The Ramayana Part 121

Your smooth bows decked with dyes and gold Are glorious in their masters' hold, And with the arms of Indra(546) vie Which diamond splendours beautify.

Your quivers glow with golden sheen, Well stored with arrows fleet and keen, Each gleaming like a fiery snake That joys the foeman's life to take.

As serpents cast their sloughs away And all their new born sheen display, So flash your mighty swords inlaid With burning gold on hilt and blade.

Why are you silent, heroes? Why My questions hear nor deign reply?

Sugriva, lord of virtuous mind, The foremost of the Vanar kind, An exile from his royal state, Roams through the land disconsolate.

I, Hanuman, of Vanar race, Sent by the king have sought this place, For he, the pious, just, and true, In friendly league would join with you.

Know, G.o.dlike youths, that I am one Of his chief lords, the Wind-G.o.d's son.

With course unchecked I roam at will, And now from Rishyamuka's hill, To please his heart, his hope to speed, I came disguised in beggar's weed."

Thus Hanuman, well trained in lore Of language, spoke, and said no more.

The son of Raghu joyed to hear The envoy's speech, and bright of cheer He turned to Lakshma? by his side, And thus in words of transport cried:

"The counselor we now behold Of King Sugriva righteous-souled.

His face I long have yearned to see, And now his envoy comes to me With sweetest words in courteous phrase Answer this mighty lord who slays His foemen, by Sugriva sent, This Vanar chief most eloquent.

For one whose words so sweetly flow The whole Rig-veda(547) needs must know, And in his well-trained memory store The Yajush and the Saman's lore.

He must have bent his faithful ear All grammar's varied rules to hear.

For his long speech how well he spoke!

In all its length no rule he broke.

In eye, on brow, in all his face The keenest look no guile could trace.

No change of hue, no pose of limb Gave sign that aught was false in him.

Concise, unfaltering, sweet and clear, Without a word to pain the ear.

From chest to throat, nor high nor low, His accents came in measured flow.

How well he spoke with perfect art That wondrous speech that charmed the heart, With finest skill and order graced In words that knew nor pause nor haste!

That speech, with consonants that spring From the three seats of uttering,(548) Would charm the spirit of a foe Whose sword is raised for mortal blow.

How may a ruler's plan succeed Who lacks such envoy good at need?

How fail, if one whose mind is stored With gifts so rare a.s.sist his lord?

What plans can fail, with wisest speech Of envoy's lips to further each?"

Thus Rama spoke; and Lakshma? taught In all the art that utters thought, To King Sugriva's learned spy Thus made his eloquent reply: "Full well we know the gifts that grace Sugriva, lord of Vanar race, And hither turn our wandering feet That we that high-souled king may meet.

So now our pleasant task shall be To do the words he speaks by thee."

His prudent speech the Vanar heard, And all his heart with joy was stirred.

And hope that league with them would bring Redress and triumph to his king.

Canto IV. Lakshman's Reply.

Cheered by the words that Rama spoke, Joy in the Vanar's breast awoke, And, as his friendly mood he knew, His thoughts to King Sugriva flew: "Again," he mused, "my high-souled lord Shall rule, to kingly state restored; Since one so mighty comes to save, And freely gives the help we crave."

Then joyous Hanuman, the best Of all the Vanar kind, addressed These words to Rama, trained of yore In all the arts of speakers' lore:(549) "Why do your feet this forest tread By silvan life inhabited, This awful maze of tree and thorn Which Pampa's flowering groves adorn?"

He spoke: obedient to the eye Of Rama, Lakshma? made reply, The name and fortune to unfold Of Raghu's son the lofty-souled: "True to the law, of fame unstained, The glorious Dasaratha reigned, And, steadfast in his duty, long Kept the four castes(550) from scathe and wrong.

Through his wide realm his will was done, And, loved by all, he hated none.

Just to each creature great and small, Like the Good Sire he cared for all.

The agnish?om,(551) as priests advised, And various rites he solemnized, Where ample largess ever paid The Brahmans for their holy aid.

Here Rama stands, his heir by birth, Whose name is glorious in the earth: Sure refuge he of all oppressed, Most faithful to his sire's behest.

He, Dasaratha's eldest born Whom gifts above the rest adorn, Lord of each high imperial sign,(552) The glory of his kingly line, Reft of his right, expelled from home, Came forth with me the woods to roam.

And Sita too, his faithful dame, Forth with her virtuous husband came, Like the sweet light when day is done Still cleaving to her lord the sun.

And me his sweet perfections drew To follow as his servant true.

Named Lakshma?, brother of my lord Of grateful heart with knowledge stored Most meet is he all bliss to share, Who makes the good of all his care.

While, power and lords.h.i.+p cast away, In the wild wood he chose to stay, A giant came,-his name unknown,- And stole the princess left alone.

Then Diti's son(553) who, cursed of yore, The semblance of a Rakshas wore, To King Sugriva bade us turn The robber's name and home to learn.

For he, the Vanar chief, would know The dwelling of our secret foe.

Such words of hope spake Diti's son, And sought the heaven his deeds had won.

Thou hast my tale. From first to last Thine ears have heard whate'er has past.

Rama the mighty lord and I For refuge to Sugriva fly.

The prince whose arm bright glory gained, O'er the whole earth as monarch reigned, And richest gifts to others gave, Is come Sugriva's help to crave; Son of a king the surest friend Of virtue, him who loved to lend His succour to the suffering weak, Is come Sugriva's aid to seek.

Yes, Raghu's son whose matchless hand Protected all this sea-girt land, The virtuous prince, my holy guide, For refuge seeks Sugriva's side.

His favour sent on great and small Should ever save and prosper all.

He now to win Sugriva's grace Has sought his woodland dwelling-place.

Son of a king of glorious fame;- Who knows not Dasaratha's name?- From whom all princes of the earth Received each honour due to worth;- Heir of that best of earthly kings, Rama the prince whose glory rings Through realms below and earth and skies, For refuge to Sugriva flies.

Nor should the Vanar king refuse The boon for which the suppliant sues, But with his forest legions speed To save him in his utmost need."

Sumitra's son, his eyes bedewed With piteous tears, thus sighed and sued.

Then, trained in all the arts that guide The speaker, Hanuman replied:

"Yea, lords like you of wisest thought, Whom happy fate has. .h.i.ther brought, Who vanquish ire and rule each sense, Must of our lord have audience.

Reft of his kingdom, sad, forlorn, Once Bali's hate now Bali's scorn, Defeated, severed from his spouse, Wandering under forest boughs, Child of the Sun, our lord and king Sugriva will his succours bring, And all our Vanar hosts combined Will trace the dame you long to find."

With gentle tone and winning grace Thus spake the chief of Vanar race, And then to Raghu's son he cried: "Come, haste we to Sugriva's side."

He spoke, and for his words so sweet Good Lakshma? paid all honour meet; Then turned and cried to Raghu's son: "Now deem thy task already done, Because this chief of Vanar kind, Son of the G.o.d who rules the wind, Declares Sugriva's self would be a.s.sisted in his need by thee.

Bright gleams of joy his cheek o'erspread As each glad word of hope he said; And ne'er will one so valiant deign To cheer our hearts with hope in vain."

He spoke, and Hanuman the wise Cast off his mendicant disguise, And took again his Vanar form, Son of the G.o.d of wind and storm.

High on his ample back in haste Raghu's heroic sons he placed, And turned with rapid steps to find The sovereign of the Vanar kind.

Canto V. The League.

From Rishyamuka's rugged side To Malaya's hill the Vanar hied, And to his royal chieftain there Announced the coming of the pair: "See, here with Lakshma? Rama stands Ill.u.s.trious in a hundred lands.

Whose valiant heart will never quail Although a thousand foes a.s.sail; King Dasaratha's son, the grace And glory of Ikshvaku's race.

Obedient to his father's will He cleaves to sacred duty still.

With rites of royal pomp and pride His sire the Fire-G.o.d gratified; Ten hundred thousand kine he freed, And priests enriched with ample meed; And the broad land protected, famed For truthful lips and pa.s.sions tamed.

Through woman's guile his son has made His dwelling in the forest shade, Where, as he lived with every sense Subdued in hermit abstinence, Fierce Rava? stole his wife, and he Is come a suppliant, lord, to thee.

Now let all honour due be paid To these great chiefs who seek thine aid."

Thus spake the Vanar prince, and, stirred With friendly thoughts, Sugriva heard.

The light of joy his face o'erspread, And thus to Raghu's son he said: "O Prince, in rules of duty trained, Caring for all with love unfeigned, Hanuman's tongue has truly shown The virtues that are thine alone.

My chiefest glory, gain, and bliss, O stranger Prince, I reckon this, That Raghu's son will condescend To seek the Vanar for his friend.

If thou my true ally wouldst be Accept the pledge I offer thee, This hand in sign of friends.h.i.+p take, And bind the bond we ne'er will break."

He spoke, and joy thrilled Rama's breast; Sugriva's hand he seized and pressed And, transport beaming from his eye, Held to his heart his new ally.

In wanderer's weed disguised no more, His proper form Hanuman wore.