Then said Rama to the sage, ‘I have nothing, my lord, to hide from you; you know why I have come, and that, holy father, is why I have not explained it to you.

Now, my good sir, give me some advice, by following which I may slay the hermits, foes.’ The sage smiled when he heard the Lord’s words. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘what makes you ask for my advice?

It is by virtue of my devotion to you, O destroyer of sin, that I know a little of your greatness. Your Maya (illusive power) is like a huge fig-tree with countless universes for its clustering fruit.

All creatures, animate and inanimate, are like the insects that dwell inside the fruit and know no other fruit (besides the one they inhabit). The relentless and dreadful Time devours that fruit, but even that (all-devouring) Time ever trembles for fear of you.

You, who are the lord of all the rulers of the spheres, have sought my advice as though you were an ordinary man! This boon I ask of you, O home of mercy; pray dwell in my heart with Lakshmi and your brother (Lakshmana).

- and grant me steadfast faith, dispassion, the company of the saints and ceaseless love for your lotus feet. Even though I know you to be the same as the indivisible and infinite Brahma (the Absolute), comprehensible only by (intuitive) experience, adored by the sages.

- and even though know and depict that (impersonal) form of yours, yet I constantly turn back from it and feel enamoured of your qualified (personal)form – of the Absolute made man! You have always exalted your servants, and that is why, Raghunatha, you have thought fit to seek my advice.