Journeying through the forest under the guidance of the great sage Viśvāmitra, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, the noble sons of the Raghu dynasty, came upon a sacred hermitage. This hermitage belonged to sages of purified souls, ascetics who had practiced the highest austerities for thousands of years. The sight of this most holy place filled Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa with profound joy, and they turned to Viśvāmitra, eager to know more. "Whose is this sacred hermitage, O revered one?" they asked. "Who dwells here? Our curiosity is great, and we wish to hear the story of this place." Hearing their respectful inquiry, Viśvāmitra, the foremost among sages, smiled gently. "Listen, Rāma," he began, "and I will tell you whose ancient hermitage this is. Once, the embodied god of love, Kāma, so called by the wise, beheld Lord Śiva here, deep in austere penance and unwavering discipline. When Śiva, newly wed, was traveling with the Maruts, Kāma, driven by his desires, dared to disturb him. The great-souled Śiva rebuked Kāma for his impudence. "O descendant of Raghu, with a single wrathful glance, Rudra struck Kāma down, and all the limbs of that reckless one were shattered. Here, on this very spot, Kāma’s body was destroyed and consumed by the anger of the Lord of the gods, leaving him bodiless. From that day, he has been known as Anaṅga, the Bodiless One, and this place, where his body fell, is called Aṅgaviṣaya, the blessed region. "This, O hero, is the sacred hermitage of Kāma, and these are his ancient disciples, devoted to righteousness and free from all sin. Let us spend the night here, Rāma of auspicious vision, between these two holy rivers; tomorrow, we shall continue our journey. "Let us, pure in mind, approach this sacred hermitage. Here our stay will be excellent, and we shall pass the night in comfort." Following Viśvāmitra’s counsel, they bathed, performed their recitations, and offered oblations. As they conversed, the resident ascetics, their eyes bright with the fruits of long austerity, gazed upon the newcomers. Recognizing Viśvāmitra and his companions, the sages were filled with joy. They approached with delight, offering the customary water for washing feet, water for welcome, and all hospitality to Viśvāmitra, the son of Kuśika. After honoring Viśvāmitra, they extended the same rites of hospitality to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, delighting them with pleasant stories. As evening fell, the sages, joined by the resident ascetics, performed their evening prayers with focused minds and virtuous vows. Thus, in the hermitage of Kāma, they dwelt happily, and the righteous sage Kauśika entertained the princes with delightful tales. With the coming of dawn, when the sky was clear, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, destroyers of enemies, completed their morning rites. They approached the riverbank with Viśvāmitra leading the way. The great-souled sages, steadfast in their vows, prepared a fine boat and invited Viśvāmitra and the princes to board, urging them to travel safely and without delay. Honoring the sages, Viśvāmitra agreed, and together with Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, crossed the river that flows to the ocean. As they reached the middle of the stream, a great sound arose, intensified by the agitation of the waters. Curious about this tumultuous noise, Rāma questioned the eminent sage. "What is this noise of the water breaking apart?" he asked, eager to know its cause. Viśvāmitra explained, "Listen, Rāma. On Mount Kailāsa, a supreme lake was created by the mind of Brahmā. This Mānasa lake, formed by Brahmā himself, is the source from which this river, the Sarayu, flows. The sacred Sarayu, springing from Brahmā’s lake, approaches Ayodhyā, and this incomparable sound of hers joins with the waters of the Jahnavi. The sound you hear is born from the disturbance of the waters. Offer your respectful salutation to her." Obediently, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, both righteous, offered their salutations to the sacred river. Having reached the southern bank, the two princes proceeded swiftly. Soon, they came upon a forest of terrifying appearance, filled with the sounds of countless crickets. Rāma, the unvanquished descendant of Ikṣvāku, questioned Viśvāmitra about the dreadful place. "This forest is formidable, crowded with fearsome beasts and birds whose cries are harsh and dreadful. Lions, tigers, boars, elephants, and many kinds of trees—dhava, ashvakarna, kakubha, bilva, tinduka, patala, and jujube—fill this place. Why is this forest so dreadful?" Viśvāmitra, possessed of immense energy, replied, "Listen, child of Kakutstha, to the reason for this fearful forest. Once, two prosperous regions existed here—Malada and Karusha—created by the gods themselves. Long ago, after Indra slew the demon Vritra, he was overwhelmed by impurity. Hunger and the sin of Brahma-hatya entered Indra, the thousand-eyed one. "To cleanse him, the gods and ascetic sages bathed Indra with sacred vessels. Here, upon this earth, they deposited his impurity and also Karusha. Thus, these regions took their names from what was cast off from Indra’s body. Purified and freed from impurity, Indra rejoiced and, pleased, granted the land a supreme boon: these two regions, Malada and Karusha, would attain great renown in the world." Thus, guided by Viśvāmitra’s wisdom, Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa learned the sacred history of the places they passed, their journey enriched by the stories of ancient deeds and the blessings of holy company.