, I entreat,
Our earnest wish our lord to greet."

He spoke: the hermit rich in store
Of fervid zeal and sacred lore,
Sought the pure shrine which held the fire,
To bear his message to the sire.
Soon as he reached the saint most bright
In sanctity's surpassing might,
He cried, uplifting reverent hands:
"Lord Rama near thy cottage stands."
Then spoke Agastya's pupil dear
The message for his lord to hear:
"Rama and Lakshman, chiefs who spring
From Dasaratha, glorious king,
Thy hermitage e'en now have sought,
And lady Sita with them brought.
The tamers of the foe are here
To see thee, Master, and revere.
'Tis thine thy further will to say:
Deign to command, and we obey."

When from his pupil's lips he knew
The presence of the princely two,
And Sita born to fortune high.
The glorious hermit made reply:
"Great joy at last is mine this day
That Rama hither finds his way,
For long my soul has yearned to see
The prince who comes to visit me.
Go forth, go forth, and hither bring
The royal three with welcoming:
Lead Rama in and place him near:
Why stands he not already here?"

Thus ordered by the hermit, who,
Lord of his thought, all duty knew,
His reverent hands together laid,
The pupil answered and obeyed.
Forth from the place with speed he ran,
To Lakshman came and thus began:
"Where is he? let not Rama wait,
But speed, the sage to venerate."

Then with the pupil Lakshman went
Across the hermit settlement,
And showed him Rama where he stood
With Janak's daughter in the wood.
The pupil then his message spake
Which the kind hermit bade him take;
Then led the honoured Rama thence
And brought him in with reverence.
As nigh the royal Rama came
With Lakshman and the Maithil dame,
He viewed the herds of gentle deer
Roaming the garden free from fear.
As through the sacred grove he trod
He viewed the seat of many a God,
Brahma and Agni,(429) Sun and Moon,
And His who sends each golden boon;(430)
Here Vishnu's stood, there Bhaga's(431) shrine,
And there Mahendra's, Lord divine;
Here His who formed this earthly frame,(432)
His there from whom all beings came.(433)
Vayu's,(434) and His who loves to hold
The great noose, Varun(435) mighty-souled:
Here was the Vasus'(436) shrine to see,
Here that of sacred Gayatri,(437)
The king of serpents(438) here had place,
And he who rules the feathered race.(439)
Here Kartikeya,(440) warrior lord,
And there was Justice King adored.
Then with disciples girt ab