‘See, dear friends’, said the queens, ‘how resplendent is the city, how splendid the night!’ the mothers-in-law then slept with the lovely brides enfolded in their arms, like serpents that have clasped to their bosoms the precious jewel from inside their heads.

At the holy hour before dawn the Lord awoke when cocks had well begun to crow. The rhapsodists and genealogists sang his praises, and the citizens flocked to the gate to do him reverence.

The four brothers did homage to the Brahmans and the gods, their preceptor and their parents, and were glad to receive their blessing, and while the mothers gazed with reverence upon their faces, the princes repaired to the gate with the king.

Though pure in themselves, the four brothers performed all the customary ablutions and bathed in the sacred river (Sarayu) and, having gone through their morning routine of prayer, etc., return to their father.

The king, on seeing them, clasped them to his heart; and then with his permission the four brothers gladly took their seats. The whole court was gratified to see Rama and accounted their eyes supremely blessed.

Then came the sages Vasishtha and Vishvamitra and were conducted to exalted seats. The father and sons adored the sages and touched their feet, and the two gurus were overjoyed as they gazed on Rama.

The sage Vasishtha related sacred legends, while the monarch and the ladies of the gynaeceum listened. In the course of his narration the sage gladly recounted in diverse ways all the wondrous deeds of Vishvamitra which surpassed even the imagination of the sages.