Page:The Rámáyana of Tulsi Dás.djvu/429



as the jasmine or the lotus, of surpassing strength, storehouses of wisdom, all glorious and accomplished bowmen, hymned by the Vedas, benefactors of cows and Bráhmans, may they who appeared in the form of mortal men as the two noble sons of Raghu, the champions of true religion, the wayfarers intent on their search for Síta, may they grant us faith.

Blessed are the pious souls, who ever imbibe the nectar of holy Ráma's name; nectar, the product of no ocean, but of Brahm himself, the utter exterminator of all the impurities of this sinful age, the imperishable, the quintessence of the beauty of blessed Sambhu's moonlike face, the ever glorious, the remedy for all the diseases of life, the exquisitely sweet, the life of blessed Jánaki.

How is it possible not to reverence Kási, the home of Sambhu and Bhaváni, knowing it to be the earthly birthplace of salvation, a treasury of knowledge and the destroyer of sin. Dull indeed of soul is the man who worships not him, who, when all the hosts of heaven were in distress, drank up the deadly poison; who is so merciful as Sankara?

Ráma again proceeded on his way and drew near to the mountain Rishyamúka. There Sugríva dwelt with his ministers, who, seeing them approach in all their immeasurable strength, was exceedingly alarmed and cried: "Hearken, Hanumán; take the form of a young Bráhman student and go and see who these two heroes are, of such remarkable strength and beauty, and when