The Ramayana Part 28

His son and heir was Mithi, and His Janak, first who ruled this land.

He left a son Udavasu, Blest with all virtues, good and true.

His son was Nandivardhan, dear For pious heart and worth sincere.

His son Suketu, hero brave, To Devarat, existence gave.

King Devarat, a royal sage, For virtue, glory of the age, Begot Vrihadratha; and he Begot, his worthy heir to be, The splendid hero Mahabir Who long in glory governed here.

His son was Sudhriti, a youth Firm in his purpose, brave in sooth, His son was Dhris?aketu, blest With pious will and holy breast.

The fame of royal saint he won: Haryasva was his princely son.

Haryasva's son was Maru, who Begot Pratindhak, wise and true.

Next Kirtiratha held the throne, His son, for gentle virtues known.

Then followed Devamidha, then Vibudh, Mahandhrak, kings of men.

Mahandhrak's son, of boundless might, Was Kirtirat, who loved the right.

He pa.s.sed away, a sainted king, And Maharoma following To Swar?aroma left the state.

Then Hrasvaroma, good and great, Succeeded, and to him a pair Of sons his royal consort bare, Elder of these I boast to be: Brave Kusadhwaj is next to me.(251) Me then, the elder of the twain, My sire anointed here to reign.

He bade me tend my brother well, Then to the forest went to dwell.

He sought the heavens, and I sustained The burden as by law ordained, And n.o.ble Kusadhwaj, the peer Of G.o.ds, I ever held most dear.

Then came Sankasya's mighty lord, Sudhanva, threatening siege and sword, And bade me swift on him bestow Siva's incomparable bow, And Sita of the lotus eyes: But I refused each peerless prize.

Then, host to host, we met the foes, And fierce the din of battle rose, Sudhanva, foremost of his band, Fell smitten by my single hand.

When thus Sankasya's lord was slain, I sanctified, as laws ordain, My brother in his stead to reign, Thus are we brothers, Saint most high The younger he, the elder I.

Now, mighty Sage, my spirit joys To give these maidens to the boys.

Let Sita be to Rama tied.

And Urmila be Lakshma?'s bride.

First give, O King, the gift of cows, As dowry of each royal spouse, Due offerings to the spirits pay, And solemnize the wedding-day.

The moon tonight, O royal Sage, In Magha's(252) House takes harbourage; On the third night his rays benign In second Phalguni(253) will shine: Be that the day, with prosperous fate, The nuptial rites to celebrate."

Canto LXXII. The Gift Of Kine.

When royal Janak's words were done, Joined with Vasish?ha Kusik's son, The mighty sage began his speech: "No mind may soar, no thought can reach The glories of Ikshvaku's line, Or, great Videha's King, of thine: None in the whole wide world may vie With them in fame and honours high.

Well matched, I ween, in holy bands, These peerless pairs will join their hands.

But hear me as I speak once more; Thy brother, skilled in duty's lore, Has at his home a royal pair Of daughters most divinely fair.

I for the hands of these sweet two For Bharat and Satrughna sue, Both princes of heroic mould, Wise, fair of form, and lofty-souled.

All Dasaratha's sons, I ween, Own each young grace of form and mien: Brave as the G.o.ds are they, nor yield To the great Lords the worlds who shield.

By these, good Prince of merits high, Ikshvaku's house with thine ally."

The suit the holy sage preferred, With willing ear the monarch heard: Vasish?ha's lips the counsel praised: Then spake the king with hands upraised: "Now blest indeed my race I deem, Which your high will, O Saints supreme, With Dasaratha's house unites In bonds of love and marriage rites.

So be it done. My nieces twain Let Bharat and Satrughna gain, And the four youths the selfsame day Four maiden hands in theirs shall lay.

No day so lucky may compare, For marriage-so the wise declare- With the last day of Phalguni Ruled by the genial deity."

Then with raised hands in reverence due To those arch-saints he spoke anew: "I am your pupil, ever true: To me high favour have ye shown; Come, sit ye on my royal throne, For Dasaratha rules these towers E'en as Ayodhya now is ours.

Do with your own whate'er ye choose: Your lordship here will none refuse."

He spoke, and to Videha's king Thus Dasaratha, answering: "Boundless your virtues, lords, whose sway The realms of Mithila obey.

With honouring care you entertain.

Both holy sage and royal train.

Now to my house my steps I bend- May blessings still on you at end- Due offerings to the shades to pay."

Thus spoke the king, and turned away: To Janak first he bade adieu, Then followed fast those holy two.

The monarch reached his palace where The rites were paid with solemn care.

When the next sun began to shine He rose and made his gift of kine.

A hundred thousand cows prepared For each young prince the Brahmans shared.

Each had her horns adorned with gold; And duly was the number told, Four hundred thousand perfect tale: Each brought a calf, each filled a pail.

And when that glorious task was o'er, The monarch with his children four, Showed like the Lord of Life divine When the worlds' guardians round him shine.

Canto LXXIII. The Nuptials.

On that same day that saw the king His gift of kine distributing, The lord of Kekaya's son, by name Yudhajit, Bharat's uncle, came, Asked of the monarch's health, and then Addressed the reverend king of men: "The lord of Kekaya's realm by me Sends greeting, n.o.ble King, to thee: Asks if the friends thy prayers would bless Uninterrupted health possess.

Right anxious, mighty King, is he My sister's princely boy to see.

For this I sought Ayodhya fair The message of my sire to bear.

There learning, O my liege, that thou With sons and n.o.ble kinsmen now Wast resting here, I sought the place Longing to see my nephew's face."

The king with kind observance cheered His friend by tender ties endeared, And every choicest honour pressed Upon his honourable guest.

That night with all his children spent, At morn King Dasaratha went, Behind Vasish?ha and the rest, To the fair ground for rites addressed.

Then when the lucky hour was nigh Called Victory, of omen high, Came Rama, after vow and prayer For nuptial bliss and fortune fair, With the three youths in bright attire, And stood beside his royal sire.

To Janak then Vasish?ha sped, And to Videha's monarch said: "O King, Ayodhya's ruler now Has breathed the prayer and vowed the vow, And with his sons expecting stands The giver of the maidens' hands.

The giver and the taker both Must ratify a mutual oath.

Perform the part for which we wait, And rites of marriage celebrate."

Skilled in the laws which Scriptures teach, He answered thus Vasish?ha's speech: "O Saint, what warder bars the gate?

Whose bidding can the king await?

In one's own house what doubt is shown?

This kingdom, Sage, is all thine own.

E'en now the maidens may be found Within the sacrificial ground: Each vow is vowed and prayed each prayer, And they, like fire, are shining there.

Here by the shrine my place I took Expecting thee with eager look, No bar the nuptial rites should stay: What cause have we for more delay?"

When Janak's speech the monarch heard, To sons and saints he gave the word, And set them in the holy ring, Then to Vasish?ha spoke the king Of Mithila: "O mighty Sage, Now let this task thy care engage, And lend thine aid and counsel wise The nuptial rites to solemnize."

The saint Vasish?ha gave a.s.sent, And quickly to the task he went, With Visvamitra, nothing loth, And Satananda aiding both.

Then, as the rules prescribe, they made An altar in the midst, and laid Fresh wreaths of fragrant flowers thereon.

The golden ladles round it shone; And many a vase, which branches hid Fixed in the perforated lid, And sprays, and cups, and censers there Stood filled with incense rich and rare; Sh.e.l.l-bowls, and spoons, and salvers dressed With gifts that greet the honoured guest; Piles of parched rice some dishes bore, Others with corn prepared ran o'er; And holy gra.s.s was duly spread In equal lengths, while prayers were said.

Next chief of saints, Vasish?ha came And laid the offering in the flame.

Then by the hand King Janak drew His Sita, beautiful to view, And placed her, bright in rich attire, Rama to face, before the fire, Thus speaking to the royal boy Who filled Kausalya's heart with joy: "Here Sita stands, my daughter fair, The duties of thy life to share.

Take from her father, take thy bride; Join hand to hand, and bliss betide!

A faithful wife, most blest is she, And as thy shade will follow thee."

Thus as he spoke the monarch threw O'er her young limbs the holy dew, While G.o.ds and saints were heard to swell The joyous cry, 'Tis well! 'Tis well!

His daughter Sita thus bestowed, O'er whom the sacred drops had flowed.

King Janak's heart with rapture glowed.

Then to Prince Lakshma? thus he cried: "Take Urmila thine offered bride, And clasp her hand within thine own Ere yet the lucky hour be flown."

Then to Prince Bharat thus cried he; "Come, take the hand of Mandavi."

Then to Satrughna: "In thy grasp The hand of Srutakirti clasp.

Now, Raghu's sons, may all of you Be gentle to your wives and true; Keep well the vows you make to-day, Nor let occasion slip away."

King Janak's word the youths obeyed; The maidens' hands in theirs they laid.

Then with their brides the princes went With ordered steps and reverent Round both the fire and Janak, round The sages and the sacred ground.

A flowery flood of lucid dyes In rain descended from the skies, While with celestial voices blent Sweet strains from many an instrument, And the nymphs danced in joyous throng Responsive to the minstrel's song.