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

151
CANTO XXXIII.
SVRPANAEHA'S SPEECH.
Burning with anger, in the ring
Of counsellors who girt their king,
To Rdvan, ravener of man,
With bitter words she thus began :
' Wilt thou absorbed in pleasure, still
Pursue unchecked thy selfish will
Nor turn thy heedless eyes to see
The coming fate which threatens thee ?
The king who days and hours employs
In base pursuit of vulgar joys
Must in his people's sight be vile
As fire that smokes on funeral pile.
He who when duty calls him spares
No time for thought ot royal cares.
Must with his realm and people all
Involved in fatal ruin fall.
As elephants in terror shrink
From the false river's miry brink.
Thus subjects from a monarch flee
Whose face their eyes may seldom see.
Who spends the hours for toil ordained
In evil courses unreptrained.
He who neglects to guard and hold
His kingdom by himself controlled,
Sinks nameless like a hill whose head
Is buried in the ocean's bed.
Thy foes are calm and strong and wise,