THE RÁMÁYAN OF VÁLMÍKI, VOL. III - Gujarat Knowledge Centre

Canto XI. THE RjTMAYAN. 45
Returned where he bad lodged before.
Here for the months, content, he stayed,
There for a year his visit paid
Here for four months his home would fix.
There, as it chanced, for five or six.
Here for eight- months and there for three
The son of Raghu's stay would be
Here weeks, there fortnights, more or less.
He spent in tranquil happiness.
As there the hero dwelt at ease
Among those holy devotees,
In days untroubled o'er his head
Ten circling years of pleasure fled.
So Raghu's son in duty trained
A while in every cot remained.
Then with his dame retraced the road
To good Sutikshna's calm abode.
Hailed by the saints with honours due
Near to the hermit's home he drew,
And there the tamer of his fo.es
Dwelt for a time in sweet repose.
One day within that holy wood
By saint Sutikshna Rama stood.
And thus the prince with reverence meek
To that high sage began to speak
' In the wide woodlands that extend
Around us, lord most reverend.
As frequent voice of rumour tells,
Agastya^ saintliest hermit, dwells.
So vast the woodj I cannot trace
The path to reach his dwelling place.
Nor, searching unassisted, find
That hermit of the thoughtful mind.
I with my wife and brother fain