Then on Hanuman"s bosom hung The chain which Sita"s hand had flung: So may a cloud, when winds are still With moon-lit silver gird a hill.
To every Vanar Rama gave Rich treasures from the mine and wave.
And with their honours well content Homeward their steps the chieftains bent.
Ten thousand years Ayodhya, blest With Rama"s rule, had peace and rest, No widow mourned her murdered mate, No house was ever desolate.
The happy land no murrain knew, The flocks and herds increased and grew.
The earth her kindly fruits supplied, No harvest failed, no children died.
Unknown were want, disease, and crime: So calm, so happy was the time.(1029)
APPENDIX.
Section XIII. Ravan Doomed.
Afterwards Rishyasring said again to the King "I will perform another sacrificial act to secure thee a son." Then the son of Vibha?dak, of subdued pa.s.sions, seeking the happiness of the king, proceeded to perform the sacrifice for the accomplishment of his wishes. Hither were previously collected the G.o.ds, with the Gandharvas, the Siddhas and the sages, for the sake of receiving their respective shares, Brahma too, the sovereign of the G.o.ds, with Stha?u, and Naraya?a, chief of beings and the four supporters of the universe, and the divine mothers of all the celestials, met together there. To the Asvamedha, the great sacrifice of the magnanimous monarch, came also Indra the glorious one, surrounded by the Maruts. Rishyasring then supplicated the G.o.ds a.s.sembled for their share of the sacrifice (saying), "This devout king Dasaratha, who, through the desire of offspring, confiding in you, has performed sacred austerities, and who has offered to you the sacrifice called Asvamedha, is about to perform another sacrifice for the sake of obtaining sons: To him thus desirous of offspring be pleased to grant the blessing: I supplicate you all with joined hands. May he have four sons, renowned through the universe." The G.o.ds replied to the sage"s son supplicating with joined hands, "Be it so: thou, O Brahman, art ever to be regarded by us, as the king is in a peculiar manner. The lord of men by this sacrifice shall obtain the great object of his desires." Having thus said, the G.o.ds preceded by Indra, disappeared.
They all then having seen that (sacrifice) performed by the great sage according to the ordinance went to Praj.a.pati the lord of mankind, and with joined hands addressed Brahma the giver of blessings, "O Brahma, the Raksha Rava?a by name, to whom a blessing was awarded by thee, through pride troubleth all of us the G.o.ds, and even the great sages, who perpetually practise sacred austerities. We, O glorious one, regarding the promise formerly granted by thy kindness that he should be invulnerable to the G.o.ds, the Danavas and the Yakshas have born (_sic_) all, (his oppression); this lord of Rakshas therefore distresses the universe; and, inflated by this promise unjustly vexes the divine sages, the Yakshas, and Gandharvas, the Asuras, and men: where Rava?a remains there the sun loses his force, the winds through fear of him do not blow; the fire ceases to burn; the rolling ocean, seeing him, ceases to move its waves. Visravas, distressed by his power, has abandoned Lanka and fled. O divine one save us from Rava?a, who fills the world with noise and tumult. O giver of desired things, be pleased to contrive a way for his destruction."
Brahma thus informed by the devas, reflecting, replied, "Oh! I have devised the method for slaying this outrageous tyrant. Upon his requesting, "May I be invulnerable to the divine sages, the Gaundharvas, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas and the serpents," I replied "Be it so." This Raksha, through contempt, said nothing respecting man; therefore this wicked one shall be destroyed by man." The G.o.ds, preceded by Sakra, hearing these words spoken by Brahma, were filled with joy.
At this time Vish?u the glorious, the lord of the world, arrayed in yellow, with hand ornaments of glowing gold, riding on Vinateya, as the sun on a cloud, arrived with his conch, his discus, and his club in his hand. Being adored by the excellent celestials, and welcomed by Brahma, he drew near and stood before him. All the G.o.ds then addressed Vish?u, "O Madhusudana, thou art able to abolish the distress of the distressed. We intreat thee, be our sanctuary, O Vish?u." Vish?u replied, "Say, what shall I do?" The celestials hearing these his words added further. "The virtuous, the encourager of excellence, eminent for truth, the firm observer of his vows, being childless, is performing an Asvamedha for the purpose of obtaining offspring. For the sake of the good of the universe, we intreat thee, O Vish?u, to become his son. Dividing thyself into four parts, in the wombs of his three consorts equal to Hari, Sri, and Kirti, a.s.sume the sonship of king Dasaratha, the lord of Ayodhya, eminent in the knowledge of duty, generous and ill.u.s.trious, as the great sages. Thus becoming man, O Vish?u, conquer in battle Rava?a, the terror of the universe, who is invulnerable to the G.o.ds. This ignorant Rakshasa Rava?a, by the exertion of his power, afflicts the G.o.ds, the Gandharvaa, the Siddhas, and the most excellent sages; these sages, the Gandharvas, and the Apsaras, sporting in the forest Nandana have been destroyed by that furious one. We, with the sages, are come to thee seeking his destruction.
The Siddhas, the Gandharvas, and the Yakshas betake themselves to thee, thou art our only refuge; O Deva, afflicter of enemies, regard the world of men, and destroy the enemy of the G.o.ds."
Vish?u, the sovereign of the G.o.ds, the chief of the celestials, adored by all beings, being thus supplicated, replied to all the a.s.sembled G.o.ds (standing) before Brahma, "Abandon fear; peace be with you; for your benefit having killed Rava?a the cruel, destructively active, the cause of fear to the divine sages, together with all his posterity, his courtiers and counsellors, and his relations, and friends, protecting the earth, I will remain incarnate among men for the s.p.a.ce of eleven thousand years."
Having given this promise to the G.o.ds, the divine Vish?u, ardent in the work, sought a birth-place among men. Dividing himself into four parts, he whose eyes resemble the lotus and the pulasa, the lotus petal-eyed, chose for his father Dasaratha the sovereign of men. The divine sages then with the Gandharvas, the Rudras, and the (different sorts of) Apsaras, in the most excellent strains, praised the destroyer of Madhu, (saying) "Root up Rava?a, of fervid energy, the devastator, the enemy of Indra swollen with pride. Destroy him, who causes universal lamentation, the annoyer of the holy ascetics, terrible, the terror of the devout Tapaswis. Having destroyed Rava?a, tremendously powerful, who causes universal weeping, together with his army and friends, dismissing all sorrow, return to heaven, the place free from stain and sin, and protected by the sovereign of the celestial powers."
Thus far the Section, containing the plan for the death of Rava?.
CAREY AND MARSHMAN.
Caput XIV. RATIO NECANDI RAVANAE EXCOGITATA.
Prudens ille, voluminum sacrorum gnarus, responsum quod dederat aliquamdiu meditatus, mente ad se revocata regem deuno est effatus: Parabo tibi aliud sacrum, genitale, prolis masculae adipiscendae gratia, c.u.m carminibus in ATHARVANIS exordio expressis rite peragendum. Tum coepit modestus Vibhandaci filius, regis commodis intentus, parare sacrum, quo eius desiderium expleret. Iam"antea eo convenerant, ut suam quisque portionem acciperent, Di c.u.m fidicinum coelestium choris, Beatique c.u.m Sapientibus; Brachman Superm regnator, Stha.n.u.s nec non augustus Naraya.n.u.s, Indrasque almus, coram visendus Ventorum cohorte circ.u.mdatus, in magno isto sacrificio equino regis magnanimi. Ibidem vates ille deos, qui portiones suas accipiendi gratia advenerant, apprecatus, En inquit, hicce ex Dasarathus filiorum desiderio castimoniis adstrictus, fidei plenus, vestrum numen adoravit sacrificio equino. Nunc iterum accingit se ad aliud sacrum peragendum: quamobrem aequum est, ut filios cupienti vos faveatis.
Ille ego, qui ma.n.u.s supplices tendo, vos universos pro eo apprecor: nascantur ei filii quatuor, faina per triplicem mundum clari. Divi supplicem vatis filium invicem affari: Fiat quod petis! Tu n.o.bis, virsancte, imprimis es venerandus, nee minus rex ille; compos fiet voti sui egregii hominum princeps. Ita locuti Di Indra duce, ex oculis evanuerunt.
Superi vero, legitime in concilio congregati. BRACHMANEM mundi creatorem his verbis compellarunt: Tuo munere auctus, O Brachman! gigas nomine Ravanas, prae superbia nos omnes vexat, pariterque Sapientes castimoniis gaudentes. A te propitio olim ex voto ei hoc munus concessum fuit, ut ne a diis, Danuidis, Geniisve necari posset. Nos, oraculum tuum reveriti, facinora eius qualiacunque toleramus. At ille gigantum tyrannus ternos mundos gravibus iniuriis vexat Deos, Sapientes, Genios, Fidicines coelestes, t.i.tanes, mortales denique, exsuperat ille aegre cohibendus, tuoque munere demens. Non ibi calet sol, neque Ventus prae timore spirat, nee flagrat ignis, ubi Ravanas versatur. Ipse ocea.n.u.s, vagis fluctibus redimitus, isto viso stat immotus; eiectus fuit e sede sua Cuverus, huius robore vexatus. Ergo ingens n.o.bis periculum imminet ab hoc gigante visu horribili; tuum est, alme Parens! auxilium parare, quo hic deleatur. Ita admonitus ille a diis universis, paulisper meditatus, Ehem! inquit, hancce inveni rationem nefarium istum necandi. Petierat is a me, ut a Gandharvis, a Geniis, a Divis, Danuibus Gigantibusque necari non posset et me annuente voto suo pot.i.tus est. Prae contemptu vero monstrum illud homines non commemoravit: ideo ab homine est necandus: nullum aliud exstat leti genus, quod ei sit fatale. Postquam audiverant gratum hunc sermonem BRACHMANIS ore prolatum, Di c.u.m duce suo Indra summopere gaudio erecti sunt. Eodem temporis momento Vishnus, istuc accessit, splendore insignis, concham, disc.u.m et clavum manibus gestans, croceo vest.i.tu, mundi dominus, vulturis Vinateii dorso, sicuti sol nimbo, vectus, armillas ex auro candente gerens, salutatus a Superm primoribus. Quem laudibus celebratum reverenter Di universi compellarunt. Tu animantium afflictorum es vindex, Madhs interfector! quamobrem nos afflicti te apprecamur. Sis praesidio n.o.bis numine tuo inconcusso. Dicite, inquit Vishnus, quid pro vobis facere me oporteat. Audito eius sermone, Di hunc in modum respondent: Rex quidam, nomine Dasarathus, austeris castimoniis sese castigavit, litavit sacrificio equino, prolis cupidus et prole carens. Nostro hortatu tu, Vishnus, conditionem natorum eius subeas: ex tribus eius uxoribus, Pudicitiae, Venustatis et Famae similibus, nasci, velis, temetipsum quadrifariam dividens. Ibi tu in humanam naturam conversus Ravanam, gravissimam mundi pestem, diis insuperabilem, O Vishnus! proelio caede.
Gigas ille vecors Ravanas Deos c.u.m Fidicinum choris, Beatos et Sapientes praestantissimos vexat, audacia superbiens. Etenim ab hoc furioso Sapientes Fidicines et nymphae, ludentes in Nandano viridario, sunt proculcati. Tu es nostrum omnium summa salus, divine bellator! Ut deoram hostes extinguas, ad sortem humanam animum converte. Augustus ille Naraya.n.u.s, diis hunc in modum coram hortantibus, eosdem apto hoc sermone compellavit: Quare, quaeso, hac in re negotium vestrum a me potissimum, corporea specie palam facto, est peragendum aut unde tantus vobis terror fuit iniectus? His verbis a Vishn interrogati Di talia proferre: Terror n.o.bis instat, O Vishnus! a Ravana mundi direptore; a quo nos vindicare, corpore humano a.s.sumpto, tuum est. Nemo alius coelicoiarum praeter te hunc scelestum enecare potis est. Nimirum ille, O hostium domitor! per diuturnum tempus sese excruciaverat severissima abstinentia, qua magnus hicce rerum Parens propitius ipsi redditus est. Itaque almus votorum sponsor olim ei concessit securitatem ab ommibus animantibus, hominibus tamen exceptis. Hinc ilium, voti compotem, non aliunde quam ab homine necis periculum urget: tu ergo, humanitate a.s.sumpta eum intertice. Sic monitus Vishnus, Superm princeps, quem mundus universus adorat, magnum Parentem oeterosque deos, in concilio congregatos, recti auctores, affatur: Mitt.i.te timorem; bene bobis eveniat! Vestrae salutis gratia, postquam praelio necavero Ravanam c.u.m filiis nepotibusque, c.u.m amicis, ministris, cognatis sociisque, crudelem istum aegre cohibendum, qui divinis Sapientibus terrorem meut.i.t, per decem millia annorum decies centenis additis, commorabor in mortalium sedibus, orbem terrarum imperio regens. Tum divini sapientes et Fidicines conjuncti c.u.m Rudris nympharumque choris celebravere Madhs interfectorem hymnis, quales sedem aetheriam decent.
"Ravanam ilium insolentem, acri impetu actum, superbia elatum, Superm hostem, tumultus cientem, bonorum piorumque pestem, humanitate a.s.sumpta pessamdare tuum est."
SCHLEGEL.
Caput XIV. IL MEZZO STABILITO PER UCCIDERE RaVANO.
Ma Riseyasringo soggiunse poscia al re: Tapprester io un altro rito santissimo, genitale, onde tu conseguisca la prole che tu brami. E in quel punto stesso il saggio figliulo di Vibhandaco, intento alla prosperita del re, pose mano al sacro rito per condurre ad effetto il suo desiderio. Gia erano prima, per ricevere ciascuno la sua parte, qui convenuti al gran sacrifizio del re magnanimo l"Asvamedha, i Devi coi Gandharvi, i Siddhi e i Muni, Brahma Signor dei Sari, Sthanu e l" Augusto Narayana, i quattio custodi dell" universo e le Madri degli Iddu, i Yacsi insieme cogli Dei, e il sovrano, venerando Indra, visibile, circondato dalla schiera dei Maruti. Quivi cos parl Riscyasringo agli Dei venuti a partec.i.p.are del sacrifizio: Questo e il re Dasaratha, che per desiderio di progenie gia s"
astrinse ad osservanze austere, e teste pieno di fede ha a voi, O eccelsi, sacrificato con un Asvamedha. Ora egli, sollecito d" aver figli, si dispone ad adempiere un nuovo rito; vogliate essere favorevole a lui che sospira progenie. Io alzo a voi supplici le mani, e voi tutti per lui imploro: nascano a lui quattro figli degni d"essere celebrati pei tre mondi. Risposero gli Dei al supplichevole figliuolo del Risci: Sia fatto ci che chiedi; a te ed al re parimente si debbe da noi, O Brahmano, sommo pregio; canseguira il re per questo sacro rito il suo suppremo desiderio.
Ci detto disparvero i Numi preceduti da Indra.
Poiche videro gli Dei compiersi debitamente dal gran Risci l"oblazione, venuti al cospetto di Brahma facitor del mondo, signor delle creature, cos parlarono reverenti a lui dator di grazie: O Brahma, un Racsaso per nome Ravano, eui tu fosti largo del tuo favore, e per superbia infesto a noi tutti e ai grandi Saggi penitenti. Un di, O Nume, augusto, tu propizio a lui gli accordasti il favore, ch" egli bramava, di non poter essere ucciso dagli Dei, dai Danavi ne dai Yacsi: noi venerando i tuoi oracoli, ogni cosa sopportiamo da costui. Quindi il signor dei Racsasi infesta con perpetue offese i tre mondi, i Devi, i Risci, i Yacsi ed i Gandharvi, gli Asuri e gli uomini: tutti egli opprime indegnamente inorgoglito pel tuo dono. Cola dove si trova Ravano, piu non isfavilla per timore il sole, piu non spira il vento, piu non fiammeggia il fuoco: l" oceano stesso cui fan corona i vasti flutti, veggendo costui, tutto si turba e si commuove.
Stretto dalla forza di costui e ridotto allo stremo dovette Vaisravano abbandonare Lanca. Da questo Ravano, terror del mondo, tu ne proteggi, O almo Nume: degna, O dator d"ogni bene, trovar modo ad estirpar costui.
Fatto di queste cose conscio dai Devi, stette alquanto meditando, poi rispose Brahma: Orsu! e stabilito il modo onde distruggere questo iniquo.
Egli a me chiese, ed io gliel concessi, di non poter essere ucciso dai Devi, dai Risci, dai Gandharvi, dai Yacsi, dai Racsasi ne dai Serpenti; ma per disprezzo non fece menzione degli uomini quel Racso: or bene, sara quell" empio ucciso da un uomo. Udite le fauste parole profferte da Brahma, furono per ogni parte liete gli Iddii col loro duce Indra. In questo mezzo qu sopravvenne raggiante d"immensa luce il venerando Visnu, pensato da Brahma nell" immortal sua mente, siccome atto ad estirpar colui; Allora Brahma colla schiera de" Celesti cos parl a Visnu: Tu sei il conforto delle gente oppresse, O distruttor di Madhu: noi quindi a te supplichiamo afflitti: sia tu nostro sostegno, O Aciuto. Dite, loro rispose Visnu, quale cosa io debba far per voi; e gli Dei, udite queste parole, cosi soggiunsero: Un re per nome Dasaratha, giusto, virtuoso, veridico e pio, non ha progenie e la desidera: ei gia s" impose durissime penitenze, ed ora ha sacrificato con un Asvamedha: tu, per nostro consiglio, O Visnu, consenti a divenir suo figlio: fatte di te quattro parti, ti manifesta, O invocato dalle genti, nel seno delle quattro sue consorti, simili alla venusta Dea. Cos esortato dagli Dei quivi presenti, l"augusto Narayana loro rispose queste opportune parole: Quale opra s"ha da me, fatto visible nel mondo, a compiere per voi, O Devi? e d"onde in voi cotal terrore? Intese le parole di Visnu, cos risposero gli Dei: Il nostro terrore. O Visnu, nasce da un Racsaso per nome Ravano, spavento dell" universo. Vestendo umano corpo, tu debbi esterminar costui. Nessuno fra i Celesti, fuorche tu solo, e valevole ad uccidere quell" iniquo.
Egli, O domator de" tuoi nemici, sostenne per lungo tempo acerbissime macerazioni: per esse fu di lui contento l"augusto sommo Genitore: e un di gli accord propizio la sicurezza da tutti gli esseri, eccettutine gli uomini. Per questo favore a lui concesso nou ha egli a temere offesa da alcuna parte, fuorche dall" uomo, perci, a.s.sumendo la natura umana, costui tu uccidi. Egli, il peggior di tutti i Racsasi, insano per la forza che gli infonde il dono avuto, da travaglio ai Devi ed ai Gaudharvi, ai Risci, ai Muni ed ai mortali. Egli, sicuro da morte pel favore ottenuto, e turbatore dei sacrifizj, nemico ed uccisor dei Brahmi, divoratore degli uomini, peste del mondo. Da lui furono a.s.saliti re coi loro carri ed elefanti; altri percessi e fugati si dispersero per ogni dove. Da lui furono divorati Risci ed Apsarase: egli insomma oltracotato continuamente e quasi per ischerzo tutti travaglia i sette mondi. Perci, O terribile ai nemici e stabilita la morte di costui per opra d"un uomo; poich" un di per superbia del dono tutti sprezz gli uomini. Tu, O supremo fra i Numi, dei, umanandoti, estirpare questo tremendo, superbo Ravano, oltracotato, a noi nemico, terrore e flagello dei penitenti.
GORRESIO.
XIV.
De nouveau Rishyacringa tint ce langage au Monarque: "Je vais celebrer un autre sacrifice, afin que le ciel accorde a tes vux les enfants que tu souhaites." Cela dit, cherchant le bonheur du roi et pour l"accompliss.e.m.e.nt de son desir, le fils puissant de Vibhandaka se mit a celebrer ce nouveau sacrifice.
La auparavant, etaient venus deja recevoir une part de l" offrande les Dieux, accompagnes des Gaudharvas, et les Siddhas avec les Mounis divins, Brahma, le monarque des Souras, l" immuable Siva, et l" auguste Narayana, et les quatre gardiens vigilants du monde, et les meres des Immortels, et tous les Dieux, escortes des Yakshas, et le maitre eminent du ciel, Indra, qui se manifestait aux yeux, environne par l" essaim des Maroutes. Alors ce jeune anach.o.r.ete avait supplie tous les Dieux, que le desir d"une part dans l" offrande avait conduits a l" acwamedha, cette grande ceremonie de ce roi magnanime; _et, dans ce moment, l" epoux de Santa les conjurait ainsi pour la seconde fois_: "Cet homme _en prieres_, c"est le roi Dacaratha, qui est prive de fils. Il est rempli d" une foi vive; il s"est inflige de penibles austerites; il vous a deja servi, divinites augustes, le sacrifice d"un acwa-medha, et maintenant il s"etudie encore a vous plaire avec ce nouveau sacrifice dans l"esperance que vous lui donnerez les fils, ou tendent ses desirs. Versez donc sur lui votre bienveillance et daignez sourire a son vu pour des fils. C"est pour lui que moi ici, les mains jointes, je vous adresse a tous mes supplications: envoyez-lui quatre fils, qui soient vantes dans les trois mondes!"
"Oui! repondirent les Dieux au fils suppliant du rishi; tu merites que nous t"ecoutions avec faveur, toi, brahme saint, et meme, en premier lieu, ce roi. Comme recompense de ces differents sacrifices, le monarque obtendra cet objet le plus cher de ses desirs."
Ayant aussi parle et vu que le grand saint avait mis fin suivant les rites a son _pieux_ sacrifice, les Dieux, Indra a leur tete, s"evanouissent dans le vide des airs et se rendent vers l" architecte des mondes, le souverain des creatures, le donateur des biens, vers Brahma enfin, auquel tous, les mains jointes, ils adressent les paroles suivantes: "O Brahma, un rakshasa, nomme Ravana, tourne su mal les graces, qu"il a recues de toi.
Dans son orgueil, il nous opprime tous; il opprime avec nous les grands anch.o.r.etes, qui se font un bonheur des macerations: car jadis, ayant su te plaire, O Bhagavat, il a recu de toi ce don incomparable. "Oui, as-tu dit, exaucant le vu du mauvais Genie; Dieu. Yaksha ou Demon ne pourra jamais causer ta mort!" Et nous, par qui ta parole est respectee, nous avons tout supporte de ce roi des rakshasas, qui ecrase de sa tyrannie les trois mondes, ou il promene l" injure impunement. Enorgueilli de ce don victorieux, il opprime indignement les Dieux, les rishis, les Yakshas, les Gandharvas, les Asouras et les enfants de Manou. La ou se tient Ravana, la peur empeche le soleil d"echauffer, le vent craint de souffler, et le feu n"ose flamboyer. A son aspect, la guirlande meme des grands flots tremble au sein de la mer. Accable par sa vigueur indomptable, Kouvera defait lui a cede Lanka. Suave-nous donc, o toi, qui reposes daus le bonheur absolu; sauve-nous de Ravana, le fleau des mondes. Daigne, o toi, qui souris aux vux du suppliant, daigne imaginer un expedient pour oter la vie a ce cruel Demon." Les Dieux ayant ainsi denonce leurs maux a Brahma, il reflechit un instant et leur tint ce langage: "Bien, voici que j"ai decouvert un moyen pour tuer ce Genie scelerat. Que ni les Dieux, a-t-il dit, ni les rishis, ni les Gandharvas ni les Yakshas, ni les rakshasas, ni les Nagas meme ne puissent me donner la mort! Soit lui ai-je repondu.
Mais, par dedain pour la force humaine, les hommes n"ont pas ete compris daus sa demande. C"est donc par la main d" un homme, qu"il faut immoler ce mechant." Ainsi tombee de la bouche du createur, cette parole salutaire satisfit pleinement le roi des habitants du ciel et tous les Dieux avec lui. La, dans ce meme instant, survint le fortune Visnou, revetu d" une splendeur infinie; car c"etait a lui, que Brahma avait pense dans son ame pour la mort du tyran. Celui-ci donc avec l"essaim des Immortels adresse a Vishnou ces paroles: "Meurtrier de Madhou, comme tu aimes a tirer de l"affliction les etres malheureux, nous te supplions, nous qui sommes plonges dans la tristesse, Divinite auguste, sois notre asyle!" "Dites!
reprit Vishnou; que dois-je faire?" "Ayant oui les paroles de l"ineffable, tous les Dieux repondirent: Il est un roi nomme Dacaratha; il a embra.s.se une tres-dure penitence; il a celebre meme le sacrifice d"un acwa-medha, parce qu"il n"a point de fils et qu"il veut en obtenir du ciel. Il est inebranlable dans sa piete, il est vante pour ses vertus; la justice est son caractere, la verite est sa parole. Acquiesce donc a notre demande, o toi, Vishnou, et consens a naitre comme son fils. Divise en quatre portions de toi-meme, daigne, o toi, qui foules aux pieds tes ennemis, daigne t" incarner dans le sein de ses trois epouses, belles comme la deesse de la beaute." Narayana, le maitre, _non perceptible aux sens, mais qui alors s" etait rendu_ visible, Narayana repondit cette parole salutaire aux Dieux, qui i invitaient a cet _heroique avatara_. Quelle chose, une fois revetu de cette incarnation, faudra-t-il encore que je fa.s.se pour vous, et de quelle part vient la terreur, qui vous trouble ainsi? A ces mots du grand Vishnou: "C"est le demon Ravana, reprirent les Dieux; c"est lui, Vishnou, cette desolation des mondes, qui nous inspire un tel effroi. Enveloppe-toi d"un corps, humain, et qu"il te plaise arracher du monde cette blessante epine; car nul autre que toi parmi les habitants du ciel n"est capable d"immoler ce pecheur. _Sache que_ longtemps il s"est impose la plus austere penitence, et _que_ par elle il s"est rendu agreable au supreme ayeul de toutes les creatures. Aussi le distributeur ineffable des graces lui a-t-il accorde ce don insigne d"etre invulnerable a tous les etres, l" homme seul excepte. Puisque, doue ainsi de cette faveur, la mort terrible et sre ne peut venir a lui de nulle autre part que de l"homme, va, dompteur _puissant_ de tes ennemis, va dans la condition humaine, et tue-le. Car ce don, auquel on ne peut resister, elevant au plus haut point l"ivresse de sa force, le vil rakshasa tourmente les Dieux, les rishis, les Gandharvas, les hommes sanctifies par la penitence; et, quoique, destructeur des sacrifices, lacerateur des Saintes Ecritures, ennemi des brahmes, devorateur des hommes, cette faveur incomparable sauve de la mort Ravana le triste fleau des mondes. Il ose attaquer les rois, que defendant les chars de guerre, que remparent les elephants: d"autres blesses et mis en fuite, sont dissipes ca et la devant lui. Il a devore des saints, il a devore meme une foule d"apsaras. Sans cesse, dans son delire, il s"amuse a tourmenter les sept mondes. Comme _on vient de nous apprendre qu"_ il n"a point daigne parler d"eux ce jour, que lui fut donnee cette faveur, _dont il abuse_, entre dans un corps humain, o toi, qui peux briser tes ennemis, et jette sans vie a tes pieds, roi puissant des treize Dieux, ce Ravana superbe, d"une force epouvantable, d"un orgueil immense, l"ennemi de tous les ascetes, ce ver, _qui les ronge_, cette cause de leurs gemiss.e.m.e.nts."
_Ici, dans le premier tome du saint Ramayana_, Finit le quatorzieme chapitre, nomme: UN EXPeDIENT POUR TUER RaVANA.
HIPPOLYTE FAUCHE.
Uttarakanda.
The Ramayan ends, epically complete, with the triumphant return of Rama and his rescued queen to Ayodhya and his consecration and coronation in the capital of his forefathers. Even if the story were not complete, the conclusion of the last Canto of the sixth Book, evidently the work of a later hand than Valmiki"s, which speaks of Rama"s glorious and happy reign and promises blessings to those who read and hear the Ramayan, would be sufficient to show that, when these verses were added, the poem was considered to be finished. The Uttaraka??a or Last Book is merely an appendix or a supplement and relates only events antecedent and subsequent to those described in the original poem. Indian scholars however, led by reverential love of tradition, unanimously ascribe this Last Book to Valmiki, and regard it as part of the Ramayan.