{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry432.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry432.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry432.htm","text":"But Saram\u00e1, of gentler mood,\n With pitying eyes the mourner viewed,\n Stole to her side and softly told\n Glad tidings that her heart consoled.\n Revealing with sweet voice and smile\n The secret of the giant's guile.\n She, one of those who night and day\n Watching in turns by S\u00edt\u00e1 lay.\n Though R\u00e1kshas born felt pity's touch,\n And loved the hapless lady much.\n \u00a0\u00a0 'I heard,' she said, 'thy bitter cry,\n Heard R\u00e1van's speech and thy reply,\n For, hiding in the thicket near,\n No word or tone escaped mine ear.\n When R\u00e1van hastened forth I bent\n My steps to follow as he went,\n And learnt the secret cause that drove\n The monarch from the As'oka grove.\n Believe me, Queen, thou needst not weep\n For R\u00e1ma slaughtered in his sleep.\n Thy lion lord of men defies\n By day attack, by night surprise.\n Can even giants slay with ease\n Vast hosts who fight with brandished tree,\n For whom, with eye that never sleeps,\n His constant watch thy R\u00e1ma keeps?\n \n \n Lord of the mighty arm and chest,\n Of earthly warriors first and best,\n Whose fame through all the regions rings,\n Proud scion of a hundred kings;\n Who guards his life and loves to lend\n His saving succour to a friend:\n Whose bow no hand but his can strain,--\n Thy lord, thy R\u00e1ma is not slain.\n Obedient to his master's will,\n A great magician, trained in ill.\n With deftest art surpassing thought\n That marvellous illusion wrought.\n Let rising hope thy grief dispel:\n Look up and smile, for all is well.\n And gentle Lakshm\u00ed, Fortune's Queen,\n Regards thee with a favouring mien.\n Thy R\u00e1ma with his V\u00e1nar train\n Has thrown a bridge athwart the main,\n Has led his countless legions o'er,\n And ranged them on this southern shore.\n These eyes have seen the hero stand\n Girt by his hosts on Lank\u00e1's strand,\n And breathless spies each moment bring\n Fresh tidings to the giant king;\n And every peer and lord of state\n Is called to counsel and debate.'\n \n \n She ceased: the sound, long loud and clear,\n Of gathering armies smote her ear,\n Where call of drum and shell rang out,\n The tambour and the battle shout;\n And, while the din the echoes woke,\n Again to Janak's child she spoke:\n 'Hear, lady, hear the loud alarms\n That call the R\u00e1kshas troops to arms,\n From stable and from stall they lead\n The elephant and neighing steed,\n Brace harness on with deftest care,\n And chariots for the fight prepare.\n Swift o'er the trembling ground career\n Mailed horsemen armed with axe and spear.\n And here and there in road and street\n The terrible battalions meet.\n I hear the gathering near and far,\n The snorting steed, the rattling car.\n Bold chieftains, leaders of the brave,\n Press densely on, like wave on wave,\n And bright the evening sunbeams glance\n On helm and shield, on sword and lance.\n Hark, lady, to the ringing steel,\n Hark to the rolling chariot wheel:\n Hark to the mettled courser's neigh\n And drums' loud thunder far away.\n The Queen of Fortune holds thee dear,\n For Lank\u00e1's troops are struck with fear,\n And R\u00e1ma with the lotus eyes,\n Like Indra monarch of the skies,\n With conquering arm will slay his foe\n And free his lady from her woe.\n Soon will his breast support thy head,\n And tears of joy thine eyes will shed.\n Soon by his mighty arm embraced\n The long-lost rapture wilt thou taste,\n And R\u00e1ma, meet for highest bliss,\n Will gain his guerdon in thy kiss.'","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XXXIII.: Saram\u00e1.","type":"page"}