He who never asks for anything but is devoted to you with a simple, spontaneous devotion – in is heart abide for ever, for that is your very home!’

Such were the dwelling-places the eminent sage (Valmiki) indicated, and his loving words gladdened Rama’s heart, ‘Listen, O lord the Solar race,’ the sage continued, ‘I will now tell you of a retreat suitable for your present wants.

Take up your abode on the hill of Chitrakuta, where you will have every comfort. Charming is the hill and lovely the forest, the haunt of elephants, lions, deer and birds.

There, too, is a holy river, glorified in the Puranas, which was brought by the sage Atri’s wife (Anasuya) by the power of her penance; it is a tributary of the Ganga and is called Mandakini, which is as quick to drown all sins as a witch to devour infants.

Many great sages like Atri dwell there, practising austerities and muttering sacred formulas and wasting their bodies with penance. Go there, O Rama, and reward the labours of them all, conferring dignity on the holy mountain.’

Thus did the great sage Valmiki describe at length the infinite glory of Chitrakuta, and the two brothers went there with Sita and bathed in the sacred stream.

‘Lakshmana,’ said Raghunatha, ‘the riverbank here is a lovely spot; now make arrangements for our stay somewhere here.’ Lakshmana surveyed the north bank of the Payasvini river and found that a ravine ran right round the bank like a bow