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Book I. Canto Xxxv. Visv'amitra's Lineage

Canto Xxxv: Visvmitra'S Lineage.

'The rites were o'er, the maids were wed,

The bridegroom to his home was sped.

The sonless monarch bade prepare

A sacrifice to gain an heir.

Then Kus'a, Brahm's son, appeared,

And thus King Kus'anbha cheered:

'Thou shalt, my child, obtain a son

Like thine own self, O holy one.

Through him for ever, Gdhi named,

Shalt thou in all the worlds be famed.'

'He spoke, and vanished from the sight

To Brahm's world of endless light.

Time fled, and, as the saint foretold,

Gdhi was born, the holy-souled.

My sire was he; through him I trace

My line from royal Kus'a's race.

My sister--elder-born was she--

The pure and good Satyavat, 1

Was to the great Richika wed.

Still faithful to her husband dead,

She followed him, most noble dame,

And, raised to heaven in human frame,

A pure celestial stream became.

Down from Himlaya's snowy height,

In floods for ever fair and bright,

My sister's holy waves are hurled

To purify and glad the world.

Now on Himlaya's side I dwell

Because I love my sister well.

She, for her faith and truth renowned,

Most loving to her husband found,

High-fated, firm in each pure vow,

Is queen of all the rivers now.

Bound by a vow I left her side

And to the Perfect convent hied.

There, by the aid 'twas thine to lend,

Made perfect, all my labours end.

Thus, mighty Prince, I now have told

My race and lineage, high and old,

And local tales of long ago

Which thou, O Rma, fain wouldst know.

As I have sate rehearsing thus

The midnight hour is come on us.

Now, Rma, sleep, that nothing may

Our journey of to-morrow stay.

No leaf on any tree is stirred:

Hushed in repose are beast and bird:

Where'er you turn, on every side,

Dense shades of night the landscape hide,

The light of eve is fled: the skies,

Thick-studded with their host of eyes,

Seem a star-forest overhead,

Where signs and constellations spread.

Now rises, with his pure cold ray,

The moon that drives the shades away,

And with his gentle influence brings

Joy to the hearts of living things.

Now, stealing from their lairs, appear

The beasts to whom the night is dear.

Now spirits walk, and every power

That revels in the midnight hour.'

The mighty hermit's tale was o'er,

He closed his lips and spoke no more.

The holy men on every side,

'Well done! well done,' with reverence cried;

'The mighty men of Kus'a's seed

Were ever famed for righteous deed.

Like Brahm's self in glory shine

The high-souled lords of Kus'a's line,

And thy great name is sounded most,

O Saint, amid the noble host.

And thy dear sister--fairest she

Of streams, the high-born Kaus'ik--

Diffusing virtue where she flows,

New splendour on thy lineage throws.'

Thus by the chief of saints addressed

The son of Gdhi turned to rest;

So, when his daily course is done,

Sinks to his rest the beaming sun.

Rma with Lakshman, somewhat stirred

To marvel by the tales they heard,

Turned also to his couch, to close

His eyelids in desired repose.

Footnotes

48:1
Now called Kos' (Cosy) corrupted from Kaus'ik, daughter of Kus'a.

'This is one of those personifications of rivers so frequent in the Grecian mythology, but in the similar myths is seen the impress of the genius of each people, austere and profoundly religious in India, graceful and devoted to the worship of external beauty in Greece.' GORRESIO.
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