In his heart welled up an ocean of affection, and his royal soul resembled Prayaga. He saw Sita’s love growing like the imperishable fig-tree at Prayaga, on which the love of Rama appeared like a little child.

When Janaka’s bewildered senses were on the point of drowning in that ocean of love, like the sage Chiranjivi (Markandeya), he grasped that child – that love – for support. Though Videha’s mind could not ordinarily be lost in infatuation, yet such was the mighty power of his affection for Sita and Rama.

So moved was Sita by the affection of her parents that she could scarcely control herself, but calling to mind both the occasion and her noble duty, Earth’s daughter summoned up courage.

When Janaka saw Sita clothed in her anchorite’s dress, his heart was flooded with love and contentment. ‘Daughter’, he said, ‘you have brought sanctity to both our houses; everybody says your fair renown has illumined the whole world.

The stream of your fame excels the celestial stream (Ganga) and is now flowing through millions of universes. The Ganga has exalted only three places on the earth, but the river of your fame has added to the glory of countless congregations of holy men.’

Though her father spoke with all the eloquence of truth and love, Sita was abashed and shrank into herself. Again her parents pressed her to their bosoms and gave her good, salutary advice and blessings.

Sita could not speak out, but was inwardly embarrassed by the thought that it was not well for her to stay there for the night. The queen (Sunayana) saw her wish and made it known to the king (her husband); both admired in their hearts their daughter’s modesty and noble disposition.