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SETUBANDHA
: 127
24. His eyes, sparkling from within the lids drooping at the end of sleep, rested as they opened on his bow that had seen many a battle, and on which lay the heavy burden of war.
25. He left his bed of stone that betokened the agony of his heart, being made rugged by his constant tossing about, with the pillows crushed on both sides, and the flowers withered.
26, 27. For a long while he watched with joy his (right) arm, which, strong as a mountain, grew sturdier as it twitched, presaging his union with his beloved, about to take place.15 Instantly he performed the ceremonial rites, and bound his inass of matted hair, which was drawn aside and fixed away from the track of the bow, 16 and was made fragrant by the crumpled bed of Tamāla leaves just left by him.
28, 29. He directed his eyes, bedewed with tears, towards Lankā: they were red with long-standing anger reaching its culmination, and fierce with their glare.17 He then took up his bow, known for its prowess: it lay on the side of the bed, vacant in the absence of Sitā, with its end soiled by his tears as he rested his face thereon in anguish caused by separation from her.
30. The bow, planted on the ground, and held fast by gripping it with his left hand, was strung with the right hand as it bent under the weight of his stooping frame.
31. Rāma set out, armed only with his bow, the mountain 18 rocking (under his feet). He struck fear into the enemy with the slow and heavy swaying of his head as he gasped (with rage).
32. The host of apes also advanced, appearing to make up a range of mountains in the sky with the united peaks of the mountains held aloft by them; while the trees, carried in their arms of similar proportions, were distinguished by their branches, 19
15. The twitching of the right arm or eye is believed to be of good omen for a man. See 15.76, 77.
16. i.e., in a manner to facilitate the drawing of the bow. 17. Lit. hard to look at on account of the all too conspicuous eyeballs. 18. i.e., the Suvela.
19. The apes fought with mountains and trees as their weapons, as described in the next Canto.
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