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Next morning Rama, being present in the sacrificial ground and having sent forthe Rishis, Vasishtha, Vamadeva Javali, Kashyapa, Viswamitra, carrying on penances for a long time, Durvasa, Pulastya of hard austerities, Salastri, Vargava, Markandaya living long, the highly ifustrious Madgalya, Gargya, Chyavana, Satananda, conversent with religions, effulgent Varadwaya, Agnis’son Vasuprava, Narada, Parvata, the great Gautama and other ascetics of firm vows, assembled with minds possessed by curiosity. The highly powerful Rakshasas and monkeys also came there out of curiosity. Besides thousands and thousands of Kshatryas, Vaisyas, Sudras and Brahmans of firm penances, also hailed there from various parts to witness Sita’s trial. Having arrived there they all sat down motionless like mountains. Thereupon, Valmiki, the foremost of ascetics, speedily came there accompanied by Sita. With her face downwards, folded’ palms, eyes full of tears and meditating upon Rama in her mind, Sita, following the Rishi, came before the assembly. There arose a great uproar of eulogy from the assembly when they saw Sita following Valmiki like unto Sruti following Brahma. Thereupon members, stricken with sorrow, made a tumultuous sound. Amongst the visitors some praised Rama, some praised Sita and others eulogised both of them. Thereupon having entered that huge assemblage in company of Sita, the great ascetic Valmiki addressed Rama, saying :— “O son of Dagaratha, in fear of calumny, thou didst renounce her near my hermitage, albeit Sita is pure and follows the ways of morality. O Rama of firm vows, thou art afraid of the censure of the people. Sita has becoming willing to give testimony (of her purity) for removing the calumny of

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the public ; do thou mercifully give her permission in this. I tell you the truth, O Rama, that these irrepressible twin brothers are your sons, O descendant of Raghu. I am the tenth son of Prachetd, so, far from speaking untruth it does not even spring up in my mind. I therefore know the truth that these twins are thy sons. I have performed austere penances for many thousand years; I now swear before thee, that if this Maithili is found touched by any sin I shall not reap the fruitiof my ascetic observances extending over many thousand years. I have never perpetrated before a crime, either in my mind, body, or speech. If Maithili is found divested of sin I may then partake of the fruits of piety. O descendant of Raghu, finding Sita pure in mind and five elements of body I took her near the spring in the forest. Besides this Sita, of pure ways, divested of sins and ever considering her husband as deity, shall give testimony this day. Thou hast been afraid of the public calumny. O son of a king, thy mind being possessed by the fear of public scandal, thou didst renounce this Sita of a pure character.and always regarding her husband asa god; I came to know this by virtue of my discriminative knowledge.”