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Book Iii. Canto Lxxvi. Pamp'a

Canto Lxxvi.: Pamp.

When S'avar had sought the skies

And gained her splendid virtue's prize,

Rma with Lakshman stayed to brood

O'er the strange scenes their eyes had viewed.

His mind upon those saints was bent,

For power and might preeminent

And he to musing Lakshman spoke

The thoughts that in his bosom woke:

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'Mine eyes this wondrous home have viewed

Of those great saints with souls subdued,

Where peaceful tigers dwell and birds,

And deer abound in heedless herds.

Our feet upon the banks have stood

Of those seven lakes within the wood,

Where we have duly dipped, and paid

Libations to each royal shade.

Forgotten now are thoughts of ill

And joyful hopes my bosom fill.

Again my heart is light and gay

And grief and care have passed away.

Come, brother, let us hasten where

Bright Pamp's flood is fresh and fair,

And towering in their beauty near

Mount Rishyamka's heights appear,

When, offspring of the Lord of Light,

Still fearing Bli's conquering might,

With four brave chiefs of Vnar race

Sugrva makes his dwelling-place.

I long with eager heart to find

That leader of the Vnar kind,

For on that chief my hopes depend

That this our quest have prosperous end.'

Thus Rma spoke, in battle tried,

And thus Sumitr's son replied:

'Come, brother, come, and speed away:

My spirit brooks no more delay.'

Thus spake Sumitr's son, and then

Forth from the grove the king of men

With his dear brother by his side

To Pamp's lucid waters hied.

He gazed upon the winds where grew

Trees rich in flowers of every hue.

From brake and dell on every side

The curlew and the peacock cried,

And flocks of screaming parrots made

Shrill music in the bloomy shade.

His eager eyes, as on he went,

On many a pool and tree were bent.

Inflamed with love he journeyed on

Till a fair flood before him shone.

He stood upon the water's side

Which streams from distant hills supplied

Mataranga's * name that water bore:

There bathed he from the shelving shore.

Then, each on earnest thoughts intent,

Still farther on their way they went.

But Rma's heart once more gave way

Beneath his grief and wild dismay.

Before him lay the noble flood

Adorned with many a lotus bud.

On its fair banks As'okas glowed,

And all bright trees their blossoms showed

Green banks that silver waves confined

With lovely groves--were ringed and lined

The crystal waters in their flow

Showed level sands that gleamed below.

There glittering fish and tortoise played,

And bending trees gave pleasant shade.

There creepers on the branches hung

With lover-like embraces clung,

There gay Gandharvas loved to meet,

And Kinnar sought the calm retreat.

There wandering Vakshas* found delight,

Snake gods and rovers of the night.

Cool were the pleasant waters, gay

Each tree with creeper, flower, and spray.

There flushed the lotus darkly red,

Here their white glory lilies spread,

Here sweet buds showed their tints of blue:

So carpets gleam with many a hue.

A grove of Mangoes blossomed nigh,

Echoing with the peacock's cry.

When Rma by his brother's side

The lovely flood of Pamp eyed,

Decked like a beauty, fair to see

With every charm of flower and tree,

His mighty heart with woe was rent

And thus he spoke in wild lament

'Here, Lakshman, on this beauteous shore,

Stands, dyed with tints of many an ore,

The mountain Rishyamka bright

With flowery trees that crown each height.

Sprung from the chief who, famed of yore,

The name of Rikshnrajas bore,

Sugrva, chieftain strong and dread,

Dwells on that mountain's towering head.

Go to him, best of men, and seek

That prince of Vnars on the peak,

I cannot longer brook my pain,

Or, St lost, my life retain.'

Thus by the pangs of love distressed,

His thoughts on St bent,

His faithful brother he addressed,

And cried in wild lament.

He reached the lovely ground that lay

On Pamp's wooded side,

And told in anguish and dismay,

The grief he could not hide.

With listless footsteps faint and slow

His way the chief pursued,

Till Pamp with her glorious show

Of flowering woods he viewed.

Through shades were every bird was found

The prince with Lakshman passed,

And Pamp with her groves around

Burst on his eyes, at last.
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