March 29 - Sargas 91, 92 and 93 of Uttara Kanda.
The grand Ashvamedha begins. Valmiki brings Kusha and Lava, whom he has already taught to sing the Ramayana epic, and instructs them how to recite the epic and regale everyone.
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Sri Rama tells Lakshmana that the Ashvamedha should be organized under the guidance, and in the presence, of sages Vasishtha, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kashyapa, and others. A well-selected horse shall be let free to roam the countryside.
The sages arrive and are received with due honours and begin the preparations after praying for its fruition to Lord Shiva, Mahadeva.
Sri Rama instructs Lakshmana to invite King Sugriva with his lieutenants, as well as King Vibhishana with his rakshasa retinue. They arrive in quick time, full of enthusiasm to participate in Sri Rama's yajna.
On the bank of the Gomati river, in Naimisharanya, a suitable large piece of land is got ready. Large numbers of citizens and kings and their people arrive. Large loads of food articles, yajna materials, clothes, and other requirements for all guests are collected and transported in carts and carriages drawn by horses, elephants, and bullocks. A large number of temporary markets with lines of shops are set up nearby.
Cooks, dancers, and musicians are enlisted in large numbers.
Bharata is put in charge of scholars, attendees of all ages, doctors, artisans, accountants, priests, and members of the immediate royal family. They all travel in comfort and arrive at the venue.
Sri Rama orders a golden statue of Sita to be created and made ready to take part in the yajna.
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Bharata and Shatrughna took care of all the arrangements as desired. Sugriva and his lietuenants were in charge of hospitality of all the priests and their families. Vibhishana was in charge of taking care of the great sages.
As ordered, a beautiful black horse was chosen as the Ashvamedha horse. It was worshipped and allowed to roam, accompanied by priests and attendants. Lakshmana went in charge of the horse.
Kings from many lands with allegiance to Sri Rama arrived. Sri Rama ensured hospitality in each case as appropriate. Bharata and Shatrughna ensured that their stay was comfortable in all ways.
Many magnificent structures were erected for housing the kings of various lands during the yajna.
यावात्तुष्टन्ति याचकाः छन्दतो देहि छन्दतो देहि
Sri Rama was giving away gifts most generously. No one was allowed to feel they deserved more or needed more, as all their expectations were more than met.
Valmiki describes that the large numbers of people who attended Sri Rama's yajna were all good-looking, healthy, and cheerful. There were no destitute or disgruntled people.
The sages were remarking that in their long life (they were all immortal), they had witnessed many sacrifices but none where the host was so generous and where his prosperity was dedicated so completely to the cause. People who asked for gold, or material wealth in kind, or heaps of gems and jewels, got them as gifts. The sages remarked that neither Indra, Soma, Yama, nor Varuna, had performed Ashvamedha with such opulence and dedication.
The yajna lasted longer than a year.
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The great sage Valmiki was specially invited by Sri Rama for the Ashvamedha. A separate cluster of cottages had been erected for the sage. Its location was close to where the food was prepared. In addition, there were many fruit-bearing trees close by. Valmiki was extremely happy to receive such hospitality.
The sage now called Kusha and Lava. They were his favourite disciples.
"You two should be single-minded in the recitation of the Ramayana epic I have taught you. You should sing with all the sonority and cadence as you were taught. Go ahead and sing the Ramayana in every street, every cluster of brahmin quarters, in the palaces of kings put up here, on royal avenues, in the large yajnashala hall, at the main entrance to the yajna venue, and other such places. Please treat the special priests conducting the yajna to your recitation of the holy epic.
"If Sri Rama calls for you to go and recite in front of him, show him the same reverence as you show me.
दिवसे विंशतिः सर्गाः गेया मधुरया गिरा ।
प्रमाणैर्बहुभिस्तत्र यथोद्दिष्टं मया पुरा ॥
"Dear Kusha and Lava, recite exactly as I had taught you before the sacred Rama story. Recite it at the rate of twenty sargas per day, in your sweet voices. Ensure you stick to the measure and order I had taught you. You should sing expecting no rewards or money.
किं धनेनाश्रमस्थानां फलमूलाशिनां सदा
"Of what use is money for us hermits living the ascetic life, eating fruits and roots."
यदि पृच्छेत्स काकुत्स्थः युवां कस्येति दारकौ ।
वाल्मीकेरथ शिष्यौ द्वौ ब्रूतमेवं नराधिपम् ॥
"Boys, if Sri Rama asks you two whose children you are, just reply that you are disciples of Sage Valmiki."
" Accompany yourselves on this veena with its most melodious strings. Stick to the shrutis of the veena. As long as you have the opportunity, play the veena and sing the Ramayana epic, at your musical best."
आदिप्रभृति गेयं स्यान्न चावज्ञाय पार्थिवम् ।
पिता हि सर्वभूतानां राजा भवति धर्मतः ॥
"Dear Kusha and Lava, make sure you begin the epic at its very start. At no point should you conduct yourselves in any way to offend the great king. Sri Rama is rightfully the lord of all creation. Begin your recitation tomorrow morning itself."
As Sage Valmiki concluded his instructions, the wonderful twin sons of the great Devi Sita bowed to him and assured him that they would obey all his instructions.
Long ago, the Ashvini twins had learnt the Nitisamhita from Sage Shukracharya, and had felt most fulfilled. The same feeling swept over princes Kusha and Lava now, and they joyously spent the night as they went over the sacred epic taught in his most musical voice by their guru, Sage Valmiki.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
