# The Ramayana/Book I/Canto X: Rishyas'ring Invited

'Again, O best of kings, give ear: My saving words attentive hear, And listen to the tale of old By that illustrious Bráhman told, 'Of famed Ikshváku's line shall spring ('Twas thus he spoke) a pious king, Named Das'aratha, 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, S'ántá of happy destiny. But Lomapád, the Angas' chief, Still pining in his childless grief, To Das'aratha thus shall say: 'Give me thy daughter, friend, I pray, Thy S'ántá of the tranquil mind, The noblest 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 Rishyas'ring the king shall wed. And he with loving joy and pride Shall take her for his honoured bride. And Das'aratha to a rite That best of Bráhmans shall invite With supplicating prayer, To celebrate the sacrifice To win him sons and Paradise, 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 godlike 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 Bráhman to thy side.' Sumantra's counsel, wise and good,  King Das'aratha heard, Then by Vas'ishtha's side he stood  And thus with him conferred: 'Sumantra counsels thus: do thou My priestly guide, the plan allow.'  Vas'ishtha gave his glad consent, And forth the happy monarch went With lords and servants on the road That led to Rishyas'ring's abode. Forests and rivers duly past, He reached the distant town at last Of Lomapád 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 Lomapád, 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 men thus broke His purpose to the king, and spoke: 'O King of men, mine ancient friend,  (Thus Das'aratha prayed) Thy S'antá 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 compassion's gentle touch. In him thy S'antá's 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 S'antá at his side To Das'aratha'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 Das'aratha'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 Obedienly his task began. And fair and bright Ayodhyá showed, As following his guest he rode Through the full streets where shell 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 Rishyas'ring. 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 passed blissful days, Graced like the king with love and praise And shone in glorious light with her, Sweet S'ántá, for his minister, As Brahmá's son Vas'ishtha, he Who wedded Saint Arundhati.
* ↑ '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.
* ↑ One of the Pleiades and generally regarded as the model of wifely excellence.