THE FOREST. 343 and unbroken love for your lotus fcet. Though you are the supreme spirit, indivisible and eternal, beyond the reach of perception, the adoration of the saints, yet I declare and recognize your incarnation, and again and again adore the embodiment of Brahm and Rati. You always exalt your own servants, and this, Raghurái, is the reason why you consult me. There is, my lord, a very charming and holy spot called Panchavati. Sanctify the whole Dandaka forest, in which it is, and relieve it of the saint's grievous curse', by taking up your abode there, Rúma ; and thus show mercy to all the saints." On receiving his permission, Ráma set out and quickly arrived at Panchavati. Dohá 10. After meeting the king of the vultures2 and warmly renewing old friend- ship, Ráma stayed near the Godávari, where he made himself a thatched cot- tage. Chaupái, From the time that Ráma took up his abode there, the saints lived happily and without fear. The mountains, woods, rivers and lakes were suffused with beauty and day by day grew yet more exceedingly lovely. The many birds and deer were full of joy and the bees added a charm by their sweet buzzing. Not even the serpent-king would be able to describe the forest, in which the glorious Ráma had manifested himself. One day, as the Lord was sitting at ease, Laksh- man most humbly addressed him thus: "Sovereign of gods, men and saints and of all animate and inanimate creation, I have a question to ask of you as of my own special master. Speak, sire, and answer it for me, for I have left all to serve the dust of your feet. Explain to me knowledge, self-governance, and the delusion of Maya ; tell me what is that faith, to which you extend mercy. Dohá 11. Instruct me, my lord, in all the difference between God and the soul, that I may be entirely devoted to your feet and free from grief, ignorance and error." Chaupái. “I will expain the whole matter in brief; hearken, brother, with attention of mind and soui. It is from ego-ism and distinctions between mine and thine, that the illusion is produced which has subjugated all classes of existence. The 1 Tbe curse had been pronounced by Bhárgava, wh0se daughter Abjá had been violated by Dauda, son of Ikshváku, who was then king of the country. His populous reulm at once become a wild forest waste, inhabited only by wild beasts and demons. 2 The interviow with the vulture-king Jatáyu, thus briefly despatched in two lines, occupies the whole of the 20th canto in the Sanskrit Aranya-kánd. It was on this occusion that he inade the pro- nise to protect Sita which subsequently cost him his life,
