{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry271.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry271.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry271.htm","text":"The monster ceased: the princely pair\n Heard great Kabandha's eager prayer.\n Within a mountain cave they sped,\n Where kindled fire with care they fed.\n Then Lakshman in his mighty hands\n Brought ample store of lighted brands,\n And to a pile of logs applied\n The flame that ran from side to side.\n The spreading glow with gentle force\n Consumed Kabundha's mighty corse,\n Till the unresting flames had drunk\n The marrow of the monstrous trunk,\n As balls of butter melt away\n Amid the fires that o'er them play.\n Then from the pyre, like flame that glows\n Undimmed by cloudy smoke, he rose,\n In garments pure of spot or speck,\n A heavenly wreath about his neck.\n Resplendent in his bright attire\n He sprang exultant from the pyre.\n While from neck, arm, and foot was sent\n The flash of gold and ornament.\n High on a chariot, bright of hue,\n Which swans of fairest pinion drew,\n He filled each region of the air\n With splendid glow reflected there,\n Then in the sky he stayed his car\n And called to R\u00e1ma from afar:\n 'Hear, chieftain, while my lips explain\n The means to win thy spouse again.\n Six plans, O prince, the wise pursue\n To reach the aims we hold in view.\u00a01\n When evils ripening sorely press,\n They load the wretch with new distress.\n So thou and Lakshman, tried by woe,\n Have felt at last a fiercer blow,\n And plunged in bitterest grief to-day\n Lament thy consort torn away.\n There is no course but this: attend;\n \n \n Make, best of friends, that chief thy friend.\n Unless his prospering help thou gain\n Thy plans and hopes must all be vain.\n O R\u00e1ma, hear my words, and seek,\n Sugr\u00edva, for of him I speak.\n His brother B\u00e1li, Indra's son,\n Expelled him when the fight was won.\n With four great chieftains, faithful still,\n He dwells on Rishyam\u00faka's hill.--\n Fair mountain, lovely with the flow\n Of Pamp\u00e1's waves that glide below,--\n Lord of the V\u00e1nars \u00a01b just and true,\n Strong, very glorious, bright to view,\n Unmatched in counsel, firm and meek,\n Bound by each word his lips may speak,\n Good, splendid, mighty, bold and brave,\n Wise in each plan to guide and save,\n His brother, fired by lust of sway,\n Drove forth the prince in woods to stray.\n In all thy search for S\u00edt\u00e1 he\n Thy ready friend and help will be.\n With him to aid thee in thy quest\n Dismiss all sorrow from thy breast.\n Time is a mighty power, and none\n His fixed decree can change or shun.\n So rich reward thy toil shall bless,\n And naught can stay thy sure success.\n Speed hence, O chief, without delay,\n To strong Sugr\u00edva take thy way.\n This hour thy footsteps onward bend,\n And make that mighty prince thy friend.\n With him before the attesting flame\n In solemn truth alliance frame.\n Nor wilt thou, if thy heart be wise,\n Sugr\u00edva, V\u00e1nar king, despise.\n Of boundless strength, all shapes he wears,\n He hearkens to a suppliant's prayers,\n And, grateful for each kindly deed,\n Will help and save in hour of need,\n And you, I ween, the power possess\n To aid his hopes and give redress.\n He, let his cause succeed or fail,\n Will help you, and you must prevail.\n A banished prince, in fear and woe\n He roams where Pamp\u00e1's waters flow,\n True offspring of the Lord of Light\n Expelled by B\u00e1li's conquering might.\n Go, Raghu's son, that chieftain seek\n Who dwells on Rishyam\u00faka's peak.\n Before the flame thy weapons cast\n And bind the bonds of friendship fast.\n For, prince of all the V\u00e1nar race,\n He in his wisdom knows each place\n Where dwell the fierce gigantic brood\n Who make the flesh of man their food.\n To him, O Raghu's son, to him\n Naught in the world is dark or dim,\n Where'er the mighty Day-God gleams\n Resplendent with a thousand beams.\n \n \n He over rocky height and hill,\n Through gloomy cave, by lake and rill,\n Will with his V\u00e1nars seek the prize,\n And tell thee where thy lady lies.\n And he will send great chieftains forth\n To east and west and south and north,\n To seek the distant spot where she\n All desolate laments for thee.\n He even in R\u00e1van's halls would find\n Thy S\u00edt\u00e1, gem of womankind.\n Yea, if the blameless lady lay\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On Meru's loftiest steep.\n \u00a0\u00a0 Or, far removed from light of day,\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Where hell is dark and deep,\n \u00a0\u00a0 That chief of all the V\u00e1nar race\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 His way would still explore,\n \u00a0\u00a0 Meet the cowed giants face to face\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And thy dear spouse restore.\"\n \n \n \n \n314:1 Peace, war, marching, halting, sowing dissensions, and seeking protection.\n314:1b See Book I. Canto XVI.","title":"BOOK III: Canto LXXIII.: Kabandha's Counsel.","type":"page"}