This page has been fully proofread once and needs a second look.

10
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
King Dasaratha, mighty promoter of

(the prosperity of) the kingdom, establish-

ed (and improved) that city, even as Indra

did in heaven.
 

 
तस्य त्वेवंप्रभावस्य धर्मज्ञस्य महात्मनः ।

सुतार्थं तप्यमानस्य नासीद्वंशकरः सुतः ॥
 

To that high-souled and duty-loving

king of such mighty fame, yearning for

a son, there was no son to carry on the

line.
 

 
स निश्चितां मतिं कृत्वा यष्टव्यमिति बुद्धिमान् ।

पुरोहितं वसिष्ठं च ये चान्ये द्विजसत्तमाः ।

तान् पूजयित्वा धर्मात्मा श्लक्ष्णं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥
 

Making up his mind to perform a sacri-

fice, the wise and duteous king honoured

the preceptor Vasishtha and other great

twice-born ones, and uttered pleasing

words thus :
 

 
मम लालप्यमानस्य पुत्रार्थं नास्ति वै सुखम् ।

तदहं यष्टुमिच्छामि शास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥
 

"For me, yearning for a son, there is

indeed no peace of mind. Therefore, I
desire to perform a sacrifice according to

desire to perform a sacrifice according to
the injunctions of the Sastras."