Arrival of a Brahmana Ascetic

1-3. Having seen the power of the penance of Chyavana, which was inconceivable, Shatrughna praised the brahmanic penance which alone was adored in the world. (He said to himself:) 'Oh! see the perfection of abstract meditation in the best brahmana who just in a moment fashioned the aeroplane difficult to have. What a great disparity is there between the complete attainment of pleasure on the part of the sages of pure hearts and the desire for enjoyment on the part of human beings without the power of penance!'

4-7. Saying thus to himself, Shatrughna stayed in Chyavana's hermitage for a while, drank water and enjoyed comfort. The great horse, having the speed of wind, having drunk the water of (the river) Payosni having auspicious water, went along the way. Seeing the horse's exit, the soldiers went after him; some with elephants, some with foot-soldiers, some with chariots and some with horses. Accompanied by the best minister Sumati, Shatrughna followed him in a chariot drawn by a horse.

8-14. The horse that was moving on, reached the city called Ratnatata belonging to a king called Vimala and crowded with happy and rich people. Having heard from his servant that the excellent horse of Rama along with all soldiers had reached the vicinity of the city, he, along with seventy elephants having the moon's colour, myriads of horses, and a thousand chariots bright like gold, went forth to (greet) Shatrughna. Having saluted Shatrughna, and all great warriors that had come there, and having offered him riches, treasure and wealth and his entire kingdom to him, he stood before him and said: "What (should) I do?" The great king too with his arms closely embraced him who had bowed down to his feet and having entrusted his kingdom to his son and surrounded by many archers, went with him. Having heard Rama's name, pleasing to the ears, all of them saluted the horse and offered him riches and great wealth.

15-20. With great joy Shatrughna honoured the king; and then, along with his army went after the horse. When he was thus going, he saw on his way an excellent mountain, which was adorned with crystal, golden and silver tablelands, which resounded with water-streams, the land of which had various minerals, which was adorned with good minerals like red chalk and colour of lac, where siddha-damsels having no fear from anywhere sported with siddhas, where gandharvas, celestial nymphs and nagas were sporting with pleasure. Seeing the mountain served by cool breezes (that had been) in contact with the ripples of Ganga, and charmingly graced with the sound of lutes, swans and parrots, Shatrughna, with his mind full of amazement on having seen it, said this (i.e. these words) to Sumati:

21-22. "What is this best among the great mountains? It astonishes my mind. This wonderful (mountain) having excellent tablelands of abundant silver, shines on my way. What deities dwell here? Is it the sporting ground of gods that excites my mind with the heaps of riches?"

23-37a. Hearing these words, Sumati who had set his heart on the lotus-like feet of Rama, the abode of virtues which will be mentioned, then said: "O king, this is the mountain (called) NUa, which shines in front (of us) with great beautiful peaks and crystal tops on all sides. Those mean men, those sinful men, engaged in adultery, who do not realise the hosts of virtues of Vishnu, do not see this mountain. So also those men who having controversies and doubt in their minds, do not care for the way of conduct well settled by the good arising from the srutis and the smrtis, those who sell indigo, and those who sell lac do not see this (mountain). A brahmana who drinks spirituous liquor and sells ghee etc., so also he who would not give (in marriage) his daughter endowed with beauty to a man of good character and belonging to good family (do not see this mountain). (Similarly) a man who censures his wife coming from a good family and having a good character, who himself eats sweet (dishes, but) does not give them to his kinsmen (does not see this mountain). (In the same way) a man who discriminates in (i.e. while serving) food meant for brahmanas, and the wicked one who does not offer mixture of rice and peas or rice boiled in milk to a suppliant (do not see this mountain). Those who torment guests (already) tormented by the sun's heat etc. (do not see this mountain). O great king, those who enjoy in the atmosphere and who are traitors, so also those who are averse to Raghunatha do not see (this mountain). This beautiful, auspicious, best mountain, adorned by Purushottama purifies all of us by its sight. Here lives Purushottama whose feet are honoured by the crowns of gods, who deserves to be seen by the auspicious ones, who grants religious merit, whom the srutis saying 'Not this, not this' (i.e. this is not Brahman, that is not Brahman...) do not know, the dust of whose feet is sought after by gods like Indra and is extremely difficult to be secured, whom the wise know by means of the perfect statements of the Upanisads — that Purushottama along with Shri lives on this Nila-mountain. O king, having climbed it, having worshipped it with merit etc., and having eaten the offering of eatables presented to it, one becomes four-handed.

37b-48a. In this regard also they mention this ancient account. O great king, listen to it which is full of all wonder: What happened to king Ratnagriva along with his family? (How) he obtained four hands etc. difficult to be got (even) by gods and demons? O great king, there was a city named Kanci, well known in the worlds. It was rich with great people and their attendants, and (had in it) army and horses (or elephants). In it lived best brahmanas who were very much engaged in the six duties,3 who were devoted to the welfare of all beings, and who hankered after devotion to Rama. The ksatriyas were fighters, and never fled away in a battle. They were averse to others' wives and to plotting maliciously against others. The vaisyas conducted themselves well with lending money, agriculture and trade. They always took delight in (i.e. were greatly devoted to) the feet of Raghunatha. The shudras passed their nights and days in serving brahmanas etc. With the tips of their tongues they always uttered (the word) 'Rama, Rama'. No common man committed a sin (even) mentally. Charity, pity, restraint and truth always prevailed there. No sinless person even uttered words harming others. People did not show greed for the wealth of others, nor did they commit any sin. In this way, O great king, the subjects were looked after by Ratnagriva. The king, free from greed, accepted only one sixth part2 (of the income of each person), and nothing else (i.e. more). In this way, the king who righteously protected his subjects and enjoyed all pleasures, passed many years.

48b-58a. Once he said this (i.e. these words) to Visalaksl, his chaste and religiously wedded wife: "O Visalaksi, sons able to protect the subjects have been born (to us). I have many attendants free from distress. My elephants resemble mountains, and my horses are (swift) like the wind. I always have chariots yoked with great horses. Due to the grace of great Vishnu I have nothing wanting, but (still) there is one desire in my mind. O you extremely beautiful one, I have not as yet visited a great holy place capable of putting a stop to a stay in the womb (i.e. to birth) and adorned by Vishnu. I have become old with my body having wrinkles and grey hair. With reverence I shall resort to a charming holy place. That man who only fills his belly (i.e. eats to live) during his life and does not worship Vishnu, is said to be a bull. Therefore, O auspicious dear one, with my family I shall go on a pilgrimage after having entrusted the entire responsibility of the kingdom to my son." Having resolved like this in the evening he, meditating upon Vishnu at night, saw a dream (and saw in it) a brahmana — an excellent ascetic. The great king, having got up in the morning and having offered the morning prayers etc., happily sat in the assembly with his ministers.

58b-65a. Just then he saw a brahmana ascetic of an emaciated body, wearing matted hair, bark-garments and a small piece of cloth worn over the privities and holding a staff in his hands, and with his body rendered auspicious due to visits to many holy places. The king of mighty arms, on seeing him, saluted him with (i.e. by bowing) his head. The king, with his mind pleased, offered him a respectful oblation and water for washing his feet. He asked (i.e. said to) the celebrated brahmana who had rested and was seated comfortably: "O lord, my bodily sin has today gone (away) due to having seen you. Great men go to the houses of the helpless ones through regard for them, to protect them. Therefore, O brahmana, now tell me, an old man, as to which god would bring about the end of (living in) the womb (i.e. the end of birth and death), and which holy place would be capable of (doing so). (People like) you move everywhere, are the greatest, are devoted to concentration and meditation and have become spotless and meritorious due to having plunged (i.e. bathed) in all the sacred places. O you, who well know (about) all the holy places, favour me and tell me in detail, who am listening and having faith." The brahmana said:

65b-82. O best king, I shall tell you what you asked me about visits to holy places. By the favour of which deity would womb i.e. birth be kept off? That Shri Ramachandra who destroys the mundane existence, should be resorted to. He, the lord alone, called Purushottama, should be worshipped. I have seen many (holy) cities destroying all sins. Ayodhya, Sarayu, Tapl, so also the excellent Haridvara, Avanti, Vimala, KancI and Reva going (i.e. flowing) into the ocean; so also Gokarna, (the holy place) called Hataka, destroying crores of murders; so also the great mountain called Mallika, giver of salvation to those men who see it and where on the bodies the water would become dark or pure. I have seen this holy place which removes sin. I have seen Dvaravati, which is resorted to by gods and demons, where flows the auspicious GomatI, having Brahmanic water, where sleep is called absorption of the mind and death is said to be final liberation, and living where Kali would never be powerful. Where (i.e. there) the stones are marked with discs, and men also hold discs; beasts, insects, birds etc. — all have discs on their bodies; where the three-strided one (i.e. Vishnu), the only guardian of the worlds, would live (i.e. lives). Due to my great religious merit I saw that city. I saw Varanasi which is made his abode by Visvanatha and where they teach the hymn that emancipates (a person) and is called Brahman, having died where insects, moths, bees, beafts and others, and (even) gods, abandoning the pleasure due to the contact with their (i.e. as a result of their) deeds and overcoming grief go to Kailasa. (Then there) is the holy place called Manikarni, in which the river flowing to the north cuts off" the bondage of the mundane existence even of the sinners. All (of them) having matted hair, ear-rings, and adorned with serpents and excellent ones wearing the hide of an elephant live with their grief perished. There (the god) called Kalabhairava controls Yama. Lord Yama holding the (chastising) rod, does not talk about human beings. Kasf, marked by (the presence of) Visvesvara, was seen by me. O king, I also saw many holy places; but that great wonder which I saw on the mountain called Nila, in the presence of Vishnu, was seen at no other place.

1-10. O king, listen to the account (of the events) that took place on the mountain Nila, believing which men go to the eternal Brahman. I who was wandering, went to that mountain called Nlla, the courtyard of which is repeatedly washed by the water of the ocean. There, on the top of the mountain, I saw bhillas, holding bows, having four arms and with their fatigue removed by eating roots and fruits. Then immediately a great doubt arose in my mind: 'How (is it that) these men are having four arms and they are holding bows and arrows? Their forms appear to be (like those) who have conquered their souls and live in Vaikuntha. How have they obtained what is difficult to be obtained even by Brahma and others?' They, with their hands shining with conches, discs, maces, sarnga (bows) and lotuses, and with their bodies covered with sylvan garlands, and resembling the devotees of Vishnu were near (me). With my mind full of doubt I asked them at that time, O king, (I said:) "Who are you? How have you obtained this condition of having four hands?" Then they laughed much and said to me: "This brahmana does not know the wonderful importance of pinda." Hearing this, I said (to them): "What is pinda? To whom is it given? Tellitto me, O you most religious ones, having bodies with four hands." Then having heard my words, the magnanimous ones told me the entire account of the acquisition of four hands etc. The kiratas said:

11-17. O brahmana, listen to the account: A child from amongst us everyday sported, eating jambu fruits etc. Once while playing and being surrounded by children on all sides he climbed up a beautiful peak of the mountain (Nila). (The boy said:) "There I saw a wonderful temple of a deity. It was decked with the gems like emeralds and had golden walls. Like the sun it tore off (i.e. dispelled) the line (i.e. mass) of darkness with its lustre. Seeing it I was amazed (and thought): 'What is this? Whose abode is this? Going (into it) I shall find out whether the abode belonged to the great ones.' Thinking like this, I, due to my great luck, went inside the house. There I saw the lord of gods, saluted by gods and demons, and shining with crowns, necklaces, armlets and neck ornaments etc., so also having extremely pure and charming ear-rings, and lotus-like feet with bees intoxicated with the fragrance of tulasi (-blossoms).

18-24. (I saw the lord) the rich image (of the lord) whose feet were served by a conch, a disc, a mace, a bow, a lotus which were embodied, and who was well served by Narada and others. (There) some sang, danced and laughed; they pleased the great, very wonderful lord who alone was saluted by the entire world." O sage, my child seeing Vishnu, went there. O king, gods, after having majestically offered worship with incense etc., having made an offering of eatables for the dear (lord) of Shri, so also having waved the lights, went, expecting his grace through great respect for him, to their own abodes. Due to the great luck (of the boy,) he got a particle of boiled rice that had fallen there, and that was difficult to be got by Brahmadeva and other gods and men. The child ate it; then he saw the image; and the very handsome child had four arras. Then we repeatedby looked at the boy who had come home, who had got four arms and who had held a conch, a disc etc.

25-30. We asked him: "What is this wonder that has taken place?" Then the boy told us all the great wonder: "I had gone to the eastern peak (of the mountain). There I saw the lord of gods. There

1 found the charming particle of boiled rice from the offering made to the deity. Just due to eating it, I have now become four-armed, and am amazed." Having heard those words of the boy, we, who were at once amazed, also saw the god, very difficult to be obtained. We ate there food etc. full of all tastes. Then due to the lord's grace we became four-armed. O best among the Kurus, go and have a sight of the lord. O brahmana, eating the particle of boiled rice (from the offering) you (will) be four-armed. Obest brahmana, I have told you about the wonder, about which you had asked me.

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