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Arter Savari had repaired unto heaven by virtue of her divine prowess, Rama with his brother Lakshmana began to ponder over the pious influence of those great ascetics. Thinking within himself about the divine authority of those great ones, the virtuous-souled Rama spake unto Lakshmana, devoted and ever engaged in his well-being —“Beheld have I, O gentle one, the wondrous asylum of the pure-souled ascetics filled with diverse birds and tigers rambling friendly with antelopes. O Lakshmana, we have performed ablutions in the sacred waters of these seven seas and offered oblations unto our manes. Our misfortunes have ended and prosperity hath appeared and my mind is now filled with

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ecstacy of delight. Me-thinks, O best of men, auspiciousness shall soon appear unto us ; do thou come, therefore, we shall proceed towards the picturesque lake Pamp&. Yon appeareth in view, at no distance, the mount Rishyamuka. Here dwells with four monkeys, the virtuous-souled Sugriva— Suryya’s son, in constant fear of Vali. I am in a hurry to behold Sugriva the best of monkeys, for my business—Sita’s quest—is entirely at his hands.” Unto the heroic Rama, speaking thus, Saumitri said.—Let us depart soon, I am in haste too.” Issuing out of Matanga’s asylum, the mighty Rama, lord of men, repaired with Lakshmana to the-lake Pampa. Exercised with grief, he arrived at the bank of that best of lakes, beholding (as he passed along), vaious trees and pools, the mighty forest covered on all sides with huge trees and flowers and resounding with the noise of lapwings, peacocks, woodpeckers and various other birds and rattling of the bamboos. Beholding, from distance, Pamp& of sweet, cool and pure water, Rama performed ablution at the Matanga Sara (a portion of Pamp&) and paced slowly towards the lake. Thereupon Dagaratha’s son, stricken with grief, bathed in Pampa covered with lotuses. It was adorned on all sides with Zilakas, Asokas, Punagas, Uddalas and Vakulas. It was a lake girt on all sides with pictueresque gardens, having its waters undulating beautifully and transparent like unto crystal, and covered all around with soft sands. It was filled with fish and tortoise, adorned with trees on its banks, encircled with creepers embracing her like companions and frequented by Gandharbas, Kinnaras, serpents, Yakshas and R&shasas. It was covered with trees and creepers of various kind, of cool water, and enveloped with beauty. It was, sumewhere, of red hue, in contact with water lillies, somewhere white with Kumudas, somewhere blue with blue lotuses like unto a blanket of diverse hues. It was filled with white and red lotuses and encircled with blossoming riangoe groves and resounding

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with the music of the peacocks. Beholding Pampa, ornamented like a damsel with Zr/akas, Bijapuras,() fig-trees, Sukladrumas,®) flowery Karazvis, blossoming Punnagas,, groves of Afalati( and Aunda,@) VandhirasO NichulasG Asokas, Saptaparuas,(s) Ketakas,() Atimuktas,©) and various others trees, Rama the mighty son of Dagaratha began to lament with Lakshmana. ‘There stands on its bank the mount Rishyamuka, abounding in various metals and covered with trees of varieagated flowers as mentioned before ‘by Kavandha). There dwelleth the famous lord of monkeys, Sugriva, the heroic son of the great Rikshyaraja. O best of men, do thou approach the chief of monkeys.” Rama, having truth for his prowess, again spake unto Lakshmana, saying, “O Lakshmana, how shall I live without Sita, who have -been deprived of my kingdom, who am poorly and have Sita for my life?” Having said this unto Lakshmana, who had nothing else in view, that best of Raghus, racked with sorrow and grief and oppressed by Cupid, entered the lake Pampa graced with lotuses. Proceeding slowly, observing the forest, Rama beheld ani entered with Lakshmana Pampi, girt on all sides with beautiful woods and filled with a multitude of diverse birds. fa Common citren—Lat?, (Citrus-medica).—T, [a Lat. (Sympleces racemesa).—T. Ce} Great-flowered Jasmine—Lat. (Fasminum Grandifiorum).—T. (d) A kind of Jasmine— Lat, CF. Multiforum).—T (ee? Lat. (Memisa Sirista).—T. {f_ Lat. (Rarringtonia Acutangula\ —T, feo Lat, CAN aia Scivlaris\. —T. Cr (Pandanus Odoratissiemi).—T. Lat, (Gaertnera Racenisit).—T. Inn oF THE ARANYAKANDAM,