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chaplets of great moonlike pearls and jasmine-flowers.

Vasishtha, Vishvamitra, and the king welcomed the
-august visitors, each and all, with Arghya(1) and with
Padya(2), as required by the old and gracious rules of courtesy,
and they too greeted these in turn, and all took seats and
turned with praise to Rama, most beautiful of all that glorious
company in his exalted mood.(8)

The Anuchanas—they who know the Scriptures in their
full completeness—blessed him and addressed him thus:

'"Wise are thy words, 0 Prince !, and full of sweetness. Very
rare are they. And often long we wait before we find one of
such promise as thou art. Many are the trees that grow luxu-
riantly and clothe themselves in heavy foliage. Few are the
plants of sandal that impart their fragrance to the axe that
cuts them down. Many are the dolls of flesh and blood and
bone that thou hast spoken of. Not often do we find a true
mind lighting one. They pass through the old rounds of birth
and age and death, of pains and pleasures, and arc not yet
aroused to think what this Samsara is and means. Few are
they that, like thee, try to take account of what has gone
before and what lies after. Few are they whose intellect
flames like thine to make light for itself and for all others.
But be thou happy. As thy words are full of wisdom, and of
the sweetness and the sadness of Vairagya, so do they carry
in themselves full hope of happiness and peace. Never have
these, Viv^ka and Vairagya, searching discrimination and
compossionate dispassion, failed ^to bring with them Bodha,
enlightenment and rest. Twofold is desire; one is the foul,

(1) A ceremonial offering of rice, durva-grass, flowers, etc., and
water, presented to persons of high spiritual rank.

(2) Water for washing the feet.

(8) Etymologioally, Bama means *he in whom all beinga rejoice,
ramante*, the Self whom all love, for whose sake only is anything
also dear,