The Ramayana Part 27

Canto LXIX. Dasaratha's Visit.

Soon as the shades of night had fled, Thus to the wise Sumantra said The happy king, while priest and peer, Each in his place, were standing near: "Let all my treasurers to-day, Set foremost in the long array, With gold and precious gems supplied In bounteous store, together ride.

And send you out a mighty force, Foot, chariot, elephant, and horse.

Besides, let many a car of state, And n.o.blest steeds, my will await.

Vasish?ha, Vamadeva sage, And Marka?deya's reverend age, Javali, Kasyap's G.o.dlike seed, And wise Katyayana, shall lead.

Thy care, Sumantra, let it be To yoke a chariot now for me, That so we part without delay: These envoys hasten me away."

So fared he forth. That host, with speed, Quadruple, as the king decreed, With priests to head the bright array, Followed the monarch on his way.

Four days they travelled on the road, And eve Videha's kingdom showed.

Janak had left his royal seat The venerable king to greet, And, n.o.blest, with these words addressed That n.o.blest lord, his happy guest: "Hail, best of kings: a blessed fate Has led thee, Monarch, to my state.

Thy sons, supreme in high emprise, Will gladden now their father's eyes.

And high my fate, that hither leads Vasish?ha, bright with holy deeds, Girt with these sages far-renowned, Like Indra with the G.o.ds around.

Joy! joy! for vanquished are my foes: Joy! for my house in glory grows, With Raghu's n.o.blest sons allied, Supreme in strength and valour's pride.

To-morrow with its early light Will shine on my completed rite.

Then, sanctioned by the saints and thee, The marriage of thy Rama see."

Then Dasaratha, best of those Whose speech in graceful order flows, With gathered saints on every side, Thus to the lord of earth replied: "A truth is this I long have known, A favour is the giver's own.

What thou shalt bid, O good and true, We, as our power permits, will do."

That answer of the truthful lord, With virtuous worth and honour stored, Janak, Videha's n.o.ble king, Heard gladly, greatly marvelling.

With bosoms filled with pleasure met Long-parted saint and anch.o.r.et, And linked in friendship's tie they spent The peaceful night in great content.

Rama and Lakshma? thither sped, By sainted Visvamitra led, And bent in filial love to greet Their father, and embraced his feet.

The aged king, rejoiced to hear And see again his children dear, Honoured by Janak's thoughtful care, With great enjoyment rested there.

King Janak, with attentive heed, Consulted first his daughters' need, And ordered all to speed the rite; Then rested also for the night.

Canto LXX. The Maidens Sought.

Then with the morn's returning sun.

King Janak, when his rites were done, Skilled all the charms of speech to know, Spoke to wise Satananda so: "My brother, lord of glorious fame, My younger, Kusadhwaj by name, Whose virtuous life has won renown, Has settled in a lovely town, Sankasya, decked with grace divine, Whose glories bright as Pushpak's shine, While Ikshumati rolls her wave Her lofty rampart's foot to lave.

Him, holy priest, I long to see: The guardian of my rite is he: That my dear brother may not miss A share of mine expected bliss."

Thus in the presence of the priest The royal Janak spoke, and ceased.

Then came his henchmen, prompt and brave, To whom his charge the monarch gave.

Soon as they heard his will, in haste With fleetest steeds away they raced, To lead with them that lord of kings, As Indra's call Lord Vish?u brings.

Sankasya's walls they duly gained, And audience of the king obtained.

To him they told the news they brought Of marvels past and Janak's thought.

Soon as the king the story knew From those good envoys swift and true, To Janak's wish he gave a.s.sent, And swift to Mithila he went.

He paid to Janak reverence due, And holy Satananda too, Then sate him on a glorious seat For kings or G.o.ds celestial meet.

Soon as the brothers, n.o.ble pair Peerless in might, were seated there, They gave the wise Sudaman, best Of councillors, their high behest: "Go, n.o.ble councillor," they cried, "And hither to our presence guide Ikshvaku's son, Ayodhya's lord, Invincible by foeman's sword, With both his sons, each holy seer, And every minister and peer."

Sudaman to the palace flew, And saw the mighty king who threw Splendour on Raghu's splendid race, Then bowed his head with seemly grace: "O King, whose hand Ayodhya sways, My lord, whom Mithila obeys, Yearns with desire, if thou agree, Thee with thy guide and priest to see."

Soon as the councillor had ceased, The king, with saint and peer and priest, Sought, speeding through the palace gate, The hall where Janak held his state.

There, with his n.o.bles round him spread, Thus to Videha's lord be said: "Thou knowest, King, whose aid divine Protects Ikshvaku's royal line.

In every need, whate'er befall, The saint Vasish?ha speaks for all.

If Visvamitra so allow, And all the saints around me now, The sage will speak, at my desire, As order and the truth require."

Soon as the king his lips had stilled, Up rose Vasish?ha, speaker skilled.

And to Videha's lord began In flowing words that holy man: "From viewless Nature Brahma rose, No change, no end, no waste he knows.

A son had he Marichi styled, And Kasyap was Marichi's child.

From him Vivasvat sprang: from him Manu whose fame shall ne'er be dim.

Manu, who life to mortals gave, Begot Ikshvaku good and brave.

First of Ayodhya's kings was he, Pride of her famous dynasty.

From him the glorious Kukshi sprang, Whose fame through all the regions rang.

Rival of Kukshi's ancient fame, His heir, the great Vikukshi, came, His son was Va?a, lord of might; His Anara?ya, strong to fight.

His son was Prithu, glorious name; From him the good Trisanku came.

He left a son renowned afar, Known by the name of Dhundhumar.

His son, who drove the mighty car, Was Yuvanasva, feared in war.

He pa.s.sed away. Him followed then His son Mandhata, king of men.

His son was blest in high emprise, Susandhi, fortunate and wise.

Two n.o.ble sons had he, to wit Dhruvasandhi and Prasenajit.

Bharat was Dhruvasandhi's son, And glorious fame that monarch won.

The warrior Asit he begot.

Asit had warfare, fierce and hot, With rival kings in many a spot, Haihayas, Talajanghas styled, And Sasivindus, strong and wild.

Long time he strove, but forced to yield Fled from his kingdom and the field.

With his two wives away he fled Where high Himalaya lifts his head, And, all his wealth and glory past, He paid the dues of Fate at last.

The wives he left had both conceived- So is the ancient tale believed- One, of her rival's hopes afraid Fell poison in her viands laid.

It chanced that Chyavan, Bhrigu's child, Had wandered to that pathless wild, And there Himalaya's lovely height Detained him with a strange delight.

There came the other widowed queen, With lotus eyes and beauteous mien, Longing a n.o.ble son to bear, And wooed the saint with earnest prayer.

When thus Kalindi,(248) fairest dame, With reverent supplication came, To her the holy sage replied: "Born with the poison from thy side, O happy Queen, shall spring ere long An infant fortunate and strong.

Then weep no more, and check thy sighs, Sweet lady of the lotus eyes."

The queen, who loved her perished lord, For meet reply, the saint adored, And, of her husband long bereaved, She bore a son by him conceived.

Because her rival mixed the bane To render her conception vain, And fruit unripened to destroy, Sagar(249) she called her darling boy.

To Sagar Asamanj was heir: Bright Ansuman his consort bare.

Ansuman's son, Dilipa famed, Begot a son Bhagirath named.

From him the great Kakutstha rose: From him came Raghu, feared by foes, Of him sprang Purushadak bold, Fierce hero of gigantic mould: Kalmashapada's name he bore, Because his feet were spotted o'er.(250) From him came Sanka?, and from him Sudarsan, fair in face and limb.

From beautiful Sudarsan came Prince Agnivar?a, bright as flame.

His son was Sighraga, for speed Unmatched; and Maru was his seed.

Prasusruka was Maru's child; His son was Ambarisha styled.

Nahush was Ambarisha's heir, The mighty lord of regions fair: Nahush begot Yayati: he, Nabhag of happy destiny.

Son of Nabhag was Aja: his, The glorious Dasaratha is, Whose n.o.ble children boast to be Rama and Lakshma?, whom we see.

Thus do those kings of purest race Their lineage from Ikshvaku trace: Their hero lives the right maintained, Their lips with falsehood ne'er were stained.

In Rama's and in Lakshma?'s name Thy daughters as their wives I claim, So shall in equal bands be tied Each peerless youth with peerless bride."

Canto LXXI. Janak's Pedigree.

Then to the saint supremely wise King Janak spoke in suppliant guise: "Deign, Hermit, with attentive ear, Mv race's origin to hear.

When kings a daughter's hand bestow, 'Tis right their line and fame to show.

There was a king whose deeds and worth Spread wide his name through heaven and earth, Nimi, most virtuous e'en from youth, The best of all who love the truth.