338 THE FOREST. Sorathá 5. Grievous is the burden of the sin of the world; nor religion, nor know- ledge, nor meditation, nor penance avails against it; they are wise who discard trust in all else and worship Ráma only. Chaupái. The Lord of gods and men and saints, after bowing his head at the lotus feet of the sage, proceeded to the wood. Ráma first and after him his brother, in the garb of hermits all full and complete. Between the two the incarnation of Lakshmi shone forth, like Máya between God and the soul. The rivers and thickets and precipitous mountain-passes all recognized their lord and made the way smooth for him. Wherever the divine Raghurái passed, the clouds made a canopy in the heaven. As they went along met them. While he was yet coming Raghúbir overthrew him, then at once he assumed a beauteous form; and Ráma seeing him sorrowful dismissed him to his own sphere. Then the All-beautiful with his brother and Jánaki visited the sage Sarabhanga. road the demon Virádha Dohá 4. At the sight of Ráma's lotus face the bee-like eyes of the saint reverently drank thereof ; blessed indeed was Sarabhanga to have been born. Chaupái. Said the saint: "Hearken, gracious Raghubír, the swan of Sankara's lake. I had taken my departure to the halls of the Creator, but I heard say that Ráma is coming into the forest. Day and night I have been watching the road; now I have seen my lord and my heart is at rest. I am deficient, my lord, in all that is good, but you have graciously acknowledged me as your humble servant. Now, sire, I have no request to make; I have accomplished my vow, O ravisher of the soul of the faithful, to wait in expectation of the suppliant's friend till I saw you and then to discard my body. I have practised meditation, sacrifice, prayers, penance and fasting, and have received the gift of faith as a boon of the Lord. In this manner with his funeral pile all ready prepared, saint Sara- bhanga has sat and waited, with a heart freed from every attachment. 1The encounter with Virádha, which is here so very baldly told, occupies more than a hundred lines in Válmíki's poem. Válmíki represents Indra as having come with his chariot and horses to carry off the sege to Brahma's sphere at the very time of Ráma's arrival.
