When he heard Indra’s speech, the preceptor of the gods smiled and realized that, though endowed with a thousand eyes, Indra was really blind (lacked discernment). The guru of the gods said, ‘Leave tricks alone and don’t panic! Any deception practised on this occasion will be exposed and get you into trouble.

O king of heaven, any delusion practised on a servant of the lord of delusion recoils on the contriver’s own head. Whatever I did earlier was due to my feeling that it was Rama’s will, but now deceitful action would only do harm.

Listen, O king of heaven; it is Raghunatha’s nature never to be angry at any sin against himself; but he who wrongs his votary is surely consumed in the fire of his wrath.

There are well-known stories, both in popular tradition and in the Vedas to provide it; Durvasa knows well this great trait in Rama’s character. And is there anyone so devoted to Rama as Bharata? The world repeats the name of Rama, and Rama the name of Bharata.

Never harbour in your mind, O lord of the immortals, even the thought of injuring a devotee of Rama, for it would bring you infamy in this world, sorrow in the next and an ever-increasing burden of remorse in your day-to-day life.

Listen, O king of the gods, to my advice, a devotee is supremely dear to Rama; he is gratified when one serves his devotees, and bears great enmity to those who are hostile to them.

Even though the Lord is alike to all without either love or anger and contracts neither sin nor virtue, neither merit nor demerit, and even though he has appointed fate the sovereign of the universe, so that one reaps what one sows,