Aranya Kaanda
115 - Sutiksna's love and Sri Rama's meeting with the sage Agastya; dialogue with Agastya; Sri Rama's entry into the Dandaka forest and His meeting with Jatayu
Chaupais
Description
From the time Sri Rama took up His abode there the sages lived happily and were rid of all fear. The hills, woods, streams and lakes were suffused with beauty and grew yet more lovely day by day. The birds and deer were full of joy, and the bees with their sweet humming looked very charming. Not even Sesa (the king of serpents) would be able to describe the forest which was adorned by Sri Rama (the Chief of Raghus ) in His manifest form. Once upon a time, as the Lord was sitting at ease, Laksmana addressed Him in guileless words: " O Lord of gods, human beings, sages and all animate and inanimate creation! I ask of You as of my own master. Instruct me, my lord, how I may be able to adore the dust of Your feet to the exclusion of everything else. Discourse to me on spiritual wisdom and dispassion as well as on Maya (Illusion); and also speak to me about Bhakti (devotion), which You make an occasion for showering Your grace."