Page:Report of a Tour Through the Bengal Provinces of Patna, Gaya, Mongir and Bhagalpur; The Santal Parganas, Manbhum, Singhbhum and Birbhum; Bankura, Raniganj, Bardwan and Hughli in 1872-73.djvu/35

Rh not only would have got to Patna without crossing the Son, but could not have seen the Râjgir hills from any point on its banks. The course suggested by me, however, fulfils all the conditions.

It may not be amiss to note that the marches of Râmâ on this occasion, as detailed in the Râmâyana, are such as could easily have been accomplished. The distance from Ayodhya to the junction of the Sarayu and the Ganges is 170 miles taken in a straight line; but there are strong reasons for supposing that, in ancient times, the Sarayu joined the Ganges higher up, which would reduce the distance. However that may be, 170 miles in two days is no impossible or improbable feat, if we suppose, as suppose we must, that the king’s son did not walk on foot the whole of the way, but rode. Thence to Viswamitra’s hermitage is only a day’s journey, for though it took Râmâ two days to do it, most part of one day was consumed in fighting with Tádaká, and they reached the place on the second day in time for Viswamitra to begin the initiatory rites that very day. (Griff. Râm., Vol. I, page 152.)

On the return journey, however, Râmâ and Viswamitra were accompanied by several of Viswamitra’s pupils and holy old anchorites— men who from age or weakness could not be supposed to sustain much fatigue. We find now that on the third day after starting from the hermitage, Râmâ travelled only 26 miles or so, viz., from the Ganges crossing, to Vaisâli, two well-known and fixed points; this is perfectly natural. Assuming now that Râmâ travelled at this rate the two previous days also, and working backwards, we shall obtain for his halting place, on the first day, the very point on the banks of the old Son whence the Râjgir hills first become visible, as I have pointed out before; and for the site of Viswamitra’s hermitage, some point 25 miles or 30 miles at most, south, or nearly south, from the first day’s halting point on the suggested banks of the old course of the Son. This distance will bring us almost exactly to Deokund or Deokur, a place where, as noticed above, an annual fair or mela is held, and which is held in great veneration.

The name of Viswamitra’s hermitage I find to have