Home > Library > New > Anonymous > The Ramayana > Book Iv. Canto Xxxviii. Sugr'iva's Departure

Book Iv. Canto Xxxviii. Sugr'iva's Departure

Canto Xxxviii.: Sugrva'S Departure.


Thus all the princely Vnars, true

To their appointed tasks, withdrew.

Suigrva deemed already done

The work he planned for Raghu's son.

Then Lakshman gently spoke and cheered

Sugrva for his valour feared:

' Now, chieftain, if thy will be so.

Forth from Kishkindh let us go.'

Sugrva's heart swelled high with pride

As to the prince he thus replied:

'Come, speed we forth without delay:

'Tis mine thy mandate to obey.'

Sugrva bade the dames adieu,

And Tr and the rest withdrew.

Then at their chieftain's summons came

The Vnars first in rank and fame,

A trusty brave and reverent band,

Meet e'en before a queen to stand.

They at his call made haste to bring

The litter of the glorious king.

' Mount, O my friend.' Sugrva cried,

And straight Sumitr's son complied.

Then took by Lakshman's side his place

The sovereign of the woodland race,

Upraised by Vnars, fleet and strong.

Who bore the glittering load along.

On high above his royal head

A paly canopy was spread,

And chouries white in many a hand

The forehead of the monarch fanned,

And shell and drum and song and shout

Pealed round him as the king passed out.

p. 370

About the monarch went a throng

Of Vnar warriors brave and strong,

As onward to the mountain shade

Where Rma dwelt his way he made.

Soon as the lovely spot he viewed

Where Rma lived in solitude,

The Vnar monarch, far-renowed,

With Lakshman, lightly stepped to ground,

And to the son of Raghu went

Joining his raised hands reverent.

As their great leader raised his hands,

So suppliant stood the Vnar bands.

Well pleased the son of Raghu saw

Those legions, hushed in reverent awe,

Stand silent like the tranquil floods

That raise their hands of lotus buds.

But Rma, when the king, to greet

His friend, had bowed him at his feet,

Raised him who ruled the Vanar race,

And held him in a close embrace:

Then, when his arms he had unknit,

Besought him by his side to sit,

And thus with gentle words the best

Of men the Vnar king addressed:

'The prince who well his days divides,

And knows aright the times and tides

To follow duty, joy, or gain,

He, only he, deserves to reign.

But he who wealth and virtue leaves,

And every hour to pleasure cleaves,

False from his bliss like him who wakes

From slumber on a branch that breaks.

True king is he who smites his foes,

And favour to his servants shows,

And of that fruit makes timely use

Which virtue, wealth, and joy produce.

The hour is come that bids thee rise

To aid me in my enterprise.

Then call thy nobles to debate,

And with their help deliberate.'

'Lost was my power,' the king replied,

'All strength had fled, all hope had died

The Vnars owned another lord,

But by thy grace was all restored.

All this, O conqueror of the foe,

To thee and Lakshman's aid I owe

And his should be the villain's shame

Who durst deny the sacred claim.

These Vnar chiefs of noblest birth

Have at my bidding roamed the earth,

And brought from distant regions all

Our legions at their monarch's call:

Fierce bears with monkey troops combined,

And apes of every varied kind,

Terrific in their forms, who dwell

In grove and wood and bosky dell:

The bright Gaudharvas' brood, the seed

Of Gods, 1 they change their shapes at need.

Each with his legions in array,

Hither, O Prince, they make their way,

They come: and tens of millions swell

To numbers that no tongue may tell. 1b

For thee their armies will unite

With chiefs, Mahendra's peers in might.

From Meru and from Vindhya's chain

They come like clouds that bring the rain.

These round thee to the war will go,

To smite to earth thy demon foe;

Will slay the Rkshas and restore

Thy consort when the fight is o'er."

Footnotes

370:1
See Book I. Canto XVI.

polyglot bible| polyglot bible
Home > Library > New > Anonymous > The Ramayana > Book Iv. Canto Xxxviii. Sugr'iva's Departure