॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Monday, 13 March 2023 - IX.11 - The conclusion of Sri Rama Avatara!
I am following Sawmi tapasyananda's translation. I also give you the audio recitation.
Jai Shri Ram!
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Recitation:
Sri Rama’s Yajna (1-7)
Sri Shuka said: 1. The worshipful Rama with the help of his preceptor performed many grand Yajnas adoring the Supreme Being who is the embodiment of all Divinities and identical with his own Self.
2. In the Yajnas, he gave as a gift the eastern region of his kingdom to the priest Hota, the southern regions to the priest Brahma, the western parts to Adhvaryu, and the northern countries to the chanter of the Saman ( Udgata).
3. The remaining part of the land, which lay in the middle of the region gifted, he wanted to give to one who had no desire or attachments, and he found a suitable recipient of that description in his own preceptor.
4. After these gifts were made, the sole possessions left for him were his dress and decorations, and for his queen, her auspicious wedding necklace indicative of the married state.
5. Seeing the magnitude of his devotion to holy men, the heart of the recipients of his gifts melted out of respect and love. and they gave all those countries back to Sri Rama and said:
6. ‘O worshipful one!. O Lord of all! What blessings are there that have not already been granted to us by Thee! For, entering into our heart, Thou hast dispelled even the darkness of ignorance from there.
7. Salutation to Thee, the Supreme Being in the form of Sri Rama, who always honours devotees, whose light of knowledge never fades, who is most noted for his holy fame, and whose feet reside forever in the hearts of those who have abandoned hatred.'
Last Phase of Sri Rama’s Life (8-19)
8. Once when Sri Rama was moving about incognito at night unknown to any in order to ascertain the real views of his
people, he happened to hear by chance the following talk of Someone about his wife Sita.
9. ‘I shall not', said he, 'anymore entertain you in my house- you who have lived in another's residence, who is unchaste and evil in nature. I am not going to follow the example of Sri Rama, who is still living with Sita.'
10. Frightened, as it were, by this kind of irresponsible criticism of the ignorant who are difficult to satisfy or
placate, Rama abandoned Sita. Thereupon she took shelter in the Ashrama of Valmiki.
11. Sita was in the family way at the time of her abandonment, and in due time she gave birth to twins, who
became famous under the names of Lava and Kusha. The sage Valmiki performed all their post-natal ceremonies.
12. O King, Lakshmana had two sons named Angada and Chitraketu, and Bharata also had two, whose names were Taksha and Pushkala.
13. Satrughna too had two sons named Subahu and Shrutasena. In his conquest of the quarters Bharata destroyed a very large number of Gandharvas.
14. He brought large booties from his conquests and presented them all to Rama. Satrughna defeated and killed in battle the Rakshasa known as Lavana, the son of Madhu, and then established the famous city of Mathura in Madhuvana.
15. Sita entrusted her sons to the sage Valmiki. Unable to bear separation from Sri Rama, she it seems entered into the bowels of the earth, contemplating on him.
16. Hearing this, Sri Rama, though he was the Lord incarnate, could not control his sorrow in spite of his best efforts, remembering all the great qualities of Devi Sita.
17. The intensity of attachment between man and woman is of this order even in the case of those with mastery over their minds. Needless then to say what it would be like, in the case of an ordinary householder with worldly attachments.
18. Since Sita’s departure, Sri Rama, even while observing the vow of strict celibacy, performed Agnihotra for
the thirteen thousand years of his life (without the aid of a wife).
19. After that, Sri Rama entered that Supreme State of his, leaving behind his feet lacerated with thorns in his Dandakaranya days in the heart of devotees to contemplate upon.
The Greatness of Sri Rama (20-23)
20. For Sri Rama, the Supreme Being who assumed a sportive body at the earnest prayer of the Devas, whose prowess is unequalled and unexcelled, it is not a high achievement but a trifle to have crossed the sea bridging it, and destroying the hosts of Asuras with his arrows, though poets have described them as wonderful achievements adding to his glory. What need is there for him to seek the help of monkeys to destroy his enemies!
21. I seek refuge at the feet of Sri Rama whose feet are ever contacted by the crowns of kings and divinities, whose pure and sin-destroying fame, extending to the very quarters, adds lustre to the frontal plates of the elephants guarding the cardinal points, and who is constantly hymned by sages in the royal assemblies.
22. Among these residents of Kosala, whoever touched him, saw him, sat with him, followed him—all of them attained that state that great Yogis attain.
23. O King! By hearing Sri Rama’s story and thinking over it, man is established in a peaceful state of devotion and becomes free from the bondage of Karma.
Sri Rama at Ayodhya (24-36)
Parikshit asked: 24. How did worshipful Sri Rama spend his life? How did he deal with his brothers, who were his own parts? How did his brothers, subjects, and citizens, in turn, deal with that divine personage?
Sri Shuka replied: 25. After he ascended the throne, he sent his brothers on Digvijaya or expeditions for the establishment of his supremacy over all the surrounding countries. And he went with followers all over his kingdom, enabling all his subjects to have a sight of his auspicious form.
26. He saw the city, with its roads moistened by fragrant water and ichor of elephants in rut, gazing at him, like an inebriated woman, as it were, at its master on his return after a lapse of fourteen years.
27-28. He went around the city seeing its terraced houses, gate towers, assembly halls, and places of
worship covered with golden domes and banners, as well as other places decorated with areca nut palms, fruit-laden banana plants, flags of superior cloth, mirrors, draperies and garlands.
29. Wherever he went, the citizens approached him with presents and glorified him, saying, 'O Lord! Deign to protect this earth which Thou didst once save in Thy incarnation as the Cosmic Boar.'
30. Seeing their Lord and master come after a long time, the people, both men and women, left their homes and ascended balconies of wayside houses, and looked at that lotus-eyed one from their unsatiated looks, and showered flowers on him.
31. Afterwards he entered the palace of his ancestors, which had treasures with countless gems and numerous fittings and furniture of inestimable value.
32-34. It had door lines of pillars made of cat’s eye (Vaidurya); clean floors of emeralds; and shining walls studded with crystals. It was decorated with garlands of many kinds, draperies, shining gems, pearl strings, and all kinds of attractive and enjoyable objects. The inside of the palace was well-lighted and filled with the fragrance of incense, and was occupied by celestial-like and well-bedecked men and women who by their beauty Were an ornament to the very ornaments they wore.
35. Sri Rama, who was the greatest among the self-controlled ones, lived Sita who was full of love for him and for whom he was, in turn, full of love.
Jai Shri Ram!
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
