heart.  Hearing her speak in that strain, and beholding her (distressed), that royal sage of rigid austerities, viz., the high-souled Hotravahana, was filled with pity.  Then, O lord, that maternal grandsire of her rose up with trembling frame and causing that maiden to sit on his lap, began to comfort her.  He then acquired of her in details about that distress of hers from its beginning.  And she, thereupon, represented to him minutely all that had happened.  Hearing all she said, the royal sage was filled with pity and grief.  And that great sage settled in mind what she would do.  Trembling from agitation he addressed the afflicted maiden sunk in woe, saying, ’Do not go back to thy father’s abode, O blessed lady!  I am the father of thy mother.  I will dispel thy grief.  Rely on me, O daughter!  Great, indeed, must thy affliction he when thou art so emaciated!  At my advice, go unto the ascetic Rama, the son of Jamadagni.  Rama will dispel this great affliction and grief of thine.  He will slay Bhishma in battle if the latter obeyeth not his behest.  Go, therefore, unto that foremost one of Bhrigu’s race who resembleth the Yuga-fire itself in energy!  That great ascetic will place thee once more on the right track!’ Hearing this, that maiden, shedding tears all the while, saluted her maternal grandsire, Hotravahana, with a bend of her head and addressed him, saying, ’Go I will at thy command!  But shall I succeed in obtaining a sight of that reverend sire celebrated over the world?  How will he dispel this poignant grief of mine?  And how shall I go to that descendant of Bhrigu?  I desire to know all this.’

“Hotravahana said, ’O blessed maiden, thou wilt behold Jamadagni’s son, Rama, who is devoted to truth and endued with great might and engaged in austere penances in the great forest.  Rama always dwelleth in that foremost of the mountains called Mahendra.  Many Rishis, learned in the Vedas, and many Gandharvas and Apsaras also dwell there.  Go, blessed be thou, and tell him these words of mine, having saluted with thy bent head that sage of rigid vows and great ascetic merit.  Tell him also, O blessed girl, all that thou seekest.  If thou namest me, Rama will do everything for thee, for Rama, the heroic son of Jamadagni, that foremost of all bearers of arms, is a friend of mine highly pleased with me, and always wisheth me well!’ And while king Hotravahana, was saying all this unto that maiden, thither appeared Akritavrana, a dear companion of Rama.  And on his advent those Munis by hundreds, and the Srinjaya king Hotravahana, old in years, all stood up.  And those denizens of the forest, uniting with one another, did him all the rites of hospitality.  And they all took their seats surrounding him.  And filled, O monarch, with gratification and joy, they then started various delightful, laudable, and charming subjects of discourse.  And after their discourse was over, that royal sage, the high-souled Hotravahana enquired of Akritavrana about Rama that