Read "The Ramayan" by Valmiki online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
They rose in air: the region grew Dark with their shadow as they flew. Swift to a lovely grove they came That rivalled heavenly Nandan's fame; Where countless bees their honey stored,-- The pleasance of the Vanars' lord, To every creature fenced and barred, Which Dadhimukh was set to guard, A noble Vanar, brave and bold, Sugriva's uncle lofty-souled. To Angad came with one accord The Vanars, and besought their lord That they those honeyed stores might eat That made the grove so passing sweet.
He gave consent: they sought the trees Thronged with innumerable bees. They rifled all the treasured store, And ate the fruit the branches bore, And still as they prolonged the feast Their merriment and joy increased. Drunk with the sweets, they danced and bowed, They wildly sang, they laughed aloud, Some climbed and sprang from tree to tree, Some sat and chattered in their glee. Some scaled the trees which creepers crowned, And rained the branches to the ground. There with loud laugh a Vanar sprang Close to his friend who madly sang, In doleful mood another crept To mix his tears with one who wept.