{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry486.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry486.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry486.htm","text":"The V\u00e1nar chieftain bowed his head.\n Within the walls of Lank\u00e1 sped,\n Leave from the new-made king obtained,\n And S\u00edt\u00e1's lovely garden gained.\n Beneath a tree the queen he found,\n Where R\u00e1kshas warders watched around.\n Her pallid cheek, her tangled hair,\n Her raiment showed her deep despair,\n Near and more near the envoy came\n And gently hailed the weeping dame.\n She started up in sweet surprise,\n And sudden joy illumed her eyes.\n For well the V\u00e1nar's voice she knew,\n And hope reviving sprang and grew.\n \n \n 'Fair Queen,' he said, 'our task is done:\n The foe is slain and Lank\u00e1 won.\n Triumphant mid triumphant friends\n Kind words of greeting R\u00e1ma sends.\n 'Blest for thy sake, O spouse most true,\n My deadly foe I met and slew.\n Mine eyes are strangers yet to sleep:\n I built a bridge athwart the deep\n And crossed the sea to Lank\u00e1's shore\n To keep the mighty oath I swore.\n Now, gentle love, thy cares dispel,\n And weep no more, for all is well.\n Fear not in R\u00e1van's house to stay\n For good Vibh\u00edshan now bears sway,\n For constant truth and friendship known.\n \n \n Regard his palace as thine own.'\n He greets thee thus thy heart to cheer,\n And urged by love will soon be here.'\n \n \n Then flushed with joy the lady's cheek.\n Her eyes o'erflowed, her voice was weak;\n But struggling with her sobs she broke\n Her silence thus, and faintly spoke:\n 'So fast the flood of rapture came,\n My trembling tongue no words could frame.\n Ne'er have I heard in days of bliss\n A tale that gave such joy as this.\n More precious far than gems and gold\n The message which thy lips have told.'\n \n \n His reverent hands the V\u00e1nar raised\n And thus the lady's answer praised:\n 'Sweet are the words, O Queen, which thou\n True to thy lord, hast spoken now,\n Better than gems and pearls of price,\n Yea, or the throne of Paradise.\n But, lady, ere I leave this place,\n Grant me, I pray, a single grace.\n Permit me, and this vengeful hand\n Shall slay thy guards, this R\u00e1kshas band,\n Whose cruel insult threat and scorn\n Thy gentle soul too long has borne.'\n \n \n Thus, stern of mood, Hanum\u00e1n cried:\n The Maithil lady thus replied:\n 'Nay, be not wroth with servants: they,\n When monarchs bid must needs obey.\n And, vassals of their lords, fulfil\n Each fancy of their sovereign will.\n To mine own sins the blame impute,\n For as we sow we reap the fruit.\n The tyrant's will these dames obeyed\n When their fierce threats my soul dismayed.'\n \n \n She ceased: with admiration moved\n The V\u00e1nar chief her words approved:\n 'Thy speech,' he cried, 'is worthy one\n Whom love has linked to Raghu's son.\n Now speak, O Queen, that I may know\n Thy pleasure, for to him I go.'\n The V\u00e1nar ceased: then Janak's child\n Made answer as she sweetly smiled:\n 'My first, my only wish can be,\n O chief, my loving lord to see.'\n Again the V\u00e1nar envoy spoke,\n And with his words new rapture woke:\n 'Queen, ere this sun shall cease to shine\n Thy R\u00e1ma's eyes shall look in thine.\n Again the lord of Raghu's race\n Shall turn to thee his moon-bright face.\n His faithful brother shall thou see\n And every friend who fought for thee,\n And greet once more thy king restored\n Like S'ach\u00ed \u00a01 to her heavenly lord.'\n To Raghu's son his steps he bent\n And told the message that she sent.\n \n \n496:1 The consort of Indra.","title":"BOOK VI: Canto CXV.: Sit\u00e1's Joy.","type":"page"}