THE RÁMÁYAN OF VÁLMÍKI, VOL. III - Gujarat Knowledge Centre

92 THE RA'MJ'FAN. Book 111.
And lives of strictest rule we lead.
Say why would ye our lives oppress
Who sojourn in the wilderness.
Sent hither by the hermits' prayer
With bow and darts unused to spare,
For vengeance am I come to slay
Your sinful band in battle fray.
Rest as ye are : remain content.
Nor try the battle's dire event.
Unless your offered lives ye spurn,
rovers of the night, return.'
They listened while 'the hero spoke,
And fury in each breast awoke.
The Brdhman-slayers raised on high
Their mighty spears and made reply
They spoke with eyes aglow with ire.
While Rama's burnt with vengeful fire,
And answered thus, in fury wild^
That peerless chief whose tones were mild
' Nay thou hast angered, overbold,
Khara our lord, the mighty-souled,
And for thy sin, in battle strife
Shalt yield to us thy forfeit life.
No power ha&t thou alone to stand
Against the numbers of our band.
' Twere vain to match thy single might
Against us in the front of fight.
When we equipped for fight advance
With brandished pike and inace and lance,
Thou, vanquished in the desperate field.
Thy bow, thy strength, thy life shalt yield.'
With bitter words and threatening mien
Thus furious spoke the fierce fourteen.
And raising scymitar and spear