p. 760

Tuerevron, Kakutstha, with Iakshmana, equally aggrieved, said, consoling Sugriva, and Tara together with Angada.—"Grief and lamentations do not tend to the welfare of the deceased. It therefore behoveth ye te perform the after ceremonies. Ye have satisfied the worldly practice with a profuse discharge of tears. It is not proper to delay the performance of appointed actions. Time is the prime cause in this world, and the source of the accomplish ment of actions. And Time it is that leads men to actions. No one is the lord of another person, and no one leads him to actions. People are subject to their actions of previgss existence and Time aids them. Even the Eternal being cam not withstand the ways of Time. He never decayeth—aad no one else can withstand the course of Time. It bath no friend, no cause and no one can overcome it. It hath no kinsman, no relation; even it is not subject to itself. The wise can percieve the work of Time. Piety, wealth and desire are all subject to it. V&li, the lord of monkeys, hath attained to his own true state, reaping the fruits of his actions, acquired by virtue of his royal accomplishmeats —namely, forgiveness and charity. The abode of the cele tials, which was conquered by this high-souled one by Ms former piety, hath now been occupied by him after resigning : his body. This is the best course of Time that hath bem. attained to by the lord of monkey-herds. No more wit

p. 761

lamentations therefore; do thou perform the actions that ‘are worthy of being performed on this occasion.” After Rama had spoken thus, Lakshmana, the slayer of foes; addressed Sugriva, senseless with grief, with the following sound words :—‘Sugriva, do thou perform the funeral ceremonies of V4&li along with T4ra and Angada. Do thou collect for cremation many a dry fuel and celestial sandal. Dothou console the unfortunate Angada, who is beside himself with grief. Do not conduct thyself like an ignorant person, for this city is now under thee. Let Angada bring clothes, garlands, scents, clarified butter, oil and ‘other necessary articles. O Tara, do thou goand bring soon a conveyance ; for speediness is a special virtue on an occagion like this. Let the monkeys dress themselves who can convey this hearse. The powerful and the capable only shall . carry V4li”. Having thus addressed Sugriva, Lakshmana, the enhancer of Sumitra’s joy and the destroyer of foes, stood before his elder brother. And hearing the words of Lakshmana, the counsellor respectfully entered the cave with a view to bring the conveyance. And taking that conveyance carried by the monkeys and worthy of being carried by the heroes, he issued out again of the cave. It had a celestial ‘throne and was like unto a war-chariot and had trees and birds painted on it. It was painted on all sides with the figures of foot soldiers, had latticed windows and was like unto the car of the Szddhas—spacious and artistically and stoutly built by artizans with beautiful carvings like unto a wooden hill. It was ornamented with excellent ornaments ' and beautiful garlands, sprinkled with red sandal and skirted with strong ribs. It was covered with flowers and lotus- * garlands, crusted with precious clothes and had the colour “of the rising Sun. Beholding such a conveyance, Rama spake unto Lakshmana, saying—“Do thou soon conduct the funeral service of V4&li.” Thereupon Sugriva, along with Angada, placing Vali on the conveyance, began to bewail. 96

p. 762

And placing the lifeless body of Vali on it, he covered it with various ornaments, garlands, and clothes. Thereat Sugriva, the king of monkeys, ordered for the performance of Vali’s funeral rites. ‘Let the monkeys go before, scattering many a precious jewel and let the conveyance follow them. Let the monkeys perform the obsequies of our master with such grandeur as befits the riches of the kings on this earth” With a view to perform the funeral ceremonies of V&li, the counsellors and other monkeys, having lost their king and embraced Angada, proceeded weeping. And other subject monkeys followed them. And all other she-monkeys, headed by T&ra, having lost their lord, bewailed, exclaiming again and again—“O hero, O hero”’.—And they, thus bewailing piteously, followed their lord. Andin response to the bewailings of she-monkeys, hills and forests, as if, bewailed on a}! sides. Monkeys, ranging in the forest, made funeral piles 0? the banks of the hill-streams and in solitary watery nooks: Thereupon laying down from their shoulders the conveyance: those foremost of monkeys stationed themselves in a cornex™ » being stricken with grief. And Tar4, beholding her husband’ => body on the conveyance, placed his head on her lap anc bewailed, overwhelmed with griet. “O lord of monkeys; O my lord! O my dear one! O thou used to luxuries! O thow having long arms! O my darling! behold me. Why dost thou not behold these monkeys, racked with sorrow? O conferrer of honors, thy countenance looks as if beaming with joy ; although thou art dead, and thou appearest as if alive, having the hue of the setting Sun. O monkey, Death himself, under the semblance of Rama, is attracting thee, who with one shaft in the battle, hath rendered us all widows. O best of kings, these she-monkeys cannot go by jumping. Dost thou not percive that they have travelled so far on foot? Those thy wives, having moon-like countenances, have always thy welfare in view. Why dost thou not, O best of monkeys, cast thy looks towards them and Sugrivay O king, these

p. 763

thy counsellors, thy wives headed by Tra, and all these citizens are bewailing around thee. O slayer of foes, do thou despatch thy counsellors to the city and we shall all enjoy in this forest, excited with amour.” The other she-monkeys, worked with sorrow, raised up Tara bewailing thus being exercised with grief consequent upon the demise of her husband. Thereupon Angada along with Sugriva, overwhelmed with grief, weeping, placed his Sire’s body on the funeral pile. And putting fire duly, he circumambulated his Sire, bound for a journey for good. Having duly cremated Vaili’s body,the foremost of monkeys arrived at a river of auspicious water with a view to perform the watery ceremony. ‘And all these monkeys along with Sugriva and Tara, placing Angada before them, sprinkled water. And the highly powerful Kakuthsha, equally aggrieved like Sugriva, being as poorly, conducted duly the obsequious ceremonies of Vali. Thereupon cremating V4li, gifted with unequalled prowess, slain with one shaft of the foremost of Ikswakus, and like unto flaming fire, Sugriva appeared before Rima who was in the company . of Lakshmana.