below
The town of Sringavera(361) flow.
There, with his friends and kinsmen nigh,
Dwelt Guha, Rama's dear ally,
Heroic guardian of the land
With dauntless heart and ready hand.
There for a while the mighty force
That followed Bharat stayed its course,
Gazing on Ganga's bosom stirred
By many a graceful water-bird.
When Bharat viewed his followers there,
And Ganga's water, blest and fair,
The prince, who lore of words possessed,
His councillors and lords addressed:
"The captains of the army call:
Proclaim this day a halt for all,
That so to-morrow, rested, we
May cross this flood that seeks the sea.
Meanwhile, descending to the shore,
The funeral stream I fain would pour
From Ganga's fair auspicious tide
To him, my father glorified."

Thus Bharat spoke: each peer and lord
Approved his words with one accord,
And bade the weary troops repose
In separate spots where'er they chose.
There by the mighty stream that day,
Most glorious in its vast array
The prince's wearied army lay
In various groups reclined.
There Bharat's hours of night were spent,
While every eager thought he bent
On bringing home from banishment
His brother, great of mind.

Canto LXXXIV. Guha's Anger.

King Guha saw the host spread o'er
The wide expanse of Ganga's shore,
With waving flag and pennon graced,
And to his followers spoke in haste:
"A mighty army meets my eyes,
That rivals Ocean's self in size:
Where'er I look my very mind
No limit to the host can find.
Sure Bharat with some evil thought
His army to our land has brought.
See, huge of form, his flag he rears,
That like an Ebony-tree appears.
He comes with bonds to take and chain,
Or triumph o'er our people slain:
And after, Rama will he slay,--
Him whom his father drove away:
The power complete he longs to gain,
And--task too hard--usurp the reign.
So Bharat comes with wicked will
His brother Rama's blood to spill.
But Rama's slave and friend am I;
He is my lord and dear ally.
Keep here your watch in arms arrayed
Near Ganga's flood to lend him aid,
And let my gathered servants stand
And line with troops the river strand.
Here let the river keepers meet,
Who flesh and roots and berries eat;
A hundred fishers man each boat
Of the five hundred here afloat,
And let the youthful and the strong
Assemble in defensive throng.
But yet, if, free from guilty thought
'Gainst Rama, he this land have sought,
The prince's happy host to-day
Across the flood shall