Hindu literature Part 44

Ganga was elder-born:--then came The fair one known by Uma's name.

Then all the G.o.ds of heaven, in need Of Ganga's help their vows to speed, To great Himalaya came and prayed The Mountain King to yield the maid.

He, not regardless of the weal Of the three worlds, with holy zeal His daughter to the Immortals gave, Ganga whose waters cleanse and save-- Who roams at pleasure, fair and free, Purging all sinners, to the sea.

The three-pathed Ganga thus obtained, The G.o.ds their heavenly homes regained.

Long time the sister Uma pa.s.sed In vows austere and rigid fast, And the King gave the devotee Immortal Rudra's bride to be-- Matching with that unequalled Lord His Uma through the worlds adored.

So now a glorious station fills Each daughter of the King of Hills-- One honored as the n.o.blest stream, One mid the G.o.ddesses supreme.

Thus Ganga, King Himalaya's child, The heavenly river, undefiled, Rose bearing with her to the sky Her waves that bless and purify."

[_Cantos x.x.xVII and x.x.xVIII are omitted._]

CANTO x.x.xIX

THE SONS OF SAGAR

The saint in accents sweet and clear Thus told his tale for Rama's ear-- And thus anew the holy man A legend to the prince began:-- "There reigned a pious monarch o'er Ayodhya in the days of yore: Sagar his name:--no child had he, And children much he longed to see.

His honored consort, fair of face, Sprang from Vidarbha's royal race-- Kesini, famed from early youth For piety and love of truth.

Arishtanemi's daughter fair, With whom no maiden might compare In beauty, though the earth is wide, Sumati, was his second bride.

With his two queens afar he went, And weary days in penance spent, Fervent, upon Himalaya's hill Where springs the stream called Bhrigu's rill.

Nor did he fail that saint to please With his devout austerities, And, when a hundred years had fled, Thus the most truthful Bhrigu said:-- 'From thee, O Sagar, blameless King, A mighty host of sons shall spring, And thou shalt win a glorious name Which none, O Chief, but thou shall claim.

One of thy queens a son shall bear Maintainer of thy race and heir; And of the other there shall be Sons sixty thousand born to thee.'

Thus as he spake, with one accord, To win the grace of that high lord, The queens, with palms together laid, In humble supplication prayed:-- 'Which queen, O Brahman, of the pair, The many, or the one shall bear?

Most eager, Lord, are we to know, And as thou sayest be it so,'

With his sweet speech the saint replied:-- 'Yourselves, O Queens, the choice decide.

Your own discretion freely use Which shall the one or many choose: One shall the race and name uphold, The host be famous, strong, and bold.

Which will have which?' Then Kesini The mother of one heir would be.

Sumati, sister of the King Of all the birds that ply the wing, To that ill.u.s.trious Brahman sued That she might bear the mult.i.tude-- Whose fame throughout the world should sound For mighty enterprise renowned.

Around the saint the monarch went, Bowing his head, most reverent.

Then with his wives, with willing feet, Resought his own imperial seat, Time pa.s.sed. The elder consort bare A son called Asamanj, the heir.

Then Sumati, the younger, gave Birth to a gourd, O hero brave, Whose rind, when burst and cleft in two, Gave sixty thousand babes to view.

All these with care the nurses laid In jars of oil; and there they stayed, Till, youthful age and strength complete, Forth speeding from each dark retreat-- All peers in valor, years, and might, The sixty thousand came to light.

Prince Asamanj, brought up with care, Scourge of his foes, was made the heir.

But liegemen's boys he used to cast To Sarju's waves that hurried past-- Laughing the while in cruel glee Their dying agonies to see.

This wicked prince who aye withstood The counsel of the wise and good, Who plagued the people in his hate, His father banished from the state.

His son, kind-spoken, brave, and tall, Was Ansuman, beloved of all.

Long years flew by. The King decreed To slay a sacrificial steed.

Consulting with his priestly band He vowed the rite his soul had planned, And, Veda-skilled, by their advice Made ready for the sacrifice."

CANTO XL

THE CLEAVING OF THE EARTH

The hermit ceased--the tale was done:-- Then in a transport Raghu's son Again addressed the ancient sire Resplendent as a burning fire:-- "O holy man, I fain would hear The tale repeated full and clear How he from whom my sires descend Brought the great rite to happy end,"

The hermit answered with a smile:-- "Then listen, son of Raghu, while My legendary tale proceeds To tell of high-souled Sagar's deeds.

Within the s.p.a.cious plain that lies From where Himalaya's heights arise To where proud Vindhya's rival chain Looks down upon the subject plain-- A land the best for rites declared-- His sacrifice the king prepared.

And Ansuman the prince--for so Sagar advised--with ready bow Was borne upon a mighty car To watch the steed who roamed afar.

But Indra, monarch of the skies, Veiling his form in demon guise, Came down upon the appointed day And drove the victim horse away.

Reft of the steed the priests, distressed, The master of the rite addressed:-- 'Upon the sacred day by force A robber takes the victim horse.

Haste, King! now let the thief be slain; Bring thou the charger back again: The sacred rite prevented thus Brings scathe and woe to all of us.

Rise, Monarch, and provide with speed That nought its happy course impede.'

King Sagar in his crowded court Gave ear unto the priests' report.

He summoned straightway to his side His sixty thousand sons, and cried:-- 'Brave sons of mine, I know not how These demons are so mighty now-- The priests began the rite so well All sanctified with prayer and spell.

If in the depths of earth he hide, Or lurk beneath the ocean's tide, Pursue, dear sons, the robber's track; Slay him and bring the charger back.

The whole of this broad earth explore, Sea-garlanded, from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e: Yea, dig her up with might and main Until you see the horse again.

Deep let your searching labor reach, A league in depth dug out by each.

The robber of our horse pursue, And please your sire who orders you.

My grandson, I, this priestly train, Till the steed comes, will here remain.'

Their eager hearts with transport burned As to their task the heroes turned.

Obedient to their father, they Through earth's recesses forced their way.

With iron arms' unflinching toil Each dug a league beneath the soil.

Earth, cleft asunder, groaned in pain, As emulous they plied amain-- Sharp-pointed coulter, pick, and bar, Hard as the bolts of Indra are.

Then loud the horrid clamor rose Of monsters dying 'neath their blows, Giant and demon, fiend and snake, That in earth's core their dwelling make.

They dug, in ire that nought could stay, Through sixty thousand leagues their way-- Cleaving the earth with matchless strength Till h.e.l.l itself they reached at length.

Thus digging searched they Jambudvip With all its hills and mountains steep.

Then a great fear began to shake The heart of G.o.d, bard, fiend, and snake-- And all distressed in spirit went Before the Sire Omnipotent.

With signs of woe in every face They sought the mighty Father's grace, And trembling still and ill at ease Addressed their Lord in words like these:-- 'The sons of Sagar, Sire benign, Pierce the whole earth with mine on mine, And as their ruthless work they ply Innumerable creatures die,'

'This is the thief,' the princes say, 'Who stole our victim steed away.

This marred the rite, and caused us ill.'

And so their guiltless blood they spill.

CANTO XLI

KAPIL

"The Father lent a gracious ear And listened to their tale of fear, And kindly to the G.o.ds replied Whom woe and death had terrified:-- 'The wisest Vasudeva, who The Immortals' foe, fierce Madhu, slew, Regards broad Earth with love and pride, And guards, in Kapil's form, his bride.

His kindled wrath will quickly fall On the King's sons and burn them all.

This cleaving of the earth his eye Foresaw in ages long gone by: He knew with prescient soul the fate That Sagar's children should await.'

The Three-and-thirty, freed from fear, Sought their bright homes with hopeful cheer.

Still rose the great tempestuous sound As Sagar's children pierced the ground.

When thus the whole broad earth was cleft, And not a spot unsearched was left, Back to their home the princes sped, And thus unto their father said:-- 'We searched the earth from side to side, While countless hosts of creatures died.

Our conquering feet in triumph trod On snake and demon, fiend and G.o.d; But yet we failed, with all our toil, To find the robber and the spoil.

What can we more? If more we can, Devise, O King, and tell thy plan,'

His children's speech King Sagar heard, And answered thus, to anger stirred:-- 'Dig on, and ne'er your labor stay Till through earth's depths you force your way.

Then smite the robber dead, and bring The charger back with triumphing.'

The sixty thousand chiefs obeyed-- Deep through the earth their way they made.

Deep as they dug and deeper yet The immortal elephant they met-- Famed Virupaksha vast of size, Upon whose head the broad earth lies: The mighty beast who earth sustains With s.h.a.ggy hills and wooded plains.

When, with the changing moon, distressed, And longing for a moment's rest, His mighty head the monster shakes, Earth to the bottom reels and quakes.

Around that warder strong and vast With reverential steps they pa.s.sed-- Nor, when the honor due was paid, Their downward search through earth delayed.

But turning from the east aside Southward again their task they plied.

There Mahapadma held his place, The best of all his mighty race-- Like some huge hill, of monstrous girth, Upholding on his head the earth.