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Book Vi. Canto Xxi. Ocean Threatened

Canto Xxi.: Ocean Threatened.


His hands in reverence Rma raised

And southwared o'er the ocean gazed:

Then on the sacred grass that made

His lowly couch* his limbs* he laid,

His head on that strong arm reclined

Which Sit, best of womankind,

Had loved in happier days to hold

With soft arms decked* with pearls and gold.

Then rising from his bed of grass,

'This day,' he cried, 'the host shall pass

Triumphant to the southern shore,

Or Ocean's self shall be no more *.'

Thus vowing in his constant breast

Again he turned him to his rest,

And there, his eyes in slumber closed,

Silent beside the sea reposed.

Thrice rose the Day-God thrice he set,

The lord of Ocean came not yet,

Thrice came the night, but Raghu's son

No answer by his service won.

To Lakshman thus the hero cried,

His eyes aflame with wrath and pride:

'In vain the softer gifts that grace

The good are offered to the base. *

Long-suffering, patience, gentle speech

p. 443

Their thankless hearts can never reach.

The world to him its honour pays

Whose ready tongue himself can praise.

Who scorns the true, and hates the right,

Whose hand is ever raised to smite.

Each milder art is tried in vain:

It wins no glory, but disdain.

And victory owns no softer charm

Than might which nerves a warrior's arm.

My humble suit is still denied

By Ocean's overweening pride.

This day the monsters of the deep

In throes of death shall wildly leap.

My shafts shall rend the serpents curled

In caverns of the watery world,

Disclose each sunless depth and bare

The tangled pearl and coral there.

Away with mercy! at a time

Like this compassion is a crime.

Welcom, the battle and the foe!

My bow! my arrows and my bow!

This day the Vnars' feet shall tread

The conquered Sea's exhausted bed,

And he who never feared before

Shall tremble to his farthest shore."

Red flashed his eyes with angry glow;

He stood and grasped his mighty bow,

Terrific as the fire of doom

Whose quenchless flames the world consume.

His clanging cord the archer drew.

And swift the fiery arrows flew

Fierce as the flashing levin sent

By him who rules the firmament.

Down through the startled waters sped

Each missile with its flaming head.

The foamy billows rose and sank,

And dashed upon the trembling bank

Sea monsters of tremendous form

With crash and roar of thunder storm.

Still the wild waters rose and fell

Crowned with white foam and pearl and shell.

Each serpent, startled from his rest,

Raised his fierce eyes and glowing crest.

And prisoned Dnavs 1 where they dwelt

In depths below the terror felt.

Again upon his string he laid

A flaming shaft, but Lakshman stayed

His arm, with gentle reasoning tried

To soothe his angry mood, and cried:

'Brother, reflect: the wise control

The rising passions of the soul.

Let Ocean grant, without thy threat,

The boon on which thy heart is set.

That gracious lord will ne'er refuse

When Rma son of Raghu sues.'

He ceased: and voices from the air

Fell clear and loud, Spare, Rma, spare.

Footnotes

443:1
Fiends and enemies of the Gods.

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