p. 445

Then going out of the mountain, the Lord of Kogcala showed unto Mithil&’s daughter the charming stream Mand&- kini of excellent waters. And Rama, furnished with eyes resembling lotuses, addressed the daughter of king Videha, transcendentally beautiful, with a countenance like the fair moon, saying, “Behold the river Mandakini, having variegated islets ; beautiful ; frequented by ducks and cranes ; and filled with flowers ; covered with diverse trees bearing fruits and flowers ; and looking graceful all ‘round like Saugandhika herself of Kuvera. And the waters rendered muddy in consequence of herds of deer drinking of them, as wellas the graceful descents unto the river, fill me with pleasure. And, my beloved, sages wearing matted locks and deer-skins, with

p. 446

barks for their sheets, are in season performing their ablutions in the river Mandakini. And observing rules, persons raising up their arms, are worshipping the sun, and, O thou of expansive eyes, after these appear ascetics following vows, (engaged in Fapa). And the hill seems to dance on the wind swaying the tops of trees; and on both sides of the river, the trees are crowned with flowers and leaves. And behold the river Mandakini, somewhere with its waters resembling pearls, and somewhere with islets, and somewhere filled with persons who have attained emancipation. O thou of slender waist, behold these hosts of flowers spreading along, and others dipping themselves (in the stream). And, O auspicious one, behold these sweet-throated birds, the Chakravakas, getting upon the islets, uttering pleasant notes. Methinks, O beauteous one, the sight of Chitrakuta and of Mandakini is even more delightful than life in the metropolis, or the sight of thy own self. Do thou like unto her companion perform thy bath with me in this stream, whose waters are perpetually stirred by emancipated ones, furnished with asceticism, self-restraint, and contro! over the senses, who have had their sins removed. Do thou, O Sit&, perform thy ablutions in the Mandakini, scattering at the sametime, O girl, red and white lotuses. Do thou, my wife, always consider the wild animals as citizens, the mountain as Ayodhyd, and this stream asthe Sarayu. The virtuous Lakshmana is ever obedient to my commands; and, O Videha’s daughter, thou also art favourable to me. This causes delight in my heart. Bathing thrice (in this river), and living on tasteful fruits and roots, 1 in thy company do not today wish either for Ayodhya or royalty. Bathing in this beauteous stream agitated by herds of elephants, whose waters are drunk by elephants, lions and monkeys,—which is graced with flowers, and which is decked with multitudes of blossoms, there is no one who has not his fatigue removed, and who does not feel exhilarated.” Having thus along with

p. 447

his beloved one, spoken variously regarding the stream, that perpetuator of the Raghu race, Rima, began to range the charming Chitrakata, resembling the collyrium in hue.