The Ramayana Part 102

Ah me, what form and grace are there!

Its limbs how fine, its hues how fair!

Transcending all that words express, It takes my soul with loveliness.

O, if thou would, to please me, strive To take the beauteous thing alive, How thou wouldst gaze with wondering eyes Delighted on the lovely prize!

And when our woodland life is o'er, And we enjoy our realm once more, The wondrous animal will grace The chambers of my dwelling-place, And a dear treasure will it be To Bharat and the queens and me, And all with rapture and amaze Upon its heavenly form will gaze.

But if the beauteous deer, pursued, Thine arts to take it still elude, Strike it, O chieftain, and the skin Will be a treasure, laid within.

O, how I long my time to pa.s.s Sitting upon the tender gra.s.s, With that soft fell beneath me spread Bright with its hair of golden thread!

This strong desire, this eager will, Befits a gentle lady ill: But when I first beheld, its look My breast with fascination took.

See, golden hair its flank adorns, And sapphires tip its branching horns.

Resplendent as the lunar way, Or the first blush of opening day, With graceful form and radiant hue It charmed thy heart, O chieftain, too."

He heard her speech with willing ear, He looked again upon the deer.

Its lovely shape his breast beguiled Moved by the prayer of Janak's child, And yielding for her pleasure's sake, To Lakshma? Rama turned and spake:

"Mark, Lakshma?, mark how Sita's breast With eager longing is possessed.

To-day this deer of wondrous breed Must for his pa.s.sing beauty bleed, Brighter than e'er in Nandan strayed, Or Chaitraratha's heavenly shade.

How should the groves of earth possess Such all-surpa.s.sing loveliness!

The hair lies smooth and bright and fine, Or waves upon each curving line, And drops of living gold bedeck The beauty of his side and neck.

O look, his crimson tongue between His teeth like flaming fire is seen, Flashing, whene'er his lips he parts, As from a cloud the lightning darts.

O see his sunlike forehead shine With emerald tints and almandine, While pearly light and roseate glow Of sh.e.l.ls adorn his neck below.

No eye on such a deer can rest But soft enchantment takes the breast: No man so fair a thing behold Ablaze with light of radiant gold, Celestial, bright with jewels' sheen, Nor marvel when his eyes have seen.

A king equipped with bow and shaft Delights in gentle forest craft, And as in boundless woods he strays The quarry for the venison slays.

There as he wanders with his train A store of wealth he oft may gain.

He claims by right the precious ore, He claims the jewels' sparkling store.

Such gains are dearer in his eyes Than wealth that in his chamber lies, The dearest things his spirit knows, Dear as the bliss which Sukra chose.

But oft the rich expected gain Which heedless men pursue in vain, The sage, who prudent counsels know, Explain and in a moment show.

This best of deer, this gem of all, To yield his precious spoils must fall, And tender Sita by my side Shall sit upon the golden hide.

Ne'er could I find so rich a coat On spotted deer or sheep or goat.

No buck or antelope has such, So bright to view, so soft to touch.

This radiant deer and one on high That moves in glory through the sky, Alike in heavenly beauty are, One on the earth and one a star.

But, brother, if thy fears be true, And this bright creature that we view Be fierce Maricha in disguise, Then by this hand he surely dies.

For that dire fiend who spurns control With b.l.o.o.d.y hand and cruel soul, Has roamed this forest and dismayed The holiest saints who haunt the shade.

Great archers, sprung of royal race, Pursuing in the wood the chase, Have fallen by his wicked art, And now my shaft shall strike his heart.

Vatapi, by his magic power Made heedless saints his flesh devour, Then, from within their frames he rent Forth bursting from imprisonment.

But once his art in senseless pride Upon the mightiest saint he tried, Agastya's self, and caused him taste The baited meal before him placed.

Vatapi, when the rite was o'er, Would take the giant form he wore, But Saint Agastya knew his wile And checked the giant with smile.

"Vatapi, thou with cruel spite Hast conquered many an anchorite The n.o.blest of the Brahman caste,- And now thy ruin comes at last."

Now if my power he thus defies, This giant, like Vatapi dies, Daring to scorn a man like me, A self subduing devotee.

Yea, as Agastya slew the foe, My hand shall lay Maricha low Clad in thine arms thy bow in hand, To guard the Maithil lady stand, With watchful eye and thoughtful breast Keeping each word of my behest I go, and hunting through the brake This wondrous deer will bring or take.

Yea surely I will bring the spoil Returning from my hunter's toil See, Lakshma? how my consort's eyes Are longing for the lovely prize.

This day it falls, that I may win The treasure of so fair a skin.

Do thou and Sita watch with care Lest danger seize you unaware.

Swift from my bow one shaft will fly; The stricken deer will fall and die Then quickly will I strip the game And bring the trophy to my dame.

Ja?ayus, guardian good and wise, Our old and faithful friend, The best and strongest bird that flies, His willing aid will lend The Maithil lady well protect, For every chance provide, And in thy tender care suspect A foe on every side."

Canto XLIV. Maricha's Death.

Thus having warned his brother bold He grasped his sword with haft of gold, And bow with triple flexure bent, His own delight and ornament; Then bound two quivers to his side, And hurried forth with eager stride.

Soon as the antlered monarch saw The lord of monarchs near him draw, A while with trembling heart he fled, Then turned and showed his stately head.

With sword and bow the chief pursued Where'er the fleeing deer he viewed Sending from dell and lone recess The splendour of his loveliness.

Now full in view the creature stood Now vanished in the depth of wood; Now running with a languid flight, Now like a meteor lost to sight.

With trembling limbs away he sped; Then like the moon with clouds o'erspread Gleamed for a moment bright between The trees, and was again unseen.

Thus in the magic deer's disguise Maricha lured him to the prize, And seen a while, then lost to view, Far from his cot the hero drew.

Still by the flying game deceived The hunter's heart was wroth and grieved, And wearied with the fruitless chase He stayed him in a shady place.

Again the rover of the night Enraged the chieftain, full in sight, Slow moving in the coppice near, Surrounded by the woodland deer.

Again the hunter sought the game That seemed a while to court his aim: But seized again with sudden dread, Beyond his sight the creature fled.

Again the hero left the shade, Again the deer before him strayed.

With surer hope and stronger will The hunter longed his prey to kill.

Then as his soul impatient grew, An arrow from his side he drew, Resplendent at the sunbeam's glow, The crusher of the smitten foe.

With skillful heed the mighty lord Fixed well shaft and strained the cord.

Upon the deer his eyes he bent, And like a fiery serpent went The arrow Brahma's self had framed, Alive with sparks that hissed and flamed, Like Indra's flashing levin, true To the false deer the missile flew Cleaving his flesh that wonderous dart Stood quivering in Maricha's heart.

Scarce from the ground one foot he sprang, Then stricken fell with deadly pang.

Half lifeless, as he pressed the ground, He gave a roar of awful sound And ere the wounded giant died He threw his borrowed form aside Remembering still his lord's behest He pondered in his heart how best Sita might send her guard away, And Rava? seize the helpless prey.

The monster knew the time was nigh, And called aloud with eager cry, "Ho, Sita, Lakshma?" and the tone He borrowed was like Rama's own.

So by that matchless arrow cleft, The deer's bright form Maricha left, Resumed his giant shape and size And closed in death his languid eyes.

When Rama saw his awful foe Gasp, smeared with blood, in deadly throe, His anxious thoughts to Sita sped, And the wise words that Lakshma? said, That this was false Maricha's art, Returned again upon his heart.

He knew the foe he triumphed o'er The name of great Maricha bore.

"The fiend," he pondered, 'ere he died, "Ho, Lakshma?! ho, my Sita!" cried Ah, if that cry has reached her ear, How dire must be my darling's fear!

And Lakshma? of the mighty arm, What thinks he in his wild alarm?

As thus he thought in sad surmise, Each startled hair began to rise, And when he saw the giant slain And thought upon that cry again, His spirit sank and terror pressed Full sorely on the hero's breast.

Another deer he chased and struck, He bore away the the fallen buck, To Janasthan then turned his face And hastened to his dwelling place.

Canto XLV. Lakshman's Departure.

But Sita hearing as she thought, Her husband's cry with anguish fraught, Called to her guardian, "Lakshma?, run And in the wood seek Raghu's son.

Scarce can my heart retain its throne, Scarce can my life be called mine own, As all my powers and senses fail At that long, loud and bitter wail.

Haste to the wood with all thy speed And save thy brother in his need.

Go, save him in the distant glade Where loud he calls, for timely aid.

He falls beneath some giant foe- A bull whom lions overthrow."

Deaf to her prayer, no step he stirred Obedient to his mother's word, Then Janak's child, with ire inflamed, In words of bitter scorn exclaimed exclaimed

"Sumitra's son, a friend in show, Thou art in truth thy brother's foe, Who canst at such any hour deny Thy succour and neglect his cry.

Yes, Lakshma?, smit with love of me Thy brother's death thou fain wouldst see.

This guilty love thy heart has swayed And makes thy feet so loth to aid.

Thou hast no love for Rama, no: Thy joy is vice, thy thoughts are low Hence thus unmoved thou yet canst stay While my dear lord is far away.

If aught of ill my lord betide Who led thee here, thy chief and guide, Ah, what will be my hapless fate Left in the wild wood desolate!"

Thus spoke the lady sad with fear, With many a sigh and many a tear, Still trembling like a captured doe: And Lakshma? spoke to calm her woe:

"Videhan Queen, be sure of this,- And at the thought thy fear dismiss,- Thy husband's mightier power defies All G.o.ds and angels of the skies, Gandharvas, and the sons of light, Serpents, and rovers of the night.