The Valmiki Ramayana

by Amish Tripathi

151 The saptarshis are the seven great sages. The list varies, but the standard one is Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu and Vasishtha. In the sky, the saptarshis are identified with the constellation of Ursa Major (Great Bear).

  152 Shulba rites are those connected with the construction of the altar for the sacrifice. The associated sacred texts are known as Shulba Sutras.

  153 In the shape of a triangle.

  154 The king of the birds, Vishnu’s mount.

  155 Or three strokes of the sword.

  156 There were four classes of priests, though the classification varied over time. The hotri is the chief priest and is accomplished in the Rig Veda. The adhvaryu is the assistant priest and is accomplished in the Yajur Veda, though later, the udgatri came to be identified with the Sama Veda. In addition, there was the brahmana or purohita.

  157 Mahishi is the chief queen, the one who has been consecrated. Parivritti or parivrikti is a queen who was earlier favoured, but is now neglected. Vavata is a favourite wife. Palagali is mentioned as the most inferior wife, a king being entitled to four wives. Sometimes, mahishi is said to be the kshatriya wife, vavata is said to be the vaishya wife and parivritti is said to be the shudra wife. In this case, the former meaning is appropriate.

  158 The holy fig tree.

  159 Kalpa Sutras are sacred texts that describe rituals, Brahmanas are sacred texts, not to be confused with the varna of brahmana.

  160 These are days on which soma sacrifices are offered, chatushtoma also being known as agnishtoma.

  161 Sacrificial fee. These were donated symbolically.

  162 Rishyashringa.

  163 The horse sacrifice has only removed the sins. A specific ceremony now has to be performed, to obtain offspring.

  164 While this clearly refers to the Atharva Veda, many Atharvashirasa texts are of much later vintage.

  165 Term used for successful sages who have become semi-divine.

  166 Yakshas are semi-divine species, described as companions of Kubera, the lord of riches.

  167 Brahma.

  168 Demons.

  169 It is possible to identify Kousalya with virtue, Sumitra with prosperity and fame with Kaikeyee.

  170 There is a pun. The word rava means to scream or shriek.

  171 A dish made out sweetened milk and rice.

  172 Nectar or ambrosia.

  173 Thus, Kousalya obtained ½, Kaikeyee obtained ⅛, Sumitra obtained ¼+⅛= ⅜.

  174 The one who created himself, Brahma.

  175 Apsaras are celestial dancers, while gandharvas are celestial musicians. Both are semi-divine.

  176 Pannagas or nagas are semi-divine. We have translated them as serpents. Nagas are not snakes (sarpas). Unlike sarpas, nagas have special powers and can assume any form at will. They also have specific habitats, such as in the nether regions. Rikshas are bears. Vidyadharas are semi-divine, occupying the region between heaven and earth.

  177 Kinnara, also known as kimpurusha, is a semi-divine species, described as Kubera’s companions. Vanaras are apes, at least we have translated it in that way. There is no consensus on the identification of vanaras. Etymologically, the word means those who roam around in the forests.

  178 Celestial bards.

  179 Ravana.

  180 With a tail like that of a cow, langur. Also known as golangula.

  181 Vasishtha.

  182 Romapada.

  183 The Critical text excises the shloka which gives the positions of the nakshatras at the time of Rama’s birth.

  184 Aditi, Kashyapa’s wife, is the mother of the gods, who are known as the Adityas. Indra is the wielder of the vajra.

  185 Proshthapada is a nakshatra. More accurately, it is a collective name for two nakshatras, Purva Bhadrapada and Uttara Bhadrapada. These are stars in the constellation Pegasus, which partly consists of a quadrilateral, with four stars at four vertices. The four stars are probably being compared with the four sons.

  186 Lakshmana’s name is derived in that way, someone who has Lakshmi in him, or makes Lakshmi prosper. Rama means someone who causes delight. Bharata is someone who bears a burden and Shatrughna is someone who destroys the enemy.

  187 Rama.

  188 Rama.

  189 Rama.

  190 Lakshmana.

  191 Bharata’s.

  192 Brahma.

  193 Vishvamitra was known for his rage.

  194 Indra.

  195 Born as a kshatriya, because of his austerities, Vishvamitra became a brahmana.

  196 A mark of beauty, kaka (crow) paksha (wing).

  197 Rama.

  198 Kakutstha was an ancestor. Hence, both Dasharatha and Rama are addressed as his descendants.

  199 For several purposes, sixteen is a threshold and all that is known is that Rama was younger than that.

  200 An akshouhini is an army, consisting of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 horse riders and 1,09,350 foot soldiers.

  201 That is, rakshasas.

  202 Of the enemy.

  203 Chariots, elephants, cavalry and infantry.

  204 Kubera.

  205 And not ask either of us to fight against Ravana.

  206 Famous demons. Deceived by Vishnu, they ended up fighting against each other and killing each other.

  207 The god of dharma.

  208 An oblique way of referring to Dasharatha himself.

  209 Amrita is protected by a circle of fire that surrounds it.

  210 Vishvamitra.

  211 That is, Krishashva gave these weapons. Krishashva is described as a famous king. He is also described as one of the original Prajapatis (guardians or rulers of the world) who married Daksha’s daughters.

  212 Daksha’s.

  213 The sons.

  214 The sons were weapons.

  215 These sons were also weapons.

  216 Brahma.

  217 Water has to be touched and ablutions performed before any auspicious act. Bala and Atibala are the divine weapons. Divine weapons are invoked through the use of mantras.

  218 Demons.

  219 In an extended sense, since Daksha was born from Brahma.

  220 The Ganga has three flows, in heaven, on earth and in the nether regions.

  221 In the singular.

  222 The god of love, also known as Kama, Ananga or Madana. He was burnt down by Shiva’s rage and ceased to have a body.

  223 Shiva.

  224 Kandarpa.

  225 Humkara means to utter the sound ‘hum’, a sound believed to possess special powers.

  226 The one without a body (anga).

  227 Shiva’s hermitage, the sages were Shiva’s followers.

  228 The hermitage (ashrama) associated with Kama.

  229 From mana (mind).

  230 Ganga.

  231 Dhava is the axle-wood tree, ashva can’t be identified, karna is the Indian laburnum, kakubha is the Arjuna tree, bilva is wood apple, tinduka is ebony, patala is Bignonia suaveolens and badari is the jujube tree.

  232 Malada and Karusha are in the Baghelkhand-Mirzapur-Shahabad region.

  233 The one with the one thousand eyes is Indra. Vritra was the son of a brahmana.

  234 Mala means filth or dirt, hence Malada. Karusha is not that easy to derive, though karisha means dung.

  235 Indra, Indra having killed a demon named Paka.

  236 The word used is abala, meaning weak one, or woman. Yakshas are limited in valour and a female yaksha must be even more so.

  237 Brahma.

  238 Anticipating that a strong daughter would be less dangerous than a strong son.

  239 Suketu.

  240 Agastya.

  241 The Critical text excises a shloka where Tataka and Maricha attack Agastya.

  242 Kavya is Shukra or Shukracharya.

  243 Vishvamitra.

  244 Female rakshasa.

  245 Indra, the destroyer of cities.

  246 Chakra which acts like a staff of chastisement.

  247 Respectively, chakra wh
ich ensures dharma and chakra which drives time/destiny.

  248 Prasvapana puts to sleep, Prashamana pacifies, Shoshana dries up, Santapana scorches and Vilapana causes lamentations. Soura is a weapon identified with the sun. Darpana causes vanity.

  249 Kandarpa, or Kama or Madana, is the god of love.

  250 Malevolent beings.

  251 Something that confounds and intoxicates.

  252 Divine weapons were invoked, released and withdrawn through the use of mantras.

  253 This should probably read Krishashva.

  254 Sunabha is mentioned twice.

  255 To become a siddha is to obtain success in one’s austerities/meditations.

  256 This makes it clear that Vishnu observed austerities in this hermitage, prior to assuming his vamana (dwarf) incarnation.

  257 Bali.

  258 Kashyapa’s wife, the mother of the gods.

  259 Vishnu asked for the region that could be covered in three strides. He covered the earth with one stride, heaven with another and the nether regions (alternatively, Bali’s head) with the third, so that Bali was driven down to the nether regions.

  260 The word used is tata.

  261 Consecration is diksha, a preparatory to the main rite.

  262 Vishvamitra.

  263 Sumitra’s son, Lakshmana.

  264 The Manava and Shiteshu weapons are probably being used partly synonymously.

  265 The other rakshasas.

  266 Gave it to Janaka.

  267 Vishvamitra.

  268 Was ready to set.

  269 Identified with Kannauj, or the village of Kosam, on the banks of the Yamuna and near Allahabad.

  270 Identified with Rajagriha or Rajgir.

  271 A name for the Shona.

  272 The text says Magadhi, but we have used Sumagadhi to avoid confusion.

  273 The name of an apsara.

  274 When a maiden chooses her own husband.

  275 Described as the capital of Panchala, specifically, South Panchala. Identified with Kampil, in Farrukhabad district of Uttar Pradesh.

  276 To Kushanabha.

  277 The river Koshi.

  278 Sandhya is any conjunction of day and night. Hence, it is dawn, as well as dusk.

  279 Rama.

  280 That is, boats are not necessary. Should one use a boat or should one walk across?

  281 That is, walking across.

  282 The ocean is the lord of the rivers.

  283 The gods.

  284 The word used is tata.

  285 The one with the blue throat, Shiva.

  286 Uma.

  287 360 human years equal one divine year.

  288 Because the offspring would be extremely energetic.

  289 That is, do not have physical offspring.

  290 Shiva has a bull on his banner.

  291 Uma.

  292 Varuna rules over the western direction.

  293 Obviously the Himalayas.

  294 This is still Vishvamitra speaking.

  295 Referring to Shiva.

  296 Since Ganga is not married to Agni, the curse will not be violated.

  297 The one who purifies, one of Agni’s names.

  298 Agni.

  299 With the seed.

  300 Agni is being described as the priest of the gods.

  301 Shiva and Agni.

  302 Literally, something that obtains form from birth.

  303 There are various stories about Kartikeya’s birth. For example, he was found in a clump of reeds and reared by the Krittikas (the Pleiades).

  304 The Krittikas.

  305 The Krittikas.

  306 From skanna, which means to be secreted out.

  307 Demons who are descendants of Diti.

  308 In a shloka excised from the Critical Edition, we are told that the first wife’s name was Keshini.

  309 This is also known as Bhrigutunga and is identified as a mountain in Nepal, on the banks of the Gandaki.

  310 The word used is tata.

  311 Garuda’s name is Suparna.

  312 Asamanja.

  313 The word used is tata.

  314 In a horse sacrifice, a horse is left free to roam around. Kings who allow the horse unimpeded access agree to pay tribute to the king who is undertaking the horse sacrifice. Those unwilling to do so, seize the horse and a battle ensues.

  315 Amshumat. Therefore, they cannot search for the horse.

  316 Generally, the nether regions. There are actually seven nether regions—atala, vitala, sutala, rasatala, talatala, mahatala and patala.

  317 Jambudvipa is one of the seven continents (dvipa) that surround Mount Meru and Bharatavarsha is in Jambudvipa. Jambudvipa is named after jambu (jamun) trees that grow there.

  318 The thirty-three gods are the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, the twelve Adityas and the two Ashvins. Sometimes, instead of the two Ashvins, Indra and Prajapati are included.

  319 Four (sometimes eight) elephants are believed to hold up the four (or eight) directions. They are known as diggajas or dishagajas, from gaja (elephant) and dig/disha (direction). The names differ. Virupaksha holds up the eastern direction.

  320 The text states, the Somavati direction. Soma is another name for Kubera and Kubera is the guardian of the north. Soma is also a name for the moon and the moon’s direction is the north.

  321 To destroy Sagara’s sons, Indra hid the horse there.

  322 Amshumat.

  323 That is, the uncles.

  324 By extension, meaning the uncles.

  325 Die in the process.

  326 The dishagajas.

  327 Garuda.

  328 Garuda was Sumati’s brother and Vinata’s son.

  329 Amshumat.

  330 So as to bring Ganga down.

  331 Gomukha, near Gangotri.

  332 To meditate amidst four fires on four sides, with the sun above one’s head.

  333 Shiva.

  334 Brahma.

  335 Bhageeratha. He performed austerities in that way, standing on his toe.

  336 A lake near Gangotri.

  337 From the sky.

  338 Shiva’s name.

  339 The one with three courses.

  340 The word used is tata.

  341 Vishvamitra.

  342 Vaishali, in Bihar.

  343 Diti and Aditi were the daughters of Daksha and married the sage Kashyapa. Diti’s sons were the daityas, loosely, the demons. Aditi’s sons were the adityas, the gods. Diti was older, so the daityas were elder brothers of the gods. Daksha had another daughter named Danu, also married to Kashyapa. Danavas are her sons. However, daityas, danavas and asuras (the counter to suras or gods) are words often used synonymously.

  344 The juices mean amrita, the nectar that confers immortality.

  345 The physician of the gods. The Critical Edition excises shlokas about poison emerging and Shiva drinking the poison.

  346 Etymologically, apsara means someone created from the water.

  347 That is, apsaras were never married to anyone.

  348 The goddess of liquor.

  349 Sura means liquor and the gods became suras because they accepted Varuni. Rejecting Varuni, the daityas became asuras, those without liquor.

  350 The gods.

  351 A hermitage to the east of Vishala.

  352 Indra.

  353 Indra didn’t really want to help and serve her. He didn’t want the son to be born and was in close attendance to spot for a weakness in Diti. Obviously, Diti shouldn’t have slept in the afternoon. In addition, when sleeping, the head should be in a certain direction, usually east or south, and the feet should face the opposite direction. In her carelessness, Diti did the opposite.

  354 Stepmother.

  355 Indra killed a demon named Bala.

  356 The Maruts are wind gods and the word is derived from do not (ma) cry (ruda). The Maruts are Indra’s companions. They are usually said to be seven in number. But sometimes, each of the seven is divided into another seven, so that there
are forty-nine Maruts. The Maruts are rarely named individually. One possible listing of the seven Maruts is Avaha, Pravaha, Samvaha, Udvaha, Vivaha, Parivaha and Varavaha.

  357 Diti and Indra.

  358 The son was named Vishaala (Vishala), while the city was named Vishaalaa. This Ikshvaku is clearly different from the Ikshvaku of Ayodhya.

  359 They could have used other means to come there.

  360 Goutama was away.

  361 Shachi is Indra’s wife.

  362 As opposed to those who seek progeny.

  363 The earlier shlokas didn’t make it clear that Indra hadn’t assumed the form of any sage. He had specifically assumed Goutama’s form.

  364 This requires explanation. Austerities confer power. Sometimes, austerities and consequent powers can be used to dislodge Indra from his status. Therefore, Indra always sought to prevent anyone from successfully completing austerities.

  365 Any curse takes away from the store of austerities/merit accumulated by the one who is doing the cursing.

  366 The pitris, usually translated as manes. These are the original ancestors, born through Brahma’s mental powers. They are not gods. They are also the souls of dead human ancestors.

  367 Henceforth, ancestors can be offered castrated rams.

  368 If a ram with testicles is offered, they ignore the testicles.

  369 Goutama.

  370 Shatananda.

  371 Ahalya was Shatananda’s mother.

  372 Indra.

  373 His father, Goutama.