Book 4 — Canto IX. Sugríva's Story.562

Canto IX. Sugríva's Story.562

“My brother, known by Báli's name,

Had won by might a conqueror's fame.

My father's eldest-born was he,

Well honoured by his sire and me.

My father died, and each sage lord

Named Báli king with one accord;

And he, by right of birth ordained,

The sovereign of the Vánars reigned.

He in his royal place controlled

The kingdom of our sires of old,

And I all faithful service lent

To aid my brother's government.

The fiend Máyáví,—him of yore

To Dundubhi563 his mother bore,—

For woman's love in strife engaged,

A deadly war with Báli waged.

When sleep had chained each weary frame

To vast Kishkindhá564 gates he came,

And, shouting through the shades of night,

Challenged his foeman to the fight.

My brother heard the furious shout,

And wild with rage rushed madly out,

Though fain would I and each sad wife

Detain him from the deadly strife.

He burned his demon foe to slay,

And rushed impetuous to the fray.

His weeping wives he thrust aside,

And forth, impelled by fury, hied;

While, by my love and duty led,

I followed where my brother sped.

Máyáví looked, and at the sight

Fled from his foes in wild affright.

The flying fiend we quickly viewed,

And with swift feet his steps pursued.

Then rose the moon, whose friendly ray

Cast light upon our headlong way.

By the soft beams was dimly shown

A mighty cave with grass o'ergrown.

Within its depths he sprang, and we

The demon's form no more might see.

My brother's breast was all aglow

With fury when he missed the foe,

And, turning, thus to me he said

With senses all disquieted:

“Here by the cavern's mouth remain;

Keep ear and eye upon the strain,

While I the dark recess explore

And dip my brand in foeman's gore.”

I heard his angry speech, and tried

To turn him from his plan aside.

He made me swear by both his feet,

And sped within the dark retreat.

While in the cave he stayed, and I

Watched at the mouth, a year went by.

For his return I looked in vain,

And, moved by love, believed him slain.

I mourned, by doubt and fear distressed,

And greater horror seized my breast

When from the cavern rolled a flood,

A carnage stream of froth and blood;

And from the depths a sound of fear,

The roar of demons, smote mine ear;

But never rang my brother's shout

Triumphant in the battle rout.

I closed the cavern with a block,

Huge as a hill, of shattered rock.

Gave offerings due to Báli's shade,

And sought Kishkindhá, sore dismayed.

Long time with anxious care I tried

From Báli's lords his fate to hide,

But they, when once the tale was known,

Placed me as king on Báli's throne.

There for a while I justly reigned

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And all with equal care ordained,

When joyous from the demon slain

My brother Báli came again.

He found me ruling in his stead,

And, fired with rage, his eyes grew red.

He slew the lords who made me king,

And spoke keen words to taunt and sting.

The kingly rank and power I held

My brother's rage with ease had quelled,

But still, restrained by old respect

For claims of birth, the thought I checked.

Thus having struck the demon down

Came Báli to his royal town.

With meek respect, with humble speech,

His haughty heart I strove to reach.

But all my arts were tried in vain,

No gentle word his lips would deign,

Though to the ground I bent and set

His feet upon my coronet:

Still Báli in his rage and pride

All signs of grace and love denied.”