The Ramayana Part 167

He ceased: the spy his fear controlled, And to the king his story told: "I reached the ocean's distant sh.o.r.e, Thy message to the king I bore.

In sudden wrath the Vanars rose, They struck me down with furious blows; They seized me helpless on the ground, My plumage rent, my pinions bound.

They would not, headlong in their ire, Consider, listen, or inquire; So fickle, wrathful, rough and rude Is the wild forest mult.i.tude.

There, marshalling the Vanar bands, King Rama with Sugriva stands, Rama the matchless warrior, who Viradha and Kabandha slew, Khara, and countless giants more, And tracks his queen to Lanka's sh.o.r.e.

A bridge athwart the sea was cast, And o'er it have his legions pa.s.sed.

Hark! heralded by horns and drums The terrible avenger comes.

E'en now the giants' isle he fills With warriors huge as clouds and hills, And burning with vindictive hate Will thunder soon at Lanka's gate.

Yield or oppose him: choose between Thy safety and the Maithil queen."

He ceased: the tyrant's eyeb.a.l.l.s blazed With fury as his voice he raised: "No, if the dwellers of the sky, Gandharvas, fiends a.s.sail me, I Will keep the Maithil lady still, Nor yield her back for fear of ill.

When shall my shafts with iron hail My foeman, Raghu's son, a.s.sail, Thick as the bees with eager wing Beat on the flowery trees of spring?

O, let me meet my foe at length, And strip him of his vaunted strength, Fierce as the sun who shines afar Stealing the light of every star.

Strong as the sea's impetuous might My ways are like the tempest's flight; But Rama knows not this, or he In terror from my face would flee."

Canto XXV. Ravan's Spies.(938)

When Rama and the host he led Across the sea had safely sped, Thus Rava?, moved by wrath and pride, To Suka and to Sara? cried: "O counsellors, the Vanar host Has pa.s.sed the sea from coast to coast, And Dasaratha's son has wrought A wondrous deed surpa.s.sing thought.

And now in truth I needs must know The strength and number of the foe.

Go ye, to Rama's host repair And count me all the legions there.

Learn well what power each captain leads His name and fame for warlike deeds.

Learn by what artist's wondrous aid That bridge athwart the sea was made; Learn how the Vanar host came o'er And halted on the island sh.o.r.e.

Mark Rama son of Raghu well; His valour, strength, and weapons tell.

Watch his advisers one by one, And Lakshma?, Raghu's younger son.

Learn with observant eyes, and bring "Unerring tidings to your king.

He ceased: then swift in Vanar guise Forth on their errand sped the spies.

They reached the Vanars, and, dismayed, Their never-ending lines surveyd: Nor would they try, in mere despair, To count the countless legions there, That crowded valley, plain and hill, That pressed about each cave and rill.

Though sea-like o'er the land were spread The endless hosts which Rama led, The bridge by thousands yet was lined, And eager myriads pressed behind.

But sage Vibhisha?'s watchful eyes Had marked the giants in disguise.

He gave command the pair to seize, And told the tale in words like these:

"O Rama these, well known erewhile, Are giant sons of Lanka's isle, Two counsellors of Rava? sent To watch the invading armament."

Vibhisha? ceased: at Rama's look The Rakshas envoys quailed and shook; Then suppliant hand to hand they pressed And thus Ikshvaku's son addressed: "O Rama, bear the truth we speak: Our monarch Rava? bade us seek The Vanar legions and survey Their numbers, strength, and vast array."

Then Rama, friend and hope and guide Of suffering creatures, thus replied:

"Now giants, if your eyes have scanned Our armies, numbering every band, Marked lord and chief, and gazed their fill, Return to Rava? when ye will.

If aught remain, if aught anew Ye fain would scan with closer view, Vibhisha?, ready at your call, Will lead you forth and show you all.

Think not of bonds and capture; fear No loss of life, no peril here: For, captive, helpless and unarmed, An envoy never should be harmed.

Again to Lanka's town repair, Speed to the giant monarch there, And be these words to Rava? told, Fierce brother of the Lord of Gold: "Now, tyrant, tremble for thy sin: Call up thy friends, thy kith and kin, And let the power and might be seen Which made thee bold to steal my queen.

To-morrow shall thy mournful eye Behold thy bravest warriors die, And Lanka's city, tower and wall, Struck by my fiery shafts, will fall.

Then shall my vengeful blow descend Its rage on thee and thine to spend, Fierce as the fiery bolt that flew From heaven against the Danav crew, Mid those rebellious demons sent By him who rules the firmament."

Thus spake Ikshvaku's son, and ceased: The giants from their bonds released Lauded the King with glad accord, And hasted homeward to their lord.

Before the tyrant side by side Suka and Sara? stood and cried: "Vibhisha? seized us, King, and fain His helpless captives would have slain.

But glorious Rama saw us; he, Great-hearted hero, made us free.

There in one spot our eyes beheld Four chiefs on earth unparalleled, Who with the guardian G.o.ds may vie Who rule the regions of the sky.

There Rama stood, the boast and pride Of Raghu's race, by Lakshma?'s side.

There stood the sage Vibhisha?, there Sugriva strong beyond compare.

These four alone can batter down Gate, rampart, wall, and Lanka's town.

Nay, Rama matchless in his form, A single foe, thy town would storm: So wondrous are his weapons, he Needs not the succour of the three.

Why speak we of the countless train That fills the valley, hill and plain, The millions of the Vanar breed Whom Rama and Sugriva lead?

O King, be wise, contend no more, And Sita to her lord restore."

Canto XXVI. The Vanar Chiefs.

"Not if the G.o.ds in heaven who dwell, Gandharvas, and the fiends of h.e.l.l In banded opposition rise Against me, will I yield my prize.

Still trembling from the ungentle touch Of Vanar hands ye fear too much, And bid me, heedless of the shame, Give to her lord the Maithil dame."

Thus spoke the king in stern reproof; Then mounted to his palace roof Aloft o'er many a story raised, And on the lands beneath him gazed.

There by his faithful spies he stood And looked on sea and hill and wood.

There stretched before him far away The Vanars' numberless array: Scarce could the meadows' tender green Beneath their trampling feet be seen.

He looked a while with furious eye, Then questioned thus the nearer spy: "Bend, Sara?, bend thy gaze, and show The leaders of the Vanar foe.

Tell me their heroes' names, and teach The valour, power and might of each."

Obedient Sara? eyed the van, The leaders marked, and thus began: "That chief conspicuous at the head Of warriors in the forest bred, Who hither bends his ruthless eye And shouts his fearful battle cry: Whose voice with pealing thunder shakes All Lanka, with the groves and lakes And hills that tremble at the sound, Is Nila, for his might renowned: First of the Vanar lords controlled By King Sugriva lofty-souled.

He who his mighty arm extends, And his fierce eye on Lanka bends, In stature like a stately tower, In colour like a lotus flower, Who with his wild earth-shaking cries Thee, Rava?, to the field defies, Is Angad, by Sugriva's care Anointed his imperial heir: In wondrous strength, in martial fire Peer of King Bali's self, his sire; For Rama's sake in arms arrayed Like Varu? called to Sakra's aid.

Behind him, girt by warlike bands, Nala the mighty Vanar stands, The son of Visvakarma, he Who built the bridge athwart the sea.

Look farther yet, O King, and mark That chieftain clothed in Sandal bark.

'Tis Sweta, famed among his peers, A sage whom all his race reveres.

See, in Sugriva's ear he speaks, Then, hasting back, his post reseeks, And turns his practised eye to view The squadrons he has formed anew.

Next k.u.mud stands who roamed of yore On Gomati's(939) delightful sh.o.r.e, Feared where the waving woods invest His seat on Mount Sanrochan's crest.

Next him a chieftain strong and dread, Comes Cha??a at his legions' head; Exulting in his warrior might He hastens, burning for the fight, And boasts that his unaided powers Shall cast to earth thy walls and towers.

Mark, mark that chief of lion gait, Who views thee with a glance of hate As though his very eyes would burn The city walls to which they turn: 'Tis Rambha, Vanar king; he dwells In Krish?agiri's tangled dells, Where Vindhya's pleasant slopes are spread And fair Sudarsan lifts his head.

There, listening with erected ears, Sarabha, mighty chief, appears.

His soul is burning for the strife, Nor dreads the jeopardy of life.

He trembles as he moves, for ire, And bends around his glance of fire.

Next, like a cloud that veils the skies, A chieftain of terrific size, Conspicuous mid the Vanars, comes With battle shout like rolling drums, 'Tis Panas, trained in war and tried, Who dwells on Pariyatra's side.

He, far away, the chief who throws A glory o'er the marshalled rows That ranged behind their captain stand Exulting on the ocean strand, Is Vinata the fierce in fight, Preeminent like Dardur's height.

That chieftain bending down to drink On lovely Ve?a's verdant brink, Is Krathan; now he lifts his eyes And thee to mortal fray defies.

Next Gavaya comes, whose haughty mind Scorns all the warriors of his kind.

He comes to trample-such his boast- On Lanka with his single host."

Canto XXVII. The Vanar Chiefs.

"Yet more remain, brave chiefs who stake Their n.o.ble lives for Rama's sake.