“Do not play me false, my brethren; this is a great day’s work for me.” At this they cried with vehemence, “Fear not, captain.”
By Rama’s favour and your might, my lord, we will leave the enemy without a single fighting-man or horse. While life lasts, we will never draw back our foot, and will make the earth one heap of corpses and skulls.” When the Nishad lord had inspected his gallant band he cried, “Beat the drum for the onset.” When he had so said, some one sneezed on the left. The soothsayers exclaimed, “A prosperous issue to the battle!” One old man thought over the omen and said, “Bharat must be met, but there will be no fighting. He is going to make entreaty to Rama; the omen says thus: there will be no battle.” On hearing this, Guha said, “The elder has spoken well; fools act in haste and repent. Unless we ascertain Bharat’s temper and disposition, we may do ourselves harm by fighting without knowledge.
Close up, my men, and stop the pass, and all join to discover the mystery. When we know whether he is a friend, an enemy, or a neutral, we can then lay our plans accordingly.
We shall soon test his devotion and honest intent; hatred and love are not to be concealed.” So saying, he began to make ready a present, and sent for bulbs, roots and fruits, birds and beasts, with the finest of fish, large pathins, which were brought by the fishermen in basketsful. When everything was arranged they went out to meet him, and had the most auspicious omens of good fortune. As soon as he saw the great sage afar off, he declared his name and prostrated himself before him. Vasishtha, knowing him to be a friend of Rama’s, gave him his blessing, and told Bharat about him. He, on hearing that he was Rama’s friend, left his chariot and advanced on foot to meet him with exuberant affection. Guha declared his home and race and name, and making obeisance laid his forehead to the ground.
By Rama’s favour and your might, my lord, we will leave the enemy without a single fighting-man or horse. While life lasts, we will never draw back our foot, and will make the earth one heap of corpses and skulls.” When the Nishad lord had inspected his gallant band he cried, “Beat the drum for the onset.” When he had so said, some one sneezed on the left. The soothsayers exclaimed, “A prosperous issue to the battle!” One old man thought over the omen and said, “Bharat must be met, but there will be no fighting. He is going to make entreaty to Rama; the omen says thus: there will be no battle.” On hearing this, Guha said, “The elder has spoken well; fools act in haste and repent. Unless we ascertain Bharat’s temper and disposition, we may do ourselves harm by fighting without knowledge.
Close up, my men, and stop the pass, and all join to discover the mystery. When we know whether he is a friend, an enemy, or a neutral, we can then lay our plans accordingly.
We shall soon test his devotion and honest intent; hatred and love are not to be concealed.” So saying, he began to make ready a present, and sent for bulbs, roots and fruits, birds and beasts, with the finest of fish, large pathins, which were brought by the fishermen in basketsful. When everything was arranged they went out to meet him, and had the most auspicious omens of good fortune. As soon as he saw the great sage afar off, he declared his name and prostrated himself before him. Vasishtha, knowing him to be a friend of Rama’s, gave him his blessing, and told Bharat about him. He, on hearing that he was Rama’s friend, left his chariot and advanced on foot to meet him with exuberant affection. Guha declared his home and race and name, and making obeisance laid his forehead to the ground.