The task was done, as laws prescribe:—­
    The monarch, glory of his tribe,
    Bestowed the land in liberal grants
    Upon the sacred ministrants. 
    He gave the region of the east,
    His conquest, to the Hotri priest. 
    The west the celebrant obtained,
    The south the priest presiding gained—­
    The northern region was the share
    Of him who chanted forth the prayer. 
    Thus did each priest obtain his meed
    At the great Slaughter of the Steed,
    Ordained, the best of all to be,
    By self-existent deity.

    Ikshvaku’s son, with joyful mind,
    This noble fee to each assigned—­
    But all the priests with one accord
    Addressed that unpolluted lord:—­
    “’Tis thine alone to keep the whole
    Of this broad earth in firm control. 
    No gift of lands from thee we seek,
    To guard these realms our hands were weak. 
    On sacred lore our days are spent,
    Let other gifts our wants content.”

    The chief of old Ikshvaku’s line
    Gave them ten hundred thousand kine,
    A hundred millions of fine gold,
    The same in silver four times told. 
    But every priest in presence there
    With one accord resigned his share. 
    To Saint Vasishtha, high of soul,
    And Rishyasring they gave the whole. 
    That largess pleased those Brahmans well,
    Who bade the prince his wishes tell. 
    Then Dasaratha, mighty King,
    Made answer thus to Rishyasring:—­
    “O holy Hermit, of thy grace,
    Vouchsafe the increase of my race.” 
    He spoke; nor was his prayer denied—­
    The best of Brahmans thus replied:—­
    “Four sons, O Monarch, shall be thine,
    Upholders of thy royal line.”

CANTO XIV

RAVAN DOOMED

    The saint, well-read in holy lore,
    Pondered awhile his answer o’er,
    And thus again addressed the King,
    His wandering thoughts regathering:—­
    “Another rite will I begin
    Which shall the sons thou cravest win,
    Where all things shall be duly sped
    And first Atharva texts be read.”

    Then by Vibhandak’s gentle son
    Was that high sacrifice begun,
    The King’s advantage seeking still
    And zealous to perform his will. 
    Now all the Gods had gathered there,
    Each one for his allotted share—­
    Brahma, the ruler of the sky,
    Sthanu, Narayan, Lord most high,
    And holy Indra men might view
    With Maruts for his retinue;
    The heavenly chorister, and saint,
    And spirit pure from earthly taint,
    With one accord had sought the place
    The high-souled monarch’s rite to grace,
    Then to the Gods who came to take
    Their proper share, the hermit spake:—­
    “For you has Dasaratha