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a gift attends

      Great sin is his who thus offends.”

      And now some days and nights had past,

      And kings began to gather fast,

      And precious gems in liberal store

      As gifts to Daśaratha bore.

      Then joy thrilled through Vaśishṭha’s breast

      As thus the monarch he addressed:

      “Obedient to thy high decree

      The kings, my lord, are come to thee.

      And it has been my care to greet

      And honour all with reverence meet.

      Thy servants’ task is ended quite,

      And all is ready for the rite.

      Come forth then to the sacred ground

      Where all in order will be found.”

      Then Rishyaśring confirmed the tale:

      Nor did their words to move him fail.

      The stars propitious influence lent

      When forth the world’s great ruler went.

      Then by the sage Vaśishṭha led

      The priest begun to speed

      Those glorious rites wherein is shed

      The lifeblood of the steed.

1 Called also Vidcha, later Tirabhukti, corrupted into the modern Tirhut, a province bounded on the west and east by the Gaudakí and Kauśikí rivers, on the south by the Ganges, and on the north by the skirts of the Himálayas.

2 The celebrated city of Benares. See Dr. Hall’s learned and exhaustive Monograph in the Sacred City of the Hindus, by the Rev. M. A. Sherring.

3 Kekaya is supposed to have been in the Panjáb. The name of the king was Aśvapati (Lord of Horses), father of Daśaratha’s wife Kaikeyí.

4 Surat.

5 Apparently in the west of India not far from the Indus.

      Canto 13. The Sacrifice Finished.

      The circling year had filled its course,

      And back was brought the wandering horse:

      Then upon Sarjú‘s northern strand

      Began the rite the king had planned.

      With Rishyaśring the forms to guide,

      The Bráhmans to their task applied,

      At that great offering of the steed

      Their lofty-minded king decreed.

      The priests, who all the Scripture knew,

      Performed their part in order due,

      And circled round in solemn train

      As precepts of the law ordain.

Pravargya rites1 were duly sped:

For Upasads2 the flames were fed.

Then from the plant3 the juice was squeezed,

      And those high saints with minds well pleased

      Performed the mystic rites begun

      With bathing ere the rise of sun

      They gave the portion Indra’s claim,

      And hymned the King whom none can blame.

      The mid-day bathing followed next,

      Observed as bids the holy text.

      Then the good priests with utmost care,

      In form that Scripture’s rules declare,

      For the third time pure water shed

      On high souled Daśaratha’s head.

      Then Rishyaśring and all the rest

      To Indra and the Gods addressed

      Their sweet-toned hymn of praise and prayer,

      And called them in the rite to share.

      With sweetest song and hymn entoned

      They gave the Gods in heaven enthroned,

      As duty bids, the gifts they claim,

      The holy oil that feeds the flame.

      And many an offering there was paid,

      And not one slip in all was made.

      For with most careful heed they saw

      That all was done by Veda law.

      None, all those days, was seen oppressed

      By hunger or by toil distressed.

      Why speak of human kind? No beast

      Was there that lacked an ample feast.

      For there was store for all who came,

      For orphan child and lonely dame;

      The old and young were well supplied,

      The poor and hungry satisfied.

      Throughout the day ascetics fed,

      And those who roam to beg their bread:

      While all around the cry was still,

      “Give forth, give forth,” and “Eat your fill.”

      “Give forth with liberal hand the meal,

      And various robes in largess deal.”

      Urged by these cries on every side

      Unweariedly their task they plied:

      And heaps of food like hills in size

      In boundless plenty met the eyes:

      And lakes of sauce, each day renewed,

      Refreshed the weary multitude.

      And strangers there from distant lands,

      And women folk in crowded bands

      The best of food and drink obtained

      At the great rite the king ordained.

      Apart from all, the Bráhmans there,

      Thousands on thousands, took their share

      Of various dainties sweet to taste,

      On plates of gold and silver placed,

      All ready set, as, when they willed,

      The twice-born men their places filled.

      And servants in fair garments dressed

      Waited upon each Bráhman guest.

      Of cheerful mind and mien were they,

      With gold and jewelled earrings gay.

      The best of Bráhmans praised the fare

      Of countless sorts, of flavour rare:

      And thus

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