The Ramayana Part 99

With this one hope, this only aim, O Rover of the Night, I came.

Now let me tell what aid I ask To back me in my purposed task.

In semblance of a golden deer Adorned with silver spots appear.

Go, seek his dwelling: in the way Of Rama and his consort stray.

Doubt not the lady, when she sees The wondrous deer amid the trees, Will bid her lord and Lakshma? take The creature for its beauty's sake.

Then when the chiefs have parted thence, And left her lone, without defence, As Rahu storms the moonlight, I Will seize the lovely dame and fly.

Her lord will waste away and weep For her his valour could not keep.

Then boldly will I strike the blow And wreak my vengeance on the foe."

When wise Maricha heard the tale His heart grew faint, his cheek was pale, He stared with open orbs, and tried To moisten lips which terror dried, And grief, like death, his bosom rent As on the king his look he bent.

The monarch's will he strove to stay, Distracted with alarm, For well he knew the might that lay In Rama's matchless arm.

With suppliant hands Maricha stood And thus began to tell His counsel for the tyrant's good, And for his own as well:

Canto x.x.xVII. Maricha's Speech.

Maricha gave attentive ear The ruler of the fiends to hear: Then, trained in all the rules that teach The eloquent, began his speech: "'Tis easy task, O King, to find Smooth speakers who delight the mind.

But they who urge and they who do Distasteful things and wise, are few.

Thou hast not learnt, by proof untaught, And borne away by eager thought, That Rama, formed for high emprise, With Varu? or with Indra vies.

Still let thy people live in peace, Nor let their name and lineage cease, For Rama with his vengeful hand Can sweep the giants from the land.

O, let not Janak's daughter bring Destruction on the giant king.

Let not the lady Sita wake A tempest, on thy head to break.

Still let the dame, by care untried, Be happy by her husband's side, Lest swift avenging ruin fall On glorious Lanka, thee, and all.

Men such as thou with wills unchained, Advised by sin and unrestrained, Destroy themselves, the king, the state, And leave the people desolate.

Rama, in bonds of duty held, Was never by his sire expelled.

He is no wretch of greedy mind, Dishonour of his Warrior kind.

Free from all touch of rancorous spite, All creatures' good is his delight.

He saw his sire of truthful heart Deceived by Queen Kaikeyi's art, And said, a true and duteous son, "What thou hast promised shall be done."

To gratify the lady's will, His father's promise to fulfil, He left his realm and all delight For Da??ak wood, an anchorite.

No cruel wretch, no senseless fool Is Rama, unrestrained by rule.

This groundless charge has ne'er been heard, Nor shouldst thou speak the slanderous word.

Rama in truth and goodness bold Is Virtue's self in human mould, The sovereign of the world confessed As Indra rules among the Blest.

And dost thou plot from him to rend The darling whom his arms defend?

Less vain the hope to steal away The glory of the Lord of Day.

O Rava?, guard thee from the fire Of vengeful Rama's kindled ire,- Each spark a shaft with deadly aim, While bow and falchion feed the flame.

Cast not away in hopeless strife Thy realm, thy bliss, thine own dear life.

O Rava? of his might beware, A G.o.d of Death who will not spare.

That bow he knows so well to draw Is the destroyer's flaming jaw, And with his shafts which flash and glow He slays the armies of the foe.

Thou ne'er canst win-the thought forego- From the safe guard of shaft and bow King Janak's child, the dear delight Of Rama unapproached in might.

The spouse of Raghu's son, confessed Lion of men with lion chest,- Dearer than life, through good and ill Devoted to her husband's will, The slender-waisted, still must be From thy polluting touches free.

Far better grasp with venturous hand The flame to wildest fury fanned.

What, King of giants, canst thou gain From this attempt so wild and vain?

If in the fight his eye he bend Upon thee, Lord, thy days must end, So life and bliss and royal sway, Lost beyond hope, will pa.s.s away.

Summon each lord of high estate, And chief, Vibhisha?(490) to debate.

With peers in lore of counsel tried Consider, reason, and decide Scan strength and weakness, count the cost, What may be gained and what be lost.

Examine and compare aright Thy proper power and Rama's might, Then if thy weal be still thy care, Thou wilt be prudent and forbear.

O giant King, the contest shun, Thy force is all too weak The lord of Kosal's mighty son In deadly fray to seek.

King of the hosts that rove at night, O hear what I advise: My prudent counsel do not slight; Be patient and be wise."

Canto x.x.xVIII. Maricha's Speech.

"Once in my strength and vigour's pride I roamed this earth from side to side, And towering like a mountain's crest, A thousand Nagas'(491) might possessed.

Like some vast sable cloud I showed: My golden armlets flashed and glowed.

A crown I wore, an axe I swayed, And all I met were sore afraid.

I roved where Da??ak wood is spread; On flesh of slaughtered saints I fed.

Then Visvamitra, sage revered, Holy of heart, my fury feared.

To Dasaratha's court he sped And went before the king and said:(492)

"With me, my lord, thy Rama send On holy days his aid to lend.

Maricha fills my soul with dread And keeps me sore disquieted."

The monarch heard the saint's request And thus the glorious sage addressed:

"My boy as yet in arms untrained The age of twelve has scarce attained.

But I myself a host will lead To guard thee in the hour of need.

My host with fourfold troops complete, The rover of the night shall meet, And I, O best of saints, will kill Thy foeman and thy prayer fulfil."

The king vouchsafed his willing aid: The saint again this answer made:

"By Rama's might, and his alone, Can this great fiend be overthrown.

I know in days of yore the Blest Thy saving help in fight confessed.

Still of thy famous deeds they tell In heaven above, in earth, and h.e.l.l, A mighty host obeys thy hest: Here let it still, I pray thee, rest.

Thy glorious son, though yet a boy, Will in the fight that fiend destroy.

Rama alone with me shall go: Be happy, victor of the foe."

He spoke: the monarch gave a.s.sent, And Rama to the hermit lent.

So to his woodland home in joy Went Visvamitra with the boy.

With ready bow the champion stood To guard the rites in Da??ak wood.

With glorious eyes, most bright to view, Beardless as yet and dark of hue; A single robe his only wear, His temples veiled with waving hair, Around his neck a chain of gold, He grasped the bow he loved to hold; And the young hero's presence made A glory in the forest shade.

Thus Rama with his beauteous mien, Like the young rising moon was seen, I, like a cloud which tempest brings, My arms adorned with golden rings, Proud of the boon which lent me might, Approached where dwelt the anchorite.

But Rama saw me venturing nigh, Raising my murderous axe on high; He saw, and fearless of the foe, Strung with calm hand his trusty bow.

By pride of conscious strength beguiled, I scorned him as a feeble child, And rushed with an impetuous bound On Visvamitra's holy ground.

A keen swift shaft he pointed well, The foeman's rage to check and quell, And hurled a hundred leagues away Deep in the ocean waves I lay.

He would not kill, but, n.o.bly brave, My forfeit life he chose to save.

So there I lay with wandering sense Dazed by that arrow's violence.

Long in the sea I lay: at length Slowly returned my sense and strength, And rising from my watery bed To Lanka's town again I sped.

Thus was I spared, but all my band Fell slain by Rama's conquering hand,- A boy, untrained in warrior's skill, Of iron arm and dauntless will.

If thou with Rama still, in spite Of warning and of prayer, wilt fight, I see terrific woes impend, And dire defeat thy days will end.

Thy giants all will feel the blow And share the fatal overthrow, Who love the taste of joy and play, The banquet and the festal day.

Thine eyes will see destruction take Thy Lanka, lost for Sita's sake, And stately pile and palace fall With terrace, dome, and jewelled wall.

The good will die: the crime of kings Destruction on the people brings: The sinless die, as in the lake The fish must perish with the snake.

The prostrate giants thou wilt see Slain for this folly wrought by thee, Their bodies bright with precious scent And sheen of heavenly ornament; Or see the remnant of thy train Seek refuge far, when help is vain And with their wives, or widowed, fly To every quarter of the sky; Thy mournful eyes, where'er they turn, Will see thy stately city burn, When royal homes with fire are red, And arrowy nets around are spread.

A sin that tops all sins in shame Is outrage to another's dame, A thousand wives thy palace fill, And countless beauties wait thy will.

O rest contented with thine own, Nor let thy race be overthrown.