The Ramayana Part 68

To make the rough ways smooth and clear Send workman out and pioneer: Let skilful men attend beside Our way through pathless spots to guide."

As thus the royal Bharat spake, Ordaining all for Rama's sake, The audience gave with one accord Auspicious answer to their lord: "Be royal Fortune aye benign To thee for this good speech of thine, Who wishest still thine elder's hand To rule with kingly sway the land."

Their glorious speech, their favouring cries Made his proud bosom swell: And from the prince's n.o.ble eyes The tears of rapture fell.(356)

Canto Lx.x.x. The Way Prepared.

All they who knew the joiner's art, Or distant ground in every part; Each busied in his several trade, To work machines or ply the spade; Deft workmen skilled to frame the wheel, Or with the ponderous engine deal; Guides of the way, and craftsmen skilled, To sink the well, make bricks, and build; And those whose hands the tree could hew, And work with slips of cut bamboo, Went forward, and to guide them, they Whose eyes before had seen the way.

Then onward in triumphant mood Went all the mighty mult.i.tude.

Like the great sea whose waves leap high When the full moon is in the sky.

Then, in his proper duty skilled, Each joined him to his several guild, And onward in advance they went With every tool and implement.

Where bush and tangled creeper lay With trenchant steel they made the way; They felled each stump, removed each stone, And many a tree was overthrown.

In other spots, on desert lands, Tall trees were reared by busy hands.

Where'er the line of road they took, They plied the hatchet, axe, and hook.

Others, with all their strength applied, Cast vigorous plants and shrubs aside, In shelving valleys rooted deep, And levelled every dale and steep.

Each pit and hole that stopped the way They filled with stones, and mud, and clay, And all the ground that rose and fell With busy care was levelled well.

They bridged ravines with ceaseless toil, And pounded fine the flinty soil.

Now here, now there, to right and left, A pa.s.sage through the ground they cleft, And soon the rushing flood was led Abundant through the new-cut bed, Which by the running stream supplied With ocean's boundless waters vied.

In dry and thirsty spots they sank Full many a well and ample tank, And altars round about them placed To deck the station in the waste.

With well-wrought plaster smoothly spread, With bloomy trees that rose o'erhead, With banners waving in the air, And wild birds singing here and there, With fragrant sandal-water wet, With many a flower beside it set, Like the G.o.ds' heavenly pathway showed That mighty host's imperial road.

Deft workmen, chosen for their skill To do the high-souled Bharat's will, In every pleasant spot where grew Trees of sweet fruit and fair to view, As he commanded, toiled to grace With all delights his camping-place.

And they who read the stars, and well Each lucky sign and hour could tell, Raised carefully the tented shade Wherein high-minded Bharat stayed.

With ample s.p.a.ce of level ground, With broad deep moat encompa.s.sed round; Like Mandar in his towering pride, With streets that ran from side to side; Enwreathed with many a palace tall Surrounded by its n.o.ble wall; With roads by skilful workmen made, Where many a glorious banner played; With stately mansions, where the dove Sat nestling in her cote above.

Rising aloft supremely fair Like heavenly cars that float in air, Each camp in beauty and in bliss Matched Indra's own metropolis.

As shines the heaven on some fair night, With moon and constellations filled, The prince's royal road was bright, Adorned by art of workmen skilled.

Canto Lx.x.xI. The a.s.sembly.

Ere yet the dawn had ushered in The day should see the march begin, Herald and bard who rightly knew Each nice degree of honour due, Their loud auspicious voices raised, And royal Bharat blessed and praised.

With sticks of gold the drum they smote, Which thundered out its deafening note, Blew loud the sounding sh.e.l.l, and blent Each high and low-toned instrument.

The mingled sound of drum and horn Through all the air was quickly borne, And as in Bharat's ear it rang, Gave the sad prince another pang.

Then Bharat, starting from repose, Stilled the glad sounds that round him rose, "I am not king; no more mistake:"

Then to Satrughna thus he spake: "O see what general wrongs succeed Sprung from Kaikeyi's evil deed!

The king my sire has died and thrown Fresh miseries on me alone.

The royal bliss, on duty based, Which our just high-souled father graced, Wanders in doubt and sore distress Like a tossed vessel rudderless.

And he who was our lordly stay Roams in the forest far away, Expelled by this my mother, who To duty's law is most untrue."

As royal Bharat thus gave vent To bitter grief in wild lament, Gazing upon his face the crowd Of pitying women wept aloud.

His lamentation scarce was o'er, When Saint Vasish?ha, skilled in lore Of royal duty, dear to fame, To join the great a.s.sembly came.

Girt by disciples ever true Still nearer to that hall he drew, Resplendent, heavenly to behold, Adorned with wealth of gems and gold: E'en so a man in duty tried Draws near to meet his virtuous bride.

He reached his golden seat o'erlaid With coverlet of rich brocade, There sat, in all the Vedas read, And called the messengers, and said: "Go forth, let Brahman, Warrior, peer, And every captain gather here: Let all attentive hither throng: Go, hasten: we delay too long.

Satrughna, glorious Bharat bring, The n.o.ble children of the king,(357) Yudhajit(358) and Sumantra, all The truthful and the virtuous call."

He ended: soon a mighty sound Of thickening tumult rose around, As to the hall they bent their course With car, and elephant, and horse, The people all with glad acclaim Welcomed Prince Bharat as he came: E'en as they loved their king to greet, Or as the G.o.ds Lord Indra(359) meet.

The vast a.s.sembly shone as fair With Bharat's kingly face As Dasaratha's self were there To glorify the place.

It gleamed like some unruffled lake Where monsters huge of mould With many a snake their pastime take O'er sh.e.l.ls, sand, gems, and gold.

Canto Lx.x.xII. The Departure.

The prudent prince the a.s.sembly viewed Thronged with its n.o.ble mult.i.tude, Resplendent as a cloudless night When the full moon is in his height; While robes of every varied hue A glory o'er the synod threw.

The priest in lore of duty skilled Looked on the crowd the hall that filled, And then in accents soft and grave To Bharat thus his counsel gave: "The king, dear son, so good and wise, Has gone from earth and gained the skies, Leaving to thee, her rightful lord, This rich wide land with foison stored.

And still has faithful Rama stood Firm to the duty of the good, And kept his father's hest aright, As the moon keeps its own dear light.

Thus sire and brother yield to thee This realm from all annoyance free: Rejoice thy lords: enjoy thine own: Anointed king, ascend the throne.

Let va.s.sal Princes hasten forth From distant lands, west, south, and north, From Kerala,(360) from every sea, And bring ten million gems to thee."

As thus the sage Vasish?ha spoke, A storm of grief o'er Bharat broke.

And longing to be just and true, His thoughts to duteous Rama flew.

With sobs and sighs and broken tones, E'en as a wounded mallard moans, He mourned with deepest sorrow moved, And thus the holy priest reproved: "O, how can such as Bharat dare The power and sway from him to tear, Wise, and devout, and true, and chaste, With Scripture lore and virtue graced?

Can one of Dasaratha's seed Be guilty of so vile a deed?

The realm and I are Rama's: thou, Shouldst speak the words of justice now.

For he, to claims of virtue true, Is eldest born and n.o.blest too: Nahush, Dilipa could not be More famous in their lives than he.

As Dasaratha ruled of right, So Rama's is the power and right.

If I should do this sinful deed And forfeit hope of heavenly meed, My guilty act would dim the shine Of old Ikshvaku's glorious line.

Nay, as the sin my mother wrought Is grievous to my inmost thought, I here, my hands together laid, Will greet him in the pathless shade.

To Rama shall my steps be bent, My King, of men most excellent, Raghu's ill.u.s.trious son, whose sway Might h.e.l.l, and earth, and heaven obey."

That righteous speech, whose every word Bore virtue's stamp, the audience heard; On Rama every thought was set, And with glad tears each eye was wet.

"Then, if the power I still should lack To bring my n.o.ble brother back, I in the wood will dwell, and share His banishment with Lakshma? there.

By every art persuasive I To bring him from the wood will try, And show him to your loving eyes, O Brahmans n.o.ble, good, and wise.

E'en now, the road to make and clear, Each labourer pressed, and pioneer Have I sent forward to precede The army I resolve to lead."

Thus, by fraternal love possessed, His firm resolve the prince expressed, Then to Sumantra, deeply read In holy texts, he turned and said: "Sumantra, rise without delay, And as I bid my words obey.

Give orders for the march with speed, And all the army hither lead."

The wise Sumantra, thus addressed, Obeyed the high-souled chief's behest.

He hurried forth with joy inspired And gave the orders he desired.

Delight each soldier's bosom filled, And through each chief and captain thrilled, To hear that march proclaimed, to bring Dear Rama back from wandering.

From house to house the tidings flew: Each soldier's wife the order knew, And as she listened blithe and gay Her husband urged to speed away.

Captain and soldier soon declared The host equipped and all prepared With chariots matching thought for speed, And wagons drawn by ox and steed.

When Bharat by Vasish?ha's side, His ready host of warriors eyed, Thus in Sumantra's ear he spoke: "My car and horses quickly yoke."

Sumantra hastened to fulfil With ready joy his master's will, And quickly with the chariot sped Drawn by fleet horses n.o.bly bred.

Then glorious Bharat, true, devout, Whose genuine valour none could doubt, Gave in fit words his order out; For he would seek the shade Of the great distant wood, and there Win his dear brother with his prayer: "Sumantra, haste! my will declare The host be all arrayed.

I to the wood my way will take, To Rama supplication make, And for the world's advantage sake, Will lead him home again."

Then, ordered thus, the charioteer Who listened with delighted ear, Went forth and gave his orders clear To captains of the train.

He gave the popular chiefs the word, And with the news his friends he stirred, And not a single man deferred Preparing for the road.

Then Brahman, Warrior, Merchant, thrall, Obedient to Sumantra's call, Each in his house arose, and all Yoked elephant or camel tall, Or a.s.s or n.o.ble steed in stall, And full appointed showed.