The enlightened sage Vishvamitra felt delighted at heart to hear the king’s affectionate reply. Then Vasishtha pleaded much with the king so that his doubts were dispelled.

Most politely he sent for his two sons and clasped them to his bosom and admonished them in many ways. Turning to the sage, he then said, “My lord, the two sons are my life. You are now their father, holy sir, you and no other!”

The king entrusted his two sons to the seer, again and again blessing them; then the Lord went to his mother’s apartment, bowed his head before her feet and departed.

The two heroes, lions among men, oceans of compassion, resolute of purpose and primal causes of the whole universe, gladly went forth to relieve the sage of his fear.

Dawn-bright-eyed, broad-chested, with long arms, and body dark as the dark-blue lotus or the tamala tree, with a beautiful quiver fastened at his back with a yellow piece of cloth wrapped round his waist, he (Rama) held in his two hands a lovely bow and arrows.

In the two pretty boys, one of whom was dark and the other fair. Vishvamitra acquired a priceless treasure, “I have now realized,” said he to himself, “that the Lord is a votary of the Brahmans, for on my account he has left his father.”

As they went on, the sage pointed out the demoness Tadaka, who on hearing their voice rushed up in a fury. With a single arrow the Lord took her life, but considering her wretched bestowed his own state on her, i.e., granted her a place in his own realm.