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CONTRIBUTIONS TO LITERATUR/T, ETC. 79 Bibhișana and Angada are disappointed vith this reply, and resolve to try and break Rāvana's devotions without the knowledge of Rāma. So they send some of the monkeybannered troops to disturb him.
They rush toward the town in swarms upon swarms; They trample the corn, and they damage the farms; They frighten and chevy the maidens about ; And all through the temple they shriek and they shout, And make a most fearful din.
But Rāvaņa stirred not ;--as still as a stone,
His mind was intent on his japa alone. Then the yakşas, or guardian spirits of the Jina shrine, interpose, drive forth the intruders, and appeal to Rama and Laxmaņa to withdraw them. Finally it is arranged that anything may be done to break Rāvana's devotions, so long as his life is not taken and the palace and temples are not destroyed.
Then Angada, heir to Kişkindha's wide soil, Determines himself Rāvana's penance to spoil. He mounts on Kişkindha, his elephant proud; And round him his ape-bannered followers crowd. He rides through the suburbs of Lankā's fair town, Admiring its beauty, its groves of renown. He enters the palace, goes alone to the fane; With reverence he walks round Säntiśwara's shrine, And in lowliness worships the image divine. When sudden-he sees giant Rāvaņa there, Seated, still as some mountain, absorbed in his prayer ! Surprised and indignant, in anger he speaks :“What ! miscreant, hypocrite, villain ! dost thou "In holiest temple thy proud forehead bow “Who has right ways forsaken, thy lineage disgraced, “ The good hast imprisoned, the harmless oppressed, "And hast snatched from thy neighbour his virtuous wile. " How canst thou dare to pray in Santiśwara's hall! “Better think on thy misdeeds, and turn from them all,
