bright Gandharvi bore the steed.(447)
Surasa bore the serpents:(448) all
The snakes Kadru their mother call.
Then Manu, high-souled Kasyap's(449) wife,
To all the race of men gave life,
The Brahmans first, the Kshatriya caste,
Then Vaisyas, and the Sudras last.
Sprang from her mouth the Brahman race;
Her chest the Kshatriyas' natal place:
The Vaisyas from her thighs, 'tis said,
The Sudras from her feet were bred.
From Anala all trees that hang
Their fair fruit-laden branches sprang.
The child of beauteous Suki bore
Vinata, as I taught before:
And Surasa and Kadru were
Born of one dame, a noble pair.
Kadru gave birth to countless snakes
That roam the earth in woods and brakes.
Arun and Garud swift of flight
By Vinata were given to light,
And sons of Arun red as morn
Sampati first, then I was born,
Me then, O tamer of the foe,
Jatayus, son of Syeni, know.
Thy ready helper will I be,
And guard thy house, if thou agree:
When thou and Lakshman urge the chase
By Sita's side shall be my place."
With courteous thanks for promised aid,
The prince, to rapture stirred,
Bent low, and due obeisance paid,
Embraced the royal bird.
He often in the days gone by
Had heard his father tell
How, linked with him in friendship's tie,
He loved Jatayus well.
He hastened to his trusted friend
His darling to confide,
And through the wood his steps to bend
By strong Jatayus' side.
On to the grove, with Lakshman near,
The prince his way pursued
To free those pleasant shades from fear
And slay the giant brood.

Canto XV. Panchavati.

Arrived at Panchavati's shade
Where silvan life and serpents strayed,
Rama in words like these addressed
Lakshman of vigour unrepressed:

"Brother, our home is here: behold
The grove of which the hermit told:
The bowers of Panchavati see
Made fair by every blooming tree.
Now, brother, bend thine eyes around;
With skilful glance survey the ground:
Here be some spot selected, best
Approved for gentle hermits' rest,
Where thou, the Maithil dame, and I
May dwell while seasons sweetly fly.
Some pleasant spot be chosen where
Pure waters gleam and trees are fair,
Some nook where flowers and wood are found
And sacred grass and springs abound."

Then Lakshman, Sita standing by,
Raised reverent hands, and made reply:

"A hundred years shall flee, and still
Will I obey my brother's will:
Select thyself a pleasant spot;
Be mine the care to rear the cot."
The glorio