The Ramayana Part 38

Awake, the holy night is fled, The happy light abroad is spread; Awake, O best of kings, and share The glorious task that claims thy care.

The holy sage Vasish?ha waits, With all his Brahmans, at the gate.

Give thy decree, without delay, To consecrate thy son today.

As armies, by no captain led, As flocks that feed unshepherded, Such is the fortune of a state Without a king and desolate."

Such were the words the bard addressed, With weight of sage advice impressed; And, as he heard, the hapless king Felt deeper yet his sorrow's sting.

At length, all joy and comfort fled, He raised his eyes with weeping red, And, mournful for his Rama's sake, The good and glorious monarch spake: "Why seek with idle praise to greet The wretch for whom no praise is meet?

Thy words mine aching bosom tear, And plunge me deeper in despair."

Sumantra heard the sad reply, And saw his master's tearful eye.

With reverent palm to palm applied He drew a little s.p.a.ce aside.

Then, as the king, with misery weak, With vain endeavour strove to speak, Kaikeyi, skilled in plot and plan, To sage Sumantra thus began: "The king, absorbed in joyful thought For his dear son, no rest has sought: Sleepless to him the night has past, And now o'erwatched he sinks at last.

Then go, Sumantra, and with speed The glorious Rama hither lead: Go, as I pray, nor longer wait; No time is this to hesitate."

"How can I go, O Lady fair, Unless my lord his will declare?"

"Fain would I see him," cried the king, "Quick, quick, my beauteous Rama bring."

Then rose the happy thought to cheer The bosom of the charioteer, "The king, I ween, of pious mind, The consecration has designed."

Sumantra for his wisdom famed, Delighted with the thought he framed, From the calm chamber, like a bay Of crowded ocean, took his way.

He turned his face to neither side, But forth he hurried straight; Only a little while he eyed The guards who kept the gate.

He saw in front a gathered crowd Of men of every cla.s.s, Who, parting as he came, allowed The charioteer to pa.s.s.

Canto XV. The Preparations.

There slept the Brahmans, deeply read In Scripture, till the night had fled; Then, with the royal chaplains, they Took each his place in long array.

There gathered fast the chiefs of trade, Nor peer nor captain long delayed, a.s.sembling all in order due The consecrating rite to view.

The morning dawned with cloudless ray On Pushya's high auspicious day, And Cancer with benignant power Looked down on Rama's natal hour.

The twice-born chiefs, with zealous heed, Made ready what the rite would need.

The well-wrought throne of holy wood And golden urns in order stood.

There was the royal car whereon A tiger's skin resplendent shone; There water, brought for sprinkling thence Where, in their sacred confluence, Blend Jumna's waves with Ganga's tide, From many a holy flood beside, From brook and fountain far and near, From pool and river, sea and mere.

And there were honey, curd, and oil, Parched rice and gra.s.s, the garden's spoil, Fresh milk, eight girls in bright attire, An elephant with eyes of fire; And urns of gold and silver made, With milky branches overlaid, All br.i.m.m.i.n.g from each sacred flood, And decked with many a lotus bud.

And dancing-women fair and free, Gay with their gems, were there to see, Who stood in bright apparel by With lovely brow and witching eye.

White flashed the jewelled chouri there, And shone like moonbeams through the air; The white umbrella overhead A pale and moonlike l.u.s.tre shed, Wont in pure splendour to precede, And in such rites the pomp to lead.

There stood the charger by the side Of the great bull of snow-white hide; There was all music soft and loud, And bards and minstrels swelled the crowd.

For now the monarch bade combine Each custom of his ancient line With every rite Ayodhya's state Observed, her kings to consecrate.

Then, summoned by the king's behest, The mult.i.tudes together pressed, And, missing still the royal sire, Began, impatient, to inquire: "Who to our lord will tidings bear That all his people throng the square?

Where is the king? the sun is bright, And all is ready for the rite."

As thus they spoke, Sumantra, tried In counsel, to the chiefs replied, Gathered from lands on every side: "To Rama's house I swiftly drave, For so the king his mandate gave.

Our aged lord and Rama too In honour high hold all of you: I in your words (be long your days!) Will ask him why he thus delays."

Thus spoke the peer in Scripture read, And to the ladies' bower he sped.

Quick through the gates Sumantra hied, Which access ne'er to him denied.

Behind the curtained screen he drew, Which veiled the chamber from the view.

In benediction loud he raised His voice, and thus the monarch praised: "Sun, Moon, Kuvera, Siva bless Kakutstha's son with high success!

The Lords of air, flood, fire decree The victory, my King, to thee!

The holy night has past away, Auspicious s.h.i.+nes the morning's ray.

Rise, Lord of men, thy part to take In the great rite. Awake! awake!

Brahmans and captains, chiefs of trade, All wait in festive garb arrayed; For thee they look with eager eyes: O Raghu's son, awake! arise."

To him in holy Scripture read, Who hailed him thus, the monarch said, Upraising from his sleep his head: "Go, Rama, hither lead as thou Wast ordered by the queen but now.

Come, tell me why my mandate laid Upon thee thus is disobeyed.

Away! and Rama hither bring; I sleep not: make no tarrying."

Thus gave the king command anew: Sumantra from his lord withdrew; With head in lowly reverence bent, And filled with thoughts of joy, he went.

The royal street he traversed, where Waved flag and pennon to the air, And, as with joy the car he drove, He let his eyes delighted rove.

On every side, where'er he came, He heard glad words, their theme the same, As in their joy the gathered folk Of Rama and the throning spoke.

Then saw he Rama's palace bright And vast as Mount Kailasa's height, That glorious in its beauty showed As Indra's own supreme abode: With folding doors both high and wide; With hundred porches beautified: Where golden statues towering rose O'er gemmed and coralled porticoes.

Bright like a cave in Meru's side, Or clouds through Autumn's sky that ride: Festooned with length of bloomy twine, Flas.h.i.+ng with pearls and jewels' s.h.i.+ne, While sandal-wood and aloe lent The mingled riches of their scent; With all the odorous sweets that fill The breezy heights of Dardar's hill.

There by the gate the Saras screamed, And shrill-toned peac.o.c.ks' plumage gleamed.

Its floors with deftest art inlaid, Its sculptured wolves in gold arrayed, With its bright sheen the palace took The mind of man and chained the look, For like the sun and moon it glowed, And mocked Kuvera's loved abode.

Circling the walls a crowd he viewed Who stood in reverent att.i.tude, With throngs of countrymen who sought Acceptance of the gifts they brought.

The elephant was stationed there, Appointed Rama's self to bear; Adorned with pearls, his brow and cheek Were sandal-dyed in many a streak, While he, in stature, bulk, and pride, With Indra's own Airavat(280) vied.

Sumantra, borne by coursers fleet, Flas.h.i.+ng a radiance o'er the street, To Rama's palace flew, And all who lined the royal road, Or thronged the prince's rich abode, Rejoiced as near he drew.

And with delight his bosom swelled As onward still his course he held Through many a sumptuous court Like Indra's palace n.o.bly made, Where peac.o.c.ks revelled in the shade, And beasts of silvan sort.

Through many a hall and chamber wide, That with Kailasa's splendour vied.

Or mansions of the Blest, While Rama's friends, beloved and tried, Before his coming stepped aside, Still on Sumantra pressed.

He reached the chamber door, where stood Around his followers young and good, Bard, minstrel, charioteer, Well skilled the tuneful chords to sweep, With soothing strain to lull to sleep, Or laud their master dear.

Then, like a dolphin darting through Unfathomed depths of ocean's blue With store of jewels decked, Through crowded halls that rock-like rose, Or as proud hills where clouds repose, Sumantra sped unchecked- Halls like the glittering domes on high Reared for the dwellers of the sky By heavenly architect.

Canto XVI. Rama Summoned.

So through the crowded inner door Sumantra, skilled in ancient lore, On to the private chambers pressed Which stood apart from all the rest.

There youthful warriors, true and bold, Whose ears were ringed with polished gold, All armed with trusty bows and darts, Watched with devoted eyes and hearts.

And h.o.a.ry men, a faithful train, Whose aged hands held staves of cane, The ladies' guard, apparelled fair In red attire, were stationed there.

Soon as they saw Sumantra nigh, Each longed his lord to gratify, And from his seat beside the door Up sprang each ancient servitor.

Then to the warders quickly cried The skilled Sumantra, void of pride: "Tell Rama that the charioteer Sumantra waits for audience here."

The ancient men with one accord Seeking the pleasure of their lord, Pa.s.sing with speed the chamber door To Rama's ear the message bore.

Forthwith the prince with duteous heed Called in the messenger with speed, For 'twas his sire's command, he knew, That sent him for the interview.

Like Lord Kuvera, well arrayed, He pressed a couch of gold, Wherefrom a covering of brocade Hung down in many a fold.

Oil and the sandal's fragrant dust Had tinged his body o'er Dark as the stream the spearman's thrust Drains from the wounded boar.

Him Sita watched with tender care, A chouri in her hand, As Chitra,(281) ever fond in fair, Beside the Moon will stand.

Him glorious with unborrowed light, A liberal lord, of sunlike might, Sumantra hailed in words like these, Well skilled in gentle courtesies, As, with joined hands in reverence raised, Upon the beauteous prince he gazed: "Happy Kausalya! Blest is she, The Mother of a son like thee.

Now rise, O Rama, speed away.

Go to thy sire without delay: For he and Queen Kaikeyi seek An interview with thee to speak."

The lion-lord of men, the best Of splendid heroes, thus addressed, To Sita spake with joyful cheer: "The king and queen, my lady dear, Touching the throning, for my sake Some salutary counsel take.

The lady of the full black eye Would fain her husband gratify, And, all his purpose understood, Counsels the monarch to my good.

A happy fate is mine, I ween, When he, consulting with his queen, Sumantra on this charge, intent Upon my gain and good, has sent.

An envoy of so n.o.ble sort Well suits the splendour of the court.

The consecration rite this day Will join me in imperial sway.

To meet the lord of earth, for so His order bids me, I will go.