ear Sumitra's bless.
Surely the stars were wondrous fair
When thee, sweet son, thy mother bare,
That thy good gifts such love inspire
And win the favour of thy sire.
With thee I travailed not in vain;
Those lotus eyes reward my pain,
And all the glory of the line
Of old Ikshvaku will be thine."

He smiled, and on his brother gazed
Who sate with reverent hands upraised,
And said: "My brother, thou must be
Joint-ruler of this land with me.
My second self thou, Lakshman, art,
And in my fortune bearest part.
Be thine, Sumitra's son, to know
The joys from regal power that flow.
My life itself, the monarch's seat,
For thy dear sake to me are sweet."

Thus Rama to his brother said,
To both his mothers(268) bowed his head,
And then with Sita by his side
To his own house the hero hied.

Canto V. Rama's Fast.

Then Saint Vasishtha to the king
Came ready at his summoning.
"Now go," exclaimed the monarch, "thou
Enriched by fervent rite and vow,
For Rama and his wife ordain
The fast, that joy may bless his reign."

The best of those who Scripture know
Said to the king, "My lord, I go."
To Rama's house Vasishtha hied,
The hero's fast by rule to guide,
And skilled in sacred texts to tell
Each step to him instructed well.
Straight to Prince Rama's high abode,
That like a cloud pale-tinted showed,
Borne in his priestly car he rode.
Two courts he passed, and in the third
He stayed his car. Then Rama heard
The holy sage was come, and flew
To honour him with honour due.
He hastened to the car and lent
His hand to aid the priest's descent.
Then spoke Vasishtha words like these,
Pleased with his reverent courtesies,
With pleasant things his heart to cheer
Who best deserved glad news to hear:
"Prince, thou hast won thy father's grace,
And thine will be the Regent's place:
Now with thy Sita, as is right,
In strictest fasting spend the night,
For when the morrow's dawn is fair
The king will consecrate his heir:
So Nahush,(269) as the wise relate,
Yayati joyed to consecrate."

Thus having said, Vasishtha next
Ordained the fast by rule and text,
For Rama faithful to his vows
And the Videhan dame his spouse.
Then from the prince's house he hied
With courteous honours gratified.
Round Rama gathered every friend
In pleasant talk a while to spend.
He bade good night to all at last,
And to his inner chamber passed.
Then Rama's house shone bright and gay
With men and maids in glad array,
As in the m