Canto XIX.The Birth Of The Princes.
The seasons six in rapid flight
Had circled since that glorious rite.
Eleven months had passed away;
'Twas Chaitra's ninth returning day.130
The moon within that mansion shone
Which Aditi looks kindly on.
Raised to their apex in the sky
Five brilliant planets beamed on high.
Shone with the moon,in Cancer's sign,
Vṛihaspati131with light divine.
Kauśalyábore an infant blest
With heavenly marks of grace impressed;
Ráma,the universe's lord,
A prince by all the worlds adored.
New glory Queen Kauśalyáwon
Reflected from her splendid son.
So Aditi shone more and more,
The Mother of the Gods,when she
The King of the Immortals132bore,
The thunder-wielding deity.
The lotus-eyed,the beauteous boy,
He came fierce Rávaṇto destroy;
From half of Vishṇu's vigour born,
He came to help the worlds forlorn.
And Queen Kaikeyíbore a child
Of truest valour,Bharat styled,
With every princely virtue blest,
One fourth of Vishṇu manifest.
Sumitrátoo a noble pair,
Called LakshmaṇandŚatrughna,bare,
Of high emprise,devoted,true,
Sharers in Vishṇu's essence too.
'Neath Pushya's133mansion,Mina's134sign,
Was Bharat born,of soul benign.
The sun had reached the Crab at morn
When Queen Sumitrá's babes were born,
What time the moon had gone to make
His nightly dwelling with the Snake.
The high-souled monarch's consorts bore
At different times those glorious four,
Like to himself and virtuous,bright
As Proshṭhapadá's135four-fold light.
Then danced the nymphs'celestial throng,
The minstrels raised their strain;
The drums of heaven pealed loud and long,
And flowers came down in rain.
Within Ayodhyá,blithe and gay,
All kept the joyous holiday.
The spacious square,the ample road
With mimes and dancers overflowed,
And with the voice of music rang
Where minstrels played and singers sang,
And shone,a wonder to behold,
With dazzling show of gems and gold.
Nor did the king his largess spare,
For minstrel,driver,bard,to share;
Much wealth the Bráhmans bore away,
And many thousand dine that day.
Soon as each babe was twelve days old
'Twas time the naming rite to hold.
When Saint Vaśishṭha,rapt with joy,
Assigned a name to every boy.
Ráma,to him the high-souled heir,
Bharat,to him Kaikeyíbare:
Of Queen Sumitráone fair son
Was Lakshmaṇ,andŚatrughna136one
Ráma,his sire's supreme delight,
Like some proud banner cheered his sight,
And to all creatures seemed to be
The self-existent deity.
All heroes,versed in holy lore,
To all mankind great love they bore.
Fair stores of wisdom all possessed,
With princely graces all were blest.
But mid those youths of high descent,
With lordly light preëminent.
Like the full moon unclouded,shone
Ráma,the world's dear paragon.
He best the elephant could guide.137
Urge the fleet car,the charger ride:
A master he of bowman's skill,
Joying to do his father's will.
The world's delight and darling,he
Loved Lakshmaṇbest from infancy
And Lakshmaṇ,lord of lofty fate,
Upon his elder joyed to wait,
Striving his second self to please
With friendship's sweet observances.
His limbs the hero ne'er would rest
Unless the couch his brother pressed;
Except beloved Ráma shared
He could not taste the meal prepared.
When Ráma,pride of Reghu's race,
Sprang on his steed to urge the chase,
Behind him Lakshmaṇloved to go
And guard him with his trusty bow.
As Ráma was to Lakshmaṇdear
More than his life and ever near,
So fondŚatrughna prized above
His very life his Bharat's love.
Illustrious heroes,nobly kind
In mutual love they all combined,
And gave their royal sire delight
With modest grace and warrior might:
Supported by the glorious four
Shone Daśaratha more and more,
As though,with every guardian God
Who keeps the land and skies,
The Father of all creatures trod
The earth before men's eyes.
