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

CcmtoLXX. THE RAMAYAN. 323
' Behold thy treasure fond and fair
Ayomukhl '
the name I bear.
In thickets of each lofty hill,
On islets of each brook and rill,
With me (ielighted slialt thou play.
And live for many a lengthened day.'
Enraged lie heard the monster woo
His ready sword he swiftly drew,
And the sharp steel that quelled his foes
Out through her breast and ear and nose.
Thus mangled by bis vengeful sword
In rage and pain the demon roared,
And hideous with her awful face
Sped to her secret dwelling place.
Soon as the fiend had fled from sight,
The brothers, dauntless in their might.
Reached a wild forest dark and dread
Whose tangled ways were hard to tread.
Then bravest Lakshman, virtuous youth,
The friend of purity and truth,
With reverent palm to palm applied
Thus to his glorious brother cried
' My arm presaging throbs amain,
My troubled heart is sick with pain.
And cheerless omens ill portend
Where'er my anxious eyes I bend.
Dear brother, hear my words ;
advance
Resolved and armed for every chance,
For every sign I mark to-day
Foretels a peril in the way.
This bird of most ill-omened note.
Loud screaming with discordant throat,
Announces with a warning cry
' Iron-faced.