BOOK I

RAMA'S VAIRAGYA
CHAPTER I
The Dying of Desire

Rama, m the first exuberant and beauteous bloom of
youth, with the whole world around wearing" its most attractive
hues for him, eldest son of Dasharatha, over-lord of all earth's
kings, heir to the glories of the Solar Race of Rulers that
abided on the earth only to teach to other king's the duties of
their office—unto Rama, while eng-aged in going round the
TTrthas, shrines and sacred places of the land, at the early
age of sixteen years, came Vairagya, exhaustion of the out-
ward-leading forces of Desire, and revulsion from attachment
to all things that perish. He heard'the call of the Eternal
from whose presence he had wandered forth. He heard the
call, and not yet understanding" its full meaning", turned his
face towards his home from his pleasure wanderings and
sports in the fair places of the earth.

There, in his royal home, the prince's large-eyed face
grew daily larger-eyed with wistfulness and pining for he
knew not what yet clearly; and he sat in sadness in, his palace
with no heart for anything"; or if he moved, then languid and
laborious, at much urging of his loyal kinsfolk, even for the
doing of the daily duties ordered for his race by his great
forefather Manu.

Then&they told the king, his father, how" his loved son^s
face grew' pale and paler every day. And the king" was full
of care, and called the prince and asked him tenderly : ^What
is the loogipg, 0 my son, that so distresses thee P^ --And he