1 852. J Analysis of the Raghu Vans' a. 453 



nine sacrifices, therefore recalling his mind from sensible objects, he 

 delivered the white umbrella to his son and according to the vows of 

 the family of Ikshaku, when the days of youth melt away, he entered 

 with his wife the forest shades where holy Munis dwell. 



Raghu in possession of his paternal throne shone illustrious, as 

 at the close of day does fire receiving the rays deposited by the solar 

 orb ; when the kings heard that he had been established on the throne; 

 the fire of affection before wrapped in smoke, burst forth into flames : 

 now Lakshmi canopied him with her lotus-made umbrella. The citi- 

 zens rejoiced in his advent as if Indra's banner had been unfurled : he 

 was a general favourite on account of the justice of his punishments, 

 equable as the south breezes, neither hot nor cold. As in possession of 

 the Sakakar (a fragrant mango) the loss of flowers remains unfelt, so 

 did the citizens' regret towards the sire. Raghu though gifted with an 

 acute power of vision from eyes which stretched towards the ears, yet 

 possessed still greater from books, which indicated things the most 

 minute. On his countenance lighted up with a glow of kindness men 

 gazed as on the full orbed moon, while his beauty surpassed autumn 

 with its lotus-shades and fans of budding grass. Women reclining 

 under the sugar-cane's shade sang his praises, commencing with his 

 natal time. As tranquil moves the ocean after Agastya's rise, so trem- 

 bled the enemies on the appearance of Raghu. 



Autumn rendering the rivers fordable and drying up the muddy 

 paths, incited him to undertake an expedition. The waving flames on 

 the right, arising from the sacrificial lustration of horses, as if with 

 outstretched hand, presented to him victory. Raghu, having then 

 fortified his city, set out with veteran troops on the conqueror's route. 

 On beholding him the city matrons besprinkled him with grain as the 

 drops of water from the milky ocean fall on Vishnu, raised by the power 

 of Mandara Mount. Like Indra, his first march was towards the East, 

 daunting the enemy with banners waving in the wind ; with the dust 

 of his chariots and his cloudlike elephants he blended earth's soil 

 with the sky ; the barren deserts flowed with streams, the rivers gave 

 way as with his mighty troops he moved to the East, like Bhagi- 

 ratha conducting Ganga's stream from S'iva's head. As by the march 

 of elephants the trees lay strewed and scattered all around, so lay the 

 monarchs whom he encountered in his route : conquering all the 



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