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"Puereuron Rama and Lakshmana, sons of a kingly father, passing along the way, pointed out by Kavandha, leading to the lake Pampa, proceeded towards the West. They wending their way desirous of seeing Sugriva, there came within the compass of their vision many trees, grown on the summits of the mountains, blossoming with flowers and abounding in fruits tasting sweet like unto honey. Passing the night on the summit of a hill those two descendants of Raghu arrived at the western bank of Pamp& and espied the pleasant asylum of Savars.. Getting at that charming hermitage covered on all sides with trees and casting their looks around they beheld that female mendicant— Savari. No sooner had that one of perfect asceticism beheld those highly intelligent Rama and Lakshmana than she rose up with folded hands and touching their feet offered them duly water for washing their feet and mouth. Thereupon Rama spake unto that female ascetic, engaged in religious services, saying, “O thou of sweet accents, hast thou got all hindrances to asceticism removed? Is thy asceticism growing stronger every day? O thou having asceticism for thy wealth, hast thou restricted thy anger and fare? Hast thou observed the commandments and attained to mental felicity? Hast thy attendance upon thy spiritual guide borne fruits?” Being thus accosted by R&ma that old Savari, of accomplished asceticism and recognised by the Sidhas, approaching Rama spake :—Favoured with thy presence my asceticism hath attained to its consummation. Blessed is my birth, fruitful is my service unto my spiritual guides and accomplished is my asceticism. O best of men, thou art the foremost of celestials ; worshipping thee I attain to the abode of deities. O gentle one, O

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slayer of foes, O thou that dost confer honors on men, thyself casting thy auspicious looks upon me, consecrated I, by thy favour, shall attain to the imperishable land of celestials. On thy setting foot on the mount Chitrakuta, the ascetics whom I served, ascending celestial cars of incomparable lustre, departed to heaven. Those great ascetics, cognizant of virtue, said to me, “Rama shall come to thy holy asylum.” Do thou receive with great reverence that guest together with Lakshmana. On beholding him, thou shalt attain to that best land of the celestials whence none returtieth. -O best of men, I was thus told. by those great ascetics, and for thee I have collected various wild fruits growing on the banks of Pampa.” Being thus addressed by Savart, the virtnous-souled Raghava spake unto her conversant with the knowledge of past and future, saying, “I have heard from Danu, in truth, about thy divine authority as well as that of thy spiritual guides. If thou purposest so I wish to witness it with my own eyes.’ Hearing thcse accents dropping from R4&ma’s lips, Savari showing unto them the vast forest said, “Do thou behold, O Raghava, this forest, crowded with deer and birds resembling a dense cloud. This forest is known as Matanga’s wood. Here in this forest the puresouled preceptors sacrificed unto fire their persons consecrated by the Mantras as Mantra itself. This is that altar Pratyaksthat?, ascending which my worshipful preceptors used to offer flowers unto the deities with hands trembling with toil. Behold, O best of Raghus, this altar of incomparable beauty, by virtue of their asceticism, hath been still shedding its lustre on all the sides. Behold, again, the seven seas have appeared here in conjunction, at their very thought, worn out with fasts and therefore incapable of moving on. Even those barks, which they used to place on these trees after ablution have not yet been dried up. These flowers, of blue colour which they offered unto the deities, being engaged in divine services, have not yet been withered ©

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away. Thou hast observed this entire forest and heard every thing worth hearing. I purpose now to renounce my body being commanded by thee. I wish to approach those purc-souled ascetics, whom I used to wait upon, and whom these asylums belong tv. Hearing with Lakshmana the speech of that pious one, Rama gained an excess of joy and exclaiming, “Wonderful it is!’ again spake unto Saeveri of keen austerities—"O gentle one, I have been worshipped by thee. Do thou repair at thy ease and pleasure.” Being thus addressed and ordered by Rima, Savers, wearing matted locks, rags and the skin of an antelope, surrendered herself unto fire and rose high up in the welkin like unto blazing fire. Adorned with celestial ornaments, wreathed with celestial garlands, sprinkled with sandal-paste and wearing celestial cloth she appeared of exquisite grace and lighted up the quarters like unto lightning. By virtue of her devout meditation, Savar? repaired to that holy region where dwelt her spiritual preceptors—the pure-hearted ascetics.