The Ramayana Part 190

Then Indra, he whose fiery stroke Slew furious Paka, turned and spoke: "A glorious day, O chief, is this, Rich with the fruit of lasting bliss.

Well pleased are we: we love thee well Now speak, thy secret wishes tell."

Thus spake the sovereign of the sky, And this was Rama's glad reply: "If I have won your grace, incline To grant this one request of mine.

Restore, O King: the Vanar dead Whose blood for me was n.o.bly shed.

To life and strength my friends recall, And bring them back from Yama's hall.

When, fresh in might the warriors rise, Prepare a feast to glad their eyes.

Let fruits of every season glow, And streams of purest water flow."

Thus Raghu's son, great-hearted, prayed, And Indra thus his answer made: "High is the boon thou seekest: none Should win this grace but Raghu's son.

Yet, faithful to the word I spake, I grant the prayer for thy dear sake.

The Vanars whom the giants slew Their life and vigour shall renew.

Their strength repaired, their gashes healed Whose torrents dyed the battle field, The warrior hosts from death shall rise Like sleepers when their slumber flies."

Restored from Yama's dark domain The Vanar legions filled the plain, And, round the royal chief arrayed, With wondering hearts obeisance paid.

Each G.o.d the son of Raghu praised, And cried as loud his voice he raised: "Turn, King, to fair Ayodhya speed, And leave thy friends of Vanar breed.

Thy true devoted consort cheer After long days of woe and fear.

Bharat, thy loyal brother, see, A hermit now for love of thee.

The tears of Queen Kausalya dry, And light with joy each stepdame's eye; Then consecrated king of men Make glad each faithful citizen."

They ceased: and borne on radiant cars Sought their bright home amid the stars.

Canto CXXIII. The Magic Car.

Then slept the tamer of his foes And spent the night in calm repose.

Vibhisha? came when morning broke, And hailed the royal chief, and spoke: "Here wait thee precious oil and scents, And rich attire and ornaments.

The br.i.m.m.i.n.g urns are newly filled, And women in their duty skilled, With lotus-eyes, thy call attend, a.s.sistance at thy bath to lend."

"Let others," Rama cried, "desire These precious scents, this rich attire, I heed not such delights as these, For faithful Bharat, ill at ease, Watching for me is keeping now Far far away his rigorous vow.

By Bharat's side I long to stand, I long to see my fatherland.

Far is Ayodhya: long, alas, The dreary road and hard to pa.s.s."

"One day," Vibhisha? cried, "one day Shall bear thee o'er that length of way.

Is not the wondrous chariot mine, Named Pushpak, wrought by hands divine.

The prize which Rava? seized of old Victorious o'er the G.o.d of Gold?

This chariot, kept with utmost care, Will waft thee through the fields of air, And thou shalt light unwearied down In fair Ayodhya's royal town.

But yet if aught that I have done Has pleased thee well, O Raghu's son; If still thou carest for thy friend, Some little time in Lanka spend; There after toil of battle rest Within my halls an honoured guest."

Again the son of Raghu spake: "Thy life was perilled for my sake.

Thy counsel gave me priceless aid: All honours have been richly paid.

Scarce can my love refuse, O best Of giant kind, thy last request.

But still I yearn once more to see My home and all most dear to me; Nor can I brook one hour's delay: Forgive me, speed me on my way."

He ceased: the magic car was brought.

Of yore by Visvakarma wrought.

In sunlike sheen it flashed and blazed; And Raghu's sons in wonder gazed.

Canto CXXIV. The Departure.

The giant lord the chariot viewed, And humbly thus his speech renewed: "Behold, O King, the car prepared: Now be thy further will declared."

He ceased: and Rama spake once more: "These hosts who thronged to Lanka's sh.o.r.e Their faith and might have n.o.bly shown, And set thee on the giants' throne.

Let pearls and gems and gold repay The feats of many a desperate day, That all may go triumphant hence Proud of their n.o.ble recompense."

Vibhisha?, ready at his call, With gold and gems enriched them all.

Then Rama clomb the glorious car That shone like day's resplendent star.

There in his lap he held his dame Vailing her eyes in modest shame.

Beside him Lakshma? took his stand, Whose mighty bow still armed his hand, "O King Vibhisha?," Rama cried, "O Vanar chiefs, so long allied, My comrades till the foemen fell, List, for I speak a long farewell.

The task, in doubt and fear begun, With your good aid is n.o.bly done.

Leave Lanka's sh.o.r.e, your steps retrace, Brave warriors of the Vanar race.

Thou, King Sugriva, true, through all, To friendship's bond and duty's call, Seek far Kishkindha with thy train And o'er thy realm in glory reign.

Farewell, Vibhisha?, Lanka's throne Won by our arms is now thine own, Thou, mighty lord, hast nought to dread From heavenly G.o.ds by Indra led.

My last farewell, 0 King, receive, For Lanka's isle this hour I leave."

Loud rose their cry in answer: "We, O Raghu's son, would go with thee.

With thee delighted would we stray Where sweet Ayodhya's groves are gay, Then in the joyous synod view King-making balm thy brows bedew; Our homage to Kausalya pay, And hasten on our homeward way."

Their prayer the son of Raghu heard, And spoke, his heart with rapture stirred: "Sugriva, O my faithful friend, Vibhisha? and ye chiefs, ascend.

A joy beyond all joys the best Will fill my overflowing breast, If girt by you, O n.o.ble band, I seek again my native land."

With Vanar lords in danger tried Sugriva sprang to Rama's side, And girt by chiefs of giant kind Vibhishan's step was close behind.

Swift through the air, as Rama chose, The wondrous car from earth arose.

And decked with swans and silver wings Bore through the clouds its freight of kings.

Canto CXXV. The Return.

Then Rama, speeding through the skies, Bent on the earth his eager eyes: "Look, Sita, see, divinely planned And built by Visvakarma's hand, Lanka the lovely city rest Enthroned on Mount Triku?a's crest Behold those fields, ensanguined yet, Where Vanar hosts and giants met.

There, vainly screened by charm and spell, The robber Ravan fought and fell.

There knelt Mandodari(1021) and shed Her tears in floods for Ravan dead.

And every dame who loved him sent From her sad heart her wild lament.

There gleams the margin of the deep, Where, worn with toil, we sank to sleep.

Look, love, the unconquered sea behold, King Varu?'s home ordained of old, Whose boundless waters roar and swell Rich with their store of pearl and sh.e.l.l.

O see, the morning sun is bright On fair Hira?yanabha's(1022) height, Who rose from Ocean's sheltering breast That Hanuman might stay and rest.

There stretches, famed for evermore, The wondrous bridge from sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.e.

The worlds, to life's remotest day, Due reverence to the work shall pay, Which holier for the lapse of time Shall give release from sin and crime.

Now thither bend, dear love, thine eyes Where green with groves Kishkindha lies, The seat of King Sugriva's reign, Where Bali by this hand was slain.(1023) There Rishyamuka's hill behold Bright gleaming with embedded gold.

There too my wandering foot I set, There King Sugriva first I met.

And, where yon trees their branches wave, My promise of a.s.sistance gave.

There, flushed with lilies, Pampa shines With banks which greenest foliage lines, Where melancholy steps I bent And mourned thee with a mad lament.

There fierce Kabandha, spreading wide His giant arms, in battle died.

Turn, Sita, turn thine eyes and see In Janasthan that glorious tree: There Rava?, lord of giants slew Our friend Ja?ayus brave and true, Thy champion in the hopeless strife, Who gave for thee his n.o.ble life.