You too, O subduer of Love, reverently mutter ‘Rama, Rama’ day and night. Is this Rama the same as the son of the king of Ayodhya or some other unborn, impersonal, imperceptible Being?

If he be a king’s son, how can he be Brahma (the Absolute)? And if he were Brahma, how can he be distraught by the loss of a wife? When I consider his acts on the one hand, and hear of his glory on the other, my mind is completely distracted.

If, my lord, it be another who is desireless, all-pervading and all-powerful, instruct me and explain. Think of me as ignorant and be not angry, but do what you can to remove my perplexity.

In the forest (in my previous birth) I beheld Rama’s majesty, although I was too awe-stricken to tell you anything; nevertheless my mind was so dull that I did not understand, and I reaped a just reward for my folly.

Some doubt still lingers in my mind. Be gracious to me, I implore you with folded hands. Lord, at that time you did your best to instruct me (yet I did not understand). Do not, my husband, allow this thought to anger you.

I have no such delusion now, for I long to hear the story of Rama. Recount the sacred virtues of Rama, O Lord of heaven, bedecked with the Serpent King (Shesha)!

Laying my head upon the ground, I do homage to your feet and entreat you with folded hands to recount the unsullied glory of the Chief of Raghus; extract the essence of Vedic doctrine on the subject.