Laghu YOGA VASISHTHA - HolyBooks.com

LAGHU YOGA VASISTHA
According to the directions of his father, he would
be sometimes engaged in the chase along with his
retinue. Having supped with his distant relatives,
friends and brothers, he would pass his night
sweetly. Thus did he pass his fifteenth year,
assisting and pleasing kings and others, like the
cool moon or delicious nectar. At this period of his
life, his once radiant body became all at once
emaciated, like the river floods going down in
summer; his red cool face of long eyes became wan
like a white lotus; and he ever seated himself in the
Padma posture, with his hands resting on his chin,
and his young feet tinkling with bells. Then wholly
absorbed in pensive thought, he forgot to perform
his daily allotted duties of life, and his mind grew
despondent. His followers noticing the ever statuelike
position their master assumed, fell at his feet
and asked him the cause of his moody temper. To
which Rama merely replied by performing his
daily rites with such a depressed mind and
dejected face, as affected all who saw it. Being
apprised of this fact, his father Dasaratha sent for
him one day, and having seated him on his lap,
asked him to explain the cause of his grief. Rama
48