The Ramayana
Contents
(pronounced rum-iron or rum-ine)
The Epic of Rama Prince of India. This story is set in northern India,
1200 - 1000 BC; and was recorded in the Ramayana by Valmiki c. 400-200 BC.
Nothing is known of the author, other than the fact that it was written by a
single hand.
The History of the Ramayana and its Importance in Hindu worship:
Rama is considered to be the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu.
The main scriptures are the four Vedas and the Mahabharata, (in particular a
section called the Bhagavad-gita which concerns Krishna, the eighth incarnation
of Vishnu). However the Ramayana is important and widely revered as a scripture
by a wide proportion of the Hindu community. It is also very important to the
Bollywood film industry in Delhi, who have made many films based on the epic.
The actors playing Rama and Sita often find themselves confused by the general
public with the characters they are portraying.
The original poem was in fact the final version of a story that had been around
for several hundred years, and added to by many poets. It reached the length of
24,000 Sanskrit couplets, organised into seven books, in its final form. In the
ninth and tenth centuries, when the modern languages of India were first
formed, it had a great influence in inspiring the modern Indian tongues. Rama
went on to become a God, accepted as an incarnation of Vishnu, and worshipped
monotheistically by some sects. Hindu holy man Kabir in the fourteenth century
said:
"The God of the Hindus is the God of the Muhammadans, be he invoked as
Rama or Allah. The city of the Hindu God is Varanasi [where Rama crossed the
Ganges], and the city of the Muhammadan God is Mecca; but search your hearts,
and there you will find the God both of Hindus and Muhammadans. If the Creator
dwells in tabernacles, whose dwelling is the universe?"
The following summary is based on the translation of excerpts from the
Ramayana (comprising 2,000 couplets) by Romesh C. Dutt, and published by
Everyman.
In the translator's epilogue, Dutt comments:
"To know the Indian Epics is to understand the Indian people better. And
to trace the influence of the Indian Epics on the life and civilisation of the
nation, and on the development of their modern languages, literatures and
religious reforms, is to comprehend the real history of the people during three
thousand years."
Characters:
King Dasa-ratha of the
Kosalas
Palace in the town of Ayodha, Oudh.
Sons:
Rama (pronounced Raam) mother: Queen Kausalya
Bharat mother: Queen Kaikeyi
Twins Lakshman and Satrugha mother: Queen
Simitra
King Janak of the Videhas
Palace in the town of Mithila, North Behar.
Daughters:
Sita marries Rama
(By way of birth, Sita sprang from a field furrow as it was being ploughed by
Janak)
Urmila marries Lakshman
Mandavi (Janak's niece) marries Bharat
Sruta-kriti (another girl) marries Satrughna
King Ravan of the Rakshas
Palace in the town of Lanka, Ceylon (Sri Lanka).
Eldest Wife: Mandodari
Sister: Surpa-nakha
Brothers: Bibhishan and Kumbha-karna
Sons:
Atikaya
Devantak
Indrajit
Narantak
Trisiras
Other Characters
Agastya (Saint) Legendary Deccan holy man.
Anasaya Atri's wife.
Angad Son of Bali.
Atri Vedic bard and elderly sage.
Bali Sugriva's brother, king of Kishkindha.
Bharad-vaja Hermit / holy man of Prayaga.
Durmukha Raksha warrior.
Dushan Attendant of Surpa-nakha.
Hanuman Sugriva's henchman. N.B. Hanuman the monkey-god is
revered as one of the greatest Hindu gods.
Jabali A Brahman.
Khara Attendant of Surpa-nakha.
Kusa Son of Rama and Sita.
Lava Son of Rama and Sita.
Manthara Queen Kaikeyi's nursemaid.
Maricha Attendant of Ravan.
Matali Vanar warrior and chariot driver.
Nikumbha Raksha warrior and son of Kumbha-karna.
Nikumbhila Raksha holy man.
Prahasta Raksha warrior.
Satavala Vanar chieftain.
Sumantra Rama's chariot driver.
Sugriva King of the Vanars (literally monkeys, i.e.
primitive race)
Susena Vanar chief and elder.
Tara Bali's wife - daughter of Susena.
Trijata Sita's Raksha companion.
Vajra-danshtra Raksha warrior.
Vajra-hanu Raksha warrior.
Visishtha A priest of Dasa-ratha's court.
Viswa-mitra A saint / holy man of Dasa-ratha's court.
Yudhajit Prince of Kaikeyas, kingdom of the western
regions.
The
Story
"Rich in royal worth and valour, rich in holy Vedic lore,
Dasa-ratha ruled his empire in the happy days of yore,
Loved of men in fair Ayodhya, sprung of ancient Solar Race,
Royal rishi [saint] in his duty, saintly rishi in his grace,
Great as Indra in his prowess, bounteous as Kuvera kind,
Dauntless deeds subdued his foemen, lofty faith subdued his mind!"
SITA-SWAYAMVARA (The Bridal of Sita)
In Ayodha Dasa-ratha ruled over a happy court and kingdom. He had four
sons, the eldest and heir to the throne being Rama. King Janak of the Videhas
had a gorgeous daughter called Sita, and he challenged all the young nobles to
win the hand of Sita in marriage by bending a magical bow of war.
It was Rama who bent and broke the bow; and thus won the hand of Sita.
Dasa-ratha travelled to Mithila and was greeted by Janak who also arranged the
marriages of Rama's three brothers. The wedding took place at Mithila.
VANA-GAMANA-ADESA (The Banishment)
Bharat (being a Keikeya) was sent with Satrughna to his mother's
homeland at the request of Kaikeyan prince Yudhajit, and the town of Ayodha
prepared for the coronation of Rama. This would confirm his position as heir to
the throne. However, Queen Kaikeyi's nursemaid Manthara warned the Queen that
if Rama were to become King, he would be jealous of Queen Kaikeyi's son and
rival, Bharat, and would kill him. Rama must be banished.
The King saw that Queen Kaikeyi was upset, and promised to do anything she
wanted in order to remedy the situation. When she asked him to banish Rama for
fourteen years in Dandak's forest, he was horrified. However he was nonetheless
compelled to abide by the promise he made to his wife. Rama was summoned to the
King, but the distraught and brow-beaten King let Queen Keikeyi do all the
talking. She told Rama coldly that he was to be banished.
DASA-RATHA-SAMBADA (The Death of the
King)
Rama considered it his duty to carry out his father's wishes, and set
off with his dutiful wife Sita and faithful brother Lakshman, who promised to
protect them. They escaped at night time to evade the lamenting citizens,
initially helped by chariot-driver Sumantra. They made their way into the
forest and crossed several rivers, eventually reaching the Ganges. Having
crossed this great river they arrived at Prayaga (at Allahabad), home of the
hermit Bharad-vaja, who put them up for a night and advised them to move on to
Chitra-kuta where they could live in peace in a more out-of-the-way location.
Lakshman built a boat to help them cross the Jumna river, and they eventually
arrived at Chitra-kuta where they were welcomed by the bard Valmiki at his
hermitage.
From the Calcutta Review prior to 1969:
"We have often looked on that green hill: It is the
holiest spot of that sect of the Hindu faith who devote themselves to this
incarnation of Vishnu. The whole neighbourhood is Rama's country. Every
headland has some legend, every cavern is connected with his name, some of the
wild fruits are still called Sita-phal, being the reputed food of the exile.
Thousands and thousands annually visit this spot, and round the hill is raised
a footpath on which the devotee, with naked feet, treads full of pious
awe."
The chariot-driver Sumantra arrived back in Ayodhya to find King Dasa-ratha
lamenting the loss of Rama. The king told his wife Kausalya of an event that
happened when he was young. He was a sabda-bedhi, an archer who shot
by sound. On one occasion he thought he heard the sound of a beast in the
forest, and fired immediately, only to hear a wounded human wailing. He rushed
over to find a dying boy, the son of hermits, pitcher in hand. With his dying
breath the boy asked the monarch what he had done to deserve this. He
instructed Dasa-ratha to go to his parents and tell them what had happened:
But before thou goest, monarch, take, O take thy torturing dart,
For it rankles in my bosom with a cruel burning smart,
And it eats into my young life as the river's rolling tide
By the rains of summer swollen eats into its yielding side.
As Dasa-ratha approached the cottage, he heard the voice of the blind father
welcoming his son, but nonetheless had to own up to the crime he had just
committed. The parents warned him that because of his sin in carrying out this
action, sometime in the future he would lose a son and die in anguish. With
Rama's exile this was about to come true.
RAMA-BHARATA-SAMBADA (The Meeting of the
Princes)
Bharat returned to Ayodha; and upon hearing of Rama's exile made
straight for Chitra-kuta with the three Queens and priest Visishtha. Bharat
arrived first and told Rama of the death of Dasa-ratha, imploring Rama to come
back and take the throne. Rama refused saying that he was duty-bound to do the
will of his dead father - i.e. fourteen years exile in the jungle.
The royal dames arrived; and Queen Kausalya wept over Sita, lamenting that Sita
was losing her beauty. Jabali, a Brahman, thoroughly questioned Rama's values
of faith, law and duty; trying to persuade him that spiritual values count for
nothing; and to give up his ideals and return to Ayodha as monarch.
Bharat once more urged Rama to accept the throne, claiming that Oudh's
rebellious subjects only wanted Rama. However Rama held steadfast, giving
Bharat his sandals as a token of his esteem and authority to rule in his place.
Bharat, in tribute to his brother, promised to wear only the garb of a hermit
whilst on the throne.
Bharat returned to Ayodha; and wanderlust struck Rama again. The three of them
sought and found the hermitage of Atri and his wife Anasuya, who cosseted Sita
and gave her some jewellery. They spent the night with them, then carried on
into deeper forests.
PANCHAVATI (On the Banks of the
Godavari)
They were now in the area known as Dandak (Deccan) and stumbled across
a cluster of hermit homes, making their way from one to the other until they
came to the hermitage of Saint Agastya. They marvelled at the shrines to all
the gods in his hermitage, and Agastya gave Rama a bow, a dart, a quiver and
arrows, and a sabre; warning him that he would need them.
The saint was concerned that Sita wouldn't be able to go much further, and
advised them of a suitable dwelling in the Panchavati woods near the source of
the Godavari river and an old Nyagrodha or banyan tree. Lakshman built
a hermitage here. It was winter now and the frosts were encroaching, but for a
while the three led an idyllic existence.
SITA-HARANA
(Sita Lost)
One day a maiden called Surpa-nakha came wandering near the cottage
and happened to see Rama. She was very plain herself (to say the least!); but
admired his physical beauty, and boldy introduced herself, asking him to marry
her. Rama made it clear that this would upset Sita, and told her to go and see
Lakshman as he was unattached. Lakshman, fearing correctly that she was a
Raksha princess of Ceylon and thus had the power to change her physical form,
told her that he was devoted to the will of his brother. He told her that she
might have more luck with Rama as Sita's beauty was fading. Feeling provoked by
this, Surpa-nakha threatened to kill Sita. In immediate response Lakshman
swooped up with his sword and "cleft her nose and either ear". He
also slayed her attendants Khara and Dushan.
Surpa-nakha ran to her brother Ravan, king of the Rakshas. Maricha was also
there, and upon hearing of her plight changed his shape into that of a
beautiful deer. Whilst wandering in the forest Sita noticed this deer, and
marvelled at its beauty, drawing the attention of Lakshman to it. Lakshman was
cautious and refused to have anything to do with the creature. Sita, however,
wished to keep it and take it as a pet back to Ayodha - so fearless Rama set
out to catch it. Eventually it succumbed to Rama's arrows, and whilst dying it
imitated Rama's voice crying "Speed, my faithful brother Lakshman,
helpless in the woods I die!"
Sita heard the cry and implored Lakshman to hasten to the rescue of Rama.
Lakshman was however suspicious that the voice they heard was a mere trick of
the Rakshas. For once, however, Sita became angry with Lakshman and attributed
an unrighteous motive to him:-
Following like a faithful younger in this dread and lonesome land,
Seekest thou the death of elder to enforce his widow's hand?
False thy hope as foul thy purpose! Sita is a faithful wife,
Sita follows saintly Rama, true in death as true in life!
Lakshman was very offended by this; nonetheless he reluctantly agreed to go to
find Rama, hoping his fears of Rakshan trickery were ill-founded.
The evil Ravan visited Sita in disguise, dressed as an anchorite. He praised
her beauty, pressing her to leave Rama because the jungle was not the place for
a woman of wondrous beauty such as herself. Sita did not suspect him at all, so
she told him the story of how they came to be in the jungle. Ravan revealed
himself as king of the Rakshas, and asked Sita if she would share his empire
with him. She refused, repeating many times "Rama is my wedded lord".
Sita started to swoon as Ravan seated her in his celestial carriage to fly her
off to his kingdom, the island of Ceylon. When she became aware of what was
happening, she called out in vain to Rama and Lakshman, hoping that some echo
of the event of her abduction would remain in the surrounding woods.
KISHKINDHA (In the Nilgiri Mountains)
Rama lamented long and loud by the cottage door, and with Lakshman
searched until reaching the Malya mountains stretching to the south. There they
met Sugriva, king of the Vanars (literally monkeys, meaning a primitive race)
and his henchman Hanuman. Sugriva was in a similar situation to Rama, having
been exiled from his kingdom of Kishkindha and bereft of his wife by a
tyrannical brother, Bali. Rama and Sugriva made a pact to help each other.
The four of them made their way to Kishkindha; and Sugriva challenged his
brother Bali by means of an almighty shout from the walls of the city. Bali's
wife Tara urged her husband not to act impulsively. She told him that her son
in the forest had heard that Sugriva had teamed up with a mighty warrior from
Ayodha. Tara advised Bali to make up with his brother, and make him regent and
heir rather than risk the wrath of Rama.
Bali scorned his wife's advice and told her to rejoin her maidservants. He made
his way to the city gates and locked Sugriva in combat. Sugriva struggled to
gain the upper hand on his brother, and was finally aided by Rama's swift and
fatal arrow.
Tara wept for her husband, as did Sugriva for his obstinate brother. Hanuman
urged Rama to go into the city to consecrate Sugriva as monarch. Rama refused
to go against his father's mandate by entering a city, but he instructed
Sugriva to assume the royal sceptre and share the ruling of Kishkindha with
Bali's son Angad. There were great celebrations in the city.
Rama found that the clouds gathering on Malya's cloud-capped ranges and the
ensuing thunderstorm reminded him of the chasm between himself and his loved
one, for whom love rankled in his heart. Sugriva ordered the marshalled Vanars
to split up and search the whole country for the hiding place of Ravan.
SITA-SANDRESA (Sita Discovered)
In response Hanuman crossed the ocean to the 'emerald isle girded by
the sapphire wave'. He searched the border of the island, and hid in a dark
asoka garden (the name of an orange and scarlet flower) within a tree. His eyes
rested on an unhappy yet beauteous woman protected by a guard of Rakshas.
Hanuman, convinced this was the fabled Sita, began to sing of the story of Rama
and his search for his lost wife. Upon reaching the conclusion of this song:
Hushed the voice: the ravished Sita cast her wond'ring eyes around,
Whence that song of sudden gladness, whence that soul-entrancing sound?
Dawning hope and rising rapture overflowed her widowed heart,
Is it dream's deceitful whisper which the cruel Fates impart?
Hanuman made himself known to her, and passed on a message of love from Rama.
Sita was overjoyed to hear this, and asked if Rama was raising an army to come
and rescue her. He confirmed that Rama would do all he could to win back his
beloved Sita. Sita gave him a lock of hair, and he took this back over the
ocean to Prasra-vana, the agreed meeting place of Rama and Lakshman. Rama
recognised the jewel in the lock of hair as being that given to her on the
occasion of her wedding by her father Janak. Rama urged Sugriva to rouse his
mighty forces to cross the ocean for "Rama speeds on wings of vengeance
Lanka's impious lord to smite!"
RAVANA-SABHA (The Council of War)
In his council hall Ravan spoke to his assembled warriors, informing
them that Hanuman had crept onto their land, spied Sita, and whilst leaving
laid waste to the town by arson, and burnt down their turret tower and temple.
He beseeched his advisers to issue forth their opinions as to what to do when
the mighty Rama returns.
One by one Prahasta, Durmukha, Vajra-danshtra, Nikumbha and Vajra-hanu rose and
urged Ravan to 'let em have it'. Then Ravan's youngest brother Bibhishan arose
and expressed concern about fighting over such a trivial matter. Just return
Sita to her husband, end everyone will be happy. Ravan's other brother
Kumha-karna said much the same thing, but promising his allegiance to Ravan
whatever happens. Ravan's son Indrajit told him to ignore the feeble
faint-hearted voices and not to yield to shame.
Ravan's decision was to go to battle. He thoroughly scorned and scolded the
timid opinions of his jealous and weak relatives. His brother Bibhishan was
angered at this slight and retorted:
Blind to reason and to wisdom, Ravan, seek thy destined fate,
For thy impious lust of woman, for thy dark unrighteous hate,
Blind to danger and destruction, deaf to word of council given,
By the flaming shafts of Rama thou shalt die by will of Heaven!
YUDDHA (The
War in Ceylon)
Rama crossed the ocean with his army by building a great causeway, the
remains of which have formed the chain of islands between India and Ceylon. He
quietly surrounded the city of Lanka with his assembled troops. Ravan charged
with his Rakshas and crushed the Vanars until Lakshman and Rama came forth and
turned the tide of war with their arrows. Indrajit, Ravan's son, swung the tide
back onto Ravan's side by using magic, and aimed his poisoned darts at Rama and
Lakshman.
The two brothers fainted on the field, and Indrajit ran to tell his father of
their death. Ravan bade them to return and take Sita to see their bodies. Sita
mourned and grieved for Kausalya, Rama's mother. Sita's companion Trijata,
however, noticed that they were not dead, and with the help of the Vanars were
beginning to come round again. Comforted by this the two returned to Lanka.
God was on the side of Rama, and the Rakshas stood no chance against him. One
by one mighty warriors would come forth and be slain. Ravan decided to mount
his carriage and roll straight through the city gates. The Vanars were
disrupted, and the projectiles thrown at Ravan were deflected. Lakshman
challenged Ravan to an equal fight - an opportunity not to be resisted.
Lakshman used his darts to break the fall of every arrow as it came. Finally
Ravan threw a javelin. Lakshman's darts were not up to that, and he fell in his
own blood. Distressed at this sight, Rama arose, and Ravan immediately turned
and fled back to Lanka.
The desperate Ravan turned to his formidable brother Kumbha-karna to save the
honour of the Rakshas. On seeing his visage the trembling Vanars started to
flee. Sugriva bravely rallied them to duty; however all efforts against this
mighty man were useless and the army started again to flee. Kumbha-karna
scoffed at Lakshman's challenge, incurring the wrath of Rama who sprayed him
with arrows, finally penetrating his armour.
All of Ravan's sons were dead except Indrajit, who vowed to try once more to
defeat the foe. He made all the right sacrifices and libations, and assembled
another army to pour arrows on his assembled foe:
Then on Rama, and on Lakshman, from his dark and misty shroud,
Indrajit discharged his arrows bright as sunbeams through a cloud.
Once again the heroes fell in a faint from Indrajit's arrows. Healed by herbs
obtained by Hanuman, the brothers rose once again. Having waited until
nightfall, the flew through the city gates and into the city. Kumbha-karna's
sons tried in vain to hold them back. Indrajit, angered by this further loss of
life, magically made an image of Sita and placed it on his speeding battle
carriage. he drove into the middle of the field of war and smote the effigy.
Rama heard rumours of this deed from the watching Vanars, but was confronted by
Ravan's youngest brother Bibhishan, who visited him to tell him that this deed
was mere trickery,
Rama sent Lakshman with Bibhishan and some of his army to Nikumbilha; and they
arrived just after Indrajit's magical rites had begun. Angered, Indrajit
accused Bibhishan of being a traitor to the Raksha cause. Bibhishan retorted
that the earth can no longer bear Ravan's sin in abducting Sita. Indrajit then
turned to Lakshman, asking him if he had not already learnt his lesson. In
reply, Lakshman accused him of timidly hiding behind magical devices, and
challenged him to an open combat. The fight was very even. Lakshman penetrated
Indrajit's armour and managed to sever his bow. Finally he administered the
fatal dart.
On hearing the news of Indrajit's death, Ravan's heart was filled with sorrow
and remorse:
Tears of sorrow, slow and silent, fell upon the monarch's breast,
Then a swelling rage and passion woke within his heaving chest,
Like the sun of scorching summer glowed his face in wrathful shame,
From his brow and rolling eyeballs issued sparks of living flame!
In a frenzy, Ravan made his way to Sita, but found her protected by courtiers
who restrained his hand. They reminded him that the gates of eternal life are
closed to the man who draws the blood of a woman. However, they advised him
that it was an auspicious day for victory in battle.
The monarch once more ordered his army to be armed. In formation they thundered
through the city gates. Ravan's chariot hurried past until it reached Bibhishan
and Lakshman. He dashed from his chariot and challenged Lakshman, knocking him
senseless with a javelin:
Wrathful Rama saw the combat and arose in godlike might,
Careless, steedless, wounded Ravan sought his safety in his flight.
Rama counted his life as nothing without his brother by his side - he lamented
the loss of his greatest helper. Ravan had not fled in terror, but to pick up
more supplies. With a new and glorious carriage, Ravan returned to war. In
response the Gods gave Rama a chariot, driven by Matali. Matali instructed Rama
to take the chariot and various weapons with it.
Rama mounted the chariot; and the almighty contest began between Ravan's
chariot and Rama's heavenly car. both warriors fought well and evenly, but Rama
remembered the weapons given to him by Saint Agostya - a dart from the Gods
pierced the iron heart of Ravan:
Voice of blessing from the bright sky fell on Raghu's valiant son,
"Champion of the true and righteous! now thy noble task is done!"
Ravan's eldest wife Mandodari wept for him, but admitted that he had reaped the
reward of his sins for stealing another man's wife and ignoring his own. The
mourners heaped the wood of the sandal tree and lifted Ravan onto the pyre
clothed in the richest robes. Offerings were laid on the altar and a goat was
sacrificed. Bibhishan lighted the funeral pyre, and Rama laid aside his mighty
arms.
RAJYA-ABHISHEKA (Rama's Return and
Consecration)
Rama had heard rumours casting a shadow on Sita's faithfulness. In
order to vindicate herself she asked Lakshman to make a funeral pyre for her.
She invoked the Gods to protect her if she was indeed still pure in act and
thought. She stepped on the pyre and disappeared into the red flame. The God of
Fire emerged holding Sita in his bosom, and proclaimed to Rama that despite
temptation, particularly from the entreaties of Ravan, Sita had remained
sinless. Rama was overjoyed.
The exiles were carried home on an aerial carriage borne by swans. From this
vantage-point they saw the battle-fields of Ceylon, the causeway, Kishkindha,
the Dandak forest, the Ganges and finally Ayodha.
Bharat and Satrughna were overjoyed to hear of the return of his brother.
Bharat ordered celebrations of every possible kind, and mounted his chariot to
seek his brother. He returned the jewelled sandals to his brother with an
expression of joy:
"Bharat's life is joy and gladness, for returned from distant shore,
Thou shalt rule thy spacious kingdom and thy loyal men once more,
Thou shalt hold thy rightful empire and assume thy royal crown,
Faithful to his trust and duty, - Bharat renders back thine own!"
Joy prevailed as Rama was consecrated king, and anointed by Vasishtha with
sacred water from distant hills and streams. Throughout Rama's reign diseases
were kept at bay and no subject was tempted by sin.
This is the end of the real epic of the Ramayana, however a supplement was
added describing the fate of Sita.
ASWA-MEDHA (Sacrifice of the Horse)
Years passed, and in return for his years of righteous duty, Rama was
granted the right to hold a special feast called an aswa-medha, or horse
sacrifice. It was held in the forest of Naimisha, far from Ayodhya and went on
for a year or so. At the same time copious gifts were distributed to the poor.
One of the honoured guests at the feast was Saint Valmiki, reputed author of
the Ramayana. He asked Sita's sons Lava and Kusa to sing portions of the epic
for the guests. That evening they did so, attracting the attention of Rama. He
spoke to them, and whilst doing so, it dawned on him that these were the sons
of Sita; and that, with her mother, they had been banished to live in the
forest. Rama asked the boys who had composed the epic. They informed him that
it was written by Saint Valmiki.
Rama sent a message to Saint Valmiki that he would like to see his banished
wife Sita again; and sure enough Sita appeared the next morning at the feast.
Rama told them that he had never doubted Sita's faithfulness, but that he had
bowed to his people's pressure in disowning her. He prayed to the Gods to
forgive him for this error. In reply, Sita called upon her mother earth to
receive her again if she had remained undefiled in duty and devotion.
Then the earth was rent and parted, and a golden throne arose,
Held aloft by jewelled Nagas [snakes] as the leaves enfold the rose,
And the Mother in embraces held her spotless sinless Child,
Saintly Janak's saintly daughter, pure and true and undefiled,
Gods and men proclaim her virtue! But fair Sita is no more,
Lone is Rama's loveless bosom and his days of bliss are o'er!
*Conclusion
According to the Everyman edition of the work:
"In the concluding portion of the Uttara or Supplemental
Book, the descendants of Rama and his brothers are described as the founders of
the great cities and kingdoms which flourished in Western India in the fourth
and fifth centuries before the Christian Era.
The sons of Bharat, Rama and Santrughna did very well for themselves.
The death of Rama and his brothers was in accordance with Hindu ideas of the
death of the righteous. Lakshman died under somewhat peculiar circumstances. A
messenger from heaven sought a secret conference with Rama, and Rama placed
Lakshman at the gate, with strict injunctions that whoever intruded on the
private conference should be slain. Lakshman himself had to disturb the
conference by the solicitation of the celestial rishi Durvasa, who always
appears on earth to create mischief. And true to the orders passed by Rama, he
surrendered his life by penances, and went to heaven.
In the fullness of time, Rama and his other brothers left Ayodhya, crossed the
Sarayu, surrendered their mortal life, and entered heaven."
©John Crocker (November 1998).