Ayodhya Kaanda
101 - King Janakaís arrival at Citrakuta; the Kolas and Kiratas offer presents to the visitors and all meet one another
Chaupais
Description
The Brahmanas who hailed from King Dasaratha's capital (Ayodhya) as well as those who came from King Janaka's capital (Mithila) and even so Vasistha, the preceptor of the solar race, and Satananda, the family priest of King Janaka, who had explored the way to worldly prosperity as well as the path leading to blessedness, gave discourse on many a topic including religion, ethics, dispassion and saving knowledge. The sage Visvamitra (a descendant of Kusika) eloquently admonished the entire assembly with many a reference to ancient legends till the Lord of Raghus said to him, "Everyone, my lord, has remained without water since yesterday" Said the sage, "What the Lord of Raghus says is quite reasonable. It is already past noon even today." Perceiving what was in the mind of the sage (Visvamitra) the King of Tirahuta (Mithila) replied, "It will not be desirable to take cereals here." The king's reasonable reply pleased all; and having received the sage's permission they proceeded to perform their midday ablutions.