{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry424.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry424.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry424.htm","text":"When R\u00e1ma and the host he led\n Across the sea had safely sped.\n Thus R\u00e1van, moved by wrath and pride.\n To S'uka and to S\u00e1ran cried:\n 'O counsellors, the V\u00e1nar host\n Has passed the sea from coast to coast,\n And Das'aratha's son has wrought\n A wondrous deed surpassing thought.\n And now in truth I needs must know\n The strength and number of the foe.\n Go ye, to R\u00e1ma's host repair\n And count me all the legions there.\n Learn well what power each captain leads\n His name and fame for warlike deeds.\n Learn by what artist's wondrous aid\n That bridge athwart the sea was made;\n Learn how the V\u00e1nar hoat came o'er\n And halted on the island shore.\n Mark R\u00e1ma son of Raghu well;\n His valour, strength, and weapons tell.\n Watch his advisers one by one,\n And Lakshman, Raghu's younger son.\n Learn with observant eyes, and bring\n Unerring tidings to your king.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 He ceased: then swift in V\u00e1nar guise\n Forth on their errand sped the spies.\n They reached the V\u00e1nars, and, dismayed,\n Their never-ending lines surveyd:\n Nor would they try, in mere despair,\n To count the countless legions there,\n \n \n That crowded valley, plain and hill,\n That pressed about each cave and rill.\n Though sea-like o'er the land were spread\n The endless hosts which R\u00e1ma led,\n The bridge by thousands yet was lined,\n And eager myriads pressed behind.\n But sage Vibh\u00edshan's watchful eyes\n Had marked the giants in disguise.\n He gave command the pair to seize,\n And told the tale in words like these:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'O R\u00e1ma these, well known erewhile,\n Are giant sons of Lank\u00e1's isle.\n Two counsellors of R\u00e1van sent\n To watch the invading armament.'\n \u00a0 Vibh\u00edshan ceased: at R\u00e1ma's look\n The R\u00e1kshas envoys quailed and shook;\n Then suppliant hand to hand they pressed\n And thus Ikshv\u00e1ku's son addressed:\n 'O R\u00e1ma, bear the truth we speak:\n Our monarch R\u00e1van bade us seek\n The V\u00e1nar legions and survey\n Their numbers, strength, and vast array'.\n \u00a0\u00a0 Then R\u00e1ma, friend and hope and guide\n Of suffering creatures, thus replied:\n \u00a0\u00a0 'Now giants, if your eyes have scanned\n Our armies, numbering every band,\n Marked lord and chief, and gazed their fill,\n Return to R\u00e1van when ye will.\n It aught remain, if aught anew\n Ye fain would scan with closer view,\n Vibh\u00edshan, ready at your call,\n Will lead you forth and show you all.\n Think not of bonds and capture; fear\n No loss of life, no peril here:\n For, captive, helpless and unarmed,\n An envoy never should be harmed.\n Again to Lank\u00e1's town repair,\n Speed to the giant monarch there,\n And be these words to R\u00e1van told,\n Fierce brother of the Lord of Gold:\n 'Now, tyrant, tremble for thy sin:\n Call up thy friends, thy kith and kin,\n And let the power and might be seen\n Which made thee bold to steal my queen.\n To-morrow shall thy mournful eye\n Behold thy bravest warriors die,\n And Lank\u00e1's city, tower and wall,\n Struck by my fiery shafts, will fall.\n Then shall my vengeful blow descend\n Its rage on thee and thine to spend,\n Fierce as the fiery bolt that flew\n From heaven against the D\u00e1nav crew,\n Mid these rebellious demons sent\n By him who rules the firmament.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Thus spake Ikshv\u00e1ku's son, and ceased:\n The giants from their bonds released\n Lauded the King with glad accord,\n And hasted homeward to their lord.\n Before the tyrant side by side\n S'uka and S\u00e1ran stood and cried:\n \n \n 'Vibh\u00edshan seized us, King, and fain\n His helpless captives would have slain.\n But glorious R\u00e1ma saw us; he,\n Great-hearted hero, made us free.\n There in one spot our eyes beheld\n Four chiefs on earth unparalleled,\n Who with the guardian Gods may vie\n Who rule the regions of the sky.\n There R\u00e1ma stood, the boast and pride\n Of Raghu's race, by Lakshman's side.\n There stood the sage Vibh\u00edshan, there\n Sugr\u00edva strong beyond compare.\n These four alone can batter down\n Gate, rampart, wall, and Lanka's town.\n Nay, R\u00e1ma matchless in his form,\n A single foe, thy town would storm:\n So wondrous are his weapons, he\n Needs not the succour of the three.\n Why speak we of the countless train\n That fills the valley, hill and plain,\n The millions of the V\u00e1nar breed\n Whom R\u00e1ma and Sugr\u00edva lead?\n O King, be wise, contend no more,\n And Sit\u00e1 to her lord restore.'\n \n \n \n \n446:1 Here in the Bengal recension (Gorresio's edition), begins Book VI.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XXV.: R\u00e1van's Spies.","type":"page"}