What happy hours we here shall spend!”

He spoke: the conquering Lakshmaṇ heard,

Obedient to his brother's word.

Raised by his toil a cottage stood

To shelter Ráma in the wood,

Of ample size, with leaves o'erlaid,

Of hardened earth the walls were made.

The strong bamboos his hands had felled

For pillars fair the roof upheld,

And rafter, beam, and lath supplied