Page:Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists.djvu/50

 A cool breeze, delighted at the sight of Rāma, fanned their faces, and flowers rained down upon them from the sky. Vishvāmitra led the way; the two brothers, carrying their bows and swords, wearing splendid jewels and gloves of lizard-skin upon their fingers, followed Vishvāmitra like glorious flames, making him bright with the reflection of their own radiance.

Arrived at the hermitage, Vishvāmitra and the other priests began their sacrifice; and when the rākshasas, like rain- clouds obscuring the sky, rushed forward in horrid shapes, Rāma wounded and put to flight Mārīcha and Suvāhu, and slew the others of those evil night-rangers. After the days of sacrifice and ritual at Siddhāshrāma were over, Rama asked Vishvāmitra what other work he required of him.

Rama weds the Daughter of Janaka

Vishvāmitra replied that Janaka, Rāja of Mithila, was about to celebrate a great sacrifice. "Thither," he said, "we shall repair. And thou, O tiger among men, shalt go with us, and there behold a wonderful and marvellous bow. This great bow the gods gave long ago to Rāja Devarata; and neither gods nor gandharvas nor asuras nor rākshasas nor men have might to string it, though many kings and princes have essayed it. That bow is worshipped as a deity. The bow and Janaka's great sacrifice shalt thou behold."

Thus all the Brahmans of that hermitage, with Vishvāmitra at their head, and accompanied by Rāma and Lakshman, set out for Mithila; and the birds and beasts dwelling in Siddhāshrāma followed after Vishvāmitra, whose wealth was his asceticism. As they went along the forest paths Vishvāmitra related

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