- was more than could be told by a hundred Sarasvatis and Sheshas, Vedas and Brahmas, Shivas and Ganeshas. How, then, can I describe them at length? Can an earthly worm support the earth on its head?

The king then summoned the queens and, showing every honour to them all, admonished them in gentle tones, ‘The brides are still but children and have come to a strange house; take care of them as eyelids take care of the eyes.

The boys are tired and sleepy; go now and put them to bed.’ So saying, he retired to his own bed-chamber with his thoughts intent on Rama’s feet,

On hearing the sweet and loving words of the king, the queens made ready bejewelled beds of gold and furnished them with various rich coverings as soft and white as the froth of a cow’s milk,

With pillows more charming than words can tell. The bed-chamber, made of precious stones, was decked with garlands and supplied with perfumes, lamps set with lustrous gems and beautiful canopies, so lovely that they defied description; no one who had not seen it could understand its charm.

Having thus prepared this exquisite couch, the queens took up Rama and lovingly laid him down upon it. On being repeatedly asked by Rama, his brothers too went to sleep upon their several couches.

As the mothers gazed on Rama’s dark-hued limbs, so soft and attractive, they all exclaimed in loving accents, ‘How, dear child, did you kill on the way the most dreadful demoness Tadaka?