The Ramayana Part 74

The crow to Rama humbly bent, Then where his fancy led he went.

Rama with Lakshma? by his side With needful work was occupied.

Canto XCVII. Lakshman's Anger.

Thus Rama showed his love the rill Whose waters ran beneath the hill, Then resting on his mountain seat Refreshed her with the choicest meat.

So there reposed the happy two: Then Bharat's army nearer drew: Rose to the skies a dusty cloud, The sound of trampling feet was loud.

The swelling roar of marching men Drove the roused tiger from his den, And scared amain the serpent race Flying to hole and hiding-place.

The herds of deer in terror fled, The air was filled with birds o'erhead, The bear began to leave his tree, The monkey to the cave to flee.

Wild elephants were all amazed As though the wood around them blazed.

The lion oped his ponderous jaw, The buffalo looked round in awe.

The prince, who heard the deafening sound, And saw the silvan creatures round Fly wildly startled from their rest, The glorious Lakshma? thus addressed: "Sumitra's n.o.ble son most dear, Hark, Lakshma?, what a roar I hear, The tumult of a coming crowd, Appalling, deafening, deep, and loud!

The din that yet more fearful grows Scares elephants and buffaloes, Or frightened by the lions, deer Are flying through the wood in fear.

I fain would know who seeks this place Comes prince or monarch for the chase?

Or does some mighty beast of prey Frighten the silvan herds away?

'Tis hard to reach this mountain height, Yea, e'en for birds in airy flight.

Then fain, O Lakshma?, would I know What cause disturbs the forest so."

Lakshma? in haste, the wood to view, Climbed a high Sal that near him grew, The forest all around he eyed, First gazing on the eastern side.

Then northward when his eyes he bent He saw a mighty armament Of elephants, and cars, and horse, And men on foot, a mingled force, And banners waving in the breeze, And spoke to Rama words like these: "Quick, quick, my lord, put out the fire, Let Sita to the cave retire.

Thy coat of mail around thee throw, Prepare thine arrows and thy bow."

In eager haste thus Lakshma? cried, And Rama, lion lord, replied: "Still closer be the army scanned, And say who leads the warlike band."

Lakshma? his answer thus returned, As furious rage within him burned, Exciting him like kindled fire To scorch the army in his ire: "'Tis Bharat: he has made the throne By consecrating rites his own: To gain the whole dominion thus He comes in arms to slaughter us.

I mark tree-high upon his car His flagstaff of the Kovidar,(376) I see his glittering banner glance, I see his chivalry advance: I see his eager warriors shine On elephants in lengthened line.

Now grasp we each the shafts and bow, And higher up the mountain go.

Or in this place, O hero, stand With weapons in each ready hand.

Perhaps beneath our might may fall This leader of the standard tall, And Bharat I this day may see Who brought this mighty woe on thee, Sita, and me, who drove away My brother from the royal sway.

Bharat our foe at length is nigh, And by this hand shall surely die: Brother, I see no sin at all If Bharat by my weapon fall.

No fault is his who slays the foe Whose hand was first to strike the blow: With Bharat now the crime begins Who against thee and duty sins.

The queen athirst for royal sway Will see her darling son to-day Fall by this hand, like some fair tree Struck by an elephant, slain by me.

Kaikeyi's self shall perish too With kith and kin and retinue, And earth by my avenging deed Shall from this ma.s.s of sin be freed.

This day my wrath, too long restrained, Shall fall upon the foe, unchained, Mad as the kindled flame that speeds Destroying through the gra.s.s and reeds.

This day mine arrows keen and fierce The bodies of the foe shall pierce: The woods on Chitraku?a's side Shall run with torrents crimson-dyed.

The wandering beasts of prey shall feed On heart-cleft elephant and steed, And drag to mountain caves away The bodies that my arrows slay.

Doubt not that Bharat and his train Shall in this mighty wood be slain: So shall I pay the debt my bow And these my deadly arrows owe."

Canto XCVIII. Lakshman Calmed.

Then Rama n.o.bly calm allayed The wrath that Lakshma?'s bosom swayed: "What need have we the sword to wield, To bend the bow or lift the shield, If Bharat brave, and wise, and good, Himself has sought this sheltering wood?

I sware my father's will to do, And if I now my brother slew What gain in kingship should I find, Despised and scorned by all mankind?

Believe me, e'en as I would shrink From poisoned meat or deadly drink, No power or treasure would I win By fall of friend or kith or kin.

Brother, believe the words I speak: For your dear sakes alone I seek Duty and pleasure, wealth and gain: A holy life, a happy reign.

If royal sway my heart desires, My brothers' weal the wish inspires: Their bliss and safety is my care, By this uplifted bow I swear.

'Twere not so hard for me to gain This broad land girdled by the main, But even Indra's royal might Should ne'er be mine in duty's spite.

If any bliss my soul can see Deprived of dear Satrughna, thee, And Bharat, may the flame destroy With ashy gloom the selfish joy.

Far dearer than this life of mine, Knowing the custom of our line, His heart with fond affection fraught, Bharat Ayodhya's town resought And hearing when he came that I, With thee and Sita, forced to fly With matted hair and hermit dress Am wandering in the wilderness.

While grief his troubled senses storms, And tender love his bosom warms, From every thought of evil clear, Is come to meet his brother here.

Some grievous words perchance he spoke Kaikeyi's anger to provoke, Then won the king, and comes to lay Before my feet the royal sway.

Hither, methinks, in season due Comes Bharat for an interview, Nor in his secret heart has he One evil thought 'gainst thee or me.

What has he done ere now, reflect!

How failed in love or due respect To make thee doubt his faith and lay This evil to his charge to-day?

Thou shouldst not join with Bharat's name So harsh a speech and idle blame.

The blows thy tongue at Bharat deals, My sympathizing bosom feels.

How, urged by stress of any ill, Should sons their father's life-blood spill, Or brother slay in impious strife A brother dearer than his life?

If thou these cruel words hast said By strong desire of empire led, My brother Bharat will I pray To give to thee the kingly sway.

"Give him the realm," my speech shall be, And Bharat will, methinks, agree."

Thus spoke the prince whose chief delight Was duty, and to aid the right: And Lakshma? keenly felt the blame, And shrank within himself for shame: And then his answer thus returned, With downcast eye and cheek that burned: "Brother, I ween, to see thy face Our sire himself has sought this place."

Thus Lakshma? spoke and stood ashamed, And Rama saw and thus exclaimed: "It is the strong-armed monarch: he Is come, methinks, his sons to see, To bid us both the forest quit For joys for which he deems us fit: He thinks on all our care and pain, And now would lead us home again.

My glorious father hence will bear Sita who claims all tender care.

I see two coursers fleet as storms, Of n.o.ble breed and lovely forms.

I see the beast of mountain size Who bears the king our father wise, The aged Victor, march this way In front of all the armed array.

But doubt and fear within me rise, For when I look with eager eyes I see no white umbrella spread, World-famous, o'er the royal head.

Now, Lakshma?, from the tree descend, And to my words attention lend."

Thus spoke the pious prince: and he Descended from the lofty tree, And reverent hand to hand applied, Stood humbly by his brother's side.

The host, compelled by Bharat's care, The wood from trampling feet to spare, Dense crowding half a league each way Encamped around the mountain lay.

Below the tall hill's shelving side Gleamed the bright army far and wide Spread o'er the ample s.p.a.ce, By Bharat led who firmly true In duty from his bosom threw All pride, and near his brother drew To win the hero's grace.

Canto XCIX. Bharat's Approach.

Soon as the warriors took their rest Obeying Bharat's high behest, Thus Bharat to Satrughna spake: "A band of soldiers with thee take, And with these hunters o'er and o'er The thickets of the wood explore.

With bow, sword, arrows in their hands Let Guha with his kindred bands Within this grove remaining trace The children of Kakutstha's race.

And I meanwhile on foot will through This neighbouring wood my way pursue, With elders and the twice-born men, And every lord and citizen.

There is, I feel, no rest for me Till Rama's face again I see, Lakshma?, in arms and glory great, And Sita born to happy fate: No rest, until his cheek as bright As the fair moon rejoice my sight, No rest until I see the eye With which the lotus petals vie; Till on my head those dear feet rest With signs of royal rank impressed; None, till my kingly brother gain His old hereditary reign, Till o'er his limbs and n.o.ble head The consecrating drops be shed.

How blest is Janak's daughter, true To every wifely duty, who Cleaves faithful to her husband's side Whose realm is girt by Ocean's tide!

This mountain too above the rest E'en as the King of Hills is blest,- Whose shades Kakutstha's scion hold As Nandan charms the Lord of Gold.

Yea, happy is this tangled grove Where savage beasts unnumbered rove, Where, glory of the Warrior race, King Rama finds a dwelling-place."

Thus Bharat, strong-armed hero spake, And walked within the pathless brake.

O'er plains where gay trees bloomed he went, Through boughs in tangled net-work bent, And then from Rama's cot appeared The banner which the flame upreared.

And Bharat joyed with every friend To mark those smoky wreaths ascend: "Here Rama dwells," he thought; "at last The ocean of our toil is pa.s.sed."

Then sure that Rama's hermit cot Was on the mountain's side He stayed his army on the spot, And on with Guha hied.