At length a spirit, loving ill,
Tadaka, wearing shapes at will--
Whose mighty strength, exceeding vast,
A thousand elephants' surpassed,
Was to fierce Sunda, lord and head
Of all the demon armies, wed.
From her, Lord Indra's peer in might
Giant Maricha sprang to light;
And she, a constant plague and pest,
These two fair realms has long distressed.
Now dwelling in her dark abode
A league away she bars the road:
And we, O Rama, hence must go
Where lies the forest of the foe.
Now on thine own right arm rely,
And my command obey:
Smite the foul monster that she die,
And take the plague away.
To reach this country none may dare,
Fallen from its old estate,
Which she, whose fury nought can bear,
Has left so desolate.
And now my truthful tale is told--
How with accursed sway
The spirit plagued this wood of old,
And ceases not to-day."
CANTO XXVII
THE BIRTH OF TADAKA
When thus the sage without a peer
Had closed that story strange to hear,
Rama again the saint addressed,
To set one lingering doubt at rest:--
"O holy man, 'tis said by all
That spirits' strength is weak and small,
How can she match, of power so slight,
A thousand elephants in might?"
And Visvamitra thus replied
To Raghu's son, the glorified:--
"Listen, and I will tell thee how
She gained the strength that arms her now.
Pages:
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366