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Is this wise, the monkeys, bears and Rakshasas spent their days in Ayodhya. Thereupon the highly effulgent Rama, the descendant of Raghu said to Sugriva :—“ O gentle one, proceeding tothe city of Kishkindha, hard to be got at by the celestials and Asuras, do thou reign there undisturbed with thy councillors. O thou having long arms, always look towards Angada, with loving eyes. Do thou, O Sugriva, protect lovingly the highly powerful Hanuman, Nala, thy father-in-law Sushena, the mighty Tara, irrepressible Kumada, the powerful Neela, the heroic Satabali, Mainda, Dwivida, Gaya, Gavaksha, Gavaya, Sarava, the irrespressible and powerful king of bears Jamvaban, Gandhamadana, valiant Rishava, Supatala, Keshari, Sarabha and Sumbha—these and other heroic monkeys who dedicated their lives to my service. Do thou never act to ther displeasure.” Having said this and embraced Sugriva again and again Rama addressed Bibhishana with sweet accents. ‘I know, thou art cognizant of piety; the citizens, thy councillors and thy brother Kuvera also love thee; do thou therefore go and govern Lanka piously, O king; never cherish any vile intention; the honest kings always enjoy

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the earth. And my only request to thee, O king, is that thou mayst with love remember me and Sugriva. Do thou now proceed, divested of sorrow.” Hearing the words of Rama, the bears, monkeys and Rakshasas repeatedly exclaimed glory unto Rama and said “O Rama, having long arms, thy understanding resembleth that of the Self-Sprung, thy prowess is equally wonderful and thy beauty is also par excellence.’ The monkeys and Rakshasas having said this, Hanuman bowing, said unto Rama “May my loving reverence be always in thee, O king; may my devotion unto thee remain unshaken, O hero; and may my mind be not attached unto any other thing. May my ‘life remain in my body as long as the stories of Rama shall _ be in currency on earth. Let not this prove otherwise. O foremost of men, O descendant of Raghu, may the Apsaras make me always hear of thy themes. O hero, as the winds scatter the clouds so I shall remove my anxiety by listening to thy nectar-like themes.” After Hanuman had said this, _ Rama rose up from his throne and having embraced Hanuman affectionately said, “O foremost of monkeys, what thou hast said, shall undoubtedly be carried out into action. As long as my stories shall be current on earth thy fame shall exist and life shall be in thy body. And as long as the world shall exist my themes shall be related. I cannot, even at the sacrifice of my life, release myself from the debts of one good service out of the many, thou hast done for me, O monkey ; and I shall for ever remain indebted to thee for thy last benefaction. Or let them wear out in me, for men, at the time of danger, become worthy of having their benefits returned.” Having said this, Rama took off from his neck a chain set with sapphires brilliant as the rays of the moon and placed it round the neck of Hanuman. Like unto the mountain Sumeru beautified by the rising of the moon on its summit, Hanum§n, the foremost of monkeys, appeared graceful with the chain placed on his breast. And

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hearing the words of Raghava, the highly powerful monkeys, one by one, saluted Rama, touching his feet and went away. Both Sugriva and the virtuous-souled Bibhishana embraced Rama and three of them were beside themselves with tears. And other monkeys and Rakshasas were all moved with tears and sorrow to take leave of Rama. Having received favours thus from the high-souled Raghava the monkeys went away to their own houses like-unto bodied creatures leaving off their bodies. Thereupon the Rakshasas, bears, . monkeys, having bowed unto Rama, the glory of the Raghu family and with their eyes full of tears consequent upon his separation, went away to the countries from which they had hailed.