140 Ram Narayan — Translation of the Ayodhya-Mahatmya. [No. 2, 



the middle of which is Rama Sabha, adorned with all sorts of jewels. Similar 

 places of Indra, Yam a, Varuna, Kubera,and other celestial beings, are nothing 

 compared to this. In fact, Brahma and others have no such thing. A heap of 

 sins equal to the mountain Meru, is destroyed by its mere sight. One visit 

 to it removes the sins of thousands of former births. All the gods render 

 homage to it, and Ramachandra, together with his brothers, performs 

 the functions of sovereignty in the middle of it. The fruits of the virtuous 

 actions of a man are increased by once going round this place and visiting 

 and worshipping Raghunatha. 



South of it lies the Madant DhavanKund, bathing in 

 which frees from all pride. Raghunatha, with his brothers, uses 

 his tooth-brush here. On one occasion, Konduna Muni, having bathed 

 in this pond, performed the usual ceremonies of prayer, when the wind 

 blew so terribly, that his deer-skin was carried into it, from the effects 

 of which the skin assumed the shape of a glorious deity, who ascended 

 a most brilliant throne, adorning himself with precious necklaces and 

 other ornaments, and fanned by celestial beings, Gandharvas singing and 

 Apsaras dancing about. Seeing this, all were astonished. At this time 

 Ramachandra appeared, and although he knew all, he asked the deity 

 who he was, how he had become a deer, how he had now obtained this 

 fair body, and what he was about to do. He replied, " Ramachandra, 

 you know every one internally and externally, but as you have asked 

 me, I have to say, O Raghunandana, I was a Vyasa in my former 

 birth, always acted contrary to the Vedas, and, from pride of riches, never 

 minded what I was told. I never said prayers, did not fast, and gave 

 no alms. I was wholly given to sensual pleasures. But I did one good 

 action, viz., I unintentionally sprinkled water on a Tulsi plant. From that 

 virtue, I became a deer, and my skin was used by a devotee and con- 

 veyed to Ayodhya with godly and religious persons. It touched the water 

 of this place and assumed this beautiful form. I have now seen you, and 

 beg to be admitted to heaven, free from pain, age, and death." This was 

 granted, and getting into a glorious vehicle he ascended to the regions of 

 Ramachandra, whence there is no returning. The pilgrimage of the said 

 pond is performed on the 9th of the dark half of Chait;. West of the Sabha 

 is R amk o t." 



Then Parvati asked, " Where are the places occupied by the monkeys, 

 who came with Ramachandra after the southern conquest ?" Makadeva 

 replied, " At the gate of the Palace lives Hanumana, to the south of him 

 Sugriva, and near him Angada. At the southern gate of the Fort reside 

 Is ala and Nila, and near them Sokhain. To the east, there is a place called 

 Navaratna [nine jewels — a temple with nine spires], north of which 

 lives Gavaksha. At the western door of the Fort resides Dudhavakra. Here 



