20. Vasishtha said:--Ráma! you have heard whatever is worth hearing, and known also all that is worth your knowing; and now I see nothing further, that is worth communicating to you for your higher knowledge. 21. Now you have to reconcile in yourself, and by your best understandings, all that you have been instructed by me, and what you have read and learnt in the sástras, and harmonise the whole for your guidance. 22. Now rise to do your duties, while I hasten to the performance of sacred ablutions; it is now midday, and the proper time of our bathing is fastly passing away. 23. And then whatever else you have to enquire about, for the satisfaction of your wishes, you can propose the same to me tomorrow morning, when I shall be happy to expatiate on the subject. 24. Válmíki related:--After the sage had spoken in this manner, the mighty king Dasaratha saluted the parting chiefs and sages, and honoured them according to their proper ranks and degrees. 25. And then being advised by Vasishtha, the virtuous king with Ráma by his side, proceeded to give their due honours, to the sages and siddhas and to the Bráhmanas also one after the other. 26. He gave them gems and jewels, and monies and bouquets of flowers; and he gave to others riches equivalent to the values of the gems and jewels; while he gave strings of pearls and necklaces to some also. 27. He honoured some with his respects and civilities, and others with monies suited to their worth and degree, while he gave his gifts of cloths and seats, food and drink, and of gold and lands to others. 28. He saluted others with perfumeries and aromatic spices and wreaths of flowers; he honoured the elders with due respects, and gave his bare regards to others. 29. Then the king rose from amidst the assembly, with the whole body of his courtiers, and the holy sages and Vasishtha with him; as the splendid moon rises in the sky, with the train of stars about him. (The moon is masculine in Sanskrit, and twin brother of the sun). 30. The rising of the assembly and its people, was attended with a rumbling noise, as it is heard in the treading of men, over a bog of knee deep mud and mire. 31. The clashing of the concourse against one another, and the cracking of their armlets and wristlets by their friction with each other; joined with the broken jewels and scattered pearls, slipped from the torn necklaces of the nobles, gave the floor of the court hall, the appearance of the spangled heaven. 32. There was a close concussion of the bodies, of sages and saints, of Bráhmans and princes and nobles all jumbled together; and there was a rapid undulation of the chourie flappers, waving in the hands of fanning maid servants. 33. But there was no huddling or dashing or pushing one against the other; as they were intent upon reflecting on the sense of the sages preaching, and rather asking excuses of one another, with the gestures of their bodies, when they came in contact with others.