CANTO XI

THE SACRIFICE DECREED

    The Dewy Season 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 Vasishtha and the rest,
    In Scripture deeply read. 
    Suyajna, Vamadeva came,
    Javali, Kasyap’s son,
    And old Vasishtha, dear to fame,
    Obedient, every one. 
    King Dasaratha met them there
    And duly honored 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 Vasishtha 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 gratitude:—­
    “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. 
    Yonder on Sarju’s northern side
    The sacrificial ground provide;
    And let the saving rites, that nought
    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 noble rite be paid
    In every point complete.” 
    And all the Brahmans answered,