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130
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Now Sumantra the charioteer, having
been given leave, arrived at Ayodhya on
the third day ; and saluting the king,
reported the words of Rama, exactly as
spoken by the latter :
 
सूत मद्वचनात्तस्य तातस्य विदितात्मनः ।
शिरसा वन्दनीयस्य वन्द्यौ पादौ महात्मनः ॥
 
"O charioteer, as now instructed by
me, both the feet of my high-souled
father, possessing self-knowledge and
deserving of salutation with my head,
should be saluted by you.
 
माता च मम कौसल्या कुशलं चाभिवादनम् ।
अप्रमादं च वक्तव्या ब्रूयाश्चैनामिदं वचः ॥
 
And my mother Kausalya too should
be told of my salutation and welfare and
of the necessity of her being attentive to
duty. And tell her these words :
 
धर्मनित्या यथाकालमग्न्यगारपरा भव ।
देवि देवस्य पादौ च देववत् परिपालय ॥
 
6
 
' Always devoted to Dharma, watch the
fire house at the prescribed time. O
Queen, salute the feet of the king (as
zealously) as those of a God.'