- mentally perceived that Sita was weary, and rested for a while in the shade of the banyan. Men and women rapturously gazed on their loveliness; their peerless beauty captivated their eyes and mind.

Standing in a circle with their rapt and blissful gaze fixed on the countenance of Ramachandra, they all shone like a group of partridges encircling the moon. With his graceful form possessing the hue of a young-tamala tree, he fascinated by his looks the mind of a myriad Loves.

Lakshmana, too, radiant and fair as a flash of lightning and handsome from head to foot, charmed the soul. With the bark of trees wrapped round their loins and quivers fastened to their waist, the two brothers carried bows and arrows in their lotus hands.

Their matted locks were coiled on their heads in the shape of a glorious crown; they had broad chests, long arms and large eyes, and their fair faces, which resembled the autumnal full moon, glistened with beads of sweat.

The pair was charming beyond words; their loveliness was unbounded and my wit is scant. They all gazed upon the beauty of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita with their mind, intellect and reason fully absorbed.

Thirsting for love, men and women stood entranced, even as bucks and does are dazed by a light. The village women drew near Sita, but for very love shrank from questioning her.

Again and again they threw themselves at her feet and in their simplicity addressed to her soft and guileless words: ‘Princess, we have a petition, but due to our womanly modesty, are afraid to make it.