Ayodhya Kaanda
77 - Arrival at Prayaga and dialogue between Sri Rama and the sage Bharadvaja; the love of the people inhabiting the bank of the Yamuna
Chaupais
Description
After enquiring of their welfare the sage allotted seats to the royal guests and offering homage to them sated them all with his love. He then brought and presented to them bulbs, roots, fruits and sprouts, all sweet as ambrosia. Sri Rama, with Sita, Laksmana and His devotee (Guha), partook of those delicious roots and fruits with much relish. Relieved of His toil Sri Rama felt much happy and Bharadvaja addressed Him in gentle tones; "Today my penance, pilgrimage and renunciation have been rewarded; today my prayer, meditation and dispassion have borne fruit; nay, all my pious practices have been rewarded by Your very sight, O Rama. There is no culmination of gain, no culmination of joy other than this. In beholding You all my hopes have been realized. Now be pleased to grant me this one boon, viz., spontaneous attachment to Your lotus-feet.