Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

VII. In the Nilgiri Mountains - 106
IV. The Consecration of Sugriva
[111] Tears of love the tender Tara on her slaughtered hero shed,
E’en Sugriva’s bosom melted when he saw his brother dead,
And each Vanar chief and warrior, maha-matra, lord and peer,
Gathered round the sad Sugriva wet with unavailing tear!
And they girt the victor Rama and they praised his wond’rous might,
As the heavenly rishis gather circling BRAHMA’S throne of light,
Hanuman of sun-like radiance, lofty as a hill of gold,
Clasped his hands in due obeisance, spake in accents calm and bold:
“By thy prowess, peerless Rama, prince Sugriva is our lord,
To his father’s throne and empire, to his father’s town restored,
Cleansed by bath and fragrant unguents and in royal garments gay,
He shall with his gold and garlands homage to the victor pay,
To the rock-bound fair Kishkindha do thy friendly footsteps bend,
And as monarch of the Vanars consecrate thy grateful friend!”
“Fourteen years,” so Rama answered, “by his father’s stern command,
In a city’s sacred confines banished Rama may not stand,
Friend and comrade, brave Sugriva, enter thou the city wall,
And assume the royal sceptre in thy father’s royal hall.
Gallant Angad, son of Bali, is in regal duties trained,
Ruling partner of thy empire be the valiant prince ordained,
Eldest son of eldest brother, – such the maxim that we own, –
Worthy of his father’s kingdom, doth ascend his father’s throne.
Listen! ’tis the month of Sravan, now begins the yearly rain,
In these months of wind and deluge thoughts of vengeful strife were vain,
[112] Enter then thy royal city, fair Kishkindha be thy home,
With my ever faithful Lakshman let me in these mountains roam.
Spacious is yon rocky cavern fragrant with the mountain air,
Bright with lily and with lotus, watered by a streamlet fair,