The king was too restless to speak; there was terrible agony in his heart due to excess of grief. Most affectionately bowing His head at His father’s feet, the Hero of Raghu’s race then arose and asked his permission to proceed to the woods: “Father, give me your blessings and commands; why should you be sorrowing at this hour of jubilation? By swerving from the path of duty due to attachment for a beloved object, dear father, one’s reputation is lost and obloquy incurred.” Hearing this the king got up in his love and holding Ýr¶ RŒma (the Lord of Raghus) by the arm he made Him sit down and said, “Listen, my boy: of You the sages declare that RŒma is the Lord of the entire creation, both animate and inanimate. God requites our actions according as they are good or bad, weighing them in the scale of His judgment. He alone who does an act reaps its consequences: such is the law of the Vedas and so declare all.” (1—4)