{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry287.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry287.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry287.htm","text":"Thus with Sugr\u00edva, from the side\n Of Rishyamuka, R\u00e1ma hied,\n And stood before Kishkindh\u00e1's gate\n Where B\u00e1li kept his regal state.\n The hero in his warrior hold\n Raised his great bow adorned with gold,\n And drew his pointed arrow bright\n As sunbeams, finisher of fight.\n Strong-necked Sugr\u00edva led the way\n With Lakshman mighty in the fray.\n Nala and N\u00edla came behind\n With Hanum\u00e1n of lofty mind.\n And valiant T\u00e1ra, last in place,\n A leader of the V\u00e1nar race.\n They gazed on many a tree that showed\n The glory of its pendent load,\n And brook and limpid rill that made\n Sweet murmurs as they seaward strayed.\n They looked on caverns dark and deep,\n On bower and glen and mountain steep,\n And saw the opening lotus stud\n With roseate cup the crystal flood,\n While crane and swan and coot and drake\n Made pleasant music on the lake,\n And from the reedy bank was heard\n The note of many a happy bird.\n In open lawns, in tangled ways,\n They saw the tall deer stand at gaze,\n Or marked them free and fearless roam,\n Fed with sweet grass, their woodland home.\n At times two flashing tusks between\n The wavings of the wood were seen,\n And some mad elephant, alone,\n Like a huge moving hill, was shown.\n And scarcely less in size appeared\n Great monkeys all with dust besmeared.\n And various birds that roam the skies,\n And silvan creatures, met their eyes,\n As through the wood the chieftains sped,\n Anil followed where Sugr\u00edva led.\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then R\u00e1ma, as their way they made,\n Saw near at hand a lovely shade,\n And, as he gazed upon the trees,\n Spake to Sugr\u00edva words like these;\n 'Those stately trees in beauty rise,\n Fair as a cloud in autumn skies,\n I fain, my friend, would learn from thee\n What pleasant grove is that I see.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Thus R\u00e1ma spake, the mighty souled;\n And thus his tale Sugr\u00edva told:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'That, R\u00e1ma, is a wide retreat\n That brings repose to weary feet.\n Bright streams and fruit and roots are there,\n And shady gardens passing fair.\n There, neath the roof of hanging boughs,\n The sacred Seven maintained their vows.\n Their heads in dust were lowly laid,\n In streams their nightly beds were made.\n Each seventh night they broke their fast,\n But air was still their sole repast,\n And when seven hundred years were spent\n To homes in heaven the hermits went.\n Their glory keeps the garden yet,\n With walls of stately trees beset.\n Scarce would the Gods and demons dare,\n By Indra led, to enter there.\n No beast that roams the wood is found,\n No bird of air, within the bound;\n Or, thither if they idly stray,\n They find no more their homeward way.\n You hear at times mid dulcet tones\n The chime of anklets, rings, and zones.\n You hear the song and music sound,\n And heavenly fragrance breathes around,\n There duly burn the triple fires\u00a01\n Where mounts the smoke in curling spires,\n And, in a dun wreath, hangs above\n The tall trees, like a brooding dove.\n Round brunch and crest the vapours close\n Till every tree enveloped shows\n A hill of lazulite when clouds\n Hang round it with their misty shrouds.\n With Lakshman, lord of Raghu's line,\n In reverent guise thine head incline,\n And with fixt heart and suppliant hand\n Give honour to the sainted band.\n They who with faithful hearts revere\n The holy Seven who harboured here,\n Shall never, son of Raghu, know\n In all their lives an hour of woe.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then R\u00e1ma and his brother bent.\n And did obeisance reverent\n With suppliant hand and lowly head,\n Then with Sugr\u00edva onward sped.\n Beyond the sainted Seven's abode\n Far on their way the chieftains strode,\n And great Kishkindh\u00e1's portal gained,\n The royal town where B\u00e1li reigned.\n Then by the gate they took their stand\n All ready armed a noble band,\n \u00a0\u00a0 And burning every one\n To slay in battle, hand to hand,\n \u00a0\u00a0 Their foeman, Indra's son,","title":"BOOK IV: Canto XIII.: The Return To Kishkindh\u00e1.","type":"page"}