Though feeling himself overpowered with love, the king discreetly restrained himself, and, bowing his head at the saint’s feet, said in suppressed accents choking with emotion:
“Tell me, my lord, who are these two lovely children. Are they the glory of a saintly family, or the bulwarks of a kingly line? Or are they the twofold manifestation of the Supreme Spirit, whom scripture declares to be unutterable? My mind, ordinarily free from worldly attachment, wearies itself with gazing upon them, as the choker in gazing upon the moon. Therefore, sir, I beg you to tell me the truth, and to conceal nothing. My love grows with looking, and my soul perforce is withdrawn from divine contemplation.” Said the saint with a smile: “You have spoken well, O king; your word is always true; there is not a living creature that does not love these boys.” Râma smiled to himself on hearing this. “They are the sons of Dasarath, the glory of the line of Raghu, and the king has sent them to help me.
“Tell me, my lord, who are these two lovely children. Are they the glory of a saintly family, or the bulwarks of a kingly line? Or are they the twofold manifestation of the Supreme Spirit, whom scripture declares to be unutterable? My mind, ordinarily free from worldly attachment, wearies itself with gazing upon them, as the choker in gazing upon the moon. Therefore, sir, I beg you to tell me the truth, and to conceal nothing. My love grows with looking, and my soul perforce is withdrawn from divine contemplation.” Said the saint with a smile: “You have spoken well, O king; your word is always true; there is not a living creature that does not love these boys.” Râma smiled to himself on hearing this. “They are the sons of Dasarath, the glory of the line of Raghu, and the king has sent them to help me.