{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry095.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry095.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry095.htm","text":"As R\u00e1ma, rendering blithe and gay\n His loving friends, pursued his way,\n He saw on either hand a press\n Of mingled people numberless.\n The royal street he traversed, where\n Incense of aloe filled the air,\n Where rose high palaces, that vied\n With paly clouds, on either side;\n With flowers of myriad colours graced.\n And food for every varied taste,\n Bright as the glowing path o'erhead\n Which feet of Gods celestial tread,\n Loud benedictions, sweet to hear,\n From countless voices soothed his ear.\n While he to each gave due salute\n His place and dignity to suit:\n 'Be thou,' the joyful people cried,\n 'Be thou our guardian, lord and guide.\n Throned and anointed king to-day,\n Thy feet set forth upon the way\n Wherein, each honoured as a God,\n Thy fathers and forefathers trod.\n Thy sire and his have graced the throne,\n And loving care to us have shown:\n Thus blest shall we and ours remain,\n Yea still more blest in R\u00e1ma's reign.\n \n \n \n No more of dainty fare we need,\n And but one cherished object heed,\n That we may see our prince today\n Invested with imperial sway.\n \n \n Such were the words and pleasant speech\n That R\u00e1ma heard, unmoved, from each\n Of the dear friends around him spread,\n As onward through the street he sped,\n For none could turn his eye or thought\n From the dear form his glances sought,\n With fruitless ardour forward cast\n Even when Raghu's son had past.\n And he who saw not R\u00e1ma nigh,\n Nor caught a look from R\u00e1ma's eye,\n A mark for scorn and general blame,\n Reproached himself in bitter shame,\n For to each class his equal mind\n With sympathy and love inclined\n Most fully of the princely four;\n So greatest love to him they bore.\n \n \n His circling course the hero bent\n Round shrine and altar, reverent,\n Round homes of Gods, where cross-roads met,\n Where many a sacred tree was set.\n Near to his father's house he drew\n Like Indra's beautiful to view,\n And with the light his glory gave\n Within the royal palace drave.\n Through three broad courts, where bowmen kept\n Their watch and ward, his coursers swept,\n Then through the two remaining went\n On foot the prince pre?inent.\n Through all the courts the hero passed,\n And gained the ladies' bower at last;\n Then through the door alone withdrew,\n And left without his retinue.\n When thus the monarch's noble boy\n \u00a0\u00a0 Had gone his sire to meet,\n The multitude, elate with joy,\n \u00a0\u00a0 Stood watching in the street,\n And his return with eager eyes\n \u00a0\u00a0 Expected at the gates,\n As for his darling moon to rise\n \u00a0\u00a0 The King of Rivers \u00a01 waits.\n \n \n \n \n \n112:1b In a former life.\n112:2b One of the lunar asterisms, represented as the favourite wife of the Moon. See p. 4, note.","title":"Book II: Canto XVII.: R\u00e1ma's Approach.","type":"page"}