15. On the sacred hill overhanging that spot, there rose a kadamba arbor, crowded by birds of various kinds; and there dwelt on it a holy sage of great austerity. 16. He was known by the name of Dásúra, and was employed in his austere devotion; sitting on a branch of his kadamba tree with his exalted soul, and devoid of passions. 17. Ráma said:—I want to know Sir, whence and how that hermit came to dwell in that forest, and why he took his seat on that high _kadamba tree_. 18. Vasishtha replied:—He had for his father, the renowned sage _Saraloman_, residing in the same mountain, and resembling the great Brahmá in his abstract meditation. 19. He was the only son of that sire, like Kacha the only progeny of Brihaspati, the preceptor of the gods, with whom he came to dwell in the forest from his boyhood. 20. Saraloma having passed many years of his life in this manner, left his mortal frame for his heavenly abode, as a bird quits its nest to fly into the air. 21. Dásúra being left alone in that lonely forest, wept bitterly and lamented over the loss of his father, with as loud wailings as the shrieks of a heron upon separation from its mate. 22. Being bereft of both his parents, he was full of sorrow and grief in his mind; and then he began to fade away as the lotus blossom in winter. 23. He was observed in this sad plight by the sylvan god of that wood, who taking compassion on the forlorn youth, and accosted him unseen in an audible voice and said:— 24. O sagely son of the sage! why weepest thou as the ignorant, and why art thou so disconsolate, knowing the instability of worldly things? 25. It is the state of this frail world, that everything is unstable here; and it is the course of nature that all things are born to live and perish afterwards into nothingness. 26. Whatever is seen here from the great Brahmá down to the meanest object, is all doomed to perish beyond a doubt. 27. Do not therefore wail at the demise of thy father, but know like the rising and falling sun, every thing is destined to its rise and fall. (Here sun—the lord of the day—_ahah-pati_, is spelt _aharpati_ by a _várttika_ of Kátyáyna). 28. Hearing this oracular voice, the youth wiped his eyes red hot with weeping; and held his silence like the screaming peacock at the loud sound of the clouds. (The pea-cock is said to cry at the sight, but to be hushed at the sound of a rainy cloud). 29. He rose up and performed the funeral ceremonies of his sire, with devoutness of his heart; and then set his mind to the success of his steady devotion. 30. He was employed in the performance of his austerities according to the Bráhmanic law, and engaged himself in discharging his ceremonial rites by the Srauta ritual, for the accomplishment of his sundry vows.