himself, I will chastise him then by means of my great weapons that are more blazing than fire itself and are incapable of being baffled!’ Having said these words, both Rama and Lakshmana touched water[96] and duly laid themselves down on a bed of kusa grass on the seashore.  The divine and illustrious Ocean then that lord of male and female rivers, surrounded by aquatic animals, appeared unto Rama in a vision.  And addressing Rama in sweet accents, the genius of the Ocean, surrounded by countless mines of gems, said, ’O son of Kausalya, tell me what aid, O bull among men, I am to render thee!  I also have sprung from the race of Ikshwaku[97] and am, therefore, a relative of thine!’ Rama replied unto him, saying, ’O lord of rivers, male and female, I desire thee to grant me a way for my troops, passing along which I may slay the Ten-headed (Ravana), that wretch of Pulastya’s race!  If thou dost not grant the way I beg of thee, I will then dry thee up by means of my celestial arrows inspired with mantras!’ And hearing these words of Rama, the genius of Varuna’s abode, joining his hands, answered in great affliction, ’I do not desire to put any obstacle in thy way.  I am no foe of thine!  Listen, O Rama, to these words, and having listened, do what is proper!  If, at thy command, I get a way for the passage of thy army, others then, from strength of their bows, will command me to do the same!  In thy army there is a monkey of the name of Nala, who is a skilful mechanic.  And endued with great strength, Nala is the son of Tashtri, the divine artificer of the Universe.  And whether it is wood, or grass or stone, that he will throw into my waters, I will support the same on my surface, and thus wilt thou have a bridge (over which to pass)!’ And having said these words, the genius of the Ocean disappeared.  And Rama awaking, called Nala unto him and said, ’Build thou a bridge over the sea!  Thou alone, I am sure, art able to do it!’ And it was by this means that the descendant of Kakutstha’s race caused a bridge to be built that was ten Yojanas in width and a hundred Yojanas in length.  And to this day that bridge is celebrated over all the world by the name of Nala’s bridge.  And having completed that bridge, Nala, of body huge as a hill, came away at the command of Rama.

“And while Rama was on this side of the ocean, the virtuous Vibhishana, the brother of the king of the Rakshasas accompanied by four of his counsellors, came unto Rama.  And the high-souled Rama received him with due welcome.  Sugriva, however, feared, thinking he might be a spy.  The son of Raghu, meanwhile perfectly satisfied (with Vibhishana) in consequence of the sincerity of his exertions and the many indications of his good conduct, worshipped him with respect.  And he also installed Vibhishana in the sovereignty of all the Rakshasas and made him his own junior counsellor, and a friend of Lakshmana’s.  And it was under Vibhishana’s guidance, O king, that Rama with all his troops crossed the great ocean