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Bane thus requested by the high-souled Lakshmana, Sumantra began to reveal the mystery of Durbas&’s account. “In the days of yore the great ascetic Durbasa, the son of Atri, resided for a year inthe holy hermitage of Vasishtha. At that time thy sire, the highly effulgent and illustrious Dagaratha, -with a view to see his high-souled priest Vasishtha, repaired there. He saw the great ascetic Durbasa,

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burning like the sun in his effulgence, seated on the right hand side of Vasishtha. Thereupon he humbly saluted those two leading ascetics. And they too, welcoming him, received him duly with seat, water to wash feet, Arghya, fruits and roots. Then he lived there in the company of the ascetics. Thereupon during the noon, all those ascetics, seated there, began to dwell upon various pleasant topics. During an interval Dacaratha, with folded hands and uplifted arms, said to the high-souled son of Atri—Durbas4, having asceticism for his wealth. “O illustrious Sir, how long shall my family remain in existence ? What isthe extent of the lease of life granted to Rama and my other sons? How long shall the descendants of Rama live? And what shall be the end of my race ? Do thou relate all this unto me.” Hearing the words of the king Dagaratha the highly effulgent Durbasa replied :—‘‘Hear, the early history, O king. During the encounter between the -celestials and Asuras, the demons, being remonstrated with by the celestials sought shelter of the wife of Vrigu—thy priest. Vrigu’s wife having promised them help they lived there fearlessly. Having beheld the demons thus helped by Vrigu’s wife, Hari, the king of the celestials, enraged, chopped off her head with his sharp discus. And angry on beholding his wife slain, Vrigu, imprecated a curse on Vishnu, the slayer of enemies’ race, saying—Being beside thyself with anger thou hast slain my wife, not worthy of being killed ; therefore, O Janarddana, thou shalt be born in the region of mortals. And there thou shalt remain separated from thy spouse for many long years.” Having imprecated this curse, Vrigu was greatly pained and being propitiated by his adoration, Vishnu, fond of disciples, said :—‘Having slain Ravana and others, I shall be, for the behoof of mankind, subject to this imprecation.” -O bestower of kings, the highly effulgent Vishnu, thus imprecated by Vrigu in the days of yore, hath been born as thy son in this birth and hath been celebrated under the

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appellation of Rama. O conferer of honors, for sooth shall Rama partake of the fruits of Vrigu’s curse. He shall reign in Ayodhya for a long time. All his followers shall be happy and prosperous. Having reigned for eleven thousand years Rama shall repair to the region of Brahm&. None shall be able to vanquish him. He shall celebrate many a horse-sacrifice with profuse gifts and shall establish many royal families. He shall beget on Sit& two sons.” Having thus related unto Dagaratha the past and future of his family the highly effulgent great ascetic Durbasa became silent. He being silent—the great King Dagaratha, having bowed unto the two high-souled ascetics, again returned to his city Ayodhya. I had heard there all these words of the great ascetic Durbasa. Up to this time they are lying in my heart. Rishis’ words shall never prove fruitless. According to the words of Rishi Rama shall install two sons of Siti in Ayodhya, not anywhere else. Under these circumstances, O Lakshmana, theu shouldst not grieve for Sita or Rama; in their interest do~thou — become patient.” Hearing those wonderous words of the’ charioteer Sumantra, Lakshmana became greatly happy ~ and eulogised him again and again? They thus conversing with one another on their way back, the sun set. They accordingly spent that night on the banks of Kesini. ~.