Ramayana, the Epic of Rama, Prince of India

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J.M. Dent and Company, 1899 - 192 pages
 

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Page 41 - For my mother often taught me and my father often spake, That her home the wedded woman doth beside her husband make, As the shadow to the substance, to her lord is faithful wife, And she parts not from her consort till she parts with fleeting life! Therefore bid me seek the jungle and in pathless forests roam, Where the wild deer freely ranges and the tiger makes his home, Happier than in father's mansions in the woods will Sita rove, Waste no thought on home or kindred, nestling in her husband's...
Page 71 - Crafty priests have forged these maxims and with selfish objects say, Make thy gifts and do thy penance, leave thy worldly wealth and pray! There is no Hereafter, Rama, vain the hope and creed of men, Seek the pleasures of the present, spurn illusions poor and vain, Take the course of sense and wisdom, cast all idle faith aside, Take the kingdom Bharat offers, rule Ayodhya in thy pride!
Page 88 - Raksha princess for Rama and for Lakshman is rejected with scorn, and smarting under insult and punishment she fires her brother Ravan, the king of Ceylon, with a thirst for vengeance. The dwellers of Ceylon are described in the Epic as monsters of various forms, and able to assume different shapes at will. Ravan sends Maricha in the shape of a beautiful deer to tempt away Rama and Lakshman from the cottage, and then finds his chance for stealing away the unprotected Sita. The misfortunes of our...
Page 100 - I am Rama's wedded wife ! Mighty-armed, mighty-chested, mighty with his bow and sword, Lion midst the sons of mortals, — Rama is my wedded lord ! Stainless as the Moon in glory, stainless in his deed and word, Rich in valour and in virtue,— Rama is my wedded lord ! Sure thy fitful life is shadowed by a dark and dreadful fate", Since in frenzy of thy passion courtest thou a warrior's mate, Tear the tooth of hungry lion while upon the calf he feeds, Touch the fang of deadly cobra while his dying...
Page 95 - Ruthless Rakshas roam the forest to revenge their leader slain, Various are their arts and accents; chase thy thought of causeless pain!" Sparkled Sita's eye in anger, frenzy marked her speech and word, For a woman's sense is clouded by the danger of her lord: "Markest thou my Rama's danger with a cold and callous heart, Courtest thou the death of elder in thy deep deceitful art, In thy semblance of compassion dost thou hide a cruel craft...
Page 8 - ... 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, Heaven-inspired his learning rare!" Spake each peer and holy Brahman: "Dasa-ratha's will be done!
Page 36 - Satrughna in thy father's realms afar, Hath some cloud of dark disaster crossed their bright auspicious star? Duteously the royal consorts on the loving monarch wait, Hath some woe or dire misfortune dimmed the lustre of their fate, I would yield my life and fortune ere I wound my father's heart, Hath my unknown crime or folly caused his ancient bosom smart? Ever dear is Queen Kaikeyi to her consort and her king, Hath some angry accent escaped thee thus his royal heart to wring, Speak, my ever-loving...
Page 141 - He would soothe her lifelong sorrow, bless her aged eyes once more, Sita's love! Ayodhya's monarch! Queen Kausalya's dearest born! Rama soul of truth and virtue sleeps the sleep that knows no morn!" Sorely wept the sorrowing Sita in her accents soft and low, And the silent stars of midnight wept to witness Sita's woe, But Trijata her companion, — though a Raksha woman she, — Felt her soul subdued by sadness, spake to Sita tenderly : "Weep not, sad and saintly Sita, shed not widow's tears in vain,...
Page 53 - Where the vast and sea-like rivers met in sisters' sweet embrace, And the asram's* peaceful dwellers, bird of song and spotted deer, Quaked to see the princely strangers in their warlike garb appear! Rama stepped with valiant Lakshman, gentle Sita followed close, Till behind the screening foliage hermits' peaceful dwellings rose, And they came to Bharad-vaja, anchorite and holy saint, Girt by true and faithful pupils on his sacred duty bent. Famed for rites and lofty penance was the anchorite of...
Page 97 - As a deep and darksome cavern is by grass and leaf concealed, Ravan stood sedate and silent, and he gazed on Rama's queen, Ivory brow and lip of coral, sparkling teeth of pearly sheen ! Lighting up the lonely cottage Sita sat in radiance high, As the Moon with streaks of silver fills the lonely midnight sky, Lighting up the gloomy woodlands with her eyes serenely fair, With her bark-clad shape of beauty mantled by her raven hair ! Ravan fired by impure passion fixed on her his lustful eye, And the...

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