‘Hear my prayer, Rama,’ said the sage with folded hands. ‘Listen, O ocean of mercy! As I witness your deeds from time to time, a boundless bewilderment possesses my soul.

Immeasurable is your greatness and beyond the comprehension of the Vedas; how, then can I describe it, O Lord God Almighty? The business of a family priest is very contemptible; the Vedas, the Puranas and the Smriti texts treat it with contempt.

When at first I refused the office, Brahma (my father) said to me, “You will be a gainer hereafter, my son. Brahma, the Supreme Spirit, will appear in human semblance as a king, the jewel of the house of Raghu.”

Then I thought to myself that if I shall attain to him who is the object of all contemplation, sacrifice, vows and almsgiving, there could be no nobler vocation than this.

Prayer, penance, religious observances, yogic practices, the performance of one’s own caste-duties, the various pious acts recommended by the Vedas, the pursuit of spiritual enlightenment, compassion and self-control, bathing at holy places and all the other religious duties ordained by the Vedas and holy men,

And the recitation and hearing of the various Tantra texts and of the Vedas and the Puranas have but one great reward, my Lord, and all spiritual endeavours lead to only one glorious end, viz., a constant devotion to your lotus feet.

Can dirt be removed by cleansing with dirt? Can anyone obtain melted butter (ghee)by churning water? So, Raghunatha, only by cleansing with the water of love and faith can the impurity accumulated within be washed away.