{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry435.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry435.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry435.htm","text":"But R\u00e1van's breast with fury swelled,\n And thus he spake by Death impelled,\n While, under brows in anger bent,\n Fierce glances from his eyes were sent:\n 'The bitter words which thou, misled\n By friendly thought, hast fondly said,\n Which praise the foe and counsel fear,\n Unheeded fall upon mine ear.\n How canst thou deem a mighty foe\n This R\u00e1ma who, in stress of woe,\n Seeks, banished as his sire decreed,\n Assistance from the V\u00e1nar breed?\n Am I so feeble in thine eyes,\n Though feared by dwellers of the skies,--\n Whose might in many a battle shown\n The glorious race of giants own?\n Shall I for fear of him restore\n The lady whom I hither bore,\n Exceeding fair like Beauty's Queen \u00a01\n Without her well-loved lotus seen?\n Around the chief let Lakshman stand,\n Sugr\u00edva, and each V\u00e1nar band,\n Soon, Malyav\u00e1n, thine eyes will see\n This boasted R\u00e1ma slain by me.\n I in the brunt of war defy\n The mightiest warriors of the sky;\n And if I stoop to combat men,\n Shall I be weak and tremble then?\n This mangled trunk the foe may rend,\n But R\u00e1van ne'er can yield or bend,\n And be it vice or virtue, I\n This nature never will belie.\n What marvel if he bridged the sea?\n Why should this deed disquiet thee?\n This, only this, I surely know,\n Back with his life he shall not go.'\n \n \n Thus in loud tones the king exclaimed,\n And mute stood Malyav\u00e1n ashamed,\n His reverend head he humbly bent,\n And slowly to his mansion went.\n But R\u00e1van stayed, and deep in care\n Held counsel with his nobles there,\n All entrance to secure and close,\n And guard the city from their foes.\n He bade the chief Prahasta wait\n Commander at the eastern gate.\n To fierce Mahodar, strong and brave,\n To keep the southern gate, he gave,\n Where Mah\u00e1p\u00e1rs'va's might should aid\n The chieftain with his hosts arrayed.\n To guard the west--no chief more fit--\n He placed the warrior Indrajit,\n \n \n His son, the giant's joy and boast,\n Surrounded by a R\u00e1kshas host:\n And mighty S\u00e1ran hastened forth\n With Suka to protect the north. \u00a01b\n 'I will myself,' the monarch cried,\n 'Be present on the northern side.'\n These orders for the walls' defence\n The tyrant gave, then parted thence,\n And, by the hope of victory fired,\n To chambers far within, retired.\n \n \n \n \n455:1 Lakshmi is the Goddess both of beauty and fortune, and is represented with a lotus in her hand.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XXXVI.: R\u00e1van's Reply.","type":"page"}