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

174 TEE RjTMJrTAN. Book III.
The rover of the night shall meet.
And I, best of saints, will kill
Thy foeman and thy prayer fulfil.'
The king vouchsaftd his "willing aid
The saint again this answer made
' By Kama's might, and his alone,
Can this great fiend be overthrown.
I know in days of yore the Blest
Thy saving help in fight confessed.
Still of thy famous deeds they tell
In heaven above, in earth, and hell.
A mighty host obeys thy host
Here let it still, I pray thee, rest.
Thy glorious son, though yet a boy.
Will in the fight that fiend destroy.
E,ama alone with me shall go
Be happy, victor of the foe.'
He spoke : the monarch gave assent,
And B,Sma to the hermit lent:
So to his woodland home in joy
Went Visvamitra with the boy.
With ready bow the champion stood
To guard the rites in Dandak wood.
With glorious eyes, most bright to view,
Beardless as yet and dark of hue
A single robe his only wear.
His temples veiled with waving hair,
Around his neck a chain of gold.
He grasped the bow he loved to hold
And the young hero's presence made
A glory in the forest shade.
Thus Rama with his beauteous mien.
Like the young rising moon was seen.
I, like a cloud which tempest brings,