RAMAKATHA RASAVAHINI PART 4

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Om Sri Sai Ram

 

RAMAKATHA RASAVAHINI PART 4

 

The Rama Story, Stream of Sacred Sweetness

As told by the Divine Lord Himself in the present Avatar as Bhagawan

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Winning Sita

" Rama! The ministers then crowned Amsumanta, after consulting the

will of the people. He ruled over the kingdom without the slightest

error or fault, for he was strong in morality and spiritual

excellence. The people were fostered as if they were children born

from his own loins. When old age crept on him, he offered the throne

to Dileepa, his son, and proceeded to the Himalayas for the ascetic

disciplines he wanted to impose on himself. His aim was not only self-

realisation; he sought to bring down the Ganga for the sake of the

salvation of the departed uncles. But, he too had to give up his body

without fulfilling the desire.

 

" Dileepa was also moved by the same wish for, he knew how deeply his

father and grandfather had longed for the consummation, bringing the

Ganga down on earth! He tried various means. He performed many

abstruse Yajnas on the advice of sages. Pangs of sorrow that he could

not fulfill the family ideal invaded him and he became chronically

ill. Seeing that physical strength and mental stamina were declining,

he placed his son Bhagiratha on the throne; he entrusted to him the

mission that was beyond his grasp, namely, bringing the Ganga down.

Soon after, Dileepa too left the earth.

 

" Bhagiratha, bright with spiritual splendor, vowed that he must

succeed in the task allotted to him by his father. Though he ruled

the kingdom very satisfactorily, he was sad that he had no children

to maintain the line. This, as well as the supreme task of getting

the Ganga, forced him to hand over the reins of government to the

ministers and retire into the silence of the famous Gokarna Kshetra.

He stood there practicing austere penances like bearing the heat of

the sun and taking food only once a month! At last appreciating his

austerity, God appeared before him and said, 'Son! Bhagiratha! Ask

any boon you wish for, it shall be granted.'

 

" Bhagiratha had the Vision of the One with the brilliance of a

thousand Suns. He fell prostrate, overwhelmed with gratitude and

devotion. He prayed, ‘Lord! Cause the Celestial Ganga to flow on

earth, so that my great-grandfathers might be saved from perdition,

and be restored to Heaven. And, favour me with children so that the

Ikshwaku Royal Line might not be rendered extinct, with me as its

last representative. May the dynasty continue and flourish’. He

held fast the Feet of the Lord and submitted his supplication.

 

" The Lord replied, ‘Son! The first of your wishes is very hard to

fulfill. Nevertheless, I shall grant you that one. The boon for the

royal line? Yes. You will have a noble son and your dynasty will

continue and flourish. Arise!' At this, Bhagiratha rose and the Lord

continued, ‘Bhagiratha! Ganga is swollen and swift; when it falls

from heaven, the earth will not be able to bear the impact. So, as

Ruler of the Earth, you have to ponder over the problem and discover

means by which dire disaster can be avoided. When the Ganga descends

upon the earth, the effect will be calamitous. So, the river must be

made to fall first on the head of Siva; from there, the waters may be

led on to earth with lessened impact. This is the best course, from

the point of view of the inhabitants of the earth. Consider this

well.' After saying this, the Lord withdrew.

 

" From thence, Bhagiratha began austerities to propitiate Siva and at

last, he succeeded in winning His favour and His consent to receive

Ganga direct on His Head, when it descends from Heaven. And so it

happened that the Ganga fell on Siva and flowed down from His Head on

to the earth, in seven distinct streams - Hladini Nalini and Pavani

flowed east, Subhikshu, Sitha and Sindhu flowed west, and the seventh

stream followed the footsteps of Bhagiratha to where he led it,

namely, the place where the ashes of his great-grandfathers lay in

heaps, awaiting rescue from hell.

 

" It flowed along the route that Bhagiratha took and all along the

route, men benefited from the sacred stream and sanctified

themselves. They were released from the effects of the sins, by the

cleansing influence of the celestial Ganga. The great-grandfathers

too were redeemed by the performance of obsequies on the bank of the

thrice-holy stream, and with its waters.

 

" Since Bhagiratha brought the Ganga to earth, the river got the name,

Bhagirathi! After the ceremonies for the manes were over, Bhagiratha

returned to Ayodhya. Happy that he could fulfill through Divine Grace

the keenest wishes of his father and grandfather, he ruled over the

empire for many years receiving the spontaneous homage of his

contented subjects. At last, he too left the body. "

 

When Vishwamitra narrated the story of Rama’s forefathers thus,

Rama and Lakshmana were all attention; they were enraptured with the

incidents. But, the Sage said it was already midnight and they could

all go to bed and sleep. So, they prostrated before the Preceptor and

laid themselves on the thick sands of the river itself. Rama and

Lakshmana could not sleep; they reclined on the sands, only in

obedience to the order of their preceptor, not because they needed

rest! They lay picturing to themselves the wonderful story of the

descent of Ganga from heaven to earth, till they found that morning

had arrived! There they performed the ablutions and morning rituals

in the river and prepared soon for the journey ahead. As soon as some

teenage disciples announced that the ferryboat was ready, all moved

towards it and took their seats and crossed the holy river. They

reached the northern bank and started on the further stages of their

journey, admiring the heartening forest-scenery through which they

passed.

 

When they had covered some distance, they came upon a vast city full

of beautiful buildings. Rama turned to Vishwamitra, and asked

him, " Master! We are seeing from here in this exquisite forest a vast

City. To what kingdom does it belong? " The sage replied, " Rama! It

appears to be near, but, in fact, it will take quite some time for us

to reach it! Perhaps, we may arrive there in the evening hours. I

shall tell you the story of that City's origin and fortunes when we

actually reach it. Meanwhile, let us proceed " . Rama heard these

words, which the sage spoke with a twinkle in the eye and a smile on

the lips; he grasped the meaning of his directive and walked on

without a word in reply.

 

When they descended into the valley there was no sign of any City or

human habitation; but, on rising to the heights, the City could be

seen very near! Moving forward like this, they found that though

evening drew near they could not reach the City. As Vishwamitra had

already indicated the City was still far away! As evening fell they

halted; and after bath, they performed the evening rituals as laid

down in the Sastras. While resting, Rama returned to the question he

had already asked. " Master! Will you kindly tell us about the City? "

At this, Vishwamitra said, " Rama! I too was just now thinking about

that matter! Though I know that you are aware of the working of every

mind, still, the veil of Maya (taking the appearance as real) hides

the fact and precipitates men into misleading tracks. All cannot be

masters of the mind. When persons like me find it impossible to keep

it under control, there is no need to dilate on the fate of ordinary

men! The very moment the thought flashed in my mind that you had

forgotten to ask about the story of the City, you questioned me about

it! No further proof is wanted to show that you are the All-knowing!

 

" Rama! In ancient times, Kashyap had two wives, Aditi and Diti. The

sons of Diti were repositories of physical might and the sons of

Aditi, of moral grandeur. They grew up mightier and mightier with

each passing day. The parents derived great joy, watching them grow

up so fair and fast.

 

" One day, the sons of both Diti and Aditi gathered together and

entered into a discussion on means of avoiding old age. Finally, they

came to the conclusion that the Amrit or Nectar that can be secured

by churning the Ocean of Milk will prevent the physical calamities of

disease, senility, and death. Soon, they set about that task. The

Mandaara Peak was plucked and placed in the Ocean as the Churning

Rod; the serpent Vasuki was chosen as the rope, to be wound round the

rod so that the rope might rotate quickly and fast. While the

churning continued for a long time, the serpent Vasuki began vomiting

its poison. It was enraged so much as a result of the pain that its

fangs struck against the rocks of the mountain peak. The poison fume

raged as a huge fire!

 

" Seeing this, the sons of Diti and Aditi became mortally afraid; they

felt they would be burnt into ashes in that holocaust! They prayed

for succor to the Lord. When Lord Vishnu appeared before them, the

sons of Diti pleaded pathetically, ‘Lord! Save us! Put an end to

this dread disaster’ and the Lord changed into Siva and said,

‘Dear Ones! I am the eldest of the Gods and so, I am entitled to

receive the first fruit of this churning process' Declaring thus, He

drank off without delay the Halahala poison that was causing the

panic.

 

" Thereafter, the sons of Diti and Aditi continued the churning of the

Ocean. Another calamity threatened them now; the Mandara Peak started

sinking! So, they prayed again to the Lord Vishnu. He appeared again

and assured them, ‘Darling children! Do not become frightened’.

The Lord assumed the Form of a Tortoise, and getting underneath the

mountain peak raised it on His back and kept it safe on the hard

shell so long as the churning lasted. The sons of Kashyap were

immensely grateful and happy. They extolled the Lord in profusion.

 

" From out of the Ocean of Milk, there emerged a God with a Danda

(Stick) and Kamandalu Water pot in His Hands! His name was

Dhanvantari. Even as the sons of Diti and Aditi were looking at Him,

there emerged again from the Ocean thick sweet juice or Rasa, which

got rolled into a ball, which, in turn, soon swelled and broke,

disclosing a bevy of maidens. Since they were born of Rasa, they are

named, Apsaras. They tried in many ways to persuade the sons of Diti

and Aditi to wed them; they prayed and petitioned; but all their

efforts were of no avail; so, they lived without being wedded, free

and fickle. Then, from out of the waves rose the daughter of the

water-god; Varuni and she had a chalice full of intoxicating liquor.

The sons of Diti refused to have anything to do with the liquor! The

sons of Aditi quaffed it. Those who did not accept the Sura (liquor)

were known as Asuras, and those who accepted it, as Suras.

 

" At last, from that Ocean of Milk arose the Amrit (Nectar). Who were

to drink the Amrit? There arose a huge conflict between the sons of

Diti and Aditi. In the terrible fight that ensued, the sons of Aditi

began destroying the sons of Diti. The battle threatened to become a

battle of extinction. The earth shook under the thrust and counter-

thrust of weaponry in that battle. Fear and anxiety spread their dark

clouds over the world. Suddenly, Vishnu appeared before the

contending parties as an entrancingly charming damsel, who captivated

the hearts of all and led their minds away from the combat into which

they had plunged! She charmed everyone and during her appearance, the

precious Amrit disappeared! The sons of Diti had all died. The grief

of the mother was beyond consolation. Kashyap failed to bring her to

the state of normalcy. His attempts to teach her the evanescence of

things failed to convince her. She wailed aloud and lamented most

excruciatingly as if the end of the world had come.

 

At last Diti brought herself round; she approached Kashyap and

submerging her agony deep into her mind, she said, ‘Lord! Is this

just? We both had children by you. Now I have been made childless. Is

this fair? Am I to grieve eternally thus? Not even one of my sons is

alive. Rather than have many short-lived sons, one long living one is

most desirable, isn't it?’ When she wept aloud in this manner,

Kashyap consoled her and told her to enter on Thapas (the discipline

of austerities to propitiate the Gods) so that she might have a son

who will live long. He advised her to give up her grief, which could

never fulfill her desire. Encouraged by him and seeking his blessings

she left immediately and started Thapas, with the professed aim of

securing the boon from the Gods, of a son who will be able to defeat

the Lord of Gods, Indra Himself!

 

" Kashyap told her, 'Thapas is no easy discipline. One has to be pure

until the very end; one has to observe the vows and fasts, without

the least infringement; then only will the Gods be pleased and grant

the boon’.

 

" Diti reached the region known as Kusaplava and entered upon rigorous

asceticism. Knowing her resolve, Indra desired to test her and came

to her in the guise of her attendant. Diti's prayer was answered; she

became pregnant with child through Divine Grace. Days passed, months

rolled by, Indra was beside her, as attendant! One day, in the hot

hours of noon, overcome by sleep, she lay on the bed with her hair

loose and her head placed where the feet were usually placed. This

was against the strict rules of ceremonial purity, which she had to

observe with tenacity. So, Indra got his chance; He noted that her

posture was heterodox and contrary to Sastraic injunctions. So He

punished her, by fragmenting the foetus in her womb. The fragments

started weeping inside the womb for their limbs and segments, which

had broken away; the attendant, Indra spoke softly to them, 'Maa

ruda' 'Don't weep'! Diti had terrible bouts of bleeding, she lamented

her fate and wept most pitiably.

 

" Indra stood before her with folded palms and pleaded, ‘Mother;

pardon me. You acted contrary to the rules of ceremonial purity and

so, broke the vow. Your hair was unbound and loose; and your head was

on the bed where the feet are normally kept. When you slept thus,

your Thapas was defiled; when the enemy who is waiting for a chance

to foil your fortune gets such an opportunity, will he keep quiet? I

am Indra come in this form. You prayed for a son who would kill me,

didn’t you? The foetus in the womb was to destroy me and so I took

that chance to foil my foe. And I did not destroy him through

condemnable tactics. You know that strict observance of the vow was

essential for the success of your plan; you had to ensure that you

did not violate the code. The foetus has been cut into seven

fragments and I have spoken 'Maa ruda’ to them. So, they will be

born as the seven Godly Maruthas, (Wind Gods); I am conferring on you

this boon', Indra said thus and returned to Heaven.

 

" Rama! This is the place where Indra and Diti had this dialogue and

this compromise. Here, Ikshwaku had a son, by Alamba Devi, who was

named Visala. This kingdom is called Visala after him. Visala begot

Hemachandra, the mighty. He begot Subhadra, and he had as son,

Doomraswa, whose son was called Srnjaya; Srnjaya's son was Sahadeva.

 

" Sahadeva was very rich and prosperous; he was a strong pillar of

morality and righteousness; he was a valiant ruler of the kingdom for

a very long period. His son Somadatta had Kakustha born to him;

Sumathi was the son of that heroic monarch. He too was a very upright

virtuous ruler; in purity and holiness he was equal to the Gods.

Rama! This day, we shall enter this Visala City and sleep there; we

shall reach the city of Emperor Janaka tomorrow. "

 

When they heard these words all were happy. Messengers communicated

the news of the arrival of Vishwamitra to Sumathi and he rushed

forward to the Sage, with a retinue of courtiers, ministers, scholars

and priests, praying that he should enter the City and sanctify the

Royal palace by his stay.

 

Vishwamitra was pleased with his humility and reverence. He inquired

sweetly about his health and happiness, as well as about his kingdom.

They were engaged in conversation for some time on the affairs of the

kingdom and dynasty when Sumathi’s eyes fell on the brothers, Rama

and Lakshmana. He was so enchanted by their charm and dignity that he

asked Vishwamitra, who these ‘lion cubs’ were. Vishwamitra

replied, " Sumathi! That is a long story; I have no time now to tell

you. I shall relate to you the whole story on reaching your place. "

He then directed the monks and ascetics who had accompanied him, as

well as the two brothers, Rama and Lakshmana, to proceed to the City

of Visala; he too rose and walked, Sumathi talking with him all the

while on matters pertaining to the kingdom. On their reaching the

City gate, music from many voices and instruments rent the air;

Brahmins recited hymns of welcome and good wishes from the

scriptures.

 

After partaking of the Reception feast arranged by the King of

Visala, Vishwamitra described to the gathering of royal kinsmen,

priests and pundits, his own Siddhasram and the Yajna that he had

celebrated therein, as well as the heroic way in which Rama and

Lakshmana stood guard, to defend the sacrificial precincts from

marauding demons. All those who listened to the skill and courage of

the princes were struck with wonder and boundless Ananda. They looked

on them with admiration, and felt that they are Nara-Narayana come

again they prostrated before them, overcome by feelings of reverence.

 

Since it was already late, Rama and Lakshmana fell at the feet of

Vishwamitra and, taking his permission, they went over to the house

that was specially set apart for their rest. Even before dawn, they

rose, went through the morning ablutions, performed the matinal

rites, and came to their Preceptor, in good time to proceed on the

next stage of the journey. They expressed gratitude to King Sumathi,

and moved on towards Mithila.

 

Sumathi accompanied them for some distance and then took leave of the

sage and others. Vishwamitra walked on with his disciples and the

Princes; by noon they reached an expansive park. It appeared as if it

could boast of a number of hermitages inside it years ago, but now

the dwellings had crumbled. One could see also altars once maintained

with loving attention, and spots where the sacred fire was once lit

and fed. Rama noted that it was a place sanctified by ascetics and

sages and he drew the attention of Vishwamitra to his surmise.

Vishwamitra smiled, and said, " Rama! How correctly you have observed!

I am very glad. I shall inform you why the great personage who

resided in this place left it and went away. Listen!

 

" Even the gods used to acclaim this Hermitage. This is the hermitage

of Gauthama Maharshi. For many years, he resided here with his wife,

Ahalya. He gladly under-went the most severe austerities. He did many

elaborate Yajnas. This park was resplendent with spiritual grandeur;

it was bright and full of peace and joy. Every day was a holy day for

the people here. Ahalya, the wife of the sage, was a woman of great

virtue, and a perfect paragon of beauty. There was no one equal to

her in personal beauty and charm; so, Gauthama was keeping her ever

under watch, and guarding her with vigilant care. One day, while

Gauthama was absent at the ashram, Indra, the chief of the Gods, came

into the hermitage in the guise of Gauthama himself! The virtuous

spouse took Him to be her Lord; she served him reverentially but the

real Gauthama entered and, discovered her apparent faithlessness. He

recognised Indra, in spite of his disguise, and became terribly

enraged. 'Evil-minded fellow’ he shouted; but Indra had suddenly

disappeared.

 

" He turned towards Ahalya in his anger and roared, ‘You have vowed

to destroy this hermitage by indulging in vice, is it? I shall not be

here a minute longer. I cannot tolerate the sight of your face. Be

prostrate behind some bush, living as a sprite on air, with no food

or drink. I am off’. Gauthama hated the place that had been

desecrated by deceit.

 

" Ahalya wept her heart out, and pleaded that she was innocent of sin,

that she was deceived by the disguise and activated by reverence

towards her lord only, that she was carried away by the duty of

loyalty to her husband. She held his feet and prayed for pardon.

Gauthama melted a little at her importunities; the truth became clear

to him; but since words once spoken could not be withdrawn, he said,

‘Ahalya! You know that I have vowed never to go against the spoken

word. Therefore, you have to lie in bush and briar, sad and starving,

until Rama, son of Dasaratha, comes this way and seeing you, He will

shower Grace on you, allowing you to touch His Feet, and He will

speak with you in great compassion; the Darshan, Sparshan and

Sambashan will cleanse you, and you will shine forth in your real

form and charm. I shall then rejoin you.’ So saying, Gauthama left

this place and hastened to the Himalayan region. From that moment,

Ahalya lost her name and form; she lives on air, and is deeply lost

in austerity, eager to rejoin her lord. And, this once lovely park

suffered neglect. "

 

When Vishwamitra narrated this tale, Ramachandra expressed great

surprise, " What! You are telling me that she is waiting for me! Poor

thing! If you can make me know where she is, deep in austerity …

tell me where. " As Rama moved on, Vishwamitra and Lakshmana followed

him at some distance. He passed through some tangled bushes and

entered a hut, behind a bush of briar.

 

Ahalya was until that moment immersed in austerity; she was far away

from the eyes of Gods, demons and men; she had forgotten her Name and

lost her Form; she had no concern with food and sleep; she was merely

existing as a piece of rock! She appeared like the orb of the Moon,

well hidden by clouds, or the sacrificial fire, covered by thick

curtains of smoke! As Rama neared her, his foot touched Ahalya.

 

Ahalya raised her head and seeing the Divinely charming Form of Rama,

she held the Feet, exclaiming in ecstasy, " Ah! I am saved " " 0 God,

come to save me from sin! Your heart is moved at last " . She poured

out her gratitude in many hymns of praise. She rose, like the moon

from behind the clouds, effulgent and fresh. At that moment Gauthama

too who was a master of the mysteries of yoga, appeared before them

for he knew that Rama had come, and rescued his wife. He accepted

her, purified by rigorous austerity, and blessed by Rama. Both

husband and wife fell at the Feet of Rama and Lakshmana, who were

both overwhelmed by the Ananda they had. Gauthama offered reverence

and homage to Vishwamitra. The band of disciples was amazed at the

wonder they had witnessed; they looked on at the brothers with the

fixed gaze of wonder. Vishwamitra took leave of Gauthama, and walked

on, in the northeasterly direction, with Rama and Lakshmana by his

side.

 

They neared a City, by evening. The sage pointed to the City from a

distance saying, " That is Mithila, that vast concourse of magnificent

buildings! " At this, the Brothers as well as the disciples of the

sage jumped with joy; they could not contain their happiness. From

that spot, they walked faster. Forgetful of physical exhaustion, they

quickly reached the main entrance of the City.

 

Wherever they turned, they saw ascetics and Brahmins engaged in the

recitation of the Vedas. They saw many houses where sacrificial fires

were fed with ritual offerings. Under every tree, sheltering in its

shade, were groups of people around the bullock carts which had

brought them from the countryside. There were men and women, old and

young, with children belonging to all castes and professions, persons

from all stages of life assembled at every corner; it was like moving

in a stream of joy. The City was packed with eager people moving

crisscross on all the roads. The sage and his followers reached the

embankment of a tank which was comparatively less crowded; for, they

had to decide where they were to stay, and they were not yet quite

sure where. The time for evening ablutions had drawn near and, so,

they kept their belongings on the bank, took their bath and finished

the rites prescribed.

 

Since the Yajna was imminent, courtiers and warriors from the palace

were moving among the monks that were arriving every hour, trying to

find out their names, the Gurus and hermitages to which they were

affiliated, their spiritual status, and whether they had been

specially invited for the occasion. Emperor Janaka was insisting that

all such information was to be communicated to him without delay.

 

Meanwhile, Vishwamitra had finished his ablutions and rites; he sat

on the embankment with his disciples and the Brothers, who looked

like twin stars fallen upon the Earth from Heaven. He was describing

to them the glories of Mithila. Meanwhile, a courier from the court

approached them very politely and enquired, " Master! Please tell me

who you are. Where have you come from? We are messengers from the

King. We are only obeying orders and carrying out our duty. If you

tell us your name, we can inform the King of your arrival. "

 

When the messenger hurried straight to the Palace and told the

Emperor Janaka that the Sage Vishwamitra had arrived, he made

arrangements appropriate for the reception of the great Sage and sent

the chief Brahmins, Priests and Pundits of the Court under their

leader, Sathananda, to where Vishwamitra was.

 

The group from the palace approached the embankment, reciting Vedic

hymns of welcome and good wishes, and Vishwamitra realised that they

were coming to take them to the Emperor’s Presence. He directed

Rama and Lakshmana to prepare themselves for proceeding with him.

Every one made himself ready. Meanwhile, Sathananda honoured

Vishwamitra in true Vedic tradition, as befitted a great Master. He

fell at his feet; he offered refreshments consecrated with Vedic

formulae and announced with exemplary humility that he had come with

others, under orders from the Emperor to accord him and all those who

were with him, the most sincere welcome. They left a palanquin at the

place to bring the bags and baggage of the party and took the Sage

and others into the City preceded by bands of musicians, playing on

their instruments.

 

As soon as they entered the Royal Road, Emperor Janaka himself moved

towards them accompanied by Ministers and courtiers and his nearest

kinsmen. Janaka fell prostrate before Vishwamitra saying, " Lord! I

have realised today my greatest ambition. Mathila has acquired, with

your arrival, a unique splendor. " He then enquired about the welfare

of the Sage, his pupils and disciples. His eyes fell on the two boys,

Rama and Lakshmana. They struck him as embodiments of solar

effulgence. He could not find words for a few seconds. He knew not

where he was at the time. With great effort, he recovered enough

awareness of the surroundings to ask Vishwamitra " Master! who are

these? They strike me as the twin Gods, the Ashwini Devas. It looks

as if they have just come down from Heaven in order to confer Grace

on me. They have the tender Divine charm of those Gods. Or, perhaps,

they are the Sun and the Moon come upon the Earth. How did these

juvenile embodiments of beauty happen to come, walking the distance

as members of the group led by you? Or, did they develop acquaintance

with you near here and come with you? " Janaka was pouring out one

query after another, as if he was talking to himself, forgetful where

he was or what he really wanted to know.

 

Vishwamitra saw his plight and could not restrain his smile. He

said, " These are the sons of Emperor Dasaratha of Ayodhya. Their

names are Rama and Lakshmana. The valor and skill of these boys are

amazing and miraculous " . The sage desired to say much more, but, he

thought it better to tell him all about them, after reaching the

place where they were to stay. So, they walked on towards the

quarters set apart for Vishwamitra and his entourage.

 

Chapter 7©

Winning Sita

 

It was a pretty little new temple-like structure, situated in the

centre of a lovely garden; it was tastefully decorated with greens

and festoons. The place was heavy with silence; it was as if peace

fell in heavy showers there from the wings of Grace from heaven

itself. It was quite adjacent to the Royal Palace. Therefore, after

showing them in, Janaka fell at the feet of the sage again,

saying: " Your arrival has added unto me immeasurable strength and

joy. I am sure this fortune came to me as a result of the merit

earned in many lives. I shall now take leave. For the Yajna to begin,

there is an interval of twelve days, according to the Rthwiks. Please

therefore stay on in this Mithila city itself and bless me " .

Vishwamitra assured him that he had no objection to his proposal, and

removed all apprehensions on that score from the mind of Janaka. Rama

and Lakshmana looked at each other, as if that was too long a time to

be away!

 

Arrangements were made to give them rest and undisturbed sleep that

night; milk, fruits and other articles were provided for them from

the palace. " I shall take your Darshan at dawn tomorrow " , said Janaka

while leaving. " It is not proper to delay your rest any longer, for

you had a long and tiresome journey " . Janaka returned to the palace,

with the pundits, priests and scholars. Rama and Lakshmana talked

among themselves about the devotion and humility of the Emperor, and

the Light of Peace and joy that shone on his face. They sat by the

side of the Master and partook of the fruits and milk. Then, they

departed after receiving permission, to their apartment for rest.

 

That night, they slept well. When daylight spread slowly over the

City, the music of pipe and drum rose from their doorstep. Brahmins

recited Vedic hymns. Rama and Lakshmana rose and finished their bath

and other rituals, and approached Vishwamitra. The sage gave them

cups of milk to drink and said, " Sons! Janaka will be here any time

now. Take breakfast and be ready " . Soon, they as well as the younger

pupils of the Sage repaired to the apartments and partook of fruits

and milk. They washed their hands and quietly gathered around their

Preceptor, and reverentially sat near him.

 

Meanwhile, it became known that Emperor Janaka was arriving with the

Royal Preceptor in order to pay homage; for, the blowing of conches

and the play of the traditional nine instruments heralded the

approach of the ruler of the realm. Janaka entered with the

auspicious sandal paste and rice grains in his hands, while

Sathananda and the entourage entered the sacred residence. With the

delight of gratitude he washed the feet of the Sage. Then, Janaka

fell at the feet of Vishwamitra and stood by the side of the high

seat that had been placed in front of the pedestal for the sage. As

soon as Vishwamitra directed him, Janaka occupied his own seat. Rama

and Lakshmana sat on the carpet laid on the floor to the right of

their Master. Janaka said, " Great sage ! Now, what is your command? I

am ready to accept and honour it. Please communicate it to me " .

Janaka folded his palms in prayer. At this, Vishwamitra smiled, and

said, " Last night, since there was no time I could not tell you in

detail. I shall tell now about these Princes, Rama and Lakshmana,

since you desired to hear their story. If you have no leisure now, I

can tell you some other time " . Janaka exclaimed, " Master! what more

important work have I than experiencing the ecstasy of conversing

with you? This chance can be the fruit only of age long austerity. I

am filled with Ananda at the expectation that you will tell me about

them; I consider it great good fortune. "

 

Then, Vishwamitra narrated the incidents that had taken place from

his appearance at the court of Dasaratha up to the Yajna and the

heroic way in which the young boys had stood guard and foiled the

attempts of the demons to desecrate the rituals. He described the

bravery and skill of the boys in their battle against the demons and

praised their achievements. During the narration, tears of joy and

gratitude welled from the sage’s eyes and he had to frequently wipe

them with the end of his garment.

 

Hearing these words and filling his eyes with his majesty and the

charming loveliness of the boys, Janaka experienced supreme delight,

the delight he often derived in Samadhi! He felt that the boys were

actual embodiments of Divine Splendor. Though he often tried to look

somewhere else, his eyes thirsted only for the sight of those

charming lotus like faces, which showered Brahmic illumination!

Janaka suppressed with great difficulty the outward expression of his

inner ecstasy and sat looking intently at them, in humility and

reverence. He did not feel for a moment that he was an Emperor and

that those boys were the Princes of another Imperial Monarch. He had

an indelible impression that they had come down from Heaven to Earth;

the feeling was strengthened and increased by the description of

their superhuman might and skill. He realized that they were rare

beings, akin to God himself, for they achieved successfully, even

before reaching teenage, the guardianship of a Yajna, which the

renowned Vishwamitra could not carry through unimpaired. What a

marvel! he wondered.

 

Then, the Sage with the start of the journey towards Mithila resumed

the narrative. The stories related by the sage to the brothers were

also explained to Janaka. When the story of the purification and

liberation of Ahalya, the Consort of Sage Gautama at the hermitage,

which was near the Capital City, was related, Sathananda was

surprised beyond measure; he ejaculated, " What! Has my mother been

freed from the curse? Did these Divine personalities render my mother

holy, and restore her to my father? Ah! Without doubt, they are

Divine " . While streams of tears of gratitude and joy fell down his

cheeks he became so overcome with emotion that he was unable to move,

like a pillar. Vishwamitra observed him and said, " Son! Do not be so

overwhelmed with the little events that have happened so far! In the

coming days, many events vastly more amazing will happen; they will

cause amazement and ecstasy, by their superhuman glory. Your parents

too will arrive at Mithila City tomorrow or the day after. You can

hear the marvelous story of Rama and Lakshmana direct from them. Calm

yourself " .

 

At this Emperor Janaka said, " Master! How fortunate are the parents

who have such divinely endowed sons! 0! How fortunate am I that they

stepped into my house, when the thought spurred them " . He turned to

Rama and Lakshmana and addressed them, " Darlings! Pardon me if the

residence I have arranged for you is not quite to your liking or

quite in keeping with your status. If you so desire, I am ever ready

to arrange a more appropriate accommodation. If you like, I shall

facilitate ‘sightseeing’ in the City for you are strangers to

Mithila; ask for anything you require, without reservation; I shall

feel happy only when you so ask " . To these words spoken with

exemplary goodness and humility, Rama replied in a manner that

revealed the respect he liked to offer Janaka.

 

He said " Maharaja! We are but boys. We do not feel anything wanting

in the arrangements made. We are quite happy. There is no need to

take trouble arranging somewhere else or something more, for us. If

however, you have such great affection towards us, you can fulfill

one wish that we have... " and without mentioning what it was, he

turned towards the Preceptor, Vishwamitra. The sage then

spoke, " Janaka! The mission on which these Princes came with me from

Ayodhya was over when the Yajna I had resolved upon was accomplished

without the least desecration. Rama and Lakshmana pleaded for

permission to return home. Meanwhile, I received your invitation

regarding the Yajna you have decided upon; so, I asked these boys

also to accompany me to Mithila. Then, Rama pleaded that, since his

father had deputed him only for safeguarding the Yajna at my Ashram,

he was reluctant to proceed further and be away from his father

longer than permitted. But, I spoke to them of many divine weapons

you have, objects, which they are naturally eager to see and handle.

I described the Bow that you have here, the Siva Bow, which deserves

to be seen by them. I told them the story of that Bow. Then they

agreed to accompany me hither, longing to see it. They have no

yearning to go round the City or visit interesting places; bows,

arrows, weapons which can guard the fight and punish the wicked -

these claim first consideration for their attention " . Janaka felt he

had no need to hear more. He said, " In that case, I shall make

arrangements to have the Bow brought to the Yajna Hall soon " , and

instructed that the preceptor, Sathananda be consulted about an

auspicious hour when it could be brought there.

 

Meanwhile, Rama asked Janaka, " Maharaja! If you can tell us how that

Divine Bow came into your possession, we can derive great joy. "

Janaka gave the details with evident joy. " Darlings: Six generations

after Nimi, the great ancestor of my dynasty, the King named

Devaratha ruled over this kingdom. The Gods placed this Bow of Lord

Siva in trust in his palace. It has been with us since then; it is a

weapon of the Gods and so, I assert it is no ordinary Bow! It weighs

some thousands of tones! No one has held it in the erect position so

far! For, who can lift that weight? Many times in the past, I tried

to discover who could bend the Bow and use it or hold it for public

gaze and invited people to try. But I have yet to see one who could

do it. Every king and prince who attempted the feat failed and

returned humiliated. They could neither bend the Bow nor even move it

ever so slight. One day, when I was turning the sod on the grounds

where I had resolved to perform Yajna, a vessel was revealed to view,

in the furrow. When I removed it and examined it, I found in it a

charming female child. Since the child came to us from the furrow,

(Sita) we named her Sita, and brought her up as our own child. One

day, when she was playing with her companions, her toy rolled

underneath the long box within which the Bow was kept; the more they

tried to recover the ball with the help of various contrivances, the

farther it rolled under the box! But, our child, Sita laughed at the

discomfiture of her companions, and the palace guards. She pushed

aside the box with her tender hand and recovered her toy to the

astonishment of every one! I heard about this, through the Queens who

came to know of it from the wonderstruck group around her at the

time.

 

" That day, I resolved to give Sita in marriage to one who proves

himself worthy to wed her, by stringing that Bow. Many a prince has

since tried to lift and bend that bow, in order to win her, but all

of them had to face ignominious defeat! They felt hurt and insulted;

they said I had purposely humiliated them and in their resentment and

despair, they grouped together and fell upon Mithila City with their

combined forces. The siege lasted one full year. As a consequence, my

entire armory was exhausted and I was concerned about the fate of the

City. I had no other recourse but austerity to win the grace of the

Gods. The Gods were pleased; they blessed me with additional

reinforcements of infantry, cavalry, elephantry and chariotry. That

is to say, help came to me from regions behind the besieging forces

and when they were attacked from behind they were scattered. During

these campaigns of vindictiveness, I was able to preserve the Bow; I

guarded it like the apple of my eye. Its mysterious might is beyond

description.

 

" Rama! Ramachandra! I shall not deny you the fulfillment of your

wish; if you but agree, the Bow shall be brought to the Yajna

enclosure. I shall also announce that any one who dare lift and bend

it can try to do so. " When Janaka spoke so authoritatively, Rama and

Lakshmana looked at each other but did not reply, for they were

waiting for instructions from the Master whom they had followed so

far.

 

Just then, Vishwamitra, who knew the skill and strength of the

brothers, said that what Janaka proposed could be done, and that he

need not apprehend any obstacle coming his way. Janaka also announced

that he would give Sita in marriage to whosoever lifted the bow and

stringed it, for he had vowed that Sita will be wedded only to such a

one. Vishwamitra approved that procedure too.

 

Janaka took leave of the sage and returned to the Palace. He set upon

the task of taking the bow into the Yajna Hall. A proclamation was

issued that the Bow will be exposed to view, and communicated to as

many kings and princes as possible. The eight-wheeled vehicle

containing the box with the Bow was pulled and pushed into the

enclosure by a large band of hefty heavyweights; but they could not

even move it a step. So, more men of gigantic mould had to be called

in, to lend their hands, dragging the heavy chains attached to the

vehicle and pushing it from behind. When at last the Bow moved into

the sacred enclosure, the priests recited hymns of auspicious

welcome.

 

Day dawned. The nine traditional musical instruments raised a paean

of harmony that rose to the vaults of heaven. Conches were blown in

peals. The auspiciousness of the Day was declared through song and

ritual. Emperor Janaka entered the enclosure, accompanied by a group

of priests and with attendants carrying materials for ceremonial

worship of the Divine Bow. Long before that moment, the enclosure was

filled with kings, princes, ministers, courtiers, Sages and Vedic

scholars. As soon as Janaka came in, the entire gathering stood up in

order to render honour to the Ruler of the Realm. The Vedic pundits

declaimed aloud hymns invoking the Gods to shower Grace; their voices

rose up to Heaven in exclamatory unison. Others recited passages from

the Vedas. All were so filled with expectancy that they looked on in

wonder, without even a wink.

 

Janaka walked in reverence around the vehicle with the Bow, and

offered floral homage to it, while chants were recited to propitiate

it. He bowed before the Divine Bow, and then turned to the

distinguished assembly. He announced: " Prostrations to the Sages! I

welcome all who have come to this assembly! Since many years, my

forefathers as well as many other monarchs have been, as you all

know, worshipping this Divine Bow. Besides, it is already well known

that no one, be he a God or Demon, Yaksha, Rakshasa, Garuda or

Gandharva, Kinnara or Mahoraga, no one has so far been able to lift

the Bow, hold it and string it! All who attempted have turned back,

humiliated. In spite of this, this day, I have again resolved to

bring the Bow into the sacred enclosure. Whoever among you assembled

here does lift this bow or lifting, strings it, or stringing it,

fixes an arrow on to it, or who can hold the weight of the Bow in his

hands can come forward and take this chance; the Bow is before you " .

With these words, Janaka bowed before the gathering with his palms

folded, and sat on the Lion Throne.

 

Vishwamitra cast a glance, with a smile, at Rama. Rama quickly

approached the vehicle and lifted up the iron cover with his left

arm. And with his right, he raised with no concern or exertion, the

Bow from its box! Holding the Bow erect he looked around, while

amazement was on every face! The thousands who witnessed the wonder -

citizens, kings and princes, sages and elders - raised such an

applause that the sky echoed the exultation! Soon Rama stringed the

magnificent Bow! With delightful ease he fixed an arrow! And he drew

the string back up to the ear, in order to release it. But the Bow

snapped!

 

Everyone around was shocked into confusion and fear by the strange,

unexpected explosion. Many fainted; some cried out in terror; some

fled in panic. The sages uttered prayers to God. Why dilate further?

The entire gathering, barring Janaka, Vishwamitra and the brothers,

Rama and Lakshmana, was plunged in inexplicable inconsolable dread!

 

Meanwhile, Janaka rose from his seat, fell prostrate before

Vishwamitra, and said. " Master! There is no one on earth who can

claim greater strength than Rama; such strength is not of the Earth.

I shall fulfill my word; I shall give Sita in marriage to him who

lifted, bent and broke this Bow. "

 

Vishwamitra replied, " Janaka! It will be good if this news is

communicated to Emperor Dasaratha and the auspicious event celebrated

after he comes. This is my desire; Rama is such a deeply dutiful son

that he will not agree to the marriage until Dasaratha gives his

approval " . So, Janaka had the Brahmins of the court called to his

presence, along with some Ministers. He set them on the journey to

Ayodhya as soon as day dawned. They sped on in their chariots, drawn

by swift horses, for three days and nights, and reached Ayodhya on

the morning of the fourth day. They halted the chariots right before

the main entrance of the Imperial Palace, so that there could be no

delay in taking the news they had brought to the Emperor. When the

guards inquired their names and the purpose of their arrival, the

Ministers required them to announce to the Emperor the fact of their

coming from Mithila to see him. They informed Dasaratha immediately

and they were immediately called into the palace and the Presence.

 

In spite of old age, Dasaratha looked a Divinely splendorous figure,

when the Brahmins and Ministers of Mithila saw him on his throne.

When they stood before that bright venerable face, they fell at his

feet, without any hesitation or reservation. They stood up and

said, " Maharaja! We are messengers from the Emperor Janaka of

Mithila. He has commissioned us to inquire and learn from you about

your welfare and the welfare of your realm. We have been sent with

the approval of sage Vishwamitra, and with the consent of the Royal

Preceptor, the great Sathananda, by Maharaja Janaka to communicate to

you an important message. "

 

Dasaratha’s face was brightened by smiles; his assurance was

unshaken; he was struck by the humility and good manners of the

envoys from Mithila. He said, '0 Greatest among Brahmins! 0 Ministers

of the Mithila Court! There is no deficiency in the administration of

the kingdom of Ayodhya, no obstruction anywhere for rituals like

Agnihotra; no diminution in the happiness of any of my subjects, no

obstacle from any quarter in the path of their moral and spiritual

advance. My subjects are prosperous; they are progressing steadily

towards the highest goal. I am glad to tell you this. I wish to know

about the health and welfare of Janaka, the Emperor of Mithila, about

the uninterrupted performance, in his kingdom, of the religious rites

prescribed in the Vedas. You can communicate to me without any

reservation the Message you have brought with you. I am eager to hear

it " .

 

When Dasaratha granted permission so softly and sweetly the Ministers

signed the Brahmins to speak out. The Chief Priest rose from his seat

and delivered the message thus: " Great Sovereign Ruler! Our Maharaja

Janaka has vowed that his daughter Sita Devi will be given in

marriage only to heroic might; no doubt you must be aware of this,

you might also know that many princes have tried to prove their

prowess and returned humiliated from Mithila. By Divine Will, your

two sons Rama and Lakshmana accompanied the Sage Vishwamitra eager to

see the great Yajna, which our Maharaja is celebrating; it happened

that your eldest son, Rama, won Sita Devi by means of his

incomparable valor! Maharaja! What shall we say! How shall we

describe it? In full view of the distinguished gathering of sages,

kings and princes, Rama, who has attained the highest pinnacle of

valor, lifted and held the Bow of Siva by its middle, kept it erect

and stringed it! More than this, he broke, as if in play, the

Indomitable sacred Bow into two pieces! Since Sita Devi is to be

given in marriage to him who lifts the Bow of Siva, the sages who had

assembled, as well as our Maharaja, have decided to give her hand to

Rama.

 

" We have been sent to request and receive your assent, to offer you

cordial welcome, to invite you, with the preceptor, priests,

ministers, courtiers and kith and kin, and attendants and followers,

to the City of Mithila. Our Maharaja desires to celebrate the

marriage of his daughter after receiving your Darshan. We are sent by

him to your presence, in order to inform you of this " .

 

The priests and ministers stood with folded hands, reverentially

awaiting the reply from Dasaratha. But, Dasaratha rolled it over in

his mind with earnest care and sent for the sages Vasishta, Vamadeva

and others, for consultations, before speaking a word in reply. He

also invited the foremost among the Brahmins of the court. When they

all arrived, he asked the party from Mithila to repeat the message

they had brought. When they had listened to the news, he wanted their

comments. But first, Dasaratha fell prostrate before sage Vasistha

and prayed that he should give his approval. Vasistha, Vamadeva and

others responded with joyous acclamations, " Most auspicious " ! " Most

auspicious " ! They asked, " Why spend further thought on this? Make

preparations for the journey to Mithila " !

 

The ministers jumped in joy; news of the wedding of Rama spread in a

trice all over the City and into the Inner apartments of the Palace,

where the Queens were. The citizens raised exclamations of " Jai!

Jai! " in their exultation. Attendants and servants quickly made

preparations for the journey. Jewels, silk brocades and other gifts

were packed in large quantities and varieties; countless chariots

were loaded with them.

 

The Emperor and the Imperial Escort, Vasishta the Royal Preceptor,

the chief Priests and other Brahmins and Pundits, ascended their

chariots and took their seats. It was as if Ayodhya itself was moving

out to Mithila to witness the marriage. For all who longed to join,

Dasaratha made suitable arrangements. No one eager to go was left

behind! The horses seemed to share the joy that filled the hearts of

the inmates of the chariots; for, they trotted fast, without

slackening speed, or showing signs of exhaustion. Two nights and two

days they spent on the road, and the third night, they reached

Mithila!

 

Maharaja Janaka welcomed Emperor Dasaratha at the very Entrance Gate

of his City. He welcomed the Ministers, Sages and Priests as befitted

their position and status. He arranged that they take rest for the

night in allotted residences. As soon as the day dawned, Dasaratha

sent for the rthwiks (priests who have specialized in ritual lore),

the queens and the kinsmen, and alerted them to be ready and

available the moment they were wanted. Meanwhile, Janaka arrived at

the mansion where Dasaratha was, and took him to the special

enclosure where the Yajna was being celebrated. Seats had been

allotted there for the Preceptors, the Emperor and his entourage,

according to their rank and authority.

 

When all had occupied their seats, Janaka welcomed Dasaratha with the

words: " Your coming to Mithila with these great sages and those

foremost Brahmins and your kinsmen and escort augurs great good

fortune for us. It marks the fruition of the good we have done in

past lives. I am sure great joy has filled your mind, at the valor

and victory of your son. I am about to enter into relationship with

the great Raghu dynasty, resplendent with the 'boundless heroism of

its scions. My dynasty is about to be sanctified more then ever

before by this kinship. I believe this is the result of the blessings

showered on me by my forefathers. Maharaja! This morning, the Yajna

we have been celebrating is coming to a close. I have thought of

celebrating the marriage of Sita and Rama after the conclusion of the

Yajna. I plead with you to confer your assent. "

 

Dasaratha thrilled with Ananda. His face was lit by bright smiles. He

said, " Maharaja! You are the donor; elders declare that a gift is to

be received at the sweet will and pleasure of the donor! So I am ever

prepared to take the gift whenever it pleases you! " When Dasaratha

spoke with such wit and wisdom, with such heart-melting warmth of

affection, Janaka was overwhelmed with Ananda surging within him.

 

By then, Rama and Lakshmana entered the enclosure with the Sage

Vishwamitra; they prostrated before their father and their

preceptors - Vasishtha, Vamadeva and others. Dasaratha’s eyes

glistened with delight as they fell upon the sons he had missed so

long. He drew them to himself; he placed his hands on their

shoulders; he pressed them to his bosom. Seeing the Ananda of the

father while fondling his sons the Brahmins and ministers forgot

themselves in appreciation of the depth of his affection. They were

lost in admiration.

 

Dasaratha conversed intimately with his sons, and listened to their

sweet simple descriptions of the Yajna which they guarded from

desecration by demonic forces; they told him the incidents of the

journey from the hermitage of Vishwamitra to Mithila City. Bharatha

and Satrughna, Sumantra and many ministers, courtiers, and nobles

heard also by Vasishtha, Vamadeva and other sages, as well as the

narrative. They spent the night recapitulating the wonder and mystery

that formed the warp and woof of that narrative.

 

Meanwhile, Janaka was immersed in preparations for the wedding. He

was mostly in the palace itself; he invited the Chief Priest,

Sathananda, to the court, and prayed to him reverentially to start

collecting men and materials for the various rites preliminary to the

actual wedding rite. The sage replied, " Maharaja! The Yajna concluded

just today. During the next two or three days, there are, I notice, a

few hours that are auspicious for the ceremonials. I can give

details, if you desire to know " .

 

At this, Janaka said saluting Sathananda and standing with folded

hands, " Master! I received the assent of the Emperor Dasaratha, last

night. This is indeed a sign of extreme good fortune. My younger

brother Kusadhwaja is not present here now; he was all these days

very busy supplying provisions for the Yajna as and when the high

priests asked for them. I am reluctant to celebrate this most

auspicious ceremony without his being present by my side. I do not

want to deprive him of his share of joy. I have set afoot plans to

get him here quickly. I feel it would be best if we fix the day and

hour after his arrival " . Sathananda responded, " Good! Good! That will

make us all happy beyond calculation! " With this, he left the palace.

 

Janaka sent messengers with instructions that they should bring the

brother to Mithila, with expedition. They found him in his capital

City, Sankasya, for, they were taken thither by fleet - footed horses

which sped faster than others. They reported to him the developments

at Mithila, in detail; Kusadhwaja was overcome with the flood of

Ananda that surged through him. He collected his kith and kin, as

well as his entourage, in great haste; he had chariots loaded with

gifts and presents, offerings and precious materials. He started off

that very night and quickly reached Mithila.

 

Janaka hastened to meet him, for, he was counting the minutes that

were hurrying by. He clasped his brother in fond embrace; he was

filled with inexpressible delight. Kusadhwaja fell at the feet of his

elder brother; he prostrated before Sathananda, and then all three

sat on raised seats, in order to deliberate on the further course of

action. They consulted among themselves and when they decided finally

on what they have to do, they sent for the highly respected elder

statesman, Sudhama, and told him: " Minister of State! Proceed now to

the Presence of Dasaratha and pray to him to come here, to this

Palace with his Ministers, Priests, Courtiers, kinsmen and others he

would like to bring with him. Bring him with due honours " .

 

TO BE CONTINUED