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

24 THE RAM/fYAN. Book III,,
Or dripping clothes around thera fold
The devotees who live for prayer,
Or the five fires ' unflinching bear.
On contemplation all intent.
With light that heavenly knowledge lent,
They came to Rima, saint and saige,
In i?arabhanga's hermitage.
The hermit crowd around him pressed,
And thus the virtuous chief addressed ;
' The lordship of the earth is thine,
O Prince of old Ikshvaku's line.
Lord of the Gods is Indra, so
Thou art our lord and guide below.
Thy name, the gloi;y of tliy might,
Throughout the triple world are bright c
Thy filial love so nobly shown,
Thy truth and virtue well are known.
To thee, lord, for help we fly.
And on thy love of right rely
With kindly patience hear us speak,
And grant the boon we humbly seek.
That lord of eaj-th were most unjust.
Foul traitor to his solemn trust,
Who shonid a sixth of all' require,
I*for guard his people like a sire.
But he who ever watchful strives
To guard his subjects' wealth apd lives.
Dear as himself or, dep-irer still,
His sons, with earnest heart eind will,
That king, O Raghu's son, secures
High fame that endless years endures.
And he to Brahma's world shu 11 rise.
' Four fires burning round tliem, and the sun above.
' The tax allowed to the kmg by the I,a-W3 of Hnuu,