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

14. THE R^MjTYAN. Booh 111.
Kenowned among the minstrel tbrong
Cursed by Kuvera's stern decree
I wear the hideous shape you see.
But wheu I sued, his grace to crave,
The glorious God this answer gave
' When Rama, DaSaratha's son.
Destroys thee and the fight is won,
Thy proper shape once more assume,
And heaven again shall give thee room.'
When thus the angry God replied,
No prayers could tur& his wrath aside.
And thus on me his fury fell
For loving Rambha's' charms too well.
Now through thy favour am I freed
From the stern fate the God decreed.
And saved, O tamer of the foe.
By thee, to heaven again shall go.
A league, Prince, beyond this spot
Stands holy Parabhanga's cot
The very sun is not more bright
Than that most glorious anchorite :
To him, Rama, quickly turn,
And blessings from the hefmitearn.
First under earth my body throw.
Then on thy way rejoicing go.
Such is the law ordained of old
For giants when their days are told :
Their bodies laid in earth, they rise
To homes eternal in the skies.'
Thus, by the rankling dart oppressed,
Kakutstha's ofifspring he addressed :
la earth his mighty body lay^
' Rambha appears in Book I. Ganto LXIV as the temptieBS of
TJBvfmitra.