Ramayana, Book 2, The

<SPAN name="toc379" id="toc379"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf380" id="pdf380"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-CXII" id="CantoII-CXII" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto CXII. The Sandals.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>High wonder mingled with delight</div> <div>Took the great sages at the sight,</div> <div>Thrilling their breasts who came to view</div> <div>The meeting of the peerless two.</div> <div>The saints and sages' holy train</div> <div>Departed to their home again.</div> <div>And high each holy voice was raised,</div> <div>And thus the glorious brothers praised.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“High fate is his, the sire of two</span></div> <div>Most virtuous souls, so brave and true:</div> <div>With wonder and with joy intense</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Our ears have heard their conference.”</span></div> <div>Then the great sages, longing all</div> <div>To see the ten-necked tyrant<SPAN id="noteref_395" name="noteref_395" href="#note_395"><span class="tei tei-noteref" ><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">395</span></span></SPAN> fall,</div> <div>To Bharat, bravest of the brave,</div> <div>Their salutary counsel gave:</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“O thou of lofty lineage born,</span></div> <div>Whom wisdom, conduct, fame adorn,</div> <div>Thou for thy honoured father's sake</div> <div>Shouldst Ráma's righteous counsel take.</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page222"></span><SPAN name="Pg222" id="Pg222" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>All debts to Queen Kaikeyí paid,</div> <div>Thy sire his home in heaven has made,</div> <div>So virtuous Ráma we would see</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >From filial obligation free.”</span></div> <div>Thus gave each royal sage advice,</div> <div>High saint, and bard of Paradise;</div> <div>Then quickly vanishing from view</div> <div>Each to his proper home withdrew.</div> <div>Then Ráma's face his rapture showed,</div> <div>And his full heart with joy o'erflowed,</div> <div>While, as the sages parted thence,</div> <div>He paid his humble reverence.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Bharat shook in every limb</div> <div>As suppliant thus he spake to him:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“The duty of a king respect,</span></div> <div>Held by our race in high respect:</div> <div>And O, thy gracious ear incline</div> <div>To heed my mother's prayer and mine.</div> <div>The mighty realm to rule and guard</div> <div>For me alone is task too hard.</div> <div>No power have I the love to gain</div> <div>Of noble, citizen, and swain.</div> <div>All those who know thee, warrior, friend,</div> <div>On thee their eager glances bend,</div> <div>As labouring hinds who till the plain</div> <div>Look fondly for the Lord of Rain.</div> <div>O wisest Prince, thy realm secure,</div> <div>And make its firm foundations sure.</div> <div>Kakutstha's son, thy mighty arm</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Can keep the nation free from harm.”</span></div> <div>He spoke, and fell in sorrow drowned</div> <div>At Ráma's feet upon the ground,</div> <div>And there the hero sued and sighed,</div> <div>And <span class="tei tei-q" >“Hear me, Raghu's son,”</span> he cried.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Ráma raised him up, and pressed</div> <div>His brother to his loving breast,</div> <div>And sweetly as a wild swan cried</div> <div>To Bharat dark and lotus-eyed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“So just and true thy generous soul,</span></div> <div>Thy hand may well this earth control:</div> <div>But many a sage his aid will lend,</div> <div>With counsellor, and peer, and friend:</div> <div>With these advise: their counsel ask,</div> <div>And so perform thy arduous task.</div> <div>The moon his beauty may forgo,</div> <div>The cold forsake the Hills of Snow,</div> <div>And Ocean o'er his banks may sweep,</div> <div>But I my father's word will keep.</div> <div>Now whether love of thee or greed</div> <div>Thy mother led to plan the deed,</div> <div>Forth from thy breast the memory throw,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >And filial love and reverence show.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Thus spake Kauśalyá's son: again</div> <div>Bharat replied in humble strain</div> <div>To him who matched the sun in might</div> <div>And lovely as the young moon's light:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Put, noble brother, I entreat,</span></div> <div>These sandals on thy blessed feet:</div> <div>These, lord of men, with gold bedecked,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >The realm and people will protect.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Ráma, as his brother prayed</div> <div>Beneath his feet the sandals laid,</div> <div>And these with fond affection gave</div> <div>To Bharat's hand, the good and brave.</div> <div>Then Bharat bowed his reverent head</div> <div>And thus again to Ráma said:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Through fourteen seasons will I wear</span></div> <div>The hermit's dress and matted hair:</div> <div>With fruit and roots my life sustain,</div> <div>And still beyond the realm remain,</div> <div>Longing for thee to come again.</div> <div>The rule and all affairs of state</div> <div>I to these shoes will delegate.</div> <div>And if, O tamer of thy foes,</div> <div>When fourteen years have reached their close,</div> <div>I see thee not that day return,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >The kindled fire my frame shall burn.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Then Ráma to his bosom drew</div> <div>Dear Bharat and Śatrughna too:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Be never wroth,”</span> he cried, <span class="tei tei-q" >“with her,</span></div> <div>Kaikeyí's guardian minister:</div> <div>This, glory of Ikshváku's line,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Is Sítá's earnest prayer and mine.”</span></div> <div>He spoke, and as the big tears fell,</div> <div>To his dear brother bade farewell.</div> <div>Round Ráma, Bharat strong and bold</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">In humble reverence paced,</div> <div>When the bright sandals wrought with gold</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Above his brows were placed.</div> <div>The royal elephant who led</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">The glorious pomp he found,</div> <div>And on the monster's mighty head</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Those sandals duly bound.</div> <div>Then noble Ráma, born to swell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">The glories of his race,</div> <div>To all in order bade farewell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">With love and tender grace—</div> <div>To brothers, counsellers, and peers,—</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Still firm, in duty proved,</div> <div>Firm, as the Lord of Snow uprears</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">His mountains unremoved.</div> <div>No queen, for choking sobs and sighs,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Could say her last adieu:</div> <div>Then Ráma bowed, with flooded eyes,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">And to his cot withdrew.</div> </div> <SPAN name="toc381" id="toc381"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf382" id="pdf382"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoII-CXIII" id="CantoII-CXIII" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <h2 class="tei tei-head" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 2.88em; margin-top: 2.88em"><span style="font-size: 144%">Canto CXIII. Bharat's Return.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>Bearing the sandals on his head</div> <div>Away triumphant Bharat sped,</div> <div>And clomb, Śatrughna by his side,</div> <div>The car wherein he wont to ride.</div> <div>Before the mighty army went</div> <div>The lords for counsel eminent,</div> <div>Vaśishṭha, Vámadeva next,</div> <div>Jáváli, pure with prayer and text.</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page223"></span><SPAN name="Pg223" id="Pg223" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div>Then from that lovely river they</div> <div>Turned eastward on their homeward way:</div> <div>With reverent steps from left to right</div> <div>They circled Chitrakúṭa's height,</div> <div>And viewed his peaks on every side</div> <div>With stains of thousand metals dyed.</div> <div>Then Bharat saw, not far away,</div> <div>Where Bharadvája's dwelling lay,</div> <div>And when the chieftain bold and sage</div> <div>Had reached that holy hermitage,</div> <div>Down from the car he sprang to greet</div> <div>The saint, and bowed before his feet.</div> <div>High rapture filled the hermit's breast,</div> <div>Who thus the royal prince addressed:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Say, Bharat, is thy duty done?</span></div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Hast thou with Ráma met, my son?”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>The chief whose soul to virtue clave</div> <div>This answer to the hermit gave:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“I prayed him with our holy guide:</span></div> <div>But Raghu's son our prayer denied,</div> <div>And long besought by both of us</div> <div>He answered Saint Vaśishṭha thus:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“True to my vow, I still will be</span></div> <div>Observant of my sire's decree:</div> <div>Till fourteen years complete their course</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >That promise shall remain in force.”</span></div> <div>The saint in highest wisdom taught,</div> <div>These solemn words with wisdom fraught,</div> <div>To him in lore of language learned</div> <div>Most eloquent himself returned:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Obey my rede: let Bharat hold</span></div> <div>This pair of sandals decked with gold:</div> <div>They in Ayodhyá shall ensure</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Our welfare, and our bliss secure.”</span></div> <div>When Ráma heard the royal priest</div> <div>He rose, and looking to the east</div> <div>Consigned the sandals to my hand</div> <div>That they for him might guard the land.</div> <div>Then from the high-souled chief's abode</div> <div>I turned upon my homeward road,</div> <div>Dismissed by him, and now this pair</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Of sandals to Ayodhyá bear.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>To him the hermit thus replied,</div> <div>By Bharat's tidings gratified:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“No marvel thoughts so just and true,</span></div> <div>Thou best of all who right pursue,</div> <div>Should dwell in thee, O Prince of men,</div> <div>As waters gather in the glen.</div> <div>He is not dead, we mourn in vain:</div> <div>Thy blessed father lives again,</div> <div>Whose noble son we thus behold</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >Like Virtue's self in human mould.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div>He ceased: before him Bharat fell</div> <div>To clasp his feet, and said farewell:</div> <div>His reverent steps around him bent,</div> <div>And onward to Ayodhyá went.</div> <div>His host of followers stretching far</div> <div>With many an elephant and car,</div> <div>Waggon and steed, and mighty train,</div> <div>Traversed their homeward way again.</div> <div>O'er holy Yamuná they sped,</div> <div>Fair stream, with waves engarlanded,</div> <div>And then once more the rivers' queen,</div> <div>The blessed Gangá's self was seen.</div> <div>Then making o'er that flood his way,</div> <div>Where crocodiles and monsters lay,</div> <div>The king to Śringavera drew</div> <div>His host and royal retinue.</div> <div>His onward way he thence pursued,</div> <div>And soon renowned Ayodhyá viewed.</div> <div>Then burnt by woe and sad of cheer</div> <div>Bharat addressed the charioteer:</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >“Ah, see, Ayodhyá dark and sad,</span></div> <div>Her glory gone, once bright and glad:</div> <div>Of joy and beauty reft, forlorn,</div> <div><span class="tei tei-q" >In silent grief she seems to mourn.”</span></div> </div> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />