Ramayana, Epic of Rama, Prince of India

V. On the Banks of the Godavari - 80
Saint Agastya raised the princes, greeted them in accents sweet,
Gave them fruit and herb and water, offered them the honoured seat,
With libations unto AGNI offered welcome to each guest,
Food and drink beseeming hermits on the wearied princes pressed.
“False the hermits,” spake Agastya, “who to guests their dues deny,
Hunger they in life hereafter – like the speaker of a lie,
[81] And a royal guest and wanderer doth our foremost honour claim,
Car-borne kings protect the wide earth by their prowess and their fame,
By these fruits and forest blossoms be our humble homage shewn,
By some gift, of Rama worthy, be Agastya’s blessings known!
Take this bow, heroic Rama, – need for warlike arms is thine, –
Gems of more than earthly radiance on the goodly weapon shine,
Worshipper of righteous VISHNU! VISHNU’S wondrous weapon take,
Heavenly artist VISWA-KARMAN shaped this bow of heavenly make!
Take this shining dart of BRAHMA radiant like a tongue of fame,
Sped by good and worthy archer never shall it miss its aim,
And this INDRA’S ample quiver filled with arrows true and keen,
Filled with arrows still unfailing in the battle’s dreadful scene!
Take this sabre golden-hilted in its case of burnished gold,
Not unworthy of a monarch and a warrior true and bold,
Impious foes of bright Immortals know these weapons dread and dire,
Mowing down the ranks of foemen, scathing like the forest fire!
Be these weapons thy companions, – Rama, thou shall need them oft, –
Meet and conquer still thy foemen like the Thunder-God aloft!”
II. The Counsel of Agastya
“Pleased am I,” so spake Agastya, “in these forests dark and wild,
Thou hast come to seek me, Rama, with the saintly Janak’s child,
But like pale and drooping blossom severed from the parent tree,
Far from home in toil and trouble, faithful Sita follows thee,