The Ramayana Part 100

If thou, O King, hast still delight In rank and wealth and power and might, In n.o.ble wives, in troops of friends, In all that royal state attends, I warn thee, cast not all away, Nor challenge Rama to the fray.

If deaf to every friendly prayer, Thou still wilt seek the strife, And from the side of Rama tear His lovely Maithil wife, Soon will thy life and empire end Destroyed by Rama's bow, And thou, with kith and kin and friend, To Yama's realm must go."

Canto x.x.xIX. Maricha's Speech.

"I told thee of that dreadful day When Rama smote and spared to slay.

Now hear me, Rava?, while I tell What in the after time befell.

At length, restored to strength and pride, I and two mighty fiends beside a.s.sumed the forms of deer and strayed Through Da??ak wood in lawn and glade, I reared terrific horns: beneath Were flaming tongue and pointed teeth.

I roamed where'er my fancy led, And on the flesh of hermits fed, In sacred haunt, by hallowed tree, Where'er the ritual fires might be.

A fearful shape, I wandered through The wood, and many a hermit slew.

With ruthless rage the saints I killed Who in the grove their tasks fulfilled.

When smitten to the earth they sank, Their flesh I ate, their blood I drank, And with my cruel deeds dismayed All dwellers in the forest shade, Spoiling their rites in bitter hate, With human blood inebriate.

Once in the wood I chanced to see Rama again, a devotee, A hermit, fed on scanty fare, Who made the good of all his care.

His n.o.ble wife was by his side, And Lakshma? in the battle tried.

In senseless pride I scorned the might Of that ill.u.s.trious anchorite, And heedless of a hermit foe, Recalled my earlier overthrow.

I charged him in my rage and scorn To slay him with my pointed horn, In heedless haste, to fury wrought As on my former wounds I thought.

Then from the mighty bow he drew Three foe-destroying arrows flew, Keen-pointed, leaping from the string, Swift as the wind or feathered king.

Dire shafts, on flesh of foemen fed, Like rus.h.i.+ng thunderbolts they sped, With knots well smoothed and barbs well bent, Shot e'en as one, the arrows went.

But I who Rama's might had felt, And knew the blows the hero dealt, Escaped by rapid flight. The two Who lingered on the spot, he slew.

I fled from mortal danger, freed From the dire shaft by timely speed.

Now to deep thought my days I give, And as a humble hermit live.

In every shrub, in every tree I view that n.o.blest devotee.

In every knotted trunk I mark His deerskin and his coat of bark, And see the bow-armed Rama stand Like Yama with his noose in hand.

I tell thee Rava?, in my fright A thousand Ramas mock my sight, This wood with every bush and bough Seems all one fearful Rama now.

Throughout the grove there is no spot So lonely where I see him not.

He haunts me in my dreams by night, And wakes me with the wild affright.

The letter that begins his name Sends terror through my startled frame.

The rapid cars whereon we ride, The rich rare jewels, once my pride, Have names(493) that strike upon mine ear With hated sound that counsels fear.

His mighty strength too well I know, Nor art thou match for such a foe.

Too strong were Raghus's son in fight For Namuchi or Bali's might.

Then Rama to the battle dare, Or else be patient and forbear; But, wouldst thou see me live in peace, Let mention of the hero cease.

The good whose holy lives were spent In deepest thought, most innocent, With all their people many a time Have perished through another's crime.

So in the common ruin, I Must for another's folly die, Do all thy strength and courage can, But ne'er will I approve the plan.

For he, in might supremely great, The giant world could extirpate, Since, when impetuous Khara sought The grove of Janasthan and fought For Surpa?akha's sake, he died By Rama's hand in battle tried.

How has he wronged thee? Soothly swear, And Rama's fault and sin declare.

I warn thee, and my words are wise, I seek thy people's weal: But if this rede thou wilt despise, Nor hear my last appeal, Thou with thy kin and all thy friends In fight this day wilt die, When his great bow the hero bends, And shafts unerring fly."

Canto XL. Ravan's Speech.

But Rava? scorned the rede he gave In timely words to warn and save, E'en as the wretch who hates to live Rejects the herb the leeches give.

By fate to sin and ruin spurred, That sage advice the giant heard, Then in reproaches hard and stern Thus to Maricha spoke in turn:

"Is this thy counsel, weak and base, Unworthy of thy giant race?

Thy speech is fruitless, vain, thy toil Like casting seed on barren soil.

No words of thine shall drive me back From Rama and the swift attack.

A fool is he, inured to sin, And more, of human origin.

The craven, at a woman's call To leave his sire, his mother, all The friends he loved, the power and sway, And hasten to the woods away!

But now his anger will I rouse, Stealing away his darling spouse.

I in thy sight will ravish her From Khara's cruel murderer.

Upon this plan my soul is bent, And naught shall move my firm intent, Not if the way through demons led And G.o.ds with Indra at their head.

'Tis thine, when questioned, to explain The hope and fear, the loss and gain, And, when thy king thy thoughts would know, The triumph or the danger show.

A prudent counsellor should wait, And speak when ordered in debate, With hands uplifted, calm and meek, If honour and reward he seek.

Or, when some prudent course he sees Which, spoken, may his king displease He should by hints of dexterous art His counsel to his lord impart.

But prudent words are said in vain When the blunt speech brings grief and pain.

A high-souled king will scarcely thank The man who shames his royal rank.

Five are the shapes that kings a.s.sume, Of majesty, of grace, and gloom: Like Indra now, or Agni, now Like the dear Moon, with placid brow: Like mighty Varu? now they show, Now fierce as He who rules below.

O giant, monarchs lofty-souled Are kind and gentle, stern and bold, With gracious love their gifts dispense And swiftly punish each offence.

Thus subjects should their rulers view With all respect and honour due.

But folly leads thy heart to slight Thy monarch and neglect his right.

Thou hast in lawless pride addressed With bitter words thy royal guest.

I asked thee not my strength to scan, Or loss and profit in the plan.

I only spoke to tell the deed O mighty one, by me decreed, And bid thee in the peril lend Thy succour to support thy friend.

Hear me again, and I will tell How thou canst aid my venture well.

In semblance of a golden deer Adorned with silver drops, appear: And near the cottage in the way Of Rama and his consort stray.

Draw nigh, and wandering through the brake With thy strange form her fancy take.

The Maithil dame with wondering eyes Will took upon thy fair disguise, And quickly bid her husband go And bring the deer that charms her so, When Raghu's son has left the place, Still pressing onward in the chase, Cry out, "O Lakshma?! Ah, mine own!"

With voice resembling Rama's tone.

When Lakshma? hears his brother's cry, Impelled by Sita he will fly, Restless with eager love, to aid The hunter in the distant shade.

When both her guards have left her side, Even as Indra, thousand-eyed, Clasps Sachi, will I bear away The Maithil dame an easy prey.

When thou, my friend, this aid hast lent, Go where thou wilt and live content.

True servant, faithful to thy vow, With half my realm I thee endow.

Go forth, may luck thy way attend That leads thee to the happy end.

I in my car will quickly be In Da??ak wood, and follow thee.

So will I cheat this Rama's eyes And win without a blow the prize; And safe return to Lanka's town With thee, my friend, this day shall crown.

But if thou wilt not aid my will, My hand this day thy blood shall spill.

Yea, thou must share the destined task, For force will take the help I ask.

No bliss that rebel's life attends Whose stubborn will his lord offends.

Thy life, if thou the task a.s.say, In jeopardy may stand; Oppose me, and this very day Thou diest by this hand.

Now ponder all that thou hast heard Within thy prudent breast: Reflect with care on every word, And do what seems the best."

Canto XLI. Maricha's Reply.

Against his judgment sorely pressed By his imperious lord's behest, Maricha threats of death defied And thus with bitter words replied: "Ah, who, my King, with sinful thought This wild and wicked counsel taught, By which destruction soon will fall On thee, thy sons, thy realm and all?

Who is the guilty wretch who sees With envious eye thy blissful ease, And by this plan, so falsely shown, Death's gate for thee has open thrown?

With souls impelled by mean desire Thy foes against thy life conspire.

They urge thee to destruction's brink, And gladly would they see thee sink.

Who with base thought to work thee woe This fatal road has dared to show, And, triumph in his wicked eye, Would see thee enter in and die?

To all thy counsellors, untrue, The punishment of death is due, Who see thee tempt the dangerous way, Nor strain each nerve thy foot to stay.