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OM. To sainted Nárad, prince of those Whose lore in words of wisdom flows. Whose constant care and chief delight Were…
Válmíki, graceful speaker,heard, To highest admiration stirred. To him whose fame the tale rehearsed He paid his ment…
The hermit thus with watchful heed Received the poem's pregnant seed, And looked with eager thought around If fuller …
When to the end the tale was brought, Rose in the sage's mind the thought; Now who throughout this earth will go, And…
'Ikshváku's sons from days of old Were ever brave and mighty-souled. The land their arms had made their own Was bound…
There reigned a king of name revered, To country and to town endeared, Great Das'aratha, good and sage. Well read in …
Two sages, holy saints, had he, His ministers and priests to be: Vasishtha, faithful to advise. And Vámadeva, Scriptu…
But splendid, just, and great of mind, The childless king for offspring pined. No son had he his name to grace, Trans…
The wise Sumantra, thus addressed, Unfolded at the king's behest The plan the lords in council laid To draw the hermi…
'Again, O best of kings, give ear: My saving words attentive hear, And listen to the tale of old By that illustrious …
The Dewy Season came and went; The spring returned again: Then would the king, with mind intent, His sacrifice ordain…
Again the spring with genial heat Returning made the year complete. To win him sons, without delay His vow the king r…
The circling year had filled its course, And back was brought the wandering horse: Then upon Sarjú's northern strand …
The saint, well read in holy lore, Pondered awhile his answer o'er. And thus again addressed the king, His wandering …
When wisest Vishnu thus had given His promise to the Gods of heaven, He pondered in his secret mind A suited place of…
When Vishnu thus had gone on earth. From the great king to take his birth. The self-existent Lord of all Addressed th…
Now when the high-souled monarch's rite, The As'vamedh, was finished quite, Their sacrificial dues obtained, The Gods…
The monarch called a Bráhman near And said, 'Now speed away To Kas'yap's son, the mighty seer, And with all reverence…
The seasons six in rapid flight Had circled since that glorious rite. Eleven months had passed away: 'Twas Chaitra's …
Now Das'aratha's pious mind Meet wedlock for his sons designed; With priests and friends the king began To counsel an…
The hermit heard with high content That speech so wondrous eloquent, And while each hair with joy arose, He thus made…
His tortured senses all astray, Awhle the hapless monarch lay, Then slowly gathering thought and strength To Visvámit…
While thus the hapless monarch spoke, Paternal love his utterance broke. Then words like these the saint returned. An…
Vas'ishtha thus was speaking still: The monarch, of his own free will. Bade with quick seal and joyful cheer Ráma and…
Soon as appeared the morning light Up rose the mighty anchorite, And thus to youthful Ráma said, Who lay upon his lea…
When the fair light of morning rose The princely turners of their foes Followed, his morning worship o'er, The hermit…
When thus the sage without a peer Had closed that story strange to hear. Ráma again the saint addressed To set one li…
Thus spoke the saint. Each vigorous word The noble monarch's offspring heard, And, reverent hands together laid, His …
That night they slept and took their rest; And then the mighty saint addressed, With pleasant smile and accents mild …
Pure, with glad cheer and joyful breast, Of those mysterious arms possessed, Ráma, now passing on his way, Thus to th…
Thus spoke the prince of boundless might, And thus replied the anchorite: 'Chief of the mighty arm, of yore Lord Vish…
That conquering pair, of royal race, Skilled to observe due time and place, To Kús'ik's hermit son addressed, In time…
Their task achieved, the princes spent That night with joy and full content. Ere yet the dawn was well displayed Thei…
'A king of Brahmá's seed who bore The name of Kus'a reigned of yore. Just, faithful to his vows, and true, He held th…
'The rites were o'er, the maids were wed, The bridegroom to his home was sped. The sonless monarch bade prepare A sac…
The hours of night now waning fast On S'ona's pleasant shore they passed. Then, when the dawn began to break, To Ráma…
The saint in accents sweet and clear Thus told his tale for Ráma's ear, And thus anew the holy man A legend to the pr…
The hermit ceased: the tale was done: Then in a transport Raghu's son Again addressed the ancient sire Resplendent as…
The father lent a gracious ear And listened to their tale of fear, And kindly to the Gods replied Whom woe and death …
Then to the prince his grandson, bright With his own fame's unborrowed light, King Sagar thus began to say, Marvellin…
When Sagar thus had bowed to fate, The lords and commons of the state Approved with ready heart and will Prince Ans'u…
The Lord of life the skies regained: The fervent king a year remained With arms upraised, refusing rest While with on…
High and more high their wonder rose As the strange story reached its close, And thus, with Lakshman, Ráma, best Of R…
But Diti, when her sons were slain, Wild with a childless mother's pain. To Kas'yap spake, Marícha's son, Her husband…
Thus to Lord Indra, Thousand-eyed, Softly beseeching Diti sighed. When but a blighted bud was left, Which Indra's han…
When mutual courtesies had past, Vis'álá's ruler spoke at last: 'These princely youths, O Sage, who vie In might with…
Then Ráma, following still his guide, Within the grove, with Lakshman, hied. Her vows a wondrous light had lent To th…
The sons of Raghu journeyed forth, Bending their steps 'twixt east and north. Soon, guided by the sage, they found, E…
Wise Vis'vámitra's tale was done: Then sainted Gautam's eldest son, Great S'atánanda, far-renowned, Whom long austeri…
Right glad was Vis'vámitra when He saw the prince of saintly men. Low at his feet the hero bent, And did obeisance, r…
Thus charged, O slayer of thy foes, The cow from whom all plenty flows, Obedient to her saintly lord, Viands to suit …
As Saint Vas'ishtha answered so, Nor let the cow of plenty go, The monarch, as a last resource, Began to drag her off…
So o'er the field that host lay strewn, By Vis'vámitra's darts o'erthrown. Then thus Vas'ishtha charged the cow: 'Cre…
But Vis'vámitra, at the threat Of that illustrious anchoret, Cried, as he launched with ready hand A fiery weapon, 'S…
Then with his heart consumed with woe, Still brooding on his overthrow By the great saint he had defied, At every bre…
Tris'anku's speech the hundred heard, And thus replied, to anger stirred: 'Why foolish King, by him denied, Whose tru…
Then Kus'ik's son, by pity warmed, Spoke sweetly to the king transformed: 'Hail! glory of Ikshváku's line: I know how…
So with ascetic might, in ire, He smote the children and the sire. Then Vis'vámitra, far-renowned, Addressed the sain…
Then Vis'vámitra, when the Blest Had sought their homes of heavenly rest, Thus, mighty Prince, his counsel laid Befor…
As thus the king that youth conveyed, His weary steeds at length he stayed At height of noon their rest to take Upon …
A thousand years had thus flown by When all the Gods within the sky, Eager that he the fruit might gain Of fervent ri…
'A great emprise, O lovely maid, To save the Gods, awaits thine aid: To bind the son of Kus'ik sure, And take his sou…
Then from Himálaya's heights of snow, The glorious saint prepared to go, And dwelling in the distant east His penance…
With cloudless lustre rose the sun; The king, his morning worship done, Ordered hid heralds to invite The princes and…
Then spoke again the great recluse: 'This mighty bow, O King, produce.' King Janak, at the saint's request, This orde…
Three nights upon the road they passed To rest the steeds that bore them fast, And reached Ayodhyá's town at last. Th…
Soon as the shades of night had fled, Thus to the wise Sumantra said The happy king, while priest and peer, Each in h…
Then with the morn's returning sun. King Janak, when his rites were done, Skilled all the charms of speech to know, S…
Then to the saint supremely wise King Janak spoke in suppliant guise: 'Deign, Hermit, with attentive ear, Mv race's o…
When royal Janak's words were done, Joined with Vas'ishtha Kus'ik's son, The mighty sage began his speech: 'No mind m…
On that same day that saw the king His gift of kine distributing, The lord of Kekaya's son, by name Yudhájit, Bharat'…
Soon as the night had reached its close The hermit Vis'vámitra rose; To both the kings he bade adieu And to the north…
'Heroic Ráma, men proclaim The marvels of thy matchless fame, And I from loud-voiced rumour know the exploit of the b…
The haughty challenge, undeterred The son of Das'aratha heard, And cried, while reverence for his sire Checked the fu…
Then Ráma with a cheerful mind The bow to Varun's hand resigned. Due reverence to the saints he paid, And thus addres…