Chapter V: Section V

Having in the forest slain the Rakshasa Viradha possessed of tremendous strength, Rama endeued with prowess, embracing and cheering Sita, spoke unto his brother Lakshmana of flaming energy, saying, "This dense forest is hard to live in; nor are we acquainted with the ways of the wood. Therefore will we speedily repair to the ascetic Sarabhanga." Thereupon Raghava set out for the hermitage of Sarabhanga. And Rama beheld a mighty wonder near that one of celestial virtue, who had purified his soul through asceticism. He saw the lord of the celestials, possessed of a resplendent person, resembling in effulgence the sun or Vaicwanara--mounted on a superb car--(saw) him that is followed by all the celestials, stationed in the sky, not touching the earth, adorned in luminous ornaments--the god dressed in a clean apparel; worshipped by many a high-souled personage dressed in the same way. And from a distance, (Rama) saw the car stationed in the sky yoked with green steeds--resembling the infant sun; and he saw the spotless umbrella possessing the beauty of a mass of white clouds, resembling the lunar disc,--and graced with variegated wreaths. And his (Indra's) head was being fanned by two chowris, costly and furnished with golden handles, held by two magnificent damsels; and innumerable Gandharbas and Siddhas and prime sages were hymning the celestial stationed in the welkin. And seeing Sarabhanga engaged in converse with Satakratu, Rama said unto Lakshmana (the following words). And pointing out the car, Rama showed the wonder unto his brother. "Behold, O Lakshmana, yonder car stationed in the sky, splendid, furnished with exceeding grace, wonderful, and seeming as if the sun had fallen from the heavens. The steeds standing in the sky are for certain those of which we had formerly heard as belonging unto Sakra of many sacrifices. And, thou foremost of men, these youths environing (the celestial) by hundreds, wearing earrings, and bearing swords in their hands, are broad of chest, have arms resembling bludgeons in size,and are clad in crimson vesture, like unto tigers incapable of being approached. Over the breasts of all appear chains of blazing sheen; and, O son of Sumitra, their beauty appears that of five and twenty. And even this is the ever-enduring age of the celestials, as these foremost of men of sweet looks appear. O Lakshmana, stay here awhile with Vaidehi, so long as I do not gather who it is that is in the effulgent car." Saying unto Sumitras son, "Stay here," Kakutstha bent his steps towards Sarabhanga's aslylum. And seeing Rama approach, Sachi's lord, taking Sarabhanga's permission, addressed the celestials, saying, "Rama is coming hither. Do ye set out for another place, ere he yet addresses me. He is not fit to behold me (now.) When he shall have vanquished (his foe in fight), and won success, shall I readily show myself unto him. He shall have to achieve an act incapable of being achieved by others." Then rendering homage unto that anchoret and conversing with him, the weilder of the thunderbolt--subduer of enemies--repaired to heaven in a car yoked with steeds. When the thousand-eyed one had gone away, Raghava accompanied by his companions appeared before Sarabhanga in the _Agni-hotra_ chamber. Taking his feet, Rama, Sita and Lakshmana sat down with the permission of the ascetic, who received them and set apart quarters for them. Then Raghava questioned (the sage) concerning the visit of Sakra; and Sarabhanga related everything unto Raghava. "O Rama, this bestower of boons wishes to take me to the regions of Brahma. I have conquered them, incapable of being attained by persons that have not schooled themselves,--by virtue of fierce austerities. O chief of men, knowing that thou wert near, I became anxious to go to the minor celestial regions and this supreme heaven (of Brahma), after I had seen thee, righteous and high-souled, who art my dear guest now. O foremost of men, I have for aye attained the excellent regions of Brahma. and Nakaprishtha. Do thou receive them as pertaining to me." Thus addressed by the sage, Sarabhanga, that best of men, Raghava, versed in every branch of learning, said, "O mighty anchoret, I shall acquire all those regions myself. I now wish that thou mayst direct me as to my abode in this forest." Thus accosted by Raghava resembling Sakra in strength, the eminently wise Sarabhanga again said, "O Rama, here in this forest lives a pious and self-restrained ascetic of mighty energy, named Sutikshna. He will bring about thy good. O Rama, follow this Mandakini flowing among flowers, which (here) runs in an opposite direction to her usual course; and then wilt thou reach there. This is thy course, thou best of men. Do thou now, my child, for a space look at me; while I leave off my limbs, even as a serpent renounces its slough." Then preparing a fire and with Mantras offering oblations into it, the exceedingly energetic Sarabhanga entered into the fire. The fire consumed the down, hair, old skin, bones, flesh and blood of that high-souled one. (Anon) Sarabhanga became a youth resembling fire; and rising from the flame, he appeared splendid. And proceeding past the regions of high-souled sages sacrificing with fire, as well as of the celestials, he ascended those of Brahma. And that one of pious acts done on earth--that best of the twice-born race--saw the grand-father, in company with his followers. And the grand-father also, beholding that Brahmana, rejoiced greatly, and said,-- "Hail!"

SECTI0N VI.

After Sarabhanga had ascended heaven, ascetics in bodies, assembled together, presented themselves before Kakutstha; Rama of flaming energy. And Vaikhanasas, and ValakhilyaS, and Sanprakhalas, Marichipas, Acmwakuttas in numbers, and those ascetics, Patraharas, and Dantolukhalas, Unmajjakas next, and Gatracayyas, and Acayyas and Anavakacikas, those ascetics, Salilaharas, Vayubhaksbas after them, Akacanilayas, Sthandilacayis, Urddhavasis of controlled senses, and Ardrapattavasas given to _Japa_, practising penances, and engaged in performing the five kinds of austerities--all furnished with the grace that comes of spiritual energy, and all firmly concentrated in Yoga--these ascetics presented themselves before Rama in the asyhim of Sarabhanga. And coming before Rama, the foremost of those practising righteousness, those sages conversant with morality,--met in a body, said unto that pre-eminently virtuous one, "A mighty car-warrior, thou art the foremost person of the Ikshwaku race and the world; as well as their lord,--even as Maghavan is the lord of the celestials. Famous over the three worlds in high worth and prowess, in thee are found truth and virtue in profusion and obedience unto the mandate of thy sire. O lord, it behoves thee cognizant of virtue and attached unto it, to forgive us for what we as suiters say unto thee. The sin, O lord, of that monarch is mighty that taketh a sixth part of the subjects' incomes, but doth not protect them as sons. But he that, setting his heart on protecting the people, doth ever carefully protect all the inhabitants of his dominions, like his own life or like his son dearer unto him than life itself, reapeth, O Rama, enduring renown extending over many years, and (at length) attaining the regions of Brahma, is glorified there. The king that protects his subjects righteously, is entitled to a fourth part of the great religious merit that is reaped by an ascetic subsisting on fruits and roots. O Rama, this many Brahmanas--this great body of men that have assumed the Vanaprastha mode of life, although having thee for their lord, are being sorely troubled by Rakshasas, as if they had none. Come and behold the bodies of innumerable ascetics of pure hearts that have in various ways been slaughtered by Rakshasas in the forest. And great is the worry that is experienced by the dwellers on the river Pampi and the Mandakini as well as those that reside in Chitrakuta. We cannot bear the terrible affliction of the ascetics in the forest at the hands of Rakshasas of dreadful deeds. Therefore, for obtaining refuge, have we come before thee who art the refuge (of all). Do thou, O Rama, deliver us all, who are being exceedingly afflicted by the rangers of the night. O hero, we have no greater refuge on earth than thyself. Do thou, O king's son, rescue us all from Rakshasas." Hearing these words of the sages and ascetics, that righteous-souled one addressed them, saying, "It doth not behove you to speak thus. I should be commanded by the anchorets. I have entered the forest solely with a view to my own purpose. I have entered this forest in obedience to the mandate of my father, with the object (at the same time) of putting an end to these ravages of the Rakshasas on you. I have at my own will come hither for securing your interest. Then shall my stay in the woods be crowned with mighty fruit. I wish to slay in battle the enemies of the ascetics. Let the sages and ascetics behold my prowess as well as that of my brother." Having been conferred a boon by the ascetics, that hero entered upon a noble undertaking, and accompanied by the ascetics, in company with Lakshmana directed his course to (the hermitage of) Sutikshna.