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

822 THE RAMjfYAN. Book 111.
And at the lady's loss dismayed
Here for a while and there they stayed.
Then turning farther eastward they
Pursued three leagues their weary way,
Passed Krauncha's wood and reached the grove
Where elephants rejoiced to rove.
The chiefs that awful wood surveyed
Where deer and wild birds filled each glade,
Where scarce a step the foot could take
For tangled shrub and tree and brake^
There in a mountain's woody side
A cave the royal brothers spied,
With dread abysses deep as hell.
Where darkness never ceased to dwell.
When, pressing on, the lords of men
Stood near the entrance of the den,
They saw .within the dark recess
A huge misshapen giantess
A thing the timid heart that sliook
With fearful shape and savage look.
Terrific fiend, her voice was fierce.
Long were her teeth to rend and pierce.
The monster gorged her horrid feast
Of flesh of many a savage beast,
While her long locks, at random flung.
Dishevelled o'er her shoulders hung.
Their eyes the royal brothers raised.
And on the fearful monster gazed.
Forth from her den she came and glanced
At Lahshman as he first advanced.
Her eager arms to hold him spread.
And ' Come and be my love' she said.
Then as she held him to her breast.
The prince in words like these addressed: