THE FOREST. 351 mate creation ; there is no fighting against him, my son; if he kills, you die, and if you live, it is he who gives you life. He is the prince Raghupati, who, when he went to protect the saint's sacrifice, smote me with a pointless arrow, and in an instant I was driven a distance of a hundred leagues :' it is not well to quarrel with him. Wherever I look, I see these two brothers, and my senses are utterly bewildered, like a fly fascinated by a spider. Even if he be only a man, my son, he is a tremendous hero, and opposition to him will do no good. Dohá 21. But can he possibly be a man, who was strong enough to vanquish Táraká and Subáku, who broke Siva's bow and slew Khara, Dúshan and Trisira ? Chaupái. Consider the welfare of your family and go home." When he heard this, he was furious and abused him soundly : "You fool, you take upon yourself to teach me, as if you were my master! Tell me where is there in the world any warrior my equal ?" Marícha then thought to himself: "There are nine whom it is not good to make enemies; an armed man, an accomplice, a king, a man without principle, a rich man, a physician, a panegyrist, a poet, or any per- son of special ability." Either way he saw he must die; but he reflected that Ráma would be his sanctuary. So he answered : "You will be the death of me, poor wretch; for how can I escape when smitten by Raghupati's shaft ?" With these thoughts at heart, he accompanied Rávan, staunch in his devotion to Ráma's feet and with an exceeding gladness of heart that he would not show! 4 To-day I shall behold my best beloved. Chhand 8. My eyes will be rewarded with the sight of my best beloved, and I shall be happy. I shall imprint upon my soul the feet of the All-merciful with Sita to0 and his brother. Hari, the ocean of beatitude, whose very wrath confers salvation, who gives himself up entirely to the will of his worshippers, will with his own hands fit an arrow to the string and slay me. Dohá 22. As he runs after me to seize me with his bow and arrows, I shall ever and again turn and get a sight of my lord : there is none else so blessed as I am." Chavpái. When the Ten-headed drew near to the wood, Márícha took the form of a deer, so beautifully spotted as to defy description, with a body of gold, all 1 See Book I., chaupai 221.
