whose ensign is a bull.

1020 The Address to Rama, both text and commentary, will be found
literally translated in the Additional Notes. A paraphrase of a
portion is all that I have attempted here.

1021 Ravan's queen.

1022 Or Mainaka.

1023 Here, in the North-west recension, Sita expresses a wish that Tara
and the wives of the Vanar chiefs should be invited to accompany her
to Ayodhya. The car decends, and the Vanar matrons are added to the
party. The Bengal recension ignores this palpable interruption.

1024 The _arghya_, a respectful offering to Gods and venerable men
consisting of rice, duiva grass, flowers etc., with water.

1025 I have abridged Hanuman's outline of Rama's adventures, with the
details of which we are already sufficiently acquainted.

1026 In these respectful salutations the person who salutes his superior
mentions his own name even when it is well known to the person whom
he salutes.

1027 I have omitted the chieftains' names as they could not be introduced
without padding. They are Mainda, Dwivid, Nila, Rishabh, Sushen,
Nala, Gavaksha, Gandhamadan, Sarabh, and Panas.

1028 The following addition is found in the Bengal recension: But
Vaisravan (Kuvera) when he beheld his chariot said unto it: "Go, and
carry Rama, and come unto me when my thought shall call thee, And
the chariot returned unto Rama;" and he honoured it when he had
heard what had passed.

1029 Here follows in the original an enumeration of the chief blessings
which will attend the man or woman who reads or hears read this tale
of Rama. These blessings are briefly mentioned at the end of the
first Canto of the first book, and it appears unnecessary to repeat
them here in their amplified form. The Bengal recension (Gorresio's
edition) gives them more concisely as follows: "This is the great
first poem blessed and glorious, which gives long life to men and
victory to kings, the poem which Valmiki made. He who listens to
this wondrous tale of Rama unwearied in action shall be absolved
from all his sins. By listening to the deeds of Rama he who wishes
for sons shall obtain his heart's desire, and to him who longs for
riches shall riches be given. The virgin who asks for a husband
shall obtain a husband suited to her mind, and shall meet again her
dear