{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry345.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry345.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry345.htm","text":"The glorious sight a while he viewed,\n Then to the town his way pursued.\n Around the Vanar as he went\n Breathed from the wood delicious scent,\n And the soft grass beneath his feet\n With gem-like flowers was bright and sweet.\n Still as the Vanar nearer drew\n More clearly rose the town to view\n The palm her fan-like leaves displayed,\n Priy\u00e1las \u00a01 lent their pleasant shade,\n And mid the lower greenery far\n Conspicuous rose the Kovid\u00e1r \u00a02.\n A thousand trees mid flowers that glowed\n Hung down their fruit's delicious load \u00a03,\n And in their crests that rocked and swayed\n Sweet birds delightful music made.\n And there were pleasant pools whereon\n The glories of the lotus shone;\n And gleams of sparkling fountains, stirred\n By many a joyous water-bird.\n \n \n Around, in lovely gardens grew\n Blooms sweet of scent and bright of hue,\n And Lank\u00e1, seat of R\u00e1van's sway,\n Before the wondering V\u00e1nar lay:\n With stately domes and turrets tall,\n Encircled by a golden wall,\n And moats whose waters were aglow\n With lily blossoms bright below:\n For Sit\u00e1's sake defended well\n With bolt and bar and sentinel,\n And Rakshases who roamed in bands\n With ready bows in eager hands.\n He saw the stately mansions rise\n Like pale-hued clouds in autumn skies;\n Where noble streets were broad and bright,\n And banners waved on every height.\n Her gates were glorious to behold\n Rich with the shine of burnished gold:\n A lovely city planned and decked\n By heaven's creative arhitect \u00a01b,\n Fairest of earthly cities meet\n To be the Gods' celestial seat.\n The V\u00e1nar by the northern gate\n Thus in his heart began debate\n 'Our mightiest host would strive in vain\n To take this city on the main:\n A city that may well defy\n The chosen warriors of the sky;\n A city never to be won\n E'en by the arm of Raghu's son.\n Here is no hope by guile to win\n The hostile hearts of those within.\n 'Twere vain to war, or bribe, or sow\n Dissension mid the V\u00e1nar foe.\n But now my search must I pursue\n Until the Maithil queen I view:\n And, when I find the captive dame,\n Make victory mine only aim.\n But, if I wear my present shape,\n How shall I enter and escape\n The R\u00e1kshas troops, their guards and spies,\n And sleepless watch of cruel eyes?\n The fiends of giant race who hold\n This mighty town are strong and bold;\n And I must labour to elude\n The fiercely watchful multitude.\n I in a shape to mock their sight\n Must steal within the town by night,\n Blind with my art the demons' eyes,\n And thus achieve my enterprise.\n How may I see, myself unseen\n Of the fierce king, the captive queen.\n And meet her in some lonely place,\n With none beside her, face to face?'\n \n \n When the bright sun had left the skies\n The V\u00e1nar dwarfed his mighty size,\n \n \n And, in the straitest bounds restrained,\n The bigness of a cat retained. \u00a01\n Then, when the moon's soft light was spread,\n Within the city's walls he sped.\n \n \n \n \n397:1 The Buchanania Latifolia.\n397:2 The Bauhinia Variegata.\n397:3 Through the power that R\u00e1van's stern mortifications had won for him his trees bore flowers and fruit simultaneously.\n397:1b Vis'vakarm\u00e1 is the architect of the Gods.","title":"BOOK V: Canto II.: Lank\u00e1.","type":"page"}