{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry439.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry439.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry439.htm","text":"Still stood the son of Raghu where\n Suvela's peak rose high in air,\n And with Sugr\u00edva turned his eye\n To scan each quarter of the sky.\n There on Trik\u00fata, nobly planned\n And built by Vis'vakarm\u00e1's hand,\n He saw the lovely Lank\u00e1, dressed\n In all her varied beauty, rest.\n High on a tower above the gate\n The tyrant stood in kingly state,\n The royal canopy displayed\n Above him lent its grateful shade,\n And servants, from the giant band,\n His cheek with jewelled chowries fanned.\n Red sandal o'er his breast was spread,\n His ornaments and robe were red:\n Thus shows a cloud of darksome hue\n With golden sunbeams flashing through.\n While R\u00e1ma and the chiefs intent\n Upon the king their glances bent,\n Up sprang Sugr\u00edva from the ground\n And reached the turret at a bound.\n Unterrified the V\u00e1nar stood,\n And wroth, with wondrous hardihood,\n The king in bitter words addressed,\n And thus his scorn and hate expressed:\n \n \n 'King of the giant race, in me\n The friend and slave of R\u00e1ma see.\n Lord of the world, he gives me power\n To smite thee in thy fenced tower.'\n While through the air his challenge rang,\n At R\u00e1van's face the V\u00e1nar sprang.\n Snatched from his head the kingly crown\n And dashed it in his fury down.\n Straight at his foe the giant flew,\n His mighty arms about him threw.\n With strength resistless swung him round\n And dashed him panting to the ground,\n \n \n Unharmed amid the storm of blows\n Swift to his feet Sugr\u00edva rose.\n Again in furious fight they met:\n With streams of blood their limbs were wet,\n Each grasping his opponent's waist.\n Thus with their branches interlaced,\n Which, crimson with the flowers of spring,\n From side to side the breezes swing,\n In furious wrestle you may see\n The Kins'uk and the Seemal tree. \u00a01\n They fought with fists and hands, alike\n Prepared to parry and to strike.\n Long time the doubtful combat, waged\n With matchless strength and fury, raged.\n Each fiercely struck, each guarded well,\n Till, closing, from the tower they fell,\n And, grasping each the other's throat,\n Lay for an instant in the moat,\n Then rose, and each in fiercer mood\n The sanguinary strife renewed.\n Well matched in size and strength and skill\n They fought the dubious battle still.\n While sweat and blood their limbs bedewed\n They met, retreated, and pursued:\n Each stratagem and art they tried,\n Stood front to front and swerved aside.\n His hand a while the giant stayed\n And called his magic to his aid.\n But brave Sugr\u00edva, swift to know\n The guileful purpose of the foe,\n Gained with light leap the upper air.\n And breath and strength and spirit then;\n Then, joyous as for victory won,\n Returned to Raghu's royal son.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XL.: R\u00e1van Attacked.","type":"page"}