{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry419.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry419.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry419.htm","text":"S\u00e1rd\u00fala, R\u00e1van's spy, surveyed\n The legions on the strand arrayed.\n And bore, his bosom racked with fear,\n These tidings to the monarch's ear:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'They come, they come. A rushing tide,\n Ten leagues they spread from side to side,\n And on to storm thy citv press,\n Fierce rovers of the wilderness.\n Rich in each princely power and grace,\n The pride of Das'aratha's race,\n R\u00e1ma and Lakshman lead their bands,\n And halt them on the ocean sands.\n O Monarch, rise, this peril meet;\n Risk not the danger of defeat.\n \n \n First let each wiser art be tried;\n Bribe them, or win them, or divide.'\n Such was the counsel of the spy:\n And R\u00e1van called to S'uka: 'Fly,\n Sugr\u00edva lord of V\u00e1nars seek,\n And thus my kingly message speak:\n 'Great power and might and fame are thine.\n Brave scion of a royal line,\n King Riksharajuas' son, in thee\n A brother and a friend I see.\n How wrouged by me canst thou complain?\n What profit here pretend to gain?\n If from the wood the wife I stole\n Of R\u00e1ma of the prudent soul,\n What cause hast thou to mourn the theft?\n Thou art not injured or bereft.\n Return, O King, thy steps retrace\n And seek thy mountain dwelling-place.\n No, never may thy hosts within\n My Lank\u00e1's walls a footing win.\n A mighty town whose strength defies\n The gathered armies of the skies.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased: obedient S'uka heard;\n With wings and plumage of a bird\n He rose in eager speed and through\n The air upon his errand flew.\n Borne o'er the sea with rapid wing\n He stood above the V\u00e1nar king,\n And spoke aloud, sublime in air.\n Thu message he was charged so bear.\n The V\u00e1nar heard the words he spoke,\n And quick redoubling stroke on stroke\n On head and pinions hemmed him round\n And bore him struggling to the grouud.\n The R\u00e1kshas wounded and distressed\n These words to Raghu's son addressed:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'Quick, quick! This V\u00e1nar host * restrain,\n For heralds never must be slain.\n To him alone, a wretch untrue,\n The punishment of death is due\n Who leaves his master's speech unsaid\n And speaks another word * instead'\n Moved by the suppliant speech and praver\n Up sprang the prince and cried, forbear.\n Saved from his wild assailant's blows\n Again the R\u00e1kshas herald rose\n And borne on light wings to the sky\n Addressed Sugr\u00edva from on high:\n 'O V\u00e1nar Monarch, chief endued\n With power and wonderous fortitude.\n What answer is my king the fear\n And scourge of weeping worlds, to hear?'\n 'Go tell thy lord,' Sugr\u00edva cried.\n 'Thou, R\u00e1ma's foe, art thus defied.\n His arm the guilty Bali slew;\n Thus, tyrant, shalt thee perish too,\n Thy sons, thy friends, proud King and all\n Thy kith and kin with thee shall fall;\n And emptied of the giant's brood,\n Burnt * Lank\u00e1 be a solitude.\n \n \n Fly to the Sun-God's pathway, go\n And hide thee deep in hell below:\n In vain from R\u00e1ma shalt thou flee\n Though heavenly warriors fight for thee.\n Thine arm subdued, securely bold,\n The Vulture-king infirm and old:\n But will thy puny strength avail\n When Raghu's wrathful sons assail?\n A captive in thy palace lies\n The lady of the lotus eyes:\n Thou knowest not how fierce and strong\n Is he whom thou hast dared to wrong.\n The best of Raghu's lineage, he\n Whose conquering hand shall punish thee.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased: and Augad raised a cry;\n 'This is no herald but a spy.\n Above thee from his airy post\n His rapid eye surveyed our host,\n Where with advantage he might scan\n Our gathered strength from rear to van,\n Bind him. V\u00e1nars, bind the spy,\n Nor let him back to Lank\u00e1 fly.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 They hurled the R\u00e1kshas to the ground,\n Thiey grasped his neck, his pinions bound,\n And firmly held bear while * in vain\n His voice was lifted to complain.\n But R\u00e1ma's heart inclined to spare,\n He listened to his plaint and prayer,\n And cried aloud: 'O V\u00e1nars, cease;\n The captive from his bonds release.'\n \n \n \n \n441:1b The story is told in Book I. Cantos XL., XLI., XLII.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XX.: The Spies.","type":"page"}