contined from vol 8 issue 27
“Be it shewn to royal Rama, Dasa-ratha’s righteous son,”
“This the bow,” then spake the monarch to the risha famed of old,
To the true and righteous Rama and to Lakshman young and bold,
“This the weapon of my fathers prized by kings from age to age,
Mighty chiefs and sturdy warriors could not bend it,
noble sage Gods before the bow of RUDRA have in righteous terror quailed,
Rakshas fierce and stout Asuras have in futile effort failed,
Mortal man will struggle vainly RUDRA’S wondrous bow to bend,
Vainly strive to string the weapon and the shining dart to send,
Holy saint and royal rishi, here is Janak’s ancient bow,
Shew it to Ayodhya’s princes, speak to them my kingly vow! Viswa-mitra humbly listened to the words the monarch said, To the brave and righteous Rama,
Janak’s mighty bow displayed,
Rama lifted high the cover of the pond’rous iron car,
Gazed with conscious pride and prowess on the mighty bow of war.
“Let me,” humbly spake the hero,
“on this bow my fingers place,
Let me lift and bend the weapon,
help me with your loving grace.”
“Be it so,” the rishi answered,
“be it so,” the monarch said,
Rama lifted high the weapon on his stalwart arms displayed,
Wond’ring gazed the kings assembled as the son of Raghu’s race Proudly raised the bow of RUDRA with a warrior’s stately grace,
Proudly strung the bow Of RUDRA which the kings had tried in vain Drew the cord with force resistless till the weapon snapped in twain! Like the thunder’s pealing accent rose the loud terrific clang,
And the firm earth shook and trembled and the hills in echoes rang,
And the chiefs and gathered monarchs fell and fainted in their fear,
And the men of many nations shook the dreadful sound to hear! Pale and white the startled monarchs slowly from their terror woke,
And with royal grace and greetings Janak to the rishi spoke: Now my ancient eyes have witnessed wond’rous deed by Rama done,
Deed surpassing thought or fancy wrought by Dasa-ratha’s son,
And the proud and peerless princess,
Sita glory of my house, Sheds on me an added lustre as she weds a godlike spouse,
True shall be my plighted promise, Sita dearer than my life, Won by worth and wond’rous valour shall be Rama’s faithful wife Grant us leave, O royal rishi,
grant us blessings kind and fair,
Envoys mounted on my chariot to Ayodhya shall repair,
They shall speak to Rama’s father glorious feat by Rama done,
They shall speak to Dasa-ratha,
Sita is by valour won,
They shall say the noble princes safely live within our walls,
They shall ask him by his presence to adorn our palace balls Pleased at heart the sage assented,
envoys by the monarch sent,
To Ayodhya’s distant city with the royal message went.
THE EMBASSY TO AYODHYA
Three nights halting in their journey with their steeds fatigued and spent,
Envoys from Mithila’s monarch to Ayodhya’s city went, And by royal mandate bidden stepped within the palace hall.
Where the ancient Dasa-ratha sat with peers and courtiers all,
And with greetings and obeisance spake their message calm and bold,
Softly fell their gentle accents as their happy tale they told. Greetings to thee, mighty monarch,
greetings to each priest and peer,
Wishes for thy health and safety from Videha’s king we bear,
Janak monarch of Videha for thy happy life hath prayed,
And by Viswa-mitra’s bidding words of gladsome message said: ‘Known on earth my plighted promise,
spoke by heralds near and far,
He shall win my peerless Sita who shall bend my bow of war,
— Monarchs came and princely suitors,
chiefs and warriors known to fame, Baffled in their fruitless effort left Mithila in their shame,
Rama came with gallant Lakshman by their proud preceptor led,
Bent and broke the mighty weapon,
he the beauteous bride shall wed! Rama strained the weapon stoutly till it snapped and broke in twain,
In the concourse of the monarchs,
in the throng of arméd men, Rama wins the peerless princess by the righteous will of Heaven,
I redeem my plighted promise-be thy kind permission given! Monarch of Kosala’s country! with each lord and peer and priest,
Welcome to Mithila’s city,
welcome to Videha’s feast,
Joy thee in thy Rama’s triumph,
joy thee with a father’s pride,
Let each prince of proud Kosala win a fair Videha-bride!’ These by Viswa-mitra’s bidding are the words our monarch said This by Sata-nanda’s counsel is the quest that he hath made.” Joyful was Kosala’s monarch,
spake to chieftains in the hall,
Vama-deva and Vasishtha and to priests and Brahmans all: “Priests and peers! in far Mithila,
so these friendly envoys tell,
Righteous Rama, gallant Lakshman,
in the royal palace dwell,
And our brother of Videha prizes Rama’s warlike pride,
To each prince of proud Kosala yields a fair Videha-bride,
If it please ye, priests and chieftains,
speed we to Mithila fair,
World-renowned is Janak’s virtue,
Heaveninspired his learning rare!” Spake each peer and holy Brahman: “Dasaratha’s will be done!” Spake the king unto the envoys: “Part we with the rising sun!” Honoured with a regal honour,
welcomed to a rich repast, Gifted envoys from Mithila day and night in gladness passed!
MEETING OF JANAK AND DASA-RATHA
On Ayodhya’s tower and turret now the golden morning woke,
Dasa-ratha girt by courtiers thus to wise Sumantra spoke: Bid the keepers of my treasure with their waggons lead the way,
Ride in front with royal riches, gold and gems in bright array, Bid my warriors skilled in duty lead the four-fold ranks of war,
Elephants and noble chargers, serried foot and battle-car, Bid my faithful chariot-driver harness quick each car of state, With the fleetest of my coursers, and upon my orders wait.
Vama-deva and Vasishtha versed in Veda’s ancient lore,
TO BE CONTINUED