Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/430

368 you have ascertained make some sign by which I may know also. If that wretch Báli has sent them, I must leave the hill and flee at once." The monkey assumed the form of a Bráhman and went to the place; there bowed his head and thus questioned them: "Who are you two knights of warrior mien, who roam this wood, one dark of hue, the other fair. The ground is rough for your soft feet to tread. What is the reason, my masters, that you visit this forest? Your body is too delicate and exquisitely beautiful to be exposed to the intolerable sun and wind of these wild regions. Who are you? A Person of the Trinity; or the two great gods Nara and Náráyan?

Or has the lord of all the spheres become incarnate in your human form for the good of the world, to bridge the ocean of existence and relieve earth of its burdens?"

"We are the sons of Dasarath, the king of Kosala, and have come into the forest in obedience to our father's command; Ráma, the name of one brother, and Lakshman of the other. With us was my young and beautiful bride, the daughter of the king of Videha. But some demon here has stolen her away; and it is she, O Bráhman, whom we are trying to find. We have told you our affairs, tell us now your own story." He recognized his lord and fell and clasped his feet with a joy, Umá, beyond all deseription. His body thrilled with emotion and all words failed his tongue, as he gazed upon the fashion of their ravishing disguise. At last he collected himself and burst forth into a hymn of praise with great joy of heart, for he had found his lord. "I asked, sire, in my ignorance; but why should you ask, as though you were a mere man. Under the influence of your delusive power I wandered in error, and therefore I did not at once recognize my lord.

In the first place I was a bewildered dullard, ignorant and perverse of soul, and then my gracious Lord God himself led me astray.