॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Sunday, 12 March 2023 - IX.10 - A sweet summary of Sri Rama Avatara!
***
This is a captivating summary of the story of Sri Rama, the most worshipped incarnation of Bhagavan all over India. In order to preserve the sanctity of the narrative, I have done the following:
- Given you a slideshow I have prepared of the shlokas.
- The audio by Br. Devaki Chaitanya
- The translation by Swami Tapasyananda.
Jai Shri Ram!
Translation:
Sage Shuka narrated:
(1-4) Rama's Greatness
1.Khatvanga's son was Dirghabahu.From him was born the world-famous Raghu; from, him, Aja; and from him, Dasaratha.
2. The Lord of all excellences, the Supreme Sri Hari, the very Brahman, being invoked and prayed to by the celestials, was born by a fraction of Himself as the four parts divided into four parts as the four sons of Dasharatha..
3. He was born as his four sons, Sri Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shaturghna. Enlightened personages have given elaborate accounts of the story of Sri Rama, the consort of Sita, and you must have heard these recited again and again. (Adi Kavi Valmiki!)
4. He who gave up a kingdom to keep his father's plighted words; whose feet, though too soft to stand even the touch of his consort, nevertheless trudged through the forest after forest along paths cleared by his brother and the monkey king; who frightened the deity of the seas by an angry frown and arching brows, consequent on the abduction of his wife Sita by Ravana who was earlier incensed by Rama’s mutilation of his sister Shurpanakha; who built the bridge across the sea to Lanka where he raged like a forest fire destroying the tribe of evil-doers -may that Sri Rama, the king of Kosala, be our refuge.
Early Life (5-8)
5. At the sacrificial ceremony of Viswamitra, he destroyed the Rakshasa chiefs like Mareecha with the utmost ease, as if it were a play, while his brother Lakshmana merely looked on.
6. In the gathering of heroic men seated in the assembly hall of Sita's marriage, he pulled and broke, with the ease with which an elephant breaks a sugarcane, the mighty bow of Shiva, which required three hundred persons for its transport.
7. Sita, who was none other than Devi Sri, was honoured by being made the resident of the Lord's chest, thereby becoming his wife, well-matched with him in point of virtues, conduct, age, form, beauty and the like. On his way back after the marriage, he came into confrontation with Parashurama, the chief of the Bhrigus, and humbled his pride from having erased the ruling class of Kshatriyas in his twenty-one campaigns.
8. Submitting willingly to the command of his helpless father who, being under the domination of his wife Kaikeyi, was compelled by the bond of his plighted word to exile him, he (Sri Rama) abandoned the country, wealth, house, and relations and friends with utmost gladness as a Yogi gives up his body, and went to the forest accompanied by his wife. May Sri Rama protect us!
Abduction of Sita (9-12)
9. He mutilated the lustful Shurpanakha who attempted to kill Sita. He decimated the Asura army of fourteen thousand fighters led by her relatives Khara, Dushana and Trishiras, with utmost ease as in a play. Himself carrying his bow too formidable for anyone else to handle, he wandered from forest to forest, and took his residence there, withstanding every form of difficulty
10. Oh King Parikshit! Ravana became lovelorn on hearing about the beauty of Sita and sent Mareecha to draw Sri Rama away from his forest residence. Attracted by Mareecha in the form of a wonderful deer, he went far away into the forest in pursuit of him, and in the end, killed the deer with a sharp arrow as Rudra killed Daksha.
11. As a wolf carries away a lamb at the opportune moment, Ravana carried away Sita during Sri Rama's absence from his forest dwelling. Afterwards, Sri Rama wandered through the forest in great sorrow and distress, along with his brother, in quest of Sita, in order to show to the world that this is the miserable fate of persons intensely attached to women.
12. Next he, whose feet are worshipped by Shiva and Brahma, cremated Jataayu who had courted death in his service, with the affection of a son, then destroyed Kabandha, made friends with monkeys, came to know about the whereabouts of Sita through the search of those monkeys, killed Vali, and marched to the ocean shore with that army of monkeys.
Crossing the Sea (13-16)
13. As the angry look of Rama's wide eyes fell on him, the sea-deity got into a fright, resulting in the subsidence of the roar of his wavy voice and in the consternation of the aquatic residents. His form emerged from the sea carrying a load of articles for worshipful presentation and he sought shelter at Sri Rama’s feet and said:
14. “Oh Almighty One! Dull-witted creatures that we are, we have little understanding of Thee, the undecaying and all-powerful Being controlling the whole universe. Now we have come to know Thee and understand that Thou art the ruler of Prakriti, from whose qualities of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas are produced the Devas, Prajapatis and Rudras.
15. Oh hero! Thou art free to go across the sea. Destroy the monstrous Ravana, born of the dirt of Visravas-a veritable Ravana or bully who makes all the three worlds weep and wail and recover Thy spouse Sita. Build across the sea a bridge that will spread Thy fame everywhere. The world-conquering heroes who come to see Thy bridge will extol Thee in songs."
16. Building the bridge with thickly forested mountain peaks that were manually plucked and brought by the monkeys, he, under the guidance of Vibhishana and accompanied by leading monkey chiefs like Sugriva, Nila and Hanuman, crossed over to Lanka, to which Hanuman had already set fire earlier.
Attack on Lanka (17-20)
17. Like a lake that has been ravaged by a herd of elephants, the city of Lanka, besieged by the army of monkey chiefs, was soon in a shambles, its pleasure gardens, granaries, treasuries, gate towers, assembly halls, and terraces were under the occupation of the monkey forces, and its altars, golden domes, flag-staffs, assembly halls, road crossings etc., were all wrecked by them.
18. The Rakshasa chief Ravana thereupon dispatched one after another all his great warriors to the battlefront-warriors like Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhumraksha, Durmukha, Suranta, Narantaka, his son Indrajit, Atikaya, Vikampana, Prahasta, and finally Kumbhakarna.
19. Sri Rama along with Sugriva, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Gandhamadha, Nila, Angada, Jambavan, Panasa and other monkey chiefs faced that army of Rakshasas, which was formidable and well-equipped with weapons like swords, tridents, bows and arrows, double-edged swords, darts, javelin, lances and scimitars.
20. The leaders of Rama's army like Angada and others joined in combats with well-matched opponents on the opposite side, consisting of elephant regiments, infantry, cavalry and chariots. With trees, mountain tops, maces and arrows the monkey forces of Rama destroyed the army of Rakshasas mobilised by Ravana, who had lost his luck and good fortune because of his laying violent hands on holy Sita.
Death of Ravana and After (21-33)
21. The king of the Rakshasas, infuriated at the destruction of his forces, now ascended a chariot and charged at Sri Rama, who was seated in the luminous chariot of Indra brought by his charioteer Mätali, and showered sharp arrows on him.
22. Rama said to him: “O wretch of a Rakshasa, you mean fellow! Like a pilfering dog you have stolen away my wife during my absence. The consequences of this shameless and despicable act will soon fall on you from my hands like the irresistible doom of Time.”
23. Berating Ravana in this way, Rama shot a powerful arrow at him. Like the thunderbolt it pierced Ravana's heart, and vomiting blood through all his ten mouths, Ravana fell down, as an individual drops from the heavenly regions when his merits are exhausted. All the world cried 'Alas!' at this. (Note: In Sanskrit, the word is अहो which is an expression of astonishment, not distress, in this context.)
24. Now hundreds of Rakshasa women headed by Mandodari came out of the city weeping and wailing.
25. They cried aloud, beating their breasts, as they clung to the bodies of their husbands and other relatives who met with death from the arrows of Lakshmana.
26. They wailed: “Oh Ravana, the terror of all the worlds! Alas! We are half dead. Without you what will be the fate of Lanka, now under the attack of enemies?
27. Oh great one! Under the influence of lust, you failed to recognise the unique power of Sita's spiritual glory. It was ignorance of this that has brought you to this predicament.
28. By your death the city of Lanka has been widowed just as we have been. Your body has become the food for vultures. and your soul is heading for the tortures of hell!”
Sage Shuka said:
29. As advised by Sri Rama, Vibhishana now performed the obsequies of all the dead according to the injunctions.
30. Next the Lord met Sita under a Simshapa tree in the Asoka grove, almost reduced to skin and bones by the sorrow of her separation from him.
31. Rama felt great compassion for his most miserably placed wife, whose face now bloomed with joy at the sight of him.
32-33. Installing Vibhishana as the king of the Rakshasas in Lanka, Sri Rama along with Sita, Lakshmana, Sugriva and Hanuman got into the aerial car called Pushpaka. He gave to Vibhishana as a gift the land of Lanka and a span of a long life lasting till the end of the Kalpa. Thus completing his vow of forest life for fourteen years, he returned to Ayodhya, worshipped with rains of flowers from above by the Devas.
Reception by Bharata (34-41)
34-36. Hearing on the way the hymns of praise sung by Indra, Sri Rama reached his country to receive the sad report that his brother Bharata, out of sorrow for his expulsion, was living on a diet of mere barley cooked in cow’s urine, wearing only the bark of trees, and sleeping on the bare floor. Now on hearing of his brother's arrival, Bharata started from his residence in Nandigrama to receive him fittingly. Sorrow Accompanied by ministers, leading citizens, and elders, and amidst the auspicious sounds of music, vocal and instrumental, he approached, carrying his brother's sandals on his own head.
37-39. Accompanied by a long train consisting of expert Vedic scholars chanting the Vedic Mantras aloud, banners with gilded fringes, gold-inlaid chariots yoked to excellent horses and carrying gold flag-staff and equipment, and guards with golden livery, artistes, leading dancing girls and other retainers, he advanced towards Sri Rama, presented to him the royal ceremonial umbrella and insignias like chowris, and fell down at his feet.
40. He placed the sandals before Sri Rama with palms joined in salutation and fell prostrate in front of him, his heart melting in love and eyes swimming in tears. And Sri Rama embraced him tight and long enfolding him with both hands and drenching him with a stream of tears.
41. Along with Sita and Lakshmana, Sri Rama made prostrations to holy men, and in turn received the obeisance of the subjects.
Coronation of Rama (42-56)
42. Seeing the Lord returned after fourteen years of absence, the residents of Uttarakosala were caught in a paroxysm of joy, and rained flowers and garlands and danced wildly, fluttering their upper garments.
43. As he entered Ayodhya, Bharata bore his sandals, Sugriva and Vibhishana held the chowris on both sides, and Hanuman held the white royal umbrella.
44. Satrughna carried his bow and arrows; Sita, his water vessel; Angada, his sword; and Jambavan, the leader of the bears, his gold-inlaid shield.
45. As he sat in the Pushpaka vehicle, surrounded by women and extolling panegyrists, Sri Rama looked like the rising moon whose beauty is enhanced by the surrounding galaxy of stars.
46-47. After being greeted by all his brothers, he entered the palace with its festive decorations, saluted his mother, stepmothers and other elders, and was in turn greeted by juniors. Sita and Lakshmana too did likewise on entering the palace.
48. Getting back their sons, their mothers sprang up with a new upsurge of energy, as the senses do when the Prana returns. They seated them in their laps and bathed them in tears of joy.
49. Their preceptor removed the matted locks of Rama according to injunctions, and with the waters brought from the four oceans and the holy rivers, performed the ceremonial bath for the coronation with the help of the elders of the clan, as the celestial teacher Brihaspati did for Indra.
50. Bathed, dressed in silk, and decorated with garlands, he shone amidst his consort and brothers, who were also similarly bedecked.
51. Prostrating before him, Bharata invited him to the royal throne and he accepted it. Like a father he ruled over his subjects who followed the rules of Dharma and the ways of life prescribed for the Varnas and the Ashramas. His subjects too looked upon him as a father.
52. When Rama, the knower of all Dharma and the bestower of joy on all, ruled, it looked as if it was Kritayuga(golden age, though actually, it was Treta (the next age, less perfect than the Krita).
53. 0h leader of the Bharatas! Forests, rivers, mountains, regions, continents, and oceans, all yielded the needs of his subjects when Sri Rama ruled.
54. While was the king there were no worries, diseases, decrepitude, sorrow, fear, or depression for his subjects. Death came only when one wished.
55. He lived observing the vow of having only a single consort, following all the sacred traditions of Rajarshis, and men teaching how to observe the Scripture-ordained duties, both by precept and example.
56. And Sita by her humility, her skill in divining her husband's mind, her loving behaviour, ungrudging service, discrimination, good behaviour and modesty, won the heart of her husband in every way.
Jai Shri Ram!
॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
