Of Daśaratha naught he said.

Vaśishṭha and the prince in turn

Would of the hermit's welfare learn:

Of holy fires they fain would hear,

Of pupils, trees, and birds, and deer.

The glorious saint his answer made

That all was well in holy shade:

Then love of Ráma moved his breast,

And thus he questioned of his guest:

“Why art thou here, O Prince, whose band