Stricken with grief, Lakshmana lamented aloud, his hands pressed to his face and his throat choked by tears. He wondered, “To which worlds shall I go, condemned by the great-souled?” In his despair, he declared, “I have not wronged Rama by deed, thought, or word. O Devi, I touch your feet—there is no other refuge for me.” Seeing Lakshmana’s distress, Sita turned to Rama and spoke gently, “Why have you abandoned your younger brother? Let this unfairness be set aside, O child, for Lakshmana, the increaser of fortune.” Rama, the noble Raghava, replied to Sita with affection, “I will not abandon Lakshmana; not even in a dream would I disregard Lakshmana’s counsel, dearest.” He continued, “O lovely-hipped one, I have heard before of the conduct in this land. In this field, all people are truly intent only upon their own interests. They do not see one another, nor heed words for their own benefit; sons do not listen to their fathers, nor fathers to their sons. Disciples do not heed the teacher’s words, nor teachers those of the disciple; affection is bound to gain, and no one is dear to anyone.” After sharing these reflections, Rama, accompanied by his brother Lakshmana and Sita, arrived at the great river Reva. There, Kakutstha and his companions performed the sacred ablutions. Rama offered water to his ancestors and also to the deities, repeatedly gazing at the sun, his mind concentrated upon the gods. Having completed the ablution, Rama shone forth, Sita beside him and Lakshmana at his side. With the daughter of the mountain and Guha, the blessed one entered his dwelling. At this point, Bhishma, full of curiosity, asked, “At what time did the blessed Brahma, creator of worlds, begin to perform sacrifices? What were the names of the priests appointed by Brahma? And what gifts were given to them by that great-souled one? Tell me exactly as it happened, as it truly was; great curiosity has arisen in me regarding the ancestral sacrifice.” Pulastya responded, “I have already related how, when Svayambhuva Manu had created all the progenitors, he was told: ‘Create the world.’ Manu himself went to Pushkara, gathered the materials for the sacrifice, and, assembling all the requisites, stood in the fire chamber. The Gandharvas always sing, and the groups of Apsaras dance; the Brahma-udgātā, hotṛ, and adhvaryu—these four carry out the sacrifice. For each of them, three attendants were self-appointed: Brahma, the Brahmanācchaṃsī, the potā, and the agnīdhra as well. There are four aspects: Ānvīkṣikī, all knowledge, and Brāhmī; the udgātā, pratyudgātā, pratihartā, and subrahmaṇya. This second group of four is declared for the udgātṛ; the hotṛ, maitrāvaruṇa, and acchāvāka as well. The grāvastut is the fourth here, and the third group of four; the adhvaryu, pratiṣṭhātṛ, neṣṭṛ, and unnetṛ likewise. This fourth group of four is spoken of, O son of Śaṃtanu; these sixteen officiants are declared by those who contemplate the Vedas. Three hundred sixty sacrifices were created by the self-born; and in all these, the twice-born always recite these names. Some desire the sadasya, and the trisāmā and adhvaryu as well; Nārada was made the brahma, Gautama the brāhmaṇācchaṃsi. Devagarbha as potṛ, Agnīdhra as devala; Aṅgiras as udgātṛ, Pulaha as pratyudgātṛ. Nārāyaṇa is the pratihartṛ, Subrahmaṇya is called the utṛ; in that sacrifice, Bhṛgu is the hotṛ, Vasiṣṭha is the maitra. Acchāvāka is named Kratu, grāvastut is Cyavana; Pulastya was the adhvaryu, and Śibi the pratiṣṭhātṛ. Bṛhaspati was the neṣṭṛ there, Śāṃśapāyana the unnetṛ; Dharma was the sadasya there, accompanied by sons, grandsons, and companions. Bharadvāja, Śamīka, Purukutsa, Yugandhara, Enaka, Tīrṇaka, Keśa, and Kutapa as well; Garga and Vedaśiras, made trisāmā and adhvaryu; likewise Kaṇva and others, Mārkaṇḍa and Gaṇḍi as well—joined by sons and grandsons, with disciples and relatives, performing rituals there tirelessly day and night. When the Manvantara had passed, the avabhṛtha of the sacrifice took place; the gift to the brahma was given, and the eastern gift to the hotṛ. The western gift to the adhvaryu, and likewise the northern to the udgātṛ; Brahmā gave the entire three worlds as their gift. A hundred cows should be given by the wise for the completion of the sacrifice; and forty-eight sacrificial animals as well. For those in the second position, twenty-four are mentioned; and sixteen auspicious cows should be given to those in the third. Twelve others should likewise be given to the āgnīdhra and others; and with this number, villages, female servants, and livestock. A thousand portions of food should be given after bathing in the avabhṛtha rite; the sacrificer must give all his possessions, so declared by Svāyambhuva. The giving of gifts by the officiating priests and the assistants is to be done according to their own wish; having invoked Viṣṇu, Brahmā spoke these words with joy: “Having pleased Sāvitrī, O virtuous one, bring her here; when she sees you, O auspicious-faced one, she will not be angry. With gentle and persuasive words, especially those supported by reasoning, you always speak sweetly—your tongue indeed drips with nectar. Whoever does not heed your words is not seen in all three worlds; go together with the Gandharvas and bring my beloved.