35. “What are these thoughts, and what are their names and natures, their number and causes, that infest your mind like its maladies (in the same manner) as the mice undermine a fabric.”
36. I am disposed to think, that you are not the person to be troubled with those evils and distempers, to which the base and vile alone are subject.
37. Tell me the craving of your heart, O sinless Ráma! and they will be requited in a manner, as will prevent their recurrence to you.
38. Ráma—the standard of Raghu’s race having listened to the reasonable and graceful speech of the good-intentioned sage, shook off his sorrowing, like the peacock at the roaring of a cloud, in the hope of gaining his object.
CHAPTER XII.
Ráma’s Reply.
Válmíki related:—Being thus asked with soothing words by the chief of the sages, Ráma made his answer in a soft and graceful speech replete with good sense.
2. Ráma said, Oh venerable sage! I will tell thee in truth, untutored though I am, all the particulars as asked by thee; for who would disobey the bidding of the wise?
3. Since I was born in this mansion of my father I have all along remained, grown up and received my education (in this very place).
4. Then O leader of sages! being desirous to learn good usages (of mankind), I set out to travel to holy places all over this sea-girt earth.
5. It was by this time that there arose a train of reflections in my mind of the following nature which shook my confidence in worldly objects.