Chapter XXII: Section XXII

Upon Vasishtha's representing this, king Dacaratha himself with a complacent countenance, summoned unto him Rama and Lakshmana. And when the auspicious rites had been performed by both Rama's father and mother, and when the priest Vasishtha had uttered mantras, king Dacaratha, smelling his son's crown, with a glad heart, made him over unto the descendant of Kucika. Then there blew a Breeze free from dust and of delicious feel, on witnessing the lotus-eyed Rama at the hands of Vicwamitra. And as the high-souled one was about to set out, blossoms began to shower down copiously, accompanied with the sounds of celestial kettle-drums and the loud blares of conchs. Vicwamitra went first, and next the highly famous Rama with the side-locks, holding the bow. And him followed Sumitra's son. And equipped with quivers, and with bows in hand, gracing the ten cardinal points and resembling three-hooded serpents, they followed the high-souled Vicwamitra, like the two stalwart Aswins following the Grand-sire. And those effulgent ones of faultless limbs went in the wake of the ascetic, illumining him with their grace. And like unto those sons of his, Skanda and Bisakha following the incomprehensible deity, Sthanu, those youthful brothers of comely persons and faultless limbs, Rama and Lakshmana, highly effulgent, carrying bows in hand, adorned with ornaments, and equipped with scimitars, with their fingers encased in _Guana_ skin, flamingly followed Kucika's son, beautifying him with their splendour. And having proceeded over half a _Yojana_, and arriving at the right bank of the Sarayu, Vicwamitra addressed these sweet words unto Rama,--"O Rama! do thou, O child, take of this water: let no delay occur. Do thou receive the _mantras_ Vala and Ativala,--and thou wilt not feel fatigue or fever or undergo any change of look, and whether asleep or heedless, the Rakshasas will not be able to surprise thee. And, O Rama, the might of thy arms will be unequalled in this world,--nay, in all the three worlds. There shall be none--thy equal. Do thou, O Raghava, recite Vala and Ativala, O child! And, O sinless one, when thou hast secured these two kinds of knowledge, none in this world will equal thee in good fortune, or in talent, or in philosophic wisdom or in subtle apprehension, or in the capacity of answering a controversialist; for Vala and Ativala are the nurses of all knowledge. And, O Rama, O foremost of men, if thou recitest Vala and Ativala on the way. neither hunger nor thirst will exercise thee, O descendant of Raghu! And if thou recitest these, thou wilt attain fame on earth. Those sciences fraught with energy are the daughters of the Grandsire. I intend to confer them upon thee, O Kakutstha; and, O lord of earth, they are worthy to be conferred upon thee as thou art possessed of various virtues. Thou need not entertain any doubt about it. And if thou learn them like unto the exercise of asceticism they will prove of manifold good unto thee." Thereat Rama with a cheerful countenance sipping water, with a purified body received those sciences from the _Maharshi_ of subdued soul. And furnished with the sciences, Rama of dreadful prowess appeared resplendent, even like the adorable autumnal Sun invested with a thousand rays. Then Rama having rendered unto Kucika's son all the duties appertaining to a spiritual guide, the three happily spent that night on the banks of the Sarayu. And although those excellent sons of Dacaratha lay down on an unbeseeming bed of grass, yet in consequence of the sweet converse of Kucika's son, the night seemed to pass pleasantly away.