Ram Meets Agastya

Requesting leave of sage Sutikshana, the noble Ram accompanied by Lakshman and Sita, proceeds towards the hermitage of the great and pure souled sage Agastya. As they move closer, Lord Ram is obviously delighted and speaks to Lakshman about the glories of the exalted sage. Telling Lakshman about his noble deeds and spiritual powers, the young prince Ram points out that such was his moral excellence and spiritual stature that it was impossible for any morally depraved person to stay anywhere in the vicinity of his hermitage.Sri Ram and Sita move forward into the hermitage, delighted with the serene ambience, with peaceful deer and statues of beautiful gods, including Brahma, Shiva, Vishnu and Gayatri. Also gracing the area were sites dedicated to the celestial planets, their powers manifesting and radiating in the respective place allotted to each.Sage Agastya approaches them, shining with great effulgence. Moving forward, Sri Ram touches his feet and stands with folded palms, with Sita and Lakshman beside him. Sage Agastya receives them with respect and honour, pours oblations into the fire and offers them clean water to wash their hands. Having offered delicacies of different fruits and roots to the visitors, Agastya presents Sri Ram with many different weapons. The first among them is the great divine bow of Vishnu, the Kodanda. Agastya declares that the architect of the gods, Vishwakarma, crafted this celestial bow.On learning about its glory, Sri Ram is delighted to receive it. The second is a never-failing arrow given by Lord Brahma himself; the third comes from Mahendra - two inexhaustible quivers, with arrows that shine like fire. Then, there is a powerful sword embellished with gold.Sage Agastya asks Sri Ram to accept the unequalled divine weaponry, thereby equipping him for the trials that lay ahead. Such is the power of sage Agastya, who obtained unsurpassed spiritual stature through a human life, so much so that, he exhilarated even the gods.Rama, who was exhilarated in his spirits through the grace of Agastya.