vast,
    God of the Triple Step, he passed. 
    The whole broad earth from side to side
    He measured with one mighty stride—­
    Spanned with the next the firmament,
    And with the third through heaven he went. 
    Thus was the king of demons hurled
    By Vishnu to the nether world—­
    And thus the universe restored
    To Indra’s rule, its ancient lord. 
    And now because the Immortal God
    This spot in dwarflike semblance trod,
    The grove has aye been loved by me
    For reverence of the devotee. 
    But demons haunt it, prompt to stay
    Each holy offering I would pay. 
    Be thine, O lion-lord, to kill
    These giants that delight in ill. 
    This day, beloved child, our feet
    Shall rest within the calm retreat;
    And know, thou chief of Raghu’s line,
    My hermitage is also thine.” 
    He spoke; and soon the anchorite,
    With joyous looks that beamed delight,
    With Rama and his brother stood
    Within the consecrated wood. 
    Soon as they saw the holy man,
    With one accord together ran
    The dwellers in the sacred shade,
    And to the saint their reverence paid—­
    And offered water for his feet,
    The gift of honor, and a seat;
    And next with hospitable care
    They entertained the princely pair. 
    The royal tamers of their foes
    Rested awhile in sweet repose—­
    Then to the chief of hermits sued
    Standing in suppliant attitude:—­
    “Begin, O best of saints, we pray,
    Initiatory rites to-day. 
    This Perfect Grove shall be anew
    Made perfect, and thy words be true.”

    Then, thus addressed, the holy man,
    The very glorious sage, began
    The high preliminary rite,
    Restraining sense and appetite. 
    Calmly the youths that night reposed,
    And rose when morn her light disclosed—­
    Their morning worship paid, and took
    Of lustral water from the brook. 
    Thus purified they breathed the prayer,
    Then greeted Visvamitra where
    As celebrant he sate beside
    The flame with sacred oil supplied.

CANTO XXXII

VISVAMITRA’S SACRIFICE

    That conquering pair, of royal race,
    Skilled to observe due time and place—­
    To Kusik’s hermit son addressed,
    In timely words, their meet request:—­
    “When must we, lord, we pray thee tell,
    Those Rovers of the Night repel? 
    Speak, lest we let the moment fly,
    And pass the due occasion by.” 
    Thus longing for the strife, they prayed,
    And thus the hermit’s answer made:—­
    “Till the fifth day be come and past,
    O Raghu’s sons, your watch must last. 
    The saint his Diksha has begun,
    And all that time will speak to none.”