Page:Valmiki - Ramayana, Griffith, 1895.djvu/31

Canto I. Beneath the shady trees he stood Of Dandaká's primeval wood, Virádha, giant fiend, he slew, And then Agastya's friendship knew. Counselled by him he gained the sword And bow of Indra, heavenly lord : A pair of quivers too, that bore Of arrows an exhaustless store. While there he dwelt in greenwood shade The trembling hermits sought his aid, And bade him with his sword and bow Destroy the fiends who worked them woe: To come like Indra strong and brave, A guardian God to help and save. And Ráma's falchion left its trace Deep cut on Śurpanakhá's face : A hideous giantess who came Burning for him with lawless flame. Their sister's cries the giants heard. And vengeance in each bosom stirred : The monster of the triple head. And Dúshan to the contest sped. But they and myriad fiends beside Beneath the might of Ráma died. When Rávan. dreaded warrior, knew The slaughter of his giant crew : Rávan, the king, whose name of fear Earth, hell, and heaven all shook to hear: He bade the fiend Máricha aid The vengeful plot his fury laid. In vain the wise Máricha tried To turn him from his course aside : Not Rávan's self, he said, might hope With Ráma and his strength to cope. Impelled by fate and blind with rage He came to Ráma's hermitage. There, by Máricha' s magic art, He wiled the princely youths apart, The vulture slew, and bore away The wife of Ráma as his prey. The son of Raghu came and found Jatáyu slain upon the ground. He rushed within his leafy cot ; He sought his wife, but found her not. Then, then the hero's senses failed ; In mad despair he wept and wailed. Upon the pile that bird he laid, And still in quest of Sitá strayed, A hideous giant then he saw, Kabandha named, a shape of awe.

The monstrous fiend he smote and slew, And in the flame the body threw ; When straight from out the funeral flame In lovely form Kabandha came, And bade him seek in his distress A wise and holy hermitess. By counsel of this saintly dame To Pampá's pleasant flood he came, And there the steadfast friendship won Of Hanumán the Wind-God's son. Counselled by him he told his grief To great Sugriva, Vánar chief, Who, knowing all the tale, before The sacred flame alliance swore. Sugriva to his new-found friend Told his own story to the end : His hate of Báli for the wrong And insult he had borne so long. And Ráma lent a willing ear And promised to allay his fear. Sugriva warned him of the might Of Báli, matchless in the fight, And, credence for his tale to gain, Showed the huge fiend by Báli slain. The prostrate corse of mountain size Seemed nothing in the hero's eyes ; He lightly kicked it, as it lay, And cast it twenty leagues away. To prove his might his arrows through Seven palms in line, uninjured, flew. He cleft a mighty hill apart, And down to hell he hurled his dart. Then high Sugrjva's spirit rose, Assured of conquest o'er his foes. With his new champion by his side To vast Kishkindhá's cave he hied. Then, summoned by his awful shout, King Báli came in fury out, First comforted his trembling wife, Then sought Sugriva in the strife. One shaft from Rama's deadly bow The monarch in the dust laid ow. Then Ráma bade Sugriva reign In place of royal Báli slain. Then speedy envoys hurried forth Eastward and westward, south and north, Commanded by the grateful king Tidings of Ráma's spouse to bring. Then by Sampáti's counsel led, Brave Hanumán, who mocked at dread, Sprang at one wild tremendous leap Two hundred leagues across the deep, To Lanka's town he urged his way, Where Ravan held his royal sway.