Valmiki Ramayana 3.4.34

3.4.34

sa ca pāvakasaṃkāśaḥ kumāraḥ samapadyata
utthāyāgnicayāt tasmāc charabhaṅgo vyarocata

And thus at length the holy man
In answer to his prayer began:
'This Lord of boons has sought me here
To waft me hence to Brahmá's sphere,
Won by my penance long and stern,--
A home the lawless ne'er can earn.
But when I knew that thou wast nigh,
To Brahmá's world I could not fly
Until these longing eyes were blest
With seeing thee, mine honoured guest.
Since thou, O Prince, hast cheered my sight,
Great-hearted lover of the right,
To heavenly spheres will I repair
And bliss supreme that waits me there.
For I have won, dear Prince, my way
To those fair worlds which ne'er decay,
Celestial seat of Brahmá's reign:
Be thine, with me, those worlds to gain.'
Then master, of all sacred lore,
Spake Ráma to the saint once more:
'I, even I, illustrious sage,
Will make those worlds mine heritage:
But now, I pray, some home assign
Within this holy grove of thine.'
Thus Ráma, Indra's peer in might,
Addressed the aged anchorite:
And he, with wisdom well endued,
To Raghu's son his speech renewed:
'Sutíkshna's woodland home is near,
A glorious saint of life austere,
True to the path of duty; he
With highest bliss will prosper thee.
Against the stream thy course must be
Of this fair brook Mandákiní,
Whereon light rafts like blossoms glide;
Then to his cottage turn aside.
There lies thy path: but ere thou go,
Look on me, dear one, till I throw
Aside this mould that girds me in,
As casts the snake his withered skin.'
He spoke, the fire in order laid
With holy oil due offerings made,
And S'arábhanga, glorious sire,
Laid down his body in the fire.
Then rose the flame above his head,
On skin, blood, flesh, and bones it fed,
Till forth, transformed, with radiant hue
Of tender youth, he rose anew,
Far-shining in his bright attire
Came S'arábhanga from the pyre:
Above the home of saints, and those
Who feed the quenchless flame, he rose:
Beyond the seat of Gods he passed,
And Brahmá's sphere was gained at last.