The Ramayana Part 31

For fearful signs in earth and sky, And weakness warned him death was nigh: But Rama to the world endeared By every grace his bosom cheered, The moon of every eye, whose ray Drove all his grief and fear away.

So duty urged that hour to seize, Himself, his realm, to bless and please.

From town and country, far and near, He summoned people, prince, and peer.

To each he gave a meet abode, And honoured all and gifts bestowed.

Then, splendid in his king's attire, He viewed them, as the general Sire, In glory of a G.o.d arrayed, Looks on the creatures he has made.

But Kekaya's king he called not then For haste, nor Janak, lord of men; For after to each royal friend The joyful tidings he would send.

Mid crowds from distant countries met The king upon his throne was set; Then honoured by the people, all The rulers thronged into the hall.

On thrones a.s.signed, each king in place Looked silent on the monarch's face.

Then girt by lords of high renown And throngs from hamlet and from town He showed in regal pride, As, honoured by the radiant band Of blessed G.o.ds that round him stand, Lord Indra, Thousand-eyed.

Canto II. The People's Speech.

Then to the full a.s.sembly bowed The monarch, and addressed the crowd With gracious speech, in accents loud As heavenly drum or thunder-cloud:

"Needs not to you who know declare How ever with paternal care My fathers of Ikshvaku's line Have ruled the realm which now is mine.

I too have taught my feet to tread The pathway of the mighty dead, And with fond care that never slept Have, as I could, my people kept.

So toiling still, and ne'er remiss For all my people's weal and bliss, Beneath the white umbrella's(260) shade.

Old age is come and strength decayed.

Thousands of years have o'er me flown, And generations round me grown And pa.s.sed away. I crave at length Repose and ease for broken strength.

Feeble and worn I scarce can bear The ruler's toil, the judge's care, With royal dignity, a weight That tries the young and temperate.

I long to rest, my labour done, And in my place to set my son, If to the twice-born gathered here My counsel wise and good appear.

For greater gifts than mine adorn Rama my son, my eldest-born.

Like Indra brave, before him fall The foeman's cities, tower and wall.

Him prince of men for power and might, The best maintainer of the right, Fair as the moon when nothing bars His glory close to Pushya's stars, Him with to-morrow's light I fain Would throne the consort of my reign.

A worthy lord for you, I ween, Marked as her own by Fortune's Queen.

The triple world itself would be Well ruled by such a king as he.

To such high bliss and happy fate Will I the country dedicate, And my sad heart will cease to grieve If he the precious charge receive.

Thus is my careful plan matured, Thus for myself is rest secured; Lieges, approve the words I say, Or point ye out some wiser way.

Devise your prudent plan. My mind Is fondly to this thought inclined, But men by keen debating move Some middle course which all approve."

The monarch ceased. In answer came The joyous princes' glad acclaim.

So peac.o.c.ks in the rain rejoice And hail the cloud with lifted voice.

Murmurs of joy from thousands round Shook the high palace with the sound.

Then when the gathered throng had learned His will who right and gain discerned, Peasant and townsman, priest and chief, All met in consultation brief, And soon agreed with one accord Gave answer to their sovereign lord: "King of the land, we know thee old: Thousands of years have o'er thee rolled, Rama thy son, we pray, anoint, And at thy side his place appoint Our gallant prince, so brave and strong, Riding in royal state along, Our eyes with joyful pride will see Screened by the shade that shelters thee."

Then spake the king again, as though Their hearts' true wish he sought to know: "These prayers for Rama's rule suggest One question to my doubting breast.

This thing, I pray, with truth explain: Why would ye, while I justly reign, That he, mine eldest son, should bear His part with me as ruling heir?"

Then all the people made reply, Peasant and townsman, low and high: "Each n.o.blest gift of form and mind, O Monarch, in thy son we find.

Do thou the G.o.dlike virtues hear Which Rama to our hearts endear.

So richly blest with graces, none In all the earth excels thy son: Nay, who to match with him may claim In truth, in justice, and in fame?

True to his promise, gentle, kind, Unenvious, of grateful mind, Versed in the law and firm of soul, He keeps each sense with strict control.

With duteous care he loves to sit By Brahmans skilled in Holy Writ.

Hence brightest glory, ne'er to end, And matchless fame his youth attend.

Skilled in the use of spear and shield, And arms which heavenly warriors wield, Supreme in war, unconquered yet By man, fiend, G.o.d in battle met, Whene'er in pomp of war he goes 'Gainst town or city of the foes, He ever comes with Lakshma? back Victorious from the fierce attack.

Returning homeward from afar Borne on his elephant or car, He ever to the townsmen bends And greets them as beloved friends, Asks how each son, each servant thrives, How fare our pupils, offerings, wives; And like a father bids us tell, Each for himself, that all is well.

If pain or grief the city tries His heart is swift to sympathize.

When festive scenes our thoughts employ He like a father shares the joy.

High is the fate, O King, that gave Thy Rama born to bless and save, With filial virtues fair and mild Like Kasyap old Marichi's child.

Hence to the kingdom's distant ends One general prayer for him ascends.

Each man in town and country prays For Rama's strength, health, length of days.

With hearts sincere, their wish the same, The tender girl, the aged dame, Subject and stranger, peasant, hind, One thought impressed on every mind, At evening and at dawning day To all the G.o.ds for Rama pray.

Do thou, O King, of grace comply, And hear the people's longing cry, And let us on the throne by thee The lotus-tinted Rama see.

O thou who givest boons, attend; A gracious ear, O Monarch, lend And for our weal install, Consenting to our earnest prayer, Thy G.o.dlike Rama Regent Heir, Who seeks the good of all."

Canto III. Dasaratha's Precepts.

The monarch with the prayer complied Of suppliant hands, on every side Uplifted like a lotus-bed: And then these gracious words he said: "Great joy and mighty fame are mine Because your loving hearts incline, In full a.s.sembly clearly shown To place my Rama on the throne."

Then to Vasish?ha, standing near, And Vamadeva loud and clear The monarch spoke that all might hear: "'Tis pure and lovely Chaitra now When flowers are sweet on every bough; All needful things with haste prepare That Rama be appointed heir."

Then burst the people's rapture out In loud acclaim and joyful shout; And when the tumult slowly ceased The king addressed the holy priest: "Give order, Saint, with watchful heed For what the coming rite will need.

This day let all things ready wait Mine eldest son to consecrate."

Best of all men of second birth Vasish?ha heard the lord of earth, And gave commandment to the bands Of servitors with lifted hands Who waited on their master's eye: "Now by to-morrow's dawn supply Rich gold and herbs and gems of price And offerings for the sacrifice, Wreaths of white flowers and roasted rice, And oil and honey, separate; New garments and a car of state, An elephant with lucky signs, A fourfold host in ordered lines, The white umbrella, and a pair Of chowries,(261) and a banner fair; A hundred vases, row on row, To shine like fire in splendid glow, A tiger's mighty skin, a bull With gilded horns most beautiful.

All these, at dawn of coming day, Around the royal shrine array, Where burns the fire's undying ray.

Each palace door, each city gate With wreaths of sandal decorate.

And with the garlands' fragrant scent Let clouds of incense-smoke be blent.

Let food of n.o.ble kind and taste Be for a hundred thousand placed; Fresh curds with streams of milk bedewed To feed the Brahman mult.i.tude.

With care be all their wants supplied.

And mid the twice-born chiefs divide Rich largess, with the early morn, And oil and curds and roasted corn.

Soon as the sun has shown his light p.r.o.nounce the prayer to bless the rite, And then be all the Brahmans called And in their ordered seats installed.

Let all musicians skilled to play, And dancing-girls in bright array Stand ready in the second ring Within the palace of the king.

Each honoured tree, each holy shrine With leaves and flowery wreaths entwine, And here and there beneath the shade Be food prepared and presents laid.

Then brightly clad, in warlike guise, With long swords girt upon their thighs, Let soldiers of the n.o.bler sort March to the monarch's splendid court."

Thus gave command the twice-born pair To active servants stationed there.

Then hastened to the king and said That all their task was duly sped, The king to wise Sumantra spake: "Now quick, my lord, thy chariot take, And hither with thy swiftest speed My son, my n.o.ble Rama lead."

Sumantra, ere the word was given, His chariot from the court had driven, And Rama, best of all who ride In cars, came sitting by his side.

The lords of men had hastened forth From east and west and south and north, aryan and stranger, those who dwell In the wild wood and on the fell, And as the G.o.ds to Indra, they Showed honour to the king that day.

Like Vasav, when his glorious form Is circled by the G.o.ds of storm, Girt in his hall by kings he saw His car-borne Rama near him draw, Like him who rules the minstrel band Of heaven;(262) whose valour filled the land, Of mighty arm and stately pride Like a wild elephant in stride, As fair in face as that fair stone Dear to the moon, of moonbeams grown,(263) With n.o.ble gifts and grace that took The hearts of all, and chained each look, World-cheering as the Lord of Rain When floods relieve the parching plain.

The father, as the son came nigh, Gazed with an ever-thirstier eye.

Sumantra helped the prince alight From the good chariot pa.s.sing bright, And as to meet his sire he went Followed behind him reverent.

Then Rama clomb, the king to seek That terrace like Kailasa's peak, And reached the presence of the king, Sumantra closely following.

Before his father's face he came, Raised suppliant hands and named his name,(264) And bowing lowly as is meet Paid reverence to the monarch's feet.

But soon as Dasaratha viewed The prince in humble att.i.tude, He raised him by the hand in haste And his beloved son embraced, Then signed him to a glorious throne, Gem-decked and golden, near his own.

Then Rama, best of Raghu's line, Made the fair seat with l.u.s.tre shine As when the orient sun upsprings And his pure beam on Meru flings.

The glory flashed on roof and wall, And with strange sheen suffused the hall, As when the moon's pure rays are sent Through autumn's star-lit firmament.

Then swelled his breast with joy and pride As his dear son the father eyed, E'en as himself more fair arrayed In some clear mirror's face displayed.

The aged monarch gazed awhile, Then thus addressed him with a smile, As Kasyap, whom the worlds revere, Speaks for the Lord of G.o.ds to hear: "O thou of all my sons most dear, In virtue best, thy father's peer, Child of my consort first in place, Mine equal in her pride of race, Because the people's hearts are bound To thee by graces in thee found, Be thou in Pushya's favouring hour Made partner of my royal power.

I know that thou by nature's bent Both modest art and excellent, But though thy gifts no counsel need My love suggests the friendly rede.

Mine own dear son, be modest still, And rule each sense with earnest will.

Keep thou the evils far away That spring from love and anger's sway.