By these and high-souled kings beside,
Struck down, have lawless women died."
CANTO XXVIII
THE DEATH OF TADAKA
Thus spoke the saint. Each vigorous word
The noble monarch's offspring heard--
And, reverent hands together laid,
His answer to the hermit made:--
"My sire and mother bade me aye
Thy word, O mighty Saint, obey.
So will I, O most glorious, kill
This Tadaka who joys in ill--
For such my sire's, and such thy will.
To aid with mine avenging hand
The Brahmans, kine, and all the land,
Obedient, heart and soul, I stand."
Thus spoke the tamer of the foe,
And by the middle grasped his bow.
Strongly he drew the sounding string
That made the distant welkin ring.
Scared by the mighty clang the deer
That roamed the forest shook with fear.
And Tadaka the echo heard,
And rose in haste from slumber stirred.
In wild amaze, her soul aflame
With fury towards the spot she came.
When that foul shape of evil mien
And stature vast as e'er was seen
The wrathful son of Raghu eyed,
He thus unto his brother cried:--
"Her dreadful shape, O Lakshman, see,
A form to shudder at and flee.
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