Book Vi. Canto Xxv. R'avan's Spies
Canto Xxv. 1: Rvan'S Spies.
When Rma and the host he led
Across the sea had safely sped.
Thus Rvan, moved by wrath and pride.
To S'uka and to Sran cried:
'O counsellors, the Vnar host
Has passed the sea from coast to coast,
And Das'aratha's son has wrought
A wondrous deed surpassing thought.
And now in truth I needs must know
The strength and number of the foe.
Go ye, to Rma's host repair
And count me all the legions there.
Learn well what power each captain leads
His name and fame for warlike deeds.
Learn by what artist's wondrous aid
That bridge athwart the sea was made;
Learn how the Vnar hoat came o'er
And halted on the island shore.
Mark Rma son of Raghu well;
His valour, strength, and weapons tell.
Watch his advisers one by one,
And Lakshman, Raghu's younger son.
Learn with observant eyes, and bring
Unerring tidings to your king.'
He ceased: then swift in Vnar guise
Forth on their errand sped the spies.
They reached the Vnars, and, dismayed,
Their never-ending lines surveyd:
Nor would they try, in mere despair,
To count the countless legions there,
p. 447
That crowded valley, plain and hill,
That pressed about each cave and rill.
Though sea-like o'er the land were spread
The endless hosts which Rma led,
The bridge by thousands yet was lined,
And eager myriads pressed behind.
But sage Vibhshan's watchful eyes
Had marked the giants in disguise.
He gave command the pair to seize,
And told the tale in words like these:
'O Rma these, well known erewhile,
Are giant sons of Lank's isle.
Two counsellors of Rvan sent
To watch the invading armament.'
Vibhshan ceased: at Rma's look
The Rkshas envoys quailed and shook;
Then suppliant hand to hand they pressed
And thus Ikshvku's son addressed:
'O Rma, bear the truth we speak:
Our monarch Rvan bade us seek
The Vnar legions and survey
Their numbers, strength, and vast array'.
Then Rma, friend and hope and guide
Of suffering creatures, thus replied:
'Now giants, if your eyes have scanned
Our armies, numbering every band,
Marked lord and chief, and gazed their fill,
Return to Rvan when ye will.
It aught remain, if aught anew
Ye fain would scan with closer view,
Vibhshan, ready at your call,
Will lead you forth and show you all.
Think not of bonds and capture; fear
No loss of life, no peril here:
For, captive, helpless and unarmed,
An envoy never should be harmed.
Again to Lank's town repair,
Speed to the giant monarch there,
And be these words to Rvan told,
Fierce brother of the Lord of Gold:
'Now, tyrant, tremble for thy sin:
Call up thy friends, thy kith and kin,
And let the power and might be seen
Which made thee bold to steal my queen.
To-morrow shall thy mournful eye
Behold thy bravest warriors die,
And Lank's city, tower and wall,
Struck by my fiery shafts, will fall.
Then shall my vengeful blow descend
Its rage on thee and thine to spend,
Fierce as the fiery bolt that flew
From heaven against the Dnav crew,
Mid these rebellious demons sent
By him who rules the firmament.'
Thus spake Ikshvku's son, and ceased:
The giants from their bonds released
Lauded the King with glad accord,
And hasted homeward to their lord.
Before the tyrant side by side
S'uka and Sran stood and cried:
'Vibhshan seized us, King, and fain
His helpless captives would have slain.
But glorious Rma saw us; he,
Great-hearted hero, made us free.
There in one spot our eyes beheld
Four chiefs on earth unparalleled,
Who with the guardian Gods may vie
Who rule the regions of the sky.
There Rma stood, the boast and pride
Of Raghu's race, by Lakshman's side.
There stood the sage Vibhshan, there
Sugrva strong beyond compare.
These four alone can batter down
Gate, rampart, wall, and Lanka's town.
Nay, Rma matchless in his form,
A single foe, thy town would storm:
So wondrous are his weapons, he
Needs not the succour of the three.
Why speak we of the countless train
That fills the valley, hill and plain,
The millions of the Vnar breed
Whom Rma and Sugrva lead?
O King, be wise, contend no more,
And Sit to her lord restore.'
Footnotes
446:1 Here in the Bengal recension (Gorresio's edition), begins Book VI.
When Rma and the host he led
Across the sea had safely sped.
Thus Rvan, moved by wrath and pride.
To S'uka and to Sran cried:
'O counsellors, the Vnar host
Has passed the sea from coast to coast,
And Das'aratha's son has wrought
A wondrous deed surpassing thought.
And now in truth I needs must know
The strength and number of the foe.
Go ye, to Rma's host repair
And count me all the legions there.
Learn well what power each captain leads
His name and fame for warlike deeds.
Learn by what artist's wondrous aid
That bridge athwart the sea was made;
Learn how the Vnar hoat came o'er
And halted on the island shore.
Mark Rma son of Raghu well;
His valour, strength, and weapons tell.
Watch his advisers one by one,
And Lakshman, Raghu's younger son.
Learn with observant eyes, and bring
Unerring tidings to your king.'
He ceased: then swift in Vnar guise
Forth on their errand sped the spies.
They reached the Vnars, and, dismayed,
Their never-ending lines surveyd:
Nor would they try, in mere despair,
To count the countless legions there,
p. 447
That crowded valley, plain and hill,
That pressed about each cave and rill.
Though sea-like o'er the land were spread
The endless hosts which Rma led,
The bridge by thousands yet was lined,
And eager myriads pressed behind.
But sage Vibhshan's watchful eyes
Had marked the giants in disguise.
He gave command the pair to seize,
And told the tale in words like these:
'O Rma these, well known erewhile,
Are giant sons of Lank's isle.
Two counsellors of Rvan sent
To watch the invading armament.'
Vibhshan ceased: at Rma's look
The Rkshas envoys quailed and shook;
Then suppliant hand to hand they pressed
And thus Ikshvku's son addressed:
'O Rma, bear the truth we speak:
Our monarch Rvan bade us seek
The Vnar legions and survey
Their numbers, strength, and vast array'.
Then Rma, friend and hope and guide
Of suffering creatures, thus replied:
'Now giants, if your eyes have scanned
Our armies, numbering every band,
Marked lord and chief, and gazed their fill,
Return to Rvan when ye will.
It aught remain, if aught anew
Ye fain would scan with closer view,
Vibhshan, ready at your call,
Will lead you forth and show you all.
Think not of bonds and capture; fear
No loss of life, no peril here:
For, captive, helpless and unarmed,
An envoy never should be harmed.
Again to Lank's town repair,
Speed to the giant monarch there,
And be these words to Rvan told,
Fierce brother of the Lord of Gold:
'Now, tyrant, tremble for thy sin:
Call up thy friends, thy kith and kin,
And let the power and might be seen
Which made thee bold to steal my queen.
To-morrow shall thy mournful eye
Behold thy bravest warriors die,
And Lank's city, tower and wall,
Struck by my fiery shafts, will fall.
Then shall my vengeful blow descend
Its rage on thee and thine to spend,
Fierce as the fiery bolt that flew
From heaven against the Dnav crew,
Mid these rebellious demons sent
By him who rules the firmament.'
Thus spake Ikshvku's son, and ceased:
The giants from their bonds released
Lauded the King with glad accord,
And hasted homeward to their lord.
Before the tyrant side by side
S'uka and Sran stood and cried:
'Vibhshan seized us, King, and fain
His helpless captives would have slain.
But glorious Rma saw us; he,
Great-hearted hero, made us free.
There in one spot our eyes beheld
Four chiefs on earth unparalleled,
Who with the guardian Gods may vie
Who rule the regions of the sky.
There Rma stood, the boast and pride
Of Raghu's race, by Lakshman's side.
There stood the sage Vibhshan, there
Sugrva strong beyond compare.
These four alone can batter down
Gate, rampart, wall, and Lanka's town.
Nay, Rma matchless in his form,
A single foe, thy town would storm:
So wondrous are his weapons, he
Needs not the succour of the three.
Why speak we of the countless train
That fills the valley, hill and plain,
The millions of the Vnar breed
Whom Rma and Sugrva lead?
O King, be wise, contend no more,
And Sit to her lord restore.'
Footnotes
446:1 Here in the Bengal recension (Gorresio's edition), begins Book VI.
