{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry418.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry418.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry418.htm","text":"When Raghu's son had owned his claim\n Down from the air Vibh\u00edshan came,\n And with his four attendants bent\n At R\u00e1ma's feet most reverent.\n \u00a0\u00a0 'O R\u00e1ma,' thus he cried, 'in me\n Vibh\u00edshan, R\u00e1van's brother see.\n By him disgraced thine aid I seek,\n Sure refuge of the poor and weak.\n From Lank\u00e1, friends, and wealth I fly.\n And reft of all on thee rely.\n On thee, the wretch's firmest friend,\n My kingdom, joys, and life depend.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 With glance of favour R\u00e1ma eyed\n The R\u00e1kshas chief and thus replied:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'First from thy lips I fain would hear\n Each brighter hope, each darker fear.\n Speak, stranger, that I well may know\n The strength and weakness of the foe.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased: the R\u00e1kshas chief obeyed,\n And thus in turn his answer made:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'O Prince, the Self-existent gave\n This boon to R\u00e1van; he may brave\n All foes in fight; no fiend or snake,\n Gandharva, God, his life may take.\n His brother Kumbhakarna vies\n In might with him who rules the skies.\n The captain of his armies--fame\n Perhaps has taught the warrior's name--\n Is terrible Prahanta, who\n King Manibhadra's \u00a01 self o'erthrew.\n Where is the warrior found to face\n Young Indrajit, when armed with brace\n And guard \u00a02 and bow he stands in mail\n And laughs at spear and arrowy hail?\n Within his city Lank\u00e1 dwell\n Ten million giants fierce and fell,\n Who wear each varied shape at will\n And eat the flesh of those they kill.\n These hosts against the Gods he led.\n And heavenly might discomfited.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then R\u00e1ma cried: 'I little heed\n Gigantic strength or doughty deed.\n In spite of all their might has done\n The king, the captain, aud the son\n Shall fall beneath my fury dead,\n And thou shalt reign in R\u00e1van's stead.\n He, though in depths of earth he dwell,\n Or seek protection down in hell,\n \n \n Or kneel before the Sire supreme,\n His forfeit life shall ne'er redeem.\n Yea, by my brothers' lives I swear,\n I will not to my home repair\n Till R\u00e1van and his kith and kin\n Have paid in death the price of sin.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Vibh\u00edshan bowed his head and cried:\n 'Thy conquering army will I guide\n To storm the city of the foe,\n And aid the tyrant's overthrow.'\n Thus spake Vibh\u00edshan: R\u00e1ma pressed\n The R\u00e1kshas chieftain to his breast,\n And cried to Lakshman:'Haste and bring\n Sea-water for the new-made king.'\n He spoke, and o'er Vibh\u00edshan's head\n The consecrating drops were shed\n Mid shouts that hailed with one accord\n The giants' king and Lank\u00e1's lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0 'Is there no way,' Han\u00fam\u00e1n cried,\n 'No passage o'er the boisterous tide?\n How may we lead the V\u00e1nar host\n In triumph to the farther coast?\n 'Thus,' said Vibh\u00edshan, 'I advise:\n Let Raghu's son in suppliant guise\n Entreat the mighty Sea to lend\n His succour and this cause befriend.\n His channels, as the wise have told,\n By Sagar's sons were dug of old, \u00a01b\n Nor will high-thoughted Ocean scorn\n A prince of Sagar's lineage born.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased; the prudent counsel won\n The glad assent of Raghu's son.\n Then on the ocean shore a bed\n Of tender sacred grass was spread,\n Where R\u00e1ma at the close of day\n Like fire upon an altar lay.\n \n \n \n \n441:1 A King of the Yakshas, or Kuvera himself, the God of Gold.\n441:2 The brace protects the left arm from injury from the bow-string, and the guard protects the fingers of the right hand.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XIX.: Vibh\u00edshan's Counsel.","type":"page"}