The priest (Vasishtha), beholding the overcrowded highway forced his passage through the crowds of men dividing them ( into two tracts ) and slowly entered the royal palace. [2-5-21]
Having ascended the royal palace resembling the peak of a mountain covered with white clouds, Vasishtha approached the king ( Dasharatha ) like Brihaspati meeting Indra. [2-5-22]
तमागतमभिप्रेक्ष्य हित्वा राजासनं नृपः | पप्रच्छ स च तस्मै तत्कृतमित्यभ्यवेदयत् || २-५-२३
On seeing Vasishtha the king descended from the throne and enquired whether he had performed the mission to which the ascetic replied affirmatively. [2-5-23]
All those present in the assembly with him (the king) also got up from their seats as he (Dasaratha) did and paid their obeisance to the priest ( Vasishtha ). [2-5-24]
The king ( Dasharatha ) then, dully permitted by the preceptor ( Sage Vasishtha ), disposed the assembly of men and stepped into his inner apartment, like a lion entering the cave of a mountain. [2-5-25]