Baal Kaanda
39 - Visvamitra visits king Dasaratha and asks for Sri Rama and Laksmana
Chaupais
Description
The Lord had reddish eyes, a broad chest and long arms; His body was dark as the blue lotus or the Tamala tree. With a beautiful quiver fastened at His back with a yellow piece of cloth wrapped round His waist, He held in His two hands a lovely bow and arrow respectively. In the two pretty boys, one of whom was dark and the other fair, Visvamitra secured a great treasure. "I have now realized," said he to himself, "that the Lord is a votary of the Brahmanas; on my account He has left His own father." While on the way the sage pointed out the demoness Tadaka, who on hearing their voice rushed up in a fury. With a single shaft the Lord took her life and recognizing her as deserving of compassion bestowed His own state on her. Then the seer Visvamitra, while recognizing his lord as the fountain of knowledge, imparted to Him a sacred formula which armed Him against hunger and thirst and endowed Him with unequalled strength of body and a glow of vigour.