{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/rama/ry012.htm","path":"hin/rama/ry012.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/rama/ry012.htm","text":"'Again, O best of kings, give ear:\n My saving words attentive hear,\n And listen to the tale of old\n By that illustrious Br\u00e1hman told,\n 'Of famed Ikshv\u00e1ku's line shall spring\n ('Twas thus he spoke) a pious king,\n Named Das'aratha, good and great,\n True to his word and fortunate.\n He with the Angas' mighty lord\n Shall ever live in sweet accord,\n And his a daughter fair shall be,\n S'\u00e1nt\u00e1 of happy destiny.\n But Lomap\u00e1d, the Angas' chief,\n Still pining in his childless grief,\n To Das'aratha thus shall say:\n 'Give me thy daughter, friend, I pray,\n Thy S'\u00e1nt\u00e1 of the tranquil mind,\n The noblest one of womankind.'\n \n \n The father, swift to feel for woe,\n Shall on his friend his child bestow;\n And he shall take her and depart\n To his own town with joyous heart.\n The maiden home in triumph led,\n To Rishyas'ring the king shall wed.\n And he with loving joy and pride\n Shall take her for his honoured bride.\n And Das'aratha to a rite\n That best of Br\u00e1hmans shall invite\n With supplicating prayer,\n To celebrate the sacrifice\n To win him sons and Paradise, \u00a01\n That he will fain prepare.\n \n \n \n From him the lord of men at length\n \u00a0\u00a0 The boon he seeks shall gain,\n And see four sons of boundless strength\n \u00a0\u00a0 His royal line maintain.'\n 'Thus did the godlike saint of old\n \u00a0\u00a0 The will of fate declare,\n And all that should befall unfold\n \u00a0\u00a0 Amid the sages there.\n O Prince supreme of men, go thou,\n \u00a0\u00a0 Consult thy holy guide,\n And win, to aid thee in thy vow,\n \u00a0\u00a0 This Br\u00e1hman to thy side.'\n Sumantra's counsel, wise and good,\n \u00a0\u00a0 King Das'aratha heard,\n Then by Vas'ishtha's side he stood\n \u00a0\u00a0 And thus with him conferred:\n 'Sumantra counsels thus: do thou\n My priestly guide, the plan allow.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 Vas'ishtha gave his glad consent,\n And forth the happy monarch went\n With lords and servants on the road\n That led to Rishyas'ring's abode.\n Forests and rivers duly past,\n He reached the distant town at last\n Of Lomap\u00e1d the Angas' king,\n And entered it with welcoming.\n On through the crowded streets he came,\n And, radiant as the kindled flame,\n He saw within the monarch's house\n The hermit's son most glorious.\n There Lomap\u00e1d, with joyful breast,\n \u00a0\u00a0 To him all honour paid,\n For friendship for his royal guest\n \u00a0\u00a0 His faithful bosom swayed.\n Thus entertained with utmost care\n Seven days, or eight, he tarried there,\n And then that best men thus broke\n His purpose to the king, and spoke:\n 'O King of men, mine ancient friend,\n \u00a0\u00a0 (Thus Das'aratha prayed)\n Thy S'ant\u00e1 with her husband send\n \u00a0\u00a0 My sacrifice to aid.\n Said he who ruled the Angas, Yea,\n \u00a0\u00a0 And his consent was won:\n And then at once he turned away\n \u00a0\u00a0 To warn the hermit's son.\n He told him of their ties beyond\n Their old affection's faithful bond:\n 'This king,' he said, 'from days of old\n A well beloved friend I hold.\n To me this pearl of dames he gave\n From childless woe mine age to save,\n The daughter whom he loved so much,\n Moved by compassion's gentle touch.\n In him thy S'ant\u00e1's father see:\n As I am even so is he.\n For sons the childless monarch yearns:\n To thee alone for help he turns.\n Go thou, the sacred rite ordain\n To win the sons he prays to gain:\n Go, with thy wife thy succour lend,\n And give his vows a blissful end.'\n \u00a0\u00a0 The hermit's son with quick accord\n Obeyed the Angas' mighty lord,\n And with fair S'ant\u00e1 at his side\n To Das'aratha's city hied.\n Each king, with suppliant hands upheld,\n \u00a0\u00a0 Gazed on the other's face:\n And then by mutual love impelled\n \u00a0\u00a0 Met in a close embrace.\n Then Das'aratha's thoughtful care,\n \u00a0\u00a0 Before he parted thence,\n Bade trusty servants homeward bear\n \u00a0\u00a0 The glad intelligence:\n 'Let all the town be bright and gay\n \u00a0\u00a0 With burning incense sweet;\n Let banners wave, and water lay\n \u00a0\u00a0 The dust in every street,'\n Glad were the citizens to learn\n The tidings of their lord's return,\n And through the city every man\n Obedienly his task began.\n And fair and bright Ayodhy\u00e1 showed,\n As following his guest he rode\n Through the full streets where shell and drum\n Proclaimed aloud the king was come.\n And all the people with delight\n \u00a0\u00a0 Kept gazing on their king,\n Attended by that youth so bright,\n \u00a0\u00a0 The glorious Rishyas'ring.\n When to his home the king had brought\n \u00a0\u00a0 The hermit's saintly son,\n He deemed that all his task was wrought,\n \u00a0\u00a0 And all he prayed for won.\n And lords who saw that stranger dame\n \u00a0\u00a0 So beautiful to view,\n Rejoiced within their hearts, and came\n \u00a0\u00a0 And paid her honour too.\n There Rishyasring passed blissful days,\n Graced like the king with love and praise\n And shone in glorious light with her,\n Sweet S'\u00e1nt\u00e1, for his minister,\n As Brahm\u00e1's son Vas'ishtha, he\n Who wedded Saint Arundhati.\u00a01\n \n \n \n \n18:1 'Sons and Paradise are intimately connected in Indian belief. A man desires above every thing to have a son to perpetuate his race, and to assist with sacrifices and funeral rites to make him worthy to obtain a lofty seat in heaven or to preserve that which he has already obtained.' GORRESIO.","title":"BOOK I: Canto X.: Rishyas'ring Invited.","type":"page"}