Bharata’s words pleased all, imbued as they were with the nectar of devotion to Ýr¶ RŒma. The people who had been burning with the deadly poison of separation from Ýr¶ RŒma were roused to their senses on hearing as it were a charm against snake poison alongwith its seed-letter.* The mothers, the ministers, the preceptor and the people of the city, all were overwhelmed with emotion. They praised Bharata formulas sacred to every deity, which if repeated with genuine faith and in accordance with certain prescribed rules help the realization of that deity. Every such Mantra has also got a B¶ja Mantra consisting of a single letter with ‘m’ added to it. This seed-letter, if prefixed to the Mantra itself, enhances its potency. 514 * ÝR” RMACARITAMNASA* again and again and said, “Your body is the very personification of affection for Ýr¶ RŒma. It is no wonder that you should say so, dear Bharata, since you are dear to RŒma as his own life. The vile man who through his ignorance hates you because of your mother’s perversity, the wretch shall abide in hell for a hundred Kalpas (cycles) with millions of his past generations. A gem on the head of a serpent is not affected by the sins and faults of the serpent; on the other hand, it counteracts poison, sorrow and indigence.” (1—4)