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Heearinc the words of the great saint, Rama, to perform the evening adoration, went to the pond filled with Apsaras ; and having performed the worship he again retured to the hermitage of the high-souled Agastya. Thereupon the great ascetic offered him as food many substantial Kanda, roots, Oshadis and the holy Sali rice. And taking that nectar-like cooked rice, Rama, the foremost of men, was greatly delighted and spent the night there. Having got up in the morning and performed the necessary ceremonies he approached the ascetic to bid farewell, and saluting him said :— O great Rishi, I do crave for thy permission to go to my own habitation. Dothou permit me. O high-souled one, I have been highly favoured and blessed hy beholding thee. I shall come again some other time to free myself from sins.” Hearing those wondrous words of Rama, Agastya having asceticism for his wealth, delightedly said:—“O Rama these words, set in charming letters, are highly wonderful. O descendant of Raghu, thou art the purifier of all creatures. O Rama, one, who beholds thee, even for a moment, becomes pure and worthy of repairing to heaven. Even the leading deities worship him. Those on earth,who cast dreadful looks on thee, are immediately brought under the contro}. of Yama and are constrained to go to hell. O foremost of Raghus, thou art the purifier of all creatures ; people become perfect even if they only chant thy glorjes. Kakutstha, do thou now go with ease and fearlessly, and govern thy kingdom righteously. O Rama thou art the refuge of the world.” Hearing the words of the great and truthful Rishi the. wise Rama, with folded hands, saluted him and other

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Rishis,and with serene air ascended the golden car Pushpaka. Like unto the immortals. welcoming the Chief of the deities, the Rishis showered blessings upon Rama from all sides while he was proceeding. And seated on car, he appeared like the moon, after the expiry of the rainy season. Thereupon being welcomed by the villagers on his way he reached Ayodhy& at noon and descended at the middle apartment. And having permitted the charming chariot coursing at will, ‘to go away he said :—‘Do thou now go; may good betide thee.” Thereupon he said to the warder, ‘'Dothou speedily go and having communicated my arrival unto Lakshmana ‘and Bharata bring them here.” SECTEON cxrvr. ee ee Acccorpine to the command of Rama of unwearied actions, the warders went to the princes and communcated unto them (the arrival). Beholding Bharata and Lakshmana present, Rima embracéd them and said :—“I have, as promised, performed the work of the excellent twice-born one. I wish now to perform a Rajshuya sacrifice, the source of religious glory, the destroyer of all sins, inexhaustible and un-ending. Therefore, with you like my own self, I wish to engage in the most excellent and eternal Rajshuya sacrifice. O slayer of foes, by celebrating Rajshuya, Mitra attained to the dignity of Varuna. And having celebrated ‘the same sacrifice, Soma, conversant with piety, established eternal fame in the three worlds. Do ye therefore consult with

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me even today as to what is proper. Do ye consider carefully and tell me what is auspicious and productive of wellbeing in the long run.” Hearing the words of Raghava, — Bharata, well-skilled in the art of speech, with folded hands, said “O pious Sir in thee are established piety, earth and fame. O thou of unmitigated prowess, as the deities honor the patriarch so other kings hold thee in reverence. O king, all creatures mobile and immobile consider thee as their father. O thou of great strength,thou art the refuge of all animals and of the universe. Therefore of what use is such a sacrifice unto thee? In such a sacrifice all the royal families meet with ruin. All those kings, who are proud of manliness, being incensed with great ire on the occasion of this sacrifice, shall bring ruin upon all. O foremost of men, the whole earth has been brought under thy subjection so it is not proper to devastate it.” Hearing those sweet accents of Bharata, Rama, having truth for his prowess, attained to incomparable delight, and addressed the enhancer of Kaikeyi's delight with kind words, saying :—“O thou freed from sins, I have been greatly delighted with thee. O foremost of men, for the preservation of earth,thou hast given vent to words, without any hesitation, pregnant with manliness and piety. O thou conversant with piety, according to thy wise counsels, I refrain from celebrating this Rajshuya sacrifice. The wise should never undertake all those works which give affliction unto people. O elder brother of Lakshmana, it is proper to take wise counsels even from a boy.”