The Ramayan of Valmiki – Volume II Valmiki Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith *THE RAMAYAN OF VALMIKI* *Translated into English Verse* *by* Ralph T. H. Griffith, M.A. Principal of the Benares College 1870-1874 CONTENTS BOOK III. Canto I The Hermitage. Canto II Viradha. Canto III Viradha Attacked. Canto IV Viradha’s Death. Canto V Sarabhanga. Canto VI Rama’s Promise. Canto VII Sutikshna. Canto VIII The Hermitage. Canto IX Sita’s Speech. Canto X Rama’s Reply. Canto XI Agastya. Canto XII The Heavenly Bow. Canto XIII Agastya’s Counsel. Canto XIV Jatayus. Canto XV Panchavati. Canto XVI Winter. Canto XVII Surpanakha. Canto XVIII The Mutilation. Canto XIX The Rousing Of Khara. Canto XX The Giants’ Death. Canto XXI The Rousing Of Khara. Canto XXII Khara’s Wrath. Canto XXIII The Omens. Canto XXIV The Host In Sight. Canto XXV The Battle. Canto XXVI Dushan’s Death. Canto XXVII The Death Of Trisiras. Canto XXVIII Khara Dismounted. Canto XXIX Khara’s Defeat. Canto XXX Khara’s Death. Canto XXXI Ravan. Canto XXXII Ravan Roused. Canto XXXIII Surpanakha’s Speech. Canto XXXIV Surpanakha’s Speech. Canto XXXV Ravan’s Journey. Canto XXXVI Ravan’s Speech. Canto XXXVII Maricha’s Speech. Canto XXXVIII Maricha’s Speech. Canto XXXIX Maricha’s Speech. Canto XL Ravan’s Speech. Canto XLI Maricha’s Reply. Canto XLII Maricha Transformed. Canto XLIII The Wondrous Deer. Canto XLIV Maricha’s Death. Canto XLV Lakshman’s Departure. Canto XLVI The Guest. Canto XLVII Ravan’s Wooing. Canto XLVIII Ravan’s Speech. Canto XLIX The Rape Of Sita. Canto L Jatayus. Canto LI The Combat. Canto LII Ravan’s Flight. Canto LIII Sita’s Threats. Canto LIV Lanka. Canto LV Sita In Prison. Canto LVI Sita’s Disdain. Canto LVII Sita Comforted. Canto LVIII The Brothers’ Meeting. Canto LIX Rama’s Return. Canto LX Lakshman Reproved. Canto LXI Rama’s Lament. Canto LXII Rama’s Lament. Canto LXIII Rama’s Lament. Canto LXIV Rama’s Lament. Canto LXV Rama’s Wrath. Canto LXVI Lakshman’s Speech. Canto LXVII Rama Appeased. Canto LXVIII Jatayus. Canto LXIX The Death Of Jatayus. Canto LXX Kabandha. Canto LXXI Kabandha’s Speech. Canto LXXII Kabandha’s Tale. Canto LXXIII Kabandha’s Counsel. Canto LXXI Kabandha’s Death. Canto LXXV Savari. Canto LXXVI Pampa. BOOK IV. Canto I. Rama’s Lament. Canto II. Sugriva’s Alarm. Canto III. Hanuman’s Speech. Canto IV. Lakshman’s Repl y. Canto V The League. Canto VI The Tokens. Canto VII Rama Consoled. Canto VIII Rama’s Promise. Canto IX Sugriva’s Story. Canto X Sugriva’s Story. Canto XI Dundubhi. Canto XII The Palm Trees. Canto XIII The Return To Kishkindha. Canto XIV The Challenge. Canto XV Tara. Canto XVI The Fall Of Bali. Canto XVII Bali’s Speech. Canto XVIII Rama’s Reply. Canto XIX Tara’s Grief. Canto XX Tara’s Lament. Canto XXI Hanuman’s Speech. Canto XXII Bali Dead. Canto XXIII Tara’s Lament. Canto XXIV Sugriva’s Lament. Canto XXV Rama’s Speech. Canto XXVI The Coronation. Canto XXVII Rama On The Hill. Canto XXVIII The Rains. Canto XXIX Hanuman’s Counsel. Canto XXX Rama’s Lament. Canto XXXI The Envoy. Canto XXXII Hanuman’s Counsel. Canto XXXIII Lakshman’s Entry. Canto XXXIV Lakshman’s Speech. Canto XXXV Tara’s Speech. Canto XXXVI Sugriva’s Speech. Canto XXXVII The Gathering. Canto XXXVIII Sugriva’s Departure. Canto XXXIX The Vanar Host. Canto XL The Army Of The East. Canto XLI The Army Of The South. Canto XLII The Army Of The West. Canto XLIII The Army Of The North. Canto XLIV The Ring. Canto XLV The Departure. Canto XLVI Sugriva’s Tale. Canto XLVII The Return. Canto XLVIII The Asur’s Death. Canto XLIX Angad’s Speech. Canto L The Enchanted Cave. Canto LI Svayamprabha. Canto LII The Exit. Canto LIII Angad’s Counsel. Canto LIV Hanuman’s Speech. Canto LV Angad’s Reply. Canto LVI Sampati. Canto LVII Angad’s Speech. Canto LVIII Tidings Of Sita. Canto LIX Sampati’s Story. Canto LX Sampati’s Story. Canto LXI Sampati’s Story. Canto LXII Sampati’s Story. Canto LXIII Sampati’s Story. Canto LXIV The Sea. Canto LXV The Council. Canto LXVI Hanuman. Canto LXV II Hanuman’s Speech. The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II 1 BOOK III. Canto I. The Hermitage. When Rama, valiant hero, stood In the vast shade of Dandak wood, His eyes on every side he bent And saw a hermit settlement, Where coats of bark were hung around, And holy grass bestrewed the ground. Bright with Brahmanic lustre glowed That circle where the saints abode: Like the hot sun in heaven it shone, Too dazzling to be looked upon. Wild creatures found a refuge where The court, well-swept, was bright and fair, And countless birds and roedeer made Their dwelling in the friendly shade. Beneath the boughs of well-loved trees Oft danced the gay Apsarases.(401) Around was many an ample shed Wherein the holy fire was fed; With sacred grass and skins of deer, Ladles and sacrificial gear, And roots and fruit, and wood to burn, And many a brimming water-urn. Tall trees their hallowed branches spread, Laden with pleasant fruit, o’erhead; And gifts which holy laws require,(402) And solemn offerings burnt with fire,(403) And Veda chants on every side That home of hermits sanctified. There many a flower its odour shed, And lotus blooms the lake o’erspred. There, clad in coats of bark and hide,— Their food by roots and fruit supplied,— Dwelt many an old and reverend sire Bright as the sun or Lord of Fire, All with each worldly sense subdued, A pure and saintly multitude. The Veda chants, the saints who trod The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II 2 The sacred ground and mused on God, Made that delightful grove appear Like Brahma’s own most glorious sphere. As Raghu’s splendid son surveyed That hermit home and tranquil shade, He loosed his mighty bow-string, then Drew nearer to the holy men. With keen celestial sight endued Those mighty saints the chieftain viewed, With joy to meet the prince they came, And gentle Sita dear to fame. They looked on virtuous Rama, fair As Soma(404) in the evening air, And Lakshman by his brother’s side, And Sita long in duty tried, And with glad blessings every sage Received them in the hermitage. Then Rama’s form and stature tall Entranced the wondering eyes of all,— His youthful grace, his strength of limb, And garb that nobly sat on him. To Lakshman too their looks they raised, And upon Sita’s beauty gazed With eyes that closed not lest their sight Should miss the vision of delight. Then the pure hermits of the wood, Rejoicing in all creatures’ good, Their guest, the glorious Rama, led Within a cot with leaves o’erhead. With highest honour all the best Of radiant saints received their guest, With kind observance, as is meet, And gave him water for his feet. To highest pitch of rapture wrought Their stores of roots and fruit they brought. They poured their blessings on his head, And “All we have is thine,” they said. Then, reverent hand to hand applied,(405) Each duty-loving hermit cried: “The king is our protector, bright In fame, maintainer of the right. He bears the awful sword, and hence Deserves an elder’s reverence. [...]... Sarabhanga from the pyre: Above the home of saints, and those Who feed the quenchless flame,(414) he rose: Beyond the seat of Gods he passed, And Brahma’s sphere was gained at last The noblest of the twice-born race, For holy works supreme in place, The Mighty Father there beheld Girt round by hosts unparalleled; 17 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II And Brahma joying at the sight Welcomed the glorious... chouris with their sticks of gold, Which, waving in each gentle hand, The forehead of their monarch fanned God, saint, and bard, a radiant ring, 14 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II Sang glory to their heavenly King: Forth into joyful lauds they burst As Indra with the sage conversed Then Rama, when his wondering eyes Beheld the monarch of the skies, To Lakshman quickly called, and showed The car wherein... hollowed earth they cast The monster roaring to the last, In their resistless might Thus when they saw the warrior’s steel No life-destroying blow might deal, The pair, for lore renowned, Deep in the pit their hands had made The unresisting giant laid, And killed him neath the ground Upon himself the monster brought From Rama’s hand the death he sought 12 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II With strong... part.” The three Bent humbly to the devotee He raised the princes as they pressed His feet, and strained them to his breast; And then the chief of devotees Bespake them both in words like these: “Go with thy brother, Rama, go, 25 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II Pursue thy path untouched by woe: Go with thy faithful Sita, she Still like a shadow follows thee Roam Dandak wood observing well The pleasant... them draw, With hospitable care The princely chieftains entertained With store of choicest food ordained For holy hermit’s fare 24 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II Canto VIII The Hermitage So Rama and Sumitra’s son, When every honour due was done, Slept through the night When morning broke, The heroes from their rest awoke Betimes the son of Raghu rose, With gentle Sita, from repose, And sipped the. .. berries feed, One fourth thereof, for tender care Of subjects, is the monarch’s share These, mostly of the Brahman race, Who make the wood their dwelling-place, Although a friend in thee they view, Fall friendless neath the giant crew Come, Rama, come, and see hard by The holy hermits’ corpses lie, Where many a tangled pathway shows The murderous work of cruel foes These wicked fiends the hermits kill— Who... seek An arm like thine to aid the weak O Prince, we pray thee hear our call, And from these fiends preserve us all.” 20 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II The son of Raghu heard the plaint Of penance-loving sage and saint, And the good prince his speech renewed To all the hermit multitude: “To me, O saints, ye need not sue: I wait the hests of all of you I by mine own occasion led This mighty forest needs... wealth by penance turn.” Then the pure dwellers in the shade To Raghu’s son due honour paid, And Lakshman, bringing store of roots, And many a flower, and woodland fruits And others strove the prince to please With all attentive courtesies 3 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II Canto II Viradha Thus entertained he passed the night, Then, with the morning’s early light, To all the hermits bade adieu And... with the scent the lotus gave, Then to the Gods and sacred flame The heroes and the lady came, And bent their heads in honour meet Within the hermit’s pure retreat When every stain was purged away, They saw the rising Lord of Day: Then to Sutikshna’s side they went, And softly spoke, most reverent: “Well have we slept, O holy lord, Honoured of thee by all adored: Now leave to journey forth we pray: These... see him die Then in the boundless wood they strayed, Like the great sun and moon displayed Triumphant in the sky.(410) 13 The Ramayan of Valmiki - Volume II Canto V Sarabhanga Then Rama, having slain in fight Viradha of terrific might, With gentle words his spouse consoled, And clasped her in his loving hold Then to his brother nobly brave The valiant prince his counsel gave: “Wild are these woods . Canto XXXVIII Sugriva’s Departure. Canto XXXIX The Vanar Host. Canto XL The Army Of The East. Canto XLI The Army Of The South. Canto XLII The Army Of The West. Canto XLIII The Army Of The North Canto XVII Surpanakha. Canto XVIII The Mutilation. Canto XIX The Rousing Of Khara. Canto XX The Giants’ Death. Canto XXI The Rousing Of Khara. Canto XXII Khara’s Wrath. Canto XXIII The Omens The Ramayan of Valmiki – Volume II Valmiki Translated by Ralph T. H. Griffith *THE RAMAYAN OF VALMIKI* *Translated