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Book Vi. Canto Cxxiii. The Magic Car

Canto Cxxiii.: The Magic Car.


Then slept the tamer of his foes

And spent the night in calm repose.

Vibhshan came when morning broke,

And hailed the royal chief, and spoke:

'Here wait thee precious oil and scents,

And rich attire and ornaments.

The brimming urns are newly filled,

And women in their duty skilled,

With lotus-eyes, thy call attend,

Assistance at thy bath to lend.'

'Let others,' Rma cried,'desire

These precious scents, this rich attire,

I heed not such delights as these,

For faithful Bharat, ill at ease,

Watching for me is keeping now

Far far away his rigorous vow.

By Bharat's side I long to stand,

I long to see my fatherland.

Far is Ayodhv: long, alas,

The dreary road and hard to pass.'

'One day,' Vibhshan cried, 'one day

Shall bear thee o'er that length of way.

Is not the wondrous chariot mine,

Named Pushpak, wrought by hands divine.

The prize which Rvan seized of old

Victorious o'er the God of Gold

This chariot, kept with utmost care,

Will waft thee through the fields of air,

And thou shalt light unwearied down

In fair Ayodhy's royal town.

But yet if aught that I have done

Has pleased thee well, O Raghu's son;

If still thou carest for thy friend,

Some little time in Lank spend;

There after toil of battle rest

Within my halls an honoured guest.'

Again the son of Raghu spake:

'Thy life was perilled for my sake.

Thy counsel gave me priceless aid:

All honours have been richly paid.

Scarce can my love refuse, O best

Of giant kind, thy last request.

But still I yearn once more to see

My home and all most dear to me;

Nor can I brook one hour's delay:

Forgive me, speed me on my way.'

He ceased: the magic car was brought,

Of yore by Vis'vakarm wrought.

In sunlike sheen it flashed and blazed;

And Raghu's sons in wonder gazed.
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