CHAPTER XXXIII. Association of Aerial and Earthly Beings.
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Valmiki and Mitra, Viharilala
The Siddhas said:—
It behoves us to hear the decision of the great sages, in reply to the holy sermon, already delivered by the chief of Raghu’s race.
2. Come forward you great chiefs of the sages, you Nárada, Vyása, Pulaha and all ye great sages, and be ready (to hear).
3. Let us descend to the full open court of Dasaratha, which is as bright as gold and free from stain, in the manner of bees alighting on the aureate and immaculate lotus.
4. Válmíki said:—
So saying, the whole company of divine sages alighted themselves in that court from their aerial abode.
5. There Nárada the chief of sages, sat foremost playing on his lute, and in the midst was Vyása, with his dark blue complexion resembling a rainy cloud.
6. It was more over adorned with the presence of the chief sages Bhrigu, Angiras, Pulastya and others, with Chyavana, Uddálaka, Usira, Saraloman and many more about them.
7. Their garments of deer skins hang loosely down as they embraced one another. Their beads of rudráksha moved in one hand, and their water pots shook in the other.
8. Their bodies shed a lustre in the Court-hall, resembling the yellow light of the stars in the sky, and like the beams of so many suns blazing upon one another.
9. They appeared as a shower of moon beams or as a halo about the full moon, or as a circle about the orb of the sun out of its season.
10. They looked like a circlet of gems of varied colors, or like a belt of pearls of great lustre.
11. Vyása appeared at the place where he sat, to be as a dark cloud amidst the stars; and Nárada was beheld upon his seat as the white orb of the moon amongst the starry group.
12. Here Pulastya shone as Indra among the gods, and there Angirá blazed as the sun amidst the heavenly bodies.
13. On seeing the body of Siddhas descending from the sky on earth, the whole court of king Dasaratha rose up (to greet them).
14. There was a promiscuous assemblage of the aerial and earthly sages, whose commingled glory spread a lustre to the ten sides of the Court.
15. Some of them held bamboo sticks in their hands, and others had lotuses in theirs. Some had put the sacred grass in their crests, while others had inserted some gems to the braids of their hair.
16. Some had matted and tawny brown hairs on their heads, and others wore garlands of flowers on theirs. Some had strings of beads for their bracelets and others wore wristlets made of the jasmine flowers.
17. Some were clothed in tatters, and others wore garments made of bark, while there were others who wore raiments of silk. Some were girt with girdles of grass and skin about their waists, and others wore waist bands with pendant strings of pearl.
18. Vasishtha and Viswámitra honoured the aerials one by one; with respectful offerings and water and courteous address.
19. The great body of the etherials also honored Vasistha and Viswámitra in their turn, with water and offerings worthy of them and with polite speeches.
20. The king also honoured the gods and the body of the Siddhas, who in return greeted the monarch with inquiries about his welfare.
21. Then the heavenly and earthly saints interchanged their greetings with one another with cordial welcomes and gestures, and were all seated afterwards on seats made of the kusa grass.
22. They next honoured Ráma, who lay bowing before them, with gentle words and congratulations accompanied with shedding of flowers.
23. There were seated in that assembly the sages:—Viswámitra, Vasishtha, Váma Deva and the ministers of state.
24. There were also Nárada, the son of Brahmá, Vyása the greatest of sages, Maríchi, Durvása and Angirá.
25. There were Kratu, Pulastya, Pulaha, Saraloma, the great sage Vátsáyana, Bharadwája, Válmíki the great bard and sage.
26. There were also Uddálaka, Richika, Sarjati as well as Chyavana.
27. These and many others versed in the Vedas and their branches, and knowing all things worth knowing, were the leading members (of the assembly).
28. Then Nárada and others joined with Viswámitra and Vasishtha in addressing Ráma, who was sitting silent with his face turned downwards; and said:—
29. We admire the blest and graceful speech of the prince which is dignified with the spirit of stoicism that breathes through the whole of it.
30. It is full of thought, perspicuous, elegant, clear, dignified, sweet and worthy of noble minded men, by its lucid style and wants of faults.
31. Who is there that is not struck with admiration at the speech of Ráma? It is well expressive of his thoughts, correct in its diction plain and sweet and agreeable to all:
32. It is rare to find one man among a hundred who is so eloquent as to combine dignity and force with a clearness and sweetness, that may command the admiration of all.
33. Who has such a clear head as our prince, a head which is as penetrating as the best pointed arrow, and as fruitful and beauteous as the creeping plant.
34. He is truly a man whose intellectual light like that of Ráma’s, burns as the flame of a lamp within himself and enlightens all about him.
35. Man’s blood, flesh, and bones with other (parts of his body) serve as machines to supply him with sensations of external object; but there is no intelligence in them.
36. Life and death, old age and troubles, repeatedly overtake every man; but they are beasts who are so infatuated as never to think of these.
37. There is scarcely any man to be seen, who is of so clear an understanding as Ráma (the destroyer of his enemies), who is able to judge of the future by the past.
38. Ráma is the most excellent, admirable, useful, and well shaped person amongst men, as is the mango tree (in the vegetable world).