contined from vol 8 issue 31
If some middle course were wiser, if some
other way were clear!
Gathered chieftains hailed the mandate
with applauses long and loud,
As the peafowls hail the thunder of the
dark and laden cloud,
And the gathered subjects echoed loud and
long the welcome sound,
Till the voices of the people shook the sky
and solid ground!
Brahmans versed in laws of duty,
chieftains in their warlike pride,
Countless men from town and hamlet
heard the mandate far and wide,
And they met in consultation, joyously
with one accord,
Freely and in measured accents, gave their
answer to their lord:
“Years of toil and watchful labour weigh
upon thee, king of men,
Young in years is righteous Rama, Heir
and Regent let him reign,
We would see the princely Rama, Heir and
Regent duly made,
Riding -on the royal tusker in the white
umbrella’s shade!”
Searching still their secret purpose,
seeking still their thought to know,
Spake again the ancient monarch in his
measured words and slow:
“I would know your inner feelings, loyal
thoughts and whispers kind,
For a doubt within me lingers and a
shadow clouds my mind,
True to Law and true to Duty while I rule
this kingdom fair,
Wherefore would you see my Rama seated
as the Regent Heir?”
“We would see him Heir and Regent, Dasaratha,
ancient lord,
For his heart is blessed with valour, virtue
marks his deed and word,
Lives not man in all the wide earth who
excels the stainless youth,
In his loyalty to Duty, in his love of
righteous Truth,
Truth impels his thought and action,
Truth inspires his soul with grace,
And his virtue fills the wide earth and
exalts his ancient race!
Bright Immortals know his valour; with
his brother Lakshman hold
He hath never failed to conquer hostile
town or castled hold,
And returning from his battles, from the
duties of the war,
Riding on his royal tusker or his allresistless
car,
As a father to his children to his loving
men he came,
Blessed our homes and maids and matrons
till our infants lisped his name,
For our humble woes and troubles Rama
hath the ready tear,
To our humble tales of suffering Rama
lends his willing ear!
Happy is the royal father who hath such a
righteous son,
For in town and mart and hamlet every
heart hath Rama won,
Burghers and the toiling tillers tales of
Rama’s kindness say,
Man and infant, maid and matron, morn
and eve for Rama pray,
To the Gods and bright Immortals we our
inmost wishes send,
May the good and godlike Rama on his
father’s throne ascend,
Great in gifts and great in glory, Rama doth
our homage own,
We would see the princely Rama seated on
his father’s throne!”

THE CITY DECORATED
With his consort pious Rama, pure in deed
and pure in thought,
After evening’s due ablutions
NARAYANA’S chamber sought,
Prayed unto the Lord of Creatures,
NARAYANA Ancient Sire,
Placed his offering on his forehead, poured
it on the lighted fire,
Piously partook the remnant, sought for
NARAYANA’S aid,
As he kept his fast and vigils on the grass
of kusa spread.
With her lord the saintly Sita silent passed
the sacred night,
Contemplating World’s Preserver, Lord of
Heaven’s ethereal height,
And within the sacred chamber on the
grass of kusa lay,
Till the crimson streaks of morning,
ushered in the festive day,
Till the royal bards and minstrels chanted
forth the morning call,
Healing through the holy chamber, echoing
through the roval hall.
Past the night of sacred vigils, in his
silken robes arrayed,
Message of the proud anointment Rama to
the Brahmans said,
And the Brahmans spake to burghers that
the festive day was come,
Till the mart and crowded pathway rang
with note of pipe and drum,
And the townsmen heard rejoicing of the
vigils of the night,
Kept by Rama and by Sita, for the day’s
auspicious rite.
Rama shall be Heir and Regent, Rama shall
be crowned to-day,
Rapid flew the gladdening message with
the morning’s gladsome ray,
And the people of the city, maid and
matron, man and boy,
Decorated fair Ayodhya in their wild
tumultuous joy!
On the temple’s lofty steeple high as cloud
above the air,
On the crossing of the pathways, in the
garden green and fair,
On the merchant’s ample warehouse, on
the shop with stores displayed,
On the mansion of the noble by the
cunning artist made,
On the gay and bright pavilion, on the high
and shady trees.
Banners rose and glittering streamers,
flags that fluttered in the breeze!
Actors gay and nimble dancers, singers
skilled in lightsome song,
With their antics and their music pleased
the gay and gathered throng,
And the people met in conclaves, spake of
Rama, Regent Heir,
And the children by the roadside lisped of
Rama brave and fair!
Women wove the scented garland, merry
maids the censer lit,
Men with broom and sprinkled water
swept the spacious mart and street,
Rows of trees and posts they planted hung
with lamps for coming night,
That the midnight dark might rival
splendour of the noonday light
Troops of men and merry children
laboured with a loving care,
Woman’s skill and woman’s fancy made the
city passing fair,
So that good and kindly Rama might his
people’s toil approve,
So that sweet and soft-eyed Sita might
accept her people’s love!
Groups of joyous townsmen gathered in
the square or lofty hall,
Praised the monarch Dasa-ratha, regent
Rama young and tall:
“Great and good is Dasa-ratha born of
Raghu’s royal race,
In the fulness of his lifetime on his son he
grants his grace,
And we hail the rite auspicious for our
prince of peerless might,
He will guard us by his valotir, he will save
our cherished right,
Dear unto his loving brothers in his
father’s palace hall,
As is Rama to his brothers dear is Rama to
us all,
Long live ancient Dasa-ratha king of
Raghu’s royal race,
We shall see his son anointed by his
father’s righteous grace!
Thus of Rama’s consecration spake the
burghers one and all,