Receiving this pleasant and beneficial mandate of his brother, Lakshmana
speedily went unto the abode of Sujajna, and finding that Vipra in the
chamber where the sacrificial fire was maintained, worshipped him and
addressed him, saying; "Friend, come and behold the abode of that one of
arduous deeds (Rama) renouncing his incoming installation." Finishing
his prayers, Sujajna accompanied Lakshmana and arrived at the splendid
mansion of Rama, filled with riches. No sooner Rama found that Brahmana
versed in the Veda (Sujajna) arrive there, shining in effulgence like
unto the blazing fire, than he rose up from his seat along with Sita,
with clasped hands, and received him as if he had been the sacrificial
fire itself, and offered him excellent golden _Angadas_, shining
ear-rings, necklaces of jewels fastened together with golden strings,
_Keyuras_, bracelets, and various other ornaments, and spoke unto him,
being desired by Sita, the following words. "O my gentle friend! do thou
by some servant send unto thy wife this necklace and _Hemasutra_. And
Sita, the friend of thy wife, also intends to give this _Rasana_ unto
thy wife, And on the eve of her going to the woods, she presents thyself
and thy wife with _Angadas_ of curious workmanship and elegant
_Keyuras_. And Vaidehi wishes to present thee with this fine bed-stead
with its coverlet studed with various precious jewels. And I offer thee,
O great ascetic, with a thousand gold coins, this excellent elephant,
called the destroyer of foes, which had been bestowed upon me by my
maternal uncle."
Being addressed thus by Rama, Sujajna accepted all those offers, and
showered benedictions upon Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana. Thereupon Rama
spoke unto his beloved, considerate and fair-speaking brother, the son
of Sumitra the following pleasant words, like unto Brahma addressing the
Lord of celestials. "O son of Sumitra, do thou invite the excellent
Brahmanas, Agastya and Viswamitra, and adore them, O Raghava, by
conferring upon them gems, as people cherish corn with water. And O
mighty armed one, do thou worship them, O Raghava, with a thousand cows,
gold, silver, and various precious jewels. Do thou confer upon that good
Brahmana, the preceptor of the _Tittiriya_ portion of the _Vedas_, who
crowns Kaucalya with blessings every day, silk cloth, conveyances,
maid-servants, and such other things, till the twice-born one is
satisfied. Do thou propitiate the worshipful Chitraratha, who is our
charioteer and counsellor and of advanced years, with precious jewels
clothes, wealth, with all kinds of beasts and a thousand cows. Do thou
confer upon those Brahmanas, O son of Sumitra, who live under my
protection, studying the _Kata_ section of _Yayur_ Veda, with staffs in
their hands, a grant of eighty mules loaded with jewels, of a thousand
miles of pines, and of a thousand cows, for curd and clarified butter.
They are always inactive, being constantly engaged in Vedic studies, and
are greatly slothful though having a taste for delicious food, and are
always esteemed by great men; to each of all those Brahmanas, who always
come to Kaucalya, do thou, O Lakshmana,make a grant of a thousand gold
coins, and offer unto them all such gifts as may please my mother."
Thereupon Lakshmana, that best of men, distributed amongst all these
Brahmanas all the entire riches as ordered by Rama like unto the Lord of
wealth. Seeing his dependants in a wretched plight, shedding tears
continually, Rama proferred unto them various articles for their
maintenance, and said :--"Do ye occupy in turn until our return my rooms
as well as Lakshmana's." Having spoken thus unto all those dependants
who were racked with great sorrow, Rama ordered the Treasury officer to
bring his riches there. Thereat, the servants brought all his riches and
collected them in great heaps. Rama, the best of men, together with
Lakshmana, distributed them amongst the Brahmanas, boys, the old, and
the poor. There lived in that quarter a Brahmana of a tawny colour, by
name Trijata, descended from the line of Garga, earning his livelihood
by digging the earth with spades and ploughs. His young wife with her
little children, struggling with poverty, spoke thus unto the old
Brahmana. "Throwing aside thy spades and ploughs, do thou hear my words.
Go and see the virtuous-souled Rama, and thou art sure to get something
from him now." Hearing these words of his wife, Trijata, shining in
effulgence like unto Vrigu and Angira, covering his body with a torn
piece of cloth, proceeded towards Rama's abode with his wife, and going
on in a speedy and uninterrupted course, reached at last the royal abode
and spoke unto Rama thus:--"O mighty son of the king! a poor man am I,
having a number of children. I maintain my family by digging the earth;
do thou therefore look upon me mercifully. Whereupon Rama replied
laughing:--"I have not distributed as yet even one thousand of my cows.
Do thou hurl this rod, and thou art the master of all those cows
occupying the space at the extremity of which this rod shall fall." Upon
this, swiftly tightening the cloth around his waist, Trijata firmly
grasping the rod hurled it with a mighty force. The rod, hurled off his
hands, fell on the other side of the river Saraju in the midst of many
thousand bullocks. Seeing this, the virtuous-souled Rama despatched to
the hermitage of Trijata all the cows that lay extending up to the banks
of the river Saraju, and consoling him afterwards accosted him with the
following words. "Be not offended, I acted thus only as a matter of
joke. I asked thee to do this only with the object of knowing whether
thou hadst the power to hurl this rod. Do thou ask of me now any thing
thou likest. Truly do I speak that thou shouldst not hesitate. I am
ready to devote my wealth to the services of the Brahmanas. And the
wealth I have earned will conduce to my favour, if. I can apply it to
your service."
Then Trijata, being pleased with the accession of cows, went away along
with his wife, showering happiness and joy. Rama of great manliness
afterwards distributed with proper respect and due welcome all his
wealth amassed by righteous means amongst the Brahmanas, friends,
servants and the poor, according to the recomendation of his friends.