________________
II, 9.
THE MISSION TO SEEK THE PRINCE.
95
has he long arms and the signs of a great man ? Surely he is the one who, enquiring into our practice, discoursed so freely on the matter of life and death. 671
He has gone to the abode of Arada, to seek for a complete mode of escape.' Having received this certain information, respectfully considering the urgent commands of the anxious king, 672
They dared not hesitate in their undertaking, but straightway took the road and hastened on. Then seeing the wood in which the royal prince dwelt, and him, deprived of all outward marks of dignity, 673
His body still glorious with lustrous shining, as when the sun comes forth from the black cloud; then the religious teacher of the country and the great minister holding to the true law, 674
Put off from them their courtly dress, and descending from the chariot gradually advanced, like the royal Po-ma-ti (? Bharata) and the Rishi Vasishtha, 675
Went through the woods and forests, and seeing the royal prince Râma, each according to his own prescribed manner, paid him reverence, as he advanced to salute him ; 676
Or as Sukra, in company with Angiras, with earnest heart paid reverence, and sacrificed to Indra råga. 677
Then the royal prince in return paid reverence to the royal teacher and the great minister, as the divine Indra placed at their ease Sukra and Angiras; 678
· The character which I have translated 'black' is also means 'a crow.'
, which,
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