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Ramayana
Ramayana
Rajagopalachari
(Edited by Jay Mazo, American Gita Society)
Contents
1. The Conception
2. Sage Viswamitra
3. Trisanku
4. Rama Leaves Home
5. Rama Slays The Monsters
6. Sita
7. Bhagiratha And The Story Of
Ganga
8. Ahalya
9. Rama Wins Sita's Hand
10. Parasurama's Discomfiture
11. Festive Preparations
12. Manthara's Evil Counsel
13. Kaikeyi Succumbs
14. Wife Or Demon?
15. Behold A Wonder!
16. Storm And Calm
17. Sita's Resolve
18. To The Forest
19. Alone By Themselves
20. Chitrakuta
21. A Mother's Grief
22. Idle Sport And Terrible Result
23. Last Moments
24. Bharata Arrives
25. Intrigue wasted
26. Bharata Suspected
27. The Brothers Meet
28. Bharata Becomes Rama's Deputy
29. Viradha's End
30. Ten Years Pass
31. The Surpanakha Episode
32. Kamban's Surpanakha
33. Khara And His Army Liquidated
34. The Path Of Ruin
35. The Golden Stag
36. The Good Bird Jatayu
37. Closely Guarded
38. Rama Disconsolate
AUTHOR'S PREFACE
The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan has
added to the debt of gratitude owed it by
undertaking the publication of the English
version of my Tamil Ramayana. They
achieved great success in the distribution
of my Mahabharata book and I trust this
book of the story of Rama and Sita will
receive similar welcome.
Once again, I repeat my confession that
in the evening of my busy life during a
great and eventful period of Indian
history, the writing of these two books
wherein I have retold the Mahabharata
and Ramayana, is, in my opinion, the best
service I have rendered to my people.
At any rate, they embody the best joy I
have experienced; for in these two books I
helped our great sages to speak to our dear
men and women again in their own
language, elevating their minds through
the sorrows borne by Kunti, Kausalya,
Draupadi and Sita. The real need of the
hour is a recommunion between us and
the sages of our land, so that the future
may be built on rock and not on sand.
In presenting this English version to a
wider circle of readers spread all over the
world, I think I am presenting to them the
people of Bharat just as they are, with all
their virtues and their faults. Our classics
really embody our national character in all
its aspects and it is well the world sees us
as we really are, apart from what we wish
to become.
The Ramayana is not history or
biography. It is a part of Hindu
mythology. One cannot understand Hindu
dharma unless one knows Rama and Sita,
Bharata,
Lakshmana,
Ravana,
Kumbhakarna and Hanuman. Mythology
cannot be dispensed with. Philosophy
alone or rituals alone or mythology alone
cannot be sufficient. These are the three
stands of all ancient religions. The attitude
endowed with
unflagging zeal.
virtue,
strength
and
8. AHALYA
After a day's stay in the City of Visala,
Viswamitra and his party left for Mithila.
On the way, not far from Mithila, they
saw a beautiful ashrama which seemed
untenanted. Rama asked Viswamitra:
"Whose is this ashrama with ancient
trees? Why does such a beautiful abode
stand deserted?"
Viswamitra replied:
"This ashrama is subject to a curse.
Sage Gautama lived here with his wife
Ahalya, spending his days in peace and
holy meditation. One day during the sage's
absence from the ashrama, Indra, filled
with unholy desire for the beautiful
Ahalya, entered it disguised as Gautama
and approached the lady with urgent
solicitation. She was not deceived by the
impersonation, but vain of her beauty and
proud that it had won her the love of the
lord of the celestials, she lost her
judgment and yielded to his desire. When
the sin had been sinned, realising its
heinousness and the fierce spiritual energy
of her betrayed husband, she warned Indra
of his terrible peril and begged him to be
gone in the instant. Indra was fleeing in
guilty panic; but unfortunately for him he
almost bumped into the rishi who was just
returning from his ablutions, clad in wet
garments and radiating spiritual lustre.
Pretence was hopeless before that allseeing wisdom and Indra bowed in abject
supplication, and threw himself on the
mercy of the rishi. The sage looked at him
with wrath and loathing and cursed him:
'Lustful beast as you are, dead to all truth
and righteousness, may your manhood fall
away from you.' Indra at once became an
eunuch and went back to the Devas in
ignominious shame. Then the sage turned
to his erring wife and prescribed a long
penance for her. He said: 'Living on air,
Readers
should
exercise
their
imagination and build up in their own
hearts the passions and sorrows of the
persons figuring in this epic. Dasaratha's
anguish, Rama's cheerful renunciation and
the greedy passion of Kaikeyi which
smothered all noble impulses these are
familiar phases in our daily lives.
Valmiki and Kamban saw with the
vision of genius and made the events in
Rama's story live again in song. We too
should see them through imagination.
This is the meaning of the tradition that
wherever Rama's tale is told Hanuman
himself joins the gathering and reverently
stands listening with tear-filled eyes. May
everyone that reads this chapter receive by
Rama's grace and strength to bear the
sorrows that have to be faced in life.
16. STORM AND CALM
RAMA went to Queen Kausalya's
dwelling. Many visitors were assembled
there, eagerly awaiting the coronation. In
the innermost apartment, the Queen, clad
in white silk, was before the sacrificial
fire invoking blessings on her son.
As soon as Rama entered, she
embraced him and showed him, who she
thought, was to become the Yuvaraja, to a
specially raised seat.
"Mother, this seat is now too high for
me," said Rama. "I am a hermit and
should sit on grass spread on the floor. I
have brought you news, which may
sadden you. Listen, and give me your
blessings."
And he told her briefly what had
happened: "The King wishes to give the
crown to Bharata. His command is that I
should spend fourteen years in the
Dandaka forest. I must leave today,
mother, and I come for your blessings
before I go."
When Kausalya heard this, she fell on
the ground like a plantain tree suddenly
Inauspicious
omens
were
seen
everywhere. Bharata concluded that some
great misfortune had overtaken the city
and that was the reason why he had been
so hastily sent for. He entered Dasaratha's
palace. The King was not to be seen. His
anxiety increased.
He then entered Kaikeyi's palace.
When she saw her son after a long
absence, she jumped from her golden
couch to embrace him. He bent down and
touched her feet. She kissed his head and
welcomed him with maternal blessings.
"Did you have a good journey?" she
asked. "Are your uncle and grandfather
well? Tell me all about them."
He answered: "The journey took seven
days. All our people at Kekaya are happy
and well. Grandfather and uncle send you
their love. They have sent rich gifts for
you, but these will arrive later. I have
come in advance. The envoys hurried me,
saying there was urgent work demanding
my presence here. What is all this about? I
went to the King's palace to pay him my
respects. He was not to be found there and
here too his couch is empty. Perhaps he is
with one of my senior mothers. I must go
and see him and tender my respects."
When Bharata, innocent of heart and
unaware of what had happened, said this,
the foolish queen intoxicated with a new
sense of power answered: "My child, your
father had his full share of the blessings of
this life. His fame was great. He
performed all the sacrifices enjoined by
tradition. He was a refuge for the good.
He has now entered the higher world and
joined the gods."
On hearing this, Bharata fell down
uttering a cry, his long arms stretched out
on the ground. Rising, he looked at his
father's empty bed and sobbed like a
destitute orphan. The mighty hero threw
his god-like frame on the earth and wept
like a child in uncontrolled grief.
Rama
said
this
laughing,
and
Lakshmana shrank into himself with
shame.
"Perhaps our father, the King,"
Lakshmana said. " Is himself coming to
see us."
After listening to Rama, he was
convinced that his fear was improper. He
wondered then why the army was
marching and thought that perhaps
Dasaratha was coming to visit them in the
forest and a large retinue followed the
King. The commentator remarks that
Lakshmana, realising his folly in having
spoken ill of Bharata, was trying by some
explanations to cover up his shame.
Rama cheered up Lakshmana saying:
"Yes, it may be as you say. Thinking that
life in the forest was hard, the King might
have come to take us, and specially Sita,
back to the city. But then, we do not see
the King's great white umbrella. But
whatever be the case, you should be
calm." Lakshmana stood humbly with
folded hands by Rama.
Halting the army at some distance,
Bharata sent a few men to observe and
report on the place whence the smoke
rose. They brought the news that this was
the very spot described by Bharadwaja
and that the cottage was very probably
Rama's forest abode.
Bharata
started
forward
with
Satrughna, Vasishtha and Sumantra. As
they advanced, they saw indications that
the ashrama was habited. There was a
path that led to the river and the trees were
blazed on either side of it as though to
make it easy to find it in the dusk.
Presently they came to a cottage thatched
with leaves, near which were stacks of
faggots and the dry dung of deer and wild
buffaloes heaped for use in winter.
In the cottage, on the walls were
mighty bows and quivers full of deadly
arrows, swords which seemed to radiate
went to his apartments with the griefstricken Sita. The fool thought that he had
secured the prize, but he was taking home
his own death in a woman's form. Then,
summoning some demon-like Rakshasis,
he ordered them to keep watch over Sita,
specially commanding them to let none
approach her without his permission.
"Give her whatever she wants, clothes
or gold or jewels. Serve her and do her
honor as you would serve and honor me,"
he enjoined them.
And he added the warning: "Anyone
who utters a word which might offend her
will be punished with death. No one,
knowingly or unknowingly, should cause
her anger or grief."
Having thus installed Sita in the inner
apartment, he considered what should be
done next. He sent for some clever spies
and gave them this mandate:
"Go at once to Janasthana where Khara
lived. Watch carefully and bring me word
what Rama is doing. So long as that Rama
is alive I cannot sleep. He is my greatest
foe. Somehow, he should be killed. Go
boldly now and do your job and return."
Imprisoned within a fortress in a seagirt island, Sita did not know where she
was or how far from Rama. She expected
that her lord would somehow arrive, kill
Ravana and redeem her.
Though full of grief, thinking of the
strength and prowess of her lord she was
bold and steady in mind. It was also some
consolation that the Rakshasa king did not
behave like a beast with her.
Having despatched his men to
Janasthana, Ravana returned to Sita's
presence. He saw her overwhelmed by
grief and shedding tears. The Rakshasis
were watching her with care.
He thought that if she saw his wealth
and power she would yield to him. She
was therefore taken round in the great
palace and shown the wealth and grandeur
persisted.
Could
Rama's
strength
overcome Vali's? It all looked hopelessly
impossible. Vali's body was like steel.
How was Rama going to kill him?
Sugriva had these doubts about Rama.
But he had none else to help him. And he
was not prepared to give up his desire. He
decided to test Rama's strength.
But how is one to subject a friend to a
test without discourteously betraying one's
suspicion? Rama had promised to get the
thing done. How was an occasion to be
created to measure his ability? Sugriva
thought long and formed a plan.
He told Rama softly: "My Lord Rama!
Your words have banished sorrow from
my heart. I know your valor. An arrow
from your bow can destroy the three
worlds. How can Vali's frame stand
against it? Still it is my duty to tell you all
about Vali's strength. He can go round to
the four oceans to take up in his palm and
sip the water with the morning prayers.
He can toss and play with a heavy rock as
if it were a ball. He can pull out mighty
forest trees as if they were blades of grass.
Once Dundubhi, an Asura in buffalo form
possessing the strength of a thousand
elephants, challenged Ocean to a fight.
Ocean evaded saying: 'You should fight
with an equal. There in the north stands
Himavan. Go and challenge him. Leave
poor me alone'. Dundubhi agreed and,
speeding northwards, met and challenged
Himavan, going his rocky side with his
horns. Himavan controlled his temper and
said: 'Why do you assault me? I am not a
fighter. I spend my life in the company of
sages who love to stay with me.'
Dundubhi answered: 'Very well, then. But
tell me of some one I can fight with. I
want a worthy foeman today.' Himavan
said: 'There is one in the south who is a
foe worthy of you. He is Vali, the Vanara
King. His strength is like his father
Indra's. If you care, you may go to him
now
think
of
performing
Vali's
obsequies."
"I care for nothing," answered Tara. "It
is for Sugriva to perform the obsequies
and to look after Angada. What is there
for me to do? Can a thousand Angadas
equal in my eyes my husband? With him I
shall enter the house of Yama. That alone
will please me."
Vali, unconscious till now, opened his
eyes for the last time and addressing
Sugriva said: "Brother, we two could have
been friends and reigned happily over the
kingdom. But it was not given to us to be
so wise and happy. I am more to blame
than you, but why talk about that now?
Hereafter you shall rule the kingdom. I
have entrusted to you Angada, my son,
dearer than life itself to Tara and me. He
is a warrior equal to you in prowess. Be a
father to him and look after him with
kindness. This is my only request to you.
And be kind to Tara who was not only a
blameless and affectionate wife, but also a
very wise and far-sighted counsellor.
Whatever she foretells is bound to happen.
Do not disregard her advice on any
matter. Here, take the necklace that Indra
gave me and take with it its secret power.
My life is over and so is my resentment.
May you be happy!" Thus the generous
Vali blessed his brother Sugriva.
He gave good advice to Angada:
"Sugriva is now your king. Be loyal to
him and give him patient, affectionate
service."
Like a flowering creeper embracing a
forest tree felled down by an axe, Tara lay
on the ground clinging to Vali.
Nila, as gently as he could, drew out
the dart from Vali's chest.
Blood gushed out of the wound and
spread into a pool. Vali's life left his body.
Tara lamented loudly. "For the last time
salute your father," she bade Angada in
heart-broken accents. "O my husband!
of the day and forgetfulness for the deepseated injuries of the heart. Kishkindha
mourned her Vali for a time, and then
rejoiced in Sugriva and the survivors.
Sugriva forgot the privations of his exile
and the remorse for his brother's death. He
enjoyed to the full his present prosperity
and even Tara reconciled and adapted
herself to altered circumstances in the
interests of her son.
The royal palace of Kishkindha was
full of joy and drinking, and the gloomy
months of rain, which the Raghu brothers
spent in leaden repining, sped with
golden-winged enjoyment for Sugriva and
his household. Only Hanuman felt
anxious. He could not forget Rama's
business. He was looking out for an
opportunity to remind the king of his
pledge to Rama.
At last, the rains ceased and the sky
was cleared of cloud and lightning. The
air was sweet with the perfumes of
flowers and the songs of birds and joy
came to life in the forest again. The
intelligent and high virtuous Hanuman
now approached his king. Sugriva had
entrusted all official duties to the
ministers and was absorbed in pleasure.
Hanuman knew that the wisest and best of
men neglect their promises in such
circumstances and addressed the king with
great politeness:
"You have regained the kingdom of
your ancestors and are in secure
possession and enjoyment of it. But
something yet remains to be done. You
must fulfil your promise to your allies and
so increase your fame and strengthen your
power. Even at the sacrifice of one's own
interests and pleasure, one should carry
out the business of one's friends according
to one's promise. Only so can a king's
authority and reputation grow. It will be
best to fulfil one's promise before the due
date. In any case delay should be avoided.
command
to
allay
Lakshmana's
resentment.
In ancient times, when an elder brother
died leaving a wife, there was a custom in
royal and other noble families for the
younger brother to take the widow as wife
and protect her. It is difficult for people of
one age to judge the customs of another
age. Imagination and great flexibility of
mind are needed to assess the merits and
defects of usage's with which we are not
familiar.
46. THE SEARCH BEGINS
"LOOK, Rama, at this Vanara army,"
said Sugriva. "All these myriads, of
wondrous strength, are yours to command.
They are willing and able to do you all the
service you demand. Consider this huge
army as your own and bid them to do
whatever you wish."
Rama, beside himself with joy;
embraced Sugriva. He said: "First we
should find out whether Sita is alive, and
if so where she is. Next we should know
Ravana's whereabouts. Then we shall do
what needs to be done. But it is for you,
not for me or Lakshmana, to command
this army. You are their King. Besides,
you know best what needs to be done and
how to do it. Blessed am I to have a friend
like you and a brother like Lakshmana!"
Then Sugriva issued stringent orders to
his commanders at once to send divisions
of the army to the four quarters of the
earth to make a thorough search for Sita.
After sending away the other leaders,
Sugriva took Hanuman aside and told
him: "Son of Vayu, possessing the
strength and splendor of your father, you
alone can succeed in this task. You have
strength, courage and intelligence and on
you I rely to take up and discharge this
responsibility of discovering Sita."
Rama too felt that Hanuman's efforts
would be crowned with success. Whatever
obstacles turned up, he felt that Hanuman
everything.
The Rakshasas, to amuse
their women and children took him
through all the streets and bylanes of the
city. And he noted in silence, for future,
use all the secrets of that fortified city.
"But what is this miracle?" he thought.
"The rags soaked in oil burn brightly but
the fire does not hurt and is cool on my
tail. The elements themselves seem kind
to one engaged in Rama's purpose. Did
not the mountain rise above the sea and
offer me hospitality? Even so the god of
Fire is gracious to me now and does not
harm me. Or may be, Agni being a friend
of my father Vayu, is gentle with me.
Now, I think I should not let slip this
opportunity which has come to me
unsought to put the fear of God into these
Rakshasas."
Suddenly he shrank in size and shook
off the ropes that bound him and,
resuming his huge shape, jumped with his
blazing tail to the top of a tall building. He
plucked a pillar there and whirled it
round, striking terror in all beholders.
Then he jumped from mansion to
mansion, setting fire to them. In a little
while a strong breeze began to blow and
the whole city was in flames. The
Rakshasas and their women and children
shouted in terror and ran hither and
thither.
"This monkey is no other than Yama,"
said some. "No, he must be the god Agni,"
said others. And they all fled from their
burning houses.
Recalling the insults he had suffered,
Hanuman was pleased when he saw the
flames rise. He sat on the summit of the
Trikuta hill and contemplated with
satisfaction the red glow of the burning
city.
Then he went to the sea and,
plunging in, put out the fire in his tail and
came ashore.
"Alas! Alas! What have I done?" he
said with uncontrollable grief. "I have lost
Vibhishana
looked
at
Rama
and
Lakshmana. When he saw them wounded,
covered with arrows all over, and unable
to fight, he broke down crying: "It is all
over. What more is there to do?"
Sugriva turned to Sushena, his uncle,
and said: "Take Rama and Lakshmana to
Kishkindha. I shall kill Ravana, redeem
Sita, and bring her there."
Sushena answered: "There are herbs
which can heal the wounds of the princes
and restore them to health. Some of us
know where these herbs are to be found.
Here is Hanuman. If you send him, he will
fetch the herbs."
As they were speaking, the sea and air
were churned up by a mighty wind and
the great bird Garuda burst into view.
When Garuda arrived, the serpent darts
that covered Rama and Lakshmana
disappeared instantaneously. They were
all venomous serpents which had become
arrows through the magic of Indrajit and
had bound the princes' bodies.
When their inveterate and dreaded
enemy Garuda appeared, they took flight.
Then Garuda gently stroked the bodies of
Rama and Lakshmana and restored to
them their full strength. The wounds were
all healed and they rose up, stronger and
more radiant than before.
And Rama asked: "Who are you, my
benefactor?" He did not know that he was
Vishnu and Garuda was his own bird on
which he always rode.
Garuda answered, "I am your good
friend, and old companion. Glory is
yours! Let me go now. When the battle is
ended, we shall know each other better."
Saying thus Hamsa bird flew away.
Seeing Rama and Lakshmana fully
recovered and ready for battle, the
Vanaras were enthusiastic once again and
resumed attacking Ravana's fortress.
70. RAVANA'S DEFEAT
Glossary
Adisesha : The primordial Serpent
which is Lord Vishnu's bed.
Agneyastra : A missile charged with an
invocation to the God Agni (Fire).
Aryaputra : Noble prince; classical
form of address by wife to husband,
betokening love and respect combined.
Ashrama : Hermitage.
Asuric Yajna : Sacrifice pertaining to
Asuras. Demoniacal sacrifice and
necromancy for gaining power.
Abhisheka : Religious rite of pouring
or sprinkling sacred waters on the head of
one who is installed as King or First
Prince.
Adharma : Sin, unrighteous action,
opposite of dharma.
Agni : The God of Fire.
Alakapuri : The capital of Kubera, the
God of Wealth.
Amaravati : The city in heaven where
Indra has his abode.
Aruna : The God of Dawn, first son of
Kasyapa Prajapati and Vinata. He was
born lame.
Aruna was the elder brother of Garuda.
Aruna is the charioteer of the Sun God
Arundhati : Wife of Sage Vasishtha, a
pattern of chastity.
Astras : Miraculous weapons whose
power lay in the invocations they were
charged with.
Asuras : Enemies of the Gods.
Aswapati : King of Kekaya, father of
Kaikeyi and grandfather of Bharata.
Aswini Devatas : Celestial beings, twin
sons of Surya.
Avatar : Incarnation.
Bala, Ati Bala: Two invocations to
obviate hunger, thirst and sleep.
Bhagirathi : Another name of Ganga.
Bhagyam : Fortune, prosperity.
Bhakta : Devotee.
Dishtam : Indicated.
Gandharvas : A Class Of semi-divine
beings. Celestial musicians.
Garuda : The bird king who is Vishnu's
vehicle.
Govinda : One of the names of
Krishna.
Guru : Acharya, preceptor.
Hari : One of the names of Vishnu. The
second of the Hindu Trinity. Other names
are Krishna, Mukunda, Madhava, Kesava,
Narayana.
Himavan : The presiding deity of the
Himalaya range.
Ikshvaku : King of the Solar race from
whom the name came for the race of Solar
kings.
Indra : The chief and the king of the
Gods.
Indra-Astra : Missile charged with an
invocation to Indra.
Jambavan : Leader of bears in the army
of Sugriva.
Jamadagni : A great sage, father of
Parasurama.
Jnana : Spiritual knowledge,
realisation.
Jnani : A knower of Reality.
Kama : Desire, usually referred to in
relation to sex.
Kamadhenu : The Divine cow of
Heaven. It was born of the Ocean when
the Devas and Asuras churned it for
Nectar.
Kamavalli : A name which Surpanakha
gave to herself.
Kartaviryarjuna : Son of King
Kritavirya. He had a thousand hands and
his golden chariot could go wherever he
wished. He was a contemporary of
Ravana and had him imprisoned in his
city. Parasurama killed him for carrying
away Kamadhenu and killing Jamadagni
Kailasa : The abode of Siva.
Kalpaka : A Tree which issued out of
the Ocean when it was churned by Devas