{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry255.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry255.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry255.htm","text":"Soon as the fiend had set her down\n Within his home in Lank\u00e1's town\n Triumph and joy filled Indra's breast,\n Whom thus the Eternal Sire addressed:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'This deed will free the worlds from woe\n And cause the giants' overthrow.\n The fiend has borne to Lank\u00e1's isle\n The body of the * smile,\n True consort * to happy fate\n W * and dedicate\n \n \n She looks and longs for R\u00e1ma's face,\n But sees a crowd of demon race,\n And guarded by the giant's train\n Pines for her lord and weeps in vain,\n But Lank\u00e1 founded on a steep\n Is girdled by the mighty deep,\n And how will R\u00e1ma know his fair\n And blameless wife is prisoned there?\n She on her woe will sadly brood\n And pine away in solitude,\n And heedless of herself, will cease\n To live, despairing of release.\n Yes, pondering on her fate, I see\n Her gentle life in jeopardy.\n Go, Indra, swiftly seek the place,\n And look upon her lovely face.\n Within the city make thy way:\n Let heavenly food her spirit stay.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Thus Brahma, spake: and He who slew\n The cruel demon P\u00e1ka, flew\n Where Lank\u00e1's royal city lay,\n And Sleep went with him on his way.\n 'Sleep,' cried the heavenly Monarch, 'close\n Each giant's eye in deep repose.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Thus Indra spoke, and Sleep fulfilled\n With joy his mandate, as he willed,\n To aid the plan the Gods proposed,\n The demons' eyes in sleep she closed.\n Then Sachi's lord, the Thousand-eyed,\n To the Asoka garden hied.\n He came and stood where Sit\u00e1 lay,\n And gently thus began to say:\n 'Lord of the Gods who hold the sky,\n Dame of the lovely smile, am I.\n Weep no more, lady, weep no more;\n Thy days of woe will soon be o'er.\n I come, O Janak's child, to be\n The helper of thy lord and thee.\n He through my grace, with hosts to aid,\n This sea-girt land will soon invade.\n 'Tis by my art that slumbers close\n The eyelids of thy giant foes.\n Now I, with Sleep, this place have sought,\n Videhau lady, and have brought\n A gift of heaven's ambrosial food\n To stay thee in thy solitude.\n Receive it from my hand, and taste,\n O lady of the dainty waist:\n For countless ages thou shall be\n From pangs of thirst and hunger free.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 But doubt within her bosom woke\n As to the Lord of Gods she spoke:\n 'How may I know for truth that thou\n Whose form I see before me now\n Art verily the King adored\n By heavenly Gods, and S'achi's lord?\n With Rhagu's sons I learnt to know\n The certain signs which Godhead show.\n These marks before mine eyes display\n If o'er the Gods thou bear the sway.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 The heavenly lord of S'achi heard.\n And did according to her word,\n Above the ground his feet were raised;\n With eyelids motionless he gazed.\n No dust upon his raiment lay,\n And his bright wreath was fresh and gay.\n Nor was the lady's glad heart slow\n The Monarch of the Gods to know.\n And while the tears unceasing ran\n From her sweet eyes she thus began:\n 'My lord has gained a friend in thee,\n And I this day thy presence see\n Shown clearly to mine eyes, as when\n R\u00e1ma and Lakshman, lords of men.\n Beheld it, and their sire the king,\n And Janak too from whom I spring.\n Now I, O Monarch of the Blest,\n Will eat this food at thy behest,\n Which thou hast brought me, of thy grace,\n To aid and strengthen Raghu's race.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 She spoke, and by his words relieved,\n The food from Indra's hand received,\n Yet ere she ate the balm he brought.\n On Lakshman and her lord she thought.\n 'If my brave lord be still alive,\n If valiant Lakshman yet survive,\n May this my taste of heavenly food\n Bring health to them and bliss renewed!'\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 She ate, and that celestial food\n \u00a0\u00a0 Stayed hunger, thirst, and lassitude,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And all her strength restored.\n \u00a0\u00a0 Great joy her hopeful spirit stirred\n \u00a0\u00a0 At the glad tidings newly heard\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Of Lakshman and her lord.\n \u00a0\u00a0 And Indra's heart was joyful too:\n \u00a0\u00a0 He bade the Maithil dame adieu,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His saving errand done.\n \u00a0\u00a0 With Sleep beside him parting thence\n \u00a0\u00a0 He sought his heavenly residence\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 To prosper Raghu's son.","title":"BOOK III: Canto LVII.: S\u00edt\u00e1 Comforted.","type":"page"}