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As the high-souled Raghava was dwelling there peacefully, after autumn had departed, the welcome winter commenced. And it came to pass that once on atime, when the night had passed away and day broke, that son of Raghu went to the romantic river Godavari for performing his bath. And as the humble son of Sumitra. R&ma’s puissant brother bearing a water pitcher in his hand was following Rama along with Sit& at his back, the former said unto Rama, “O sweetspeeched one, now is come that season which thou hast ever held dear ; and as if decorated by which comeson the entire auspicious year. Now people havetheir persons rendered rough from dew; the earth is replenished with corn; water is difficult of being used; and fire becomes enjoyable. And men having worshipped the gods and the Pitris by celebrating Agrayana on the occasion of partaking new rice, have at this season, their sins purged off. The provinces overflow with food, and abound in milk and articles prepared therefrom; and kings bent on conquest, range about for surveying

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them. And on the sun having veered steadily to the quarter presided over by the Destroyer*, the north appears like a female without her ¢7/akat. Naturally abounding in snow, and now having the sun at a great distance, the mountain Himavan{ justly beareth that name. At miday the days are delightful to a degree to range in, feel highly agreeable, and have pleasant suns; while shade and water are uncomfortable. And the days now have mild suns, are covered with dew, severely cold, with the forests remaining idle§, and the lotuses destroyed by frost. And now at night people cannot lie down in unsheltered places; and the nights are inferred from the presence of Pushy&. And at night the atmosphere (being covered with vapour) looks brown ; and it is bitter cold then; and the hours are long. And the good fortune of the Moon hath fallen to the Sun; and the disc of the former is reddish with vapour; and like unto a glass breathed upon, it doth not shine clearly. And the moonlight furnished by vapour doth not appear pleasant; and like Sita ‘ pallid because of (exposure to) sunshine, is perceptible, but doth not look beauteous. And at this season the western wind naturally of gelid feel, being permeated at present with cold, blows with double coldness. And the forests enveloped in mist, and stocked with wheat and barley, look brilliant at sunrise, with Kraunchas and cranes crying (in chorus). Golden-hued paddy slightly inclined, appear graceful, with their heads like unto date-flowers filled with rice. And the sun although high advanced, yet having its rays covered with thick mist, appeareth like the moon. And feeble at the first part of the day, and of agreeable touch at mid-day, * i. e—The South.—T. + A mark made with colored earths or unguents upon the forehead and between the eye-brows either by way of ornament or a sectarial distinction.—T. $ Himavan means having snow.—T. § ‘Of autres vast and deserts idle.’ Othello. Although not in common use, the word is very picturesque, and hence the adoption.—T.

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the sunshine, being surcharged with mist, appeareth palish over the face of the earth. And in the woods, swards covered with green grass, and with dew-drops on it, look handsome on the morning sun brightening it up. Ani wild elephants waxing exceedingly thirsty, draw away their trunks, just as they touch beautifully clear and cold water. .\nd those aquatic fowls seated by, do not dip themselves in the water, like unto cravens shunning fight. And the rows of trees, shorn of their blossoms, on being enveloped with dew at night and mist at morn, look as if they were fast asleep. And the streams appear with their waters enveloped in vapour,and the cranes, perceived through their cries, and their banks having their sands wet. And what on account of the snow-fall, what of the mildness of the sun, and what through the cold, water even when it is on a mountain top, tastes sweet. And lotuses afflicted by the cold, with the stalks only left, and with their petals dropping down and their pericarps and filaments shrivelled up, do not appear beautiful. And, O foremost of men, at this season, influenced by regard for thee, Bharata undergoing affliction of spirit, is performing mortifications in the city. And forsaking kingdom, and dignity, and the many and various enjoyments, Bharata practising asceticism and restraining himself in respect of food, in this winter lieth down on the bare earth. And he also, for certain, at this hour of the day, surrounded by his subjects, daily wendeth to the river Sarayu for performing his ablutions. Brought up in luxury, and exceedingly tender, how can he, afflicted with cold, perform his ablutions during the latter part of the night? Of eyes resembling lotus petals, greyhued, endued with grace, with a navel depressed, and mighty, Bharata understandeth righteousness, is truth-speaking, of restrained senses (in respect of others’ wives) and also of subdued senses. And he speaketh fair, and is sweet-tempered, and long-armed and the vanquisher of foes. And renouncing various pleasures, he hath devoted himself unto the noble

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one. Thy high-souled brother hath secured heaven, si he, resorting to asceticism, is imitating thee that residen the woods. The saying that people follow their mo and not their father, is falsified in the caseof Bharata. |} can mother Kaikeyi, whose husband is Dagaratha and son righteous Bharata, have such crooked way?” As the virtt Lakshmana was speaking thus from affection, Ragh not bearing the blame cast upon his mother (Kaikeyi), s ‘‘My brother, thou shouldst by no means, tax our sec mother. Do thou talk of that lord of the Ikshwa&ku r Bharata. Albeit my mind is firm as regards my sojour the woods, yet is my mind unsteady, being inflamed \ affection for Bharata. I remember his dear sweet we taking the heart, resembling ambrosia, filling the soul \ delight. When shall I, O son of Raghu, meet with the h souled Bharata, and the heroic Satrughna, and thysel Having bewailed thus, Kakutstha, coming to the river G vari, there performed his ablutions in company with younger brother and Sita. Then having offered his ad tions with water unto the gods and the Pitris, those sin ones hymed the risen sun as well as the celestials. Hay with Sita as the second and Lakshmana, performed his b Rama looked beautiful like that lord the reverend Rudr. company with Nandi and the daughter of the king of mouta