Baal Kaanda
42 - Entry of Visvamitra with Rama and Laksmana into the precincts of Mithila
Chaupais
Description
Sri Rama and Laksmana accompanied the sage and reached the bank of the Ganga, the stream of which purifies the whole universe. The son of Gadhi, Visvamitra, related the whole legend how the celestial stream had come down upon earth. The Lord then performed His ablutions with all the sages, and the Brahmanas received gifts of various kinds. Accompanied by a troop of hermits the Lord gladly proceeded further and quickly drew near to the capital of the Videhas, Mithila. When Sri Rama beheld the beauty of the city, He as well as His younger brother were much delighted. There were many big and small wells, rivers and tanks with water as sweet as nectar and reached by flights of steps made of jewels. Bees, drunk with honey, made a sweet humming sound and birds of various hues softly cooed. Lotuses of different colours opened their petals; while a cool, soft and fragrant breeze ever delighted the soul.