{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry252.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry252.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry252.htm","text":"He bore her on in rapid flight,\n And not a friend appeared in sight.\n But on a hill that o'er the wood\n Raised its high top five monkeys stood.\n From her fair neck her scarf she drew,\n And down the glittering vesture flew.\n With earring, necklet, chain, and gem,\n Descending in the midst of them:\n 'For these,' she thought,'my path may show,\n And tell my lord the way I go.'\n Nor did the fiend, in wild alarm,\n Mark when she drew from neck and arm\n And foot the gems and gold, and sent\n To earth each gleaming ornament.\n \n \n The monkeys raised their tawny eyes\n That closed not in their first surprise,\n And saw the dark-eyed lady, here\n She shrieked above them in the air.\n High o'er their heads the giant passed\n Holding the weeping lady fast.\n O'er Pampa's flashing flood he sped\n And on to Lanka's city fled.\n He bore awny in senseless joy\n The prize that should his life destroy,\n Like the rash fool who hugs beneath\n His robe a snake with venomed teeth,\n Swift as an arrow from a bow,\n Speeding o'er lands that lay below,\n Sublime in air his course he took\n O'er wood and rook and lake and brook.\n He passed at length the sounding sea\n Where monstrous creatures wander free,--\n Seat of Lord Varun's ancient reign,\n Controller of the eternal main.\n The angry waves were raised and tossed\n As R\u00e1van with the lady crossed,\n And fish and snake in wild unrest\n Showed flashing fin and gleaming crest.\n Then from the blessed troops who dwell\n In air celestial voices fell:\n 'O ten-necked King,' they cried, 'attend:\n This guilty deed will bring thine end.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then R\u00e1van speeding like the storm,\n Bearing his death in human form,\n The struggling S\u00edt\u00e1, lighted down\n In royal Lanka's glorious town;\n A city bright and rich, that showed\n Well-ordered street and noble road;\n Arranged with just division, fair\n With multitudes in court and square.\n Thus, all his journey done, he passed\n Within his royal home at last.\n There in a queenly bower he placed\n The black-eyed dame with dainty waist:\n Thus in her chamber Maya laid\n The lovely Maya, demon maid.\n Then R\u00e1van gave command to all\n The dread she-fiends who filled the halls\n 'This captive lady watch and guard\n From sight of man and woman barred.\n But all the fair one asks beside\n Be with unsparing hand supplied:\n As though 'twere I that asked, withhold\n No pearls or dress or gems or gold.\n And she among you that shall dare\n Of purpose or through want of care\n One word to vex her soul to say,\n 'Throws her unvalued life away.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Thus spake the monarch of their race\n To those she-fiends who thronged the place,\n And pondering on the course to take\n Went from the chamber as he spake.\n He saw eight giants, strong and dread,\n On flesh of bleeding victims fed,\n Proud in the boon which Brahma gave,\n \n \n And trusting in its power to save.\n He thus the mighty chiefs addressed\n Of glorious power and strength possessed:\n 'Arm, warriors, with the spear and bow;\n With all your speed from Lank\u00e1 go,\n For Janasth\u00e1n, our own no more,\n Is now defiled with giants' gore;\n The seat of Khara's royal state\n Is left unto us desolate.\n In your brave hearts and might confide,\n And cast ignoble fear aside.\n Go, in that desert region dwell\n Where the fierce giants fought and fell.\n A glorious host that region held,\n For power and might unparalleled,\n By D\u00fashan and brave Khara led,-\n All, slain by R\u00e1ma's arrows, bled.\n Hence boundless wrath that spurns control\n Reigns paramount within my soul,\n And naught but R\u00e1ma's death can sate\n The fury of my vengeful hate.\n I will not close my slumbering eyes\n Till by this hand my foeman dies.\n And when mine arm has slain the foe\n Who laid those giant princes low,\n Long will I triumph in the deed,\n Like one enriched in utmost need.\n Now go; that I this end may gain,\n In Janasth\u00e1n. O chiefs, remain.\n Watch R\u00e1ma there with keenest eye,\n And all his deeds and movements spy.\n Go forth, no helping art neglect,\n Be brave and prompt and circumspect,\n And be your one endeavour still\n To aid mine arm this foe to kill.\n Oft have I seen your warrior might\n Proved in the forehead of the fight,\n And sure of strength I know so well\n Send you in Janasth\u00e1n to dwell.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 The giants heard with prompt assent\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The pleasant words he said,\n \u00a0\u00a0 And each before his master bent\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 For meet salute, his head.\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then as he bade, without delay,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 From Lank\u00e1's gate they passed,\n \u00a0\u00a0 And hurried forward on their way\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Invisible and fast.","title":"BOOK III: Canto LIV.: Lank\u00e1.","type":"page"}