{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry246.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry246.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry246.htm","text":"With knitted brow and furious eye\n The stranger made his fierce reply;\n 'In me O fairest dame, behold\n The brother of the King of Gold.\n The Lord of Ten Necks my title, named\n R\u00e1van, for might and valour famed.\n Gods and Gandharva hosts I scare;\n Snakes, spirits, birds that roam the air\n Fly from my coming, wild with fear,\n Trembling like men when Death is near\n Vais'ravan once, my brother, wrought\n To ire, encountered me aud fought,\n \n \n But yielding to superior might\n Fled from his home in sore affright.\n Lord of the man-drawn chariot, still\n He dwells on famed Kail\u00e1sa's hill.\n I made the vanquished king resign\n The glorious car which now is mine,--\n Pushpak, the far-renowned, that flies\n Will-guided through the buxom skies.\n Celestial hosts by Indra led\n Flee from my face disquieted,\n And where my dreaded feet appear\n The wind is hushed or breathless is fear.\n Where'er I stand, where'er I go\n The troubled waters cease to flow,\n Each spell-bound wave is mute and still\n And the fierce sun himself is chill.\n Beyond the sea my Lank\u00e1 stands\n Filled with fierce forms and giant bands,\n A glorious city fair to see\n As Indra's Amar\u00e1vat\u00ed.\n A towering height of solid wall,\n Flashing afar, surrounds it all,\n Its golden courts enchant the sight,\n And gates aglow with lazulite.\n Steeds, elephants, and cars are there,\n And drums' loud music fills the air,\n Fair trees in lovely gardens grow\n Whose boughs with varied fruitage glow.\n Thou, beauteous Queen, with me shalt dwell\n In halls that suit a princess well,\n Thy former fellows shall forget\n Nor think of women with regret,\n No earthly joy thy soul shall miss,\n And take its fill of heavenly bliss.\n Of mortal R\u00e1ma think no more,\n Whose terms of days will soon be o'er.\n King Das'aratha looked in scorn\n On R\u00e1ma though the eldest born,\n Sent to the woods the weakling fool,\n And set his darling son to rule\n What, O thou large-eyed dame, hast thou\n To do with fallen R\u00e1ma now,\n From home and kingdom forced to fly,\n A wretched hermit soon to die\n Accept thy lover, nor refuse\n The giant king who fondly woos.\n O listen, nor reject in scorn\n A heart by K\u00e1ma's arrows torn.\n If thou refuse to hear my prayer,\n Of grief and coming woe beware;\n For the sad fate will fall on thee\n Which came on hapless Urvas'\u00ed,\n When with her foot she chanced to touch\n Pur\u00faravas, and sorrowed much. \u00a01\n My little finger raised in fight\n Were more than match for R\u00e1ma's might\n O fairest, blithe and happy be\n \n \n With him whom fortune sends to thee.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Such were the words the giant said,\n And S\u00edt\u00e1's angry eyes were red.\n She answered in that lonely place\n The monarch of the giant race:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'Art thou the brother of the Lord\n Of Gold by all the world adored,\n And sprung of that illustrious seed\n Wouldst now attempt this evil deed?\n I tell thee, impious Monarch, all\n The giants by thy sin will fall,\n Whose reckless lord and king thou art,\n With foolish mind and lawless heart.\n Yea, one may hope to steal the wife\n Of Indra and escape with life.\n But he who R\u00e1ma's dame would tear\n From his loved side must needs despair,\n Yea, one may steal fair S'ach\u00ed, dame\n Of Him who shoots the thunder flame,\n May live successful in his aim\n \u00a0\u00a0 And length of day may see;\n But hope, O giant King, in vain,\n Though cups of Amrit thou may drain,\n To shun the penalty and pain\n \u00a0\u00a0 Of wronging one like me.'\n \n \n \n \n286:1 The story will be found in GARRETT'S Classical Dictionary, See ADDITIONAL NOTES","title":"BOOK III: Canto XLVIII: R\u00e1van's Speech.","type":"page"}