THE NECTAR

When wisest Vishnu thus had given His promise to the G.o.ds of heaven, He pondered in his secret mind A suited place of birth to find.

Then he decreed, the lotus-eyed, In four his being to divide, And Dasaratha, gracious King, He chose as sire from whom to spring.

That childless prince, of high renown, Who smote in war his foemen down, At that same time with utmost care Prepared the rite that wins an heir.

Then Vishnu, fain on earth to dwell, Bade the Almighty Sire farewell, And vanished while a reverent crowd Of G.o.ds and saints in worship bowed.

The monarch watched the sacred rite, When a vast form of awful might, Of matchless splendor, strength and size Was manifest before his eyes.

From forth the sacrificial flame, Dark, robed in red, the being came.

His voice was drumlike, loud and low, His face suffused with rosy glow.

Like a huge lion's mane appeared The long locks of his hair and beard.

He shone with many a lucky sign, And many an ornament divine; A towering mountain in his height, A tiger in his gait and might.

No precious mine more rich could be, No burning flame more bright than he.

His arms embraced in loving hold, Like a dear wife, a vase of gold Whose silver lining held a draught Of nectar as in heaven is quaffed-- A vase so vast, so bright to view, They scarce could count the vision true.

Upon the King his eyes he bent, And said: "The Lord of life has sent His servant down, O Prince, to be A messenger from heaven to thee."

The King with all his n.o.bles by Raised reverent hands and made reply:-- "Welcome, O glorious being! Say How can my care thy grace repay,"

Envoy of Him whom all adore, Thus to the King he spake once more:-- "The G.o.ds accept thy worship--they Give thee the blessed fruit to-day.

Approach and take, O glorious King, This heavenly nectar which I bring, For it shall give thee sons and wealth, And bless thee with a store of health.

Give it to those fair queens of thine, And bid them quaff the drink divine-- And they the princely sons shall bear Long sought by sacrifice and prayer."

"Yea, O my lord," the monarch said, And took the vase upon his head, The gift of G.o.ds, of fine gold wrought, With store of heavenly liquor fraught.

He honored, filled with transport new, That wondrous being, fair to view, As round the envoy of the G.o.d With reverential steps he trod.

His errand done, that form of light Arose and vanished from the sight.

High rapture filled the monarch's soul, Possessed of that celestial bowl, As when a man by want distressed With unexpected wealth is blest.

And rays of transport seemed to fall Illuminating bower and hall, As when the autumn moon rides high, And floods with lovely light the sky.

Quick to the ladies' bower he sped, And thus to Queen Kausalya said:-- "This genial nectar take and quaff,"

He spoke, and gave the lady half.

Part of the nectar that remained Sumitra from his hand obtained.

He gave, to make her fruitful too, Kaikeyi half the residue.

A portion yet remaining there, He paused awhile to think, Then gave Sumitra, with her share, The remnant of the drink.

Thus on each queen of those fair three A part the King bestowed, And with sweet hope a child to see Their yearning bosoms glowed.

The heavenly bowl the King supplied Their longing souls relieved, And soon, with rapture and with pride, Each royal dame conceived.

He gazed upon each lady's face, And triumphed as he gazed.

As Indra in his royal place By G.o.ds and spirits praised.

CANTO XVI

THE VANARS

When Vishnu thus had gone on earth, From the great King to take his birth, The self-existent Lord of all Addressed the G.o.ds who heard his call:-- "For Vishnu's sake, the strong and true, Who seeks the good of all of you, Make helps, in war to lend him aid, In forms that change at will, arrayed, Of wizard skill and hero might, Outstrippers of the wind in flight, Skilled in the arts of counsel, wise, And Vishnu's peers in bold emprise; With heavenly arts and prudence fraught, By no devices to be caught; Skilled in all weapons' lore and use As they who drink the immortal juice.

And let the nymphs supreme in grace, And maidens of the minstrel race, Monkeys and snakes, and those who rove Free spirits of the hill and grove, And wandering Daughters of the Air, In monkey form brave children bear.

So erst the lord of bears I shaped, Born from my mouth as wide I gaped."

Thus by the mighty Sire addressed They all obeyed his high behest, And thus begot in countless swarms Brave sons disguised in sylvan forms.

Each G.o.d, each sage became a sire, Each minstrel of the heavenly choir.

Each faun, of children strong and good Whose feet should roam the hill and wood.

Snakes, bards, and spirits, serpents bold Had sons too numerous to be told.

Bali, the woodland hosts who led, High as Mahendra's lofty head, Was Indra's child. That n.o.blest fire, The Sun, was great Sugriva's sire.

Tara, the mighty monkey, he Was offspring of Vrihaspati-- Tara the matchless chieftain, boast For wisdom of the Vanar host.

Of Gandhamadan brave and bold The father was the Lord of Gold.

Nala the mighty, dear to fame, Of skilful Visvakarma came.

From Agni, Nila bright as flame, Who in his splendor, might, and worth, Surpa.s.sed the sire who gave him birth.

The heavenly Asvins, swift and fair, Were fathers of a n.o.ble pair, Who, Dwivida and Mainda named, For beauty like their sires were famed.

Varun was father of Sushen, Of Sarabh, he who sends the rain.

Hanuman, best of monkey kind, Was son of him who breathes the wind-- Like thunderbolt in frame was he, And swift as Garud's self could flee.

These thousands did the G.o.ds create Endowed with might that none could mate, In monkey forms that changed at will-- So strong their wish the fiend to kill.

In mountain size, like lions thewed, Up-sprang the wondrous mult.i.tude, Auxiliar hosts in every shape, Monkey and bear and highland ape.

In each the strength, the might, the mien Of his own parent G.o.d were seen.

Some chiefs of Vanar mothers came, Some of she-bear and minstrel dame, Skilled in all arms in battle's shock, The brandished tree, the loosened rock; And prompt, should other weapons fail, To fight and slay with tooth and nail.

Their strength could shake the hills amain.

And rend the rooted trees in twain, Disturb with their impetuous sweep The Rivers' Lord, the Ocean deep, Rend with their feet the seated ground, And pa.s.s wide floods with airy bound-- Or forcing through the sky their way The very clouds by force could stay.

Mad elephants that wander through The forest wilds, could they subdue, And with their furious shout could scare Dead upon earth the birds of air.

So were the sylvan chieftains formed; Thousands on thousands still they swarmed.

These were the leaders honored most, The captains of the Vanar host, And to each lord and chief and guide Was monkey offspring born beside.

Then by the bears' great monarch stood The other roamers of the wood, And turned, their pathless homes to seek, To forest and to mountain peak.

The leaders of the monkey band By the two brothers took their stand, Sugriva, offspring of the Sun, And Bali, Indra's mighty one.

They both endowed with Garud's might, And skilled in all the arts of fight, Wandered in arms the forest through, And lions, snakes, and tigers, slew.

But every monkey, ape, and bear Ever was Bali's special care; With his vast strength and mighty arm He kept them from all scathe and harm.

And so the earth with hill, wood, seas, Was filled with mighty ones like these-- Of various shape and race and kind, With proper homes to each a.s.signed.

With Rama's champions fierce and strong The earth was overspread, High as the hills and clouds, a throng With bodies vast and dread.

CANTO XVII

RISHYASRING'S RETURN

Now when the high-souled monarch's rite, The Asvamedh, was finished quite, Their sacrificial dues obtained, The G.o.ds their heavenly homes regained.

The lofty-minded saints withdrew, Each to his place, with honor due, And kings and chieftains, one and all, Who came to grace the festival.

And Dasaratha, ere they went, Addressed them thus benevolent:-- "Now may you, each with joyful heart, To your own realms, O Kings, depart.

Peace and good luck attend you there, And blessing, is my friendly prayer; Let cares of state each mind engage To guard his royal heritage.

A monarch from his throne expelled No better than the dead is held.

So he who cares for power and might Must guard his realm and royal right.

Such care a meed in heaven will bring Better than rites and offering.

Such care a king his country owes As man upon himself bestows, When for his body he provides Raiment and every need besides.

For future days should kings foresee, And keep the present error-free."

Thus did the King the kings exhort-- They heard, and turned them from the court, And, each to each in friendship bound, Went forth to all the realms around.

The rites were o'er, the guests were sped, The train the best of Brahmans led-- In which the King with joyful soul, With his dear wives, and with the whole Of his imperial host and train Of cars and servants turned again, And, as a monarch dear to fame, Within his royal city came.

Next, Rishyasring, well-honored sage, And Santa, sought their hermitage.

The King himself, of prudent mind, Attended him, with troops behind, And all her men the town outpoured With Saint Vasishtha and their lord.

High mounted on a car of state, O'ercanopied fair Santa sate, Drawn by white oxen, while a band Of servants marched on either hand.

Great gifts of countless price she bore, With sheep and goats and gems in store.

Like Beauty's self the lady shone With all the jewels she had on, As, happy in her sweet content, Peerless amid the fair she went.

Not Queen Paulomi's self could be More loving to her lord than she.

She who had lived in happy ease, Honored with all her heart could please, While dames and kinsfolk ever vied To see her wishes gratified-- Soon as she knew her husband's will Again to seek the forest, still Was ready for the hermit's cot, Nor murmured at her altered lot.