Being thus requested by the high-souled Lakshmana, Sumantra began to reveal the mystery of Durbāsā’s account “In the days of yore the great ascetic Durbāsā, the son of Atri, resided for a year in the holy hermitage of Vasishtha. At that time thy sire, the highly effulgent and illustrious Dasharatha, with a view to see his high-souled priest Vasishtha, repaired there. He saw the great ascetic Durbāsā, burning like the sun in his effulgence, seated on the right hand side of Vasishtha. Thereupon he humbly saluted those two leading ascetics. And they too, welcoming him, received him duly with seat, water to wash feet, Arghya, fruits and roots. Then he lived there in the company of the ascetics. Thereupon during the noon, all those ascetics, seated there, began to dwell upon various pleasant topics. During an interval Dasharatha, with folded hands and uplifted arms, said to the high-souled son of Atri—Durbāsā, having asceticism for his wealth. ‘O illustrious Sir, how long shall my family remain in existence? What is the extent of the lease of life granted to Rāma and my other sons? How long shall the descendants of Rāma live? And what shall be the end of my race? Do thou relate all this unto me.’ Hearing the words of the king Dasharatha the highly effulgent Durbāsā, replied: — ‘Hear, the early history, O king. During the encounter between the celestials and Asuras, the demons, being remonstrated with by the celestials sought shelter of the wife of Vrigu—thy priest. Vrigu’s wife having promised them help they lived there fearlessly. Having beheld the demons thus helped by Vriju’s wife, Hari, the king of the celestials, enraged, chopped off her head with his sharp discus. And angry on beholding his wife slain, Vrigu, imprecated a curse on Vishnu, the slayer of enemies’ race, saying— “Being beside thyself with anger thou hast slain my wife, not worthy of being killed; therefore, O Janārddana, thou shalt be born in the region of mortals. And there thou shalt remain separated from thy spouse for many long years.” Having imprecated this curse, Vrigu was greatly pained and being propitiated by his adoration, Vishnu, fond of disciples, said: “Having slain Rāvana and others, I shall be, for the behoof of mankind, subject to this imprecation.” O bestower of kings, the highly effulgent Vishnu, thus imprecated by Vrigu in the days of yore, hath been born as thy son in this birth and hath been celebrated under the appellation of Rāma. O conferrer of honors, for sooth shall Rāma partake of the fruits of Vrigu’s curse. He shall reign in Ayodhyā for a long time. All his followers shall be happy and prosperous. Having reigned for eleven thousand years Rāma shall repair to the region of Brahmā. None shall be able to vanquish him. He shall celebrate many a horse-sacrifice with profuse gifts and shall establish many royal families. He shall beget on Sitā two sons.’ Having thus related unto Dasharatha the past and future of his family the highly effulgent great ascetic Durbāsā became silent. He being silent—the great King Dasharatha, having bowed unto the two high-souled ascetics, again returned to his city Ayodhyā. I had heard there all these words of the great ascetic Durbāsā. Up to this time they are lying in my heart. Rishis’ words shall never prove fruitless. According to the words of Rishi Rāma shall install two sons of Sitā in Ayodhyā, not anywhere else. Under these circumstances, O Lakshmana, thou shouldst not grieve for Sitā or Rāma; in their interest do thou become patient.” Hearing those wonderous words of the charioteer Sumantra, Lakshmana became greatly happy and eulogised him again and again. They thus conversing with one another on their way back, the sun set. They accordingly spent that night on the banks of Kesini.