Men who inflict pain on others even after attaining the human body have to suffer the terrible pangs of rebirth. Dominated by infatuation and devoted to their own selfish interests, men commit many sins and ruin their prospects for the next world.

To such, brother, I reveal myself as Doom and apportion the fruit of their deeds whether good or evil. Those who are supremely clever realize this, and regarding the cycle of births and deaths as full of pain, worship only me.

They renounce action that yields good or evil fruit and take refuge in me, the Lord of gods and men and sages. Thus have I told you the characteristics of saints and sinners; they who understand them fall not into the toils of birth and death.

Listen, dear brother: there are multitudinous merits and demerits created by illusion; they have no real existence whatever; discretion lies in regarding neither; to notice them is unwisdom.’

On hearing this from Rama’s blessed lips, the brothers rejoiced and their hearts overflowed with love. Again and again they did him profound reverence, while a boundless delight filled the heart of Hanuman also.

Rama then withdrew to his own palace; and every day he enacted some such sport anew. Narada the sage paid frequent visits to Ayodhya and sang of Rama’s holy exploits.

After witnessing fresh deeds every day, the sage would go to Brahma’s realm and recite the whole story there. Brahma the Creator felt overjoyed to hear it and said, ‘Dear son, hymn his praises over and over again.’