{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry428.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry428.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry428.htm","text":"The giant viewed with earnest ken\n The V\u00e1nars and the lords of men;\n Then thus, with grief and anger moved,\n In bitter tone the spies reproved:\n 'Can faithful servants hope to please\n Their master with such fates as these?\n Or hope ye with wild words to wring\n The bosom of your lord and king?\n Such words were better said by those\n Who come arrayed our mortal foes.\n In vain your ears have heard the sage,\n And listened to the lore of age,\n Untaught, though lectured many a day,\n The first great lesson, to obey,\n 'Tis marvel R\u00e1van reigns and rules\n Whose counsellors are blind and fools.\n Has death no terrors that ye dare\n To tempt your monarch to despair,\n \n \n From whose Imperial mandate flow\n Disgrace and honour, weal and woe?\n Yea, forest trees, when flames are fanned\n About their scorching trunks, may stand;\n But naught can set the sinner free\n When kings the punishment decree.\n I would not in mine anger spare\n The traitorous foe-praising pair,\n But years of faithful service plead\n For pardon, and they shall not bleed.\n Henceforth to me be dead: depart,\n Far from my presence and my heart.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Thus spoke the angry king: the two\n Cried, Long live R\u00e1van, and withdrew,\n The giant monarch turned and cried\n To strong Mahodar at his side:\n 'Go thou, and spies more faithful bring.\n More duteous to their lord the king.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Swift at his word Mahodar shed,\n And came returning at the head\n Of long tried messengers, who bent\n Before their monarch reverent.\n 'Go quickly hence,' said R\u00e1van 'scan\n With keenest eyes the foeman's plan.\n Learn who, as nearest friends, advise\n And mould each secret enterprise.\n Learn when he wakes and goes to rest,\n Sound every purpose of his breast.\n Learn what the prince intends to-day:\n Watch keenly all, and come away.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 With joy they heard the words he said:\n Then with S'\u00e1rd\u00fala at their head\n About the giant king they went\n With circling paces reverent.\n By fair Suvela's grassy side\n The chiefs of Raghu's race they spied,\n Where, shaded by the waving wood,\n Vibh\u00edshan and Sugr\u00edva stood.\n A while they rested there and viewed\n The V\u00e1nars' countless multitude.\n Vibh\u00edshan with observant eyes\n Knew at a glance the giant spies,\n And bade the warriors of his train\n Bind the rash foes with cord and chain:\n 'S'\u00e1rd\u00fala's is the sin,' he cried.\n He neath the V\u00e1nars' hands had died,\n But R\u00e1ma from their fury freed\n The captive in his utmost need,\n And, merciful at sight of woe,\n Loosed all the spies and bade them go.\n Then home to Lank\u00e1's monarch fled\n The giant chiefs discomfited.\n \n \n \n \n449:1 Here follows the enumeration of Sugr\u00edva's forces which I do not attempt to follow. It soon reaches a hundred thousand billions.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XXIX.: S'\u00e1rd\u00fala Captured.","type":"page"}