334 THE FOREST. crow and wickedly thought to make trial of Ráma's might, like an ant so imbecile of mind as to attempt to sound the depths of ocean. With its beak it bit Sita in the foot and flew away, the foolish crow, in its utter stupidity. The blood flowed ; Raghunáyak saw it and made ready his bow and arrow, fashion- ed merely of reeds.? Dohá 1. The All-merciful Ráma, ever full of compassion for the poor, even he it was upon whom the wicked wretch came and played this trick. Chaupái. The divine arrow, winged with a charm, sped forth ; the crow in terror took to flight and assuming his proper form went to his father, who would not shelter him, as he was Ráma's enemy. He was in despair, and as panic- stricken in soul as was the Rishi Durvásas by the terror of Vishnu's discus. Weary and worn with fear and remorse, he traversed the realm of Brahma, the city of Siva and every other sphere; but no one even asked him to sit down : who can befriend an enemy of Ráma's ? Hearken, Garur : his own mother becomes his death; his father is changed as it were into the king of the infernal regions ; ambrosia turns to poison ; a friend does him all the harm of a hundred enemies; the Ganges is converted into the Vaitarani, and all the world burns hotter than fire-mark me, brother-when a man opposes Ráma, When Nárad saw Jayanta's distress, being tender-hearted and good, he took pity on him and sent him straight to Ráma. There he cried Save me, O thou that art the suppliant's friend !' In terror and confusion he went and clasped his feet, crying " Quarter, quarter, 0 merciful Raghurái! Thy might is im- measurable and immeasurable thy majesty ; in ignorance of mind, I knew thee not. I have reaped the fruit of my own actions ; now, my Lord, succour me, for to thee I have come for refuge." When the Merciful heard this most piteous appeal, he dismissed him, Bhaváni, with the loss of one eye. Sorathá 2. Although in his infatuation he had committed such an offence that death was his due, the Lord had compassion upon him and set him free; who is so merciful as Raghubír ? 1 In the Sanskrit Rámáyana this incident of the crow forms the subject of the 105th canto of the Ayodhyá Kánd, Gorresio's edition. 21 Samana, the destroyer,' here donotes Yama, the Indian Pluto. 3 The Vaitarani is the Hindu Styx, or river of hell, which the dead have to cross before entering the infernal regions. It is ropresented as an impetuous and filthy torrent, full of blood, hair and bones and every kind of impurity.
