Explore "The Ramayan" by Valmiki on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
A thousand years had thus flown by When all the Gods within the sky, Eager that he the fruit might gain Of fervent rite and holy pain, Approached the great ascetic, now Bathed after toil and ended vow. Then Brahma speaking for the rest With sweetest words the sage addressed: "Hail, Saint! This high and holy name Thy rites have won, thy merits claim."
Thus spoke the Lord whom Gods revere, And sought again his heavenly sphere. But Visvamitra, more intent, His mind to sterner penance bent. So many a season rolled away, When Menaka, fair nymph, one day Came down from Paradise to lave Her perfect limbs in Pushkar's wave, The glorious son of Kusik saw That peerless shape without a flaw Flash through the flood's translucent shroud Like lightning gleaming through a cloud. He saw her in that lone retreat, Most beautiful from head to feet, And by Kandarpa's might subdued He thus addressed her as he viewed: "Welcome, sweet nymph! O deign, I pray, In these calm shades awhile to stay. To me some gracious favour show, For love has set my breast aglow."