The Ramayana Part 57

The bow-armed princes onward pa.s.sed, And as the sun was sinking fast They reached the hermit's dwelling, set Near where the rushing waters met.

The presence of the warrior scared The deer and birds as on he fared, And struck them with unwonted awe: Then Bharadvaja's cot they saw.

The high-souled hermit soon they found Girt by his dear disciples round: Calm saint, whose vows had well been wrought, Whose fervent rites keen sight had bought.

Duly had flames of worship blazed When Rama on the hermit gazed: His suppliant hands the hero raised, Drew nearer to the holy man With his companions, and began, Declaring both his name and race And why they sought that distant place: "Saint, Dasaratha's children we, Rama and Lakshma?, come to thee.

This my good wife from Janak springs, The best of fair Videha's kings; Through lonely wilds, a faultless dame, To this pure grove with me she came.

My younger brother follows still Me banished by my father's will: Sumitra's son, bound by a vow,- He roams the wood beside me now.

Sent by my father forth to rove, We seek, O Saint, some holy grove, Where lives of hermits we may lead, And upon fruits and berries feed."

When Bharadvaja, prudent-souled, Had heard the prince his tale unfold, Water he bade them bring, a bull, And honour-gifts in dishes full, And drink and food of varied taste, Berries and roots, before him placed, And then the great ascetic showed A cottage for the guests' abode.

The saint these honours gladly paid To Rama who had thither strayed, Then compa.s.sed sat by birds and deer And many a hermit resting near.

The prince received the service kind, And sat him down rejoiced in mind.

Then Bharadvaja silence broke, And thus the words of duty spoke: "Kakutstha's royal son, that thou Hadst sought this grove I knew ere now.

Mine ears have heard thy story, sent Without a sin to banishment.

Behold, O Prince, this ample s.p.a.ce Near where the mingling floods embrace, Holy, and beautiful, and clear: Dwell with us, and be happy here."

By Bharadvaja thus addressed, Rama whose kind and tender breast All living things would bless and save, In gracious words his answer gave:

"My honoured lord, this tranquil spot, Fair home of hermits, suits me not: For all the neighbouring people here Will seek us when they know me near: With eager wish to look on me, And the Videhan dame to see, A crowd of rustics will intrude Upon the holy solitude.

Provide, O gracious lord, I pray, Some quiet home that lies away, Where my Videhan spouse may dwell Tasting the bliss deserved so well."

The hermit heard the prayer he made: A while in earnest thought he stayed, And then in words like these expressed His answer to the chief's request: "Ten leagues away there stands a hill Where thou mayst live, if such thy will: A holy mount, exceeding fair; Great saints have made their dwelling there: There great Langurs(328) in thousands play, And bears amid the thickets stray; Wide-known by Chitraku?a's name, It rivals Gandhamadan's(329) fame.

Long as the man that hill who seeks Gazes upon its sacred peaks, To holy things his soul he gives And pure from thought of evil lives.

There, while a hundred autumns fled, Has many a saint with h.o.a.ry head Spent his pure life, and won the prize, By deep devotion, in the skies: Best home, I ween, if such retreat, Far from the ways of men, be sweet: Or let thy years of exile flee Here in this hermitage with me."

Thus Bharadvaja spake, and trained In lore of duty, entertained The princes and the dame, and pressed His friendly gifts on every guest.

Thus to Prayag the hero went, Thus saw the saint preeminent, And varied speeches heard and said: Then holy night o'er heaven was spread.

And Rama took, by toil oppressed, With Sita and his brother, rest; And so the night, with sweet content, In Bharadvaja's grove was spent.

But when the dawn dispelled the night, Rama approached the anchorite, And thus addressed the holy sire Whose glory shone like kindled fire: "Well have we spent, O truthful Sage, The night within thy hermitage: Now let my lord his guests permit For their new home his grove to quit."

Then, as he saw the morning break, In answer Bharadvaja spake: "Go forth to Chitraku?a's hill, Where berries grow, and sweets distil: Full well, I deem, that home will suit Thee, Rama, strong and resolute.

Go forth, and Chitraku?a seek, Famed mountain of the Varied Peak.

In the wild woods that gird him round All creatures of the chase are found: Thou in the glades shalt see appear Vast herds of elephants and deer.

With Sita there shalt thou delight To gaze upon the woody height; There with expanding heart to look On river, table-land, and brook, And see the foaming torrent rave Impetuous from the mountain cave.

Auspicious hill! where all day long The lapwing's cry, the Kol's song Make all who listen gay: Where all is fresh and fair to see, Where elephants and deer roam free, There, as a hermit, stay."

Canto LV. The Pa.s.sage Of Yamuna.

The princely tamers of their foes Thus pa.s.sed the night in calm repose, Then to the hermit having bent With reverence, on their way they went.

High favour Bharadvaja showed, And blessed them ready for the road.

With such fond looks as fathers throw On their own sons, before they go.

Then spake the saint with glory bright To Rama peerless in his might: "First, lords of men, direct your feet Where Yamuna and Ganga meet; Then to the swift Kalindi(330) go, Whose westward waves to Ganga flow.

When thou shalt see her lovely sh.o.r.e Worn by their feet who hasten o'er, Then, Raghu's son, a raft prepare, And cross the Sun born river there.

Upon her farther bank a tree, Near to the landing wilt thou see.

The blessed source of varied gifts, There her green boughs that Fig-tree lifts: A tree where countless birds abide, By Syama's name known far and wide.

Sita, revere that holy shade: There be thy prayers for blessing prayed.

Thence for a league your way pursue, And a dark wood shall meet your view, Where tall bamboos their foliage show, The Gum-tree and the Jujube grow.

To Chitraku?a have I oft Trodden that path so smooth and soft, Where burning woods no traveller scare, But all is pleasant, green, and fair."

When thus the guests their road had learned, Back to his cot the hermit turned, And Rama, Lakshma?, Sita paid Their reverent thanks for courteous aid.

Thus Rama spake to Lakshma?, when The saint had left the lords of men: "Great store of bliss in sooth is ours On whom his love the hermit showers."

As each to other wisely talked, The lion lords together walked On to Kalindi's woody sh.o.r.e; And gentle Sita went before.

They reached that flood, whose waters flee With rapid current to the sea; Their minds a while to thought they gave And counselled how to cross the wave.

At length, with logs together laid, A mighty raft the brothers made.

Then dry bamboos across were tied, And gra.s.s was spread from side to side.

And the great hero Lakshma? brought Cane and Rose-Apple boughs and wrought, Tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the branches smooth and neat, For Sita's use a pleasant seat.

And Rama placed thereon his dame Touched with a momentary shame, Resembling in her glorious mien All-thought-surpa.s.sing Fortune's Queen.

Then Rama hastened to dispose, Each in its place, the skins and bows, And by the fair Videhan laid The coats, the ornaments, and spade.

When Sita thus was set on board, And all their gear was duly stored, The heroes each with vigorous hand, Pushed off the raft and left the land.

When half its way the raft had made, Thus Sita to Kalindi prayed: "G.o.ddess, whose flood I traverse now, Grant that my lord may keep his vow.

For thee shall bleed a thousand kine, A hundred jars shall pour their wine, When Rama sees that town again Where old Ikshvaku's children reign."

Thus to Kalindi's stream she sued And prayed in suppliant att.i.tude.

Then to the river's bank the dame, Fervent in supplication, came.

They left the raft that brought them o'er, And the thick wood that clothed the sh.o.r.e, And to the Fig-tree Syama made Their way, so cool with verdant shade.

Then Sita viewed that best of trees, And reverent spake in words like these: "Hail, hail, O mighty tree! Allow My husband to complete his vow; Let us returning, I entreat, Kausalya and Sumitra meet."

Then with her hands together placed Around the tree she duly paced.

When Rama saw his blameless spouse A suppliant under holy boughs, The gentle darling of his heart, He thus to Lakshma? spake apart: "Brother, by thee our way be led; Let Sita close behind thee tread: I, best of men, will grasp my bow, And hindmost of the three will go.

What fruits soe'er her fancy take, Or flowers half hidden in the brake, For Janak's child forget not thou To gather from the brake or bough."

Thus on they fared. The tender dame Asked Rama, as they walked, the name Of every shrub that blossoms bore, Creeper, and tree unseen before: And Lakshma? fetched, at Sita's prayer, Boughs of each tree with cl.u.s.ters fair.

Then Janak's daughter joyed to see The sand-discoloured river flee, Where the glad cry of many a bird, The saras and the swan, was heard.

A league the brothers travelled through The forest n.o.ble game they slew: Beneath the trees their meal they dressed And sat them down to eat and rest.

A while in that delightful shade Where elephants unnumbered strayed, Where peac.o.c.ks screamed and monkeys played, They wandered with delight.

Then by the river's side they found A pleasant spot of level ground, Where all was smooth and fair around, Their lodging for the night.

Canto LVI. Chitrakuta

Then Rama, when the morning rose, Called Lakshma? gently from repose: "Awake, the pleasant voices hear Of forest birds that warble near.

Scourge of thy foes, no longer stay; The hour is come to speed away."

The slumbering prince unclosed his eyes When thus his brother bade him rise, Compelling, at the timely cry, Fatigue, and sleep, and rest to fly.

The brothers rose and Sita too; Pure water from the stream they drew, Paid morning rites, then followed still The road to Chitraku?a's hill.

Then Rama as he took the road With Lakshma?, while the morning, glowed, To the Videhan lady cried, Sita the fair, the lotus-eyed: "Look round thee, dear; each flowery tree Touched with the fire of morning see: The Kinsuk, now the Frosts are fled,- How glorious with his wreaths of red!

The Bel-trees see, so loved of men, Hanging their boughs in every glen.

O'erburthened with their fruit and flowers: A plenteous store of food is ours.

See, Lakshma?, in the leafy trees, Where'er they make their home.

Down hangs, the work of labouring bees The ponderous honeycomb.

In the fair wood before us spread The startled wild-c.o.c.k cries: Hark, where the flowers are soft to tread, The peac.o.c.k's voice replies.

Where elephants are roaming free, And sweet birds' songs are loud, The glorious Chitraku?a see: His peaks are in the cloud.

On fair smooth ground he stands displayed, Begirt by many a tree: O brother, in that holy shade How happy shall we be!"(331) Then Rama, Lakshma?, Sita, each Spoke raising suppliant hands this speech To him, in woodland dwelling met, Valmiki, ancient anch.o.r.et: "O Saint, this mountain takes the mind, With creepers, trees of every kind, With fruit and roots abounding thus, A pleasant life it offers us: Here for a while we fain would stay, And pa.s.s a season blithe and gay."