Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/469

Rh bears, how they marched, brandishing rocks and trees and with their talons for weapons, now in the heaven and now on earth, as the fancy moved them. They bellowed as if with the voice of a tiger; earth shook and the elephants of the eight quarters trembled.

The elephants of the eight quarters trembled, the earth reeled, the mountains tottered, and the ocean was agitated; the sun and the moon, gods, saints, Nágas, and Kinnars, all rejoiced to know that their troubles were over. Myriads upon myriads of enormous fighting monkeys pressed onwards, snapping and snarling, singing glory to Ráma's conquering might and hymning the praises of Kosala's lord. The huge serpent king could not snpport the burden; he staggered again and again, but each time saved himself by clutching in his jaws the hard shell of the tortoise; as though he had mastered the stupendous theme of Raghu-bír's glorious expedition, and were inscribing it on the tortoise's back as the most imperishable material to be had.

In such wise the All-merciful marched onwards, till he arrived at the sea-shore, where the host of bears and fighting monkeys began to devour all the fruit they found.

On the other hand the demons had been living in great fear, ever since the time the monkey had left, after burning down the city. Every one kept at home thinking to himself: "There is no hope of safety for the demon race; if his messenger was so unspeakably powerful, how can the city escape when he comes himself." When Mandodari was informed of what the people were saying, she was still more distrest, and with clasped hands fell at her lord's feet and thus besought him, in words full of sound judgment: "O my husband, cease to contend against Hari: take my words to your heart as most wholesome advice. His mere messenger did such deeds that our matrons, on hearing of them, were overtaken by premature labour; if then you desire your own welfare, call your ministers and send him back his wife. As a frosty night comes upon a bed of lotuses, so has Síta come for the ruin of your race. Hearken, my lord; unless you give up Síta, neither Sambhu nor Brahma can help you.

Ráma's arrows are like serpents, and the demon host so many frogs; delay not, but do the best you can before they have snapped you up."