Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/409

THE FOREST: 349 your gate. A kingdom without policy, wealth without religion, good works without consecration to Hari, knowledge without discretion, these all bring no fruit save trouble to the student, the doer, or the possessor. An ascetic is quick- ly undone by attachment, a king by ill-counsel, wisdom by conceit, modesty by drinking, friendship by want of consideration, and good sense by pride ; so goes the saying. Sorathá 7. An enemy, sickness, fire, sin, a master and a serpent are never to be account- ed trifles." So saying and with much lamentation beside she set to weeping. Dohá 17. In her distress she threw hersclf down in the midst of the assembly with many tears and cries, "O Rávan, to think that you should live and see me thus treated !" Chaupái. When they heard this, the assembly rose in confusion and took her by the- hand and lifted her up and consoled her. Said the king of Lanká : " Why do you not tell me what has happened ? who has cut off your nose and ears ?" " The sons of Dasarath; the lord of Avadh, very lions of inen, have come to hunt the forest. I understood what they were about ; they would rid the earth of demons. Relying on the might of their arm, O Rávan, the saints roam the woods without any fear. They are children to look at, but in fact resistless as Death himself, the most intrepid of archers, with many strings to their bow.1 Both brothers are glorious with incomparable might, and have devoted them- selves to the extermination of the wicked and the relief of gods and saints. Ráma-for such is his name-is the very perfection of beauty, and with him is a young girl, whom the Creator has made the loveliest of the sex : a hundred million Ratis would be no match for her. It is his younger brother, who cut off my ears and nose and made a mock of me, when he heard I was your sister. When Khara and Dúshan were told of this, they gave him challenge ; but in an instant he slew the whole of their army." When he heard of the defeat of Khara, Dúshan, and Trisira, the Ten-headed was on fire all over. Dohá 18. After consoling Súrpa-nakhá and forcing himself to say much to her, he went to his palace in a great state of anxiety and had no sleep all night. 1 In the word guna-nána, guna is intended to be understood in its two senses of, 1st, a virtue; 2ndly, a bowstring. 88