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Book Vi. Canto Lxv. Khumbhakarna's Speech

Canto Lxv.: Khumbhakarna'S Speech.


But haughty Kumbhakarna spurned

His counsel, and to Rvan turned:

'Thy life from peril will I free

And slay the foe who threatens thee.

A hero never vaunts in vain,

Like bellowing clouds devoid of rain,

Nor, Monarch, be thine ear inclined

To counsellors of slavish kind,

Who with mean arts their king mislead

And mar each gallant plan and deed.

O, let not words like his beguile

The glorious king of Lanka's isle.'

Thus scornful Kumbhakarna cried,

And Rvan with a laugh replied:

'Mahodar fears and fain would shun

The battle with Ikshvaku's son.

Of all my giant warriors, who

Is strong as thou, and brave and true?

Ride, conqueror, to the battle ride,

And tame the foeman's senseless pride.

Go forth like Yama to the field,

And let thine arm thy trident wield.

Scared by the lightning of thine eye

The Vanar hosts will turn and fly;

And Rama, when he sees thee near,

With trembling heart will own his fear.'

The champion heard, and, well content,

Forth from the hall his footsteps bent.

He grasped his spear, the foeman's dread,

Black iron all, both shaft and head.

Which, dyed in many a battle, bore

Great spots of slaughtered victims' gore.

The king upon his neck had thrown

The jewelled chain which graced his own.

And garlands of delicious scent

About his limbs for ornament.

Around his arms gay bracelets clung,

And pendants in his ears were hung.

Adorned with gold, about his waist

His coat of mail was firmly braced,

And like Nryan 1b or the God

Who rules the sky he proudly trod.

Behind him went a mighty throng

Of giant warriors tall and strong,

p. 477

On elephants of noblest breeds.

With cars, with camels, and with steeds:

And, armed with spear and axe and sword

Were fain to battle for their lord. 1

Footnotes

476:
1b A name of Vishn'u.

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