The Ocean of Compassion Ýr¶ RŒma, saw the people agitated, on the one hand, by the affection they bore towards Himself and on the other, by the mighty trick played by Indra, the lord of celestials. The assembly, King Janaka, the preceptor (the sage Vasiƒ¢ha), the other BrŒhma˜as and the ministers, all had their wits hampered by Bharata’s devotion (to Ýr¶ RŒma). Like figures drawn in a painting they regarded Ýr¶ RŒma and uttered with diffidence words which they had been taught to repeat as it were. Bharata’s affection, courtesy, modesty and nobility were delightful to hear but difficult to describe. Seeing a minute particle of his devotion the host of sages and the King of MithilŒ were absorbed in love; how, then, can I, Tulas¶dŒsa, speak of his glory? It is his devotion and noble sentiments that have inspired sublime thoughts in the poet’s mind. When it came to know of its own poverty and the magnitude of Bharata’s glory, it shrank into itself out of respect for the barriers imposed by the race of bards. Though greatly in the same way according to the Sa¯sk¾ta grammar (vide PŒ˜ini’s aphorism ÒEØØß׃ææðÙæ׺ÌçhÌðÓ). The poet ingeniously traces this verbal affinity to a natural affinity existing between the three. 624 * ÝR” RMACARITAMNASA* enamoured of his virtues it is unable to describe them; the poet’s wit finds itself as helpless as an infant’s speech. (1—4)