The Ramayana Part 73

My beauteous one, a double good Springs from my dwelling in the wood: Loosed is the bond my sire that tied, And Bharat too is gratified.

My darling, dost thou feel with me Delight from every charm we see, Of which the mind and every sense Feel the enchanting influence?

My fathers who have pa.s.sed away, The royal saints, were wont to say, That life in woodland shades like this Secures a king immortal bliss.

See, round the hill at random thrown, Huge ma.s.ses lie of rugged stone Of every shape and many a hue, Yellow and white and red and blue.

But all is fairer still by night: Each rock reflects a softer light, When the whole mount from foot to crest In robes of lambent flame is dressed; When from a million herbs a blaze Of their own luminous glory plays, And clothed in fire each deep ravine, Each pinnacle and crag is seen.

Some parts the look of mansions wear, And others are as gardens fair, While others seem a ma.s.sive block Of solid undivided rock.

Behold those pleasant beds o'erlaid With lotus leaves, for lovers made, Where mountain birch and costus throw Cool shadows on the pair below.

See where the lovers in their play Have cast their flowery wreaths away, And fruit and lotus buds that crowned Their brows lie trodden on the ground.

North Kuru's realm is fair to see, Vasvaukasara,(371) Nalini,(372) But rich in fruit and blossom still More fair is Chitraku?a's hill.

Here shall the years appointed glide With thee, my beauty, by my side, And Lakshma? ever near; Here shall I live in all delight, Make my ancestral fame more bright, Tread in their path who walk aright, And to my oath adhere."

Canto XCV. Mandakini.

Then Rama, like the lotus eyed, Descended from the mountain side, And to the Maithil lady showed The lovely stream that softly flowed.

And thus Ayodhya's lord addressed His bride, of dames the loveliest, Child of Videha's king, her face Bright with the fair moon's tender grace: "How sweetly glides, O darling, look, Mandakini's delightful brook, Adorned with islets, blossoms gay, And sarases and swans at play!

The trees with which her banks are lined Show flowers and fruit of every kind: The match in radiant sheen is she Of King Kuvera's Nalini.(373) My heart exults with pleasure new The shelving band and ford to view, Where gathering herds of thirsty deer Disturb the wave that ran so clear.

Now look, those holy hermits mark In skins of deer and coats of bark; With twisted coils of matted hair, The reverend men are bathing there, And as they lift their arms on high The Lord of Day they glorify: These best of saints, my large-eyed spouse, Are constant to their sacred vows.

The mountain dances while the trees Bend their proud summits to the breeze, And scatter many a flower and bud From branches that o'erhang the flood.

There flows the stream like lucid pearl, Round islets here the currents whirl, And perfect saints from middle air Are flocking to the waters there.

See, there lie flowers in many a heap From boughs the whistling breezes sweep, And others wafted by the gale Down the swift current dance and sail.

Now see that pair of wild-fowl rise, Exulting with their joyful cries: Hark, darling, wafted from afar How soft their pleasant voices are.

To gaze on Chitraku?a's hill, To look upon this lovely rill, To bend mine eyes on thee, dear wife, Is sweeter than my city life.

Come, bathe we in the pleasant rill Whose dancing waves are never still, Stirred by those beings pure from sin, The sanct.i.ties who bathe therein: Come, dearest, to the stream descend, Approach her as a darling friend, And dip thee in the silver flood Which lotuses and lilies stud.

Let this fair hill Ayodhya seem, Its silvan things her people deem, And let these waters as they flow Our own beloved Sarju show.

How blest, mine own dear love, am I; Thou, fond and true, art ever nigh, And duteous, faithful Lakshma? stays Beside me, and my word obeys.

Here every day I bathe me thrice, Fruit, honey, roots for food suffice, And ne'er my thoughts with longing stray To distant home or royal sway.

For who this charming brook can see Where herds of roedeer wander free, And on the flowery-wooded brink Apes, elephants, and lions drink, Nor feel all sorrow fly?"

Thus eloquently spoke the pride Of Raghu's children to his bride, And wandered happy by her side Where Chitraku?a azure-dyed Uprears his peaks on high.

Canto XCVI. The Magic Shaft.(374)

Thus Rama showed to Janak's child The varied beauties of the wild, The hill, the brook and each fair spot, Then turned to seek their leafy cot.

North of the mountain Rama found A cavern in the sloping ground, Charming to view, its floor was strown With many a ma.s.s of ore and stone, In secret shadow far retired Where gay birds sang with joy inspired, And trees their graceful branches swayed With loads of blossom downward weighed.

Soon as he saw the cave which took Each living heart and chained the look, Thus Rama spoke to Sita who Gazed wondering on the silvan view: "Does this fair cave beneath the height, Videhan lady, charm thy sight?

Then let us resting here a while The languor of the way beguile.

That block of stone so smooth and square Was set for thee to rest on there, And like a thriving Kesar tree This flowery shrub o'ershadows thee."

Thus Rama spoke, and Janak's child, By nature ever soft and mild, In tender words which love betrayed Her answer to the hero made: "O pride of Raghu's children, still My pleasure is to do thy will.

Enough for me thy wish to know: Far hast thou wandered to and fro."

Thus Sita spake in gentle tone, And went obedient to the stone, Of perfect face and faultless limb Prepared to rest a while with him.

And Rama, as she thus replied, Turned to his spouse again and cried: "Thou seest, love, this flowery shade For silvan creatures' pleasure made, How the gum streams from trees and plants Torn by the tusks of elephants!

Through all the forest clear and high Resounds the shrill cicala's cry.

Hark how the kite above us moans, And calls her young in piteous tones; So may my hapless mother be Still mourning in her home for me.

There mounted on that lofty Sal The loud Bhringraj(375) repeats his call: How sweetly now he tunes his throat Responsive to the Kol's note.

Or else the bird that now has sung May be himself the Kol's young, Linked with such winning sweetness are The notes he pours irregular.

See, round the blooming Mango clings That creeper with her tender rings, So in thy love, when none is near, Thine arms are thrown round me, my dear."

Thus in his joy he cried; and she, Sweet speaker, on her lover's knee, Of faultless limb and perfect face, Grew closer to her lord's embrace.

Reclining in her husband's arms, A G.o.ddess in her wealth of charms, She filled his loving breast anew With mighty joy that thrilled him through.

His finger on the rock he laid, Which veins of sanguine ore displayed, And painted o'er his darling's eyes The holy sign in mineral dyes.

Bright on her brow the metal lay Like the young sun's first gleaming ray, And showed her in her beauty fair As the soft light of morning's air.

Then from the Kesar's laden tree He picked fair blossoms in his glee, And as he decked each lovely tress, His heart o'erflowed with happiness.

So resting on that rocky seat A while they spent in pastime sweet, Then onward neath the shady boughs Went Rama with his Maithil spouse.

She roaming in the forest shade Where every kind of creature strayed Observed a monkey wandering near, And clung to Rama's arm in fear.

The hero Rama fondly laced His mighty arms around her waist, Consoled his beauty in her dread, And scared the Monkey till he fled.

That holy mark of sanguine ore That gleamed on Sita's brow before, Shone by that close embrace impressed Upon the hero's ample chest.

Then Sita, when the beast who led The monkey troop, afar had fled, Laughed loudly in light-hearted glee That mark on Rama's chest to see.

A clump of bright Asokas fired The forest in their bloom attired: The restless blossoms as they gleamed A host of threatening monkeys seemed.

Then Sita thus to Rama cried, As longingly the flowers she eyed: "Pride of thy race, now let us go Where those Asoka blossoms grow."

He on his darling's pleasure bent With his fair G.o.ddess thither went And roamed delighted through the wood Where blossoming Asokas stood, As Siva with Queen Uma roves Through Himavan's majestic groves.

Bright with purpureal glow the pair Of happy lovers sported there, And each upon the other set A flower-inwoven coronet.

There many a crown and chain they wove Of blooms from that Asoka grove, And in their graceful sport the two Fresh beauty o'er the mountain threw.

The lover let his love survey Each pleasant spot that round them lay, Then turned they to their green retreat Where all was garnished, gay, and neat.

By brotherly affection led, Sumitra's son to meet them sped, And showed the labours of the day Done while his brother was away.

There lay ten black-deer duly slain With arrows pure of poison stain, Piled in a mighty heap to dry, With many another carca.s.s nigh.

And Lakshma?'s brother saw, o'erjoyed, The work that had his hands employed, Then to his consort thus he cried: "Now be the general gifts supplied."

Then Sita, fairest beauty, placed The food for living things to taste, And set before the brothers meat And honey that the pair might eat.

They ate the meal her hands supplied, Their lips with water purified: Then Janak's daughter sat at last And duly made her own repast.

The other venison, to be dried, Piled up in heaps was set aside, And Rama told his wife to stay And drive the flocking crows away.

Her husband saw her much distressed By one more bold than all the rest, Whose wings where'er he chose could fly, Now pierce the earth, now roam the sky.

Then Rama laughed to see her stirred To anger by the plaguing bird: Proud of his love the beauteous dame With burning rage was all aflame.

Now here, now there, again, again She chased the crow, but all in vain, Enraging her, so quick to strike With beak and wing and claw alike: Then how the proud lip quivered, how The dark frown marked her angry brow!

When Rama saw her cheek aglow With pa.s.sion, he rebuked the crow.

But bold in impudence the bird, With no respect for Rama's word, Fearless again at Sita flew: Then Rama's wrath to fury grew.

The hero of the mighty arm Spoke o'er a shaft the mystic charm, Laid the dire weapon on his bow And launched it at the shameless crow.

The bird, empowered by G.o.ds to spring Through earth itself on rapid wing, Through the three worlds in terror fled Still followed by that arrow dread.

Where'er he flew, now here now there, A cloud of weapons filled the air.

Back to the high-souled prince he fled And bent at Rama's feet his head, And then, as Sita looked, began His speech in accents of a man: "O pardon, and for pity's sake Spare, Rama, spare my life to take!

Where'er I turn, where'er I flee, No shelter from this shaft I see."

The chieftain heard the crow entreat Helpless and prostrate at his feet, And while soft pity moved his breast, With wisest speech the bird addressed: "I took the troubled Sita's part, And furious anger filled my heart.

Then on the string my arrow lay Charmed with a spell thy life to slay.

Thou seekest now my feet, to crave Forgiveness and thy life to save.

So shall thy prayer have due respect: The suppliant I must still protect.

But ne'er in vain this dart may flee; Yield for thy life a part of thee, What portion of thy body, say, Shall this mine arrow rend away?

Thus far, O bird, thus far alone On thee my pity may be shown.

Forfeit a part thy life to buy: 'Tis better so to live than die."

Thus Rama spoke: the bird of air Pondered his speech with anxious care, And wisely deemed it good to give One of his eyes that he might live.

To Raghu's son he made reply: "O Rama, I will yield an eye.

So let me in thy grace confide And live hereafter single-eyed."

Then Rama charged the shaft, and lo, Full in the eye it smote the crow.

And the Videhan lady gazed Upon the ruined eye amazed.