The Valmiki Ramayana

by Amish Tripathi

  374 Goutama has been united with Ahalya. Bhargava means a descendant of the Bhrigu lineage. Here, Bhargava means Jamadagni, Parashurama’s father. Jamadagni’s wife was Renuka. On Jamadagni’s instructions, Parashurama beheaded Renuka. However, subsequently, Renuka was reunited with Jamadagni.

  375 Divine sages.

  376 60,000 sages who were the sizes of thumbs. They preceded the sun’s chariot.

  377 Through Brahma’s mental powers.

  378 Vishvamitra was conscious that a hermitage couldn’t have offered proper hospitality to a king and his army.

  379 Shabala means speckled or spotted. This was a kamadhenu, a cow that could yield every object of desire.

  380 Caustic, acidic, sweet, salty, bitter and alkaline.

  381 The four types of food are those that are chewed (charvya), sucked (choshya or chushya), licked (lehya) and drunk (peya).

  382 Both maireya and asava are kinds of liquor. Specifically, maireya is made from molasses or grain and asava is made through a process of distillation, not mere fermentation.

  383 The royal ladies.

  384 Vishvamitra.

  385 Offerings to gods are havya, offerings to ancestors are kavya.

  386 Vashatkara is the exclamation ‘vashat’ made at the time of offering an oblation. Svadha is said at the time of offering oblations to the ancestors and svaha is said at the time of offering oblations to the gods.

  387 Vishvamitra’s.

  388 Barbarians, non-Aryans, those who did not speak Sanskrit.

  389 The army.

  390 A reference to Yama’s rod or staff.

  391 The rod was invoked with this weapon.

  392 Varuna, roudra, aindra and pashupata are divine weapons respectively associated with Varuna, Rudra, Indra and Shiva. Aishika is a weapon invoked on a blade of grass. Manava means a human weapon, mohana causes confusion, gandharva is associated with the gandharvas, svapana puts to sleep, jrimbhana causes yawning, santapana scorches and vilapana causes lamentations. The Critical text uses the word mohana twice. Non-Critical versions have madana in place of the second mohana, meaning a weapon that causes intoxication. Shoshana dries up and darana shatters.

  393 Time or Destiny.

  394 Shiva’s bow or trident.

  395 Danda punishes and paishacha is associated with pishachas. In this context, krouncha probably means a weapon tinged with poison.

  396 Vayavya is associated with Vayu, it is a weapon that uses the wind to blow away. Mathana churns and hayashira is a weapon that is in the form of a horse’s head.

  397 Kapala is a skull and kankana is something that twirls.

  398 Brahma’s weapon.

  399 Vishvamitra’s.

  400 Vasishtha.

  401 That is, heaven.

  402 To be the officiating priest at the sacrifice.

  403 Vasishtha.

  404 After Vasishtha’s refusal.

  405 Vasishtha is being compared to a tree.

  406 Vasishtha.

  407 Chandala has different nuances and a chandala is not necessarily a shudra. A chandala is also of mixed parentage, with a shudra father and a brahmana mother. More generally, chandalas are outcastes, while shudras are within the caste fold.

  408 The word used is tata.

  409 The name of a priest.

  410 Vishvamitra.

  411 A variety of chandala. Vasishtha’s sons became this.

  412 Meaning Brahma.

  413 Ursa Major.

  414 Vaishvanara has several meanings. The sense is that these new creations will be in a parallel galaxy/universe.

  415 Because of Trishanku’s ascent to heaven there.

  416 The word used is tata.

  417 So far, only a single son has been mentioned.

  418 The Critical text uses the word shunaka, though non-Critical versions don’t always have this word. We have translated this as youngest son. But shunaka actually means young dog or puppy.

  419 Shunahshepa should be translated as dog’s penis, though it can also be translated as dog’s tail.

  420 Shunahshepa.

  421 Vishnu.

  422 In case she was cursed.

  423 Presumably the Himalayas.

  424 A sage with knowledge of the supreme being (brahman).

  425 Meaning Vasishtha.

  426 The sacred akshara, also written as om or aum.

  427 It is evening.

  428 Vishvamitra.

  429 Nimi was the king who established the dynasty in Mithila. He was Janaka’s ancestor.

  430 Shiva.

  431 The word sita means the furrow caused by a plough.

  432 Viryashulka is not the same as a svayamvara. Svayamvara is a ceremony where the maiden herself (svayam) chooses her husband (vara) from assembled suitors. Viryashulka is when the maiden is offered to the suitor who shows the most valour (virya), shulka meaning price.

  433 Chariots, elephants, horses and foot soldiers.

  434 Dasharatha.

  435 Vishvamitra.

  436 Though Rama is meant, the plural is being used as a mark of respect.

  437 Vasishtha.

  438 Janaka’s.

  439 Instead of the four kinds of forces that characterize an army, since this is a marriage, the four can also be understood as riches, gold, equipment and vehicles.

  440 Janaka.

  441 Janaka and Dasharatha respectively.

  442 Dasharatha.

  443 Janaka.

  444 Dasharatha.

  445 Those on Janaka’s side and those on Dasharatha’s side.

  446 This causes a problem of translation. The word can be translated as two sons or two daughters. It makes perfect sense if one is talking about Dasharatha. However, one is talking about Janaka. Therefore, it has to be two daughters, though we have not yet been told anything about Janaka having a second daughter.

  447 Literally, Ikshumati means a river whose water tastes like sugar cane juice. Elsewhere, it is said that Ikshumati flowed near Kurukshetra and Ikshumati has also been identified with the river Sarasvati.

  448 A vimana is a celestial vehicle. Pushpaka belonged to Kubera and was later seized by Ravana.

  449 Through Brahma’s mental powers.

  450 The sun.

  451 The Critical Edition excises some shlokas and this breaks the continuity. While Sagara was still in his mother’s womb, his stepmother tried to unsuccessfully poison him. Hence, he was sa (with) gara (poison).

  452 Vasishtha cursed Pravriddha that he would be an eater of human flesh. Pravriddha wished to curse Vasishtha in turn and held some sanctified water in his hand. However, he was dissuaded by his wife, Madayanti. The sanctified water fell on his feet. He was thus known as Kalmashapada, because his feet (pada) had a blemish (kalmasha).

  453 In lineage.

  454 This was an earlier Janaka.

  455 This is directed at Dasharatha.

  456 Through thoughts, words and deeds.

  457 Though godana literally means the donation of a cow, it has a symbolic connotation here. Since Rama and Lakshmana enter the householder (garhasthya) stage, they go through a sacrament (samskara).

  458 Some nakshatras are regarded as auspicious for marriage, but that list includes both Magha and Uttaraphalguni.

  459 The presiding deity of Uttaraphalguni (Denebola) is Bhaga, the god of marital bliss and prosperity. In fairness, there is scope for interpretation here, with the word uttara also being interpreted as the latter part of the day.

  460 For each son, one hundred thousand cows were donated.

  461 Brahma.

  462 Bharata.

  463 Bharata and Shatrughna.

  464 These are ceremonial and rhetorical questions, not meant to be answered.

  465 Janaka.

  466 Dasharatha.

  467 Dasharatha.

  468 Janaka and Dasharatha respectively.

  469 The left is regarded as inauspicious.

  470 The demons had a city named Tripura and Shiva (Hara) destroye
d this with a single arrow.

  471 Parashurama destroyed the kshatriyas twenty-one times, because Kartavirya Arjuna (a kshatriya) killed his father, Jamadagni. Jamadagni was descended from Bhrigu. Hence, Parashurama is called Bhargava.

  472 Meaning Parashurama. Parashurama means the Rama with the battleaxe (parashu).

  473 Vasishtha.

  474 Vishnu’s.

  475 Kartavirya Arjuna.

  476 Jamadagni was married to Satyavati, Vishvamitra’s sister.

  477 Vishnu, who killed a demon named Madhu.

  478 Parashurama.

  479 Sita, Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutakeerti.

  480 Lakshmi.

  1 He stayed on because of the marriage.

  2 Bharata.

  3 Brahma.

  4 Dharma, artha and kama are the three objectives (purushartha) of human existence. Artha is the pursuit of material prosperity, kama is the pursuit of sensual pleasure, it being best not to translate dharma. Sometimes, moksha (emancipation) is added as a fourth objective.

  5 Dhanurveda is the science of war. An atiratha is a great warrior, greater than a maharatha.

  6 The preceptor of the gods.

  7 Indra.

  8 The god of rain.

  9 Dasharatha.

  10 A white umbrella is held aloft a king’s head.

  11 March–April.

  12 Arya means a noble one and is used for those who speak Sanskrit.

  13 Rama.

  14 This is a customary form of greeting. It is not as if Dasharatha did not know who Rama was.

  15 The gods, including Indra, are Kashyapa’s sons.

  16 Angaraka is another name for Mangala (Mars). Though the text leaves it implicit, the nakshatra presumably means Dasharatha’s natal nakshatra. There is an anomaly that caught Rama unawares too. Dasharatha decided that Rama should be made the heir apparent. He subsequently decided that it needed to be done instantly, though Bharata was still away in his maternal uncle’s kingdom. A charioteer was sent to fetch Rama. We have kept this as charioteer (suta), though most translations interpret this as Sumantra. Since that equation is not obvious, we retained charioteer.

  17 Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity.

  18 Yoga has eight elements—yama (restraint), niyama (rituals), asana (posture), pranayama (control of the breath), pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (retention), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (liberation). That’s the reason the expression ashtanga (eight-formed) yoga is used.

  19 Vishnu.

  20 The sense is that ordinary people would have got down from the chariot at the outer gate and proceeded through the three chambers on foot.

  21 Nahusha was Yayati’s father.

  22 Vasishtha.

  23 These were avenues, lined with trees.

  24 A vyuha is a battle formation.

  25 Figuratively.

  26 There was such a shrine inside the palace. This image is now believed to be in Srirangam.

  27 A yama is a period of three hours. Since it is made up of three yamas, the night is known as triyama.

  28 A suta is a bard, a magadha is a minstrel and a vandi is one who sings words of praise. Vandis probably did not compose anything themselves, while sutas and magadhas did, the former focusing on stories and the latter on rendering these into songs.

  29 From her father’s household.

  30 Kubja means humpbacked and this is how Manthara is described. However, kubja also means a class of housemaids and Manthara need not have been humpbacked.

  31 Because Dasharatha loved her more.

  32 Kaikeyee’s.

  33 His wife and mother.

  34 Thus, Dasharatha never developed affection towards Bharata.

  35 From his uncle’s royal residence.

  36 Bharata going to the forest.

  37 Bharata.

  38 The details are not known.

  39 The forest of Dandaka, known as Dandakaranya. The word dandaka means that people were exiled there, as punishment (danda).

  40 Timidhvaja was one of Shambara’s names. Timidhvaja means one who had a whale on his standard.

  41 The power of illusion.

  42 This still doesn’t make it obvious that the crookedness is physical, though the succeeding shlokas do suggest this.

  43 Manthara replied to Kaikeyee.

  44 Dasharatha is addressing the night.

  45 King Shibi/Shaibya granted protection to a dove that was being chased by a hawk. When the hawk asked for its natural prey, King Shibi sliced off an equivalent portion of flesh from his own body and offered it to the hawk.

  46 King Alarka offered his eyes to a blind brahmana.

  47 The ocean.

  48 In his dwarf (vamana) incarnation, Vishnu sought the three worlds from Bali and the generous Bali gave them.

  49 Of adhering to his pledge and love for Rama.

  50 The Critical Edition excises shlokas and this breaks the continuity. By abandoning, the king meant depriving Bharata of the right to offer funeral oblations to Dasharatha.

  51 About their arrival.

  52 Dasharatha.

  53 Rama.

  54 A mythical aquatic creature, which can be loosely translated as shark or crocodile.

  55 Rama.

  56 Kubera.

  57 A reference to Kaikeyee.

  58 Paste from the agallochum tree.

  59 The father.

  60 Meaning the capital of Kosala, Ayodhya.

  61 About Kaikeyee’s wishes.

  62 The moon.

  63 As guards.

  64 That he had come.

  65 The Critical Edition excises a shloka where Kousalya falls down, senseless.

  66 Yama.

  67 This is addressed to Rama.

  68 Suicide is a crime. The brahmana in question is Vritra. Indra acquired a sin from killing a brahmana and part of that sin was distributed to the ocean, the remainder was distributed among the earth, trees and women.

  69 Parashurama.

  70 Lakshmana.

  71 Towards Kaikeyee.

  72 This can be interpreted in two ways—collect objects for departure to the forest or collect objects for Bharata’s consecration. The latter is probably right.

  73 The mother means Kaikeyee, who may still have suspicions about Rama actually leaving for the forest.

  74 In case he doesn’t keep his pledge.

  75 Of consecration.

  76 Kaikeyee.

  77 A reference to Dasharatha.

  78 Kaikeyee.

  79 Dasharatha and Kaikeyee.

  80 Dasharatha and Kaikeyee.

  81 Kaikeyee’s.

  82 Those who oppose the consecration.

  83 Arms, bow, arrows and sword.

  84 Dasharatha.

  85 Rama.

  86 Rama.

  87 There are grains left after a crop has been harvested, or after grain has been milled. If one subsists on these leftovers, that is known as unchhavritti.

  88 Shrutis are sacred texts that have been revealed, they have no author. Smritis are sacred texts that have authors. They have been heard and memorized, and thus passed down the generations.

  89 Dhatri and Vidhatri are often used synonymously. Dhatri has the sense of creator, while Vidhatri can be translated as ordainer. Pusha, Bhaga and Aryama are three of the twelve Adityas, the sons of Aditi. They can be regarded as different aspects of the sun god.

  90 Probably meaning Shiva.

  91 Vishnu.

  92 Garuda. Garuda’s mother was Vinata.

  93 Literally, something that removes arrows/weapons. The interpretation is that she fastened an amulet on him, with vishalyakarani in it.

  94 Brihaspati is the lord of Pushya nakshatra.

  95 Meaning, washed your hair.

  96 A shreni is like a guild, it is an association of traders or artisans who follow the same line of business. The word means a rank or line.

  97 A pushyaratha is a special chariot, ornamented and decorated, used not for fighting, but for pleas
ure.

  98 Obviously, this refers to a stepmother.

  99 At the time of marriage, not specifically about going to the forest.

  100 The text uses the word in the singular.

  101 Savitree was Satyavan’s wife. When Satyavan died, she followed him to Yama’s world, prayed to Yama and brought her husband back to life.

  102 Surya’s wife.

  103 The text uses the word sahadharmachari. The wife is sahadharmini, one with whom one follows dharma.

  104 The god of rain.

  105 Kaikeyee.

  106 When he married Kaikeyee, Dasharatha granted the income from one thousand villages to Kousalya.

  107 Vasishtha.

  108 Lakshmana.

  109 This probably means that Suyajna performed austerities with fires around him on all four sides.

  110 The Taittiriya Upanishad, associated with the Yajur Veda.

  111 Rama.

  112 In visiting royalty, one had to pass through successive gates and chambers, with guards at each gate. Usually, the third chamber is regarded as an exclusive preserve. This is superior to the third chamber.