The Ramayana · 59 of 493

Bāla Kānda (The Book of Youth): Canto 61 — Sunahsepha

Then Viśvámitra, when the Blest Had sought their homes of heavenly rest, Thus, mighty Prince, his counsel laid Before the dwellers of the shade: “The southern land where now we are Offers this check our rites to bar:(240) To other regions let us speed, And ply our tasks from trouble freed. Now turn we to the distant west. To Pushkar’s(241) wood where hermits rest, And there to rites austere apply, For not a grove with that can vie.”

The saint, in glory’s light arrayed, In Pushkar’s wood his dwelling made, And living there on roots and fruit Did penance stern and resolute.

The king who filled Ayodhyá’s throne, By Ambarísha’s name far known, At that same time, it chanced, began A sacrificial rite to plan. But Indra took by force away The charger that the king would slay. The victim lost, the Bráhman sped To Ambarísha’s side, and said: “Gone is the steed, O King, and this Is due to thee, in care remiss. Such heedless faults will kings destroy Who fail to guard what they enjoy. The flaw is desperate: we need The charger, or a man to bleed. Quick! bring a man if not the horse, That so the rite may have its course.”

The glory of Ikshváku’s line Made offer of a thousand kine, And sought to buy at lordly price A victim for the sacrifice. To many a distant land he drove, To many a people, town, and grove, And holy shades where hermits rest, Pursuing still his eager quest. At length on Bhrigu’s sacred height The saint Richíka met his sight Sitting beneath the holy boughs. His children near him, and his spouse.

The mighty lord drew near, assayed To win his grace, and reverence paid; And then the sainted king addressed The Bráhman saint with this request: “Bought with a hundred thousand kine, Give me, O Sage, a son of thine To be a victim in the rite, And thanks the favour shall requite. For I have roamed all countries round, Nor sacrificial victim found. Then, gentle Hermit, deign to spare One child amid the number there.”

Then to the monarch’s speech replied The hermit, penance-glorified: “For countless kine, for hills of gold, Mine eldest son shall ne’er be sold.” But, when she heard the saint’s reply, The children’s mother, standing nigh, Words such as these in answer said To Ambarísha, monarch dread: “My lord, the saint, has spoken well: His eldest child he will not sell. And know, great Monarch, that above The rest my youngest born I love. ’Tis ever thus: the father’s joy Is centred in his eldest boy. The mother loves her darling best Whom last she rocked upon her breast: My youngest I will ne’er forsake.”

As thus the sire and mother spake, Young Śunahśepha, of the three The midmost, cried unurged and free: “My sire withholds his eldest son, My mother keeps her youngest one: Then take me with thee, King: I ween The son is sold who comes between.” The king with joy his home resought, And took the prize his kine had bought. He bade the youth his car ascend, And hastened back the rites to end.(242)