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

176 THE RAMAYAN. Booh III.
The banquet and the festal day.
Thine eyes will see destruction take
Thy Lankd, lost for Sitd's sake,
And stately pile and palace fall
With terrace, dome, and jewelled wall.
The good will die : the crime of kings
Destruction on the people brings
The sinless die, as in the lake
The fish must perish with the snake.
The prostrate giants thou wilt see
Slain for this folly wrought by thee.
Their bodies bright with precious scent
And sheen of heavenly ornament
Or see the remnant of thy train
Seek refuge far, when help is vain,
And with their wives, or widowed, fly
To every quarter of the sky
Thy mournful eyes, where'er they turn.
Will see thy stately city bum.
When royal homes with fire are red.
And arrowy nets" around are spread.
A sin that tops all sins in shame
Is outrage to another's dame.
A thousand wives thy palace fill,
And countless beauties wait thy will.
rest contented with thine own.
Nor let thy race be overthrown.
If thou, King, hast still delight
In rank and wealth and power and might.
In noble wives, in troops of friends,
In all that royal state attends,
1 warn thee, cast not all away.
Nor challenge Kama to the fray.
If deaf to every friendly prayer,