  Va?ish?ha heard their speech and prayer, And thus addressed the concourse there, Friends, BrÁhmans, counsellors, and all Assembled in the palace hall: “Ye know that Bharat, free from care, Still lives in RÁjagriha339 where The father of his mother reigns: ?atrughna by his side remains. Let active envoys, good at need, Thither on fleetest horses speed, To bring the hero youths away: Why waste the time in dull delay?” Quick came from all the glad reply: “Va?ish?ha, let the envoys fly!” He heard their speech, and thus renewed His charge before the multitude: “Nandan, A?ok, SiddhÁrth, attend, Your ears, Jayanta, Vijay, lend: Be yours, what need requires, to do: I speak these words to all of you. With coursers of the fleetest breed To RÁjagriha's city speed. Then rid your bosoms of distress, And Bharat thus from me address: “The household priest and peers by us Send health to thee and greet thee thus: Come to thy father's home with haste: Thine absent time no longer waste.” But speak no word of RÁma fled, Tell not the prince his sire is dead, Nor to the royal youth the fate That ruins Raghu's race relate. Go quickly hence, and with you bear Fine silken vestures rich and rare, And gems and many a precious thing As gifts to Bharat and the king.” With ample stores of food supplied, Each to his home the envoys hied, Prepared, with steeds of swiftest race, To Kekaya's land340 their way to trace. They made all due provision there, And every need arranged with care, Then ordered by Va?ish?ha, they Went forth with speed upon their way. Then northward of Pralamba, west Of ApartÁla, on they pressed, Crossing the MÁlinÍ that flowed With gentle stream athwart the road. They traversed GangÁ's holy waves [pg 176]Where she HÁstinapura341 laves, Thence to PanchÁla342 westward fast Through KurujÁngal's land343 they passed. On, on their course the envoys held By urgency of task impelled. Quick glancing at each lucid flood And sweet lake gay with flower and bud. Beyond, they passed unwearied o'er, Where glad birds fill the flood and shore Of ?arada??Á racing fleet With heavenly water clear and sweet, Thereby a tree celestial grows Which every boon on prayer bestows: To its blest shade they humbly bent, Then to KulingÁ's town they went. Then, having passed the Warrior's Wood, In AbhikÁla next they stood, O'er sacred IkshumatÍ344 came, Their ancient kings' ancestral claim. They saw the learned BrÁhmans stand, Each drinking from his hollowed hand, And through BÁhÍka345 journeying still They reached at length SudÁman's hill: There Vish?u's footstep turned to see
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