(Says Shiva-) Rama, O Uma, transcends the three gunas (the qualities born of nature); he is the Lord of the animate and inanimate creation and knows the secrets of all hearts. Thus did he demonstrate the miserable plight of earthly lovers and strengthen dispassion in the minds of the wise.

Wrath, lust, greed, pride and delusion are all dissipated by the grace of Rama; he who wins the favour of that juggler is never deluded by his stage-trickery.

I tell you, Uma, my own realization; the only thing real is the worship of Hari, and the whole world is but a dream. The Lord then went on from there to the shore of the lake called Pampa, beautiful and deep.

Its water was as limpid as the hearts of saints and on all its four sides were built charming flights of steps. Beasts of all kinds drank of its water wherever they listed, like a crowd of beggars at the house of a generous man.

Under its dense cover of lotus leaves the water was as difficult to discern as is the attributeless Absolute under the veil of illusion (Maya).

In the lake’s fathomless depths were the fish all enjoying uninterrupted blessedness, like the righteous who pass their days in peace.

Lotuses of diverse colours were in full bloom; and swarms of buzzing bees sweetly hummed; swans and waterfowls poured forth their notes abroad as though on seeing the Lord they had burst into his praises.