The Ramayana Part 6

Vasish?ha's speech without delay Sumantra bent him to obey.

And sent his trusty envoys forth Eastward and westward, south and north.

Obedient to the saint's request Himself he hurried forth, and pressed Each n.o.bler chief and lord and king To hasten to the gathering.

Before the saint Vasish?ha stood All those who wrought with stone and wood, And showed the work which every one In furtherance of the rite had done, Rejoiced their ready zeal to see, Thus to the craftsmen all said he: "I charge ye, masters, see to this, That there be nothing done amiss, And this, I pray, in mind be borne, That not one gift ye give in scorn: Whenever scorn a gift attends Great sin is his who thus offends."

And now some days and nights had past, And kings began to gather fast, And precious gems in liberal store As gifts to Dasaratha bore.

Then joy thrilled through Vasish?ha's breast As thus the monarch he addressed: "Obedient to thy high decree The kings, my lord, are come to thee.

And it has been my care to greet And honour all with reverence meet.

Thy servants' task is ended quite, And all is ready for the rite.

Come forth then to the sacred ground Where all in order will be found."

Then Rishyasring confirmed the tale: Nor did their words to move him fail.

The stars propitious influence lent When forth the world's great ruler went.

Then by the sage Vasish?ha led The priest begun to speed Those glorious rites wherein is shed The lifeblood of the steed.

Canto XIII. The Sacrifice Finished.

The circling year had filled its course, And back was brought the wandering horse: Then upon Sarju's northern strand Began the rite the king had planned.

With Rishyasring the forms to guide, The Brahmans to their task applied, At that great offering of the steed Their lofty-minded king decreed.

The priests, who all the Scripture knew, Performed their part in order due, And circled round in solemn train As precepts of the law ordain.

Pravargya rites(92) were duly sped: For Upasads(93) the flames were fed.

Then from the plant(94) the juice was squeezed, And those high saints with minds well pleased Performed the mystic rites begun With bathing ere the rise of sun They gave the portion Indra's claim, And hymned the King whom none can blame.

The mid-day bathing followed next, Observed as bids the holy text.

Then the good priests with utmost care, In form that Scripture's rules declare, For the third time pure water shed On high souled Dasaratha's head.

Then Rishyasring and all the rest To Indra and the G.o.ds addressed Their sweet-toned hymn of praise and prayer, And called them in the rite to share.

With sweetest song and hymn entoned They gave the G.o.ds in heaven enthroned, As duty bids, the gifts they claim, The holy oil that feeds the flame.

And many an offering there was paid, And not one slip in all was made.

For with most careful heed they saw That all was done by Veda law.

None, all those days, was seen oppressed By hunger or by toil distressed.

Why speak of human kind? No beast Was there that lacked an ample feast.

For there was store for all who came, For orphan child and lonely dame; The old and young were well supplied, The poor and hungry satisfied.

Throughout the day ascetics fed, And those who roam to beg their bread: While all around the cry was still, "Give forth, give forth," and "Eat your fill."

"Give forth with liberal hand the meal, And various robes in largess deal."

Urged by these cries on every side Unweariedly their task they plied: And heaps of food like hills in size In boundless plenty met the eyes: And lakes of sauce, each day renewed, Refreshed the weary mult.i.tude.

And strangers there from distant lands, And women folk in crowded bands The best of food and drink obtained At the great rite the king ordained.

Apart from all, the Brahmans there, Thousands on thousands, took their share Of various dainties sweet to taste, On plates of gold and silver placed, All ready set, as, when they willed, The twice-born men their places filled.

And servants in fair garments dressed Waited upon each Brahman guest.

Of cheerful mind and mien were they, With gold and jewelled earrings gay.

The best of Brahmans praised the fare Of countless sorts, of flavour rare: And thus to Raghu's son they cried: "We bless thee, and are satisfied."

Between the rites some Brahmans spent The time in learned argument, With ready flow of speech, sedate, And keen to vanquish in debate.(95) There day by day the holy train Performed all rites as rules ordain.

No priest in all that host was found But kept the vows that held him bound: None, but the holy Vedas knew, And all their six-fold science(96) too.

No Brahman there was found unfit To speak with eloquence and wit.

And now the appointed time came near The sacrificial posts to rear.

They brought them, and prepared to fix Of Bel(97) and Khadir(98) six and six; Six, made of the Palasa(99) tree, Of Fig-wood one, apart to be: Of Sleshmat(100) and of Devadar(101) One column each, the mightiest far: So thick the two, the arms of man Their ample girth would fail to span.

All these with utmost care were wrought By hand of priests in Scripture taught, And all with gold were gilded bright To add new splendour to the rite: Twenty-and-one those stakes in all, Each one-and-twenty cubits tall: And one-and-twenty ribbons there Hung on the pillars, bright and fair.

Firm in the earth they stood at last, Where cunning craftsmen fixed them fast; And there unshaken each remained, Octagonal and smoothly planed.

Then ribbons over all were hung, And flowers and scent around them flung.

Thus decked they cast a glory forth Like the great saints who star the north.(102) The sacrificial altar then Was raised by skilful twice-born men, In shape and figure to behold An eagle with his wings of gold, With twice nine pits and formed three-fold Each for some special G.o.d, beside The pillars were the victims tied; The birds that roam the wood, the air, The water, and the land were there, And snakes and things of reptile birth, And healing herbs that spring from earth: As texts prescribe, in Scripture found, Three hundred victims there were bound.

The steed devoted to the host Of G.o.ds, the gem they honour most, Was duly sprinkled. Then the Queen Kausalya, with delighted mien, With reverent steps around him paced, And with sweet wreaths the victim graced; Then with three swords in order due She smote the steed with joy, and slew.

That night the queen, a son to gain, With calm and steady heart was fain By the dead charger's side to stay From evening till the break of day.

Then came three priests, their care to lead The other queens to touch the steed, Upon Kausalya to attend, Their company and aid to lend.

As by the horse she still reclined, With happy mien and cheerful mind, With Rishyasring the twice-born came And praised and blessed the royal dame.

The priest who well his duty knew, And every sense could well subdue, From out the bony chambers freed And boiled the marrow of the steed.

Above the steam the monarch bent, And, as he smelt the fragrant scent, In time and order drove afar All error that his hopes could mar.

Then sixteen priests together came And cast into the sacred flame The severed members of the horse, Made ready all in ordered course.

On piles of holy Fig-tree raised The meaner victims' bodies blazed: The steed, of all the creatures slain, Alone required a pile of cane.

Three days, as is by law decreed, Lasted that Offering of the Steed.

The Chatush?om began the rite, And when the sun renewed his light, The Ukthya followed: after came The Atiratra's holy flame.

These were the rites, and many more Arranged by light of holy lore, The Aptoryam of mighty power, And, each performed in proper hour, The Abhijit and Visvajit With every form and service fit; And with the sacrifice at night The Jyotish?om and ayus rite.(103) The task was done, as laws prescribe: The monarch, glory of his tribe, Bestowed the land in liberal grants Upon the sacred ministrants.

He gave the region of the east, His conquest, to the Hotri priest.

The west, the celebrant obtained: The south, the priest presiding gained: The northern region was the share Of him who chanted forth the prayer,(104) Thus did each priest obtain his meed At the great Slaughter of the Steed, Ordained, the best of all to be, By self-existent deity.

Ikshvaku's son with joyful mind This n.o.ble fee to each a.s.signed, But all the priests with one accord Addressed that unpolluted lord: "Tis thine alone to keep the whole Of this broad earth in firm control.

No gift of lands from thee we seek: To guard these realms our hands were weak.

On sacred lore our days are spent: Let other gifts our wants content."

The chief of old Ikshvaku's line Gave them ten hundred thousand kine, A hundred millions of fine gold, The same in silver four times told.

But every priest in presence there With one accord resigned his share.

To Saint Vasish?ha, high of soul, And Rishyasring they gave the whole.

That largess pleased those Brahmans well, Who bade the prince his wishes tell.

Then Dasaratha, mighty king, Made answer thus to Rishyasring: "O holy Hermit, of thy grace, Vouchsafe the increase of my race."

He spoke; nor was his prayer denied: The best of Brahmans thus replied: "Four sons, O Monarch, shall be thine, Upholders of thy royal line."

Canto XIV. Ravan Doomed.

The saint, well read in holy lore, Pondered awhile his answer o'er, And thus again addressed the king, His wandering thoughts regathering: "Another rite will I begin Which shall the sons thou cravest win, Where all things shall be duly sped And first Atharva texts be read."

Then by Vibha?dak's gentle son Was that high sacrifice begun, The king's advantage seeking still And zealous to perform his will.

Now all the G.o.ds had gathered there, Each one for his allotted share: Brahma, the ruler of the sky, Stha?u, Naraya?, Lord most high, And holy Indra men might view With Maruts(105) for his retinue; The heavenly chorister, and saint, And spirit pure from earthly taint, With one accord had sought the place The high-souled monarch's rite to grace.

Then to the G.o.ds who came to take Their proper share the hermit spake: "For you has Dasaratha slain The votive steed, a son to gain; Stern penance-rites the king has tried, And in firm faith on you relied, And now with undiminished care A second rite would fain prepare.

But, O ye G.o.ds, consent to grant The longing of your supplicant.

For him beseeching hands I lift, And pray you all to grant the gift, That four fair sons of high renown The offerings of the king may crown."

They to the hermit's son replied: "His longing shall be gratified.

For, Brahman, in most high degree We love the king and honour thee."

These words the G.o.ds in answer said, And vanished thence by Indra led.

Thus to the Lord, the worlds who made, The Immortals all a.s.sembled prayed: "O Brahma, mighty by thy grace, Rava?, who rules the giant race, Torments us in his senseless pride, And penance-loving saints beside.

For thou well pleased in days of old Gavest the boon that makes him bold, That G.o.d nor demon e'er should kill His charmed life, for so thy will.

We, honouring that high behest, Bear all his rage though sore distressed.

That lord of giants fierce and fell Scourges the earth and heaven and h.e.l.l.

Mad with thy boon, his impious rage Smites saint and bard and G.o.d and sage.

The sun himself withholds his glow, The wind in fear forbears to blow; The fire restrains his wonted heat Where stand the dreaded Rava?'s feet, And, necklaced with the wandering wave, The sea before him fears to rave.

Kuvera's self in sad defeat Is driven from his blissful seat.

We see, we feel the giant's might, And woe comes o'er us and affright.

To thee, O Lord, thy suppliants pray To find some cure this plague to stay."