The Ramayana Part 116

The monstrous fiend, to anger stirred, The converse of the brothers heard.

His horrid mouth he opened wide And drew the princes to his side.

They, skilled due time and place to note Unsheathed their glittering swords and smote, Till from the giant's shoulders they Had hewn the mighty arms away.

His trenchant falchion Rama plied And smote him on the better side, While valiant Lakshma? on the left The arm that held him prisoned cleft.

Then to the earth dismembered fell The monster with a hideous yell, And like a cloud's his deep roar went Through earth and air and firmament.

Then as the giant's blood flowed fast, On his cleft limbs his eye he cast, And called upon the princely pair Their names and lineage to declare.

Him then the n.o.ble Lakshma?, blest With fortune's favouring marks, addressed, And told the fiend his brother's name And the high blood of which he came: "Ikshvaku's heir here Rama stands, Ill.u.s.trious through a hundred lands.

I, younger brother of the heir, O fiend, the name of Lakshma? bear.

His mother stole his realm away And drove him forth in woods to stray.

Thus through the mighty forest he Roamed with his royal wife and me.

While glorious as a G.o.d he made His dwelling in the greenwood shade, Some giant stole away his dame, And seeking her we hither came.

But tell me who thou art, and why With headless trunk that towered so high, With flaming face beneath thy chest, Thou liest crushed in wild unrest."

He heard the words that Lakshma? spoke, And memory in his breast awoke, Recalling Indra's words to mind He spoke in gentle tones and kind: "O welcome best of men, are ye Whom, blest by fate, this day I see.

A blessing on each trenchant blade That low on earth these arms has laid!

Thou, lord of men, incline thine ear The story of my woe to hear, While I the rebel pride declare Which doomed me to the form I wear."

Canto LXXII. Kabandha's Tale.

"Lord of the mighty arm, of yore A shape transcending thought I wore, And through the triple world's extent My fame for might and valour went.

Scarce might the sun and moon on high, Scarce Sakra, with my beauty vie.

Then for a time this form I took, And the great world with trembling shook.

The saints in forest shades who dwelt The terror of my presence felt.

But once I stirred to furious rage Great Sthulasiras, glorious sage.

Culling in woods his hermit food My hideous shape with fear he viewed.

Then forth his words of anger burst That bade me live a thing accursed: "Thou, whose delight is others' pain, This grisly form shalt still retain."

Then when I prayed him to relent And fix some term of punishment,- Prayed that the curse at length might cease, He bade me thus expect release: "Let Rama cleave thine arms away And on the pyre thy body lay, And then shalt thou, set free from doom, Thine own fair shape once more a.s.sume."

O Lakshma?, hear my words: in me The world-ill.u.s.trious Danu see.

By Indra's curse, subdued in fight, I wear this form which scares the sight.

By sternest penance long maintained The mighty Father's grace I gained.

When length of days the G.o.d bestowed, With foolish pride my bosom glowed.

My life, of lengthened years a.s.sured, I deemed from Sakra's might secured.

Let by my senseless pride astray I challenged Indra to the fray.

A flaming bolt with many a knot With his terrific arm he shot, And straight my head and thighs compressed Were buried in my bulky chest.

Deaf to each prayer and piteous call He sent me not to Yama's hall.

"Thy prayers and cries," he said "are vain: The Father's word must true remain."

"But how may lengthened life be spent By one the bolt has torn and rent?

How can I live," I cried, "unfed, With shattered face and thighs and head?"

As thus I spoke his grace to crave, Arms each a league in length he gave, And opened in my chest beneath This mouth supplied with fearful teeth.

So my huge arms I used to cast Round woodland creatures as they pa.s.sed, And fed within the forest here On lion, tiger, pard, and deer.

Then Indra spake to soothe my grief: "When Rama and his brother chief From thy huge bulk those arms shall cleave, Then shall the skies thy soul receive."

Disguised in this terrific shape I let no woodland thing escape, And still my longing soul was pleased Whene'er my arms a victim seized, For in these arms I fondly thought Would Rama's self at last be caught.

Thus hoping, toiling many a day I yearned to cast my life away, And here, my lord, thou standest now: Blessings be thine! for none but thou Could cleave my arms with trenchant stroke: True are the words the hermit spoke.

Now let me, best of warriors, lend My counsel, and thy plans befriend, And aid thee with advice in turn If thou with fire my corse wilt burn."

As thus the mighty Danu prayed With offer of his friendly aid, While Lakshma? gazed with anxious eye, The virtuous Rama made reply: "Lakshma? and I through forest shade From Janasthan a while had strayed.

When none was near her, Rava? came And bore away my glorious dame, The giant's form and size unknown, I learn as yet his name alone.

Not yet the power and might we know Or dwelling of the monstrous foe.

With none our helpless feet to guide We wander here by sorrow tried.

Let pity move thee to requite Our service in the funeral rite.

Our hands shall bring the boughs that, dry Where elephants have rent them, lie, Then dig a pit, and light the fire To burn thee as the laws require.

Do thou as meed of this declare Who stole my spouse, his dwelling where.

O, if thou can, I pray thee say, And let this grace our deeds repay."

Danu had lent attentive ear The words which Rama spoke to hear, And thus, a speaker skilled and tried, To that great orator replied: "No heavenly lore my soul endows, Naught know I of thy Maithil spouse.

Yet will I, when my shape I wear, Him who will tell thee all declare.

Then, Rama, will my lips disclose His name who well that giant knows.

But till the flames my corse devour This hidden knowledge mocks my power.

For through that curse's withering taint My knowledge now is small and faint.

Unknown the giant's very name Who bore away the Maithil dame.

Cursed for my evil deeds I wore A shape which all the worlds abhor.

Now ere with wearied steeds the sun Through western skies his course have run, Deep in a pit my body lay And burn it in the wonted way.

When in the grave my corse is placed, With fire and funeral honours graced, Then I, great chief, his name will tell Who knows the giant robber well.

With him, who guides his life aright, In league of trusting love unite, And he, O valiant prince, will be A faithful friend and aid to thee.

For, Rama, to his searching eyes The triple world uncovered lies.

For some dark cause of old, I ween, Through all the spheres his ways have been."

Canto LXXIII. Kabandha's Counsel.

The monster ceased: the princely pair Heard great Kabandha's eager prayer.

Within a mountain cave they sped, Where kindled fire with care they fed.

Then Lakshma? in his mighty hands Brought ample store of lighted brands, And to a pile of logs applied The flame that ran from side to side.

The spreading glow with gentle force Consumed Kabandha's mighty corse, Till the unresting flames had drunk The marrow of the monstrous trunk, As b.a.l.l.s of b.u.t.ter melt away Amid the fires that o'er them play.

Then from the pyre, like flame that glows Undimmed by cloudy smoke, he rose, In garments pure of spot or speck, A heavenly wreath about his neck.

Resplendent in his bright attire He sprang exultant from the pyre.

While from neck, arm, and foot was sent The flash of gold and ornament.

High on a chariot, bright of hue, Which swans of fairest pinion drew, He filled each region of the air With splendid glow reflected there.

Then in the sky he stayed his car And called to Rama from afar: "Hear, chieftain, while my lips explain The means to win thy spouse again.

Six plans, O prince, the wise pursue To reach the aims we hold in view.(519) When evils ripening sorely press They load the wretch with new distress, So thou and Lakshma?, tried by woe, Have felt at last a fiercer blow, And plunged in bitterest grief to-day Lament thy consort torn away.

There is no course but this: attend; Make, best of friends, that chief thy friend.

Unless his prospering help thou gain Thy plans and hopes must all be vain.

O Rama, hear my words, and seek, Sugriva, for of him I speak.

His brother Bali, Indra's son, Expelled him when the fight was won.

With four great chieftains, faithful still, He dwells on Rishyamuka's hill.- Fair mountain, lovely with the flow Of Pampa's waves that glide below,- Lord of the Vanars(520) just and true, Strong, very glorious, bright to view, Unmatched in counsel, firm and meek, Bound by each word his lips may speak, Good, splendid, mighty, bold and brave, Wise in each plan to guide and save.

His brother, fired by l.u.s.t of sway, Drove forth the prince in woods to stray.

In all thy search for Sita he Thy ready friend and help will be.

With him to aid thee in thy quest Dismiss all sorrow from thy breast.

Time is a mighty power, and none His fixed decree can change or shun.

So rich reward thy toil shall bless, And naught can stay thy sure success.

Speed hence, O chief, without delay, To strong Sugriva take thy way.