Now let me tell you another true account -- listen, all of you. In that same village, the demons' disturbances began to grow ever greater.
The mother and father reflected further in their minds: living here, we have suffered obstacles again and again.
We have only these two lives to protect, the very thread of our life; if calamity befalls them, we shall both become bereft of everything.
Therefore, let us leave this place and go to the city of Ayodhya, the sacred abode of Shri Ram, where no demon shall come.
Then they loaded their household goods onto a cart, taking all that was worth taking. They sought the blessing of their relatives, and set out, together with their fortunate son.
Bhakti and Dharma rode in the cart, taking their two sons with them. The elder son sat near his father, while the enchanting one sat in his mother's lap.
They drove the cart slowly onward, and arrived at the bank of the Sarayu river as evening fell. A boatman brought his boat, and they crossed the river and disembarked on the far bank.
They gathered up all their belongings carefully, and beheld the beautiful splendor of the Sarayu. There the water was clear and pure, and lotuses bloomed along its banks.
Beautiful red water-lilies grew there, their stalks fragrant with flowers. There sarus cranes and swans gathered elegantly, along with herons, ducks, and water-fowl.
The birds called to one another in chorus, as if calling out an invitation to bathe. So the Sarayu shone forth in great beauty, with many flower-gardens along its banks.
Roses and hibiscus grew in abundance, and many groves of tulsi as well. Marigolds and other flowers, saffron blooms and kadamba flowers blossomed there.
Jasmine of many kinds, chameli, jasmine clusters, and sevanti flowers, madhavi, mallika, and malati, kunda, palash, oleander, and screw-pine, along with countless other blossoms of every kind.
Champa and jasmine, fine sandalwood trees, gulshoban and countless roses, fragrant pandanus, patala, and hibiscus, borsari trees, and the flowers of spring.
Mogra flowers, fragrant mango blossoms, screw-pine flowers blooming everywhere. Countless flowers and succulent fruits of many kinds and great abundance.
Such was the splendor of the Sarayu's bank -- what more can be said of it with the mouth? Many learned Brahmins sat there, bathing and performing their beautiful evening rites.
Temples to the gods and many holy places lined its banks, and the Sarayu shone with its pure waters. The gardens, forests, and the river Sarayu itself shone forth in boundless splendor now that the Lord himself had come.
Wherever Ghanshyam himself arrived, that place became an abode of beauty. Beholding such splendor everywhere, the sun at that moment set.
Then many lamps were lit along the banks, their reflections falling upon the water. Many mansions stood along the shore, and their lamps formed rows of light.
The lamps of the riverside mansions together filled the whole city with a shimmering glow. Such a beautiful city it was, built by King Manu himself.
And it was the dwelling place of the Ikshvaku lineage. Such a beautiful and vast city -- there Dharma and the child arrived.
And it was the place where Vasudev Bhagwan himself was born as Ram. Such a supremely holy city, surrounded by beautiful gardens and groves.
Its streets, bazaars, and crossroads shone forth, its fine royal roads laid out grandly. Seven-storied mansions stood there, splendid, resembling Mount Kailash in form.
They stood in vast rows, their gates standing evenly aligned. And the shops, arranged in orderly sections, all appeared fittingly beautiful.
In some places milk and yogurt were sold, in others ghee, sugar-candy, and buttermilk. In some places fruits, flowers, and betel-leaf, in others cloth and weaponry.
In some places vessels and ornaments were sold, in others jewelers and pearl-merchants. In some places elephants and horses stood decorated, their riders passing by constantly.
In some places many kinds of fine grains were sold, in others beautiful vegetables. In some places rows of confectioners' shops sold sweets of every kind.
In some places perfumers, grocers, and jewelers, in others rows of money-changers. In some places gardeners and betel-leaf sellers, in others weavers and dyers.
In some places singing and music, with musicians performing -- so everyone had their own designated place. In some places Brahmins studied the Vedas, in others children studied with their teachers.
In some places the assemblies of Kshatriyas gathered, in others Vaishyas conducted their trade. In some places Shudras performed their fine service -- all held firmly to their proper dharma.
In some places wrestlers fought in the arena, practicing wrestling holds and stick-fighting. In some places bales of cotton lay stacked -- so the streets and lanes shone with such activity.
And there dwelt many who had renounced passion, devotees of Ram who had given up the company of women. Many temples and rest-houses adorned the city, making it appear all the more beautiful.
The courtyards were sprinkled with flowers and sandal-paste, and the people who lived there seemed like gods themselves. In many temples stood images of Ram, Sita, Lakshman, and the ascetic Hanuman.
There, every day, men and women rose and came with love to have darshan. The ringing of the arati bells sounded, and the people held great celebrations.
Cymbals, drums, gongs, conches, kettle-drums, trumpets, and countless veenas -- their sound filled the whole city, and the entire town resounded with it.
Hearing this sound, Premavati and Hariprasad walked on. And the splendor of the lamps was such that it seemed like a string of countless jewels laid out.
By their light the streets and bazaars shone, and thousands of people walked about in that glow. Beholding such splendor, the man and woman crossed to this side of the city.
Having seen the Ram Ghat with their own eyes, they came to the district called Barhata. There, many fire-sacrifices were being performed, offering oblations of rice, grain, and ghee.
Taking in that fragrance, they arrived at their own dwelling and rested. Then, every day thereafter, they bathed in the Sarayu, performed their evening prayers, and offered their reverence there.
And they performed devotion to Krishna, and seeing them do so, Hari did the same. Hari was steady and profound of understanding, his very body radiant with the nature of a saint.
Eating, drinking, fine amusements -- none of these pleased his heart within. Bathing in the Sarayu together with his father, when they returned home,
he would then worship the form of Shri Krishna, worshipping it with great devotion. He had little liking even for play, and always loved purity and cleanliness.
If anyone ever obstructed this, his mind would never take to that person. He held great love for sacred stories and hymns, and listened daily to the deeds of Ram.
Wherever great saintliness was found, he held his own love for such people. He had no liking at all for unsaintly ways. As five years passed in this manner,
his infancy passed, and Hari entered the stage of boyhood. Then he began going alone to bathe in the Sarayu, in the manner of the Ganga.
He constantly remembered Sita, Ram, Lakshman, and Hanuman. And from his father's own mouth he heard the dharma of the truly righteous.
The duties proper to caste and stage of life, and those pertaining to women, which Dharma had taught him at the age of six -- all these he kept firmly in mind, never forgetting them at all.
Even in childhood his intelligence was great, and he had already learned some scripture by heart from recitation. He also listened to the Shrimad Bhagavatam, which was exceedingly dear to him.
He held great affection for the devotees of Hari, and remained detached from all others. His body showed great renunciation and detachment even then, and all who saw it were filled with wonder.
Thus ends the twentieth chapter, named 'The Description of Ayodhya City, and Dharma and Bhakti's Dwelling There,' in the Bhaktachintamani composed by the disciple Nishkulanand Muni of Shri Sahajanand Swami, propagator of the path of Ekantik Dharma.