Page:Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists.djvu/57

 in reward for their good tidings, and all men with delighted minds repaired to their homes and worshipped the gods.

Then again the king sent for Rāma and held converse with him. "My son," he said, "I shall install thee to-morrow as heir-apparent; for I am old and have dreamt ill dreams, and the astrologers inform me that my life-star is threatened by the planets Sun and Mars and Rāhu. Therefore do thou, with Sītā, from the time of sunset, observe a fast, well guarded by thy friends. I would have thee soon installed, for the hearts even of the virtuous change by the influence of natural attachments, and none knoweth what may come to pass." Then Rāma left his father and sought his mother in the inner rooms. He found her in the temple, clad in silk, worshipping the gods and praying for his welfare. There, too, were Lakshman and Sītā. Rāma reverenced his mother, and asked her to prepare whatever should be necessary for the night of fasting, for himself and Sītā. Turning then to Lakshman, "Do thou rule the Earth with me," he said, "for this is thy good fortune not less than mine. My life and kingdom I desire only because of thee." Then Rāma went with Sītā to his own quarters, and thither Vāshishtha also went to bless the fast.

All that night the streets and highways of Ayodhyā were crowded with eager men; the tumult and the hum of voices sounded like the ocean's roar when the moon is full. The streets were cleaned and washed, and hung with garlands and strings of flags and banners; lighted lamps were set on branching cressets. The name of Rāma was on every man's lips, and all were expectant of the morrow, while Rāma kept the fast within.