Ram, Who Purified the People of the Dandaka Forest

Upon entering the dense forest of Dandaka, Sri Ram comes across beautiful hermitages of great, realised sages. Full of energy from Vedic chanting and shining with the grandeur of the knowledge of Brahman, these auspicious abodes shine like the sun in the sky. Celestial nymphs dance with ardent admiration and reverence amidst the fire sanctuaries in the courtyards, full of various animals and swarmed by birds of all kinds. Beautiful ponds filled with lotuses and a variety of other flowers lie nestled among sacred trees.Great old sages who have mastered their senses, inhabit these hermitages and live harmoniously with nature, shining with the aura of the sun and fire. Graced by their holy presence, the whole place dazzles as if it were the abode of Lord Brahma himself. The great sages welcome the virtuous Sri Ram, Lakshman and Vaidehi by performing auspicious rites. All the forest dwellers are awestruck by the handsome build of Sri Ram coupled with his grandeur, tenderness and neatness of clothing. They all look on in wonder at the lustrous trio. Taking delight in their good fortune, the sages lodge the scion of Raghu and his companions as their guest.Having performed all the auspicious rites and offerings to their guests, the great sages join their palms and go on to say, ‘The king who is the protector of righteousness, the respectable and revered upholder of justice is a resort for his people. Worshipped as the fourth part of Indra himself, he protects his subjects, O scion of Raghu! It is hence that the king is saluted by all and enjoys the most delightful pleasures.’The sages believe that Sri Ram is their king, whether his residence is in the forest or the city. Having renounced worldly pleasures and conquered the senses, the ascetics deserve his protection just as a foetus needs to be protected by the mother. In this manner, the ascetics of the holy hermitages of the Dandaka Forest, honour Sri Ram hailing him as their beloved king and in return receive the shelter of his protection as a blessing.