Ramayan, Book 3, The

<SPAN name="toc445" id="toc445"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf446" id="pdf446"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoIII-XXV" id="CantoIII-XXV" 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 XXV. The Battle.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Khara with the hosts he led</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Drew near to Ráma's leafy shed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He saw that queller of the foe</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Stand ready with his ordered bow.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He saw, and burning at the view</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His clanging bow he raised and drew,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And bade his driver urge apace</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His car to meet him face to face.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Obedient to his master's hest</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His eager steeds the driver pressed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On to the spot where, none to aid,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The strong-armed chief his weapon swayed.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Soon as the children of the night</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Saw Khara rushing to the fight,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page258"></span><SPAN name="Pg258" id="Pg258" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His lords with loud unearthly cry</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Followed their chief and gathered nigh.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As in his car the leader rode</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With all his lords around, he showed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like the red planet fiery Mars</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Surrounded by the lesser stars.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then with a horrid yell that rent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The air, the giant chieftain sent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A thousand darts in rapid shower</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On Ráma matchless in his power.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The rovers of the night, impelled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By fiery rage which naught withheld,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Upon the unconquered prince, who strained</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His fearful bow, their arrows rained.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With sword and club, with mace and pike,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With spear and axe to pierce and strike,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Those furious fiends on every side</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The unconquerable hero plied.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant legions huge and strong,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like clouds the tempest drives along,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Rushed upon Ráma with the speed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of whirling car, and mounted steed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And hill-like elephant, to slay</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The matchless prince in battle fray.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then upon Ráma thick and fast</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The rain of mortal steel they cast,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As labouring clouds their torrents shed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Upon the mountain-monarch's<SPAN id="noteref_467" name="noteref_467" href="#note_467"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">467</span></span></SPAN> head.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As near and nearer round him drew</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The warriors of the giant crew,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He showed like Śiva girt by all</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His spirits when night's shadows fall.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As the great deep receives each rill</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And river rushing from the hill,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He bore that flood of darts, and broke</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With well-aimed shaft each murderous stroke.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By stress of arrowy storm assailed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And wounded sore, he never failed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like some high mountain which defies</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The red bolts flashing from the skies.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With ruddy streams each limb was dyed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From gaping wounds in breast and side,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Showing the hero like the sun</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">'Mid crimson clouds ere day is done.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then, at that sight of terror, faint</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Grew God, Gandharva, sage, and saint,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Trembling to see the prince oppose</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His single might to myriad foes.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But waxing wroth, with force unspent,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He strained his bow to utmost bent,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And forth his arrows keen and true</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In hundreds, yea in thousands flew,—</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shafts none could ward, and none endure:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Death's fatal noose was scarce so sure.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As 'twere in playful ease he shot</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His gilded shafts, and rested not.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With swiftest flight and truest aim</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Upon the giant hosts they came.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each smote, each stayed a foeman's breath</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As fatal as the coil of Death.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each arrow through a giant tore</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A passage, and besmeared with gore,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Pursued its onward way and through</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The air with flamy brilliance flew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Unnumbered were the arrows sent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From the great bow which Ráma bent,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And every shaft with iron head</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The lifeblood of a giant shed.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their pennoned bows were cleft, nor mail</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Nor shield of hide could aught avail.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For Ráma's myriad arrows tore</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Through arms, and bracelets which they wore,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And severed mighty warriors' thighs</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like trunks of elephants in size,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And cut resistless passage sheer</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Through gold-decked horse and charioteer,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Slew elephant and rider, slew</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The horseman and the charger too,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And infantry unnumbered sent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To dwell 'neath Yáma's government.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then rose on high a fearful yell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of rovers of the night, who fell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Beneath that iron torrent, sore</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Wounded by shafts that rent and tore.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So mangled by the ceaseless storm</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of shafts of every kind and form,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Such joy they found, as forests feel</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When scorched by flame, from Ráma's steel.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The mightiest still the fight maintained,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And furious upon Ráma rained</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dart, arrow, spear, with wild attacks</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of mace, and club, and battle-axe.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But the great chief, unconquered yet,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their weapons with his arrows met,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Which severed many a giant's head,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And all the plain with corpses spread.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With sundered bow and shattered shield</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Headless they sank upon the field,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As the tall trees, that felt the blast</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of Garuḍ's wing, to earth were cast.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giants left unslaughtered there</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Where filled with terror and despair,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And to their leader Khara fled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Faint, wounded, and discomfited.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">These fiery Dúshaṇ strove to cheer,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And poised his bow to calm their fear;</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then fierce as He who rules the dead,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When wroth, on angered Ráma sped.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By Dúshaṇ cheered, the demons cast</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their dread aside and rallied fast</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With Sáls, rocks, palm-trees in their hands</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With nooses, maces, pikes, and brands,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Again upon the godlike man</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The mighty fiends infuriate ran,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">These casting rocks like hail, and these</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A whelming shower of leafy trees.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Wild, wondrous fight, the eye to scare,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And raise on end each shuddering hair,</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page259"></span><SPAN name="Pg259" id="Pg259" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As with the fiends who loved to rove</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By night heroic Ráma strove!</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giants in their fury plied</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Ráma with darts on every side.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then, by the gathering demons pressed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From north and south and east and west,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By showers of deadly darts assailed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From every quarter fiercely hailed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Girt by the foes who swarmed around,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He raised a mighty shout whose sound</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Struck terror. On the giant crew</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His great Gandharva<SPAN id="noteref_468" name="noteref_468" href="#note_468"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">468</span></span></SPAN> arrow flew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A thousand mortal shafts were rained</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From the orbed bow the hero strained,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Till east and west and south and north</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Were filled with arrows volleyed forth.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">They heard the fearful shout: they saw</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His mighty hand the bowstring draw,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Yet could no wounded giant's eye</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">See the swift storm of arrows fly.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Still firm the warrior stood and cast</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His deadly missiles thick and fast.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dark grew the air with arrowy hail</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Which hid the sun as with a veil.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fiends wounded, falling, fallen, slain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">All in a moment, spread the plain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And thousands scarce alive were left</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Mangled, and gashed, and torn, and cleft.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dire was the sight, the plain o'erspread</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With trophies of the mangled dead.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">There lay, by Ráma's missiles rent,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Full many a priceless ornament,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With severed limb and broken gem,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Hauberk and helm and diadem.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">There lay the shattered car, the steed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The elephant of noblest breed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The splintered spear, the shivered mace,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Chouris and screens to shade the face.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giants saw with bitterest pain</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their warriors weltering on the plain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Nor dared again his might oppose</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who scourged the cities of his foes.</div> </div></div> <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> <SPAN name="toc447" id="toc447"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf448" id="pdf448"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoIII-XXVI" id="CantoIII-XXVI" 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 XXVI. Dúshan's Death.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Dúshaṇ saw his giant band</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Slaughtered by Ráma's conquering hand,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He called five thousand fiends, and gave</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His orders. Bravest of the brave,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Invincible, of furious might,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Ne'er had they turned their backs in flight.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">They, as their leader bade them seize</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Spears, swords, and clubs, and rocks, and trees,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Poured on the dauntless prince again</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A ceaseless shower of deadly rain.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The virtuous Ráma, undismayed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their missiles with his arrows stayed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And weakened, ere it fell, the shock</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of that dire hail of tree and rock,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And like a bull with eyelids closed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The pelting of the storm opposed.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Then blazed his ire: he longed to smite</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To earth the rovers of the night.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The wrath that o'er his spirit came</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Clothed him with splendour as of flame,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While showers of mortal darts he poured</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fierce on the giants and their lord.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dúshaṇ, the foeman's dusky dread,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By frenzied rage inspirited,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On Raghu's son his missiles cast</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like Indra's bolts which rend and blast.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Ráma with a trenchant dart</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Cleft Dúshaṇ's ponderous bow apart.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And then the gold-decked steeds who drew</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The chariot, with four shafts he slew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">One crescent dart he aimed which shred</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Clean from his neck the driver's head;</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Three more with deadly skill addressed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Stood quivering in the giant's breast.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Hurled from his car, steeds, driver slain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The bow he trusted cleft in twain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He seized his mace, strong, heavy, dread,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">High as a mountain's towering head.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With plates of gold adorned and bound,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Embattled Gods it crushed and ground.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Its iron spikes yet bore the stains</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of mangled foemen's blood and brains.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Its heavy mass of jagged steel</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Was like a thunderbolt to feel.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">It shattered, as on foes it fell,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The city where the senses dwell.<SPAN id="noteref_469" name="noteref_469" href="#note_469"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">469</span></span></SPAN></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fierce Dúshaṇ seized that ponderous mace</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like monstrous form of serpent race,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And all his savage soul aglow</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With fury, rushed upon the foe.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Raghu's son took steady aim,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And as the rushing giant came,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shore with two shafts the arms whereon</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The demon's glittering bracelets shone.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His arm at each huge shoulder lopped,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The mighty body reeled and dropped,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And the great mace to earth was thrown</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like Indra's staff when storms have blown.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As some vast elephant who lies</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shorn of his tusks, and bleeding dies,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So, when his arms were rent away,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Low on the ground the giant lay.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The spirits saw the monster die,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And loudly rang their joyful cry,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Honour to Ráma! nobly done!</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Well hast thou fought, Kakutstha's son!”</span></div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page260"></span><SPAN name="Pg260" id="Pg260" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But the great three, the host who led,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Enraged to see their chieftain dead,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As though Death's toils were round them cast,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Rushed upon Ráma fierce and fast,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Mahákapála seized, to strike</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His foeman down, a ponderous pike:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sthúláksha charged with spear to fling,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Pramáthi with his axe to swing.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Ráma saw, with keen darts he</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Received the onset of the three,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As calm as though he hailed a guest</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In each, who came for shade and rest.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Mahákapála's monstrous head</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fell with the trenchant dart he sped.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His good right hand in battle skilled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sthúláksha's eyes with arrows filled,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And trusting still his ready bow</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He laid the fierce Pramáthi low,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who sank as some tall tree falls down</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With bough and branch and leafy crown.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then with five thousand shafts he slew</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The rest of Dúshaṇ's giant crew:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Five thousand demons, torn and rent,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To Yáma's gloomy realm he sent.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When Khara knew the fate of all</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant band and Dúshaṇ's fall,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He called the mighty chiefs who led</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His army, and in fury said:</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Now Dúshaṇ and his armèd train</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lie prostrate on the battle plain.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lead forth an army mightier still,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Ráma this wretched man, to kill.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fight ye with darts of every shape,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Nor let him from your wrath escape.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Thus spoke the fiend, by rage impelled,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And straight his course toward Ráma held.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With Śyenagámí and the rest</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of his twelve chiefs he onward pressed,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And every giant as he went</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A storm of well-wrought arrows sent.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then with his pointed shafts that came</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With gold and diamond bright as flame,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dead to the earth the hero threw</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The remnant of the demon crew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Those shafts with feathers bright as gold,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like flames which wreaths of smoke enfold,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Smote down the fiends like tall trees rent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By red bolts from the firmament.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A hundred shafts he pointed well:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By their keen barbs a hundred fell:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A thousand,—and a thousand more</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In battle's front lay drenched in gore.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of all defence and guard bereft,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With sundered bows and harness cleft.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their bodies red with bloody stain</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fell the night-rovers on the plain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Which, covered with the loosened hair</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of bleeding giants prostrate there,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like some great altar showed, arrayed</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For holy rites with grass o'erlaid.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The darksome wood, each glade and dell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Where the wild demons fought and fell</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Was like an awful hell whose floor</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Is thick with mire and flesh and gore.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Thus twice seven thousand fiends, a band</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With impious heart and bloody hand,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By Raghu's son were overthrown,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A man, on foot, and all alone.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of all who met on that fierce day,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Khara, great chief, survived the fray,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The monster of the triple head,<SPAN id="noteref_470" name="noteref_470" href="#note_470"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">470</span></span></SPAN></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Raghu's son, the foeman's dread.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The other demon warriors, all</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Skilful and brave and strong and tall,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In front of battle, side by side,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Struck down by Lakshmaṇ's brother died.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">When Khara saw the host he led</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Triumphant forth to fight</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Stretched on the earth, all smitten dead,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">By Ráma's nobler might,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Upon his foe he fiercely glared,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">And drove against him fast,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Like Indra when his arm is bared</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">His thundering bolt to cast.</div> </div></div> <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> <SPAN name="toc449" id="toc449"></SPAN> <SPAN name="pdf450" id="pdf450"></SPAN> <SPAN name="CantoIII-XXVII" id="CantoIII-XXVII" 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 XXVII. The Death Of Trisirás.</span></h2> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Triśirás,<SPAN id="noteref_471" name="noteref_471" href="#note_471"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">471</span></span></SPAN> a chieftain dread,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Marked Khara as he onward sped.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And met his car and cried, to stay</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant from the purposed fray:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Mine be the charge: let me attack,</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And turn thee from the contest back.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Let me go forth, and thou shalt see</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The strong-armed Ráma slain by me.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">True are the words I speak, my lord:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">I swear it as I touch my sword:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That I this Ráma's blood will spill,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whom every giant's hand should kill.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">This Ráma will I slay, or he</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In battle fray shall conquer me.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Restrain thy spirit: check thy car,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And view the combat from afar.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou, joying o'er the prostrate foe,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To Janasthán again shalt go,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Or, if I fall in battle's chance,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Against my conqueror advance.”</span></div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Thus Triśirás for death who yearned:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Khara from the conflict turned,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Go forth to battle,”</span> Khara cried;</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And toward his foe the giant hied.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Borne on a car of glittering hue</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Which harnessed coursers fleetly drew,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like some huge hill with triple peak</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He onward rushed the prince to seek.</div> <span class="tei tei-pb" id="page261"></span><SPAN name="Pg261" id="Pg261" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Still, like a big cloud, sending out</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His arrowy rain with many a shout</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like the deep sullen roars that come</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Discordant from a moistened drum.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Raghu's son, whose watchful eye</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Beheld the demon rushing nigh,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From the great bow he raised and bent</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A shower of shafts to meet him sent.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Wild grew the fight and wilder yet</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As fiend and man in combat met,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As when in some dark wood's retreat</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">An elephant and a lion meet.</div> </div> <div class="tei tei-lg" style="margin-bottom: 1.00em; margin-top: 1.00em"> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The giant bent his bow, and true</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To Ráma's brow three arrows flew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then, raging as he felt the stroke,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">These words in anger Ráma spoke:</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Heroic chief! is such the power</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of fiends who rove at midnight hour?</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Soft as the touch of flowers I feel</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The gentle blows thine arrows deal.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Receive in turn my shafts, and know</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">What arrows fly from Ráma's bow.”</span></div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus as he spoke his wrath grew hot,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And twice seven deadly shafts he shot,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Which, dire as serpent's deadly fang,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Straight to the giant's bosom sprang.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Four arrows more,—each shaped to deal</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A mortal wound with barbèd steel,—</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The glorious hero shot, and slew</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The four good steeds the car that drew.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Eight other shafts flew straight and fleet,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And hurled the driver from his seat,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And in the dust the banner laid</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That proudly o'er the chariot played.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then as the fiend prepared to bound</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Forth from his useless car to ground,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hero smote him to the heart,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And numbed his arm with deadly smart.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Again the chieftain, peerless-souled,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sent forth three rapid darts, and rolled</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With each keen arrow, deftly sped,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Low in the dust a monstrous head.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then yielding to each deadly stroke,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Forth spouting streams of blood and smoke,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The headless trunk bedrenched with gore</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fell to the ground and moved no more.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The fiends who yet were left with life,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Routed and crushed in battle strife,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To Khara's side, like trembling deer</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Scared by the hunter, fled in fear.</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">King Khara saw with furious eye</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His scattered giants turn and fly;</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then rallying his broken train</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">At Raghu's son he drove amain,</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like Ráhu<SPAN id="noteref_472" name="noteref_472" href="#note_472"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">472</span></span></SPAN> when his deadly might</div> <div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Comes rushing on the Lord of Night.</div> </div></div> <div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em"> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />