[upper] and lower fire-wood, and the
other pestle, in their proper places, they departed. The Raxasas having
then slain a victim to their prince in the manner prescribed in the
Sastras, and enjoined by great rishis, cast [into the fire] the coverlet
of the king saturated with ghee. They then, Vibhishana included, with
afflicted hearts, adorned Ravana with perfumes and garlands, and with
various vestments, and besprinkled him with fried grain. Vibhishana having
bathed, and having, with his clothes wet, scattered in proper form _tila_
seeds mixed with _darbha_ grass, and moistened with water, applied the
fire [to the pile]."

Page 496.

The following is a literal translation of Brahma's address to Rama
according to the Calcutta edition, text and commentary:

"O Rama, how dost thou, being the creator of all the world, best of all
those who have profound knowledge of the Upanishads and all-powerful as
thou art, suffer Sita to fall in the fire? How dost thou not know thyself
as the best of the gods? Thou art one of the primeval Vasus,(1158) and
also their lord and creator. Thou art thyself the lord and first creator
of the three worlds. Thou art the eighth (that is Mahadeva) of the
Rudras,(1159) and also the fifth(1160) of the Sadhyas.(1161) (The poet
describes Rama as made of the following gods) The Asvinikumaras (the twin
divine physicians of the gods) are thy ears; the sun and the moon are thy
eyes; and thou hast been seen in the beginning and at the end of creation.
How dost thou neglect the daughter of Videha (Janaka} like a man whose
actions are directed by the dictates of nature?" Thus addressed by Indra,
Brahma and the other gods, Rama the descendant of Raghu, lord of the world
and the best of the virtuous, spoke to the chief of the gods. "As I take
myself to be a man of the name of Rama and son of Dasaratha, therefore,
sir, please tell me who I am and whence have I come." "O thou whose might
is never failing," said Brahma to Kakutstha the foremost of those who
thoroughly know Brahma, "Thou art Narayana,(1162) almighty, possessed of
fortune, and armed with the discus. Thou art the boar(1163) with one tusk;
the conqueror of thy past and future foes. Thou art Brahma true and
eternal or undecaying. Thou art Visvaksena,(1164) having four arms; Thou
art Hrishikesa,(1165) whose bow is made of horn; Thou art Purusha,(1166)
the best of all beings; Thou art one who is never defeated by any body;
Thou art the holder