watt ANCESTORS OF RAMA Jim, AT “A NOBLE INHERITANCE Vol 572 | www.amarchitrakatha.comvide we The route to your roots When they look back at their formative years, many Indians nostalgically recall the vital part Amar Chitra Katha picture books have played in their lives. It wos ACK — Amar Chitra Katha — that first gave them a glimpse of their glorious heritage. Since they were introduced in 1967, there are now over 400 Amar Chitra Katha titles to choose from. Over 90 million copies have been sold worldwide. Now the Amar Chitra Katha titles are even more widely available in 1000+ bookstores all across India. Log on to www.ack-media.com to locate a bookstore near you. If you do not have access to a backstore, you can buy all the titles through our online store www.omarchitrakatha.com. We provide quick delivery anywhere in the world. To make it easy for you to locate the titles of your choice from our treasure trove of titles, the books are now arranged in five categories. Epics and Mythology Best known stories from the Epics and the Puranas Indian Classics Enchanting tales from Indian literature Fables and Humour Evergreen folktales, legends ond tales of wisdom and humour Bravehearts Stirring tales of brave men and women of India Visionaries Inspiring tales of thinkers, social reformers and nation builders Seript Wostrations Editor Kamala Chandrakant Ram Woeerkar Anant Pai Cover illustration by: CM. Vitankar Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd ISBN 978-81-8482-290-8, © Amar Chitra Kall tprinted January 2 Publahesl& rey Ara ChiraKaa Put Li. The Frum, Soe, Raghuvanshi Mill Campound, S.8.Marg, Lower Parel (W1, Mumbai- 400.013. India or Cansumat Complaints Contact Te #01-2-8829 6099 [Email curtrmersenice ack ess com4 "5 GREAT-GRANDEATHER » THE PIOUS DILIPA OF THE IKSHVAK RACE, WAS RENOWNED FOR HIS VIRTUE. MIS WIFE SUDAKSHINA WAS DEVOTED TO HIM AND HIS SUBJECTS LOVED HIM. YET HE WAS SAD —HE HAD 1 SHALL CONSULT SAGE VASISHTHA. HE MAY BE ABLE LOYAL MINISTERS. 1AM NOW FREE|AT THE HERMITAGE OF THE SAGE — 1 TRUST ALL IS WELL WITH YOU AND YOUR KINGDOM © ae, 2, BY YOUR GRACE, MY KINGDOM COULD NOT see MY QUEEN AND | ARE VERY UNHAPPY. WE YEARN FOR A SON- WHY ARE WE DEPRIVED AH! HERE COMES THE CROWN-PRINCE OF AYODHYA WITH HIS BRIDE TO PAY ME HOMAGE«1 SHALL BLESS THEM WITH MANY VALIANT SONS. 6 LONG, LONG AGO, WHEN) GANGA FLOWED IN HEAVEN ,AND YOU WERE. § JAA YOUNG PRINCE, ‘You \\ HAD GONE TO VISIT INDRA WITH ‘SUDAKSHINA 5 R =RARER “YOU WERE SO ENGROSSED IN YOUR YOUNG BRIDE, HOWEVER, THAT YOU HARDLY NOTICED } SURABHI. SHE FELT SLIGHTED AND HER INTENDED BLESSING CAME FORTH AS A CURSE.” VAIN PRINCE, MAY YOU AND YOUR BRIDE NEVER HAVE ANY CHILDREN TILL YOU ATONE FOR NEGLEC— TING ME BY SERVING MY OFFSPRING. WAS 50 LOUD THAT YOU DID NOT HEAR THE a =¢ |WHO SLIGHT THE WORTHY, ARE THEMSELVES THE O VENERABLE ONE, LISTEN, ALONG WITH YOUR IT WAS AN UNINTENDED | / WIFE, WAIT ON SURABHI'S DAUGHTER, SLIGHT. HOW CAN NANDINI, WITH LOVE AND DEVOTION, ATONE FOR IT? PLEASED, NANDINI WILL BESTOW ON YOU THE PRICELESS BOON you ee id. =AT THAT MOMENT, NANDINI CAME BY AND STOOD NEAR THE SAGE. p———— AT DAWN, SUDAKSHINA MUST ESCORT HER TO THE FOREST AND, IN THE EVENING , WAIT. ‘TO WELCOME HER. YOU MUST ATTEND UPON HER DURING THUS MAY ‘YOU WIN NANDINI'S GRACE AND BECOME THE PROUD FATHER OF MIGHTY We| -..AND LED HER TOWARDS) SB) THE EDGE OF THE FOREST. BEFORE DAWN EACH DAY, SUDAKSHINAFROM DAWN TO DUSK , DILIPA WAITED \UPON NANDINI.AS SHE WALKED HE |FOLLOWED HER. THE EVENING. fami \ 7 | = | \ F wie LY,.AS USUAL,TO WELCOME NANDINI AND TAKE HER.ON THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY, NANDINI WANDERED OUT OF THE FOREST. OTHE KING Ve 16 PATIENT AND ATTEN- I must TEST HIS VALOUR. -INTO SHIVA'S OWN GROVE. LET HER WANDER. HER INNATE SANCTITY WILL PROTECT uP THE GREEN SLOPES OF THE GNOME HIMALAYAS SHE VENTURED ... \i a Py | [AND CUIPA TURNED 10 GAZE AT |THE MATURAL SPLENDOUR OF THE | SURROUNDINGS . SUDDENLY — HAS DARED HARM HERE HE RAN INTO THE GROVE TO FIND |i NANDINI AT THE MERCY OF A LION. My VL SHOOT THE LION P | AND FREE YOU IN A MOMENT, GENTLE ONE. [BUT TO HIS AMAZEMENT , DILIPA FOUND HIS ARM PARALYZED.O KING, HAVE CAST A SPELL ON YOU. SHIVA HAS POSTED ME HERE TO GUARD THIS TREE, WHICH BOTH PARVATI AND HE LOVE J AS A SON. THE COW HAS ‘TRESPASSED- SHE HOW CAN 1217 15 THE Y COW THAT HAS TRES— PASSED. YOU ONLY FOLLOWED HER LIKE A DEVOTED SON. AND LIKE A DEVOTED SON | AM WILLING TO GIVE uP MY LIFE FOR =) a ~BY DYING YOU WOULD BE SAVING ONLY ONE LIFE.BUT BY LIVING You | COULD PROTECT MILLIONS. BESIDES, YOUR DEPENDANTS WOULD.BE LOST, \ wiTHOUT YOU.SO se PRESERVE YOUR WOULD YOU BE ABLE TO FACE SHIVA IF HIS TREE WERE DESTROYED? HOW THEN CAN | BETRAY THE FAITH OF THE VENERABLE SAGE® DO NOT FEAR THE SAGE. YOU CAN APPEASE HIM WITH GIFTS. ‘BUT WHAT ABOUT MY HONOUR @] VALUE MY REPUTATION, WHICH WILL LIVE AFTER ME, FAR ABOVE MERE LIFE WHICH 1S FLEETING.S0, PLEASE ACCEPT MY OFFER AND /*, LET MY CHARGE GO UNHARMED:AS GOON AS THE LION AGREED, THE \SPELL WAS BROKE MOVE - INSTEAD, A SWEET VOICE SOUNDED IN HIS EARS. |--- HE FELL BEFORE THE LION EXPECTING DEATH FROM ITS PAWS» AS DILIPA SLOWLY ROSE, HE WAS ASTONISHED | TO SEE NANPINI WHERE THE LION SHOULD HAVE BEEN- DO NOT BE AMAZED, O VALIANT KING. B <0] | CREATED THIS ILLUSION TO AWE TEST YOU. VASISHTHA’S SPIRITUAL POWER GUARDS ME SO WELL THAT YAMA™ HIMSELF CANNOT TOUCH ME. * THE GOD OF DEATH -<" THEN, GIVE ME YOUR LOYALTY 2 A NOBLE SON, AND BEVOTION HAVE he O MOTHER. “\ PLEASED ME. YOU ig zs DESERVE A BOON. Ti - A FEW DAYS LATER, THE ROYAL COUPLE RETURNED EAI TO THEIR PALACE IN A SWIFT CHARIOT. THEN LET US + .{ NAME HiM RAGHU, OUR SON SHALL BE THE SWIFT-MOVING AN INDRA ON EARTH. HIS CHARIOT SHALL RANGE OVER HER REMOTEST BOUNDARIES.SOON, RAGHU WAS OLD ENOUGH TO BEGIN HIS EDUCATION + IN THE LAND, | ENTRUST THE SPIRITUAL TRAIN- ING OF MY SON. DILIPA HIMSELF INSTRUCTED | RAGHU IN THE ART OF WAR- ee AH! MY SON, THE HOPE OF THE KINGDOM! 1 MUST NOW GET You MARRIED AND INSTALL YOU AS THE HEIR- APPARENT. \A FEW YEARS AFTER RAGHU WAS INSTALLED x JY SON, 1 PLAN TO PERFORM mY HUNDREDTH SACRIFICE, THE ASHWA- MEDHA AND EARN THE TITLE—LORD| \OF A HUNDRED SACRIFICES WHICH INDRA ALONE NOW ENJOYS .YOU SHALL PROTECT THE SACRIFICIAL HORSE AS IT ROAMS: ‘A OF FRIEND AND FOE. EIN|SUBDUED MANY KINGS - YOU HAVE DEFEATED ME NOW BUT | SHALL HAVE MY REVENGE- |AS RAGHU AND HIS COMRABES FOLLOWED THE HORSE, THEY DEFEATED AND [some pay 1 simu h MAKE YOU SUFFER THE SAME HUMILIATION « \MEANWHILE , INDRA, KING OF IF DILIPA PERFORMS THE ASHWAMEDHA,| WILL NO LONGER HAVE SOLE CLAIM OVER THE TITLE—LORD OF. A HUNDRED SACRIFICES- |THE DEVAS , WAS PERTURBED. 50, MAKING HIMSELF INVISIBLE , INDRA DROVE OFF THE HORSE- THE HORSE! | IT’S BEING STOLEN. [WORA, HOWEVER , HAP NOT RECKONED WITH ce IWANDINI'S AFFECTION FOR|\—~(_ RAGHU AS THE PRINCE NS |AND HIS FRIENDS STOOD) : (PERPLEXED, SHE BLESSED | = C HM WITH SUPERNATURAL VISION. ee ‘A ae rc AHL HAVE RECEIVED THE GRACE TO SEE THINGS NOT VISIBLE TO THE HUMAN EYEAND HE SAW THAT THE THIEF WAS INDRA, KING OF THE DEVAS ~ WPRA WAS AMAZED BY RAGHL'S BOLD WORDS. JHE STOPPED HIS CHARIOT. ~————=>| LE? (ET THE HORSE GO, LP O GREAT ONE. ‘YOU SHOULD SMITE OUR FOES -NOT STEAL THE WORSE.YOU KNOW YOU WILL ENJOY A MAJOR NOBLE PRINCE, YOU SPEAK WELL. BUT BY PERFORMING THE ASHWAMEDHA YOUR FATHER PLANS TO ROB ME OF M7 TITLE.1 MEAN TO KEEP IT. you'LL. ‘ME FIRST. HAVE TO KILLHE PLACED A DEADLY ARROW ON HIS BOW AND TOOK AIM. AND BEFORE INDRA COULD RECOVER FROM THE SHOCK RAGHU SHOT DOWN HIS FLAG~ iN TWO. HIB THIRD ARROW CUT INDRA’S BOWSTRING ENRAGED, INDRA FLUNG HIS BOW AWAY AND +» Zila++ SEIZING HIG LETHAL =- HURLED IT AT RAGHU. WEAPON , VAURA --- PRINCE. HAS Z| \MOMENT RAGHL WAS a ! ® jy” _| \ON HIS FEET AGAIN. YOu HAVE WITH— - STOOD mY WEAPON, TAINS CANNOT FACE. | LL GIVE YOU WHAT— THEN LET MY FATHER BE GIVEN THE FULL MERITS OF ALL HIS SACRIFICES, EVEN THOUGH HE MAY NOT COMPLETE THE be hig te AND---LET MY FATHER Ne AND INDRA’S CHARIOT SOARED HEPVENWARDS.INDRA KEPT HIS PROMISE .A PROUD DILIPA STOOP WAITING TO WELCOME THE HERO, AS HE ENTERED AYODHYA IN TRIUMPH. YOUR VALOUR TOO BUT YOUR SCARRED HANDS ARE MORE ELOQUENT. 50 RAGHU BECAME KING AND DILIPA, WITH SUDAKSHINA, RETIRED TO THE FORESTS. 1 NOW WISH TO ENTRUST THE KINGDOM TO YOU AND LEAD AN ASCETIC LIFE — WITH YOUR MOTHER-MEANWHILE, THE VASSAL KINGS, WHOM RAGHU HAD SUBOUED, NOW ROSE IN REVOLT. If YOUR KING WANTS HIS TRIBUTE ,LET HIM COME AND GET IT- PAIGN OF UNIVERSAL |e | CONQUEST. WE WILL PF NOT RETURN TILL WE HAVE CON— QUERED THE HE SET OUT ON THE \CAMPAIGN AT THE HEAD|A FEW YEARS LATER» HIS MIGHTY MISSION |ACCOMPLISHED, A TRIUMPHANT RAGHU A HERALD ANNOUNCED HIS ARRIVAL IN THE CITY. +--AND INSTEAD OF THEIR CROWNS THE DUST OF HIS CHARIOT HIS POWER ESTABLISHED, RAGHU NOW DECIDED TO GIVE AWAY ALL HIS WEALTH- =: ENOUGH WEALTH SHOULD FIRST BE GIVEN HEADS - OUR KING RETURNS WITH UNTOLD WEALTH.AWAY, A YOUNG SAGE STOOP. BEFORE RAGHU.) ALAS! THERE 15 NOTHING Gy WELCOME, O SAGE! HOW AS THE LAST LOT OF TREASURES WAS GIVEN | | ALL IS WELL WITH US, O KING.1 HAD COME FOR THE FEE WHICH | HAVE TO PAY TO MY TEACHER.BUT (SEE THAT | HAVE COME TOO LATE.! WILL HAVE TO GO AND TRY ELSEWHERE. © VIRTUOUS ONE. | CANNOT LET YOU DO THAT. WHAT IS z\ YOuR GURU'S bot DEMAND 2 ® THE GOD OF WEALTH. KUBERA™ ALONE NOW POSSESSES SUCH WEALTH. 1 WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM HIM.you SHALL HAVE THAT MIGHT RAGHU GOT HIS CHARIOT THE AMOUNT YOU NEED.BE MY GUEST FOR A FEW DAYS, WHILE | SECURE i AND WEAPONS READY. 1 SHALL BE NVADE ALAKA- PURI*AT DAWN AND CHALLENGE WHEN KUBERA DIVINED HIS INTENTIONS, | HOWEVER — 1AM NO MATCH FOR RAGHU. THAD BETTER RT NEEDS, BEFORE HE ATTACKS. AND KUBERA RAINED A SHOWER OF GOLD COINS INTO: RAGHL’S COFFERS, % KUBERA’S CAPITAL. LORD! WAIT! | WHILE YOU SLEPT, THE LORD OF WEALTH HAS FILLED YOUR. COFFERS.O KING, MAY YOU BE BLESSED WITH A SON AS GREAT AS YOu. WHEN RAGHU TOLD THE SAGE ABOUT IT, HE WAS AMAZED. TO ALL GREAT KINGS EARTH GLADLY YIELDS HER WEALTH. HOW GREAT MUST HE BE WHEN HEAVEN ITSELF SHOWERS HIM WITH) HE SHALL BE CALLED AJA, THE UNBORN ONE—ARISEN FROM THE SUPREME SOUL, AUA GREW UP TO BE AS VIRTUOUS AND VALIANT A SON AS RAGHU WAS TO HIS PARENTS. [———____MEANWHILE , AT VIOBRBHA , INDUMATI , THE INPUMATI MUST SOON BE MARRIED. 1 SHALL HOLD A SWAYAMVARA FOR HER MANY A NOBLE KING AND CHIEF. SISTER OF KING BHOJA, HAD COME OF AGE.| \OF RAGHU. HE SENT FOR AdA- THE INVITATION REACHED THE COURT MAKE A PEERLESS BRIDE .GO TO |\ vIDARBHA AND WIN SO AUA SET OUT WITH A VAST RETINUE .AN ANGRY ROGUE ELEPHANT ATTACKED THEM THE MOMENT THE SPEAR PIERCED THE ANIMAL +++ YOU HAVE REDEEMED JME FROM A CURSE -AS A REWARD PLEASE ACCEPT THIS: MAGIC SPEAR. IT CAN PUT » WHOLE. ARMIESTHE NEXT MORNING ; AJA ANP HIS IRETINUE RESUMED THEIR JOURNEY- THE MEETING WITH THE GANDHARVA TELLS ME THAT | HAVE BEEN f>, FAVOURED. PERHAPS: i AM FATED TO WIN THE FAIR BRIDE. |AT VIDARBHA, BHOUA HIMSELF CAME OUT TO RECEIVE AUA- YOU MAY REST TONIGHT AT THE SPECIAL PALACE | HAVE BUILT FOR YOU. MY MEN WILL GUIDE YOU TO YOUR THRONE AT THE SWAYAM-| WELCOME,0 SON OF | THE NEXT MORNING, AS AJA ENTERED THE HALL — of [HAVE NOW OF WIN- } er IL \\NOT Here! / 1XTHE Al WAS TENSE AS THE MIGHTY KINGS AWAITED HER ENTRY —EACH WITH | THE HOPE THAT HE WOULD BE THE CHOSEN LORD. S&S | in \ SOON, THE PALANQUIN BE: INDUMATI WAS BROUGHT ped 1WHILE THE RIVAL SUITORS LOOKED WITH HOSTILITY AT THE PRR, KING BHO LED INDUMATI AND AJA THROUGH THE FESTIVE CITY. |T at hee? Fee saat 7 Ran once MERC —— IY “we must ~Y ( LESSLY HUMBLED us | | AVENGE THE \ AND NOW HIS SON /) \ WALKS OFF WITH [ah 2 = ZE- 415s PET us WAYLAY THEM AS ¥) Pere. 269) a [eesesnh Patt THREE DAYS LATER, AuA AND HIS BRIDE SET OUT FOR AYODHYA +TAKE COURAGE, TIMID ONE. AJA SHALL NOT LOSE YOU, HIS VERY | ENTRUST MY A BRIDE TO YOU. GUARDB (THEN, WEARY OF BLOODSHED |ANO SLAUGHTER, AJA MADE A eral’ | SHALL NOW Ray USE MY MAGIC oe SPEAR. A O 4 : AT ONCE THE BEWILDERED KINGS AND THEIR ARMIES: WERE CHARMED INTO SLEEP. THE NOISE CONFUSION OF BATTLE WAS STILLED~ iAJA BLEW HIS CONCH TO ANNOUNCE THEN HE WENT JO INDUMATI . HIS VICTORY COME. BEHOLD AND THEY RESUMED THEIR JOURNEY TO AYODHYA- of THE MIGHTY KING, MY FATHER WILL REJOICE WHEN HE HEARS OF OUR|AND RAGHE! TOOK TO A LIFE OF AUSTERITY AND MEDITATION. NOW AND WOULD LIKE _| TO RENOUNCE THE WORLD. BECOME THE SOVEREIGN AND RULE THE COUNTRY, AJA WAS A JUST, WISE AND STRONG KING AND EARNED ALL THAT AvopHYA \ II] NOW NEEDS 15 AN DASHARATHA, THE FATHER OF RAMA.ANCESTORS OF RAMA King Rama was special. He was handsome, brave, talented, wise Tr Ree CURR ELCL eR EL Lao CS Ct Re IC ec naam remarkably unspoiled by his good fortune. This is because finely Ce RRR ae CC ei Deere et am Rae dr en Ri courage and righteousness of the handsome Aja. Cnt Nola PN Role ket 3% VASAVADATTA| other fami i ing reoding habits and driving their quest fo learn more o