Sunday 15 July 2012

12. Prelude to Asvamedha Yaga.

     Sumantra continued "Your Majesty, let me tell you what more
Sanatkumara predicted.
     "He predicted that you will befriend the king of Anga and the king of Anga will beget a fortunate girl named Shanta.
     "He predicted that you would approach the king of Anga, known as Romapaada, (also known as Chitraratha), and tell him 'My friend, I am childless and hence I intend to perform a Vedic ritual.   Let the husband of your daughter  Shanta, viz. Sage Rishyasringa, preside over that Vedic ritual at your behest, for the sake of progeny in my dynasty'.
     "On hearing those words the benevolent Romapaada would most willingly agree to send the one who endows progeny by rituals, namely Sage Rishyasringa, his son-in-law.
     "Sage Sanatkumara  further added that there will be four sons to king Dasharatha who will abound with valour, enrich dynasty's reputation and will be renowned among all beings.
     "Your Majesty, as predicted by the Sage Sanatkumara, I suggest that you approach the King of Anga personally."
     King Dasharatha took the advice of his well-wisher.   As Brahmarishi Vasishta was his Rajaguru, he was the one who was to perform all rituals for the king.  To invite someone else to do it would be a gross violation of protocol.  However, in view of the extenuating  circumstances, the king felt that the Sage Vasishta would agree for Sage Rishyasringa, if he (Vasihta) was told about the extenuating  circumstances.  He, therefore asked Sumantra to tell Sage Vasishta whatever he (Sumantra) told him (Dasharata).  On hearing the same, Sage Vasishta gladly consented for the Sage Rishyasringa to perform the ritual.  After that, Dasharata went to the Anga Kingdom.  There king Romapada was immensely pleased to see his friend and paid excellent respects to king Dasharatha as a great mighty king and as a dear friend.  Then Romapada informed the wise sage Rishyasringa about the friendship and relation with Dasharatha, and then that sage worshipped king Dasharatha in return.
     Thus well received by king Romapada, king Dasharatha spent about a week with him.  Then he told the king Romapaada  "Oh, my friend, I desire that your daughter, Princess Shanta go over to my city Ayodhya along with her husband Rishyasringa, as I am contemplating to perform a great Vedic ritual."
     King Romapada agreed to the request of king Dasharatha.
     King Dasharatha thanked him and started for Ayodhya with the Sage Rishyasringa and his wife Shantha.  Before starting for Ayodhya, King Dasaratha sent a messenger to his ministers to inform them in advance of the arrival of the king along with the Sage Rishyasringa and his wife Shanta.
     All the citizens of Ayodhya were very happy to see that Brahman, Sage Rishyasringa, who was well honoured and led  into the city by their king Dasharatha, as has been done once by Indra when he entered with sage Kaashyapa's son Vamana, the dwarfish boy and the incarnation of Vishnu, into heavens, and thus those citizens felt that their human lord Dasharatha vied with divine lord Indra.
     Dasharatha led the sage into the palace chambers and worshipped him there as ordained in the scriptures, and in bringing the Sage here into his country, king Dasharatha believed that his desire would be fulfilled.  His wife Shanta was treated by one and all as their princess who had come on a visit to her parents' place with her husband.  Shanta was thus being admired by one and all of them, and in an exceptional manner by Dasharatha, comfortably resided there along with her husband, the Vedic scholar Rishyasringa.
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1 comment:

  1. So it seems like King Romapada and King Dasharatha were just friends. Any story on how they became friends?

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