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; . j Besorpine Sita thus wailing, the sons of the Rishis there speedily approached the great Valmiki, well-established in asceticism. And saluting him they all communicated unto him Sita’s bewailings and said, ‘O great sir, we do not know the wife of what great man, beautifnl like the very Lakshmi, and not seen before, is crying aloud very poorly? It is better that thou shouldst see her once. That beautiful damsel, like a goddess falling from heaven being bewildered, is waiting on the banks of the river. We saw her alone crying aloud being overwhelmed with sorrow and grief as if she had none to look after her. A damsel like her should not be subject to such a condition. She did not appear to us to be a woman. Do thou receive her duly. She is near the hermitage and so hath come to seek thy shelter. O illustrious Sir, she is on the look out for a protector—do thou protect her.” The pious Valmiki could perceive every thing by virtue of his asceticism; and ascertaining the truth of the words of the Rishi boys by the power of his understanding, he, with quick steps, approached Siti. And the disciples followed that high-minded ascetic. Thereupon proceeding a little on foot with Arghya in his hands, the wise VAlmiki reached the banks of the river and saw that Raghava’s spouse was bewailing like a helpless woman, Having gladdened a little the aggrieved Sité by virtue of his own effulgence the great ascetic Valmiki addressed her in following sweet accents ‘“O chaste damsel, thou art the daughter-in-law of Dagaratha, the beloved wife of Rama and the daughter of Janaka; thy coming here is 217

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auspicious. I am apprized, by virtue of asceticism and meditation, of the object of thy coming here. O great lady, I am also fully aware that thou art by all means chaste. In fact I am conscious of all the incidents in the three worlds. By the eyes of asceticism, I perceive, O daughter of Janaka, that thou art innocent. Thou hast come under my shelter, O Vaidehi—be thou consoled. O. child, the pious: ascetics live around my hermitage. They shall daily take care of thee as their daughter. Do thou accept this Arghya now, und confiding in me do thou remove thy grief. Be not sorry for anything; consider that thou hast come to thy own home.” Hearing the wonderful words of the great ascetic, Sita humbly touched his feet andsaid “ Thy desire shall be fulfilled.” Saying this, she, with folded hands, followed the ascetic. Beholding the great ascetic and Sita approach, the wives, of the Rishis, delighted neared them and _ said:—“‘ Do thou come, O foremost of Rishis, thou hast arrived here after a long time. We all bow unto thee—do thou order what we shall do.” Hearing their words the great Valmiki replied in worthy accents— * This Sita is the wife of the intelligent Rama, the daughterin-law of Dagaratha and the daughter of Janaka. She has now come to our hermitage. She istchaste and innocent, still her husband hath renounced her. So we should all protect her. She is worthy of your reverence—specially while such is the order of mine—your preceptor. So, do ye all, take care of her with great affection.” Having consigned the charge of Sita unto the hands of the female ascetics, the great and illustrious ascetic Valmiki, followed by his disciples, speedily proceeded towards his holy hermitage.