But on the pools of piety blossomed the varied lotuses of wisdom and understanding; and happiness, contentment, dispassion and discernment, like so many chakavas, were rid of sorrow.

When the sun of Rama’s glory illumines a man’s heart, these latter qualities grow and increase and the first mentioned die away.

One day Rama and his brothers together with their special favourite Hanuman went out to visit a beautiful grove, where the trees were all blossoming and putting forth fresh leaves.

Finding it a good opportunity, the sage Sanaka and his three brothers (Sanandana, Sanatana and Sanatkumara) arrived there, all embodiments of spiritual glow, adorned with amiability and other noble qualities, ever absorbed in the ecstasy of transcendental bliss, and still children in appearance despite their immemorial years.

It seemed as though the four Vedas had each assumed a bodily form; gifted with equanimity, the sages knew no distinctions and had no covering on their bodies except the quarters, and their only ambition was to hear the recital of Raghunatha’s exploits wherever it was carried on.

Sanaka and his brothers, O Bhavani, had stayed in the hermitage of the enlightened sage Agastya, who had told them the whole of Rama’s story, the source of true enlightenment as the fire-stick is the source of fire.

When Rama saw the sages approaching, he rejoiced and prostrated himself before them. Having asked after their continuing well-being, the Lord spread his own yellow robe for them to sit on.