As the night melted away and the first hints of dawn began to glow, the venerable sage Viśvāmitra approached Rama, the noble son of Kausalya, who lay upon a simple bed of leaves. With gentle urgency, Viśvāmitra called out, “O Rama, blessed son of Kausalya and pride of your lineage, the divine morning is near. Arise, tiger among men, for it is time to perform our daily sacred duties.” Rama and Lakṣmaṇa, the heroic princes, stirred at the sage’s words. They rose, bathed themselves, offered water in ritual, and recited the supreme prayers, honoring the dawn with their devotion. Their morning rites complete, the brothers, filled with joy, approached Viśvāmitra with reverence. They greeted him respectfully and stood ready, eager to continue their journey. As they set out, the mighty princes came upon the divine river—its threefold stream converging auspiciously at the Sarayu. Nearby, they beheld a sacred hermitage, home to sages whose souls had been purified through thousands of years of supreme austerity. The sight of this holy place filled Rama and Lakṣmaṇa with great joy. Turning to Viśvāmitra, they asked, “O revered one, whose hermitage is this? Who dwells here? Our curiosity is great; please tell us its story.” Viśvāmitra smiled kindly at their eager questions. “Listen, Rama, and I will tell you to whom this ancient hermitage belonged. Here, Kāma, the god of love, once saw Lord Śiva engaged in deep penance, steadfast in discipline. When Śiva, newly wed, was traveling with the hosts of Maruts, Kāma, driven by desire, sought to disturb him. But the great-souled Śiva rebuked him fiercely. Then, O descendant of Raghu, Rudra struck Kāma down with a glance, shattering all his limbs. Consumed by Śiva’s anger, Kāma’s body was destroyed, and he became bodiless—Anaṅga. From that moment, this place where his body fell became known as Aṅgaviṣaya, the blessed region.” “This is the sacred hermitage of Kāma, and these are his ancient disciples, devoted to righteousness. Among them, no sin is found. Let us spend the night here, O Rama of auspicious vision, between these two holy rivers. Tomorrow, we shall cross over. Let us approach this sacred hermitage with pure minds; our stay here will be excellent, and we shall pass the night in comfort.” Following the sage’s guidance, Rama, Lakṣmaṇa, and Viśvāmitra bathed, performed their recitations, and offered oblations. As they conversed, the resident ascetics—whose eyes shone with the light of long-practiced austerity—recognized the travelers. Filled with supreme joy, the sages approached, offering water for washing feet and for welcome, and extended their hospitality to Viśvāmitra. They honored Rama and Lakṣmaṇa as well, delighting them with pleasant stories. As evening descended, the focused sages, joined by the resident ascetics, performed the evening prayers, keeping their vows with devotion. In the hermitage of Kāma, all dwelt happily. Viśvāmitra, righteous and foremost among ascetics, entertained the princes with delightful tales, making their night restful and joyful. With the coming of dawn, the two princes, destroyers of enemies, completed their morning rites and, led by Viśvāmitra, approached the riverbank. The great-souled sages, firm in their vows, had prepared a fine boat. They invited Viśvāmitra, “Please board the boat, with the princes at the forefront; travel safely, and let there be no delay.” Viśvāmitra honored the sages and, together with Rama and Lakṣmaṇa, crossed the river that flowed toward the ocean. As they reached the middle of the stream, Viśvāmitra heard a sound—water agitated and tumultuous. Curious, Rama asked, “What is this tumultuous noise of the water breaking apart?” Viśvāmitra began to explain, “On Mount Kailasa, Rama, Brahma created a supreme lake by his mind—Mānasa. From this lake, the sacred Sarayu originated and flows toward Ayodhya. The sound you hear is the incomparable voice of Sarayu, born from the disturbance of her waters, reaching the Jahnavi. Offer your respectful salutations, Rama.” Both brothers, exceedingly righteous, made their salutations to the river. Having reached the southern bank, the two brothers, swift and resolute, continued their journey. Soon, they came upon a forest of terrifying appearance. Rama, the descendant of Ikshvaku, questioned Viśvāmitra, “Ah, this forest is formidable, filled with multitudes of crickets, fearsome beasts, and birds with harsh cries. Lions, tigers, boars, elephants, and many kinds of trees—dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, patala, and jujube—crowd this dreadful forest. Why does it appear so fearsome?” The great sage Viśvāmitra, possessed of immense energy, replied, “Listen, child of Kakutstha, to the reason for this dreadful forest. Once, two prosperous regions existed here, O best of men…” And thus, the journey continued, with the sage ready to reveal the mysteries of the land to the noble princes.