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 Daçaratha, 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
Daçaratha, 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 Daçaratha 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 Daçaratha the past and future
of his family the highly effulgent great ascetic Durbāsā became silent.
He being silent—the great King Daçaratha, 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.