At a propitious moment (which occurs once in every forty-eight minutes every day) he set out at once and halted nowhere on the road, but this morning at daybreak bathed at Prayaga and marched on. When the whole host began to cross the Yamuna,

- then, lord, he sent us ahead for news.’ So saying they bowed their heads to the ground. The great sage gave the messengers an escort of six or seven Kiratas and dismissed them at once.

All the people of Ayodhya rejoiced to hear of Janaka’s arrival, but Rama was greatly disquieted, and Indra, the king of heaven, overwhelmed with anxiety.

The malevolent Kaikeyi was writhing with remorse. To whom should she speak out her mind and on whom could she lay the blame? Men and women rejoiced to think that their stay was ensured for a few more days.

In this manner the day passed. Early the next morning all bathed, and after their ablutions they all worshipped Ganesha, Gauri (Shiva’s consort), Tripurari (the slayer of the demon Tripura) and the Sun.

Next, they reverenced the feet of Lakshmi’s lord and prayed, the men raising their joined palms, the women holding out the skirts of their robes (after the way of beggars): ‘With Rama our king and Sita our queen, may Avadh, the capital, be brimful of all bliss,

-gloriously restored with all its people, and way Rama instal Bharata as heir-apparent! Bathing all in the nectar of this bliss, let everyone, O Lord, reap the reward of his existence in this world.