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<SPAN name="CantoIII-XXVIII" id="CantoIII-XXVIII" 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 XXVIII. Khara Dismounted.</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 when he turned his eye where bled</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Both Triśirás and Dúshaṇ dead,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fear o'er the giant's spirit came</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of Ráma's might which naught could tame.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He saw his savage legions, those</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose force no creature dared oppose,—</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He saw the leader of his train</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By Ráma's single prowess slain.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With burning grief he marked the few</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Still left him of his giant crew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As Namuchi<SPAN id="noteref_473" name="noteref_473" href="#note_473"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">473</span></span></SPAN> on Indra, so</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Rushed the dread demon on his foe.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His mighty bow the monster strained,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And angrily on Ráma rained</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His mortal arrows in a flood,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like serpent fangs athirst for blood.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Skilled in the bowman's warlike art,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He plied the string and poised the dart.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Here, on his car, and there, he rode,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And passages of battle showed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While all the skyey regions grew</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dark with his arrows as they flew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then Ráma seized his ponderous bow,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And straight the heaven was all aglow</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With shafts whose stroke no life might bear</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That filled with flash and flame the air,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thick as the blinding torrents sent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Down from Parjanya's<SPAN id="noteref_474" name="noteref_474" href="#note_474"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">474</span></span></SPAN> firmament.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In space itself no space remained,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But all was filled with arrows rained</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Incessantly from each great bow</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Wielded by Ráma and his foe.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As thus in furious combat, wrought</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To mortal hate, the warriors fought,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The sun himself grew faint and pale,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Obscured behind that arrowy veil.</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">As when beneath the driver's steel</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">An elephant is forced to kneel,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So from the hard and pointed head</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of many an arrow Ráma bled.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">High on his car the giant rose</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Prepared in deadly strife to close,</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page262"></span><SPAN name="Pg262" id="Pg262" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And all the spirits saw him stand</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like Yáma with his noose in hand.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For Khara deemed in senseless pride</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That he, beneath whose hand had died</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant legions, failed at length</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Slow sinking with exhausted strength.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Ráma, like a lion, when</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A trembling deer comes nigh his den,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Feared not the demon mad with hate,—</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of lion might and lion gait.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then in his lofty car that glowed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With sunlike brilliance Khara rode</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">At Ráma: madly on he came</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like a poor moth that seeks the flame.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His archer skill the fiend displayed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And at the place where Ráma laid</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His hand, an arrow cleft in two</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The mighty bow the hero drew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Seven arrows by the giant sent,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bright as the bolts of Indra, rent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their way through mail and harness joints,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And pierced him with their iron points.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On Ráma, hero unsurpassed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A thousand shafts smote thick and fast,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While as each missile struck, rang out</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant's awful battle-shout.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His knotted arrows pierced and tore</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The sunbright mail the hero wore,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Till, band and buckle rent away,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Glittering on the ground it lay.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then pierced in shoulder, breast, and side,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Till every limb with blood was dyed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The chieftain in majestic ire</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shone glorious as the smokeless fire.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then loud and long the war-cry rose</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of Ráma, terror of his foes,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As, on the giant's death intent,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A ponderous bow he strung and bent,—</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lord Vishṇu's own, of wondrous size,—</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Agastya gave the heavenly prize.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then rushing on the demon foe,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He raised on high that mighty bow,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And with his well-wrought shafts, whereon</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bright gold between the feathers shone,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He struck the pennon fluttering o'er</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The chariot, and it waved no more.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That glorious flag whose every fold</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Was rich with blazonry and gold,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fell as the sun himself by all</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The Gods' decree might earthward fall.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From wrathful Khara's hand, whose art</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Well knew each vulnerable part,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Four keenly-piercing arrows flew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And blood in Ráma's bosom drew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With every limb distained with gore</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From deadly shafts which rent and tore,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From Khara's clanging bowstring shots,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The prince's wrath waxed wondrous hot.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His hand upon his bow that best</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of mighty archers firmly pressed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And from the well-drawn bowstring, true</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each to its mark, six arrows flew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">One quivered in the giant's head,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With two his brawny shoulders bled;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Three, with the crescent heads they bore,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Deep in his breast a passage tore.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thirteen, to which the stone had lent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The keenest point, were swiftly sent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On the fierce giant, every one</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Destructive, gleaming like the sun.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With four the dappled steeds he slew;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">One cleft the chariot yoke in two,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">One, in the heat of battle sped,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Smote from the neck the driver's head.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The poles were rent apart by three;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Two broke the splintered axle-tree.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then from the hand of Ráma, while</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Across his lips there came a smile,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The twelfth, like thunderbolt impelled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Cut the great hand and bow it held.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then, scarce by Indra's self surpassed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He pierced the giant with the last.</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">His driver and his horses slain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Down sprang the giant, mace in hand,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On foot against the foe to stand.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The Gods and saints in bright array</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Close gathered in the skies,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The prince's might in battle-fray</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Beheld with joyful eyes.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Uprising from their golden seats,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">Their hands in honour raised,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">They looked on Ráma's noble feats,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 4.00em">And blessed him as they praised.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em">
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<SPAN name="CantoIII-XXIX" id="CantoIII-XXIX" 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 XXIX. Khara's Defeat.</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 Ráma saw the giant nigh,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On foot, alone, with mace reared high,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In mild reproof at first he spoke,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then forth his threatening anger broke:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“Thou with the host 'twas thine to lead,</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With elephant and car and steed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Hast wrought an act of sin and shame,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">An act which all who live must blame.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Know that the wretch whose evil mind</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Joys in the grief of human kind,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Though the three worlds confess him lord,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Must perish dreaded and abhorred.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Night-rover, when a villain's deeds</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Distress the world he little heeds,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each hand is armed his life to take,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And crush him like a deadly snake.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The end is near when men begin</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Through greed or lust a life of sin,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">E'en as a Bráhman's dame, unwise,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Eats of the fallen hail<SPAN id="noteref_475" name="noteref_475" href="#note_475"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">475</span></span></SPAN>
and dies.</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page263"></span><SPAN name="Pg263" id="Pg263" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy hand has slain the pure and good,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hermit saints of Daṇḍak wood,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of holy life, the heirs of bliss;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And thou shalt reap the fruit of this.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Not long shall they whose cruel breasts</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Joy in the sin the world detests</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Retain their guilty power and pride,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But fade like trees whose roots are dried.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Yes, as the seasons come and go,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Each tree its kindly fruit must show,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And sinners reap in fitting time</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The harvest of each earlier crime.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As those must surely die who eat</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Unwittingly of poisoned meat,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">They too whose lives in sin are spent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Receive ere long the punishment.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And know, thou rover of the night,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That I, a king, am sent to smite</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The wicked down, who court the hate</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of men whose laws they violate.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">This day my vengeful hand shall send</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shafts bright with gold to tear and rend,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And pass with fury through thy breast</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As serpents pierce an emmet's nest.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou with thy host this day shalt be</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Among the dead below, and see</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The saints beneath thy hand who bled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose flesh thy cruel maw has fed.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">They, glorious on their seats of gold,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Their slayer shall in hell behold.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fight with all strength thou callest thine,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Mean scion of ignoble line,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Still, like the palm-tree's fruit, this day</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">My shafts thy head in dust shall lay.”</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">Such were the words that Ráma said:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then Khara's eyes with wrath glowed red,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who, maddened by the rage that burned</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Within him, with a smile returned:</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">“Thou Daśaratha's son, hast slain</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The meaner giants of my train:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And canst thou idly vaunt thy might</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And claim the praise not thine by right?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Not thus in self-laudation rave</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The truly great, the nobly brave:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">No empty boasts like thine disgrace</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The foremost of the human race.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The mean of soul, unknown to fame,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who taint their warrior race with shame,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus speak in senseless pride as thou,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O Raghu's son, hast boasted now.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What hero, when the war-cry rings,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Vaunts the high race from which he springs,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Or seeks, when warriors meet and die,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His own descent to glorify?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Weakness and folly show confessed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In every vaunt thou utterest,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As when the flames fed high with grass</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Detect the simulating brass.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dost thou not see me standing here</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Armed with the mighty mace I rear,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Firm as an earth upholding hill</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose summit veins of metal fill?</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lo, here I stand before thy face</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">To slay thee with my murderous mace,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As Death, the universal lord,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Stands threatening with his fatal cord.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Enough of this. Much more remains</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That should be said: but time constrains.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Ere to his rest the sun descend,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And shades of night the combat end,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The twice seven thousand of my band</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who fell beneath thy bloody hand</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Shall have their tears all wiped away</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">And triumph in thy fall to-day.”</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">He spoke, and loosing from his hold</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His mighty mace ringed round with gold,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like some red bolt alive with fire</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Hurled it at Ráma, mad with ire.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The ponderous mace which Khara threw</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sent fiery flashes as it flew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Trees, shrubs were scorched beneath the blast,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As onward to its aim it passed.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Ráma, watching as it sped</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Dire as His noose who rules the dead,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Cleft it with arrows as it came</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On rushing with a hiss and flame.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Its fury spent and burnt away,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Harmless upon the ground it lay</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like a great snake in furious mood</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By herbs of numbing power subdued.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em">
<SPAN name="toc455" id="toc455"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="pdf456" id="pdf456"></SPAN>
<SPAN name="CantoIII-XXX" id="CantoIII-XXX" 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 XXX. Khara'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; margin-left: 2.00em">When Ráma, pride of Raghu's race,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Virtue's dear son, had cleft the mace,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus with superior smile the best</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of chiefs the furious fiend addressed:</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">“Thou, worst of giant blood, at length</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Hast shown the utmost of thy strength,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And forced by greater might to bow,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy vaunting threats are idle now.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My shafts have cut thy club in twain:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Useless it lies upon the plain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And all thy pride and haughty trust</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lie with it levelled in the dust.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The words that thou hast said to-day,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">That thou wouldst wipe the tears away</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of all the giants I have slain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My deeds shall render void and vain.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou meanest of the giants' breed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Evil in thought and word and deed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">My hand shall take that life of thine</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As Garuḍ<SPAN id="noteref_476" name="noteref_476" href="#note_476"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">476</span></span></SPAN> seized the juice divine.</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page264"></span><SPAN name="Pg264" id="Pg264" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou, rent by shafts, this day shalt die:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Low on the ground thy corse shall lie,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And bubbles from the cloven neck</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With froth and blood thy skin shall deck.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With dust and mire all rudely dyed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thy torn arms lying by thy side,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">While streams of blood each limb shall steep,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou on earth's breast shalt take thy sleep</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Like a fond lover when he strains</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The beauty whom at length he gains.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Now when thy heavy eyelids close</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For ever in thy deep repose,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Again shall Daṇḍak forest be</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Safe refuge for the devotee.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou slain, and all thy race who held</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The realm of Janasthán expelled,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Again shall happy hermits rove,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fearing no danger, through the grove.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Within those bounds, their brethren slain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">No giant shall this day remain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But all shall fly with many a tear</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And fearing, rid the saints of fear.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">This bitter day shall misery bring</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On all the race that calls thee king.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Fierce as their lord, thy dames shall know,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bereft of joys, the taste of woe.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Base, cruel wretch, of evil mind,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Plaguer of Bráhmans and mankind,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With trembling hands each devotee</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Feeds holy fires in dread of thee.”</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 with wild fury unrepressed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Raghu's brave son the fiend addressed;</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Khara, as his wrath grew high,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thus thundered forth his fierce reply:</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">“By senseless pride to madness wrought,</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By danger girt thou fearest naught,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Nor heedest, numbered with the dead,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">What thou shouldst say and leave unsaid.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Fate's tremendous coils enfold</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The captive in resistless hold,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He knows not right from wrong, each sense</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Numbed by that deadly influence.”</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">He spoke, and when his speech was done</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Bent his fierce brows on Raghu's son.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With eager eyes he looked around</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">If lethal arms might yet be found.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Not far away and full in view</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A Sál-tree towering upward grew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His lips in mighty strain compressed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He tore it up with root and crest,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With huge arms waved it o'er his head</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And hurled it shouting, Thou art dead.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Ráma, unsurpassed in might,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Stayed with his shafts its onward flight,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And furious longing seized his soul</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant in the dust to roll.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Great drops of sweat each limb bedewed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His red eyes showed his wrathful mood.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">A thousand arrows, swiftly sent,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giant's bosom tore and rent.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">From every gash his body showed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The blood in foamy torrents flowed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">As springing from their caverns leap</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Swift rivers down the mountain steep.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Khara felt each deadened power</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Yielding beneath that murderous shower,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">He charged, infuriate with the scent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of blood, in dire bewilderment.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">But Ráma watched, with ready bow,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The onset of his bleeding foe,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And ere the monster reached him, drew</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Backward in haste a yard or two.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then from his side a shaft he took</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Whose mortal stroke no life might brook:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of peerless might, it bore the name</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of Brahmá's staff, and glowed with flame:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Lord Indra, ruler of the skies,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Himself had given the glorious prize.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His bow the virtuous hero drew,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And at the fiend the arrow flew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Hissing and roaring like the blast</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Of tempest through the air it passed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And fixed, by Ráma's vigour sped,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In the foe's breast its pointed head.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then fell the fiend: the quenchless flame</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Burnt furious in his wounded frame.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So burnt by Rudra Andhak<SPAN id="noteref_477" name="noteref_477" href="#note_477"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">477</span></span></SPAN> fell</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In Śvetáraṇya's silvery dell:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So Namuchi and Vritra<SPAN id="noteref_478" name="noteref_478" href="#note_478"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">478</span></span></SPAN> died</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By steaming bolts that tamed their pride:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">So Bala<SPAN id="noteref_479" name="noteref_479" href="#note_479"><span class="tei tei-noteref" style="text-align: left"><span style="font-size: 60%; vertical-align: super">479</span></span></SPAN>
fell by lightning sent</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By Him who rules the firmament.</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 all the Gods in close array</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With the bright hosts who sing and play,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Filled full of rapture and amaze,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sang hymns of joy in Ráma's praise,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Beat their celestial drums and shed</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Rain of sweet flowers upon his head.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">For three short hours had scarcely flown,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And by his pointed shafts o'erthrown</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The twice seven thousand fiends, whose will</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Could change their shapes, in death were still,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With Triśirás and Dúshaṇ slain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Khara, leader of the train.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“O wondrous deed,”</span> the bards began,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">“The noblest deed of virtuous man!</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Heroic strength that stood alone,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">And firmness e'en as Vishṇu's own!”</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 having sung, the shining train</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Turned to their heavenly homes again.</div>
<span class="tei tei-pb" id="page265"></span><SPAN name="Pg265" id="Pg265" class="tei tei-anchor"></SPAN>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then the high saints of royal race</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And loftiest station sought the place,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And by the great Agastya led,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">With reverence to Ráma 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">“For this, Lord Indra, glorious sire,</span></div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Majestic as the burning fire,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Who crushes cities in his rage,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Sought Śarabhanga's hermitage.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou wast, this great design to aid,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Led by the saints to seek this shade,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And with thy mighty arm to kill</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The giants who delight in ill.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Thou Daśaratha's noble son,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The battle for our sake hast won,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And saints in Daṇḍak's wild who live</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left"><span class="tei tei-q" style="text-align: left">Their days to holy tasks can give.”</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">Forth from the mountain cavern came</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The hero Lakshmaṇ with the dame.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And rapture beaming from his face,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Resought the hermit dwelling-place.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then when the mighty saints had paid</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Due honour for the victor's aid,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">The glorious Ráma honoured too</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">By Lakshmaṇ to his cot withdrew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">When Sítá looked upon her lord,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">His foemen slain, the saints restored,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">In pride and rapture uncontrolled</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">She clasped him in her loving hold.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">On the dead fiends her glances fell:</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">She saw her lord alive and well,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Victorious after toil and pain,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">And Janak's child was blest again.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Once more, once more with new delight</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Her tender arms she threw</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Round Ráma whose victorious might</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Had crushed the demon crew.</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">Then as his grateful reverence paid</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">Each saint of lofty soul,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left">O'er her sweet face, all fears allayed,</div>
<div class="tei tei-l" style="text-align: left; margin-left: 2.00em">The flush of transport stole.</div>
</div></div>
<div class="tei tei-div" style="margin-bottom: 4.00em; margin-top: 4.00em">
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