The Ramayana

Book I - Bala Kanda

Canto X - Rishyashringa Invited

Sumantra continues his narration of the sage Rishyashringa, including his marriage to Shanti, the daughter of the King of Anga, Lomapada. Shanti is regarded an example of the ideal wife like Arundhati.

Rishyashringa 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 Iksvaku's line shall spring
('Twas thus he spoke) a pious king,
Named Dasharatha, 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,
Shanti of happy destiny.
But Lomapada, the Angas' chief,
Still pining in his childless grief,
To Dasharatha thus shall say:
'Give me thy daughter, friend, I pray,
Thy Shanti 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 Rishyashringa the king shall wed.
And he with loving joy and pride
Shall take her for his honored bride.
And Dasharatha to a rite
That best of Brahmans shall invite
With supplicating prayer,
To celebrate the sacrifice
To win him sons and Paradise,^{'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.}
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 Dasharatha heard,
Then by Vasistha's side he stood
And thus with him conferred:
'Sumantra counsels thus: do thou
My priestly guide, the plan allow.'
Vasistha gave his glad consent,
And forth the happy monarch went
With lords and servants on the road
That led to Rishyashringa's abode.
Forests and rivers duly past,
He reached the distant town at last
Of Lomapada 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 Lomapada, with joyful breast,
To him all honor 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 Dasharatha prayed)
Thy Shanti 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 Shanti'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 succor lend,
And give his vows a blissful end.'
The hermit's son with quick accord
Obeyed the Angas' mighty lord,
And with fair Shanti at his side
To Dasharatha'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 Dasharatha'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
Obediently his task began.
And fair and bright Ayodhya 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 Rishyashringa.
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 honor too.
There Rishyashringa passed blissful days,
Graced like the king with love and praise
And shone in glorious light with her,
Sweet Shanti, for his minister,
As Brahma's son Vasistha, he
Who wedded Saint Arundhati.^{One of the Pleiades and generally regarded as the model of wifely excellence.}

Footnotes