Here and there on the river banks dwelt hermits, sages and anchorites unconcerned with the world and devoted to spiritual wisdom, and all along the margins were clusters of many a fragrant tulasi, planted by sages.

Not only was the splendour of the city beyond all description but its outskirts too were most picturesque. The very sight of the city with its groves and gardens, wells and ponds, put a flight every sin.

Its peerless ponds and tanks and beautiful and broad wells with their elegant flights of steps and pellucid water so entranced the eye that even gods and sages were fascinated by the sight. The lakes were adorned with many-coloured lotuses and resounded with the cooing of innumerable birds and the murmur of the bees: and cuckoos and other birds with their sweet warble seemed to invite wayfarers to rest.

Is it possible to describe the city of which Sita’s lord was king? Anima and all the other supernatural powers filled Ayodhya full of every happiness and prosperity.

Everywhere men sang the praises of Raghunatha and sitting down together thus exhorted one another: ‘Worship Rama, protector of the suppliant, the home of all elegance, amiability, beauty and virtue;

the lotus-eyed and dark-complexioned, who protects his servants even as the eyelid protects the eye; who is armed with a beauteous bow and arrows and quiver, and is valiant, a very sun to rejoice the lotus bed of righteous men;

Who is a king of birds of devour the dreadful serpent, death; who banishes all thought of mineness as soon as person bows to him without desire; who is a Kirata to kill the deer-like herds of greed and infatuation; a lion of subdue the wild elephant, Love; the granter of happiness to the faithful;