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

324. THE RA:MA'YAN. Booh III.
That strife and victory are nigh.'
Then as the chiefs their search pursued
Throughout the dreary solitude.
They heard amazed a mighty sound
That broke the very trees around.
As though a furious tempest passed
Crushing the wood beneatl) its blasts
Then Rama raised bis trusty sword.
And both the hidden cause explored.
There stood before their wondering eyes
A fiend broad-chested, huge of size.
A vast misshapen trunk they saw
In height surpassing aature's law.
It stood before them dire and dread
Without a neck, without a head.
Tall as some hill aloft in air.
Its limbs were clothed with bristling liair.
And deep below the monster's, waist
His vast misshapen mouth was placed.
His farm was huge, his voice was loud
As some dark-tinted thunder cloud.
Forth from his ample chest there cam©
A brilliance as of gushing flume.
Beneath long lashes, dark and keen
The monster's single eye was seen.'
Deep in his chest, long, fiercely bright.
It glittered with terrific light.
He swallowed down his savage fare
Of lion, bird, and slaughtered bear.
And with huge teeth exposed to view
O'er his great lips his tongue he drew.
His arms unshapely, vast and dread,
A league in length, he raised and spread.
He seized with monstrous bands a herd