obtain,
    And sought, with all who dwelt within
    The city walls, his grace to win. 
    He fed him with the daintiest fare,
    He served him with unceasing care,
    And ministered with anxious eyes
    Lest anger in his breast should rise;
    And gave to be the Brahman’s bride
    His own fair daughter, lotus-eyed.

    Thus loved and honored by the King,
    The glorious Brahman Rishyasring
    Passed 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 illustrious 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 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 Rishyasring the King shall wed. 
    And he with loving joy and pride
    Shall take her for his honored 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,
    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 Brahman to thy side.”

    Sumantra’s counsel, wise and good,
    King Dasaratha heard,
    Then by Vasishtha’s side he stood
    And thus with him conferred:—­
    “Sumantra counsels thus:—­do thou
    My priestly guide, the plan allow.” 
    Vasishtha 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.