  Tri?anku's speech the hundred heard, And thus replied, to anger stirred: “Why foolish King, by him denied, Whose truthful lips have never lied, Dost thou transgress his prudent rule, And seek, for aid, another school?235 IkshvÁku's sons have aye relied Most surely on their holy guide: Then how dost thou, fond Monarch, dare Transgress the rule his lips declare? “Thy wish is vain,” the saint replied, And bade thee cast the plan aside. Then how can we, his sons, pretend In such a rite our aid to lend? O Monarch, of the childish heart, Home to thy royal town depart. That mighty saint, thy priest and guide, At noblest rites may well preside: The worlds for sacrifice combined A worthier priest could never find.” Such speech of theirs the monarch heard, Though rage distorted every word, And to the hermits made reply: “You, like your sire, my suit deny. For other aid I turn from you: So, rich in penance, Saints, adieu!” Va?ish?ha's children heard, and guessed His evil purpose scarce expressed, And cried, while rage their bosoms burned, “Be to a vile Cha??Ála236 turned!” [pg 070]This said, with lofty thoughts inspired, Each to his own retreat retired. That night Tri?anku underwent Sad change in shape and lineament. Next morn, an outcast swart of hue, His dusky cloth he round him drew. His hair had fallen from his head, And roughness o'er his skin was spread. Such wreaths adorned him as are found To flourish on the funeral ground. Each armlet was an iron ring: Such was the figure of the king, That every counsellor and peer, And following townsman, fled in fear. Alone, unyielding to dismay, Though burnt by anguish night and day, Great Vi?vÁmitra's side he sought, Whose treasures were by penance bought. The hermit with his tender eyes Looked on Tri?anku's altered guise, And grieving at his ruined state Addressed him thus, compassionate: “Great King,” the pious hermit said, “What cause thy steps has hither led, AyodhyÁ's mighty Sovereign, whom A curse has plagued with outcast's doom?” In vile Cha??Ála237 shape, the king Heard Vi?vÁmitra's questioning, And, suppliant palm to palm applied, With answering eloquence he cried: “My priest and all his sons refused To aid the plan on which I mused. Failing to win the boon I sought, To this condition I was brought. I, in the body, Saint, would fain A mansion in the skies obtain. I planned a hundred rites for this, But still was doomed the fruit to miss. Pure are my lips from falsehood's stain, And pure they ever shall remain,— Yea, by a Warrior's faith I swear,— Though I be tried with grief and care. Unnumbered rites to Heaven I paid, With righteous care the sceptre swayed; And holy priest and high-souled guide My modest conduct gratified. But, O thou best of hermits, they Oppose my wish the
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