Part 14 (2/2)

If these rites and sacrifices move thy favour and thy grace, Grant me offspring, Prayer-Maiden, worthy of my n.o.ble race!”

”Have thy object,” spake the maiden, ”Madra's pious-hearted king, From SWAYMBHU, Self-created, blessings unto thee I bring!

For HE lists to mortal's prayer springing from a heart like thine, And HE wills,--a n.o.ble daughter grace thy famed and royal line!

Aswapati, glad and grateful, take the blessing which I bring, Part in joy and part in silence, bow unto Creation's King!”

Vanished then the Prayer-Maiden, and the king of n.o.ble fame, Aswapati, Lord of coursers, to his royal city came,

Days of hope and nights of gladness Madra's happy monarch pa.s.sed, Till his queen of n.o.ble offspring gladsome promise gave at last!

As the moon each night increaseth, chasing darksome nightly gloom, Grew the unborn babe in splendour in its happy mother's womb,

And in fulness of the season came a girl with lotus-eye, Father's hope and joy of mother, gift of kindly G.o.ds on high!

And the king performed its birth-rites with a glad and grateful mind, And the people blessed the dear one with their wishes good and kind,

As _Savitri_, Prayer-Maiden, had the beauteous offspring given, Brahmans named the child _Savitri_, holy gift of bounteous Heaven!

Grew the child in brighter beauty like a G.o.ddess from above, And each pa.s.sing season added fresher sweetness, deeper love,

Came with youth its lovelier graces, as the buds their leaves unfold, Slender waist and rounded bosom, image as of burnished gold,

_Deva-Kanya!_ born a G.o.ddess, so they said in all the land, Princely suitors struck with splendour ventured not to seek her hand!

Once upon a time it happened on a bright and festive day, Fresh from bath the beauteous maiden to the altar came to pray,

And with cakes and pure libations duly fed the Sacred Flame, Then like SRI in heavenly radiance to her royal father came,

Bowed unto his feet in silence, sacred flowers beside him laid, And her hands she folded meekly, sweetly her obeisance made,

With a father's pride, upon her gazed the ruler of the land, But a strain of sadness lingered, for no suitor claimed her hand.

”Daughter,” whispered Aswapati, ”now, methinks, the time is come, Thou shouldst choose a princely suitor, grace a royal husband's home,

Choose thyself a n.o.ble husband worthy of thy n.o.ble hand, Choose a true and upright monarch, pride and glory of his land,

As thou choosest, gentle daughter, in thy loving heart's desire, Blessing and his free permission will bestow thy happy sire!

For our sacred _sastras_ sanction, holy Brahmans oft relate, That the duty-loving father sees his girl in wedded state,

That the duty-loving husband watches o'er his consort's ways, That the duty-loving offspring tends his mother's widowed days,

Therefore choose a loving husband, daughter of my house and love, So thy father earn no censure or from men or G.o.ds above!”

Fair Savitri bowed unto him, and for parting blessings prayed, Then she left her father's palace, and in distant regions strayed,

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