When Ráma saw her cheek aglow</div> <div>With passion, he rebuked the crow.</div> <div>But bold in impudence the bird,</div> <div>With no respect for Ráma's word,</div> <div>Fearless again at Sítá flew:</div> <div>Then Ráma's wrath to fury grew.</div> <div>The hero of the mighty arm</div> <div>Spoke o'er a shaft the mystic charm,</div> <div>Laid the dire weapon on his bow</div> <div>And launched it at the shameless crow.</div> <div>The bird, empowered by Gods to spring</div> <div>Through earth itself on rapid wing,</div> <div>Through the three worlds in terror fled</div> <div>Still followed by that arrow dread.</div> <div>Where'er he flew, now here now there,</div> <div>A cloud of weapons filled the air.</div> <div>Back to the high-souled prince he fled</div> <div>And bent at Ráma's feet his head,</div> <div>And then, as Sítá looked, began</div> <div>His speech in accents of a man:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O pardon, and for pity's sake</span></div> <div>Spare, Ráma, spare my life to take!</div> <div>Where'er I turn, where'er I flee,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >No shelter from this shaft I see.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The chieftain heard the crow entreat</div> <div>Helpless and prostrate at his feet,</div> <div>And while soft pity moved his breast,</div> <div>With wisest speech the bird addressed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“I took the troubled Sítá's part,</span></div> <div>And furious anger filled my heart.</div> <div>Then on the string my arrow lay</div> <div>Charmed with a spell thy life to slay.</div> <div>Thou seekest now my feet, to crave</div> <div>Forgiveness and thy life to save.</div> <div>So shall thy prayer have due respect:</div> <div>The suppliant I must still protect.</div> <div>But ne'er in vain this dart may flee;</div> <div>Yield for thy life a part of thee,</div> <div>What portion of thy body, say,</div> <div>Shall this mine arrow rend away?</div> <div>Thus far, O bird, thus far alone</div> <div>On thee my pity may be shown.</div> <div>Forfeit a part thy life to buy:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >'Tis better so to live than die.”</span></div> <div>Thus Ráma spoke: the bird of air</div> <div>Pondered his speech with anxious care,</div> <div>And wisely deemed it good to give</div> <div>One of his eyes that he might live.</div> <div>To Raghu's son he made reply:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O Ráma, I will yield an eye.</span></div> <div>So let me in thy grace confide</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And live hereafter single-eyed.”</span></div> <div>Then Ráma charged the shaft, and lo,</div> <div>Full in the eye it smote the crow.</div> <div>And the Videhan lady gazed</div> <div>Upon the ruined eye amazed.</div> <div>The crow to Ráma humbly bent,</div> <div>Then where his fancy led he went.</div> <div>Ráma with Lakshmaṇ by his side</div> <div>With needful work was occupied.</div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />