The Ramayana Part 175

V?ihaspati,(959) with herb and spell, Cured the sore wounds of those who fell.

And, skilled in arts that heal and save, New life and sense and vigour gave.

Far, on the Milky Ocean's sh.o.r.e, Still grow those herbs in boundless store; Let swiftest Vanars thither speed And bring them for our utmost need.

Those herbs that on the mountain spring Let Panas and Sampati bring, For well the wondrous leaves they know, That heal each wound and life bestow.

Beside that sea which, churned of yore, The amrit on its surface bore, Where the white billows lash the land, Chandra's fair height and Dro?a stand.

Planted by G.o.ds each glittering steep Looks down upon the milky deep.

Let fleet Hanuman bring us thence Those herbs of wondrous influence."

Meanwhile the rus.h.i.+ng wind grew loud, Red lightnings flashed from banks of cloud.

The mountains shook, the wild waves rose, And smitten with resistless blows Unrooted fell each stately tree That fringed the margin of the sea.

All life within the waters feared Then, as the Vanars gazed, appeared King Garu?'s self, a wondrous sight, Disclosed in flames of fiery light.

From his fierce eye in sudden dread All serpents in a moment fled.

And those transformed to shaft that bound The princes vanished in the ground.

On Raghu's sons his eyes he bent, And hailed the lords armipotent.

Then o'er them stooped the feathered king, And touched their faces with his wing.

His healing touch their pangs allayed, And closed each rent the shafts had made.

Again their eyes were bright and bold, Again the smooth skin shone like gold.

Again within their sh.e.l.l enshrined Came memory and each power of mind: And, from those numbing bonds released, Their spirit, zeal, and strength increased.

Firm on their feet they stood, and then Thus Rama spake, the lord of men:

"By thy dear grace in sorest need From deadly bonds we both are freed.

To these glad eyes as welcome now As Aja(960) or my sire art thou.

Who art thou, mighty being? say, Thus glorious in thy bright array."

He ceased: the king of birds replied, While flashed his eye with joy and pride: "In me, O Raghu's son, behold One who has loved thee from of old: Garu?, the lord of all that fly, Thy guardian and thy friend am I.

Not all the G.o.ds in heaven could loose These numbing bonds, this serpent noose, Wherewith fierce Rava?'s son, renowned For magic arts, your limbs had bound.

Those arrows fixed in every limb Were mighty snakes, transformed by him.

Blood thirsty race, they live beneath The earth, and slay with venomed teeth.

On, smite the lord of Lanka's isle, But guard you from the giants' guile Who each dishonest art employ And by deceit brave foes destroy.

So shall the tyrant Rava? bleed, And Sita from his power be freed."

Thus Garu? spake: then, swift as thought, The region of the sky he sought, Where in the distance like a blaze Of fire he vanished from the gaze.

Then the glad Vanars' joy rang out In many a wild tumultuous shout, And the loud roar of drum and sh.e.l.l Startled each distant sentinel.

Canto LI. Dhumraksha's Sally.

King Rava?, where he sat within, Heard from his hall the deafening din, And with a spirit ill at ease Addressed his lords in words like these:

"That warlike shout, those joyous cries, Loud as the thunder of the skies, Upsent from every Vanar throat, Some new-born confidence denote.

Hark, how the sea and trembling sh.o.r.e Re-echo with the Vanars' roar.

Though arrowy chains, securely twined Both Rama and his brother bind, Still must the fierce triumphant shout Disturb my soul with rising doubt.

Swift envoys to the army send, And learn what change these cries portend."

Obedient, at their master's call, Fleet giants clomb the circling wall.

They saw the Vanars formed and led: They saw Sugriva at their head, The brothers from their bonds released: And hope grew faint and fear increased.

Their faces pale with doubt and dread, Back to the giant king they sped, And to his startled ear revealed The tidings of the battle field.

The flush of rage a while gave place To chilling fear that changed his face:

"What?" cried the tyrant, "are my foes Freed from the binding snakes that close With venomed clasp round head and limb, Bright as the sun and fierce like him: The spell a G.o.d bestowed of yore, The spell that never failed before?

If arts like these be useless, how Shall giant strength avail us now?

Go forth, Dhumraksha, good at need, The bravest of my warriors lead: Force through the foe thy conquering way, And Rama and the Vanars slay."

Before his king with reverence due Dhumraksha bowed him, and withdrew.

Around him at his summons came Fierce legions led by chiefs of fame.

Well armed with sword and spear and mace, They hurried to the gathering place, And rushed to battle, borne at speed By elephant and car and steed.

Canto LII. Dhumraksha's Death.

The Vanars saw the giant foe Pour from the gate in gallant show, Rejoiced with warriors' fierce delight And shouted, longing for the fight.

Near came the hosts and nearer yet: Dire was the tumult as they met, As, serried line to line opposed, The Vanars and the giants closed.

Fierce on the foe the Vanars rushed, And, wielding trees, the foremost crushed; But, feathered from the heron's wing, With eager flight from sounding string, Against them shot with surest aim A ceaseless storm of arrows came: And, pierced in head and chest and side, Full many a Vanar fell and died.

They perished slain in fierce attacks With sword and pike and battle-axe; But myriads following undismayed Their valour in the fight displayed.

Unnumbered Vanars rent and torn With shaft and spear to earth were borne.

But crushed by branchy trees and blocks Of jagged stone and s.h.i.+vered rocks Which the wild Vanars wielded well The bravest of the giants fell.

Their trampled banners strewed the fields, And broken swords and spears and s.h.i.+elds; And, crushed by blows which none might stay, Cars, elephants, and riders lay.

Dhumraksha turned his furious eye And saw his routed legions fly.

Still dauntless, with terrific blows, He struck and slew his foremost foes.

At every blow, at every thrust, He laid a Vanar in the dust.

So fell they neath the sword and lance In battle's wild Gandharva(961) dance, Where clang of bow and clash of sword Did duty for the silvery chord, And hoofs that rang and steeds that neighed Loud concert for the dancers made.

So fiercely from Dhumraksha's bow His arrows rained in ceaseless flow, The Vanar legions turned and fled To all the winds discomfited.

Hanuman saw the Vanars fly; He heaved a mighty rock on high.

His keen eyes flashed with wrathful fire, And, rapid as the Wind his sire, Strong as the rus.h.i.+ng tempests are, He hurled it at the advancing car.

Swift through the air the missile sang: The giant from the chariot sprang, Ere crushed by that terrific blow Lay pole and wheel and flag and bow.

Hanuman's eyes with fury blazed: A mountain's rocky peak he raised, Poised it on high in act to throw, And rushed upon his giant foe.

Dhumraksha saw: he raised his mace And smote Hanuman on the face, Who maddened by the wound's keen pang Again upon his foeman sprang; And on the giant's head the rock Descended with resistless shock.

Crushed was each limb: a shapeless ma.s.s He lay upon the blood-stained gra.s.s.

Canto LIII. Vajradanshtra's Sally.

When Rava? in his palace heard The mournful news, his wrath was stirred; And, gasping like a furious snake, To Vajradansh?ra thus he spake:

"Go forth, my fiercest captain, lead The bravest of the giants' breed.

Go forth, the sons of Raghu slay And by their side Sugriva lay."

He ceased: the chieftain bowed his head And forth with gathered troops he sped.

Cars, camels, steeds were well arrayed, And coloured banners o'er them played.

Rings decked his arms: about his waist The life-protecting mail was braced, And on the chieftain's forehead set Glittered his cap and coronet.

Borne on a bannered car that glowed With golden sheen the warrior rode, And footmen marched with spear and sword And bow and mace behind their lord.