Ramayana Canto 01-04 Table of Contents

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OMThe Valmiki-Ramayal}.a

Baiakal}.4aBook OneNumber of Cantos :1. The celestial sage Nat-ada narrates to Valmiki the Story of SrI Rama

in a nutshell.2. Brahma's visit.3. A brief outline of the RamayaQa as given by the poet himself.4 . After his ascension to the throne of Ayodhya SrI Rama listens to

his own story as sung by his sons (Kusa and Lava).5. A description of the city of Ayodhya.6. A description of the city of Ayodhya and the prosperity of its inhabitants

during the reign of King Dasaratha...7. The virtue and upright conduct of the eight ministers of Emperor

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Dasaratha. 248. The King's proposal to perform a horse-sacrifice for being blessed with

a son and the acclamation of the counsellors and other BrahmaQas. 269. A dialogue between Emperor Dasaratha and Sumantra.

10. How the sage ~ ~ y a s f I i g a was lured away to the capital of Romapadaand married to his adopted daughter, Santa.

11. Urged by Sumantra, Emperor Dasaratha calls on his friend, KingRomapada, and brings with the latter's permission Santa and

~ ~ y a s f I i . g a to his own palace.12. Emperor Dasaratha gives his consent to the performance of a horse-

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33sacrifice for being blessed with a son. 36

13. Feudatory chiefs called under orders of the emperor and chargedwith the duty of setting up stables etc. 38

14. King Dasaratha proceeds with the horse-sacrifice; ~ ~ y a s p i . g a grants hima boon regarding the birth of four sons. 41

15. ~ ~ y a s f I i . g a conducts a sacrifice for securing the birth of sons to Dasaratha;the gods approach Brahma in that very sacrifice with a prayer for bringingabout the death of RavaQa; Brahma implores Lord V i ~ Q u (also presentthere) to descend in the house of Dasaratha and do awaywith RavaQa and the Lord undertakes to kill Raval)a.

16. A dialogue between Lord V i ~ Q u and the gods bearing on RavaQa; onthe disappearance of the Lord an attendant of Prajapati (Lord V i ~ Q u ,the Protector of all created beings) rises from the sacrificial pit and handsover to Dasaratha a basin containing milk boiled with rice and sugar

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and the latter divides it among his wives.17. Birth of monkey chiefs from the loins of different gods under the

direction of Brahrna.18. Advent of Sri Rama, Bharata and others; festivities in heaven as well

as in Ayodhya; their investiture with the sacred thread; the arrival ofViswamitra.

19. King Dasaratha is stunned to hear the request of Viswarnitra to sendSri Rama with him to dispose of the R a k ~ a s a s that interfered withhis sacred observances.

20. Dasaratha declines to part with Sri Rama, thereby enraging Viswarnitra.21. The wrath of Viswarnitra; the intercession of V a s i ~ ~ h a in favour ofViswamitra .22. King Dasaratha sends Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) . a with Viswamitra and the

two princes receive initiation from the latter in the two mystic spellsBala and Atibala.

23. Night-long sojourn of Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) . a with Viswamitra in aholy hermitage at the confluence of the Ganga and the Sarayii.

24. An account of the S a r a y i i g ~ v e n by Viswamitra; some facts relating tothe ogress T a ~ a k a revealed and hints given about killing her.

25. Questioned by Sri Rama, Viswamitra tells him more about the birth ofT a ~ a k a , of her marriage with Sunda, as. well as about the birth of Maricaas a result of their union, and how the latter was subjected to anexecration by the sage Agastya, and finally urges Sri Rama to despatchthe ogress.

26. Sri Rama kills T a ~ a k a .27. Gratified with the death of T a ~ a k a , Viswamitra imparts to Sri Rama the

knowledge of the various missiles.28 At the request of Sri Rama the sage Viswamitra instructs him as well

as L a k ~ m a l ) . a in the process of calling back the missiles and deliverssome more missiles to them.

29. Viswamitra tells Sri Rama the history of Siddhasrama and arrives at hisown hermitage with the two brothers.

30. Sri Rama protects the sacrifice of Viswamitra against the onslaught ofthe R a k ~ a s a s and gets rid of them.

31. Accompanied by Sri Rama, L a k ~ m a l ) . a and a host of B . ~ i s , SageViswamitra proceeds northward in the direction of Mithila to witnessthe bow-sacrifice of King lanaka and breaks his journey on the bankof the Sona at sunset.

32. Anaccouht of the four sons of Kusa; the hundred daughters of Kusanabhaturn hunch-backed under a curse of the wind-god.

33. Kusanabha applauds the forbearance and forgiveness of his daughters; thestory of the birth of Brahrnadatta and his marriage with Kusanabha'sdaughters .

34. Kusanabha performs a sacrifice for the birth of a son and is blessedwith o n e Gadhi by name; the glory of the river Kausiki (the modernKosi in Bihar).

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35. Crossing the Sona, Viswamitra and party reach the bank of the holyGanga and spend the night there. Requested by Sri Rama, he narratesthe story of the origin of the Ganga.

36. Gods interrupt the amorous pastimes of Lord Siva and His Consort,Goddess Vma, on which She curses gods including Mother Earth.

37. A detailed account of Kiirtikeya's birth through Ganga.38. The narrative of King Sagara, a former king of Ayodhya and a fore-father of Sri Riima.

39. Indra steals away the horse released by Sagara as a prelude to his horse-sacrifice; his sixty thousand sons proceed to excavate the earth in questof the horse and the gods in terror apprise Brahma of this daring oftheirs.

40. Brahma reassures the gods by telling them that the sons of Sagara willbe destroyed by the curse of Sage Kapila. The sons of Sagara in thecourse of their excavation arrive in the presence of Kapila and, behavinginsolently towards him, are forthwith reduced to ashes by the fire ofhis wrath.

41. V nder orders of Sagara his grandson Arhsuman proceeds to Rasatalathrough the underground passage made by his uncles and, bringing backthe sacrificial horse, tells the king about the fate of his uncles.

42. Arhsuman and his grandson, Bhagiratha, successively practise austeritiesfor bringing down the Ganga to the terrestrial plane. Brahma grants aboon to Bhagiratha and exhorts him to propitiate Lord Siva and secureHis consent to receive the Ganga on His head.

43. Pleased with the asceticism of Bhagiratha, Lord Siva receives the Gangaon His head and discharges it into Bindusarovara. Branching forth intoseven streams it then accompanies Bhagiratha to Rasatala and liberateshis forbears on the way.

44 . Applauding Bhagiratha, Brahma urges him to gratify the souls of hisdeparted great g r a n d ~ u n c l e s by offering them the water of the Ganga,and after doing his bidding Bhagiratha returns to his capital; the gloryof hearing and reading the story of Ganga's descent on earth.

45. Viswamitra tells Sri Riima how in the remote past the gods and thedemons conjointly churned the ocean of milk, using Mount Mandara asthe churning rod, how Lord Siva drank off the deadly poison skimmedout of it, how as a result of that churning appeared Lord Dhanvantari,a bevy of Apsaras, the beverage known by the name of Viirul).J, the horseVcchail:lsrava, the Kaustubha gem and nectar, and how the conflict ofgods and the Daityas ended in the destruction of the latter.

46. Disconsolate over the death of her sons, Diti embarks on a course ofausterities at Kusaplava with the permission of her husband, SageKasyapa, with the object of securing a son capable of killing Indra. Thelatter on coming to know of her intention serves her during the periodof her consecration and, taking advantage of her falling asleep on oneoccasion with her head in a wrong position and thereby transgressing

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the rules of purity, enters her womb and carves the foetus.47. Viswamitra tells Sri Rama how on the very site of the grove where Ditipractised her austerities VWila, a son of k ~ w a k u , built the city of Visii!a.Sumati the contemporary ruler of Visala, receives Viswamitra and hisparty as 'his distinguished guests.

48. Havini'stayed overnight at Visala as an honoured guest of Sumati, SriRama, accompanied by Viswamitra and the other sages, heads towards

.Mithila (the capital of King Janaka) and, on reaching on the way a desertedhermitage and, inquiring about it is told by Viswamitra how Ahalya, wifeof Sage Gautama, whose hermitage it was, was subjected to a curseby her husband.

49 . At the intercession of the gods Indra is supplied with testicles of a ram;Ahalya gets back her pristine celestial form at the very sight of Sri Ramathe moment he enters the hermitage, and the two divine brothers areentertained by the lady with the help of her husband.50. .Sri Rama and others reach MithiHi and are received in advance by KingJanaka, headed by his family priest, Satananda, and Viswamitra satisfiestheir curiosity about the two princes of Ayodhya .

51. At the request of Satananda Viswamitra tells him how Ahalya wasredeemed by Sri Rama and entertained h'im with the help of her husband.And Satananda in his turn commences narrating to Sri Rama the storyof Viswamitra.

52. V a s i ~ ~ h a enjoins his cow of plenty, Sabala by name, the yield necessaryarticles for entertaining Viswamitra.53. Heartily entertained alongwith his army by V a s i ~ ~ h a with delicious foodsand drinks yielded by his cow of plenty, Viswamitra asks of him the

cow, which V a s i ~ ~ h a declines to part with.54. On Viswamitra attempting to take her away by force, Sabala seeks to

know V a s i ~ ~ h a ' s mind, and at his instance produces a multitude ofwarriors that disperse Viswiiplitra's army.55. His entire army having been exterminated by the warriors produced

by Sabala and his hundred sons reduced to ashes by the very roar ofV s i ~ ! h a even as they assailed him, Viswamitra retires to the Himalayasfor austerities and, receiving a number of missiles from Lord Siva, triesthem on the inmates of V a s i ~ ~ h a ' s hermitage; V a s i ~ ! h a meets him witha mere staff appropriate to a Briihmal).a.

56. With his Brahmanical staff alone V a s i ~ ! h a renders ineffectual all themystic missiles discharged by Viswamitra, whereupon the latter condemnsmilitary strength and makes up his mind to practise austerities with aview to attaining Brahmanhood.

57. Viswamitra embarks on a severe course of austerities with a vi,ew toattaining Brahmanhood. In the meantime King Trisailku of Ayodhyarequests V a s i ~ ! h a to conduct for him a sacrifice which may enable himbodily to ascend to heaven and, on V a s i ~ ! h a declining to comply withhis request, approaches his sons for the same purpose.

58. Having been repulsed by V a s i ~ ! h a ' s sons as well; Trisailku gets ready

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[25]to seek another priest; whereupon he is degraded by the curse of

V a s i ~ ~ h a ' s sons to the position of a Cal)Qala and approaches Viswiimitrawith the same request.

59. Viswamitra assures Trisailku of his help, sends word to a number ofsages, inviting them to conduct a sacrifice for Trisailku, and pronouncesa curse on those who declined to come.60. At the instance of Viswiimitra the sages assembled at his hermitagecommence a sacrifice; on the gods failing to appear at the sacrifice toaccept the offerings, Viswamitra sends Trisailku bodily to heaven by dintof his own spiritual power, but the latter is expelled by Indra, on whichViswamitra stops him in the air and proceeds to create a new heavenand desists from his purpose only on the gods granting his desire.

61. The animal to be sacrificed at the sacrificial performance of KingA m b a r l ~ a having been stolen .away by Indra appearing in disguise, thearch-priest enjoined the king to secure a human beast as a substitute.Wandering in search of such a beast, A m b a r l ~ a saw the sage ~ c l k a atBhrgutuilga and requested him to hand over his juvenile son in exchangefor a hundred thousand cows. On the parents declining to part with theireldest and youngest sons, the middle one, Sunal:lsepa by name, voluntarilyoffered himself for being sold and the king returned with himto his capital.

62. On reaching P u ~ k a r a , while A m b a n ~ a is taking rest, Sunal:lsepaapproaches Viswamitra, who was practising austerities there, andinquires of him a means of escaping death without meeting with theking's opposition, whereupon Viswamitra teaches him a prayer eachfor propitiating Indra and Lord V i ~ l ) u respectively, by reciting whichthe boy secures release from A m b a r l ~ a ' s bondage and the latter gets thereward of the sacrifice without sacrificing him.

63. Brahma .pays a visit to Viswamitra at P u ~ k a r a and rewards him withthe status of a (seer). There he feels enamoured of Menaka, a celestialnymph deputed by Indra, and enjoys life with her for ten years. At lasthe realizes his folly and retires to the Himalayas, where he renews hisausterities and is rewarded with the status of a M a h a r ~ i by Brahma.Still dissatisfied, he prosecutes his austerities with renewed vigour.

64. Petrifying by means of a curse Rampha, the celestial nymph sent byIndra to wean him from his austerities, Viswamitra resolves upon afurther course of austerities.

65. On Viswamitra not ceasing from his austerities even on his beingconferred the title of a B r a h m a r ~ i by Brahma, V a s i ~ ~ h a as urged by godsrecognizes it and here ends the narration of Satananda. Havingworshipped Viswamitra, King lanaka then returns to his palace.

66. On Viswamitra apprising lanaka of the eagerness of Sri Riima andL a k ~ m a l ) a to see his famous bow, lanaka reveals to him its glory andtells him how he got it as well as Slta and also of his pledge to giveh e in marriage to SrI Rama if he should string it.

67. Urged by Viswamitra, SrI Riima bends the bow, sent by lanaka to the

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sacrificial hall, in order to string it and in the process breaks it,whereupon Janaka with the concurrence of Viswamitra sends hiscounsellors to Ayodhya to invite Emperor Dasaratha for the wedding.

68. Reaching Ayodhya, the counsellors of Janaka tell Dasaratha how SriRama broke the bow of Janaka and won the hand Of his daughter, andconvey to him their master's invitation for the wedding, on whichDasaratha makes up his mind in consultation with V a s i ~ ! h a to departfor Mithila at an early date.

69. With a large number of followers Dasaratha proceeds to Mithila for thewedding and is received with signal honour by Janaka and his peopleand comfortably lodged.70. Janaka sends for his younger brother,Kusadhwaja, from Sankasya. Invited

by him, Dasaratha meets Janaka at the latter's palace, where at theinstance of Dasaratha V a s i ~ ! h a glorifies the race of I k ~ w a k u .

71. Recounting his own pedigree, Janaka offers the hand of his twodaughters, Sita and Urmila, to Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a r : t arespectively.72. V a s i ~ ! h a and Viswamitra jointly ask for the hand of the two daughters

of Kusadhwaja in favour of Bharata and Satrughna and Janaka acquiescesin the proposal. Thereupon Dasaratha gets his sons to perform the riteof Samavartana and himself performs the Nandisraddha.

73. Janaka escorts Dasaratha and his four sons clad in nuptial attire to thepavilion erected for the wedding. Placing Viswamitra and Satananda athis head, V s i ~ ! h a conducts the marriage. ceremony. Sri Rama and histhree brothers clasp the hand of Sita and her sisters. Singing and dancingfor joy, the gods rain heavenly flowers on the brides andbridegrooms.

74. Taking leave of Janaka and Dasaratha, Viswamitra returns to his ownhermitage and, accepting large wedding presents, Dasaratha too turnsback to Ayodhya alongwith his son!: and their newly-wedded brides. Onthe way the irascible and redoubtable Parasurama, a sworn enemy ofthe K ~ a t r i y a s , suddenly appears before them, axe in hand, and V a s i ~ ~ h aand the other sages accompanying the party offer worship to him.

75. Turning a deaf ear to Dasaratha's prayer, Parasurama relates the historyof the bows belonging to Lords Siva and V i ~ r : t u , and challenges Sri Ramato string the bow of Lord V i ~ r : t u in his possession.

76. Fitting the arrow to the bow of Lord V i ~ r : t u and declaring it as unfailing,Sri Rama asks Parasurama to point out at whom it may be discharged,and at the instance of the latter puts an end to his title to the (ethereal)worlds earned by him through his austerities. Recognizing Sri Rama tobe no other than Lord V i ~ r : t u and taking leave of him, Parasuramawithdraws to Mount Mahendra in order to resume his austerities.

77. On the departure of Parasurama Sri Rama hands over the bow of LordV i ~ r : t u to Varur:ta (the god of water) and, sending his army ahead, KingDasaratha enters Ayodhya. After' some days Prince Yudhajit, Bharata'smaternal uncle, takes away Bharata and Satrughna to his father's capital.~ ~ "ff"ff"ff ~ ~

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AyodhyakaJ.l(iaBook Two '

Number of Cantos :I.

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Bharata having left for his maternal grandfather's capital along withSatrughna. Emperor Dasaratha makes up his mind to install $r i Ramaas his regent and, summoning a number of princes for consultation,confers with them on the subject.Dasaratha apprises the assembly of his intention to retire from activerule after relegating the power to Sri Rama 's able hands and thecouncillors with one voice say ditto to the proposal and urge the emperorto expedite matters.Urged by the emperor to solemnize the installation of Sri Rama as PrinceRegent, V a s i ~ t h a enjoins in his turn Dasaratha's ministers, Sumantra andothers, to get ready all requisites for the ceremony . Sent by Sumantra,Sr i Rama in the meantime calls on his father, who announces his decisionto install him as Prince Regent and also tenders some opportune adviceto him. Sr i Rama's chums break the news to Sr i Rama's mother, Kausalya;and, treasuring in his mind the exhortation of his father andbowing low to him, Sr i Rarna returns to his own apartments.Apprehending obstruction of Sri Rama's installation from an ominousdream, Dasaratha summons Sri Rama immediately and asks him toobserve certain sacred vows preliminary to installation alongwith Sita.Dismissed by his father, he enters his mother's gynaeceum and, afterreceiving her blessings, retires alongwith Sita, already present there, tohis own palace.

.). At the instance of the emperor, V a s i ~ t h a calls at Sr i Rama 's palace and,instructing him alongwith Sita to fast for the night, r ~ t u r n s to Dasaratha.Permitted by the sage, the emperor adjourns the assemblyand retires to the gynaeceum.

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Enjoined by the sage V a s i ~ t h a , Sri Rama undertakes a vow to batheearly next morning, worship the gods and sleep for the night on amat of Kusa grass. On waking up the next morning, he says hisSandhya prayers and Brahm(1).as wish him a propitious day. Thecitizens decorate the city in order to give it a festal appearance andit is thronged with men eager to witness the i'nstallation of Sri Ramaas Prince Regent.Beholding the festivities and finding Kausalya bestowing large gifts ofmoney on Brahma1).as, Manthara, a hunchbacked hereditary maid-servantof Queen Kaikeyi, who had afcidentaUy ascended the roof of the palace,inquires of Sri Rama's erstwhile nurse the occasion for the festivitiesand, on being told of SI:i Rama's forthcoming installation, feels enragedand, approaching Kaikeyi, instigates her to stop the installation. Kaikeyi,

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[28]on the other hand, feels rejoiced over the news and gifts her a jewelas a token of her pleasure. 217

8. While Manthara was thus trying to impress on Kaikeyl's mind that theinstallation of SrI Rama on the throne of Ayodhya wou]d spell disasterto Bharata, KaikeyI for her part went on harping on SrI Rama's virtue.sand maintained that his installation as Prince Regent was quite welcometo her, Manthara, however, goes on labouring her point and urges KaikeyI

' to interrupt the installation. 2109. KaikeyI, whose heart was poisoned by the malicious gossip of

Manthara as aforesaid, takes a vow to see that Rama is sent intoexile and Bharata installed as Prince' Regent, and asks Mantharaherself how to secure that consummation . Manthara tells her how inthe course of a conflict between gods and demons, in whichDasaratha's help was enlisted by the gods, the queen, who hadaccompanied her husband to the field of operations and had renderedvaluable assistance to him at a critical juncture, was offered a coupleof boons. which she had kept in abeyance. Manthara now asks KaikeyIto demand the banishment of Rama and the installation of Bharataagainst the two promised boons. KaikeyI accordingly throws awayher ornaments and lies down on the bare floor in the sulking-roomin a sullen mood. 223

10. Having told off Sumantra and others to get together necessaries for theinstallation of SrI Rama, Dasaratha calls on KaikeyI to break the happynews to her. Not finding her in her apartments, however, he makesinquiries from the portress, who tells him of her presence in the sulking-chamber. The emperor calls on her there and, lifting her up. cajolesher.

I L Egged on by KaikeyI to grant her desire. Dasaratha gives his word ofhonour to her to that effect. Invoking the presence of gods as witnessesand reminding the emperor of what took place during the contlict ofgods and demons. KaikeyI asks of him the two boons, promised by him.in the shape of exiling SrI Rama for a period of fourteen years andinstalling Bharata as Prince Regent.

12. Extolling the virtues of SrI Rama and showing him undeserving of exile,the emperor endeavours to dissuade KaikeyI from her pertinacity insending SrI Rama into exile. Quoting the examples of Hariscandra andothers, KaikeyI, however. redoubles her insistence. The emperor for hispart rebukes her in harsh words and goes the length of falling at herfeet in order to bring her round but in vaili.

13. Further tormented by KaikeyI through her importunity to have the boonsgranted by the emperor implemented. the latter piteously wails his lotand reproaches her. The sun having set in the meanwhile, the emperorcontinues till the following morning his solicitations to KaikeyI to allow

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Rama to be installed as Prince Regent. But, Kaikeyi remaining adamant,the king in his extreme anguish of mind sinks down unconscious onthe floor and, on regaining his consciousness, stops all music pertainingto the occasion of the king's quitting his bed. 243

14. Citing other instances of the emperor's fidelity to truth and threateningto lay down her life in the event of his not carrying out her wishes,Kaikeyi insists on his sending Sri Rama into exile at once and doesnot desist from her purpose even when railed at by her husband. In themeantime Sumantra makes his appearance 111 the gynaeceum and,extolling the emperor, reminds him of his intention to install Sri Riimaas Prince Regent and eventually leaves the gynaeceum 111 order tosummon Sri Rama at the instance of the emperor. 245

15. While going out of the gynaeceum to bring SrI ' Rama, Sumantrasees V a s i ~ ~ h a and others as well as a number of kings waiting atthe gate and hastens back to announce their presence to the king.He is, however, sent back to fetch Sri Rama and forthwith entersthe latter's apartments. 251

16. Seeking the presence of Sri Rama, Sumantra communicates to him theemperor's command asking Sumantra to bring Rama with him, anddeparts. Mounting his gold chariot and accompanied by L a k ~ m a 1 ) a , whoholds an umbrella over the former's head and waves a pair of chowriesin order to fan him , and followed by a number of elephants and horses,Sri Rama drives in state to see Dasaratha, listening en route to his ownglory sung by jubilant men and women. 255

17. SrI Rama drives in state to his father 's gynaeceum, beholding en routethe charms of Ayodhya, henring the blessings and encomia of his friendsand relations and ravishing the eyes of all on -lookers, and on reachinghis destination sends back his retinue and seeks the presence of his royalfather alone. 259

18. Questioned by Sri Rama as to' what prayed on his father's mind, Kaikeyitells him all that had happened in the meantime and sternly urges himto depart for the woods . 261

19 . Having agreed to leave for the forest. Sri Rama proceeds to take leaveof his mother Kausalya.20 . Even as SrI Rama issued forth from the palace of Queen Kaikeyl. the

inmates of the gynaeceum burst into a piteous waiL extolling the prince 'svirtues. Mother Kausalya embraces and pronounces her benedictions onSri Rama as the latter approaches her and falls at her feet. On beingapprised of the circumstances that had brought him there. she falls tothe ground overwhelmed with grief. and weeps bitterly expressing her

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[30Jand, censuring Dasaratha, makes up his mind to accompany his eldestbrother. Kausalya too deters SrI Rama from going into exile brandingKaikeYI's command as unjust. Sri Riima,however, justifies the commandon the ground of its being countenanced by the emperor and requestshis mother to grant him leave and perform auspicious rites connectedwith his departure. 272

22. SrI Rama pacifies L a k ~ m a l ) a w h o was angry with KaikeyI, by deny.ingthe instrumentality of KaikeYI in his banishment and laying the entireblame on his own fate . 277

23. Enraged to hear the exhortation of SrI Rama, L a k ~ m a l ) a urges in replythat the word of their father was worth ignoring inasmuch as it wasdivorced from righteousness and, further emphasizing the predominanceof personal effort over destiny, persuades SrI Riima to take up armsagainst those who interfere with his installation and occupy the throneof Ayodhya by force. SrI Rama, however. pacifies L a k ~ m a l ) a andimpresses on him the imperative necessity of their carrying out thecommand of their father. 280

24. Finding SrI Rama firm in his obedience to the command of his parents,Kausalya (SrI Rama's mother) urges him to take her along with him. Onbeing told, however, that it was incumbent on a matron whose husbandwas alive to remain with the latter and serve him , she consentsto SrI Rama's departure to the forest. 283

25. Having received the mother's benedictions for the journey. SriRama falls at her feet and proceeds to the apartments of Sita inorder to see her. 286

26 . Beholding SrI Rama depressed in spirits arid lustreless with frustrationwrit large on his countenance, SIta, who knew nothing about theinterruption of his installation and had been eagerly and joyfullyawaiting his ruturn, inquires about the cause of his dejection and istold how his installation has been stopped and how he is going tobe sent into exile by his father, and is exhorted to look after herfather-in-law and mothers-in-law as before and to treat Bharata andSatrughna as her ' own brothers or sons and never to harbour malicetowards them. 290

27. Exhorted by Sri Rama to stay in Ayodhya to look after his parents. Sitasubmits in reply that, she being his counterpart. her exile is implied inhis and insists on her being taken with him since she would not be ableto bear separation from him. 293

28. Bringing home to Sita the austerity and hardships of forest life SrI Ramatries once more to dissuade her from her insistence on accompanyinghim to the forest. 295

29. Sita continues to importune SrI Rama to take her to the forest alongwith him, SrI Rama, however. is adamant and goes on consoling her


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and asking her to stay in Ayodhya. 29730. Though consoled by SrI Rama in many ways, SIta does not change ,her

mind and seeing her insistent on accompanying him SrI Rama agreesto take her to the forest and asks her to prepare for the journey andto give away all her personal property to the Brahmm:las.

31. Hearing the dialogue of SrI Rama and SIta, L a k ~ m a l ) . a seeks hispermission to accompany him to the forest, SrI Rama, desires himto stay in Ayodhya in order to look after his mothers. But seeinghis insistence, he agrees to take him as well and urges him tobring Suyajiia and other R ~ i s , accounting them worthy of receiving

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gifts from him. 30332. Having received gifts of jewels and ornaments from SrI Rama and

SIta, Suyajfia invokes divine blessings on the couple. Enjoined bySrl Rama, L a k ~ m a l ) . a then bestows silk costumes and ornaments etc.,on the sons of Sage Agastya and others. Urged by his wife, a sage,

T r i j a ~ a by name, approaches SrI Rama and seeks riches from him.Srl Rama thereupon bestows on him thousands of cows and distributeshis remaining wealth among other Brahmal).as as well as among hisrelations and dependants.

33. Having distributed his immense riches among the Brahmal).as andothers, SrI Rama, accompanied by SIta and L a k ~ m a l ) . a , proceeds tohis father's gynaeceum to take leave of him. Remaining unruft1ed evenon hearing en route the diverse talks of the citizens gathered hereand there with melancholy writ large on their faces, the royal trioreach their destination and urge Sumantra to apprise their royal fatherof their arri val.

34. Apprised of Sri Rama's arrival by Sumantra, Dasaratha commands himto usher 111 SrI Rama with his consort. Seeing the emperor fallunconscious at the very sight of the heir-apparent, the ladies of the royalhousehold start wailing piteously. On Sri Rama's soliciting his permissionto retire to the woods the king enjolins him to take his father captiveand ascend the tluone. Sri Rlima in his tllrn consoles his father by assuringhim that he has no hankering for royal fortune and that to him obedienceto his father's command is of utmost importance. Dasaratha, however,falls unconscIous agalll at the very thought of his separation fromSrl Rama, and Sumantra as well as all the ladies of the gynaeceull1

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follow suit. 31235. Hoping that by being provoked to anger KaikeYI might come round and

relax her insistence on sending Sri Rlima into exile, Sumantra harshlyreproaches her, reminding her of her mother's misbehayiour towards herhusband (Kaikeyl's father). Kaikeyl. however. remains adamant and doesnot budge even an inch from her purpose.

36. Dasaratha instructs Sumantra to take a detachfnent of the army and

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the exchequer alongwith SrI Rama, to which Kaikeyl objects and insistson his being sent into exile without any resources on the analogy ofAsamafija, son of the king's forefather, Sagara. Another minister of theking, Siddhartha by name, who was present there , opp.oses KaikeYI andurges that the analogy of Asamanja, who was a perverse lad, could notbe applied in the case of Sri Rama, who possessed an ideal characterand deserved in everyway to be installed in the office of Prince Regent.In the event of KaikeYI vetoing the proposal the king threatens toaccompany the heir-apparent.

37. Sri Rama urges his servants to fetch the bark of trees for beingused as his wearing apparel. At this Kaikeyi herself brings themthe desired dress, which both Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a l ~ a coverthemselves with taking off their princely robes. Sita, however, findsit difficult to .wear the bark supplied to her and ultimately puts iton over her own dress with the help of Sr i .Rama despite theremonstrances of V a s i ~ t h a , who severely castigates Kaikeyi for hercruelty in exiling them.

38. Incensed to hear the loud wailing of those present at the scene onSita being dressed as a hermitess, Dasaratha reproaches Kaikeyi .While departing, Sri Rama entreats his father to take care of his

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mother. 32639. Sent away by Dasaratha, Sumantra gets a chariot ready to take Sri Rama

and his party to the forest and Sita adorns herself with jewels broughtby the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Kausalya tenders opportune adviceto her daughter-in-law and the latter bows to it. Sri Rama comfortsKausalya and offers apology to his other mothers , who burst into awail.

40 . Going clockwise round Dasaratha (as a token of respect), Sita, Ramaand L a k ~ m a l ) . a greet him. Accompanied by Sita, Sri Rama salutesKausalya. L a k ~ m a l ) . a too hails Kausalya first and then his own mother,Sumitra. Sumitra for her part tenders salutary advice to her son. Theprinces and the princess having mounted the chariot, Sumantra tlicksthe horses . The citizens that had assembled closely follow the chariot :but unable to keep pace with its swift movement, they return desolate.Dasaratha too runs after the chariot alongwith Kausalya and others, butbeing unable to walk begins to totter and stops short on the road yieldingto the remonstrances of his wise ministers .

41 . The ladies of the royal gynaeceum bewail the exile of SrI Rama andothers and the citizens of Ayodhya too are reduced to a miserableplight.

42. SrI Rama having departed for the forest in an exceptionally swift-goingchariot. Dasaratha vainly seeks to cover the intervening distance on foot.The very dust raised by the chariot having disappeared after a while.

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the emperor feels doubly disconsolate and drops to the ground. WhenKaikeYI comes forward to support him he scolds her and asks her notto touch his person. Kausalya then lifts him up and persuades him toreturn. His personal attendants take him to the latter's apartments and,seeing him plunged in grief, Kausalya seats herself beside him and beginsto lament in various ways. 32643. The Lament of Kausalya. 339

44. Establishing the greatness of SrI Rama, Sumitra who is a pastmasterin eloquence, assuages Kausalya's grief.

45. When the citizens that followed SrI Rama in his journey to the forestrefuse to return even when requested by SrI Rama in many ways,unable as they were to bear separation from him, SrI Raffia withSita and L a k ~ m a l ) a gets down from his chariot and begins to walk.The citizens try to deflect him from his course and persuade himto return, but in vain. At the close of the day they all reach the

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bank of the Tamasa. 34346. Having reached the bank of the Tamasa and thinking of the plight

of the people of Ayodhya, SrI Rama lays himself down on a bedof leaves "bewailing the lot of his parents and feeling reassured bythe thought of Bharata's noble qualities; while L a k ~ m a J ) a opens hisdialogue with Sumantra on the divine excellences of SrI Rama .Waking up in the meantime, Sri Rama urges the charioteer-ministerto drive the chariot in such a way as to put the citizens that hadaccompanied them off the .scent and lead them to think that the chariothad turned back towards Ayodhya instead of proceeding towards theforest. He then mounts the chariot alongwith SWi a.nd L a k ~ m a I ) . a andpresses on to the forest.

47. The citizens that had followed SrI Rama in his journey to the forestwake to find SrI Rama and his party gone and begin to reproachthemselves. Overcome with grief they hunt up the tracks of his chariot;but unable to find them, they helplessly return to Ayodhya in utterdespondency.

48. Told of SrI Rama's departure for the forest by the citizens who had goneout with Sri Rama and returned, unable as they were to find out thetracks of his chariot. their wives reproach KaikeYI and break intolamentation.

49. Having covered a long distance in the meantime Sr i Ramafinishes his morning bath and devotions and, having crossed theVedasruti. Gomat! and Syandika rivers, presses forward talkingwith Sumantra.

so. Standing with his face turned towards Ayodhya, SrI Rama bidsfarewell to his birth-place and, sending back the people hailing fromthe country- side, who had come to see him, and crossing the frontiers

[4521 V.R. (Part I) 2

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of Kosala, SrI Rama reaches the bank of the holy Ganga. Alightingfrom the chariot under an IilgudI tree standing on the bank, he goesforward to meet Guha, the chief of the N i ~ a d a s , who had come tomeet him. Nay, worshipping the evening twilight and taking wateralone (for food and drink), the prince lies down on the ground torepose for the night; while Sumantra, Guha and L a k ~ m a D a spend thenight talking together.

51. Expressing his readiness to guard the Crown prince and his consbrt,keeping awake the whole night, Guha importunes L a k ~ m a D a , torepose. Reminding Guha of SrI Rama's greatness, L a k ~ m a D a ,however, tells him that even though the duty of guarding his princelybrother and his consort could as well be entrusted to Guha, he feltthat he did not deserve to lie down in the presence of his elder brotherand sister-in-law and preferred to remain awake. Expressing grief forhis royal father and loving mothers he therefore spends the nighttalking with Guha.

52. While about to step into the boat brought .by Guha's men and askedby Guha if he could be of any further use to the prince. Sri Rama enjoinshim to obey the emperor. Importuned by Sumantra to take him as apersonal attendant to the forest, the prince declines his loving offer and,expostulating with him, sends him back to Ayodhya. Entangling theirlocks into a thick mass with the milk of a banyan tree procured by Guha,SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a D a with SIta get into the boat. On reaching themiddle of the stream SIta offers prayers to Mother Ganga (the deitypresiding over the stream) and after crossing the river all the three haltfor the night at the foot of a tree.

53. Apprehending trouble for Kallsalya and others at the hands of KaikeyI,SrI Rama, who was seated at the foot of a banyan tree and was a pastmaster in the art of persuasion, persuades L a k ~ m a l ) a to the best of hisability to return to Ayodhya. L a k ~ m a l ) a , however, pleads inability tosurvive in his absence and does not budge an inch from his resolutionto stay with his eldest brother. Sr! Rama, therefore, yields and sets hisseal to his continuing with him during his exile .

54. Set out on his journey for the Dal)Qaka forest with SItu and L a k ~ m a I ~ a .SrI Rama reaches at dusk the hermitage of Sage Bharadwaja in thevicinity of the confluence of the holy Ganga and Yamuna rivers. Payingdue honours to SrI Rama and his party, the sage recommends C i t r a k i i ~ aas the fittest place for him to sojourn in. Spending the night in discourseson various topics with him, the sage grants him leave early next morningto depart for C i t r a k i i ~ a .

55. Sage Bharadwaja tells SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) a , even as they set outon their journey to C i t r a k i i ~ a , the route by which they should proceed.Accompanied by SIta, SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) a cross the Yamuna on

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a raft prepared by themselves. In the evening they halt on the bank ofthe Yamuna alongwith Sita, who is rejoiced to get fruits and blossomsof her liking. 377

56. Moving further next -111orning and rejoicing on the' way to see theloveliness of the forest, the party reaches Citrakuta and enters thehermitage of ValmIki. Making up his mind to sojourn there with thepermission of the sage, SrI Rama gets L a k ~ m a l ) a to erect a hut of leavesfor themselves and, worshipping the deities presiding over the structure,they solemnly enter their abode at a propitious hOl .lr.

57. Having been told of SrI Rama's departure for Citrakuta by 'the spiesof Guha and taking leave of the latter, Sumantra drives back to Ayodhya.Entering the royal gynaeceum, he submits to the emperor what hereported earlier to the citizens who followed his chariot. Dasaratha andKausalya fall into a swoon to hear about SrI Rama's departure forCitrakuta, and all the inmates of the gynaeceum burst into a wail fromagony.

58. Bewailing the lot of SrI Rama, Sita and L a k ~ m a l ) a , who did not inanyway deserve the hardships they were undergoing in the forest, theemperor urges Sumantra to deliver their parting message and the

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charioteer proceeds to tell him what they said. 38559. To satisfy the emperor's curiosity Sumantra tells him further of SrI

Rama's departure for the forest, and also apprises him of the pitiablecondition of the animate as well as of the inanimate creation in his realmas also of his capital consequent on SrI Rama's exile. Hearing of thewoeful tale, Dasaratha raves like a madman in many ways in the presenceof the charioteer-minister.

60. Sumantra does not succeed in soothing the agony of Kausalya. whotossed about on the floor dlle to excess of grief over her separation fromSrI Rama, even though he consoles her by telling her that SrI Rama.being resolute and high-minded. was living in the forest free fromagony.

61. Apprehending danger to the king from his inability to bear the griefcaused by separation from SrI Rama. Kausalya though foremost amongdevoted wives twits Dasaratha.

02. When reproached in harsh words by Kausalya though already feelingdisconsolate through separation from his sons and daughter-in -law,Dasaratha falls into a swoon recalling his past sin in the form of killing

'- a hermit boy" which was responsible for his present misfortune . Onwaking from his swoon he tries with joined palms to conciliate Kausalyaand on the latte,r, reciprocating his sentiments, the emperor is lulled into

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a nap. 39663. Waking from sleep after a while and recalling his sinful deed, which

, ,spelt death to him, Dasaratha proceeds to tell K:ausalya how, while he


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was Prince Regent of Ayodhya, he went out a hunting in the forest oneday and heard during the last .watch of the night the sound of a hermitboy filling his pitcher with water by submerging into Sarayu river.Mistaking the gurgling sound for the trumpeting of an elephant,the prince,hit the boy with an arrow, which dug deep into his body and mortallywounded him. On approaching his quany he discovered the fatal blunderand tendered his heartfelt apology to the hermit boy, who asked himto extract the alTOW from his body and report the matter to his agedparents. The boy died immediately the anow was taken out of hisbody.

64 . Dasaratha continues to tell Kausalya how, having sought thepresence of the aged parents of the deceased, he apprised themof the sad incident and escorted them to the river bank, wheretheir son lay dead; how, clasping the boy to their bosom, theyboth piteously wailed and offered libations of water to his spiritfo r it s benefit; how, invested with an ethereal body, the spiritascended to heaven while consoling the aged couple and finallyhow, having cursed the king that he too would meet his death inhis agony of separation from his son, the ascetic couple gave upthe ghost and attained the Supreme. Having thus related thestory of hi s imprecation and loudly lamenting, the emperorbreathes his last with the thought of SIll Rama foremost in hismind.

6S .When the emperor did not wake up even though roused by means ofpanegyrics sung by bards, accompanied by musical instruments playedupon for the same purpose, the ladies of the gynaeceum conclude byother means that the king is dead ; and soon after commences the loudwail of Kausalya, Sumitra and other queens .

66. Resting the head of the lifeless monarch in her own lap and severelyreproaching Kaikeyl, Kausalya grievously mourns for SrI Rama and otherexiles. Holding back Kausalya- who was lamenting with her arms placedround her deceased husband's bosom- and consigning the emperor's deadbody to a trough filled with oil, the ministers and other functionariesreturn each to his own abode in the evening.

67. Attributing the rise and fall of a kingdom to the presence anddisappearance of its ruler, MarkaI:lqeya and other great sages, whoattended the king's court the following day, urge V a s i ~ ~ h a to install any

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of the princes on the throne immediately. 41368. With the concurrence of MarkaI:lqeya and other sages, V a s i ~ ~ h a despatches

messengers to call back Bharata and Satrughna from their maternalgrandfather's . They leave forthwith ' for the capital of Kekayaand quickly enter that city. 416

69. Finding Bharata oppressed and sad, his friends try to beguile him by


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means of music and narration of stories. But when the prince does notreturn to his normal mood even then, they inquire of him as to whatmakes him. pensive and Bharata tells them how he saw a bad dreamthe previous night. 418

70. While Bharata was narrating to his friends the dream seen by him theprevious night, the messengers from Ayodhya arrive in his presenceand, bowing low to Bharata, communicate to him the orders of Sage

V a s i ~ ~ h a . Having heard of the welfare of all from the mouth of themessengers, the prince takes leave of his maternal grandfather and othersand departs for Ayodhya. 419

71. When Bharata reaches Ayodhya after crossing many streams and riversand passing through different territories and finds the city cheerless andwearing a deserted look, he sets about brooding and speculating as towhat may be the reason for this and, speaking to the charioteer aboutit. enters the palace dejected and disconsolate. 42272. Entering his father's apartments and not finding him there, Bharata movesto his mother's apartments and, having communicated to her the welfareof his maternal grandfather and others on being questioned by her,inquires of her the whereabouts of his father. KaikeYI then breaks tohim- the news of his father's death, attributing it to SrI Rama's exileand holding herself responsible for the latter, and after comforting himcalls upon him to get himself installed on the throne after finishing hisfather's obsequies.

73. Bitterly reproaching KaikeYI in many ways. and cutting her to the quickby his caustic remarks, Bharata takes a vow before her to bring backSrI Rama from the forest, install him on the throne of Ayodhya andwait upon him as an attendant to offend her.

74. Severely reproaching his mother once more, and making up his. mindnot only to bring back SrI Rama from the forest and crown him kingbut also to go into exile for fourteen years in order to redeem his elderbrother's vow, Bharata, who is filled with rage at the thought of themischief wrought by his mother. cannot contain his grief and fallsunconscious to the ground.75. Swearing that what had already come to pass in the shape of exile ofSrI Rama. Sita and L a k ~ m ( 1 ) a and the resultant death of the KingEmperor was not to his Iikirig, Bharata moves with Satrughna to theapartments of his stepmother. Kausalya, who speaks unkindly to 11imtaunting him with the remark that his mother, Kaikeyl. had renderedgood offices to' -him by securing for him the kingdom of Kosala soughtafter by him. BharMa, however. politely denies on a number of oathsall complicity in the machinations of his vile mother. Thereby comingto know his heart. the guileless Kausalya places Bharata on her lap andweeps bitterly.

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76. Removing his father's dead body from the vessel full of oil and crematingit with the help of articles befitting an emperor, and offering libationsof water to the spirit of the dece


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Sumantra gets a chariot ready to take him to the forest and brings thechariot to his presence. 453

83. Leaving the capital early next morning, accompanied by the family -priests, artisans, army and the citizens, and covering a long distance,Bharata reaches the bank of the holy Ganga at Splgaverapura ruled byGuha and, encamping the army, breaks journey in order to do Sraddhaand TarpaI)a in honour of his deceased father on the bank of the GaIlgaand also to give rest to his followers . 456

84. Scenting mischief in the mind of Bharata, who was taking a large armywith him, Guha orders the ferrymen to guard the boats so as to preventBharata's men from crossing the Ganga, and himself seeks the presenceof Bharata in order to know his mind. Being satisfied about his goodintention he entertains Bharata and his men with fruits and roots etc ..brought by him and. on his having taken rest awhile and overcome hisfatigue, allows him to advance. 458

85. Highly praising Guha, Bharata, while departing, inquires of him the wayto the hermitage of Bharadwaja. Promising to follow the prince as aguide with his servants and placing his misgivings before him, Guhaseeks to know his intentions about SrI Rama and consoles the prince.who was constantly b e w a i l i n g ~ till dusk. 460

86. Guha reports to Bharata how SrI Rama and his party broke theirjourney at Srngaverapura and reproduces before him the dialogue thattook place between L a k ~ m a I : l a and himself at night and further tellshim how the two brothers entangled their locks into a thick mass.crossed the holy river with Slta and left for the hermitage of SageBharadwaja. .+62

87. Overwhelmed with grief to hear from the mouth of Guha how histwo brothers got their hair entangled into a mass. Bharata fallsunconscious on the ground. On regaining consciousness he despatchesGuha to reassure mother Kausalyu. who is filled with apprehensionabout the safety of SrI Rama and his party on hearing of Bharata'sswoon. and apprise her of its real cause and also of SrI Rum a'swelfare. While doing so Guha also tells her how Sri Rama and Sltalay down on a bed of Kusa grass prepared by L a k ~ m a I ) a with hisown hands when the party broke journey at Splgaverapura and howGuha with L a k ~ m a I ) a kept watch the whole night for the protectionof SrI Rama and Slta. 464

88. Showing to Kausalya and others the bed of Kusa grass on which SrIRuma and Slta spent their night. and contrasting it with the royalsplendour and luxury in which he lived in Ayodhyu, Bharata lamentsfor him and, holding himself responsible for this turn of events andcomplimenting L a k ~ m a I : l a and SItu for throwing their lot with SrI Ramaand sharing his privations, makes lip his mind henceforth to elwell in


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the forest as a representative of SrI Rama, wearing matted locks on hishead like him. 466

89. Having encamped his followers including the army, that were fen'iedacross the GaI1ga by the fishermen enjoined by Guha, Bharata sets outwith Sage V a s i ~ ! h a and others to the hermitage of Sage Bharadwaja withintent to see the latter.

90. Leaving his party a couple of miles away on this side of the hermitage,Bharata enters it with V a s i ~ ! h a and Satrughna. After exchange ofcompliments between Sages V a s i ~ ! h a and Bharadwaja; Bharata bowsdown at the feet of the latter, who inquires his health and seeks to knowhis mind about SrI Rama. Bharata thereupon regretfully apprises himof his intention to bring Rama back from the forest and questions himabout his whereabouts. To this the sage replies that SrI Rama wassOJourl1lng on Mount Citraku!a, and advises Bharata to seethe latter the following morning.

9 I. The hospitality shown by Sage Bharadwaja, who had acquired rare mysticpowers by virtue of his austerities to Bharata, his army and entourage,the kind of which could not be shown even by a ruler of the entire

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globe . 47392. Questioned with joined palms about the road to Citraku!a, Bharadwaja

shows the way to Bharata and then inquires of him about the namesof his three mothers, who stood bowing down to the sage. Having toldhim the names of all the three of his mothers with the history of each,,1l1d commanding the army to get ready for the journey ahead, Bharataproceeds to Citraku!a with his retinue.

93. Setting his foot on the soil of Citraku!a with his army and camp-followers, and identifying the place with the help of the features pointedou t by Bharadwaja, Bharata commands the army men to look out forthe hermitage of SrI Rama. Pursuing their search they perceive smokeat some distance and concluding the site to be the hermitage of SrI Rama,Bharata enjoins his army to haIt and makes up his mind to walkwith V a s i ~ ! h a and others to that place.94. Diverting his own mind and seeking to please SIta, Sri Rama gives agraphic description of Citraku!a, stressing the special features .

95. In order to humour Slta, Sri Rama gives a description of the river

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MandakinI to her. 48796. While recreating himself in the company of Slta on the lovely hiBs of

Citraku!a, 'Sr7 Rama beholds all of a sudden a large cloud of dustscreening the sun and hears a loud noise and despatches L a k ~ m a l ) . a toascertai n the cause. L a k ~ m ' l I ~ a thereupon c limbs up the top of a loftytree and, catching sigl)t of an army with the chariot of its leaderdistinguished by an ensign bearing the device of a Kovidara tree, hastilyconcludes that Bharata has come all the way to dispose of SrI Rama


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and thereby to make himself secure on the throne of Ayodhya. Returningapace to the presence of Sri Rama he disburdens himself of hissuspicions and speaks angrily about Bharata, swearing that he will killthe intruder.

97. Pointing out to L a k ~ m a l ) . a , who was waxing indiganant at Bharata, theimpropriety of killing the latter, Sri Rama pacifies him by assuring hin1of the pious intentions of Bharata. Ashamed of himself to hear the opinionof his brother about Bharata, and climbing down the tree, L a k ~ m a l ) . ahides his shame by changing the topic. Commanded by Bharata, whowas anxious to avoid causing disturbance to the hermitage occupied bySri Rama, the army encamps round about Citrakiita.

98. Telling off Guha and Satrughna with their followers to find out thehermitage of Sri Rama, Bharata himself. who was keen to see Sr i Rama.goes out in search of his hermitage with the ministers, walking all theway and envying the good fortune of Sita and L a k ~ m a l ) a . who wereliving with Sri Rama; and, reaching the foot of a sal tree and concludingthe place from the presence of smoke near by to .be a human habitationand ruling out the possibility of any other human being living in thatlonely forest, he eagerly hastens forward in the hope of meeting Sri

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Rama. 49499. Requesting V a s i ~ t h a to fetch his mothers and pressing forward. Bharata

reaches the hut, made of leafy twigs. in which the three exiles wereliving. While attempting to hail Sri Rama. Sita and L a k ~ m a l ) . a on seeingthem, he stumbles down even on an even ground, his eyes gettingbedimmed with tears at the sight of their ascetic garb. Sri Rama hastensto I ft him up and clasps him to his bosom. Sumantra and Guha aswell meet Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) a .

100. Placing Bharata on his lap, Sri Rama gives him instruction in judicatureunder the pretext of ll1qumng after the welfare of his father andothers.

101. Questioned as to what made him give up the sovereignty of Ayodhyaand enter the forest in the garb of an ascetic. Bharata reproaches hismother and implores his elder brother to accept the kingship and returnto Ayodhya. Sri Rama, however. pleads that the command of their fatheris supreme and must be implicitly obeyed by both of them. the firstpart of it enjoining the exile of the elder brother being binding on himand the second part bequeathing the kingdom to Bharata being binding

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on the latter. 506102. Bharata tells Sri Rama that, having been deprived of the privilege

of serving his elder brother. he will have nothing to do withsovereignty and requests him to offer water to the spirit of hisdeceased father, who died with the thought of Sr i Rama aloneforemost in his mind. and further implores him to get himself


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[421consecrated for the sovereignty of Ayodhya, the obsequies of theirimperial father having been duly performed by the two brothers Bharataand Satrughna) at Ayodhya.

un. Fallen into a swoon to hear of his father's ascent to heaven and broughtback to consciousness by Bharata and others, who sprinkle water on himand employ other such devices, Sri Rama laments In various ways.Comforted by Bharata and having (in his turn) consoled Sita and repairingto the bank of the Ganga, nay, offering water and balls of cooked foodto the spirit of his departed father, he returns to his hut. Hearing theircry of distress, the troops approach them and are greeted by Sri Ramaaccording to their rank.

104. Accompanied by Kausalya and others, Sage V a s i ~ ~ h a proceeds to thehermitage of Sri Rama. Showing to her co-wives the lumps of the pulpof the Ingudi fruit offered to the spirit of his deceased father by SriRama on blades of Kusa grass placed with their ends pointing to thesouth along the bank of the Mandakini on the way, Kausalya grievesfor her deceased husband. Reaching the hermitage, Kausalya and otherssee the two brothers (Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a Q a ) fall at their feet. Kausalyabewails the lot of Sita, when the latter falls at her feet. Bowing downat the feet of his preceptor, Sri Rama takes his seat. Accompanied by

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the counsellors, Bharata too sits nearby . 513105. Bharata implores Sri Rama to oblige him by accepting the throne ofAyodhya being offered by him to Sri Rama with the concurrence of

Kaikeyi. even though bestowed on him by their deceased father.Consoling Bharata, who held himself responsible for Sri Rama 's exileto the forest and was languishing with sorrow on that score, Sri Rama,however. tries to pacify him in various ways and urges him to shoulderthe burden of rulership. 516

106. Imploring Sri Rama with cogent reasons to accept the throne of Ayodhya,Bharata takes a vow not to return to Ayodhya but to continue in theforest in case Sri Rama did not grant his prayer. Mother Kausalyaand others too join Bharata and urge Sri Rama to grant his request whenthey find Sri Rama lukewarm in the matter and insistent on implementingthe words of their deceased father. 520

107. Sri Rama tries to impress upon Bharata- who believed that Dasarathawas prompted by lustful attachment to his mother In making overthe kingdom- to him. that Dasaratha was compelled to do so because.in the first place. he had promised to Kaikeyi's father while mai"rying

, her that the latter's son alone would succeed to the throne afterDasaratha's death . and secondly he was keen to repay the debt heowed to her for having come to his rescue in his encounter with thedemons. and accordingly urges Bharata to assume the rulership ofi\yodhya. 5 2 ~


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108. Bharata having been silenced by SrI Rama, an eminent sage, Hibali byname, tries to persuade Sri Rama to accept the t h ~ o n e by advocatingthe theory of the Nastikas (non-believers) with intent to arouse in himthe lust of sovereignty.

109. Jaba]i explains the reasons for his advocating the theory of Nastikas toSrI Rama, who exposes the hollowness of the ethics propoundedby the sage, dubbing it as the very antithesis of Dharma.

110. Pacifying SrI Rama, who had got angry with Jabali , Sage V a s ~ ~ h a urgeshim to get himself consecrated as king, since, from I k ~ w a k u , theprogenitor of his race, downward, the eldest son alone had ascendedthe throne of Ayodhya and because he was not only the eldest of hisfather's sons, but the ablest too.

I l l . Pleading the superiority of a teacher in comparison to one's parents,Sage V a s i ~ t h a by virtue of his superiority and as a concession toBharata, a dependant of SrI Rama, whose vow it has been to respectthe feelings of his dependants, urges Sri Rama to grant the prayer ofBharata, SrI Rama, however, contends that one's parents are moreworthy of respect even than one's teacher and is accordingly insistenton implementing the pledge already given by him to his father. Thusdiscomfited in argument, Bharata makes up his mind to undertake afast unto death as a last resort to exert pressure on his brother. OnSri Rama's dubbing such a step as repugnant to the code of conductprescribed for a K ~ a t r i y a , Bharata requests his elder brother to allowhim to remain in exile in the forest as the latter's proxy. SrI Rama.however. rules out this proposition also as something preposterous,saying that one's duty is entrusted to a proxy only on the former'sincapacity, which could not be predicated of him, and reaffirms hisdicision to enter Ayodhya only after fulfilling the pledge

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given to his father. 5:n112. Collected in the heavens to hear the dialogue of Bharata and SrI Rama,

heavenly beings applaud the two brothers. Having decided upon hiscourse of action, SrI Rama turns his face towards his hut; while pleadinghis inability to protect the kingdom, now that his attempts to take SrIRama back to Ayodhya had been frustrated . Bharata prays to SrI Ramafor mercy once more. But when he comes to know that his elder brothercannot be made to swerve an inch from his vow, he places a new pairof wooden sandals decked with gold in front of his brother and requestshim to place his feet on them. Readily acceding to his request, SrI Ramahands over the sandals to Bharata, who takes a vow before the formerto enter the fire in case he did not return immediately after the expiryof his term of exile. SrI Rama confirms his vow after embracing Bharataand Satrughna and, bidding good-bye to all with due respect accordingto the rank of each, enters his cottage. 536


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[44],113. Departed back for Ayodhya along with Sage V a s i ~ ~ h a and others, Bharata

pays his respects on the way to Sage Bharadwaja and, apprising himof what had happened at C i t r a k i i ~ a and also of the pair of wooden sandalsthat he had received from Sri Rama as the latter 's representative, andproceeding further, crosses the rivers Ganga and Yamuna along with hisfollowers. Departing from Srngaverapura he catches sight of Ayodhyaand points out to Sumantra its gloomy appearance.

114. Valmiki portrays the gloomy appearance of Ayodhya with the help ofa number of similes. Bharata enters his father's palace-with a heavy heartspeaking to Sumantra about the sorry spectacle which Ayodhya presentedat the moment.

I 15. Permitted by V a s i ~ ~ h a and accompanied by Satrughna and others, whenthe queens had entered the gynaeceum, Bharata proceeds to Nandigramaand, installing the wooden sandals of Sri Rama on the royal seat, himselfputs on the garb of an ascetic and carries on the rule under orders ofthe sandals, holding the royal umbrella over them.

I 16. Learning from outward signs that the ascetics who lived in the vicinityof Sri Rama were anxious to shift to some other forest, the latter asksthem why they wished to leave to place. Being told in reply that theywere being molested by R a k ~ a s a s under the leadership of Khara, he giveshis consent and, sending them away with great respect, retires to hisown hermitage.

117. Afraid of prolonging his stay at C i t r a k i i ~ a because of many handicaps,Sri Rama leaves that mountain and, reaching the hermitage of Sage Atri,greets the aforesaid ~ ~ i . Glorifying the ascetic life of his wife, Anasiiyathe sage urges Rama to send his consort, Sita, to her. Kindly receivingthe princess, who greeted the venerable old lady on reaching her asinstructed by her husband, Anasuya gives her instructions on the dutiesof a devoted wife.

I 18 . At the end of her dialogue with Sit a Anasiiya requests her to ask a boonof the hermitess and, highly pleased with her, the hermitess bestowsheavenly flowers and ornaments on her. Urged by Anasiiya, she relatesto the hermitess the story of her marriage.

'I 19. Glorifying the evening shades, that had now fallen, Anasiiya sends awaySita. decked with the ornaments bestowed on her by herseli, to thepresence of Sri Rama. To the latter. who was agreeably surprised tobehold Sita resplendent with heavenly jewels. she relates how she receivedthe jewels as a loving gift 'from the hermitess. Accepting the hospitalityof the hermits and staying with them for the night. Sri Rama asks leaveof them in the morning to proceed further and, following.the route shownby the hermits. the priHcely party enters the Dal)qaka forest.

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Aral).yakal).QaBook Three

Number of Cantos:1. Reception of Sri Rama, L a k ~ m a l ) . a and Sita in the hermitages of sages.2. Viradha's attack on Sri Rama, L a k ~ m a l ) . a and Sita in the forest.Conversation between Rama and Viradha ; Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) . a

strike at him; he goes with them to another forest.4. Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a l ) . a kill Viradha.5. Rama, L a k ~ m a f . l a and Sita visit the hermitage of Sarabhailga, see the

deities and are honoured by the sage. Sage Sarabhailga ascends toBrahmaloka.

6. The sages request Rama for protection from the molestations of theogres and Rama assures them of it.

7. Rama goes to S u t l k ~ l ) . a together withSita and ~ ~ k ~ m a l ) . a and stayswith him during the night.8. In the morning Rama together with L a k ~ m a l ) . a and Sita takes leave

of S u t l k ~ l ) . a and departs .9. Sita requests Rama not to kill innocent animals and to observe non-

violence .10. Sri Rama expresses his firmness in keeping the vow of killing the ogres

for the protection of sages.11. The episode of Sage Mal).9akarl).i and the Paiicapsara Lake. Rama visits

several hermitages and returns to S u t l k ~ l ) . a ' s hermitage. From therethe goes to the hermitage of Agastya.

12. Rama and others enter the hermitage of Agastya, enjoy his hospitalityand receive divine missiles and weapons.

13. Agastya advises Rama and others to stay in P a i i c a v a ~ i14. Meeting with J a ~ a y u .15. Rama, Sita and L a k ~ m a l ) . a dwell 111 a cottage built by L a k ~ m a l ) . a in

P a i i c a v a ~ i16. L a k ~ m a l ) . a describes the early winter. Bath in Godavari.17 . The an'ival of Siirpal).akha at the hermitage.18. L a k ~ m a l ) . a lops the nose and ears of Siirpal).akha.19. Khara sends fourteen ogres with her for despatching Rama .20. Rama kills the fourteen ogres.21. S iirpal).akha again goes to Khara.22 . Khara and D i i ~ a l ) . a march towards PaiicavaF with an army of fourteen

thousand ogres.2 ~ Evil omens to Khara: The army approaches Rama's hermitage.24. Good omens to Rama . Rama prepares for the fight.25. The ogres attack Sri Rama, Rama kills them all.26. Rama kills all the fourteen thousand ogres including D l i ~ a I : i a .27. Rama kills Trisira.28. Sri Rama's encounter with Khara.

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[46]29. Exchange of hot words between Khara and SrI Rama.30. Rama kills Khara. Gods and sages applaud Him.31 . Raval)a goes over to take away Sita at the advice of Akampana and

returns in deference to the advice of MarIca.32. SGrpal).akha approaches Raval)a in Lanka.:13. SGrpaI:mkha twits Raval)a.34. SGrpaI:takha instigates Raval!a to abduct Sita.35. Raval!a calls on Mflrica once more.36. Raval)a tells Marlca how he has been wronged by Rama and asks

for his help in taking away Sita.37. MarIca tries to dissuade Riival)a from his purpose.38. Nanating his own experience of Srl Rama's prowess. Marlca asks

Raval)a not to provoke SrI Rama.39. M a r I c ~ tries to bl:ing Raval!a round.40. Riivana reproaches Marlca and commands him to help him I I I his

mission.41 . Once more Marlcn tries to deter Raval)a from his purpose by picturingto him the disastrous consequences of his action.

42. Assuming the form of a golden deer Marica reaches the hermitage ofRama and is caught sight of by Sita.

43 . Riima goes to hunt the deer at the persistent demand of Sita.44 . Rama kills MarIca and feels concerned to hear his call to SIt a and

L a k ~ m a l ! a .45. Lashed with castigating remarks, L a k ~ m a l ) a seeks the presence of SrlRama.46. Rftval)a seeks the presence of Sita in the guise of a recluse; STta invites

him to accept her hospitality.47. Sitft tells Raval).a about herself and her husband and also the reason of

their coming to the forest. Rflval!a expresses his desire to make her hisprincipal queen. Sita reproaches him .

48. RflvatJa boasts of his prowess and Sita twits him sharply.49. RavaIJa takes away Slta; Slta wails and catches sight of J a ~ a y u .50. J a ~ a y u tries to deter Raval!a from his evil design and eventually

challenges him to a duel.51. J a ~ a y u ' s encounter with Raval!a; RavatJa kills J a ~ a y u .52. RavalJa canies away Sita.53. Sita reproaches Rflval)a.54. Sita throws her jewels and articles of wearing apparel in the midst of

five monkeys. Reaching Lat'lka, RavalJa keeps Sita in his gynaeceumand sends eight ogres to Janasthana for espionage .

5'5. Raval)a shows his gynaeceum to Sita and coaxes her to become his wife .56. Giving expression to her undivided love for Sri Rama. Sita reproaches

R5val).a, whereupon under his orders ogresses take her to the AsokaGarden and intimidate her.An interpolated Canto:- At the command of Brahma (the creator) Indra

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(the ruler of gods) goes to Lanka with Nidra and offers a heavenly menuin the form of milk boiled with rice and sugar to SIta.

57. While returning to his hermitage SrI Rama feels concerned to perceiveill omens and on meeting L a k ~ m a I ) . a scolds him for leaving Sitaunprotected and feels apprehensive about SIta's safety.

58. Indulging in various apeculations about the fate of SIta, SrI Rama withL a k ~ m a I ) . a arrives at his hermitage and is pained not to find SIta there.

59. Dialogue between Sri Rama and L a k ~ m a I ) . a .60. Uttering a loud wail Sri Rama inquires of the trees about the whereabouts

of SIta, cries like one distracted and looks about for her again and again.61. The quest of SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a I ) . a for SIta; not finding her, SrI Rama

gets unnerveq.62. Rama's Lament.63. SrI Rama's Lament continued.64. SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a , Q a carryon the search for SIta; SrI Rama givesvent to his grief over her disappearance; catching a hint from the deer

the two brothers proceed in a southerly direction; SrI Rama shows hisanger towards the mountaiJ;l; descrying the t10wers dropped from theperson of SIta and particles of her ornaments as well as the vestigesof an encounter, SrI Rama ventilates his anger towards all the threeworlds including gods.

65. L a k ~ m a l ) . a consoles SrI Rama.66. L a k ~ m a l ) . a seeks to inspire SrI Rama with courage .67. SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a I ) . a meet J a ~ a y u and, embracing the vulture, SrI

Rama bursts into a wail.68. J a ~ a y u gives up the ghost and is cremated by SrI Rama.69. L a k ~ m a t : t a punishes AyomukhI. Falling a prey to the grip of Kabandha,

Rama and L a k ~ m a I ) . a give way to anxiety.70. After deliberation with each other. SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a I ) . a sever the

arms of Kabandha, who extends his welcome to them.71. Kabandha narrates his story and gives assurance of help in the discovery

of SIta after his cremation.72. Appearing in his ethereal form when cremated by SrI Rama and

L a k ~ m a I ) . a Kabandha counsels them to make any alliance with SugrIva.73. Appearing in an ethereal form, Kabandha shows to SrI Rama andL a k ~ m a I ) . a the way to ~ ~ y a m i i k a Hill and the Pampa Lake and, givingthem information about the grove of sage Matanga and his hermitage,takes leave of them.

74. SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a I ) . a visit the hermitage of Sabarl on the brink ofPampa in the forest named Matat'1gavana, receive her hospitality andgo round the forest with her. Casting her body into the sacred fire, Sabarlascends to the heavenly world.

75. SrI Rama and L a k ~ m a J : t a seek the brink of Pampa Lake conversingtogether.

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Number of Cantos:

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K i ~ k i n d h a k a Q Q aBook Four

I; When Sri Rama approached the Pampa lake, the sight of the lovelysurroundings intensified his pangs of separation from Sita. Put in mindof Sita, he laments for her. Living with his ministers on the summitof the ~ ~ y a m i i k a hill, Sugriva catches sight of the two princesand gets alarmed.

2. Seeing the two princely bro.thers and suspecting them to have been sentby his elder brother, Vall, Sugriva goes into hiding with hiscounsellors.There Hanuman reassures him by recourse to reasoning.Sugriva then sends Hanuman to ascertain what existed in the mind of

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the two princes. 7503. Approaching in the guise of a mendicant Sri Rama and Lak$mal)aand bowing low to them, Hanuman inquired of them as to whothey were and, having narrated to them the story of Sugriva, apprisedthem of the latter's anxiety to enlist their goodwill. Pleased with thecleverness of Hanuman, Sri Rama compliments the former on hisknowledge of the Veda and grammar. With the approval of Sri Rama,L a k ~ m a l ) a gives utterance to the former's desire to secure Sugriva'salliance .

4. Hanuman inquires of Sri Rama the purpose of his visit to Pampa. Havingnarrated to Hanuman, as urged by Sri Rama, his life-story up to hisseparation from Sita, Lak$mal)a tells him that ,cultivation of friendshipwith Sugriva in pursuance of advice of Kabandha was the purposeof their visit to the Pampa. Observing that Sugriva was in a predicamentsimilar to the one in which Sri Rama found himself placed and as suchstood in need of Sri Rama's sympathy and goodwill, Hanuman resumeshis real form and, placing Sri Rama and Lak$mal)a on his shoulders,

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reaches ~ ~ y a m i i k a 7565. Having presented himself before Sugriva on the Malaya mountain andapprised him of his having brought the two scions of Raghu to

~ $ y a m u k a , Hanuman narrates to him the story of the two princes.Pleased to hear this news and approaching Sri Rama in the form ofa human being, Sugriva offers his hand for being clasped by Sri Ramaas a token of friendship . Sri Rama responds by clasping it with hisown and hugs him to his bosom. Their friendship having beensolemnized in the presence of a fire, Sugriva narrates to him histale of woe and requests Sri Rama to get rid of v ~ n , his hostilebrother. Sri Rama p r o m ~ s e s this. 7596. Telling Sri Rama that he had come to know from Hanuman all abouthis misfortune (in the shape of the abduction of his wife) and assuring


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him that he will have her traced out wherever she may be and restoreher to him, Sugriva fetches from inside his cave an ornament tied ina corner of a silk wrapper and dropped by her from the air while beingcarried away by Raval).a, and gives it to Sri Rama. Recognizing itas belonging to Sita alone, Sri Rama is plunged once more in griefborn of separation from his beloved spouse and, violently hissing likea serpent impatiently inquires who that Raval)a was and where fromhe hailed. 7617. Consoled by Sugriva with the assurance that, even though ignorant ofthe abode of that vile ogre who bore away Sita, he would see that SriRama is reunited with her, Sri Rama compliments him and promisesto kill Vali.8. Congratulating himself as well as his dear and near ones on his havingsecured the frien,dship of Sri Rama, and sitting on a common boughalongwith the latter, Sugriva seeks protection from Vali. Dilating oncemore on the wrongs done to him by Vali in the shape of wresting hiswife and so on, he solicits Vali's death at the hands of Sri Rama. Askedto account for this hostile attitude of Vali, Sugriva proceeds to relate

764

the circumstances which led to it. 7669. Sugriva tells Sri Rama how, challenged to a duel at dead of night

by a demon, Mayavi by name, who owed him a grudge on the scoreof a woman, Vali sallied forthwith Sugriva and, following at the heelsof the demon, who ran away on seeing him, and- reaching the mouthof a cave asked Sugriva on oath to stay out, himself entering thecave. Since ValI did not come out for a whole year and as from aconfused din coming out of the cave as well as from a stream ofblood issuing from it, it was concluded that ValI had met his deathat the hands of the demon, Sugriva closed the mouth of the cavewith a rock and, offering water to the spirit of his deceased elderbrother, returned to K i ~ k i n d h a , where the ministers of Vali installedhim on the latter's throne in his absence. In the meantime ValIreturned from the cave and reprimanded Sugriva for his havingusurped ValI's throne. 769

10. While giving out the reasons of his hostility with Vali, Sugriva tellsSri Rama how in spite of his trying to pacify his elder brother, the latterexiled him. 772

11. With a view to ascertaining Sri Rama's actual strength SlIgriva expatiateson the prowess of ValI and tells him how Mayavi's brother, the demonDundubhi, too challenged him to a duel and how, having made shortwork of him, Vali listlessly hurled his dead body to the precincts ofthe hermitage of Sage Matanga, and how the site of the hermitage havingbeen desecrated with blood spattered here and there from his mouth.Sage Matanga pronounced a curse forbidding the individual who had


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perpetrated the sacrilege to enter the hermitage on pain of death, thusr :e n ~ b l i n g Sugriva to live unmolested in that retreat. In order to convince

Sug\riva of his superior might Sri Rama kicks the skeleton of Dundubhiaway wi,th his toe. Belittling this feat on the ground of the skeleton having~ h r u n k as a result of exposure, Sugriva further asks Sri Rama to piercewith his arrow one of the seven sal trees standing there and thusdemonstrate his strength.

12. Amazed to behold Sri Rama's arrow re-enter his quiver after piercingall the seven sal trees and penetrating the bowels of the earth, andapplauding Sr i Rama, Sugriva implores him to make short work ofVali. Sending Sugriva to challenge Vali to a combat, Sri Rama sitsin hiding behind a tree . When a passage at arms commenced withVali who would not brook a challenge, Sri Rama did not hit Yaliwith an arrow because the two brothers so closely resembled eachother that it was difficult for him to distinguish one from the other.The result was that Sugriva lost heart and ultimately taking to hisheels, returned to ~ ~ y a m i i k a Explaining to Sugriva the reason of hisfailure to hit Vali. Sri Rama reassures Sugriva and encourages himto seek an encounter with Vali again. Urged by Sri Rama, L a k ~ m a Q auproots a blossomed G a j a p u ~ p i creeper and ties it about the neck of

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Sugriva for identification. 78113 . While going to K i ~ k i n d h a alongwith Sugriva and others with intent to

make short work of Yali, Sri Rama sees a delightful grove and inquiresof Sugriva as to whose hermitage it was. Sugriva tells him in reply thatthe hermitage belonged to a group of sages known by the name ofSaptajanas, who had bodily ascended to heaven. 784

14 . SrI Rama and others remain hiding behind the trees of a grove in thevicinity of K i ~ k i n d h a , Sugriva implores Sri Rama to implement his vow

. of killing Yali. Assuring Sugriva that this will be done, Sri Ramaencourages the latter to go and challenge his elder brother and Sugrivadoes accordingly. 787

15. Angrily issuing forth for an encounter on hearing the roar of Sugriva,Vali is discouraged with cogent reasons by his wife, Tara. 789

16. Spurning the advice of Tara and reproaching her, Vali goes forth to meetSugriva and there ensues a fierce encounter between the two brothers.When, however; Sugriva is found losing ground, YaH is struck with anarrow by Sri Rama and falls to the ground. 79 I

17. Still retaining his life and vital energy by virtue of the gold ' chainbestowed on him by Indra, though pierced in the breast with a deadlyarrow, Vali indignantly reproaches SrI Rama in many ways. 794

18 . SrI Rama justifies his action by saying that the punishment metedout to ' Vali in the form of taking his life was meet having regardto the sin of depriving his own younger brother of his wedded wife,


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of which ValT was guilty. Repenting for his having reproached SrI Rama,VaH now seeks the latter's forgiveness and requests him to take careof his son, Angada. Agreeing to do so, Sri Rama c o ~ f o r t s valT. 799

19. Agonized with grief to hear about the death of her husband, Tara (wifeof Vall) sallied forth from K i ~ k i n d h a to arrive in the presente of VaH .

, Fleeing helter-skelter through fear of Sri Rama and meeting Tara onthe way, the monkeys try to send her back inspiring fear in her andadvise her to make arrangements for the defence of the city and installAl'lgada on the throne. Rushing to the scene of contest after dismissingthem, Tara catches sight of VaH lying on the ground, as well as of SrIRama and others. 804

20. Clasping VaH to her bosom and wailing piteously for the sake of Angada,Tara resolves upon a fast unto death. 807

21. Comforting Tara, who was lamenting through a variety of expressions,Hanuman urges her to have the obsequies performed in respect of thedeparted soul by Angada and attend to the earthly good of Ailgada.Tara, however, refuses to flinch from her resolve and prefers to followher husband to the other world rather than bestow any thought on theearthly welfare of her son.

22. Craving the forgiveness of Sugriva, though the latter was younger thanhe, and applauding the resolve of Tara (to follow her husband), nay,urging SugrIva to follow the advice of Tara, look after Ailgadaaffectionately and accomplish the purpose of Sri Rama, Vall asks SugrIvato take off the gold chain from the former's neck, and gives up the g h o \\\while tendering wholesome advice to Ailgada. Extolling the wonderfulexploits of Vall, hordes of monkeys lament in many ways. Stricken withagony caused by separation from VaH, Tara falls to the ground embracingVaH.

23. Though endeavouring, after smelling Vall's face, to embrace him, Tarafinds herself unable to do so, bathed as he was in blood and daubedwith dust. Nila pulls out Sri Rama's an'ow from his heart and, urgedby Tara, Angada bows down at his feet.

24. Beseeching Ailgada and others to conduct the search for Sita, Sugriva,whose heart melted to hear the laments of Tara, seeks Sri Rama'spermission to enter fire to atone for ' Vall's death, making Sri Rama sad.Approaching Sri Rama in her turn , Tara extols him with devotion andexpresses her intention to give up the ghost, on which Sri Rfunaexpostulates with her and urges her to survive for the earthly goodof Angada.

25. Sri Rama consoles Sugrlva and others. Entrusting SugrIva with the workof getting firewood for' the cremation of Vall, L a k ~ m a J ) a asks Tara to,mange for a palanquin to carry VaH in state to the crematory. Placingthe dead body of VaH as commanded by Sri Rfuna on the palanquin brought

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by Tara, Sugriva and others carry the palanquin to the riverside and,. takingit down on a sandy bank, prepare a pyre. Vanara women comfort Taramourning the death of Vall with his head placed in her lap. Placing thedead body of Vali on ;the pyre, Angada sets fire to it. At the end of thecremation they all dffer water to the spirit of the deceased andreturn to Sri Rama's presence. 821

26. Requested by Hanuman to visit K i ~ k i n d h a , SrI Rama declines to doso on the ground of his having been prohibited by his father to enterthe limits of a village or town and, directing that SugrIva may beinstalled on the throne of i ~ k i n d h a and Angada may assume the officeof Prince Regent, he himself takes a vow to live in a cave till theend of the mOhsoon and leaves instructions to initiate a search for

.Sita after the monsoon. 825!27. Arrived at a cave of Mount Prasrava1).a and seeing the place suitablefor his residence, Sri Rama takes up abode there. One day whenhe is seized witQ anguish caused by h[s separation from SIta, L a k ~ m a 1 ) . acomforts him.

28. Even though unable to bear the cool weather during the monsoon,emaciated as he was due to the agony of separation from Sita, andchatting with L a k ~ m a 1 ) . a on the unbearability of his said separation fromSIt a, SrI Rama describes the rainy season.

29. Recounting the virtues of Sri Rama to Sugriva, who had due to his loveof the pleasures of sense forgotten all about SrI Rama's business and wasneglecting it even after the advent of autumn- and reminding him of thework of Sri Rama, Hanuman urges Sugriva to collect an army with aview to conducting a search for SItu. Awakened to a sense of his duty,Sugriva enjoins NTIa to dispatch messengers to bring all the Vanarahordes together.

30. Glorifying SrI Rama as a hero, L a k ~ m a 1 ) . a comforts his brother who waswailing in many ways at the thought of SIta, his agony of separationfrom her having been accentuated by the sight of the autumnal fullmoon and the water-lilies opening their petals during the night. His heartbeing captured by the wealth of beauties of autumn, Sri Rama extolsthe autumnal season and seeingSugrIva inactive even during this season,

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sends L a k ~ m a 1 ) . a to whip the latter into activity. 84331. Concluding from the angry words of SiT Rama that he was wroth against

Sugriva, L a k ~ m a 1 ) . a gets ready to kill the latter. Pacifying L a k ~ m a 1 ) . a , SrIRama, however, sends him to SugrIva with instructions to adopt aconciliatory attitude towards him. Reaching K i ~ k i n d h a with a bow andaITOW in hand and assuming an angry demeanour, L a k ~ m a 1 ) .

Ramayana Canto 01-04 Table of Contents

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