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Saluting him, the prince said: "My
name is Rama, O holy sage. I have come
to have darshan of you. I pray for your
blessing."
The sage rose and embraced him.
"Welcome,
defender
of
dharma.
My
ashrama is fit up by your presence. It is
now yours. When I heard you had left
Ayodhya and taken up your abode at
Chitrakuta, I knew you would come here,
and have lived in hope of seeing you. Else
I would have long ago given up this body.
The merit I have accumulated I now pass
on to you. Take it for yourself, your
brother and the princess." The sage's face
was bright with the light of long holy life.
It was the custom of the rishis thus to
offer their acquired merit to those who
came
as
their
guests.
From
Rama's
answer, we can see how such courtesies
were to be received.
"O sage, I must earn merit by my own
good deeds. With your blessing, I still
hope to do so. I wish to dwell in the
forest. The sage Sarabhanga directed me
here to receive your blessing and seek
your instructions as to where I could build
a home for the rest of my stay in the
forest."
The rishi's face was bright with joy and
he said meaningfully: "You may live in
this ashrama. There are many rishis living
round about. The forest is full of fruit and
roots. But evil beasts are abroad molesting
the rishis and obstructing their penance.
The sages are unable to bear this trouble.
But for this, the place is good."
The prince understood what the sage
meant to convey. He bent and strung his
bow and said: "Holy sage! I shall destroy
these evil-doers. My bow is strong and
sharp are my arrows. It is not proper that
we should dwell in this ashrama. It may
interrupt your penance. We shall find a
place for ourselves in the neighborbood.
Permit us to do so."
That night they stayed in the sage's
ashrama as his guests, The following
morning, the three got up and bathed in
the cool water fragrant with flowers, lit
the
sacrificial
fire,
performed
their
worship and touched the feet of the sage.
"By your grace, we spent a good night.
We desire to see the other rishis in the
region and receive their blessings. It is
good to set out before the sun grows hot.
Pray, give us leave to go."
The sage embraced the princes and
blessed them, saying: "Visit the good
rishis in the Dandaka forest. They have all
gone
through
great
austerities
and
obtained divine powers. The forest is
indeed beautiful with deer and birds and
lotus-filled
tanks,
and
the
hills
with
cascades and peacocks. Lakshmana, go
now with your brother and with Sita.
Come to this ashrama whenever you feel
like it."
The three walked round the sage
according to custom and took leave of
him. Sita handed to them their swords,
bows and quivers and the princes set out,
more radiant than before because of the
great sage's blessings.