The Ramayana Part 20

Then thus the king began to say: "The G.o.ds have blest my rite to-day, And with the sight of thee repaid The preparations I have made.

Grateful am I, so highly blest, That thou, of saints the holiest, Hast come, O Brahman, here with all These hermits to the festival.

Twelve days, O Brahman Sage, remain- For so the learned priests ordain- And then, O heir of Kusik's name, The G.o.ds will come their dues to claim."

With looks that testified delight Thus spake he to the anchorite, Then with his suppliant hands upraised, He asked, as earnestly he gazed: "These princely youths, O Sage, who vie In might with children of the sky, Heroic, born for happy fate, With elephants' or lions' gait, Bold as the tiger and the bull, With lotus eyes so large and full, Armed with the quiver, sword and bow, Whose figures like the Asvins show, Like children of the heavenly Powers, Come freely to these shades of ours,- How have they reached on foot this place?

What do they seek, and what their race?

As sun and moon adorn the sky, This spot the heroes glorify: Alike in stature, port, and mien, The same fair form in each is seen."(219)

Thus spoke the monarch, lofty-souled, The saint, of heart unfathomed, told How, sons of Dasaratha, they Accompanied his homeward way, How in the hermitage they dwelt, And slaughter to the demons dealt: Their journey till the spot they neared Whence fair Visala's towers appeared: Ahalya seen and freed from taint; Their meeting with her lord the saint; And how they thither came, to know The virtue of the famous bow.

Thus Visvamitra spoke the whole To royal Janak, great of soul, And when this wondrous tale was o'er, The glorious hermit said no more.

Canto LI. Visvamitra.

Wise Visvamitra's tale was done: Then sainted Gautam's eldest son, Great Satananda, far-renowned, Whom long austerities had crowned With glory-as the news he heard The down upon his body stirred,- Filled full of wonder at the sight Of Rama, felt supreme delight.

When Satananda saw the pair Of youthful princes seated there, He turned him to the holy man Who sate at ease, and thus began: "And didst thou, mighty Sage, in truth Show clearly to this royal youth My mother, glorious far and wide, Whom penance-rites have sanctified?

And did my glorious mother-she, Heiress of n.o.ble destiny- Serve her great guest with woodland store, Whom all should honour evermore?

Didst thou the tale to Rama tell Of what in ancient days befell, The sin, the misery, and the shame Of guilty G.o.d and faithless dame?

And, O thou best of hermits, say, Did Rama's healing presence stay Her trial? was the wife restored Again to him, my sire and lord?

Say, Hermit, did that sire of mine Receive her with a soul benign, When long austerities in time Had cleansed her from the taint of crime?

And, son of Kusik, let me know, Did my great-minded father show Honour to Rama, and regard, Before he journeyed hitherward?"

The hermit with attentive ear Marked all the questions of the seer: To him for eloquence far-famed, His eloquent reply he framed: "Yea, 'twas my care no task to shun, And all I had to do was done; As Re?uka and Bhrigu's child, The saint and dame were reconciled."

When the great sage had thus replied, To Rama Satananda cried: "A welcome visit, Prince, is thine, Thou scion of King Raghu's line.

With him to guide thy way aright, This sage invincible in might, This Brahman sage, most glorious-bright, By long austerities has wrought A wondrous deed, exceeding thought: Thou knowest well, O strong of arm, This sure defence from scathe and harm.

None, Rama, none is living now In all the earth more blest than thou, That thou hast won a saint so tried In fervid rites thy life to guide.

Now listen, Prince, while I relate His lofty deeds and wondrous fate.

He was a monarch pious-souled.

His foemen in the dust he rolled; Most learned, prompt at duty's claim, His people's good his joy and aim.

Of old the Lord of Life gave birth To mighty Kusa, king of earth.

His son was Kusanabha, strong, Friend of the right, the foe of wrong.

Gadhi, whose fame no time shall dim, Heir of his throne was born to him, And Visvamitra, Gadhi's heir, Governed the land with kingly care.

While years unnumbered rolled away The monarch reigned with equal sway.

At length, a.s.sembling many a band, He led his warriors round the land- Complete in tale, a mighty force, Cars, elephants, and foot, and horse.

Through cities, groves, and floods he pa.s.sed, O'er lofty hills, through regions vast.

He reached Vasish?ha's pure abode, Where trees, and flowers, and creepers glowed, Where troops of sylvan creatures fed; Which saints and angels visited.

G.o.ds, fauns, and bards of heavenly race, And spirits, glorified the place; The deer their timid ways forgot, And holy Brahmans thronged the spot.

Bright in their souls, like fire, were these, Made pure by long austerities, Bound by the rule of vows severe, And each in glory Brahma's peer.

Some fed on water, some on air, Some on the leaves that withered there.

Roots and wild fruit were others' food; All rage was checked, each sense subdued, There Balakhilyas(220) went and came, Now breathed the prayer, now fed the flame: These, and ascetic bands beside, The sweet retirement beautified.

Such was Vasish?ha's blest retreat, Like Brahma's own celestial seat, Which gladdened Visvamitra's eyes, Peerless for warlike enterprise.

Canto LII. Vasishtha's Feast.

Right glad was Visvamitra when He saw the prince of saintly men.

Low at his feet the hero bent, And did obeisance, reverent.

The king was welcomed in, and shown A seat beside the hermit's own, Who offered him, when resting there, Fruit in due course, and woodland fare.

And Visvamitra, n.o.blest king, Received Vasish?ha's welcoming, Turned to his host, and prayed him tell That he and all with him were well.

Vasish?ha to the king replied That all was well on every side, That fire, and vows, and pupils throve, And all the trees within the grove.

And then the son of Brahma, best Of all who pray with voice suppressed, Questioned with pleasant words like these The mighty king who sate at ease: "And is it well with thee? I pray; And dost thou win by virtuous sway Thy people's love, discharging all The duties on a king that fall?

Are all thy servants fostered well?

Do all obey, and none rebel?

Hast thou, destroyer of the foe, No enemies to overthrow?

Does fortune, conqueror! still attend Thy treasure, host, and every friend?

Is it all well? Does happy fate On sons and children's children wait?"

He spoke. The modest king replied That all was prosperous far and wide.

Thus for awhile the two conversed, As each to each his tale rehea.r.s.ed, And as the happy moments flew, Their joy and friends.h.i.+p stronger grew.

When such discourse had reached an end, Thus spoke the saint most reverend To royal Visvamitra, while His features brightened with a smile: "O mighty lord of men. I fain Would banquet thee and all thy train In mode that suits thy station high: And do not thou my prayer deny.

Let my good lord with favour take The offering that I fain would make, And let me honour, ere we part, My royal guest with loving heart."

Him Visvamitra thus addressed: "Why make, O Saint, this new request?

Thy welcome and each gracious word Sufficient honour have conferred.

Thou gavest roots and fruit to eat, The treasures of this pure retreat, And water for my mouth and feet; And-boon I prize above the rest- Thy presence has mine eyesight blest.

Honoured by thee in every way, To whom all honour all should pay, I now will go. My lord, Good-bye!

Regard me with a friendly eye."

Him speaking thus Vasish?ha stayed, And still to share his banquet prayed.

The will of Gadhi's son he bent, And won the monarch to consent, Who spoke in answer. "Let it be, Great Hermit, as it pleases thee."

When, best of those who breathe the prayer, He heard the king his will declare, He called the cow of spotted skin, All spot without, all pure within.

"Come, Dapple-skin," he cried, "with speed; Hear thou my words and help at need.

My heart is set to entertain This monarch and his mighty train With sumptuous meal and worthy fare; Be thine the banquet to prepare.

Each dainty cate, each goodly dish, Of six-fold taste(221) as each may wish- All these, O cow of heavenly power, Rain down for me in copious shower: Viands and drink for tooth and lip, To eat, to suck, to quaff, to sip- Of these sufficient, and to spare, O plenty-giving cow, prepare."

Canto LIII. Visvamitra's Request.

Thus charged, O slayer of thy foes, The cow from whom all plenty flows, Obedient to her saintly lord, Viands to suit each taste, outpoured.

Honey she gave, and roasted grain, Mead sweet with flowers, and sugar-cane.

Each beverage of flavour rare, An food of every sort, were there: Hills of hot rice, and sweetened cakes, And curdled milk and soup in lakes.

Vast beakers foaming to the brim With sugared drink prepared for him, And dainty sweetmeats, deftly made, Before the hermit's guests were laid.

So well regaled, so n.o.bly fed, The mighty army banqueted, And all the train, from chief to least, Delighted in Vasish?ha's feast.

Then Visvamitra, royal sage, Surrounded by his va.s.salage, Prince, peer, and counsellor, and all From highest lord to lowest thrall, Thus feasted, to Vasish?ha cried With joy, supremely gratified: "Rich honour I, thus entertained, Most honourable lord, have gained: Now hear, before I journey hence, My words, O skilled in eloquence.

Bought for a hundred thousand kine, Let Dapple-skin, O Saint, be mine.

A wondrous jewel is thy cow, And gems are for the monarch's brow.(222) To me her rightful lord resign This Dapple-skin thou callest thine."