RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN--CHAPTER 54

                                    RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN—CHAPTER 54

                                                                SABALA FIGHTS

Visvamitra found the sage, Vasishtha unwilling to part with “the cow of plenty.” So he used force and began to drag it away. Sabala was sad at heart and burning with grief. She said to herself, “Has the sage forsaken me? Has he delivered me to the king? I have never offended the sage. Why then did he cast me off?”

All at once she made up her mind to fight her way out. She shook the king’s menial crowd off as though they were feathers. And then she went back to stand beside her master. She appealed to Vasishtha with sobs and moans. She spoke to the sage. “O, child of Brahma? The king’s servants drag me away by force. Is it that you have cast me off?”

“Don’t you know, Sabala that you are like a sister to me? That I will not be ready to part with you? But it is the king who takes you away by force. It is against my will. He is a mighty monarch. He is immensely proud of his might. He is a great warrior. He is lord and master of wide lands. He has millions to do his biddings. They stand there like sands of the ocean in number. There are chariots, horses, elephants and infantry. Now, don’t you see he is mightier than me?

Salaba heard him out. And then gave the answer in humility. “Lord! The warrior’s strength and might is nothing before the radiant energy of a Brahmana. Because it is not of earth! It is divine in nature. A kshatria is as chaff before a gale. He cannot pit himself against a Brahmana. I know your potent might. It is utterly immeasurable. Visvamitra is a bold warrior. Yes, but what is he before your awful might?  The terrible Brahmic energy is stored in me. Say one word, Lord. I will reduce the king’s armies in a moment.

“Be it so. Bring forth your mighty armies. Let them scatter to the wind the proud armies of the King.”

No sooner had the sage said the words than Sabala uttered “Hump”. There came into view vast hordes of Paplavas. Hundreds and thousands of them came forth. They spread ruin and confusion among the ranks of the enemy. All this happened right before the eyes of Visvamitra.

But soon he recovered himself. His splendid army was cruelly wrecked. He was roused to fury. He rushed forth in his chariot. He was red in his eyes. He rained arrows and small weapons upon the Paplavas. They were laid low, every one of them.

Sabala was sad at what happened. She brought forth the fierce Sakas, Yavanas and Kambhojas. They marched forth against the enemy. So numerous they were that they hid the earth from view. Visvamitra hurled magical weapons upon them. And the Yavanas, the Kambhoojas, the Paplavas and the Sakas were scattered to the wind.