SECTION LXXV.
After Savari had repaired unto heaven by virtue of her divine prowess, Rāma with his brother Lakshmana began to ponder over the pious influence of those great ascetics. Thinking within himself about the divine authority of those great ones, the virtuous-souled Rāma spake unto Lakshmana, devoted and ever engaged in his well-being.—"Beheld have I, O gentle one, the wondrous asylum of the pure-souled ascetics filled with diverse birds and tigers rambling friendly with antelopes. O Lakshmana, we have performed ablutions in the sacred waters of these seven seas and offered oblations unto our manes. Our misfortunes have ended and prosperity hath appeared and my mind is now filled with ecstacy of delight. Me-thinks, best of men, auspiciousness shall soon appear unto us; do thou come, therefore, we shall proceed towards the picturesque lake Pampā. Yon appeareth in view, at no distance, the mount Rishyamuka. Here dwells with four monkeys, the virtuous-souled Sugriva— Suryya's son, in constant fear of Vāli. I am in a hurry to behold Sugriva the best of monkeys, for my business—Sitā's quest—is entirely at his hands." Unto the heroic Rāma, speaking thus, Saumitri said.—"Let us depart soon, I am in haste too." Issuing out of Matanga's asylum, the mighty Rāma, lord of men, repaired with Lakshmana to the lake Pampā. Exercised with grief, he arrived at the bank of that best of lakes, beholding (as he passed along), vaious trees and pools, the mighty forest covered on all sides with huge trees and flowers and resounding with the noise of lapwings, peacocks, woodpeckers and various other birds and rattling of the bamboos. Beholding, from distance, Pampā of sweet, cool and pure water, Rāma performed ablution at the Matanga Sara (a portion of Pampā) and paced slowly towards the lake. Thereupon Daçaratha's son, stricken with grief, bathed in Pampā, covered with lotuses. It was adorned on all sides with Tilakas, Asokas, Punagas, Uddalas and Vakulas. It was a lake girt on all sides with pictueresque gardens, having its waters undulating beautifully and transparent like unto crystal, and covered all around with soft sands. It was filled with fish and tortoise, adorned with trees on its banks, encircled with creepers embracing her like companions and frequented by Gandharbas, Kinnaras, serpents, Yakshas and Rāshasas. It was covered with trees and creepers of various kind, of cool water, and enveloped with beauty. It was, somewhere, of red hue, in contact with water lillies, somewhere white with Kumudas, somewhere blue with blue lotuses like unto a blanket of diverse hues. It was filled with white and red lotuses and encircled with blossoming mangoe groves and resounding with the music of the peacocks. Beholding Pampā, ornamented like a damsel with Tilakas, Bijapuras,[98] fig-trees, Sukladrumas,[99] flowery Karavis, blossoming Punnagas, groves of Malati[100] and Kunda,[101] Vandhiras,[102] Nichulas,[103] Asokas, Saptaparuas,[104] Ketakas,[105] Atimuktas,[106] and various others trees, Rāma the mighty son of Daçaratha began to lament with Lakshmana. "There stands on its bank the mount Rishyamuka, abounding in various metals and covered with trees of varieagated flowers as mentioned before (by Kavandha). There dwelleth the famous lord of monkeys, Sugrivā, the heroic son of the great Rikshyaraja. O best of men, do thou approach the chief of monkeys." Rāma, having truth for his prowess, again spake unto Lakshmana, saying, "O Lakshmana, how shall I live without Sitā, who have been deprived of my kingdom, who am poorly and have Sitā for my life?" Having said this unto Lakshmana, who had nothing else in view, that best of Raghus, racked with sorrow and grief and oppressed by Cupid, entered the lake Pampā graced with lotuses. Proceeding slowly, observing the forest, Rāma beheld and entered with Lakshmana Pampā, girt on all sides with beautiful woods and filled with a multitude of diverse birds.
END OF THE ARANYAKANDAM