The Ramayana Part 39

Thou, lady, here in comfort stay, And with thy maidens rest or play."

Thus Rama spake. For meet reply The lady of the large black eye Attended to the door her lord, And blessings on his head implored: "The majesty and royal state Which holy Brahmans venerate, The consecration and the rite Which sanctifies the ruler's might, And all imperial powers should be Thine by thy father's high decree, As He, the worlds who formed and planned, The kingship gave to Indra's hand.

Then shall mine eyes my king adore When l.u.s.tral rites and fast are o'er, And black deer's skin and roebuck's horn Thy lordly limbs and hand adorn.

May He whose hands the thunder wield Be in the east thy guard and shield; May Yama's care the south befriend, And Varu?'s arm the west defend; And let Kuvera, Lord of Gold, The north with firm protection hold."

Then Rama spoke a kind farewell, And hailed the blessings as they fell From Sita's gentle lips; and then, As a young lion from his den Descends the mountain's stony side, So from the hall the hero hied.

First Lakshma? at the door he viewed Who stood in reverent att.i.tude, Then to the central court he pressed Where watched the friends who loved him best.

To all his dear companions there He gave kind looks and greeting fair.

On to the lofty car that glowed Like fire the royal tiger strode.

Bright as himself its silver shone: A tiger's skin was laid thereon.

With cloudlike thunder, as it rolled, It flashed with gems and burnished gold, And, like the sun's meridian blaze, Blinded the eye that none could gaze.

Like youthful elephants, tall and strong, Fleet coursers whirled the car along: In such a car the Thousand-eyed Borne by swift horses loves to ride.

So like Parjanya,(282) when he flies Thundering through the autumn skies, The hero from the palace sped, As leaves the moon some cloud o'erhead.

Still close to Rama Lakshma? kept, Behind him to the car he leapt, And, watching with fraternal care, Waved the long chouri's silver hair, As from the palace gate he came Up rose the tumult of acclaim.

While loud huzza and jubilant shout Pealed from the gathered myriads out.

Then elephants, like mountains vast, And steeds who all their kind surpa.s.sed, Followed their lord by hundreds, nay By thousands, led in long array.

First marched a band of warriors trained, With sandal dust and aloe stained; Well armed was each with sword and bow, And every breast with hope aglow, And ever, as they onward went, Shouts from the warrior train, And every sweet-toned instrument Prolonged the minstrel strain.

On pa.s.sed the tamer of his foes, While well clad dames, in crowded rows, Each chamber lattice thronged to view, And chaplets on the hero threw.

Then all, of peerless face and limb, Sang Rama's praise for love of him, And blent their voices, soft and sweet, From palace high and crowded street: "Now, sure, Kausalya's heart must swell To see the son she loves so well, Thee Rama, thee, her joy and pride, Triumphant o'er the realm preside."

Then-for they knew his bride most fair Of all who part the soft dark hair, His love, his life, possessed the whole Of her young hero's heart and soul:- "Be sure the lady's fate repays Some mighty vow of ancient days,(283) For blest with Rama's love is she As, with the Moon's, sweet Rohini."(284)

Such were the witching words that came From lips of many a peerless dame Crowding the palace roofs to greet The hero as he gained the street.

Canto XVII. Rama's Approach.

As Rama, rendering blithe and gay His loving friends, pursued his way, He saw on either hand a press Of mingled people numberless.

The royal street he traversed, where Incense of aloe filled the air, Where rose high palaces, that vied With paly clouds, on either side; With flowers of myriad colours graced.

And food for every varied taste, Bright as the glowing path o'erhead Which feet of G.o.ds celestial tread, Loud benedictions, sweet to hear, From countless voices soothed his ear.

While he to each gave due salute His place and dignity to suit: "Be thou," the joyful people cried, "Be thou our guardian, lord and guide.

Throned and anointed king to-day, Thy feet set forth upon the way Wherein, each honoured as a G.o.d, Thy fathers and forefathers trod.

Thy sire and his have graced the throne, And loving care to us have shown: Thus blest shall we and ours remain, Yea still more blest in Rama's reign.

No more of dainty fare we need, And but one cherished object heed, That we may see our prince today Invested with imperial sway."

Such were the words and pleasant speech That Rama heard, unmoved, from each Of the dear friends around him spread, As onward through the street he sped, For none could turn his eye or thought From the dear form his glances sought, With fruitless ardour forward cast Even when Raghu's son had past.

And he who saw not Rama nigh, Nor caught a look from Rama's eye, A mark for scorn and general blame, Reproached himself in bitter shame.

For to each cla.s.s his equal mind With sympathy and love inclined Most fully of the princely four, So greatest love to him they bore.

His circling course the hero bent Round shrine and altar, reverent, Round homes of G.o.ds, where cross-roads met, Where many a sacred tree was set.

Near to his father's house he drew Like Indra's beautiful to view, And with the light his glory gave Within the royal palace drave.

Through three broad courts, where bowmen kept Their watch and ward, his coursers swept, Then through the two remaining went On foot the prince preeminent.

Through all the courts the hero pa.s.sed, And gained the ladies' bower at last; Then through the door alone withdrew, And left without his retinue.

When thus the monarch's n.o.ble boy Had gone his sire to meet, The mult.i.tude, elate with joy, Stood watching in the street, And his return with eager eyes Expected at the gates, As for his darling moon to rise The King of Rivers(285) waits.

Canto XVIII. The Sentence.

With hopeless eye and pallid mien There sat the monarch with the queen.

His father's feet with reverence due He clasped, and touched Kaikeyi's too.

The king, with eyes still br.i.m.m.i.n.g o'er, Cried Rama! and could do no more.

His voice was choked, his eye was dim, He could not speak or look on him.

Then sudden fear made Rama shake As though his foot had roused a snake, Soon as his eyes had seen the change So mournful, terrible, and strange.

For there his reason well-nigh fled, Sighing, with soul disquieted, To torturing pangs a prey, Dismayed, despairing, and distraught, In a fierce whirl of wildering thought The hapless monarch lay, Like Ocean wave-engarlanded Storm-driven from his tranquil bed, The Sun-G.o.d in eclipse, Or like a holy seer, heart-stirred With anguish, when a lying word Has pa.s.sed his heedless lips.

The sight of his dear father, pained With woe and misery unexplained Filled Rama with unrest, As Ocean's pulses rise and swell When the great moon he loves so well Shines full upon his breast.

So grieving for his father's sake, To his own heart the hero spake: "Why will the king my sire to-day No kindly word of greeting say?

At other times, though wroth he be, His eyes grow calm that look on me.

Then why does anguish wring his brow To see his well-beloved now?"

Sick and perplexed, distraught with woe, To Queen Kaikeyi bowing low, While pallor o'er his bright cheek spread, With humble reverence he said: "What have I done, unknown, amiss To make my father wroth like this?

Declare it, O dear Queen, and win His pardon for my heedless sin.

Why is the sire I ever find Filled with all love to-day unkind?

With eyes cast down and pallid cheek This day alone he will not speak.

Or lies he prostrate neath the blow Of fierce disease or sudden woe?

For all our bliss is dashed with pain, And joy unmixt is hard to gain.

Does stroke of evil fortune smite Dear Bharat, charming to the sight, Or on the brave Satrughna fall, Or consorts, for he loves them all?

Against his words when I rebel, Or fail to please the monarch well, When deeds of mine his soul offend, That hour I pray my life may end.

How should a man to him who gave His being and his life behave?

The sire to whom he owes his birth Should be his deity on earth.

Hast thou, by pride and folly moved, With bitter taunt the king reproved?

Has scorn of thine or cruel jest To pa.s.sion stirred his gentle breast?

Speak truly, Queen, that I may know What cause has changed the monarch so."

Thus by the high-souled prince addressed, Of Raghu's sons the chief and best, She cast all ruth and shame aside, And bold with greedy words replied: "Not wrath, O Rama, stirs the king, Nor misery stabs with sudden sting; One thought that fills his soul has he, But dares not speak for fear of thee.

Thou art so dear, his lips refrain From words that might his darling pain.

But thou, as duty bids, must still The promise of thy sire fulfil.

He who to me in days gone by Vouchsafed a boon with honours high, Dares now, a king, his word regret, And caitiff-like disowns the debt.

The lord of men his promise gave To grant the boon that I might crave, And now a bridge would idly throw When the dried stream has ceased to flow.

His faith the monarch must not break In wrath, or e'en for thy dear sake.

From faith, as well the righteous know, Our virtue and our merits flow.

Now, be they good or be they ill, Do thou thy father's words fulfil: Swear that his promise shall not fail, And I will tell thee all the tale.

Yes, Rama, when I hear that thou Hast bound thee by thy father's vow, Then, not till then, my lips shall speak, Nor will he tell what boon I seek."

He heard, and with a troubled breast This answer to the queen addressed: "Ah me, dear lady, canst thou deem That words like these thy lips beseem?

I, at the bidding of my sire, Would cast my body to the fire, A deadly draught of poison drink, Or in the waves of ocean sink: If he command, it shall be done,- My father and my king in one.

Then speak and let me know the thing So longed for by my lord the king.

It shall be done: let this suffice; Rama ne'er makes a promise twice."

He ended. To the princely youth Who loved the right and spoke the truth, Cruel, abominable came The answer of the ruthless dame: "When G.o.ds and t.i.tans fought of yore, Transfixed with darts and bathed in gore Two boons to me thy father gave For the dear life 'twas mine to save.

Of him I claim the ancient debt, That Bharat on the throne be set, And thou, O Rama, go this day To Da??ak forest far away.

Now, Rama, if thou wilt maintain Thy father's faith without a stain, And thine own truth and honour clear, Then, best of men, my bidding hear.

Do thou thy father's word obey, Nor from the pledge he gave me stray.

Thy life in Da??ak forest spend Till nine long years and five shall end.

Upon my Bharat's princely head Let consecrating drops be shed, With all the royal pomp for thee Made ready by the king's decree.

Seek Da??ak forest and resign Rites that would make the empire thine, For twice seven years of exile wear The coat of bark and matted hair.