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

Canto XXXIX. THE RJTMJ^YAN. 179
Who made the good of all his care.
His noble wife was by his side,
And Lakshman in the battle tried.
Iq senseless pride I scorned the might
Of that illustrious anchorite,
And heedless of a hermit foe.
Recalled my earlier overthrow.
I charged him in my rage and scorn
To slay him with my pointed horn,
In heedless haste, to fury wrought
As on my former wounds I thought.
Then from the mighty bow he drew
Three foe-destroying arrows flew.
Keen-pointed, leaping from the string
Swift as the wind or feathered king.
Dire shafts, on flesh of foemen fed,
Like rushing thunderbolts they sped.
With knots well smoothed and barbs well bent,
Shot e'en as one, the arrows went.
But I who Rama's might had felt.
And knew the blows the hero dealt.
Escaped by rapid flight. The two
Who lingered on the spot, he slew.
I fled from mortal danger, freed
From the dire shaft by timely speed.
Now to deep thought my days I give.
And as a humble hermit live.
In every shrub, in every tree
I view that noblest devotee.
In every knotted trunk I mark
His deerskiii and his coat of bark,
And see the bow-armed R^ma stand
Like Yama with his noose in hand.
I tell thee Ravan, in my fright