We all know that Dasaratha had four sons and they are central to the theme of Ramayanam. But Dasaratha’s daughter Santa has not attracted as much attention as his sons. Santa was Dasaratha’s first child – her mother was Kausalya. She was born much before the sons.
King Lomapada of Anga was a close friend and ally of Dasaratha. He was childless. On one occasion seeing Santa, Lomapada makes an unusual request to Dasaratha. He wanted to adopt Santa as his daughter. Dasaratha realised the woes of his childless friend and was quick to allow Lomapada to adopt Santa. The ruler of Anga king brought her up with great affection and would later give her to Rishyasringa in marriage. Rishyasringa is the sage who conducted the famous Puthrakameshti yaga which helped Dasaratha father his great sons.
The following passage is from the English translation of Valmiki Ramayana by Ralph T. H. Griffith. It appears in the part where the proposal for Putrakameshti yaga is being made.
Of famed Ikshvakus line shall spring
(Twas thus he spoke) a pious king,
Named Dasaratha, good and great,
True to his word and fortunate.
He with the Angas’ mighty lord
Shall ever live in sweet accord,
And his a daughter fair shall be,
Santa of happy destiny.
But Lomapad the Angas’ chief,
Still pining in his childless grief,
To Dasaratha thus shall say :
“give me thy daughter, friend, I pray,
Thy Santa of the tranquil mind,
The noblest one of womankind.”
The father, swift to feel for woe,
Shall on his friend his child bestow;
And he shall take her and depart
To his own town with joyous heart.
The maiden home in triumph led,
To Rishyasring the king shall wed.