The Valmiki Ramayana

by Amish Tripathi

  Chapter 7(93)

  Rama was established along the path of dharma. After some time, Time782 arrived at the king’s gate, adopting the form of an ascetic. He addressed the patient and illustrious Lakshmana in these words. ‘Go and tell the king that I have come here for an important task. I am the messenger of Atibala, the infinitely energetic maharshi. O immensely strong one! Because of something that needs to be done, I have come here to see Rama.’ Hearing his words, Soumitri hurried and went and told Rama what the ascetic had urged. ‘O king! O immensely radiant one! Because of your pursuit of dharma, may you be triumphant in both the worlds.783 An ascetic’s messenger, like the sun in radiance, has come here to meet you.’ Hearing the words that Lakshmana had uttered, Rama replied, ‘O son!784 Let the immensely energetic ascetic messenger, who will convey the words, enter.’ Soumitri assented and made the sage enter. He seemed to blaze in his energy and burn down with his rays. Radiant in his own energy, he approached the best among the Raghu lineage. The rishi spoke these sweet words to Raghava. ‘May you prosper.’ The immensely energetic one was in front of him and Rama worshipped him with arghya. Having given him that, he eagerly started to ask about his welfare. Rama, supreme among eloquent ones, asked about his welfare. The immensely illustrious one then sat down on a divine and golden seat. Rama said, ‘O great sage! Welcome. Let me know about the message that has brought you here as a messenger.’ Urged thus by the lion among kings, the sage spoke the following words. ‘This can only be uttered between the two of us. Anyone who witnesses these words has to be killed. O Raghava! Anyone who hears or sees must be killed. It is only then that I will tell you about the words of the best among sages.’ Rama pledged this and told Lakshmana, ‘O mighty-armed one! Send the doorkeeper away and remain at the door. O Soumitri! Anyone who hears or sees the conversation between the two of us, me and the rishi, will be killed.’ Thus, Kakutstha engaged Lakshmana at the door. Raghava then told the sage, ‘Speak. Attentively, tell me about the words spoken by the learned one. Do not worry. It will remain only in my heart.’

  Chapter 7(94)

  ‘O Rama! O mighty-armed one! Hear the reason why I have come here. O immensely strong one! I have been sent by the grandfather of the gods. O destroyer of enemy cities! O brave one! I am your eldest son, created out of your own maya. I am the Destroyer who gathers up everything. O mighty-armed one! The illustrious grandfather, the lord and master of all the worlds, has said that it is time for you to protect your own world. “In earlier times, when all the worlds were drawn in, you used your own maya to lie down on the great ocean.785 In those ancient times, I was born from you. You used your maya to generate the handsome serpent Ananta who lies down in the water and two extremely strong creatures. They were Madhu and Kaitabha and their bones covered everything and constituted mountains. The earth was formed from their fat. I was also born from a divine lotus, as resplendent as the sun, originating in your navel. You said that creation was my task and invested everything in me. O lord of the universe! Having taken up the burden invested on me, I worshipped you. Because you are more energetic than me, I asked you to protect creatures. Since that time, for the sake of protecting all creatures, you gave given up your eternal and invincible form and assumed the form of Vishnu. Having been born as Aditya’s valiant son, you delighted your brothers786 and helped them and the worlds in every possible way. O supreme in the universe! Terrified and desiring Ravana’s death, they came to you and you made up your mind to become human. You have resided here for eleven thousand years. Now destiny requires you to return to your own ancient city. It is only because of your mental powers that you became the son of a human and have spent a full lifespan. O best among excellent men! It is time for you to return to our presence.” O great king! O brave one! O fortunate one! If you still desire to rule over the subjects, reside here. I have conveyed the grandfather’s words. O Raghava! Alternatively, conquer that wish and become Vishnu, the protector of the world of the gods. Let the gods be devoid of their anxiety.’ He heard the words spoken by the grandfather, as repeated by Time. Raghava laughed and addressed the one who destroys everything in the following words. ‘I have heard the extremely wonderful words of the god of the gods. I am greatly delighted that you have happened to come here. O fortunate one! I will go where you have come from. There is nothing to think about, since the thought had already occurred to me. I am under the control of the gods and I must do everything that they want. O one who destroys everything! What the grandfather has mentioned, will happen.’

  Chapter 7(95)

  While the two were conversing in this way, the illustrious rishi, Durvasa, arrived at the royal gate, desiring to see Rama. The excellent rishi approached Soumitri and said, ‘Before my purpose is defeated, quickly make me see Rama.’ Hearing the sage’s words, Lakshmana, the slayer of enemy heroes, greeted the great-souled one and addressed him in these words. ‘O illustrious one! Tell me about the task. What is the purpose? What can I do? O brahmana! Raghava will eagerly do it. Please wait for a while.’ Hearing these words, the tiger among rishis became polluted with rage. As if burning him down his eyes, he addressed Lakshmana in these words. ‘O Soumitri! Present me before Rama this very instant. Otherwise, I will curse the kingdom, the city, you and Raghava. O Soumitri! I will not spare Bharata’s sons and yours. I am incapable of restraining the rage in my heart any longer.’ The great-souled one’s words were terrible. He thought about those words in his mind and determined what he should do. ‘Let all creatures not be destroyed. One person’s death is superior.’ Having decided this, he went and told Raghava. Hearing Lakshmana’s words, Rama gave Time permission to leave. The king swiftly emerged and saw Atri’s son. He greeted the great-souled one, who seemed to blaze in his energy. Kakutstha joined his hands in salutation and asked, ‘What needs to be done?’ The lord, best among sages, heard the words Raghava had spoken. Durvasa replied, ‘O Rama! O one who is devoted to dharma! Listen. O Raghava! My one thousand years are over today.787 O unblemished one! Therefore, I wish to eat whatever has been cooked by you.’ Hearing his words, Rama was filled with great delight. He offered the best among sages whatever had been cooked. The best among sages ate the food, which was like amrita. ‘O Rama! This is virtuous.’ Having said this, he returned to his own hermitage. When the immensely energetic one had gone, Raghava was pleased in his mind. However, remembering the words uttered by Time, he was filled with sorrow. Remembering those terrible words, he was greatly tormented by grief. He was distressed in his mind. With his face cast downwards, he was incapable of saying anything. Raghava thought about the words spoken by Time. The immensely illustrious one said, ‘There is no other way’, and was silent.

  Chapter 7(96)

  Lakshmana saw that the miserable Raghava’s face was cast downwards, like the moon when it is eclipsed. He cheerfully addressed him in sweet words. ‘O mighty-armed one! You should not be tormented on my account. The progress of destiny is like this and has been ordained earlier. O amiable one! Slay me without hesitation and fulfil your pledge. O Kakutstha! Men who do not keep their promises go to hell. O great king! O Raghava! If you are pleased with me and if you are favourably disposed towards me, slay me without any hesitation. Make dharma flourish.’ When Lakshmana said this, Rama’s senses were in a whirl. He summoned his ministers and his priest. In their midst, the lord of men recounted what had happened—the pledge before the ascetic and Durvasa’s arrival. Hearing this, all the ministers looked towards the preceptor. The greatly energetic Vasishtha spoke these words. ‘O mighty-armed one! I had already foreseen this incident that makes the body hair stand up. O Rama! You will be separated from the immensely illustrious Lakshmana. Destiny is powerful. Do not make your pledge false. If pledges are destroyed, dharma also heads towards destruction. When dharma is destroyed, there is no doubt that everything in the three worlds, mobile and immobile objects and gods and rishis, are also destroyed. O tiger among men! For the sake of protecting the three worlds, kill Lakshmana today and make the universe safe.
’ In the midst of that assembly of courtiers, Rama heard these words, which were full of dharma and artha. He told Lakshmana, ‘O Soumitri! Let there not be a catastrophe. Therefore, I am casting you away. Virtuous ones have decreed that killing and abandoning are both regarded as the same.’ Rama spoke these words, his eyes overflowing with tears. Lakshmana quickly left and entered his own residence. He went to the Sarayu, joined his hands in salutation and touched the water. He controlled all the flows in his body and did not release his breaths. When he stopped breathing, Shakra, large numbers of apsaras, the gods and large numbers of rishis showered down flowers. Unseen by all men, Shakra seized the immensely strong Lakshmana and made him enter heaven in his physical body. The supreme among the gods were delighted that Vishnu’s fourth part had arrived. Happy and full of joy, with the rishis, they worshipped him.

  Chapter 7(97)

  Having let Lakshmana go, Rama was overwhelmed by sorrow and grief. He told the priest, the ministers and the merchants, ‘Today, I will consecrate Bharata, who is devoted to dharma, in the kingdom. Let the brave one be the lord of Ayodhya. After that, I will leave for the forest. Before time passes, let all the arrangements be made. Today, I will go to the destination that Lakshmana has gone to.’ Hearing the words spoken by Raghava, all the ordinary subjects were severely afflicted. They bowed their heads down on the ground. It was as if they had lost their lives. On hearing what Rama had said, Bharata also lost his senses. He condemned the kingdom and told Raghava, ‘O king! O descendant of the Raghu lineage! I am taking a pledge on the truth. Without you, I do not desire the world of heaven, or the kingdom. O king! O lord of men! Instate Kusha and Lava. Let the brave Kusha rule Kosala and Lava rule the north.788 Let messengers who are swift in their valour go to Shatrughna. Let them tell him about our imminent departure for heaven and ask him to come here.’ Hearing what Bharata had said, all the citizens were miserable and tormented. Their faces were downcast. On seeing this, Vasishtha spoke these words. ‘O Rama! O child! Behold the people on earth. They are overcome by ordinary sentiments. Knowing what they desire, you should not do something that is disagreeable to them.’ Hearing Vasishtha’s words, he made those ordinary people rise up. Kakutstha asked all of them, ‘What shall I do?’ All the ordinary people addressed Rama in these words. ‘O Rama! We will go wherever you go. This is our supreme delight. In our view, this is our supreme dharma. We are firm in following you. Our hearts will always be satisfied at that. O Kakutstha! If you have affection for the citizens and if you are extremely fond of them, let them proceed along the same virtuous path as you, with their sons and wives. O lord! If you do not wish to abandon us, take us with you, to the forest for asceticism, to impenetrable places, to rivers and to oceans.’ Hearing their determination, he considered what should be done. Since the devotion of the citizens was firm, he told them that he agreed. Having decided this, on that very day, Raghava instated the brave Kusha in Kosala and Lava in the north. The great-souled one consecrated Kusha and Lava. He gave each of them one thousand chariots, thirty thousand elephants, ten thousand horses and riches. They were surrounded by many jewels and riches and happy and healthy people. Having been consecrated, those two brave ones left for their own cities. The great-souled one then sent a messenger to Shatrughna.

  Chapter 7(98)

  Urged by Rama’s words, the messenger, light in his valour, swiftly left for Madhura and did not spend any nights during the journey.789 He reached Madhura in three days and nights and told Shatrughna everything about what had transpired—the abandonment of Lakshmana, Raghava’s pledge, the consecration of the two sons and the decision of the citizens to follow. The intelligent Rama had created a beautiful city for Kusha to the north of the Vindhya mountains and it was named Kushavati. The beautiful city that was referred to as Shravati790 was for Lava. Leaving Ayodhya empty, Bharata intended to follow Raghava. He reported all this to the great-souled Shatrughna. The messenger stopped and added, ‘O king! Hurry.’ The news was terrible and the destruction of the lineage was nigh. Hearing this, the descendant of the Raghu lineage summoned the ordinary people and the priest, Kanchana, and told all of them about what had happened. He also said that with his brothers, he too would be destroyed.791 Therefore, the valiant lord of men instated his two sons. Subahu obtained Madhura and Shatrughati obtained Vaidisha. He divided the forces in Madhura among the two sons. With riches and grain, he established these two kings. He took his leave from the king of Vaidisha, Shatrughati.792 Alone on a chariot, Raghava left for Ayodhya.

  He saw the great-souled one,793 blazing like a fire. He was attired in a thin silken garment, with the undecaying sages. He controlled his senses, joined his hands in salutation and greeted Rama. The one who knew about dharma thought about dharma and spoke these words. ‘I have instated my two sons, the warriors of the Raghava lineage. O king! Know that I have made up my mind about following you. Since your command is impossible to cross, please do not say anything contrary. O brave one! You should not abandon me, especially because I am devoted to you.’ The descendant of the Raghu lineage realized that he had firmly made up his mind. Agreeing with Shatrughna, Rama spoke words of agreement. When he had finished speaking, innumerable apes, who could assume any form at will, bears and large numbers of rakshasas assembled. Knowing that Rama was about to be destroyed, all the sons of the gods, the sons of the rishis and the sons of the gandharvas also assembled. All of them assembled and greeted Rama. ‘O king! O immensely illustrious one! We have come to follow you. O Rama! O bull among men! If you go without taking us, it will be as if you have raised Yama’s staff and brought us down.’ Hearing the words of the bears, apes and rakshasas, he spoke these sweet and gentle words to Vibhishana. ‘O Vibhishana! O Indra among rakshasas! O immensely valiant one! As long as there are subjects, please hold up Lanka.794 Follow dharma and protect the subjects. Do not say anything back in reply.’ After this, Kakutstha spoke to Hanumat. ‘You have already made up your mind to remain alive. Do not make that pledge of yours come false. O lord of the apes! As long as my account is spoken about in the world, till then, remain alive and follow your pledge.’ Kakutstha Raghava then told all the apes and bears, ‘Come with me.’

  Chapter 7(99)

  When night was over and it was morning, the broad-chested, immensely illustrious and lotus-eyed Rama spoke to the priest. ‘Let the fires of agnihotra and vajapeya sacrifices proceed in front, with the flames blazing because of clarified butter and decorating the large road.’ The energetic Vasishtha looked towards everything and ensured that all the rituals connected with the great journey795 were properly observed. Wearing a silken garment and to the chanting of the name of the brahman, he796 proceeded along the decorated road, holding some kusha grass in his hand. He said nothing. He did not try to avoid the difficult stretches along the path.797 Like the blazing sun, he emerged from his house. Extremely controlled, Padma Shri798 was on Rama’s left. The large-eyed Hri799 was to his right, stationed slightly ahead. Many kinds of arrows and the bow that was used in battles followed Kakutstha. All of these were in embodied form. The Vedas, Savitree, the protector of everything, Omkara, Vashatkara—all of these followed Rama, in the form of brahmanas. The great-souled rishis and all the brahmanas followed Kakutstha and reached the gate to heaven. All the women from the inner quarters followed them, the aged and young female servants and the servants who were eunuchs. Bharata and Shatrughna also proceeded, with those from their inner quarters. With Rama having taken that vow, they also took the same vow as Raghava. All the controlled and great-souled brahmanas were with the agnihotra fire. With their sons and wives, they followed the immensely intelligent Kakutstha. Cheerfully, all the ministers and the array of servants, with their sons and relatives, followed Raghava. All the ordinary people, happy and healthy, surrounded them. Delighted with his qualities, they followed Raghava as he proceeded. All of them were supreme in their happiness and health, and bathed. As all of them followed Rama’s vow, a proud tumult arose. No one there was miserable. No one there was a
shamed or sad. All of them were happy and delighted. It was extremely extraordinary. The inhabitants of the countryside wished to see the king emerge. They were tormented to see him and all of them followed him. Extremely controlled, the bears, the apes, the rakshasas and the residents of the city followed him at the rear, filled with great devotion.

  Chapter 7(100)

  Sarayu, with the sacred waters, flowed in a westward direction. After having travelled for more than half a yojana, the descendant of the Raghu lineage saw the river. At that instant, surrounded by all the gods and the great-souled rishis, Brahma, the grandfather of the worlds, arrived at the spot where Kakutstha had presented himself at the gate to heaven. All of them came to the spot where Kakutstha had presented himself before heaven. They arrived on one hundred crores of celestial vimanas. Flowers showered down. A strong wind started to blow. Hundreds of trumpets blared and gandharvas and apsaras assembled. On foot, Rama approached the waters of the Sarayu. From the sky, the grandfather spoke these words. ‘O Vishnu! O fortunate one! O Raghava! Come. It is good fortune that I have met you. Enter with your brothers and with the gods, in your own bodies. Enter your own eternal and great Vaishnavi energy, which is like the sky. O god! You are the refuge of the world. O large-eyed one! With the exception of your own maya, which you have resorted to earlier, there is no one who is capable of knowing you. You cannot be thought of. You are the great being. You are without decay and accumulate everything. O immensely energetic one! As you wish, enter your own body.’ Hearing the grandfather’s words, the immensely intelligent one made up his mind. In his own body and with his younger brothers, he entered his Vaishnava energy. When the god assumed his form of Vishnu, the gods, the Sadhyas and the large number of Maruts, with Indra and Agni at the forefront, worshipped him. So did the large number of divine rishis, the gandharvas, the apsaras, the birds, the serpents, the yakshas, the daityas, the danavas and the rakshasas. All of them were happy and delighted. All their wishes had come true. Uttering words of praise and without any blemishes, all of them went to heaven.