{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry417.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry417.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry417.htm","text":"Then R\u00e1ma's rising doubt was stilled,\n And friendly thoughts his bosom filled.\n Thus, deep in Scripture's lore, he spake:\n 'The suppliant will I ne'er forsake,\n Nor my protecting aid refuse\n When one in name of friendship sues.\n Though faults and folly blot his fame,\n Pity and help he still may claim.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased: Sugr\u00edva bowed his head\n And pondered for a while, and said:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'Past number be his faults or few,\n What think ye of the R\u00e1kshas who,\n When threatening clouds of danger rise,\n Deserts his brother's side and flies?\n Say, V\u00e1nars, who may hope to find\n True friendship in his faithless kind?'\n \u00a0\u00a0 The son of Raghu heard his speech:\n He cast a hasty look on each\n Of those brave V\u00e1nar chiefs, and while\n Upon his lips there played a smile,\n To Lakshman turned and thus expressed\n The thoughts that moved his gallant breast:\n 'Well versed in Scripture's lore, and sage\n And duly reverent to age,\n Is he, with long experience stored,\n Who counsels like this V\u00e1nar lord.\n Yet here, methinks, for searching eyea\n Some deeper, subtler matter lies.\n To you and all the world are known\n The perils of a monarch's throne,\n While foe and stranger, kith and kin\n By his misfortune trust to win.\n By hope of *such advantage led,\n Vibh\u00edshan o'er the sea has fled.\n \n \n He in his brother's stead would reign,\n And our alliance seeks to gain;\n And we his offer may embrace,\n A stranger and of alien race.\n But if he comes a spy and foe,\n What power has he to strike a blow\n In furtherance of his close design?\n What is his strength compared with mine?\n And can I, V\u00e1nar King, forget\n The great, the universal debt,\n Ever to aid and welcome those\n Who pray for shelter, friends or foes?\n Hast thou not heard the deathless praise\n Won by the dove in olden days,\n Who conquering his fear and hate\n Welcomed the slayer of his mate,\n And gave a banquet, to refresh\n The weary fowler, of his flesh?\n Now hear me, V\u00e1nar King, rehearse\n What Kandu \u00a01 spoke in ancient verse,\n Saint Kanva's son who loved the truth\n And clave to virtue from his youth:\n 'Strike not the suppliant when he stands\n And asks thee with beseeching hands\n For shelter: strike him not although\n He were thy father's mortal foe.\n No, yield him, be he proud or meek,\n The shelter which he comes to seek,\n And save thy foeman, if the deed\n Should cost thy life, in desperate need.'\n And shall I hear the wretched cry,\n And my protecting aid deny?\n Shall I a suppliant's prayer refuse,\n And heaven and glory basely lose?\n No, I will do for honour sake\n E'en as the holy Kandu spake,\n Preserve a hero's name from stain,\n And bliss in heaven and glory gain.\n Bound by a solemn vow I sware\n That all my saving help should share\n Who sought me in distress and cried,\n 'Thou art my hope, and none beside,'\n Then go, I pray thee, V\u00e1nar King,\n Vibh\u00edshan to my presence bring.\n Yea, were he R\u00e1van's self, my vow\n Forbids me to reject him now.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased: the V\u00e1nar king approved;\n And R\u00e1ma toward Vibh\u00edshan moved.\n So moves, a brother God to greet,\n Lord Indra from his heavenly seat.\n \n \n440:1 In Book II. Canto XXI, Kandu is mentioned by R\u00e1ma as an example of filial obedience. At the command of his father he is said to have killed a cow.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XVIII.: R\u00e1ma's Speech.","type":"page"}