THE SOORPANAKHA EPISODE

Raama was thrilled by the beauty of Panchavati and gratefully offered praise in his thoughts to Agastya for recommending the spot to them. He told Lakshmana: "We can build our aashrama and enjoy our stay here for any length of time. Those hills are near and yet not too near. Look at those herds of deer. The trees with their flowers and the sweetly singing birds, the river, the clean sand-everything is beautiful. Choose for us a good site and build a cottage."

Lakshmana did as he was told. He constructed an aashrama.

Vaalmeeki pauses here to explain the skill and swiftness of Lakshmana's workmanship. He describes in detail how the mud walls were raised and the thatched roof was made. Raama ad mires Lakshmana enthusiastically.

"You are more than a father to me," said the Prince shedding tears of love and joy.

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