{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry448.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry448.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry448.htm","text":"Ranged round the spot where R\u00e1ma fell\n Each V\u00e1nar chief stood sentinel.\n At length the mighty hero broke\n The trance that held him, and awoke.\n He saw his senseless brother, dyed\n With blood from head to foot, and cried:\n 'What have I now to do with life\n Or rescue of my prisoned wife,\n When thus before my weeping eyes,\n Slain in the fight, my brother lies?\n A queen like S\u00edt\u00e1 I may find\n Among the best of womankind,\n But never such a brother, tried\n In war, my guardian, friend, and guide.\n If he be dead, the brave and true,\n I will not live but perish too.\n How, reft of Lakshman, shall I meet\n My mother, and Kaikey\u00ed greet?\n Mv brother's eager question brook,\n And fond Sumitr\u00e1's longing look?\n What shall I say, o'erwhelmed with shame\n To cheer the miserable dame?\n How, when she hears her son is dead,\n Will her sad heart be comforted?\n Ah me, for longer life unfit\n This mortal body will I quit;\n For Lakshman slaughtered for my sake,\n From sleep of death will never wake.\n Ah when I sank oppressed with care,\n Thy gentle voice could soothe despair.\n And art thou, O my brother, killed?\n Is that dear voice for ever stilled?\n Cold are those lips, my brother, whence\n Came never word to breed offence?\n Ah stretched upon the gory plain\n My brother lies untimely slain;\n Numbed is the mighty arm that slew\n The leaders of the giant crew.\n Transfixed with shafts, with blood-streams red.\n Thou liest on thy lowly bed:\n \n \n So sinks to rest, his journey done,\n Mid arrowy rays the crimson sun.\n Thou, when from home and sire I fled,\n The wood's wild ways with me wouldst tread:\n Now close to thine my steps shall be,\n For I in death will follow thee.\n Vibh\u00edshan now will curse my name,\n And R\u00e1ma as a braggart blame.\n Who promised--but his word is vain--\n That he in Lank\u00e1's isle should reign.\n Return, Sugr\u00edva: reft of me\n Lead back thy V\u00e1nars o'er the sea,\n Nor hope to battle face to face\n With him who rules the giant race.\n Well have ye done and nobly fought,\n And death in desperate combat sought.\n All that heroic might can do,\n Brave V\u00e1nars, has been done by you.\n My faithful friends I now dismiss:\n Return: my last farewell is this.'\n \n \n Bedewed with tears was every cheek\n As thus the V\u00e1nars heard him speak.\n Vibh\u00edshan on the field had stayed\n The V\u00e1nar hosts who fled dismayed.\n Now lifting up his mace on high\n With martial step the chief drew nigh.\n The hosts who watched by R\u00e1ma's side\n Beheld his shape and giant stride.\n 'Tis he,'tis R\u00e1van's son, they thought:\n And all in flight their safety sought.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto XLIX.: R\u00e1ma's Lament","type":"page"}