Rāma, standing before the great sage Śarabhaṅga, spoke with humility and resolve. “O venerable one,” he said, “I possess the strength to win all the worlds, yet I desire only to dwell here in this forest, as you have so kindly suggested.” Hearing these words from Rāghava, whose might rivaled that of Indra himself, the wise Śarabhaṅga replied with gentle wisdom. “O Rāma, in this very forest lives a radiant and righteous sage named Sutīkṣṇa. He is a master of discipline and virtue. Seek him out, for he will bring you even greater benefit. Go to his pure abode, found in the delightful reaches of this woodland. Sutīkṣṇa will arrange for your dwelling.” Śarabhaṅga then guided Rāma further: “Follow the Mandākinī River, O Rāma, journeying against its current. This sacred river carries blossoms and the reflections of stars upon its waters. By following this path, you will reach your destination. Remain here for a moment, O best of men, and witness as I shed this mortal coil, just as a serpent casts off its old skin.” With these words, Śarabhaṅga prepared for his final journey. He kindled the sacred fire, offered ghee with proper mantras, and then, radiant and resolute, entered the sacrificial flames. The fire consumed his hair and body—his aged skin, bones, flesh, and blood—leaving behind only the essence of his being. From the altar, he arose again, now shining forth as a blazing, youthful presence. Surpassing even the worlds attained by those who keep the sacred fires, the great sages, and the gods themselves, Śarabhaṅga ascended to Brahmā’s realm. There, this foremost of Brahmins beheld the Lord of Creation surrounded by his attendants. Brahmā, seeing the illustrious sage arrive, rejoiced and welcomed him with warmth and honor. As Śarabhaṅga thus ascended to heaven, gatherings of sages from all directions approached Rāma of the illustrious Kakutstha line, who shone with blazing energy. Among them were Vaikhānasa and Vālakhilya sages, Samprakṣālas, Marīcipas, many Ashmakuṭṭas, and ascetics who lived solely on leaves. There were those who ground their food with their teeth, those who remained ever immersed in meditation, those who slept on the bare ground or did not sleep at all, and those who dwelled in open spaces. Some lived only on water, others subsisted on air, some resided in the sky, and others lay on the earth. There were those who stood upright, those who had mastered their senses, those wearing wet garments, those devoted to sacred recitation, the steadfast in austerity, and practitioners of the fivefold penance. Having assembled before Rāma, the foremost upholder of righteousness, these sages—well-versed in dharma—addressed him, the supreme knower of righteousness. “O mighty chariot-warrior of the Ikṣvāku line, protector of this earth, you are like Maghavan among the gods. Your fame and valor are renowned across the three worlds. In you, O Rāma, shine devotion to your father, truthfulness, and abundant righteousness. We have come to you, great-souled one, knower and lover of righteousness, seeking your aid. Please forgive us for making this request. “A grievous wrong is committed by a king who takes a sixth of the produce but fails to protect his people as his own children. He who, with unwavering devotion, protects all his subjects as his own life—or as beloved sons—with all his strength, attains true kingship. Such a king, O Rāma, earns lasting fame, reaches Brahmā’s abode, and is honored there. Whatever supreme righteousness an ascetic living on roots and fruits performs, a fourth part of that merit accrues to the king who protects his people with justice. “This great community of forest-dwelling ascetics, mostly brāhmaṇas, though under your protection, O Rāma, is being grievously slain by rākṣasas, as if we were unprotected. Come, see the bodies of many noble-minded sages, slain in various ways by fierce rākṣasas in the forest. Great slaughter is being committed among those dwelling by the Pampā river, the Anumandākinī, and those residing at Citrakūṭa. We cannot endure the terrible harm being done in the forest to ascetics by rākṣasas engaged in dreadful deeds. Therefore, seeking refuge, we have come to you, O worthy protector—protect us, Rāma, from these night-roaming beings. O hero, there is no other refuge on earth apart from you; protect us all, O prince, from the rākṣasas.” Hearing these heartfelt words, the righteous son of Kakutstha replied to all the ascetics devoted to austerity: “You ought not to command me thus, for I am not to be ordered by ascetics. I have entered the forest solely to fulfill my own duty. I am here, carrying out my father’s command, and to remove the harm done to you by the rākṣasas. By fortune, I have come for the accomplishment of your purpose; for me, dwelling in the forest will bear great fruit. I wish to slay the rākṣasa enemies of the ascetics in battle. Let the sages, rich in austerity, witness my valor together with my brother.” Having thus granted a boon to the ascetics, the self-controlled and steadfast Rāma, together with Lakṣmaṇa, set out with the ascetics and made their way to Sutīkṣṇa. Now begins the seventh sarga. Rāma, the scorcher of foes, accompanied by his brother Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā, journeyed to the hermitage of Sutīkṣṇa, together with those twice-born sages. After traveling a long distance and crossing many rivers filled with pure water, he beheld a mountain, lofty and radiant, rising like the great Meru itself.