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186
 
THE RAMAYANA
 
Entering the hermitage grounds and
saluting Agastya, equal in effulgence to
the sun, the righteous-minded Rama
stood with folded hands.
 
प्रथमं चोपविश्याथ धर्मज्ञो मुनिपुङ्गवः ।
उवाच राममासीनं प्राञ्जलिं धर्मकोविदम् ॥
 
Taking his seat first, Agastya the fore-
most of ascetics, well versed in dharma,
spoke thus to Rama, versed in dharma
and seated with folded hands:
 
पूजनीयश्च मान्यश्च भवान् प्राप्तः प्रियातिथिः ।
इदं दिव्यं महच्चापं हेमरत्नविभूषितम् ।
जयाय प्रतिगृह्णीष्व वज्रं वज्रधरो यथा ॥
 
"You, deserving of honour and regard,
are come as a welcome guest. Receive
this great divine bow, ornamented with
gold and gems, to attain victory even as
Indra received his thunderbolt.
 
इतो द्वियोजने तात बहुमूलफलोदकः ।
देशो बहुमुगः श्रीमान् पञ्चवट्यभिविश्रुतः ।
तत्र गत्वाऽऽश्रमपदं कृत्वा सौमित्रिणा सह ।
रंस्यसे त्वं पितुर्वाक्यं यथोक्तमनुपालयन् ॥