The Ramayana Part 5

Thus loved and honoured by the king, The glorious Brahman Rishyasring Pa.s.sed in that royal town his life With Santa his beloved wife."

Canto X. Rishyasring Invited.

"Again, O best of kings, give ear: My saving words attentive hear, And listen to the tale of old By that ill.u.s.trious Brahman told.

"Of famed Ikshvaku's line shall spring ('Twas thus he spoke) a pious king, Named Dasaratha, good and great, True to his word and fortunate.

He with the Angas' mighty lord Shall ever live in sweet accord, And his a daughter fair shall be, Santa of happy destiny.

But Lomapad, the Angas' chief, Still pining in his childless grief, To Dasaratha thus shall say: "Give me thy daughter, friend, I pray, Thy Santa of the tranquil mind, The n.o.blest one of womankind."

The father, swift to feel for woe, Shall on his friend his child bestow; And he shall take her and depart To his own town with joyous heart.

The maiden home in triumph led, To Rishyasring the king shall wed.

And he with loving joy and pride Shall take her for his honoured bride.

And Dasaratha to a rite That best of Brahmans shall invite With supplicating prayer, To celebrate the sacrifice To win him sons and Paradise,(83) That he will fain prepare.

From him the lord of men at length The boon he seeks shall gain, And see four sons of boundless strength His royal line maintain."

"Thus did the G.o.dlike saint of old The will of fate declare, And all that should befall unfold Amid the sages there.

O Prince supreme of men, go thou, Consult thy holy guide, And win, to aid thee in thy vow, This Brahman to thy side."

Sumantra's counsel, wise and good, King Dasaratha heard, Then by Vasish?ha's side he stood And thus with him conferred: "Sumantra counsels thus: do thou My priestly guide, the plan allow."

Vasish?ha gave his glad consent, And forth the happy monarch went With lords and servants on the road That led to Rishyasring's abode.

Forests and rivers duly past, He reached the distant town at last Of Lomapad the Angas' king, And entered it with welcoming.

On through the crowded streets he came, And, radiant as the kindled flame, He saw within the monarch's house The hermit's son most glorious.

There Lomapad, with joyful breast, To him all honour paid, For friendship for his royal guest His faithful bosom swayed.

Thus entertained with utmost care Seven days, or eight, he tarried there, And then that best of men thus broke His purpose to the king, and spoke: "O King of men, mine ancient friend, (Thus Dasaratha prayed) Thy Santa with her husband send My sacrifice to aid."

Said he who ruled the Angas, Yea, And his consent was won: And then at once he turned away To warn the hermit's son.

He told him of their ties beyond Their old affection's faithful bond: "This king," he said, "from days of old A well beloved friend I hold.

To me this pearl of dames he gave From childless woe mine age to save, The daughter whom he loved so much, Moved by compa.s.sion's gentle touch.

In him thy Santas father see: As I am even so is he.

For sons the childless monarch yearns: To thee alone for help he turns.

Go thou, the sacred rite ordain To win the sons he prays to gain: Go, with thy wife thy succour lend, And give his vows a blissful end."

The hermit's son with quick accord Obeyed the Angas' mighty lord, And with fair Santa at his side To Dasaratha's city hied.

Each king, with suppliant hands upheld, Gazed on the other's face: And then by mutual love impelled Met in a close embrace.

Then Dasaratha's thoughtful care, Before he parted thence, Bade trusty servants homeward bear The glad intelligence: "Let all the town be bright and gay With burning incense sweet; Let banners wave, and water lay The dust in every street."

Glad were the citizens to learn The tidings of their lord's return, And through the city every man Obediently his task began.

And fair and bright Ayodhya showed, As following his guest he rode Through the full streets where sh.e.l.l and drum Proclaimed aloud the king was come.

And all the people with delight Kept gazing on their king, Attended by that youth so bright, The glorious Rishyasring.

When to his home the king had brought The hermit's saintly son, He deemed that all his task was wrought, And all he prayed for won.

And lords who saw that stranger dame So beautiful to view, Rejoiced within their hearts, and came And paid her honour too.

There Rishyasring pa.s.sed blissful days, Graced like the king with love and praise And shone in glorious light with her, Sweet Santa, for his minister, As Brahma's son Vasish?ha, he Who wedded Saint Arundhati.(84)

Canto XI. The Sacrifice Decreed.

The Dewy Season(85) came and went; The spring returned again: Then would the king, with mind intent, His sacrifice ordain.

He came to Rishyasring, and bowed To him of look divine, And bade him aid his offering vowed For heirs, to save his line.

Nor would the youth his aid deny: He spake the monarch fair, And prayed him for that rite so high All requisites prepare.

The king to wise Sumantra cried Who stood aye ready near; "Go summon quick each holy guide, To counsel and to hear."

Obedient to his lord's behest Away Sumantra sped, And brought Vasish?ha and the rest, In Scripture deeply read.

Suyaj?a, Vamadeva came, Javali, Kasyap's son, And old Vasish?ha, dear to fame, Obedient every one.

King Dasaratha met them there And duly honoured each, And spoke in pleasant words his fair And salutary speech: "In childless longing doomed to pine, No happiness, O lords, is mine.

So have I for this cause decreed To slay the sacrificial steed.

Fain would I pay that offering high Wherein the horse is doomed to die, With Rishyasring his aid to lend, And with your glory to befriend."

With loud applause each holy man Received his speech, approved the plan, And, by the wise Vasish?ha led, Gave praises to the king, and said: "The sons thou cravest shalt thou see, Of fairest glory, born to thee, Whose holy feelings bid thee take This righteous course for offspring's sake."

Cheered by the ready praise of those Whose aid he sought, his spirits rose, And thus the king his speech renewed With looks of joy and grat.i.tude: "Let what the coming rites require Be ready as the priests desire, And let the horse, ordained to bleed, With fitting guard and priest, be freed,(86) Yonder on Sarju's northern side The sacrificial ground provide; And let the saving rites, that naught Ill-omened may occur, be wrought.

The offering I announce to-day Each lord of earth may claim to pay, Provided that his care can guard The holy rite by flaws unmarred.

For wandering fiends, whose watchful spite Waits eagerly to spoil each rite, Hunting with keenest eye detect The slightest slip, the least neglect; And when the sacred work is crossed The workman is that moment lost.

Let preparation due be made: Your powers the charge can meet: That so the n.o.ble rite be paid In every point complete."

And all the Brahmans answered, Yea, His mandate honouring, And gladly promised to obey The order of the king.

They cried with voices raised aloud: "Success attend thine aim!"

Then bade farewell, and lowly bowed, And hastened whence they came.

King Dasaratha went within, His well loved wives to see: And said: "Your l.u.s.tral rites begin, For these shall prosper me.

A glorious offering I prepare That precious fruit of sons may bear."

Their lily faces brightened fast Those pleasant words to hear, As lilies, when the winter's past, In lovelier hues appear.

Canto XII. The Sacrifice Begun.

Again the spring with genial heat Returning made the year complete.

To win him sons, without delay His vow the king resolved to pay: And to Vasish?ha, saintly man, In modest words this speech began: "Prepare the rite with all things fit As is ordained in Holy Writ, And keep with utmost care afar Whate'er its sacred forms might mar.

Thou art, my lord, my trustiest guide, Kind-hearted, and my friend beside; So is it meet thou undertake This heavy task for duty's sake."

Then he, of twice-born men the best, His glad a.s.sent at once expressed: "Fain will I do whate'er may be Desired, O honoured King, by thee."

To ancient priests he spoke, who, trained In holy rites, deep skill had gained: "Here guards be stationed, good and sage Religious men of trusted age.

And various workmen send and call, Who frame the door and build the wall: With men of every art and trade, Who read the stars and ply the spade, And mimes and minstrels. .h.i.ther bring, And damsels trained to dance and sing."

Then to the learned men he said, In many a page of Scripture read: "Be yours each rite performed to see According to the king's decree.

And stranger Brahmans quickly call To this great rite that welcomes all.

Pavilions for the princes, decked With art and ornament, erect, And handsome booths by thousands made The Brahman visitors to shade, Arranged in order side by side, With meat and drink and all supplied.

And ample stables we shall need For many an elephant and steed: And chambers where the men may lie, And vast apartments, broad and high, Fit to receive the countless bands Of warriors come from distant lands.

For our own people too provide Sufficient tents, extended wide, And stores of meat and drink prepare, And all that can be needed there.

And food in plenty must be found For guests from all the country round.

Of various viands presents make, For honour, not for pity's sake, That fit regard and worship be Paid to each caste in due degree.

And let not wish or wrath excite Your hearts the meanest guest to slight; But still observe with special grace Those who obtain the foremost place, Whether for happier skill in art Or bearing in the rite their part.

Do you, I pray, with friendly mind Perform the task to you a.s.signed, And work the rite, as bids the law, Without omission, slip, or flaw"

They answered: "As thou seest fit So will we do and naught omit."

The sage Vasi??ha then addressed Sumantra called at his behest: "The princes of the earth invite, And famous lords who guard the rite, Priest, Warrior, Merchant, lowly thrall, In countless thousands summon all.

Where'er their home be, far or near, Gather the good with honour here, And Janak, whose imperial sway The men of Mithila(87) obey.

The firm of vow, the dread of foes, Who all the lore of Scripture knows, Invite him here with honour high, King Dasaratha's old ally.

And Kasi's(88) lord of gentle speech, Who finds a pleasant word for each, In length of days our monarch's peer, Ill.u.s.trious king, invite him here.

The father of our ruler's bride, Known for his virtues far and wide, The king whom Kekaya's(89) realms obey, Him with his son invite, I pray.

And Lomapad the Angas' king, True to his vows and G.o.dlike, bring.

For be thine invitations sent To west and south and orient.

Call those who rule Surash?ra's(90) land, Suvira's(91) realm and Sindhu's strand, And all the kings of earth beside In friendship's bonds with us allied: Invite them all to hasten in With retinue and kith and kin."