The ponds were gay with lotuses, the haunt of cooing waterfowl and buzzing bees, while forgetful of mutual antipathies, beasts roamed in the forest and birds of varied plumage.
The Kols, Kirats and Bhils, the inhabitants of the woods, brought delicious honey sweet as nectar, and piled up leafy bowls with herbs, roots, fruits and flowers daintily arranged. With humble salutations they offered them to all, telling the taste, character, quality and name of each. The people offered a liberal price, but they would not accept it, and begged them for Rama’s sake to take it back, saying in gentle tones in the depth of their affection: “The good accept what they know to be of love. You are holy, and we low Nishads; by Rama’s favour we have been admitted into your presence, an honour as difficult of attainment for us as for the desert of Maru to be watered by the Ganges: Rama is merciful and the Nishads’ patron; as is the king, so should be His family and subjects.
The Kols, Kirats and Bhils, the inhabitants of the woods, brought delicious honey sweet as nectar, and piled up leafy bowls with herbs, roots, fruits and flowers daintily arranged. With humble salutations they offered them to all, telling the taste, character, quality and name of each. The people offered a liberal price, but they would not accept it, and begged them for Rama’s sake to take it back, saying in gentle tones in the depth of their affection: “The good accept what they know to be of love. You are holy, and we low Nishads; by Rama’s favour we have been admitted into your presence, an honour as difficult of attainment for us as for the desert of Maru to be watered by the Ganges: Rama is merciful and the Nishads’ patron; as is the king, so should be His family and subjects.