All 20 Uses of

pyre

in

The Ramayana

Huge trunks of trees around us lie, With roots and branches sere and dry, Come let us set these logs on fire And throw our bodies on the pyre.†
Book 2 *

pyre = a pile of wood or other burnable material

Then on the pyre their bodies cast The pair; and straight to heaven they passed.†
Book 2

For when an ass-drawn chariot seems To bear away a man in dreams, Be sure above his funeral pyre The smoke soon rears its cloudy spire.†
Book 2

With steps in inverse order bent,(353) The priests in sad procession went Around the monarch's burning pyre Who well had nursed each sacred fire: With Queen Kausalyá and the rest, Their tender hearts with woe distressed.†
Book 2

Then when the morning's earliest ray Appeared upon the thirteenth day, Again the hero wept and sighed Distraught and sorrow-stupefied; Drew, sobbing in his anguish, near, The last remaining debt to clear, And at the bottom of the pyre, He thus bespake his royal sire: "O father, hast thou left me so, Deserted in my friendless woe, When he to whom the charge was given To keep me, to the wood is driven?†
Book 2

Then rose the flame above his head, On skin, blood, flesh, and bones it fed, Till forth, transformed, with radiant hue Of tender youth, he rose anew, Far-shining in his bright attire Came Sarabhanga from the pyre: Above the home of saints, and those Who feed the quenchless flame,(414) he rose: Beyond the seat of Gods he passed, And Brahmá's sphere was gained at last.†
Book 3

Bring fuel for the funeral rite: These hands the solemn fire shall light And on the burning pyre shall lay The bird who died for me to-day.†
Book 3

Sore grief upon his bosom weighed As on the pyre the bird he laid, And bade the kindled flame ascend To burn the body of his friend.†
Book 3

Then when I prayed him to relent And fix some term of punishment,— Prayed that the curse at length might cease, He bade me thus expect release: "Let Ráma cleave thine arms away And on the pyre thy body lay, And then shalt thou, set free from doom, Thine own fair shape once more assume."†
Book 3

Then from the pyre, like flame that glows Undimmed by cloudy smoke, he rose, In garments pure of spot or speck, A heavenly wreath about his neck.†
Book 3

A store of funeral wood provide Which wind and sun and time have dried And richest sandal fit to grace The pyre of one of royal race.†
Book 4

The Vánar dames raised Tárá, drowned In floods of sorrow, from the ground; And Angad with Sugríva's aid, O'erwhelmed with anguish and dismayed, Weeping for his departed sire, Placed Báli's body on the pyre: Then lit the flame, and round the dead Passed slowly with a mourner's tread.†
Book 4

Here rather in some distant dell A lonely hermit will I dwell, Where roots and berries will supply My humble wants until I die; Or on the shore will raise a pyre And perish in the kindled fire.†
Book 5

Then flashed the giant's eye with fire Like that which lights the funeral pyre.†
Book 5

She slowly paced around her lord, The Gods with reverent act adored, Then raising suppliant hands the dame Prayed humbly to the Lord of Flame: "As this fond heart by virtue swayed From Raghu's son has never strayed, So, universal witness, Fire Protect my body on the pyre, As Raghu's son has idly laid This charge on Sítá, hear and aid."†
Book 6

(1018) The God who shows the blazoned bull,(1019) And Brahmá Lord most bountiful By whose command the worlds were made All these on radiant cars conveyed, Brighter than sun-beams, sought the place Where stood the prince of Raghu's race, And from their glittering seats the best Of blessed Gods the chief addressed: "Couldst thou, the Lord of all, couldst thou, Creator of the worlds, allow Thy queen, thy spouse to brave the fire And give her body to the pyre†
Book 6

Thus spoke the Self-existent Sire: Then swiftly from the blazing pyre The circling flames were backward rolled, And, raising in his gentle hold Alive unharmed the Maithil dame, The Lord of Fire embodied came.†
Book 6

Definition:

a pile of wood or other burnable material -- especially to burn a dead body as in a funeral rite