The Ramayana Part 158

Now in a sable cloud immersed, Now from its gloomy pall he burst, Like the bright Lord of Stars concealed A moment, and again revealed.

Sunabha(889) pa.s.sed, he neared the coast Where waited still the Vanar host.

They heard a rushing in the skies, And lifted up their wondering eyes.

His wild triumphant shout they knew That louder still and louder grew, And Jambavan with eager voice Called on the Vanars to rejoice: "Look he returns, the Wind-G.o.d's son, And full success his toils have won; Triumphant is the shout that comes Like music of a thousand drums."

Up sprang the Vanars from the ground And listened to the wondrous sound Of hurtling arm and thigh as through The region of the air he flew, Loud as the wind, when tempests rave, Roars in the prison of the cave.

From crag to crag, from height to height; They bounded in their mad delight, And when he touched the mountain's crest, With reverent welcome round him pressed.

They brought him of their woodland fruits, They brought him of the choicest roots, And laughed and shouted in their glee The n.o.blest of their chiefs to see.

Nor Hanuman delayed to greet Sage Jambavan with reverence meet; To Angad and the chiefs he bent For age and rank preeminent, And briefly spoke: "These eyes have seen, These lips addressed, the Maithil queen."

They sat beneath the waving trees, And Angad spoke in words like these: "O n.o.blest of the Vanar kind For valour power and might combined, To thee triumphant o'er the foe Our hopes, our lives and all we owe.

O faithful heart in perils tried, Which toil nor fear could turn aside, Thy deed the lady will restore, And Rama's heart will ache no more."(890)

Canto LVIII. The Feast Of Honey.

They rose in air: the region grew Dark with their shadow as they flew.

Swift to a lovely grove(891) they came That rivalled heavenly Nandan's(892) fame; Where countless bees their honey stored,- The pleasance of the Vanars' lord, To every creature fenced and barred, Which Dadhimukh was set to guard, A n.o.ble Vanar, brave and bold, Sugriva's uncle lofty-souled.

To Angad came with one accord The Vanars, and besought their lord That they those honeyed stores might eat That made the grove so pa.s.sing sweet.

He gave consent: they sought the trees Thronged with innumerable bees.

They rifled all the treasured store, And ate the fruit the branches bore, And still as they prolonged the feast Their merriment and joy increased.

Drunk with the sweets, they danced and bowed, They wildly sang, they laughed aloud, Some climbed and sprang from tree to tree, Some sat and chattered in their glee.

Some scaled the trees which creepers crowned, And rained the branches to the ground.

There with loud laugh a Vanar sprang Close to his friend who madly sang, In doleful mood another crept To mix his tears with one who wept.

Then Dadhimukh with fury viewed The intoxicated mult.i.tude.

He looked upon the rifled shade, And all the ruin they had made; Then called with angry voice, and strove To save the remnant of the grove.

But warning cries and words were spurned, And angry taunt and threat returned.

Then fierce and wild contention rose: With furious words he mingled blows.

They by no shame or fear withheld, By drunken mood and ire impelled, Used claws, and teeth, and hands, and beat The keeper under trampling feet.

[Three Cantos consisting of little but repet.i.tions are omitted. Dadhimukh escapes from the infuriated monkeys and hastens to Sugriva to report their misconduct. Sugriva infers that Hanuman and his band have been successful in their search, and that the exuberance of spirits and the mischief complained of, are but the natural expression of their joy. Dadhimukh obtains little sympathy from Sugriva, and is told to return and send the monkeys on with all possible speed.]

Canto LXV. The Tidings.

On to Prasrava?'s hill they sped Where blooming trees their branches spread.

To Raghu's sons their heads they bent And did obeisance reverent.

Then to their king, by Angad led, Each Vanar chieftain bowed his head; And Hanuman the brave and bold His tidings to the monarch told; But first in Rama's hand he placed The gem that Sita's brow had graced: "I crossed the sea: I searched a while For Sita in the giants' isle.

I found her vext with taunt and threat By demon guards about her set.

Her tresses twined in single braid, On the bare earth her limbs were laid.

Sad were her eyes: her cheeks were pale As shuddering flowers in winter's gale.

I stood beside the weeping dame, And gently whispered Rama's name: With cheering words her grief consoled, And then the whole adventure told.

She weeps afar beyond the sea, And her true heart is still with thee.

She gave a sign that thou wouldst know, She bids thee think upon the crow, And bright mark pressed upon her brow When none was nigh but she and thou.

She bids thee take this precious stone, The sea-born gem thou long hast known.

"And I," she said, "will dull the sting Of woe by gazing on the ring.

One little month shall I sustain This life oppressed with woe and pain: And when the month is ended, I The giants' prey must surely die.' "

Canto LXVI. Rama's Speech.

There ceased the Vanar: Rama pressed The treasured jewel to his breast, And from his eyes the waters broke As to the Vanar king he spoke: "As o'er her babe the mother weeps, This flood of tears the jewel steeps.

This gem that shone on Sita's head Was Janak's gift when we were wed, And the pure brow that wore it lent New splendour to the ornament.

This gem, bright offspring of the wave, The King of Heaven to Janak gave, Whose n.o.ble sacrificial rite Had filled the G.o.d with new delight.

Now, as I gaze upon the prize, Methinks I see my father's eyes.

Methinks I see before me stand The ruler of Videha's land.(893) Methinks mine arms are folded now Round her who wore it on her brow.

Speak, Hanuman, O say, dear friend, What message did my darling send?

O speak, and let thy words impart Their gentle dew to cool my heart.

Ah, 'tis the crown of woe to see This gem and ask "Where, where is she?"

If for one month her heart be strong, Her days of life will yet be long.

But I, with naught to lend relief, This very day must die of grief.

Come, Hanuman, and quickly guide The mourner to his darling's side.

O lead me-thou hast learnt the way- I cannot and I will not stay.

How can my gentle love endure, So timid, delicate, and pure, The dreadful demons fierce and vile Who watch her in the guarded isle?

No more the light of beauty shines From Sita as she weeps and pines.

But pain and sorrow, cloud on cloud Her moonlight glory dim and shroud.

O speak, dear Hanuman, and tell Each word that from her sweet lips fell, Her words, her words alone can give The healing balm to make me live."(894)

BOOK VI.(895)

Canto I. Rama's Speech.

The son of Raghu heard, consoled, The wondrous tale Hanuman told; And, as his joyous hope grew high, In friendly words he made reply:

"Behold a mighty task achieved, Which never heart but his conceived.

Who else across the sea can spring, Save Vayu(896) and the Feathered King?(897) Who, pa.s.s the portals strong and high Which Nagas,(898) G.o.ds, and fiends defy, Where Rava?'s hosts their station keep,- And come uninjured o'er the deep?

By such a deed the Wind-G.o.d's son Good service to the king has done, And saved from ruin and disgrace Lakshma? and me and Raghu's race.

Well has he planned and bravely fought, And with due care my lady sought.

But of the sea I sadly think, And the sweet hopes that cheered me sink.

How can we cross the leagues of foam That keep us from the giant's home?

What can the Vanar legions more Than muster on the ocean sh.o.r.e?"