Gita in 18 Verbs

Bhagavatam: Rukmini's letter to Sri Krishna

 

Scanned from Swami Tapasyananda's Translation of Srimad Bhagavatam. 

Purely for non-commercial purposes and study. 

Valmiki Ramayana - Epilogue ...contd.

April 12 - Epilogue 2.

This extract is from DVG's Sri Rama Parikshanam book I mentioned yesterday. The book is a series of questions and criticisms levelled against Sri Rama and his responses, as imagined and penned in poetry by this great scholar-writer-philosopher DVG.

I have chosen a portion of "Siteya Prashne" (Sita's Question)- an imagined conversation between Devi Sita and Sri Rama.  

At the Ashvamedha Yajna, Kusha and Lava regale everyone with their recitation of the Ramayana as composed by Sage Valmiki. Sri Rama realizes who they are and sends for Devi Sita. His plan is to ask her to prove her purity in front of the Ayodhyavasis who harbour doubts. 

Instead, Devi Sita launches into this conversation, born in DVG's imagination. This conversation seems to be private between her and Sri Rama as others don't hear it.

DVG makes Devi Sita eloquence itself as she asks Sri Rama, "Why, why, why?"  I give a free translation:  

Devi Sita, mother of Kusha and Lava, who had been taken care of by Sage Valmiki, now spoke:

"Oh, my beloved, how much have you suffered on my account! That nick that Shiva's bow made on your shoulder at the swayamvara- is it gone, erasing all those memories!? What abundance of faith and love you have had for me that made you go through so much, yes, so much!

" Also, how much love and celebration we have enjoyed together!

"But, dear, I regret that I was not there to share in your greatest moments of distress- when you pined for me, when you sought an alliance with the vanaras and unburdened to them your grief on my account. What terrible hurdles you had to cross, building the bridge over the ocean, fighting those deadly battles with a rain of arrows with the mayavi Indrajit, the terrible Kumbhakarna, and seeing Lakshmana laid low unconscious and almost dead...

"That battle to end all battles with the tormentor of the world, Ravana....oh, how much you have gone through, all on my account, alas!"

"Dearest, you went through all this to help your loved one, me, a helpless woman in captivity. And later you brought me back into your arms, into a heaven of endless love, joy, celebration, and wellbeing in Ayodhya. Your tender words, your romantic gestures, your impassioned love, oh what happiness it all was!

"And then, all of a sudden, the morsel of sweet put in the mouth turned to burning coal! The lamp lit to light up our life was put out...The royal meal about to be served was dashed to earth...

"Oh Lord, now what more tests do you want me to pass? What doubt remains in your heart about me? Will your love for me still not ripen from its raw, sceptical condition? 

"Does the citizenry tell you when to speak and when to shut up? Does it scrutinize your good conduct?

"When will you stop this exercise of pleasing the public? When will your wisdom and discrimination wake up? 

"Can the flare-up of public gossip not be overcome by royal authority? Does not a king enjoy autonomy of thinking for himself? 

"What happened to your magnanimity that flowed generously to Ahalya, how did it dry up for me? 

"Oh, Lord! How does it matter anymore if you accept me or reject me? There has to be an end even to my misery someday...

"My lord! May you live well, oh Raghava! How do I matter to you anymore!? Rule well, oh, lord!"

Devi Sita's words that burst out with such feeling and existential pain were now answered by Sri Rama.

"Dearest, the queen of my heart! What you will now hear from me is about the subtlety of Dharma. I plead that you set aside for a moment your heart's anguish and listen to what this path of truth is, peacefully.

"Devi, I have always thought that you are supreme in equanimity while dealing with both joy and sorrow. But your words now are couched in an excess of worldly attachment to one's senses and feelings. 

"Oh daughter of Mother Earth, if one puts in the balance of Dharma two things - man's personal enjoyment, and the pursuit of the larger societal good, it is a sign of wisdom to know which side weighs more portending gravitas and eventual good. 

"For a king, all citizens are equal, whether they are wise and discriminating, or simplistic and lacking in judgement. As their guru, and lord, the king has to discharge his Dharma towards all.

"To ensure that man and wife relationships in society remain full of love and above suspicion and dispute, it becomes the duty of kings and queens to set an example, and even sacrifice their own personal man-wife relationships. Am I wrong in saying this?

"If I had chosen not to wrong you, i.e. not to sacrifice you, and ignored the talk of commoners, would people have continued to respect my rule and my observance of Dharma?

"If I chose not my personal sacrifice, and chose to turn a deaf ear to the public murmurs, would it not have planted the seed of disregard and discord in the land? Would our heads not have hung in worry and sorrow by this time, on account of the chaos in society we would have been responsible for? 

"Devi, it is the weak and ignorant that deserve our compassion and magnanimity. On the other hand, those who are strong in mind and body will be able to withstand self-abnegation and sacrifice. A mother carries her infant in her arms, but lovingly asks her grown-up child to walk, for she knows who needs what."

***

Devi Sita was listening to Sri Rama's words when Mother Earth opened up with a huge noise that shook everyone's heart. There was an oracle, "Oh Lord! You came down for saving the earth, and have magnificently ruled, with strength, wisdom, and self-sacrifice. The curtain is coming down on your Maya act now, and it matters not how the divine act of yours and Devi Sita's comes to an end. 

"Glory to Sri Rama, the lord of Devi Sita! Glory to the supreme hero of Raghukula! Glory to the great exemplar and support of Dharma on earth! This is the moment, Sri Rama, for you to bid Goodbye to Devi Sita."

"May all good be conferred on all!"

Valmiki Ramayana - Epilogue

श्रीरामपरीक्षणम्

April 11 - Epilogue -1.

Dear ones who have been encouraging me in the reading of the Srimad Valmiki Ramayana, I am happy to share with you that I came to know about a great book called Sri Rama Parikshanam (श्रीरामपरीक्षणम्) in Kannada. It was written by the incomparable scholar-philosopher-writer Sri D.V. Gundappa, popularly known as DVG, a kind of beacon light to lovers of Sanatana Dharma who know Kannada. In his long and prolific years, DVG wrote this book, Sri Rama Parikshanam, in 1945. It has seen several reprints and reviews by other scholars.

This book is structured in poetic style and gives a series of questions that can be raised to Sri Rama about some of his actions, asking if they were right. Sri Rama answers them! I am sure you are beginning to appreciate the idea. 

I shall quote only a couple portions and translate them. By now, every reader of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana would have his own understanding and faith, and this in no way conflicts with that. It is just that I am a devotee of DVG in a way, and I am an ardent devotee of Ramayana. So I thought of sharing this. 

Just as I said at the beginning of Uttara Kanda, DVG is also certain that it is an integral and valuable part of Ramayana. He discusses how its content and style are no doubt Puranic but they are very much a part of the essential reading of the Ramayana.

I take up only two questions. 

Shambooka 

 Shambooka is a shudra who is performing severe penance to go to heaven in his own mortal coil. Sage Narada advises Sri Rama that if any transgression of the ascetic "Adhikara" system (eligibility) has been transgressed, Sri Rama should remedy it. Sri Rama searches and finds Shambooka in this typical situation. Sri Rama slays him, much to the appreciation of gods and rishis including Sage Agastya. 

DVG writes, quoting Ramayana itself:

चातुर्वर्ण्यं च लोकेस्मिन् स्वे स्वे धर्मे नियोक्ष्यति ॥1.1.96॥  sloka reference

So Valmiki Ramayana clearly follows the ancient Sanatana Dharma idea that each one is given the opportunity to fulfill his existence in accordance with his Samskara and Dharma defined by his varna (class of society- Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra). Since Shambooka was as yet unfit for asceticism, as clearly stated by the rishis, and his penance was asking for the impossible, it was untenable and had to be ended. DVG writes,

"If Shambooka had undertaken the works appropriate to his present birth and pursued it as his Dharma, he would surely have merited higher stages of pursuits in successive births and reached the eligibility for undertaking his penance for heaven. Just as a beginner in Sanskrit cannot attempt to study Asthadhyayi (the world's greatest and earliest book on grammar that defines the superstructure of Samskritam and requires advanced students to devote 12 years for its study).  If he persists, he will need to be punished. 

"The core idea of Varnashsrama is eligibility. Man will climb the Dharma ladder step by step by righteous conduct of duties in his present birth and state. No ordinary human can scale a mountain peak in a single leap."

PS: My 2 cents. The varnasharma dharma is a two-sided coin. One side is about social organization and division of roles and responsibilities based on samskara. The second side is a graduated path to liberation of the individual soul. The two are not contradictory. They are based on Sanatana Dharma, which we believe is given by Bhagavan = Ishwara = Parabrahman himself and is inviolable. 

***

I shall continue tomorrow with Epilogue 2 - about Devi Sita!

***

॥               श्रीरामजयम्              ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 10

May his blessings be on all, today, Sri Ramanavami 🙏🙏🙏

April 10 - Sargas 110 and 111 of Uttara Kanda, concluding the Srimad Valmiki Ramayana. 

***

Sri Rama walked with his brothers and everyone else for a few kilometres till he reached the bank of the sacred river Sarayu. Sarayu was full of swirling waters. Sri Rama checked a few spots and finally selected a spot with steps safe enough for everyone to enter the waters.

Just then Lord Brahma arrived, with all the gods and rishis, along with several divine aerial vehicles. The entire sky was glowing with a heavenly radiance. There was a pleasant and fragrant wind, too. These were seen even when Devi Sita entered Mother Earth.

***

The gods shower huge quantities of divine flowers over Sri Rama. The sky is filled with gandharvas and apsaras. They are playing several divine istruments.

Lord Brahma addresses Sri Rama:

आगच्छ विष्णो भद्रं ते दिष्ट्या प्राप्तोऽसि राघव ।

भ्रातृभिः सह देवाभैः प्रविशस्व स्वकां तुनम्।

यामिच्छसि महाबाहो तां तनुं प्रविश स्वकाम् ॥

  

"Oh, Lord Vishnu! Greetings and Welcome! It is all our good fortune we have met you now as Raghava Sri Rama.  Kindly choose to enter, along with your radiant brothers, the body of the divine being you wish to enter now.

वैष्णवीं तां महातेजो यद्वाकाशं सनातनम् ।

त्वं हि लोकगतिर्देव न त्वां केचित्प्रजानते ॥

ऋते मायां विशालाक्षीं तव पूर्वपरिग्रहाम् ।

त्वामचिन्त्यं महद्भूतमक्षयं चाजरं तथा।

यामिच्छसि माहातेजास्तां तनुं प्रविश स्वयम् ॥

"Oh, Lord! you may kindly choose to enter your Mahavishnu form of supreme brilliance, or choose to become the all-encompassing Akasha (this is the infinite space in which all exists). After all, you are the source and destiny of all creation, and no one indeed knows you except your divine consort Devi Sita, Vishalakshi (large-eyed goddess) who is your eternal Maya who creates all and gives all experiences. Only your Maya knows you, who is beyond all thought, the eternal seed of all creation, inexhaustible, ageless. So kindly deign to enter any form of your choice."

Sri Rama decides to enter the Mahavishnu radiant energy form along with his brothers. He is worshipped by all the gods, including Indra, Agni, the Maruts, sadhyas, and others, followed by rishis, gandharvas and apsaras, garudas, nagas, yakshas, daityas, danavas, and rakshasas. They all sing his praises and worship him as Manavishnu.

Lord Brahma says," Oh Lord! All feel blessed, all sins have been washed away, by your magnificient avatara just concluded."

Sri Rama, now Mahavishnu, addresses Brahma. "Oh Lord, you should provide the next world for all those who have accompanied me till here. They have been full of affection and have followed me faithfully, having sacrificed their all in their devotion to me."

Lord Brahma confirms that they shall all be accommodated in a special heaven called Santanika Loka. This will be for everyone here, including all the animals and birds too who have served Sri Rama. It is close to Brahmaloka and is as blessed. The bears and vanaras will re-enter the gods who have created them to assist during Sri Rama's avatara. Sugriva will merge into Surya. 

All those who have accompanied Sri Rama now joyously take the steps down the Gopratara Ghat into the Sarayu river, casting aside their perishable forms and proceeding to Santanika Loka in those divine aerial vehicles. 

***

एतावदेतदख्यानं सोत्तरं ब्रह्मपूजितम् ।

रामायणमिति ख्यातं मुख्यं वाल्मीकिना कृतम् ॥

इदमाख्यानमायुष्यं सौभाग्यं पापनाशनम् ।

रामायणं वेदसमं श्राद्धेषु श्रावयेद्भुधः ॥

सम्यक् श्रद्धासमायुक्तः शृणुते राघवीं कृतम् ।

यः शृणोति सदा भक्त्या स गच्छेद्वैष्णवीं तुनुम् ॥     

This is the benediction at the conclusion of Srimad Valmiki Ramayana.

"This narrative you have heard so far, including the Uttara Kanda, is worshipped by Lord Brahma himself. This special work is called Ramayana, composed by Sage Valmiki. Its recitation confers longevity, prosperity, and good health, apart from wiping out one's sins. It is so sacred that it will be recited by the wise on all occasions of worship including rites to the departed. If anyone listens to the recitation of Ramayana with devotion, he shall surely enter the abode of Mahavishnu.

"Those without progeny will get beget children, The poor will get wealth. At least one shloka should be recited daily. Even an inveterate sinner will then be emancipated. Those who recite it should be handsomely rewarded with gifts. 

"There is no fixed time, one can recite it in the morning, afternoon or night. "

"The region of Ayodhya will be uninhabited for a long time, but will again rise as a prosperous kingdom under King Rishabha. 

"Valmiki composed this after being prompted by Brahma. One who reads or hears a sarga will reap the benefits of Vajapeya and Ashvamedha. Such a person would gain the merit of having performed pilgrimages to Prayaga and other holy places, having bathed in the Ganga and other holy rivers, and visiting holy forests like Naimisharanya and Kurukshetra. 

"The Ramayana is as sacred as the Gayatri mantra.

"Seven generations of one's forefathers will be emancipated if one reads the Valmiki Ramayana with true devotion. One will reap the fourfold values of life - Dharma Artha Kama Moksha.

प्रव्याहरत विस्रब्धं बलं विष्णोः प्रवर्धताम् ॥

"May you all be blessed to read the Ramayana with full devotion. May Mahavishnu's infinite grace confer all powers on you. "

श्रीरामजयम् श्रीरामजयम् श्रीरामजयम् 

हरिःॐ तत् सत् 

***

Here is a small bonus. 

      

Valmiki Ramayana - April 9

April 9 - Sarga 109 of Uttara Kanda. 

Next morning, after performing prayers conducted by Sage Vasishtha, Sri Rama proceeds to the Sarayu, accompanied by all, on the journey to his eternal abode. 

***

The next morning, Sri Rama requests his preceptor, Sage Vasishtha, that for his great journey, the agnihotra altar fire be carried by brahmins in the front; the Vajapeya yajna umbrella also be carried. The sage arranges for them accordingly.  Sri Rama performs all his prayers.

Sri Rama, dressed in a fine garment, holds the auspicious darbha grass in either hand, and reciting the Brahmic Veda chants himself, proceeds majestically towards the bank of the Sarayu. He walks without looking at anyone or speaking anything other than continuously uttering the Vedic chant. He looks totally serene and without any discomfort.

*** 

Valmiki says that Sri Rama was making this final journey as a part of his fulfilling the vow for the benefit of all creation, and looked like the full moon as he walked out of the palace.

On his right was seen Devi Lakshmi, holding lotuses in her hands. On his left was Bhudevi, Mother Earth herself. Both are consorts of Mahavishnu. Ahead of Sri Rama walked Mahavishnu's shakti.

All the divine weapons that Sri Rama wielded had assumed human forms and were accompanying him.

The four Vedas, the goddess Gayatri, Omkara, and Vashatkara, were all accompanying Sri Rama.

Great sages, kings, old and young, men and women, the female members of the royal palace, Bharata and Shatrughna with their womenfolk, brahmins carrying the agnihotra fire, all followed Sri Rama. Ministers, servants- everyone accompanied by their own kith and kin, followed Sri Rama. 

Men and women, animals and birds, all accompanying Sri Rama looked hale, hearty, and without the least anxiety. 

The large vanara and bear armies followed. They had bathed in the Sarayu and were making their typical high pitched noises as they walked. 

Everyone's mind was fully immersed only in Sri Rama. Valmiki says that some who had come to be mere onlookers in Sri Rama's final journey simply joined in the march. Many spirits hovering around also joined in. 

यानि पश्यन्ति काकुत्स्थं स्थावराणि चराणि च।

सर्वाणि रामगमने ह्यनुजग्मुर्हि तान्यपि ॥

All creatures, all life forms like trees and plants, whoever was present in Sri Rama's final journey to heaven simply joined him. 

Since all life had accompanied Sri Rama, no life form could be seen in Ayodhya anymore.

***

॥           श्रीरामजयम्            ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 8

April 8 - Sarga 108 of Uttara Kanda.

Sri Rama's messengers travelled for three days and three nights without halting anywhere and reached Madhura, the city ruled by Shatrughna. 

When he hears of all the developments, particularly the oath taken by Sri Rama in the presence of Kala, then the forced disowning of Lakshmana, Lakshmana's travel to heaven, Sri Rama's crowning his two sons, and his decision to bring the curtain down on this avatara and his assurance to Bharata as well as the citizens that they shall travel with him, Shatrughna is experiencing a future shock. He hears the glad news that Kusha has been made the king of Kushavati at the foot of the Vindhyas, and Lava has been crowned as the king of Shravasti in the north. Thus Ayodhya's population  has been reduced drastically with two groups moving to these cities. Sri Rama has made arrangements for his heavenward journey with Bharata and the chosen Ayodhyavasis.

The messengers say that Sri Rama has urged that Shatrughna shall travel at once to Ayodhya. 

Shatrughna realizes that the Ikshwaku dynasty is experiencing a violent inflection point. He calls his priest who goes by the name of Kanchana, along with his ministers and citizens. He narrates to them the developments in Ayodhya, hinting that he is going to go away too.

Shatrughna crowns his two sons- Subahu as the king of Madhura and Shatrughati as the king of Vidisha. He divides his fourfold army as well as all the wealth and prosperity of Madhura equally between the two princes.  He then rushes alone to Ayodhya.

***

Shatrughna sees Sri Rama blazing like the sun in radiance, surrounded by immortal Sages, wearing a spotless silken garment. Shatrughna pays his obeisance and says,

"Sri Rama, I am joining you here and now, having discharged all tasks that you entrusted to me. I am your special servant and you shall kindly say nothing contrary to my decision."

Sri Rama nods his approval. Meanwhile, entire armies of vanaras, bears, and rakshasas, who have come to know of Sri Rama's imminent departure, have all arrived to join him. Sugriva leads them and says that they will all travel with Sri Rama and will feel dead if he leaves them behind. After all, they are all avataras of gods and celestials who have come down to earth only to be of service to Sri Rama.  

Sugriva submits that he has already crowned Angada as the king of Kishkindha. 

Sri Rama speaks, full of extreme affection, "dearest friend, Sugriva, I shall not travel to heaven or anywhere else without you." Sri Rama signals that the bears and vanaras may join him, too. 

But Sri Rama now turns to Vibhishana. 

यावत्प्रजा धरिष्यन्ति तावत्वं वै विभीषण ।

राक्षसेन्द्र महावीर्य लङ्कास्थः स्वं धरिष्यसि ॥

यावच्चन्द्रश्च सूर्यश्च यावत्तिष्ठति मेदिनी ।

यावच्च मत्कथा लोके तावद्राज्यं तवास्त्विह ॥

आराधय जगन्नाथमिक्ष्वाकुकुलदैवतम्।

आराधनीयमनिशं देवैरपि सवासवैः ॥

"Dear King Vibhishana, as long as people live in Lanka, you should stay and rule Lanka, as the lord of rakshasas, with your great valour! As long as the sun, the moon and this earth exist, and my story is sung in this world, you shall prosperously rule your kingdom.

"Dear Vibhishana, I shall provide to you the familial diety of Ikshwakus, Jagannatha Narayana. Please take him and worship him ardently, because he is the supreme god and is worshipped even by the gods and celestials."

King Vibhishana bows low and accepts the order.

Now Sri Rama turns to his dear, dear Hanuman.

जीविते  कृतबुद्धिस्त्वं मा प्रतिज्ञां वृथा कृथाः।

मत्कथाः प्रचरिष्यन्ति यावल्लोके हरीश्वर।

तावद्रमस्व सुप्रीतो मद्वाक्यमनुपालयन् ॥

"Dearest Hanuman, you had vowed that you shall live forever. Let that not be now nullified (by your accompanying me.) Indeed, as long as my stories called Ramayana are recited and sung, oh, noble lord of vanaras, may you live here happily, following my instructions."

Hanuman is very pleased to say yes. 

यावत्तव कथा लोके विचरिष्यति पावनी।

तावत्स्थास्यामि मेदिन्यां तवानुज्ञामनुपालयन् ॥ 

 

"Dear Lord, as long as your life story goes around being recited and sanctifies this earth, I shall reside on earth, obeying your orders always."

Sri Rama also turns to Jambavan, Mainda and Dvivida, sons of Lord Brahma and the Ashvani Kumaras, and asks them to dwell on earth till the end of creation. 

Thus Sri Rama excludes these five worthy heroes from joining him, and accepts everyone else in his entourage in deference to their devotion. These five will have a continued role to play on earth and he orders them for that reason to stay back.

***

॥             श्रीरामजयम्             ॥ 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 7

April 7 - Sarga 107 of Uttara Kanda. 

विसृज्य लक्ष्मणं रामो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ।

पुरोधसं मन्त्रिणश्च नैगमांश्चेदमब्रवीत् ॥

अद्य राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यामि भरतं धर्मवत्सलम् ।

अयोध्यायाः पतिं वीरं ततो यास्यामहं वनम् ॥

"After relinquishing Lakshmana,  Sri Rama was plunged in utter grief. He called all the priests led by Sage Vasishtha, all his ministers, and even the Ayodhya populace, to make an announcement.

"I hereby wish to anoint the great lover of Dharma, Bharata, as the King of Ayodhya, which he has in a way been for long in my absence. I shall immediately follow Lakshmana into the forest. Please bring all the materials at once for the coronation. I wish to carry out my plan today itself."

The citizens of Ayodhya had already been subjected to one shock after another, and this was too much. They all fell to the ground at this catastrophic announcement. Bharata lost consciousness. After some time he recovered, to utter some incoherent words. 

"Oh, my lord! I swear that I have absolutely no interest in rulership or royal pleasures. I simply will follow you wherever you go. Indeed, you should do the following. Please coronate Kusha and Lava, your wonderful, valorous, sons, without delay. Make Kusha the ruler of Koshala (or Kosala), and Lava the ruler of the northern territories. Also, send swift messengers to Shatrughna to announce our final departure."

Sage Vasishtha now spoke. 

वत्स राम इमाः पश्य मा चैषां विप्रियं कृथाः "My dear son, Sri Rama, look at these citizens. They are unable to come to terms with your decision to abdicate. You should ask them what they have in mind. Please do not do anything against their wishes."

Sri Rama looked at the citizens. You can imagine the anguish in his voice when he asked, "What shall I do!?" 

So far we have seen that Ayodhya was a flourishing democracy with the rule of righteousness, fairness, and supreme sacrifice by the ruler on every occasion. The aberration of Dasharatha's sending Sri Rama, Devi Sita, and Lakshmana at the behest of Kaikeyi to the forest was something no one ever recovered from. That was an unilateral aberration. But on every other occasion, Sri Rama had calibrated all his actions in accordance with the sentiment of his people. So this was not surprising.

"Oh, Lord, Sri Rama, wherever you wish to go, know that we shall simply follow you."

"If, Sri Rama, you do really love us, please take us along with our wives and children with you. That is all."

"Where you go is your decision - to the forest, to the mountain, to the rivers, or to the ocean. You are our supreme lord. Please take us along. Simply put, that is the only thing we wish for and it will give us the greatest bliss."

Sri Rama was deeply moved. 

He immediately arranged to make Kusha the King of Koshala, and Lava the king of the northern territories. He conducted their coronation at once. He gave them countless treasures, great wealth of all kinds, horses, elephants, soldiers, and even a start-up set of citizens to go and be with them and serve them. No start-up ecosystem could be that good. 

After installing the two princes as rulers, and bidding them goodbye, Sri Rama also sent word to Shatrughna to come at once.

***

॥          श्रीरामजयम्          ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 6

April 6 - Sarga 106 of Uttara Kanda. 

***

Sri Rama looked like an eclipsed moon, but Lakshmana was cheerful. He spoke tenderly to Sri Rama:

न सन्तापं महाबाहो मदर्थं कर्तुमर्हसि ।

पूर्वनिर्माणबद्धा हि कालस्य गतिरीदृशी ॥

जहि मां सौम्य विस्रब्धं प्रतिज्ञां परिपालय ।

हीनप्रज्ञाः काकुत्स्थ प्रयान्ति नरकं नराः  ॥

"Dear Sri Rama, please do not grieve for me. All this has been preordained by Fate, it is crystal clear. Please put me to death, without any qualm, as you should fulfill your oath that you took in front of Kala. Men of unfirm conviction, who break their promises, Sri Rama, go and rot in hell. "

"Dear Sri Rama, if you love me, please take my life. That will augur for your Dharma and will make me happy."

***

I am tearing up, remembering all the sagely counsel, motivational words, confident support, enthusiastic cooperation, able execution, supreme devotion, masterly ability from architecture to warfare to protection of the weak, that Lakshmana has always stood for. His devotion to Sri Rama and Devi Sita is pricelessly picturized by Valmiki and will never fade from memory. The same Lakshmana, with the same ardour towards his duty and devotion to Sri Rama and Dharma, is now asking his brother to take his life to fulfill his word! What cruelty of fate!

***

Sri Rama is so distraught that he knows not what to do. He summons his counsellors and his preceptor Sage Vasishtha and tells them about the strange events and his impossible predicament now. His word to Kala means that Lakshmana should die. But how can Sri Rama ever allow that to happen?

Sage Vasishtha now offers important advice. He says he has already seen this course of events in his mind's eye by his mystical prowess.

त्यजैनं बलवान्कालो मा प्रतिज्ञां वृथा कृथाः ।

 "Sri Rama, you have no alternative but to disown Lakshmana in this moment. Kala is supremely powerful. You should, at all costs and at all times, adhere to your promise. If you break your promise, Dharma will be destroyed. Even the gods and sages will sorely suffer from any such act on your part, given your divinity."

लक्ष्मणेन विना चाद्य जगत्स्वस्थं कुरुष्व ह ।

"Sri Rama, you have to face the certainty that in future, you shall have no Lakshmana to lean on, and have to rule this earth all by yourself."

Sri Rama now speaks, in a deathly deep voice, in the presence of all.

विसर्जये त्वां सौमित्रे मा भूद्धर्मविपर्ययः ।

त्यागो वधो वा विहितः साधूनां ह्युभयं समम् ॥

"Dear Lakshmana, here and now I disown you and break all ties. That is entirely to ensure that Dharma will not suffer. Disowning someone or killing him, especially when he is dear like this, is treated as equal in effect by the wise ones. "

Lakshmana's eyes well up, and he instantly leaves Sri Rama's presence. He does not go home. He goes straight to the bank of Sarayu. He sits down in yogic meditation, and stops all his bodily activity, including his life breath. His radiance, his yogic prowess, is something all the gods come to witness.  All the gods and rishis and apsaras shower flowers over him. Indra takes him to heaven. 

Indra himself takes the spirit of Lakshmana away, and his body is seen no more.

ततो विष्णोश्चतुर्भागमागतं सुरसत्तमाः हृष्टाः प्रमुदिताः सर्वे पूजयन्ति स्म राघवम् 

"Thus, a quarter portion of Mahavishnu's essence, which had taken the form of Lakshmana, returns to his eternal abode. The gods worship Lakshmana, and celebrate with joy the denouement of his avatara."

***

॥              श्रीरामजयम्              ॥ 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 5

April 5 - Sargas 104 and 105 of Uttara Kanda.

Brahma's message to Sri Rama that the purpose of his avatara has been fulfilled and he should return to his eternal abode.

The martyrdom of Lakshmana. 

***

पितामहेन देवेन प्रेषितोऽस्मि महाबल 

Kala, in the guise of the ascetic, now disclosed the message he had brought. "Sri Rama, oh mighty one, I have been sent by none other than Lord Brahma himself."

"Oh, Lord, eons ago, at the time of the creation of Hiranyagarbha (the golden egg from which all creation emerged), by your Maya, I was created as your son. I am the all-destroying Kala or Destiny. (which is a component of Maya, the force Ishwara employs to create and sustain and destroy.)

"The Creator god, the revered Lord Brahma, has sent me to you with this message.

समयस्ते कृतः सौम्य लोकान्संपरिरक्षितुम् 

"Lord Sri Rama, your vow to protect all creation when you assumed this avatara/birth, has been completed. Eons ago, all creation was hidden in you while you lay on the Milky Ocean as Mahavishnu, on top of the great snake Ananta which too you created with your Maya. You created the duo Madhu Kaithabha full of prowess. With their bones, after slaying them, you created all this material world. You gave birth to me in the lotus that emanated from your nabhi (belly button). You entrusted the job of creating all life forms to me as Brahma. 

"I then requested you to sustain all creation by yourself, existing amidst all creation as needed (avatara), and also to empower me in my duty of creating the world. This form of yours, taken for the sustenance and protection of all creation, is the form of Vishnu.

"You were born as the son of Aditi once as Vamana, as the brother of all gods. You always help them whenever they need it and as you choose to do. 

रावणस्य वधाकाङ्क्षी मानुषेषु मनोऽदधाः 

"To free creation from the terror of Ravana, and in order to slay him, you decided to assume the human form.

पूर्णमायुर्मानुषीष्विह कालोऽयं ते नरश्रेष्ठ समीपमुपवर्तितुम्

"Oh, Lord Sri Rama, your mission here has been completed, and you have dwelt here for very long. I think the time has now come for you to bring the curtain down on the Sri Rama avatara. However, it is your sweet will and pleasure if you choose to stay on amidst all your people and continue to take care of them in your human, kingly, form. On the other hand, if you return to your eternal abode as Vishnu, all the gods will be pleased."

This message of Lord Brahma was delivered by Kala. 

Sri Rama smiled, and spoke. "Oh, Kala, I am immensely pleased that you have brought this message from Lord Brahma."

भद्रं तेऽस्तु गमिष्यामि यत एवाहमागतः "Yes, indeed, at the request of all gods, I had come here as a human, and the purpose of this avatara has been fulfilled. May all good be with you, Kala, and know that I have decided to return from whence I came."

"Kala, I was thinking of you and you have indeed come, inspired by my thought alone."

देवतां वशवर्तिना स्थातव्यं सर्वसंहार यथा ह्याह पितामहः "Yes, indeed, as Lord Brahma has said, my desire is to be always amidst gods, engaged in taking care of whatever task arises for sustaining and protecting creation."

***

While this important conversation was going on between Kala and Sri Rama, Sage Durvasa came in a hurry to meet Sri Rama. He was stopped by Lakshmana, full of reverence and courtesy. Sage Durvasa wanted to go in and meet Sri Rama instantly. Lakshmana politely asked, "Oh, holy sage! Sri Rama is right now preoccupied. Would you deign to tell me the purpose of your visit, please? I shall immediately take care of it. Sri Rama is busy for a little while and he shall meet you immediately thereafter."

Sage Durvasa is famous in all our epics as the powerful sage given to quick anger, who could make or break anyone's future. Indeed he gave those boons to Kunti in Mahabharata. He is the one who disclosed to Dasharatha Sri Rama's destiny. He is the one who blessed Draupadi when she fed him and his large retinue of ascetics in the forest with Akshayapatra after help from Sri Krishna. He is the one who cursed Shakuntala to be forgotten by her husband. 

Sage Durvasa, true to his reputation, lost his composure completely. He shouted at Lakshmana, 

"Oh Lakshmana, if I do not see Sri Rama, and you stop me, I shall curse yourself, your brothers, your progeny, your family, and your kingdom, all to perish at once."

Lakshmana did not take even a moment to come to a decision. Lakshmana, the great hero of a brother, the embodiment of all goodness and valour that one can ever imagine, always completely in the service of Sri Rama, did not hesitate. He well knew Sri Rama's order that whoever disturbed his private meeting with his secret visitor would be put to death. Going and giving news of Durvasa's arrival would therefore mean death to Lakshmana.

एकस्य मरणं मेऽस्तु मा भूत्सर्वविनाशनम् 

"It is the right thing for me alone to die, rather than sacrificing everyone and everything to the sage's curse."

Lakshmana went in and disturbed Sri Rama. Sri Rama instantly released Kala from their meeting. He came out gladly to receive Sage Durvasa. He supplicated, "Oh, Sage, please tell me what you want me to do."

Sage Durvasa spoke. "Oh, Sri Rama, devoted to Dharma as you are, know that I have starved for a thousand years in the course of my tapas which I have just completed. Today I intend to break my fast. Please give me at once whatever food you have to serve me." Sri Rama was delighted and arranged for whatever royal repast could be arranged at once. He served the sage himself. Durvasa was very happy. He blessed Sri Rama wholeheartedly and departed to his ashrama.

Sri Rama was now plunged into catastrophic distress, recalling his word with Kala and his own order. 

दुःखेन च सुसंतप्तःस्मृत्वा तद्घोरदर्शनम् "Sri Rama shuddered, thinking of the calamitous import of his promise to Kala. He came to a conclusion, नैतदस्तीति निश्चित्य "Alas, nothing of this as it is now is meant to last. This applies to dearest Lakshmana, too."  

***

॥         श्रीरामजयम्        ॥ 

Swami Sivananda on Navaratri

I am grateful to Atma Darshan Yogashram, BSY, where I am learning Yoga, for sharing this. 

Swami Sivananda was an incredible Mahatma who was the guru of Swami Chinmayananda, Swami Satyananda (BSY) and many other famous spiritual leaders. 

***

*The Nine-Day Purification* 

- From the teachings of _Swami Sivananda Saraswati_ 

The end of summer and beginning of winter, and the end of winter and beginning of summer, are two very important junctions of climatic conditions and solar influence in the year. Our bodies and minds undergo change on account of the changes in the outer nature. In India, the two occasions are considered opportune times to commence sadhana and worship the divine, indicated by the Chaitra Navaratri (in April) and Ashwin Navaratri (in October).

Three stages of attainment

The Navaratri celebrations objectively portray the inner spiritual life of the world. The central purpose of existence is to recognize your eternal identity with the supreme spirit. It is to grow into the image of the divine, into spotless purity, niranjan. The aspirant has to therefore, as the initial step, get rid of the blemishes that have come to cling to him in his embodied state. Then he has to acquire the auspicious qualities. Thus purified and rendered full of sattwa, knowledge flashes upon him like the brilliant rays of the sun upon the crystal clear waters of a still lake.

This process of sadhana implies resolute will, determined effort and arduous struggle. In other words, strength, infinite shakti, is the prime necessity. The Divine Mother, the supreme shakti of Brahman, has to operate through the aspirant. Therefore, during navaratri pooja, nine nights of worship, the Creatrix is worshipped in Her aspects of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati, representing the properties of tamas, rajas and sattwa respectively. This is the stuff of which the whole universe consists. Transformation, preservation and manifestation are the cosmic functions of the Mother. She is all that goes to make up the entire cosmos in its gross, subtle and causal realms.

As with the individual, so it is with the cosmos; nothing is possible without the Mother. Your progress, material and spiritual, is bound up inextricably with your mother, human and divine. A person is moulded almost entirely by his human mother, which is why the shrutis (scriptures) enjoin upon us to treat the mother as God. This is even more so in the spiritual field. Without the help of the Divine Mother, no spiritual progress is possible. She is the higher spiritual power that continuously meets the lower urges in battle and overcomes them completely in the end.

Overcoming tamas

During Navaratri, on the first three days the Mother is adored as power: Durga, the terrible one. In the process of sadhana, what is conquered and transformed first is tamas. Thus Durga, the divinity behind the tamas-shakti, is worshipped first. You pray to Durga to help destroy all your impurities, failings and defects. She is to fight with and annihilate your baser qualities. She is also the power that protects your sadhana from its many dangers and pitfalls. Thus the first three days, marking the first stage of destruction of mala (impurity) and determined effort to rout out the many vasanas (cravings) in the mind, are set apart for the worship of the destructive aspect of the Mother.

Acquiring the auspicious

Once you have accomplished the task on the negative side – that of breaking down the cravings and old habits, the next step is to build up a sublime spiritual personality, to acquire positive qualities. The divine qualities, daivi sampat, that Lord Krishna enumerates in the Bhagavad Gita, have to be acquired. The aspirant must cultivate and develop auspicious qualities, pile up an immense spiritual wealth so he can pay the price of the rare gem of divine wisdom.

If development of the opposite qualities is not undertaken in right earnest, the old demonic nature will raise its head again and again. This stage is as important as the previous one. The difference is: the former is a ruthless, determined annihilation of the lower self; the latter is an orderly, steady and calm effort to develop purity. This pleasanter side of sadhana is depicted by the worship of Lakshmi. She bestows the wealth of daivi sampat. Lakshmi is the sampat-dayini (wealth-giving) aspect of Brahman. She is purity itself. She is also the goddess superintending the force of rajas, the guna that must be overcome after tamas. Thus worship of Lakshmi is performed during the next three days.

The dawn of wisdom

Once the aspirant succeeds in getting rid of the negative propensities and developing sattwic, pure qualities, he becomes an ‘adhikari’. He is now ready to receive the light of supreme wisdom. At this stage comes the devout worship of Saraswati, who is divine knowledge personified, the embodiment of brahmajnana. The sound of her celestial veena (lute) awakens the notes of the sublime mahavakyas (great statement or profound aphorism, usually referring to the great proclamations of the Upanishads) and the pranava (mantra Aum; primordial sound vibration). She bestows the knowledge of the supreme nada (psychic or internal sound) and then gives full atmajnana (self-knowledge) as represented by her pure and dazzling white apparel. She is also the Mother in her sattwa guna, and transcending sattwa is the last rung of sadhana. To propitiate Saraswati, therefore, is the third stage.

In celebration of bliss

The tenth day, Vijaya Dashami, marks the triumphant ovation of the jiva (individual) at having attained jivanmukti (liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth) through the descent of knowledge by the grace of Saraswati. The jiva rests in his own Supreme Self of sat-chit-ananda (existence-knowledge-bliss absolute). It marks complete victory over the threefold force of the universe. The day celebrates the achievement of the goal. The banner of victory flies aloft!

Indispensable process

The arrangement also has a special significance in the aspirant’s spiritual evolution. It marks the stages of evolution that are indispensable for every aspirant, through which everyone should pass. One naturally leads to the other, and to shortcircuit this would inevitably result in a miserable failure. Nowadays many aspirants aim straight at the acquisition of knowledge without the preliminaries of purification and acquisition of daivi sampat, and complain that they are not progressing on the path. How can they? Knowledge will not descend till the impurities are washed out and purity is developed. Nor can the sattwic plant grow on impure soil.

Follow this arrangement and your efforts will be successful. This is the path. Destroy one negative quality, and develop its opposite positive quality. By this process you will soon bring yourself up to that perfection which will culminate in identity with Brahman. All knowledge will be yours. You will see yourself in all. You will be a jivanmukta. No more pain, no more misery, no more birth, no more death. Let the Divine Mother take you step by step to the top of the spiritual ladder and unite you with the Lord.

Valmiki Ramayana - April 4

April 4 - Sarga 103 of Uttara Kanda. 

Sri Rama receives a strange guest - Kala (Destiny) in the form of an ascetic who does not want anyone else to overhear their conversation. 

***

कस्यचित्वथ कालस्य रामे धर्मपरे स्थिते ।

कालस्तापसरूपेण राजद्वारमुपागमत्     ॥

"After some years, during the time when Sri Rama was assiduously engaged in Dharmic activities, Destiny/Kala assumed the form of an ascetic and arrived at his royal entrance."

He informed Lakshmana that he was on an important Dharmic mission and demanded an immediate audience with Sri Rama. He announced himself as a messenger of "Atibala" Maharishi. Lakshmana lost no time in informing Sri Rama who gladly received the sage messenger. That ascetic exuded  a strange radiance.

The ascetic greeted Sri Rama with a benediction, "Oh, Sri Rama, may auspiciousness come to you."

Sri Rama offered his reverent courtesies to the ascetic and seated him on a golden seat, making cordial enquiries.

***

Sri Rama now asks for the message from the "Atibala" Maharishi.

"Oh Sri Rama, if you are concerned with our mutual welfare, this private conversation between us is to be kept totally confidential. Apart from the two of us, if anyone hears the message I have brought to you from the Maharishi or anything else that we speak, he shall be put to death. Do you agree to this condition?"

Sri Rama agrees. He orders Lakshmana,

द्वारि तिष्ठ महाबाहो प्रतिहारं विसर्जय । 

स मे वध्यः खलु भवेद्वाचं द्वन्द्वसमीरितम्।

ऋषेर्मम च सौमित्रे पश्येद्वा शृणयाच्च यः॥

"Dear Lakshmana, the mighty-armed one, please relieve the doorkeeper and take his place to guard our privacy. By my order, anyone who hears the conversation between this sage and me, or even sees us, shall be put to death."

***

Lakshmana understood perfectly Sri Rama's order and carried it out by relieving the guard and taking his place himself. Sri Rama meanwhile urged the ascetic to satisfy his eagerness and deliver the Maharishi's message.

***

॥             श्रीरामजयम्             ॥ 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 3

April 3 - Sargas 101 and 102.

The conquest and establishment of two kingdoms where Bharata's sons rule. Similarly, Sri Rama arranges for two suitable kingdoms to be ruled by Lakshmana's two worthy sons.

***

Yudhajit was very glad to see Sage Gargya arrive, accompanied by Bharata and his sons leading a huge army. His forces joined them in their attack on the gandharvas who had occupied the territory on either side of Sindhu. (My surmise is that gandharvas being celestial beings are not naturally earthly rulers and do not enter into competition with earthly rulers except in this instance.)

***

Soon there is a terrific battle described as never seen before by the gods who witness it. The seven-day and seven-night battle is finally won by Bharata after he launches a special astra named Samvarta which at once destroys all the gandharvas. 

Bharata establishes two cities, one named Takshashila where Taksha is installed, and the other Pushkalavati where Pushkala is installed. That portion is situated in Gandhara. The cities rival each other in prosperity and nature's bounty. The people who inhabit them are happy, honest, and well off. 

***

Valmiki says gardens were established and there were many vehicles drawn by horses and elephants and camels. There are shopping districts. Beautiful mansions caught the eye.

Many temples were established. After spending five years overseeing his two sons stabilize their rule, Bharata returned to Ayodhya and reports all the developments to Sri Rama.

***

Soon Sri Rama calls Lakshmana and Bharata. Lakshmana's two sons named Angada and Chandraketu are grown up and ready for royal responsibilities. Sri Rama says that they should be installed as rulers in suitable lands. However, he cautions that it should not be an invasion of good kings or cause harm to ascetics. 

Bharata suggests the region called Karupatha which is suitable for Angada. It is naturally well endowed and the people are free from pestilence and poverty. Similarly, there is a region called Chandrakanta that would suit Chhandraketu. Thus the two princes are crowned respectively and begin their rule. Angada's city is called Angadiya. Chandraketu is well built like a wrestler and rules Chandrakanta. Sri Rama makes sure the cities are well erected and the princes are successful, Lakshmana spends some years with Angada and Bharata spends a year with Chandraketu to ensure they come up to the required level.

***

Thereafter, Bharata and Lakshmana give their undivided attention to serving Sri Rama. Time flies as the three are happy and fully engaged in Dharmic activities, conducting many yajnas. The three take excellent care of the country and ensure the citizens are all prosperous and happy.

***

॥              श्रीरामजयम्               ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 2

April 2 - Sargas 99 and 100 of Uttara Kanda. 

Sri Rama's inward melancholy and outward conduct of royal affairs including the performance of several yajnas for many years. Kusha and Lava's growing up as royal princes.

Bharata's leading a large army with his sons Taksha and Pushkala for expanding his uncle's kingdom.

***

After Sri Rama's request to Sage Valmiki, princes Kusha and Lava started reciting the Uttara Kanda in Sri Rama's assembly from the next morning, much to the delight of all the exalted sages and others.

They sang thus:

प्रविष्टायां तु सीतायां भूतलं सत्यसम्पदा ।

तस्यावसाने यज्ञस्य रामः परमदुर्मनाः     ॥

अपश्यमानो वैदेहीं मेने शून्यमिदं जगत् ।

शोकेन परमायस्तो न शान्तिं मनसागमत् ॥

"Devi Sita, by the power of her truth and purity, entered the rasatala. Thereafter,  Sri Rama completed the Ashvamedha yajna he had undertaken, with his mind and heart plunged in sorrow. Having lost sight of Sita forever, Sri Rama saw the world as empty and meaningless. He was overcome with supreme sadness and experienced no peace within."

"Sri Rama completed the yajna and bade goodbye to all the guests including kings, vanaras, and rakshasas. He gave generous gifts and offerings to all the brahmins before they dispersed."

"Sri Rama went back to Ayodhya from the yajna site with his sons. He did not entertain any other women in his life after losing Sita. He conducted several yajnas in the succeeding years, all with Devi Sita's golden statue by his side. The entire country was full of prosperity and well-being, with all his subordinate kings, chiefs of vanaras, and rakshasas, all following his rule well. Thus Sri Rama was able to attend to his sole interest of performing Dharmic activities, mainly yajnas."

***

After many years of prosperity and peace, Sri Rama experienced the death of his mother Kausalya and later Kaikeyi and Sumitra. They all proceeded to heaven and joined his father King Dasharatha there.

Sri Rama performed the annual rites for his three mothers, his father, and his forefathers,  without any discrimination and gave generous offerings to brahmins.

***

Sometime later, there was a message from the king of Kekaya, through Brahmarshi Gargya, son of Angiras. Gargya was the chief priest of Yudhajit of Kekaya, son of King Ashvapati.

Sage Gargya offered the gifts he had brought from the king, including thousands of specially bred horses, and blankets and shawls (blankets, shawls and horse breeds from that part of the world are famous to this day!)

***

After offering the due veneration and hospitality to the sage, Sri Rama asks what is the message from Bharata's uncle. 

"Sri Rama, this is King Yudhajit's message to Bharata. "Dear Bharata! There is a land being ruled by gandharvas, that lies flanking on either side the river Sindhu (Indus). It is full of prosperity. The several sons of King Shailusha rule there. We should extend our rule over that land after conquering the gandharvas. You know that I never harbour any unfavourable idea in your case. So please follow my advice."

Sri Rama is delighted to accept the message. He arranges gladly for Bharata along with his two able sons Princes Taksha and Pushkala to take an army and proceed to conquer the gandharvas. This would be good for the two princes as they would be eventual rulers of those lands. Sri Rama in fact performs their coronation in advance of their march.

***

॥          श्रीरामजयम्          ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - April 1

April 1 - Sarga 98 of Uttara Kanda. 

Today is appropriately All Fools Day. 

Sri Rama now feels very unhappy at the way Devi Sita was taken away into the netherworld by Bhudevi. His outburst is moderated by Lord Brahma who reminds him of his and Sita's divinity and extols the unique Ramayana Kavya of Sage Valmiki which maps even the future events of Sri Rama's sojourn on earth.

***

While the sages and vanaras were exclaiming "Sadhu sadhu" in utter wonder and respect for Devi Sita's affirmation of her own state and the respect and love shown to her by Mother Earth, Sri Rama reeled in catastrophic distress. 

दण्डकाष्टमवष्टभ्य बाष्पव्याकुलेतेक्षणः ।

अवाक्शिरा दीनमना रामो हह्यासीत् सुदुःखितः॥

"Leaning on a wooden stick, eyes brimming with tears of utter distress, head cast down, his mood plunged in despondency, Sri Rama was a picture of sorrow."

The subject of much discussion is why Sri Rama behaved as he did towards Devi Sita, while all the time stating in no ambiguous terms that he knew of her pristine purity. Was it a sign of confusion, or a fear of disapprobation from his citizenry, a false sense of what ought to be done for the larger good of civic morality... who can say? Was it all a divine play already scripted to end the way it did?

Sri Rama now appealed to Mother Earth, in a tone mixed with sorrow and anger, "Oh Mother! In a way, you are my mother-in-law. You know I went and brought Sita back from her captivity from Lanka across the ocean. For me to tear the earth up and bring back Sita is easy. So either give back Sita or please take me also into yourself and unite me with Devi Sita in rasatala! In my rage, I can destroy the whole earth. Please give Sita back to me! Please! Please!" मत्तोऽहं मैथिलीकृते "I am crazed in distress over Devi Sita!"

Lord Brahma now spoke, with all other gods nodding in assent. "Oh, Sri Rama, you have forgotten who you are and how and why you came in this avatara. You are Mahavishnu, and Devi Sita is Devi Lakshmi herself. She has gone to rasatala by the power of her asceticism and purity in her present life as Sita. She will reunite with you for sure in your permanent abode soon. You should not give way to this sorrow."

आदिकाव्यमिदं ते वीरसुखदुःखोपसेवनम् । भविष्यदुत्तरं चेह सर्वं वाल्मीकिना कृतम् ॥  

"Indeed, this rare epic could have been written only about you, no one else. It narrates faithfully your life in full, with all your joys and sorrows. Your story is forever. It deserves your continued listening as Sage Valmiki has written down even the Uttara portion of your life story, your remaining years! Please give it a careful listen."

Saying this, Lord Brahma and the gods left. 

The sages and vanaras were most eager to listen to Kusha and Lava continue their recitation. Sri Rama spoke respectfully to Sage Valmiki. "Oh, divine sage, all the sages who have come from heaven are keen to hear the recitation. Kindly arrange for the Uttara Kanda to be recited from tomorrow itself."

Sri Rama adjourned the assembly. He now went with Kusha and Lava to their hermitage. All were plunged, particularly Sri Rama, in thoughts of Devi Sita and did not notice the passing of the night.

***

॥              श्रीरामजयम्              ॥ 

Postscript: After Valmiki Ramayana, the most famous book, one of our puranas, is Srimad Bhagavatam. For those who wonder about Uttara Kanda, it is interesting to know that Ramayana comes also in Srimad Bhagavatam in a précis form. I give you a link to that text covering this portion:

https://vedabase.io/en/library/sb/9/11/