p. 1243

Bounp up terribly with shafts, Dagaratha’s sons, lying down bathed in blood, sighed hard like unto serpents. And all those foremost monkeys, along with Sugriva, possessed of exceeding strength,—overwhelmed with sorrow, remained surrounding those high-souled ones. In the meanwhile, the powerful Rama, albeit fast bound by the shafts, awoke by virtue of the exceeding toughness of his person, as well as his might. Then, seeing his brother, having a distressful countenance, covered with blood, feeble, and fast bound by the shafts,—Radma, gréatly aggrieved, began to mourn. “Of what use unto me is the recovery of Sita, or life either, when to-day I see my brother vanquished in fight and lying down in the field? Seeking in the world (of men), I may light upon a woman like Sita; but never on a brother, or a helper, or a warrior like unto Lakshmana. If that enhancer of Sumitra’s joy have met with his end, my life I must renounce in the sight of the monkeys. What shall I say unto Kaugalya: and what shall I say unto Kaikeyig And what shalt I say unto mother Sumitra, eager for a sight of her son ? And if I go (back) without him, how shall I soothe her, like unto acow reft of her calf; and trembling ; and resembling a mourning Kurari? And howshall [ say unto Satrughana and the illustrious Bharata,—‘He went with me to the forest ; but I come (back) here without him?’ I shall not be able to bear the rebuke of mother Sumitra. Therefore even here

p. 1244

- shall I renounce my person; for certainly I dare not live. Fie on me, who am wicked and base ; for me this Lakshmana, brought down, lieth in the field of battle, like one that is without life. O Lakshmana, thou ever comfortest me when I am dispirited. But to day, having lost thy life, thou canst not speak to me,who am afflicted. Thou, O hero, who hadst in battle slain innumerable Rakshasas lying aronnd, hast (at length) thyself been slain in the field with shafts. And lying down in the battle-field, bleeding, and covered with arrows, thou appearest like the Sun when he hath gone up the Setting-hill. And in consequence of shafts piercing thy vitals, thou canst not speak; but thy visible expression, albeit thou art dumb, betokens pain. O thou endowed with exceeding splendour, even as thou didst follow me into the forest, will I follow thee unto the mansion of Yama. Thou, having dear friends, and ever following me, hast come by this plight in consequence of my reprehensible conduct. 1 do not remember having heard any harsh speech from the heroic Lakshmana, even when he had happened to be exceedingly wroth. He that could discharge at one shot five hundred shafts,—that Lakshmana is superior to Karttaviryya himself in that weapon—the bow.. He that with his arms could resist the arms of Sakra himself,—that one worthy of a costly couch—lieth down on the ground, slain. And that false babble shall now, without doubt, consume me; for by me hath not Bibhishana been made monarch of the Rakshasas. Do thou, O Sugriva, this very moment retrace thy steps. Bereft of thy strength through me, thou wilt be worsted by Ravana. And, O Sugriva, placing Angada to the fore, do thou, taking thy host as well as the equipage, in company with Nila and Nala, cross over the Ocean. By thee hath been achieved a mighty feat incapable of being done by another in battle. And pleased am I with the king of bears, and the lord of Golangulas ; and Angada hath quit himself nobly, as also Mainda and Dwivida. And Kegarin

p. 1245

and Samp&ti have both faught terribly. And Gavaya, and Gavaksha, and Sarabha, and Gaja,—and other monkeys have faught as others are incapable of fighting,—determined to lay down their lives (for me). But, O Sugriva, man cannot overrule Destiny. Thou, my friend, fearing righteousness,* hast done what lay in thy power. And, Ye foremost of monkeys, ye also have acted as becometh friends. Now, with my permission, go ye whithersoever ye are minded.” Hearing Rama’s lament, the monkeys—those dark-eyed and others—began to shed tears from their eyes. Then Bibhishana, quieting the army, taking a mace in his hand, swiftly went to where Raghava was. And seeing him fast making his way, resembling a mass of dark collyrium, the monkeys taking him to be Ravana’s son,t began to run away.