CHITRAKOOTA

Then they saw at a distance the Chitrakoota hill. They were glad and began to walk briskly towards it. "How beautiful this region is!" exclaimed Raama. "The forest here has fine edible roots and fruits. The water is clear and sweet. Rishis dwell in aashramas in this forest and we may most certainly live happily here in their holy company."

They proceeded to put up an aashrama there for themselves. Lakshmana was a clever workman. He soon constructed a strong hut, which was weather-proof and made it comfortable and convenient. Single-handed, he completed the mud but with windows and doors all made of bamboos and jungle material.

Kamban and Vaalmeeki vie with each other in their accounts of this episode. Kamban says that when Lakshmana had completed the structure, Raama embraced him weeping and asked him: "When and how did you learn all this?" One can imagine the scene.

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