Ramavijaya, the mythological history of Rama. With illustrations

m

IAIAVIJAYA.

( THE MYTHOLOGICAL HISTORY OF RAMA, )

With Illustrations.

S I ^ CT E f K A N C A I S
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1891

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'• We have always thought it strange that, while the history
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"What Macaulay remarks in these introductory lines
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Bombay 1891. DUBHASHI & CO.

RAMAVUAYA.

THE MYTHOLOGICAL HISTORY OF RAMA.

Powlasti, a son of Bramhadev* was married to Deva-
varni, and he had a son called Vishrava. A daughter
of Bharadwaja, a Eishi, f was given away in marriage to
Vishrava; and she had a son called Kuber. Bramhadev
had created Lanka and given it to Kuber. While Kuber
was ruling there, a demon came from Fatal J in the form
of a Brahman and became very jealous of him. The de
mon said to himself, " Lanka is my country and this man
has no right to rule here. " So saying to himself he gave
away his daughter, Kakesi, in marriage to Vishrava with
a view to drive out Kuber of his country, Lanka, with the
help of the sons who would be born to her by him. Vish
rava had got by Kakesi three demons, Havana, Kumbha-
karna, and Vibhishana and two demonesses, Tateka and
Surpanakha. Ha van and his brothers went to Gokarna,
where they performed severe penances. Siva§ was pro
pitiated by Havana, Bramhadev by Kumbhakarna, and
Vishnu^ by Vibhishana. Bramhadev was pleased with
them and called upon them to ask him for blessings. Ha
vana was blessed with a power to imprison all gods
and also with wealth and learning. Kumbhakarna wanted
such a blessing from Bramhadev as would enable him to
devour heaven and earth. All the gods were, therefore,
alarmed and prayed to the goddess, Saraswati, who induc
ed the demon to ask the god for sleep. Bramhadev blessed

* The creating god of the universe, f A sage. J The re~
gions under the earth. § The destroying god of the universe,
^ The protecting god of the universe.
I"

2 Ramavijaya.

him with sleep, saying that the demon would rise every six
months to eat his meals and indulge in all other luxu
ries. Vibhishana,was blessed with a power to pray always
to Vishnu. Havana and Kumbhakarana then collected all
demons including Kharadushana and Trishira and march
ed against Kuber to conquer Lanka. They fought with
Kuber with bravery, but the latter repulsed them with
heavy loss. Havana then went to Vishrava and brought
his letter to Kuber asking him to give Lanka to the de
mon without any resistance. On reading the letter from
his father he gave the country to Ravana and proceeded
to heaven by a Viman* Mayasur, a demon, gave
away his daughter, Mandodari, in marriage to Ravana.
Pirghajwala, a grand-daughter of Bali, was married to
Kmnbhakarna, and Sharma, a daughter of a GandharvJ to
Vibhishana. Ravana conquered all countries and devour
ed a large number of Brahmans and cows. He robbed
Ivuber of his treasure and oppressed all other people.
He had eight thousand wives, one lac of sons and one lac
and twenty thousand grand-sons. He had eighteen
kshoyanis^ of musicians, who entertained him with music.
All kings were his slaves, and eight thousand torches
lighted his sabha § every night. All mountains for fear
of Indra^ prayed to Ravana for protection, who told them
to become elephants. They accordingly became elephants
whom he engaged as his servants. He then marched
against Indra with his eldest son, Meghanand. A severe
battle took place between the gods and the demons, but
the former were defeated by the latter. In that battle
Meghanand flung down Indra with his hairawati$ and

* A conveynance or a chariot serving as a throne through
the skies, self -directed and self -moving. | A demi-god. J One
kshoyani consists of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 1^09,350
foot, and 65,610 horses. § A court. ^ The king of the gods.
$ An elephant,

Ramavijaya. 3

hence he was called India jit, the conquerer of Indra. All
the gods were seized by Ravana and released on the condi
tion that they should serve him in his household in dif
ferent capacities. All the gods became his slaves ; Indra
served him as his butler, Chandra held a chatra* over
him, Kuber and Anil cleaned and washed all the things
in his house. Agni served him as his washerman, and
Gabhasti as his page. Brahaspati was his pleader, Bra-
mhadev his priest, and Narada always entertained him with
singing. Ravana became a great favourite of Siva ; and
by his blessing he had got ten faces and twenty hands. One
day he, proud of his prosperity, went by his viman to
Kailasa, the place of Siva, when Nandi^ who was guard
ing the door of the abode in which the god lived, prevent
ed him from entering it. The demon was greatly insult
ed at the conduct of ISTandi, and said " I do not care a fig
of thee and thy master." So saying he began to force his
way in, when Siva cursed him and said to him, " A human
being and monkeys will kill thee in a battle." Enraged
at this curse he tried to pull off the mountain on which
the abode of Siva stood with a view to carry it to Lanka,
when the god pressed it in such a manner that the domon-
king was confined to it for one thousand years. He always
cried and prayed to Siva during the time for his release.
One day the god pitied him and set him free. Thence
he went to Sahasrarjun and praised his own strength
there, when the latter caught hold of him and put him in
his arms. He was ashamed and went to the kingdom of
Bali, who possessed prodigious strength. He entered the
palace of the king and1 praised his valour and bravery, when
the latter said in order to test his strength, " There lie
the kundalas | of the demon, ^eranyakashapu, whom "Vi
shnu had killked to protect Pralada. Just go and get the

* A large and lofty parasol, f The bull on which Siva ridei.
% Ear -ornaments.

4 Ramavijaya.

ornaments here." Havana went to bring them but he could
not lift them up, when Bali said to him, "If thou canst bring
the kundalas, just get that die which fell down there, while
my wife and I were playing together.'' Havana accord
ingly went to bring the die but, to his great surprise, he
could not remove it, when both Bali and his wife heartily
laughed at him. Havana, humbled as he was, set out for
Lanka; but on the road he was robbed of his clothes and
ornaments and let off with soot being applied to his ten
faces and with his hands tied up behind like a prisoner.
He was much troubled by the people on the road. Some
threw dust at him, some slapped him in the face, some
pulled him by the beard and others made him sit down
on a dung-hill. A maid-servant of Bali caught him so for
cibly that he implored her to spare his life. Vishrava
then came there apd begged of Bali to make a present of
the demon to him. His request was granted and Ravana
was let off. The demon-king returned to Lanka with shame
and confusion. A few days after his return to Lanka he
went to catch Vali, who carried him away in his arms to
his house and tied him up to the cradle in which his son,
Angada, was fast asleep. Vishrava came and requested
Vali to set him free. Vali granted his request and, ap
plying soot to all the faces of Ravana, allowed him to go
to Lanka. One day he asked Bramhadev to inform him
by whose hands he would die, when the god told him that
he would die by the hands of Rama, a son of Dasharatha
and grand-son of Ajapal. Ravana got very indignant and
said that he would kill Dasharatha and his wife by any
means. Soon after, Ajapal made preparations for celebrat
ing the marriage of his son with Kausalya, when Narada
told him to watch his son and daughter-in-law, because
Ravana would kill them under any circumstances. Where
upon Ajapal took Dasharatha and Kausalya on board a
ship in the sea far off and was about to tell his priest to

Ramavijaya. 5

perform their marriage, when Ravana attacked the ship
at night with a large army of demons and broke her in
the sea. All perished except Dasharatha and Kausalya.
Rarana pat Kausalya into a box and handed it over to a
fish, which carried it to a desolate island and deposited it
there for safety. Dasharatha struggled much with the
wares of the sea but at last he got into a broken vessel,
which was carried by the waves to the island, where the
box was deposited by the fish. Dasharatha landed on the
sea-shore ; and seeing the box there he seated himself up
on it for rest. Having got refreshed, he opened the box
out of curiosity but, to his great surprise, he found Kau
salya in it. Narada came there in the meantime and,
having perfonied their marriage, blessed them, saying that
the god, Rama, would be born to them. In Lanka Ravana
asked the god, Bramhadev, about his prediction. He said
to the god, " Where is Dasharatha? You know, he has al
ready perished in the sea." Bramliadev replied, "Long since
Dasharatha has been married to Kausalya; and you will see
that Rama will be shortly born to them." Ravana said,
" Well then, get them here." Bramhadev replied, " If I
get them here, what will you give me ?" Ravana said, "I
promise to give you whatever you will ask from me."
Bramhadev then went and brought the box from the island
and, having opened it, he showed the bride and bride-
gro@m to the demon. As soon as he saw them, he got
exceedingly enraged and was about to cut off their heads,
when Bramhadev stepped forward and said to him, " You
promised me that you would give me whatever.! would ask
from you. I, therefore, ask you not to kill Dasharatha
and Kausalya.'' Ravana replied, " You may ask me for
any other thing but I cannot spare the lives of those wret-
tched beings." Bramhadev said, " I do not want any other
hings from you but I want you to spare their lives.'' Ra-
yana could not break his promise and accordingly spared

6 Ramavijaya.

their lives. Bramhadey then brought them to Ayodya,
and placed Dasharatha on the throne of the country.
One day while Ravana was going by his viman, he observ
ed on the road a beautiful woman, who was the wife of a god
and sought to outrage her modesty. She complained to
Bramhadev against the conduct of the demon, when the
god cursed him and said that if he would outrage the mo
desty of any woman, he would be cut into one hundred
pieces. For fear of the curse he let her go and began to
devour the Brahmans and cows that came in his way.
The earth trembled and went in the form of a cow to Bra
mhadev with all the gods and Rishig and applied to him for
protection, when a voice said, " I will be born in the family
of Dasharatha and called Rama ; and killing Ravana and
all other demons, I will make all the gods and good people
happy. For the purpose of helping me the Shesha * on
which I lie, will be my second brother, who will be named
Lakshuman, the shankhaj which is in my hand, will bo
my third brother, who will be called Bharata and the
sudarshan^ my weapon, will be my fourth brother, who will
be -named Shatrughana; and ye, all the gods, will be mon
keys.- Siva will be Maruti; Bramhadev, Janbuvant; Dhana-
vantari, Sushen; Biahasapati, Angada ; the sun, Sugriva;
Agni, Nala; and Yama, Rashabha.'' Listening to the voice
o£ Vishnu all the gods and Rishis were glad and returned
to their respective places. At Ayodya Dasharatha marri
ed more wives, Sumitra and Kayakayi. He was an ac
complished prince and very dexterous in the use of dha-
nushabans.§ One day he dreamt a dream in which he found
that he had killed an innocent man and woman. Where
upon he asked his guru*[ Vashista, a Rishi, to interprete

• . * The king of the serpent-race, as a large, thousand head
ed snakes, at once the couch and canopy of Vishnu and the up
holder of the world which rests on one of its heads. f The
cotLch-shell-. J- A discus. § Bows and arrows. ^ A spiritual teacher

Ramavijaya. 7

the dream, when the latter said to him, " This dream in
dicates bad omens. I, therefore, advise you to kill a few
stags and perform a penance, so that nothing bad may
happen to you." Listening to the advice of the guru Da-
sharatha went to a forest for hunting stags ; and though
he worked hard the whole day, he did not come across
any stag. At the sun-set he lay in wait at a lake anxious
ly expecting a stag there. But, in the meantime, a man
called Shravan came there with a kavada* across his
shoulders in which his helpless old mother and father were
seated by him. His parents, being thirsty, asked their
son to fetch some water for them. Whereupon Shravan
placed the kavada on the ground, and taking a goblet in
his hand, went to the lake ; but whilst he was taking the
water, the king took him for a stag and discharged an
arrow at him, which passed through his heart. Dashara-
tha came where he was lying and became extremely sorry
for the accident, when Shravan said to him, " I shall not
now live. Please, therefore, take some water in this goblet
and give it to my parents, as they are very thirsty ; and as
soon as I hear that they have quenched their thirst, I
shall instantly die. They are very old and cannot walk •
I carry them in a kavada across my shoulder. Oh, my
good king, take care of these poor creatures. There is no
one to look after them." Dasharatha sighed and wept
but the loss was irreparable. The king then took some
water in the goblet and stood where the kavada was placed
without speaking a word. The old woman and the man,
who were blind, taking him for Shravan, said, " Child,
why doest thou not speak ? Art thou angry with us, be
cause we sent thee to the lake at this hour ? Child, thou
art always obedient to us and what has irritated thee to
day ?'* These words made Dasharatha shed tears, and at

* A bamboo lath provided with slings at each end for the
conveyance across the shoulder of pitcher, &c.

8 Ramavijaya.

last he broke the sad news to the old parents of Shravan,
when they cried violently and said, " Shravan, none can
get a son like thee in this world. We feel much for thee
and die with thee. Oh, we cannot bear this grief. You,
the murderer of our child, we curse you and say that you
will also die of grief for your son in the same way we do."
So saying they instantly expired. Dasharatha grieved much
for Shravan and his old parents whom he had killed by his
own hands, and performed their funeral ceremonies. The
king then returned to Ayodya and informed Vashista of
what had happened. At this time there was a great
famine in the country, as there was no rain for twelve years;
and consequently the subjects of the king died of thirst
and hunger one after another. The rain was stopped, be
cause Vrashaparva, a powerful demon, fought with the gods
in heaven with the assistance of his guru, Shukra. Indra,
therefore, sent a chariot to Dasharatha and requested him
to come up to heaven and kill the demon, informing him
at the same time, that the rain was stopped on account of
the battle with the gods. Whereupon Dasharatha went
by the chariot to Indra with his favourit wife, Kayakayi.
Immediately on his arrival there Dasharatha fought with
the demons and killed a large number of them, when Vra
shaparva made an attack upon the king but he was also
repulsed. His guru, Shukra, then took the field and dis
charged arrows at the king, when the chariot of the king
was about to give way but his wife, Kayakayi, supported
it by one of her hands, of which the king knew nothing.
Dasharatha bravely continued the fight and cut off the
guru's horse and mugut.* Shukra fled in alarm with the
other demons. When every thing was over, the king was
informed that the victory he had gained in the battle with
the demons, was due to his wife, Kayakayi. The king
was pleased with her, and asked her what reward she
* A Tiaria,

Ramavijaya. 9

wanted from him. Kayakayi replied, " Kindly give me
your promise that you will give me whatever I will ask
from you; and I shall ask you for it whenever I like." The
king generously gave the promise she required.

The victory, gained by Dasharatha in the battle with
the demons, was due to Kayakayi, beca'use when she was
young, a Tapaswi* came to her parents and stayed with
them for a day. At the time of his bathing her mother
told her to go and rub his body with scents. She accord
ingly went to him with the scents ; but finding that the
Tapaswi was absorbed in meditation, she applied soot to his
face instead of the scents. Having found that the soot
had been applied to his face, he got indignant and cursed
the doer of the mischeif and said. " Whoever has applied
this soot to my face, will always be looked upon by all
people with contempt." Her mother was afraid of this
curse; and finding that it was her daughter's doing, she
threw herself at the feet of the Tapaswi and implored him
to make the curse a little milder. Whereupon the Tapa
swi said, " The hand with which your daughter has appli
ed the soot to my face, will give success to her husband in
a battle which he will fight with demons and for which
only she will be praised by all."

After the battle was over, Brahasapti asked the king
whether he had any issue. Dasharatha replied, " I am
very sorry that I have no issue." The god blessed him
and said, " Vishnu, the protecting god of the universe, will
be born to you." Indra said, " There is a Rishi called
Shringa Rishi, who has not yet seen a human face. He
lives with his father in a forest ; and if he is induced and
brought to Ayodya, his father, who is a great Tapaswi, will
come there in search of his son; and by his blessing you
will get children. I shall, therefore, send a devangana f

* An ascetic, f The wife of a god.

10 Ramavijaya.

to the forest to charm him with her beauty and singing,
so that he may easily follow her." Dasharatha thanked
Indra and returned to Ayodya with Kayakayi. Indra ac
cordingly sent a devangana to the forest. The young
Rishi was placed by his father, Vibhandak, on a mala* in
order that he might not be devoured by lions and tigers.
The young boy, having seen the woman, was at first fri
ghtened; but soon after, he was charmed with her beauty
and singing. As his father was absent, she brought him
to Ayodya. Dasharatha cordially received him; and short
ly after, he gave away his foster-daughter in marriage to
him. Vibhandak knew by his yoga] that his son was
taken to Ayodya in his absence, and got so much enraged
that he immediately went to that city to curse the woman
to death. Dasharatha treated him with respect ; and on
finding that his son was married to the foster-daughter of
the king, he was pleased with him and blessed him, saying
that four mighty sons would be born to him. The Rishi
then made a havan.\ The god, Agni, came out of it and
entrusted to Vashista a thali § full of pay as ^ and told
him to divide it equally among the three wives of the king,
so that they might get sons, as soon as they partook of it.
Vashista made three pindas $ of the payas and gave the
largest of them to Kausalya, the eldest wife of Dasharatha,
and the other two to Sumitra and Kayakayi. Kayakayi,
the third wife of the king, became jealous and said that
,she was entitled to the largest pinda, because she support
ed the chariot of the king by her own hands, which was
about to give way during the battle with the demons.
While she was thus quarreling about it, a ghar || from
above snatched the pinda from her hands and flew in the

* An erected seat, f A union with Bramha through abstract
meditation. J A large hole made in the ground for receiving
and preserving consecrated fire. § A cooking pot. *|" A dish
composed of rice, sugar, milk, &c, $ Lumps. [| A kite.

Ramavijaya. 11

air with it. She became exceedingly sorry and began to
weep, when Dasharatha prevailed upon Kausalya to divi
de her pinda into two halves and give one to Kayakayi
and keep the other for herself. Kausalya accordingly did
it; and Sumitra also did the same thing in compliance
with the wishes of the king. Thus Kayakayi got one full
pinda for herself, which she ate heartily. Kausalya and
Sumitra ate their own halves. Soon after, the three ladies
became pregnant. The pinda which was snatched by the
ghar from the hands of Kayakayi, fell by a blast of wind
into the hands of Anjani, the wife of a monkey called Kesari.
She also swallowed up the pinda and became pregnant.
The story of the child born to Anjani is as follows: —

Anjani, the wife of Kesari, performed a severe
penance for seven years on the hills called Rishiparvat,
in order that the god, Siva, might be pleased to bless
her with an immortal son. Siva was pleased with her
and said, " An immortal son will be born to thee as
thou wishest. He will be a part of my body. I, there
fore, tell thee to sit here in meditation and swallow up
any thing that falls into thy hands, so that thy wish
may be fulfilled." So saying Siva dis-appeared. The
pinda from the bill of the ghar fell into the hands of
Anjani, and she swallowed it up as directed by Siva.

The ghar was a devangana who had become a bird
by the curse of Indra. This god was displeased with
her, because she did not dance properly; and it was
appointed by Bramhadev that she would be released from
the curse, as soon as the pinda fell into the hands of Anjani.
The devangana was accordingly released from the
curse; and after her release she went to Indra. Anjani,
after a period of nine months, was delivered of a powerful
•on called Maruti He was a monkey and had a long
tail. When he saw the light, he was hungry; and when
he did not get any thing to eat, he went to devour the

12 Ramavijaya.

sun, taking him for a fruit. At that time Rahu also
came there to devour the sun, when Maruti said to him*
" Who art thou ? I have come here first to devour the
fruit." So saying he broke the head of Rahu with his
tail and, catching him by his feet, flung him down,
Ketu then came to help him, but he was also severely
beaten by the monkey. In the mean-time, Maruti was
brought down by his father, the wind.

After nine months Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaya-
kayi were delivered of sons. Rama was bora to Kausalya •
Lakshuman to Sumitra ; and the twins, Bharat and
Shatrughana to Kayakayi. They grew up, and the
ceremonies of investing them with sacred threads were
performed. They were taught by Vashista the Vedas*
and mantras.^ On his return from a pilgrimage Vis-
wamitra, a Rishi, c*me to Ayodya. Dasharatha received
him cordially and worshipped him with devotion. The
Rishi blessed him and said to him, " Dasharatha, I want
you to give me a promise that you will give me whatever^
I will ask from you." The king gave him the promise
the Rishi required, when the latter said to the former,
" We all the Rishis are very much troubled by the
demons, Maricha, Subhahu, and others. They have often
destroyed our havans; and consequently we are not able
to perform our yadnya\ successfully. No one can kill
them except Rama. I therefore, wish you to send Rama
with me to kill the demons." Dasharatha was startled
and replied, " Rishi, how can I send my tender child
with you ? How can he kill the mountain-like demons ?
You may ask me for any other thing but not Rama,"
Vishwamitra became very indignant and said, " You
ought to have considered well, before you gave me the
promise. At any rate I must now take Rama with me."

* Sacred writings of the Hindus, f Incantations, J A
sacrifice.

Ramavijaya. 13

In the mean-time Vashista came there and advised the
king to send Rama with the Rishi, saying that if he
did not listen to him, he would curse him and his sons, as
he was obstinate and of a choleric disposition. Dasharatha,
then brought Rama and Lakshuinan before his sabha
and gave them in charge of the Rishi. Vishwamitra then
accompanied by two young boys, set out for the forest,
where the Rishis were performing their yadnya. But
on the road they were encountered by Tatika, a hide
ous and frightful demoness. She had the strength of ten
thousand elephants, her chest was as large as a mountain,
her hair and dress were saturated with blood, the strings
of dead-bodies were put round her neck, and her head was
besmeared with sliindur.* As soon as she saw them, she
opened her mouth and went with other demonesses to de
vour them, when Rama instantly killed her with one ar
row. Twenty croresf of demons, headed by Banasur, a
very powerful demon, then came upon Rama to revenge the
killing of the demoness; but they all were repulsed by him
with heavy loss. After the defeat of the demons they
proceeded on their journey ; and when they came near a
shila,\ it began to tremble as soon as the dust from the
feet of Rama fell upon it ; and no sooner did he touch it
with his feet, than it became a beautiful woman who, bow
ing to Rama, returned to her husband. The story of how
the woman became a shila is as follows:- —

Bramhadev had a very beautiful daughter, named
Ahilya. Many gods and kings requested her father to
give her away in marriage to them. But Bramhadev had
made a condition that whoever would go round the earth
and return within six hours, should marry her without
loss of time. Whereupon all the kings and gods, includ
ing Indra, went round the earth, but none could return
within six hours except Gowtam, a Rishi, to whom Ahilya
* Keil powders. f Ten millions. j A flat stone,

2

14 Ramavijaya.

was married agreeably to the condition. Indra became
very jealous of the Rishi and sought to outrage her mo
desty. Some time after his marriage he and his wife went
to a river with Rishis for ablutions on the day of an eclipse.
After their ablutions were over, Gowtam sat there
with other Rishis for meditation ; and his wife returned
home. While she was alone in her abode, Indra went
there in the form of her husband and outraged her mode
sty. In the mean-time, Gowtam returned home; and
finding Indra in the abode he cursed him and Ahilya, say
ing that there would be one thousand ulcers on the body
of the god and that his wife would be a shila and remain
in that state for sixty thousand years ; but that as there
was no fault on her part, she would be released from the
curse, when Rama would touch her with his feet. Ahilya
accordingly became a shila and Indra a peacock with one
thousand ulcers on his body. While the god in the form
of a peacock was flying about in forests, the other gods
prayed to Gowtam for him, who, having been pleased with
them, restored Indra to his former state and turned all
the ulcers on his body int» eyes. After the release of
Ahilya from the curse, Vishwainitra proceeded on his jour
ney with Rama and Lakshuman. Shatanand, a son of
Ahilya and the priest of the king, Janak, also accompani
ed him. They all arrived at the city of Mathila and put
up at a garden there. At the request of Rama Vfshwa-
witra related the story of the birth of Sita, a daughter of
Janak, which is as follows: —

" There was a king called Padamaksha. One day
he said to Lakshuini, wife of Vishnu, ' I wish you would
be born in my family and become my daughter.' She re
plied, 'If I be born in your family and I become your dau
ghter, you will be miserable. I have however no objection
to become your daughter, if my husband tell me to do so/
Whereupon the king performed a severe penance to gain

Bamavijaya. 15

the favour of Vishnu, who was pleased with him and gave
him a fruit, which the king took at home and kt-.pt with
him. After nine months were orer, the fruit bore a fe
male child, the same Lakshumi. The king, having got a
daughter, became exceedingly glad and named the child
Padmakshi. She grew up aad became marriageable.
Many kiags, derai-gods and Rishis requested her father to
give her away ia marriage to them, but he refused to com
ply with their request, saying that he would marry her to
a man whose body was dark blue. At this refusal they all
got enraged and killed the king on the spot. Whereupon
his daughter threw herself into a havan in which the con
secrated fire was burning. At that time Ravan happened
to look at her, and was captivated with her charms. He
immediately extinguished the fire with a view to catch her,
but she disappeared. He found in the havan five ratnas*
which he gave to his wife, Mandodari. The five ratnas
were placed by Ravana aad his wife ia a box ; and soon
after, they found, to their great surprise, that a female-
child played in it with pleasure. Ravana lifted the child,
but Mandodari said, < If you keep this child here, the
whole of Lanka will be set on fire. The kingdom of
Padmaksha was annihilated on account of this child,
and the poor king was killed by the kings and demi
gods who had gone there to marry her. I, therefore, pro
pose that the box should be thrown somewhere else.' Ra
vana was alarmed, and ordered his minister to bury the
box in the kingdom of Janak, who was the bitterest enemy
of the demon-king. The minister accordingly ordered his
men to carry the box and bury it as directed by Ravana.
The men lifted up the box, when the child said, * I shall
again come here and extirpate all the demons. ' Ravana
got enraged and was about to kill the child, when Mando
dari prevented him from doing so. The box was then car-
* Gems.

16 Ramavijaya.

ried at night and buried in the field presented by Janak to
a Brahman. One day while the Brahman was ploughing
his field, he found the box and carried it to the king. The
box was opened and, to the great astonishment of all, a
girl of the age of five years was found in it. As soon as
the king saw her, he was moved with affection, and broug
ht her up as his daughter. One day Purusharam, haying-
killed all the Kshetriyas* on earth, came to the kingdom
of Janak. He went into the palace with the king to take
dinner ; and when he came out after dinner, he found
that some one had removed the dhanusha^ placed by him
at the court of the king. He was greatly enraged and
said, 'Who has taken my dhanusha ! It is so heavy that
t can not ba removed even by thousands of elephants.' So
saying lie came out of the court with the king to look for
t but, to his grrat surprise, he saw the girl riding on it.
]STo sooner did she behold her father than she left the dha
nusha there and ran away, when Puiusharam said to the
king, ' My incarnation is now over. Let the dhanusha be
here. I now advise you to hold a sccyawar^ and marry
your daughter to any man who will lift up the bow and
break it off.' So saying Purusharam left for his abode.
Soon after, the king held a sayawar and invited to it all
the kings and Eishis on earth. All attended the sayawar
including Havana, who came there without invitation. The
king told the assembly that Sita would be married to any
man who would lift up the dhanusha and break it off.
Many king* attempted to lift it up but they all failed in their
attempt. Ravana then stepped forward and loudly said
with pride and vanity, ' This bow is a trifling thing to me,
I shall break it off in a second. I know, ye, weak kings
and Rishis, will not be able to lift it up. It is I who would
lift up the dhanusha and break it off. Sita will be my

* Warriors. fA bow J The choosing from amongst a
public assembly, of a spouse by a female.

Ramavijaya. 17

wife, and 1 shall be her husband.' So saying, he began
to lift up the dhannsha with all his strength and force ;
and while he was lifting it up, it fell heavily on his breast,
and consequently he panted for breath and implored others
to help him, when Rama immediately removed it, at the
suggestion of Viswamitra, and broke it into two pieces.
Sita, who was seated all the time on the back of an elephant?
put the garland in her hands round the neck of Rama,
when Ravana returned to Lanka with shame and confu
sion. Janak informed Dasharatha of the sayawar and reques
ted him to come to Mithila to celebrate the marriage of
his son with Sita. Dasharatha, full of joy, went to Mithila
with his wives, sons, and courtiers. Soon after, Rama
was married to Sita, and Varmila, Maliti and Shrutakirti,
the other daughters of Janak, to Lakshuman, Bharat, and
Shatrughna respectively. Rama knew that Purusharam
would come and fight with him on account of the dhanusha
he had broken ; and, therefore, he did not like to stay any
longer at Mithila. But at the request of his father-in-law
he stayed there for a few days more. In the meantime,
Narada went to Purusharam and told him that a man call
ed Rama had broken his dhanusha. He was greatly en
raged at this news ; and having come to MithiJa, he kicked
up a great row about the dhanusha. To foment the quarrel
Narada told him that Rama had broken the bow and that he
was so proud that he did not even come down to receive him.
Purusharam got indignant and let off arrows at Rama,
which melted away, as soon as the latter saw them. Puru
sharam, knowing that his incarnation was over, laid down
his arms and weapons, when Rama came down and em
braced him heartily.' '

Soon after, Dasharatha, accompanied by his wives and
sons, returned to Ayodya with exultation and joy. The
king had invited to the marriage of Rama his brother-in-
aw, Sangramajit, who requested the former to send Bha-

Ramavijaya.

rat and- Shatrughana to spend a few days with" him. Da-
snaratha bade his sons go with him, though they were
unwilling to part with his brothers, Rama and Lakshu-
manfora single moment. -Kayakayi pressed her sons to
go' with her brother ; and they accordingly went with him.
Hama and Lakshuman were very obedient to their parents
and served them with all their heart and soul. One
.day the 'king looking to his old age, made up his mind to
install Rama' in the throne of Ayodya. He made every
preparation to perform the ceremony of installation and in
vited to it all the kings and Rishis on earth. All the gods and
Brahmans were afraid that if Rama was installed in the
throne of Ayodya, he would not go to Lanka and relieve
them from the oppression of the demons. Viranchi, one
of the gods, therefore, sent one Tikalpa to go to Ayodya
and prejudice Kayakayi and all the subjects of the king
a'ga'inst Rama and put an obstacle in the performance of
the ceremony, so that the prince might go to the forest
of the demons and kill them all. Vikalpa tried his ut
most to prejudice them against Rama; kit they were all
so good and pious that they remained faithful to the prince.
There was only one wicked woman, Mantra, a favourite
maid-servant of Kayakayi, whom he prejudiced against Ra
ma. She hated the prince ; and with a view to deprive him
of the throne of Ayodya, she went into the room of Ka
yakayi and, throwing herself on the ground, began to beat
her breast with tears in her eyes, when Kayakayi asked her
what the cause of her grief was. Mantra replied, "You, un
fortunate woman! Your husband is going to install Rama
in the throne of Ayodya, and as soon as he is placed on the
throne, he will kill your both the sons. I shall be very
glad, if your Bharat is installed in the throne/' Kayakayi
said, " I have, no objection to the installation of Rama
whom I love. as my :son, Bharat." Mantra got exceedingly
enraged and began to cry violently. Kayakayi went to quiet

Ramavijaya. 19

her when Vikalpa also prejudiced ber against Rarna. Man
tra, seeing a sudden change in her mistress, was might
ily pleased with her and kissed her. Kayakayi said, "My
dearest, just tell me what I should do to get rid of Rama."
" Any how," replied Mantra, " we must send him away
and have our Bharat placed on the throne of Ayodya. 1,
therefore, tell you with pleasure that if the king come to1
see you, ask him to fulfil the promise given by him to you
during the battle he had fought with the demons in heaven .
Do you remember the promise given by him to you 1 He
promised you that he would give you whatever you would
ask from him as a reward for helping him in the battle.
You should, therefore, ask the king to send Rama to the
forest of the demons for fourteen years and place Bharat
on the throne of Ayodya. And another thing is that if
the prince goes to the forest, the king will soon die of grief
for his son ; and it will be then a very good thing for you
and your sons to pass your days in happiness." Kayakayi
liked the advice of Mantra j and before the king came in
to her room at night, she had taken off her ornaments and
thrown herself on the ground with her hair in disorder.
In the meantime, the king entered her room and as keel
her what the matter was, when she replied, " Thou, wick
ed king. Be gone. I know your heart. You are going
to banish my sons to a forest and give the kingdom to
Rama." Dasharatha replied, " What you say is untrue,
because I love Bharat and Shatrughana as much as I love
Rama and Lakshuman." Kayakayi replied, " Be gone. I
do not want you in my room." The king felt it bad,
when Kayakayi spoke those words; and in order to pacify
her he asked her what she wanted from him, when Kayakayi
replied, " The promise given to me by you during the bat
tle with the demons, must be now fulfilled. What I want
from you is that you should banish Rama to the forest of
the demons for fourteen years and install my son Bharat

20 Ramavijaya.

in the throne of Ayodya." The king was thunder-struck,
when Kayakayi made the cruel demand, and persuaded her
much to ask him for something else; bat she would not
mind him. In the meantime, his faithful minister,
Simian fc, came and informed the king, who was lying on
the ground in disorder, that everything was ready for per
forming the ceremony of installation, when the latter told
the former what had happened in the room of Kayakayi.
The minister, being exceedingly sorry, went and called Rama-
in the room of Kayakayi. The prince came and implored
his father to tell him the cause of his grief, when Kayakayi
replied "The king had given me a promise at the battle
with the demons that lie would give me whatever I would
ask from him. I have asked him to fulfil that promise,
and since then he has been very sorry." Rama said, " I
think, he is not able enongh to comply with your demand."
Kayakayi repled, " I should think so." Well" said Rama,
" if my father cannot give you what you want from him,
I promise to give it to you." Kayakayi replied, "Then go to
the forest of the demons for fourteen years with Lakshu-
man and let my son, Bharat, rule in Ayodya. " Rama
said, " Most willingly. I have no objection to do so. It is
just the same thing to me, because Bharat and I are one."
Rama then, taking his leave of Kayakayi went to his mo
ther, Kausalya, and told her what had happened. Kausalya
became very sorry and said, '' Thou shalt not leave me.
Hide thyself in my room for fourteen years, and I shall
keep the secrecy. I cannot remain without thee." Rama repli
ed, "Mother, excuse rne. I am now bound by my promise
to go to the forest." So saying he threw himself at her feet
and obtained her permission to go to the forest." He then
went to Lakshuman and told him all that had taken place,
when the latter said, "I shall accompany you. I cannot live
here without you, and if you leave me here alone and go to
the forest, I shall commit suicide." Rama, having consent-

Ramavijaya. 21

ed to take Lakshnman with him, wenjf, fo his wife, Sita,
and said, " I am going to the forest bt the demons for
fourteen years; and until T return to Ayodya, 1 ask you to
live with Kausalya. I cannot take you with me in the
forest, as you are delicate and will not be able to bear hard
ship with me." " T shall follow you, " replied Sita, "and
share any misfortune that may befall you. I, therefore,
go down on my knees and implore you not to leave me
here alone. " Whereupon Rama consulted Vashista and
promised Sita that he would also take her with him. Lastly
he went to take his leave of Dasharatha, when the king-
said with tears in his eyes, " I feel much for thee. The
wicked and wretched woman has done this all, and I do
not think that I shall live until tliou returnest to Ayodya.
I shall die of grief for thee. As I cannot tell thee to break
the promise given by thee to Kayakayi, I give thee my cons
ent to go to the forest. Child, take with thee all necessarv
things and pass thy days in happiness. " "Father,'' replied
Rama, "I do not want any thing. I shall dress myself in
valkalyas* and pass my days in meditation." As soon as
Rama spoke these words, Kayakayi brought valkalyas and
placed them before Kama, Sita and Lakshuman, whodress-
ed themselves in them and set ou£ for the forest with tho
minister, Sumant. They arrived at Shramga Yera, where
Rama sat down for rest on the grass under the shade of a
tree near a beautiful river and, having refreshed himself
there, requested a fisherman called Guhaka, who was his
devotee, to convey him with Sita and Lakshuman to tho
other side of the river. Guhaka asked him who he was,
when he informed him that he was Rama, the eldest son
of Dasharatha. Whereupon the fisherman, having embraced
him, conveyed him with Sita and Lakshuman to the
other side of the river, when Sumant took his leave of tho
prince and returned to Ayodya. Rama then went to the
* Barks of a tree.

22 Ramavijaya.

abode of Bharadw\ a Rishi, who worshipped him and re
quested him to sfay with him ior about fifteen days, when
the prince said, "I cannot stay with you any longer, because
the people of Ayodya will often come here and entreat
me to return to the kingdom. I shall, therefore, go to the
Dandakaranya"* At the request of Kama Bharadwaj
showed him the way that led to tbe hills called Chitrakuta,
where many learned Rishis lived. He went up to the hills
and saw Valmika, a Rishi, and worshipped him with respect
and reverence. Lakshuman built a parnakutika^ there,
and they all lived in it.

On the return of Surnant to Ayodya Dasharatha died
of grief for Rama. It was a pity that none of his sons
was present at the time of his death. His wives, Kausalya
and Sumitra, much mourned for the king but Kayakayi did
not shed a tear for him. To perform the funeral ceremony
of the king his sons, Bharat and Shatrughana, were sent
for, and until they returned to Ayodya, his body was pres
erved in a Kadayi,^ full of oil. Soon after, Bharat and
.Shatrughana returned to the city ; and, having seen the
lifeless body of their father, they violently cried and much
lamented for tmn. Vashishta said, " The body of the
king cannot be burnt,- unless some one is placed on the
throne of Ayodya. Rama and Lakshuman have gone to the
forest^ and I, therefore, ask Bharat to occupy the throne,
as Kayakayi has got them banished to the forest to se
cure the throne for him. " At this information Bharat was
startled, and said to Vashishta with tears in his eyes, "0 !
how can I bear this grief ? I do not want the kingdom. I
want nothing from this city. I go down on my knees and
beseech you not to install me in the throne, as my beloved
Raina is a rightful claimant of it. I will go wherever Ra
ma is, and pass my days with him." Having known the

* A forest called Dandakaranya. f A small hut. J A large
vessel made of iron.

Ramavijaya. 23

heart of Bh-irat Vashishta placed the padukas* of Kama
on the throne and proclaimed him as the king of Ayodya ,
Shortly after, the body of1 Dasharatha was carried to tlie
funeral ground, and burnt with all his wives, except Kausal-
ya, Sumitra and Kayakayi. Kausalya and Sumitra were
ready to burn themselves with their husband, but Vashishta
prevented them from doing so, as they had sons. After
the funeral ceremony of Dasharatha was over, Bharat wenfe
and saw his mother, Kayakayi, when she said, "Son! I have
caused Rama and Lakshuman to be banished to a forest and
secured the kingdom for you with the greatest difficulty.
Now without delay take charge of the kingdom, and
you will be very happy. We have now no enemies ; and
it is a very good sign that the king has also died." Bharat
got very much enraged at what he had heard from Kayakayi
and replied, "You are a murderess of your husband and an
enemy of Rama. It is most sinful, wicked and disgraceful
on your part to cause the death of my father and the banish
ment of my dear brother to the forest. Rama is the right
ful claimant of the throne, let him come and take his
kingdom. I want nothing except Rama and shall pass
my days with him in the forest." So saying he dressed
himself in valkalyas and set out for Chitrakuta to join his
brothers. He was followed by Vashista, Kausalya, Sumitra,
Shatrughana, Sumant, and all the people of Ayodya, who
were very anxious to see Rama. Thay all arrived at the
river, where, Guhaka had his hut ; and at the request of
Bharat the fisherman conveyed all the people to the other
side of the river. Lakshuman having seen the people,,
thought that Kayakayi had sent them to kill Rama and began
to let off arrows at them. But Rama stopped him, saying
that they were not his enemies. Shortly after, they all
reached the paranakutika of Rama, when the prince embra
ced them very affectionately and asked his mother how the
* Wooden shoes,

23: Eamavijaya.

king was doing. Kausalya, overwhelmed with grief, could
not utter a word, when Vashista broke the sad news to
him. He deeply mourned for his father and remained
mute for a while. Vashishta condoled with him to perform
the last ceremony of his father. Whereupon he went to
the river, Gaya, and performed the ceremony. Kausalya,
•Sumitra, Vashishta, and all the people persuaded Rama to
return to Ayoclya and take charge of the kingdom, when
lie said, " I am always true to my promise, faithful to my
•wife, and of a firm resolution. I cannot, therofore, break
the promise given by me to my mother, Kayakayi, in fulfil
ment of the promise given by my father to her and return
to Ayodya under any circumstances." Bharat said, '• If
you do not corne to Ayodya, I will go somewhere else and
pass my days there until you return to the city." llama
stroking his head, replied, "Bharat do not be disheartened
1 shall return to Ayodya in fourteen years and fourteen
days. I, therefore, wish you to go back to the city and
rule there on my behalf.'' Bharat said, " I am very glad
to obey you, but I shall not feel there well without your
company. I therefore, beg that you will kindly let me go
to Nandigram and stay there for fourteen years and fourt
een days." Rama replied, " If you will not be happy in.
Ayodya in my absence, I shall let you go to Nandigrain.'7
'" But " said Bharat, "if you do not return from the forest
within fourteen years and fourteen days, I shall commit
.suicide. " Rauia, having been pleased with his brotherly
feelings, gave him his padukas and sent him to ]SJ"andigram
where he lived as a Joyi* for fourteen years and fourteen
'day?. Rama also gave his padukas to Shatrughana and
uade him go to Ayodya and rule there on his behalf. Sha-
'trughana returned to Ayodya with Kaut-alya, Sumitra, and
"all the people who had. accompanied him. A few days af
ter he had left for Ayodya, the Brahmans, who lived a£

* An ascetic.

aoEaCTgKflaasg^ai

Ramavijaya. 25

Chitrakuta, said, " Rama, your wife is very handsome and
attractive. If you stay here with us any longer, the de
mons will come here and devour us all. We are informed
that the demons, Trishira, Khur, and Dushan, will shortly
come here to carry off your Sita. We, therefore, request
you to leave this place at once." Rama replied, " You
need not be afraid. Let all the demons on earth come
here, I shall kill them all and defend you.'' The Brah-
mans, having no faith in what Rama had said, left the
hills with their wives and children. Soon after, Rama
removed to the Dandakaranya ; and on his way to the
forest, he killed a demon called Viradha.

Viradha was a gandharv called Tumbar. One day
Kuber, having called him in his presence to sing for him,
the demi-god got tipsy and went before him. Kuber
got enraged at his conduct and cursed him, saying that
he would be a demon and would wander in the forest for
ten thousand years but that he would be released from
the curse, when he would be killed by the hands of Rama.
As appointed, the gandharv was killed by Rama and
released from the curse.

Rama spent thirteen years with Sita and Lakshu-
man in visiting holy places. And during his pilgrimage
he visited the abode of Atri, a Brahman, where he worship
ped the three headed god, Datatraya. Thence he went
and visited Agasti, a very powerful Rishi. The story
of the power of the Rishi is as follows : —

" There lived three demons called Atapi, Vatapi, and
Alva. They were blessed by the god, Siva, with the art
of enchantment, by means of which they devoured the
innocent Brahmans. Vatapi became food and Alva
water. Atapi became a benefactor and invited every
Brahman to partake of the food and water. The Brah
man came; and as soon as he ate the food arid drank the
water, Atapi cried aloud the names of Vatapi and Alva,

26 Ramavijaya.

who, having responded to the call of their brother, tore
off the body of the Brahman and came out. Thus they
killed every Brahman and ate his flesh. One day Agasti
was invited by Atapi to partake of the food and water
The Rishi complied with his invitation ; and as soon as
he ate the food and drank the water, Atapi cried aloud
as usual the names of his brothers but to his great sur
prise, they did not respond to his call, as the Rishi burnt
Vatapi in his stomach. Alva, who had escaped from the
belly of the Rishi, and his brother, Atapi, assumed dif
ferent forms and began to run away, when the Rishi cut
off the head of Atapi. Alva escaped and mixed himself
with the ocean, when Agasti drank off the whole ocean and
killed the demon."

Rama stayed with Agasti for a month ; and during
his stay there he presented him with an arrow to kill
Ravana. From the Dandakaranya Rama set out for
Panchavati. On the road he saw a huge bird called
Jatayu, who asked Rama who he was. " I belong to
the solar race," replied Rama," and am son of the king,
Dasharatha. I am called Rama." " I am son of Kasha,"
said Jatayu, " and the name of my uncle is Suparna, and
I am called Jatayu. Your father was my great friend.
I helped him during the battle which he had fought
with Shukra and, therefore, he called me his brother."
Having embraced Jatayu, Rama proceeded on his journey
and reached Panchawati, where he lived with Sita in a
parnakutika built by Lakshuman. Lakshuman gathered
fruits and kandamuls* for Sita and Rama, which they
ate and passed their days there. He guarded the hut
every night for fear of the demons and he himself remain
ed without food.

One day Lakshuman went near a thicket to collect
fruits and kandamuls, where he saw a deadly
* Esculent roots, f A sword.

Ramavijaya. 27

descending from above. The weapon fell where he was
standing; and it having looked sharp and powerful, he
tried it on the thicket, but, to his great astonishment,
the thicket was cut into two parts, and there flowed a
large quantity of blood. Lakshuman was afraid that
he killed some ascetic, while meditating in the thicket;
and in order to satisfy himself about it he immediately
went to Rama with the khadag and informed him of what
had happened, when Rama said, " Brother, do not be
afraid. The blood which flows through the thicket is of
a demon called Shabari. This demon is the son of Sur-
panakha, a sister of Ravana. He was meditating in
the thicket unobserved with a view to get the weapon
from Siva. The god had sent the weapon for him. If
the weapon had gone to the hands of the demon, he
would have annihilated the whole of the universe with it.
Thank God that you have got it; and I tell you to take
a particular care of it." Lakshuman was glad at this
information and cheerfully attended to his duties.

On the day Shabari was killed by Lakshuman, Sur-
panakha found in her dream that some calamity had be
fallen her son; and having been awakened, she, accom
panied by four demonesses, immediately started for the for
est to look for her son. She wandered in the forest and
at last came to the thicket ; and seeing the blood there
she searched the whole wood and at last found that her
son was cut into two pieces. As soon as she saw her son,
she fainted and cried violently for him. The other four
demonesses condoled with her ; and immediately after, they
burnt the body of Shabari and went in search of the enemy
who had killed the demon. They traced Lakshuman from
his foot-prints ; and in order to revenge the killing of her
son, Surpanakha formed herself into a beautiful damsel ;
and taking with her the four demonesses, who had also
formed themselves into very good maid-servants, she went

28 Ramavijaya.

to Lakshuman a ad said, " I have travelled all over the
earth in search of a husband ; but I have not found a
young man as beautiful as yourself. I have become mad
after you, and unless you consent to marry me, I shall not
live. 1, therefore, implore you to take me for your wife.
Do not you see how I look ? Can you get elsewhere a
quite young girl like me ?" Lakshuman was not at all
captivated with her charms, but she having much insisted
upon his giving her an answer, he replied, *' I have got
my brother and sister-in-law. There they live in a hut. I
cannot do any thing without their consent." " I shall go
to your brother," &aid the demoness, ** and get a letter
from him consenting to our match/' So saying she went
to Panchawati with her maid-servants and said to Rama,
" I like your brother from the bottom of my heart. I
have made up my mind to marry him, and he has also pro
mised me to take me for his wife subject to your approval
of the match. I, therefore, pray that you will kindly pity
me and give me your letter or any other sign signifying
your consent to our marriage.'' Sita was moved with her
manner of address, and requested Rama to comply with
her request. Rama surveyed her from head to foot ; and
finding her eye- balls upside down, he knew that she was
Surpanakha in the form of a human being. Rama, there
fore, said, " I have no objection to give you my consent
but I shall write it on your back." " How can you do it,"
replied she, " I feel bashful to show you my back.'' "It
does not matter,'' continued Rama. " There is no one
here." At last Surpanakha told Rama to write his con
sent on her back, which the latter wrote and sent her away.
The demoness hastened to the place where Lakshuman
was standing and said, " You see, your brother has con
sented to our marriage with much pleasure. If you like,
you may go and ask him about it. I am not a liar, you
know. He has given me no letter or any sign but he has

Ramavijaya. 29

simply told you to marry me." " That will -not do," re
plied Lakshuman, " T must have a letter or sign from
my brother signifying his consent to our marriage." Sur-
panakha, having known his mind, showed the letter written
by Rama on her back. The letter stated that as soon as
Lakshuman read it, he should at once cut off the nose and
ears of the demoness. Lakshuman read the letter and,
having seized her by her hair, flung her down and cut off
her nose and ears as directed by Rama . When her nose
and ears were thus cut off, she and her maid-servants as
sumed their original forms and fled for fear of losing their
lives, screaming hideously. Listening to her yells Trishira ,
Khur and Dushan came to help her witn fourteen thousand
demons. " Look at my nose and ears," she said to them,
" There live three human beings, two males and one
female. The man, who called himself Lakshuman, has
disfigured me at the instigation of his brother and sister-,
in-law. You must now go there and cut off their heads >
so that I may drink their blood and refresh myself with it/
Trishira, Khur and Dushan, having thought it below their
dignity to go and fight with those human beings, selected
fourteen powerful demons and sent them to Panchawati
with Surpanakha, but Rama cut off their heads with one
arrow. Surpanakha fled in alarm and informed Trishira
Khur and Dushan of what had happened. Whereupon
they marched against Rama with an army of demons but
they were also killed by the prince with his arrow in a mo
ment. Surpanakha fled to Lanka in consternation and,
showing her nose and ears to her brother, Ravana, inform
ed him that Trishira, Khur and Dushan had been killed
by Rama with fourteen thousand demons. Ravana was
greatly alarmed at the sad news and, having called upon
his uncle, Maricha, said to him, " You see, Rama has kill
ed Trishira, Khur and Dushan and disfigured Surpana-
khat If this enemy is allowed to go unnoticed, he will

30 Ramavijaya.

even kill me one day or other. I have, therefore, made up
my mind to carry off Sita, his wife, to Lanka and kill Ra
ma and Lakshuman. Please, therefore, be a beautiful
haran* and frolic at the paranakutika of Rama ; and
when he comes with his dhanushaban f to kill you, rim
to the heart of the forest. Rama will pursue you ; and as
soon as he is separated from Sita, I shall carry her off to
Lanka." "It is sinful to covet one's wife," replied Maricha,
" and if you carry her off, you will lose your life and
everything. I, therefore, advise you to change your mind
and attend to your affairs." At this advice Ravana got
enraged and said, " It is a bad thing to advise me that
way. It is your duty to help me on such occasions. I,
therefore, command you to come with me and do what I tell
you to do." Whereupon Maricha accompanied Ravana to
Panchawati with the greatest reluctance. On their arrival
there Ravana stood behind a thicket near the abode of Ra
ma, and his uncle, forming himself into a stag, played tricks
in front of it. Sita saw the stag and said to Rama>
" Dearest, look at that stag. What a beautiful creature
it is. I wish I would get its skin for my waistcoat.
Please take this dhanushaban and kill it for me, so that
I may have its skin for my waistcoat.'' To comply with
the wishes of his wife Rama took up his dhanushaban and
aimed at the stag. The animal began to run, and Rama
went after it. When he went far off from the paranaku
tika, Ravana who was standing behind the thicket unobser
ved, imitated the voice of Rama and cried out with a view
to separate Lakshuman from Sita, " Lakshuman help me.
Lakshuman help me. I am in distress.'* Sita heard this
voice and said to Lakshuman in alarm, ^Rama is in dis
tress. I have just heard him cry out for help." " You
need not be afraid," said Lakshuman. " None can hurt
Rama. I am sure some demon has done the mischief
* A stag. f A bow and an arrow.

Jfta^^

Ramavijaya. 31

with some bad motive." " Is this your affection towards
your brother?" exclaimed Sita. " While Rama is actu
ally in distress, you refuse to help him. Methinks you
wish your brother's death and marry me after him." At
this accusation Lakshuman shed tears and, having drawn
a line around the parnakutika with his dhanushaban, said
to her, " I am now going to help Rama. Look at this
line. I beg you not to go behind it, and if you go,.
you will be in distress." So saying Lakshuman left the
parnakutika with his dhanushaban ; and when he went far
off, Ravana disguised himself as a Fakir,* peeped at Sita
through the door of the hut and cried out in a plaintive tone,
" Is there anybody in? I am a fakir here and dying of
hunger. It will be a great meritorious act, if some one
comes out and gives me something to eat." Sita, who
was full of kindness, came out and said, " Please sit
down there. Rama will be presently here; and as soon
as he comes, he will attend to your wants.'' " I shall
not live until Rama comes here. If you now give me
something to eat, I shall bless you.*' So saying he
threw himself on the ground and pretended to be worse.
Sita was alarmed and left the line to give him succor,
when Ravana immediately caught hold of her and said,
" Do not be alarmed. I am Ravana, the king of Lanka.
I am now going to take you to my kingdom-. Quietly
follow me.'' Sita rolled on the ground and violently
cried, imploring him to leave her where she was. Her
tears and entreaties did not move him in the least. He
seated her in a chariot and set out for Lanka. Sita
all the time cried aloud the name of Rama, which Ja-
tayu heard and went to her rescuse. " Ravana,'' said
Jatayu, " I command you to set Sita at liberty; and ifr
you disobey me, I shall instantly kill you." " Who-
art thou," replied Ravana. " What thon hast to da
* An ascetic.

3 2 Ramavijaya.

with this lady ? Thou fool. Go and mind thy busi
ness." Jatayu insisted and Ravana let off arrows at
him. The bird cut off with his bill all the arrows of
the demon-king, broke the head of his charioteer and
killed his horses. Ravana alighted, when the bird
pounced upon him and pulled off his hair. He was alarmed
and stood there bewildered, not knowing what to do.
Th@ bird broke his chariot, when the demon-king said,
" Speak the truth. Just tell me how you will die. I
shall also tell you how I shall die." Jatayu, who was a
simpleton, replied " If you pull off my wings, I shall die
instantly." " Now just tell me,'' continued Jatayu, " how
you will die." " If you break my toes," said Ravana,
4< I shall die in no time." As soon as this secret was
disclosed by Jatayu, Ravana went to catch him. The
bird broke one of the toes of his enemy, when the latter
pulled off his wings. Jatayu, saturated with blood, fell
there rolling; and the demon-king, taking Sita on his
shoulders, proceeded towards Lanka. When he reached
the hills, called Matang, five powerful monkeys, Sugriva,
Nala, Nila, Jambuvant and Maruti, who lived there, found
the ornaments thrown by Sita on the ground. Looking
at the ornaments Maruti said, "Pity, some wicked demon
must have been carrying off a poor woman. I shall kill
the demon and rescue her.5' So saying he jumped in the
sky but, in the meantime, Ravana entered Lanka with
his prize and despatched eighteen huge demons to search
and kill Rama. A few days after his return to Lanka
the demon-king said to Sita, " I beseech you to marry
me. I am very powerful and have made all the gods my
slaves. There is not a single soul on eari.h who can equal
me in wealth, strength and valour. If you be my wife,
you will be very happy." "Thou art wicked and a villain,"
replied Sita. " Thou wilt soon die. I shall never be
thy wife. I loathe thee. Begone, thou fool.'* Hav-

Ramavijs&ya. 33

ing heard these words of Sita, Ravana said U himself,
" Sita is very much excited; and unless she becomes calm,
I shall not be able to win her heart." So saying to him
self he placed her in the Asoka forest and posted five
crores of demonesses with his sister,. Trijata, at their head
to watch her there with instructions to frighten her and
make her marry him at any rate. The demonesses often
showed their teeth and opened their hideous mouths as
if they were going to devour her, but Sita was calm and
did not heed them. Trijata, who was kind, encouraged
her and told her not to frighten herself.

Lakshuman joined Rama in the forest and informed
him of what had passed between Sita and himself. Lak
shuman wept and Rama pacified him. They then return
ed to panchawati ; and finding that Sita was not in the
parnakutika, they were alarmed and went in search
of her. They could not find her. They then went to
the Rishi, Agasti, who informed them that Sita was
carried off by Ravana. They returned to their abode
and saw the footprints of the demon and Sita. They
immediately set out in search of Sita in the forest.
On the road they met Jatayu, who informed them of
what had happened. " I," said Jatayu, ''mustered up all
my strength and courage to rescue her from the wicked
demon, but as soon as he cunningly knew my secret, he
pulled off my wings and left me here in a dying state."
So saying Jatayu breathed his last. Rama grieved for
him and performed the funeral ceremony of his death .
The princes proceeded on their journey. On the road
Farwati, the wife of Siva, took the form of Sita and stood
before him; but he did not receive her, as he knew that
she was Parwati. A little further on, a huge demonr
called Kaband, stretching his arms for some eighteen
yojans* and with his head separated from his trunk, sat
* A yojau measures nine miles.

34 Ramavijaya.

in the forest. Rama having found that he was a demon,
cut off his arms and killed the monster on the spot.
Kaband was the son of Kashapa, a Rishi. One day he
got drunk and frightened another Rishi, Stulashira, who
cursed him, saying that he would be a demon but that he
would be released from the curse when Rama would kill
him. As soon as he was killed by Rama, he assumed
his original form and stood before him. He said that
his head was separated by Indra from his body with his
vajra*, as he was performing a severe penance to enable
him to take the kingdom of the god. On the road Rama
killed the eighteen demons whom Ravana had sent, and
came to the Pampa sarovar^ where Rama and and Lak-
shuman sat down for rest under the shade of a banian
tree. From the hills, called Rishimukha, the five monkeys
saw them. Sugriva was afraid and said, ** I think,
Vali, my brother, has sent those two warriors to kill me.*'
So saying he was to flee, when Maruti said, " Do not be
afraid. I will ascertain who those warriors are.'' So
saying Maruti jumped upon the tree and, having plucked
off the branches of it, threw them at Rama, who cut them
off with his dhanushabans. Maruti then threw large stones
and mountains at him but he broke them in a minute,
and hurted the monkey in tho air. His father, the wind,
supported him, while he was falling down, and bade him
worship Rama. He came down and, having thrown him
self at the feet of the prince, implored his pardon, which
was readily granted by him. He became a great devotee
of Rama ; and one day while he was shampooing the feet of
the prince he said to him, " I shall be very glad to intro
duce you to Sugriva, brother of the king of this place, if
you promise me that you will protect him." "Just tell me
who that Sugriva is," replied Rama. Whereupon Maruti
related the story of the life of Sugriva, which is as follows : —
* A weapon. f A river called Pampa.

Ramavijaya. 35

" One day while Bramhadev was performing a pen
ance, a drop of his tears fell on his hand ; and it bore a
king, called Raksharaj. He was a monkey. While he
was going from forest to forest, he came to a river in Ka-
yalasa, the kingdom of Siva. He bathed in the river ; but
immediately after, he became a very beautiful female. It
was appointed by Parwati, wife of Siva, that any man,
who would bathe in the river, would be a female. Indra
and the sim were enamoured of the woman. By Indra
she got Vali, and Sugriva by the sun. Having heard
that Kaksharaj became a female, Brahmadev came to the
river, and prayed to Parwati to restore his son to his
former form. Parwati listened to his prayer and made
Raksharaj a man again. The god then created a country
called Kiskinda and gave it to him. Raksharaj ruled
in the country for some time and, having placed his eldest
son, Vali, on the throne, proceeded to heaven. Vali and
Sugriva lived together and loved each other. Vali was
very powerful and invincible, as he was presented by
Indra with Vigayamala* After some time both the bro
thers became mortal enemies, and Vali carried off his
beautiful wife, Ramma. For fear of his brother, Sugriva
made his abode on the hills called Rishimukha Parvat.
They both fought together every six months." Rama
bade Maruti tell Sugriva that he would kill Vali and re
store his wife to him. Maruti immediately went to Su
griva and said to him, " You are in grief for your wife,
so also Rama for his wife, Sita. Rama has promised to
help you in recovering your wife and you will have to
help him also in recovering his wife, Sita." Sugriva was
glad at what Maruti had told him and set out with his
army of monkeys to see Rama. On his arrival the prince
cordially received Sugriva and told him all about Sita.

* A garland which, if put round the neck of a warrior, al
ways gives him success in a war,

36 Ramavijaya.

Sugriva said that yesterday he heard screams of a woman
and showed the ornaments found by the monkeys to Ra
ma. The prince identified the ornaments as belonging
to his wife and shed tears, when Sugriva said, " Do not
be afraid. I shall help you with my able ministers, Nala
Nila and Jambuvant in recovering Sita from Ravana.
Let us kill Vali first and then we shall sot out in search
of Sita." As soon as Sugriva spoke these words, Rama
?umed his arrow, when the former stopped him and said,
V Vali is my mortal enemy and will fight with us to his
last gap.'* Whereupon Rama asked him the cause of
the enmity with his brother. " Dudhumbi, son of the
demon, Maishasur," continued Sugriva, " was very power
ful, and oppressed the gods in heaven and the people on
earth. Nobody could fight with him. At last the de
mon went to Yama and challenged him to fight with
him. Yama said, ' I cannot fight with you. I, there
fore, tell you to go to Vali at Kiskinda and he will fight
with you to your satisfaction.* The demon immediately
came to Kiskinda and challenged Vali to fight with him,
when the latter killed the former and hurled his body in
the air which fell on the hills called Rishimukha Parwat.
All the Rishis on the hills were killed by the weight of
the corpse, when a Rishi called Matang cursed Vali,
saying that if the latter touched the hills, he would in
stantly die. Mayasur, son of Dudhumbi, came to avenge
the death of his father but he fled to patal through a
cave, when Vali gave him blows. Vali pursued him,
having posted me at the mouth of it. For many months
he did not return, though I was at the cave all the time
watching it. During this time demi-gods entered Kis
kinda and sought to take possession of it. I, therefore,
placed a mountain at the mouth of the cave and drove
all the demi-gods from the kingdom. Vali did not return
to Kiskinda for twenty months, and from this fact all

Bamavijaya. 37

concluded that he was no more. Whereupon the people
of Kiskinda proclaimed me as their king against my
wishes. In the meantime, Vali returned to the cave
with the head of Mayasur and, having seen the mouth
of it blocked up, he was alarmed on account of me. He
immediately reiroved the mountain and directly came to
Kiskinda. As soon as he saw me on the throne, he,
boiled with rage, said, * You blocked up the mouth -of the
cave with a view to kill me and take my kingdom.' So
saying he attacked me but with the assistance of Nala,
Nila, Jambuvant and Maruti 1 escaped and made my abo
de on these hills, because he would not come here for fear
of the curse." Sugriva then showed the body of Dudhum-
bi to Rama, who flung it at a distance with his toe. "Now
do one thing," said Rama, t% Just go and challenge Vali
to fight with you." Sugriva accordingly went to Kiskinda
and challenged him to fight with him, when Tara said to
her husband, " I implore you not to meet Sugriva today.
He comes to fight with you every six months but he has
now come to combat with you three clays after the
battle you have fought with him. I think, Kama and
Lakslminan have promised to help him. I, therefore,
pray that you will not go to fight with Sugriva today."
"That will not do/' replied Yali, " I must fight vyith him
and cut off his head. If I am killed in the fight, Angada
will protect you." So saying Vali went and attacked Su
griva, when Rama killed the former with one arrow. Tara,
his wife, violently cried for her husband, when Rama con
soled her and advised her to marry Sugriva. At first
she hesitated; but soon after, she married him. Sugriva
began to rule and forgot all about Rama in his luxury.
Rama sent Lakshuman to Kiskinda. Marati said to Su
griva, " It is a bad thing that you have forgot Rama and
left him alone in the forest. There stands Lakshuman at
the door of your palace. Take care he will kill us all r>
4

38 Rainavijaya.

Sugriva was alarmed and, having thrown himself at his
feet with his wives and other monkeys, implored the par
don of Rama. He then came with all his monkeys to
Rama to help him in recovering his wife, Sita. Rama put
his ring on one of the fingers of Maruti as a mark from
him. All the monkeys set out in search of Sita. On
their way they came across a forest and could not proceed
further, as they were bewildered there. This forest was
cursed by a Rishi, called Dandaka, saying that those who-
entered it would remain there bewildered. The Rishi
cursed the forest, because his infant son, was devoured
by the goddess of the forest. The infant son became a
demon and devoured all the persons and creatures that went
into the forest. Angada, son of Vali, killed the demon;
and as soon as he. was killed, he was restored to his for
mer form. All the monkeys escaped unhurt, as they were-
repeating the name of Rama all the time in the forest.
They left the forest and, having searched Sita at several
places in vain, at last came to a very large cave. The
monkeys entered the cave but they all fainted owing to suf
focation. Maruti lifted them up with his tail and came out of
the cave to a place where there was a beautiful garden. All
the monkeys climbed up the trees in the garden, laden
with fruits, but they could not get a single fruit to eat. A
mare, called Suprabha, came where the monkeys were
standing. Maruti asked her who had created the garden r
when the mare replied, " Brahmadev was pleased with
Mayasur, a demon, and, having created the cave for him,,
said, ' I have created this cave for you. I require you to-
be always in it and not to leave it under any circumstan
ces; and if you coine out of the cave, you will instantly
die/ While in the cave the demon always prayed to
Vishnu for the protection of the demons on earth. Indra
was alarmed and implored Bramhadev to get the demon
oat of the cave. To get him out of the care the god

Ramavijaya. 39

created a very beautiful damsel called Hema and sent her
m the cave. The demon looked at her and was captivated
with her charms. Finding that the demon was very
much taken with her, she came out of the cave, and he
followed her, forgetting what Bramhadev had told him.
As soon as he came out oT the cave, he instantly died.
After the death of the demon, Hema was in the possession
of the cave and garden, and soon left for the kingdom of
Yishnu, placing me Here in this form to watch it. Hema
told me that when monkeys would come into this garden,
I would be restored to my former form." Maruti said
to her, " We have eaten fruits to our hearts' content and
"we must now leave this place as soon as possible. We
cannot see the way to the cave through which we have
come here. Will you, therefore, be kind enough to show
it to us ?" Whereupon Suprabha told all the monkeys
io shut their eyes; and in a second they were all on a
seashore. She was restored to her former form and,
visiting Rama, went to her husband.

The monkeys were very anxious to cross the^sea and
go to Lanka, but they were unable to do so. However,
"Maruti, repeating the name of Kama, crossed the sea;
but on the way he met with several accidents. The gods
sent a huge woman to devour him. She opened her
mouth and stood in his way. He passed through her
mouth and proceeded further. In the meantime, the sea
sent a mountain to block up his way. The mountain
said to him, " Good creature ! Why are you not going
to take rest on my bosom ?" At these words Maruti got
enraged and pressed down the mountain. A little further
on, a frightful demoness, IShihika, who was mother of
Rahu and Ketu, swallowed him up; but he tore off her
belly and came out. At last he arrived at upper Lanka,
when the goddess of the place caught hold of his legs
and knocked him down. He got up and gave her mortal

40 Ramavijaya.

blows, when she implored him to spare her life. He
having granted her request, she blessed him, saying that
he would be successful in his undertaking. He then came
to lower Lanka, called Pudalanka. Krocha, the youngest
sister of Havana, whose husband, Gargar, was killed by
Indra, lived there. As soon as she was informed of his
arrival there, she went with a number of demons and de-?
monesses to catch him, when he became a small and beau
tiful animal. Krccha said to the demons and demoness
es, " This is a very good and pretty animal. Let me
have it for my breakfast, Just kill it and cook it for
ine." " My body,'' replied he, " is full of water, and if
you order me to be cooked for your breakfast, you
will get nothing. I, therefore, tell you to swallow me
up, so that you may have a delicious taste." Krocha
accordingly swallowed up Maruti, who entered her heart
and pulled off her flesh. The demoness tossed about with
pain. Her companions gave her medicine mixed with
the clung of a hog, but the monkey was so disgusted
with the dirt that he let out his tail through her nose and
eats. All the demons and demonesses believed that
the tail was a disease, and began to pull it out, when
Maruti, having torn off her belly, came out and threw all
the demons and demonesses into the sea. From lower
Lanka he went again to upper Lanka; and at sunset
he entered Nikumbala, a county in Lankn, where Indrajit
the eldest son of Ravana, lived with his family. He went
into the palace of the dea-on- prince and saw him with
his beautiful wife, Sulochana, there. Maruti said to him
self, " No doubt this is Sita, and she has fallen in love
with this wicked demon.'' So saying to himself he was
about to kill both of them but in the meantime, she said
to her husband, " Just think for a moment. Is it not a
bad thing i,hat your father has unjustly brought Sita here?
If she is not restored to her husband, a great calamity

Bamavijaya. 41

will befall him." Having heard this conversation, Ma-
ruti was convinced that she was not Sita, and went to
the palace of Vibhishari, the youngest brother of Ravana,
where he was much pleased, because the demon was the
devotee of Rama, and every thing there was clean He
also saw there an idol of Kama, which Vib'hishari worship
ped every day. Thence he went to the palace of Kumbha-
karna, where he was in deep sleep snorting all the time*
Maruti was disgusted with the sight of the heaps of bones
and the flesh of human beings and animals scattered
around his palace. When he failed to find Sita there and
at other places, he was enraged; and, assuming an invisi
ble form, he began to vroublo the demons and demonesses
of Lanka in various ways. When they carried water in,
their pots, he broke them with his tail. He dashed to
pieces the chariots of the princes who happened to drive
ID the streets. One day a barber began to shave the
beard of Ravana, when Maruti stood behind him in an,
invisible form and thrust his tail into the hose of the
former. The barber was startled; and in confusion ha
shaved the mustaches of Ravana. Ravana got angry
and slapped the barber in the face, when the monkey also
gave a slap to the demon-king. Maruti pulled down the
houses of the demons with his tail, while their families
were asleep. One day in a minute he extinguished all
the lamps in Lanka, and consequently all of a sudden,
were in confusion and alarm. The inhabitants of Lanka
said to themselves, " Sita, whom Ravana has brought
here, has created the devil to annoy and trouble us."
Maruti then entered the palace of Ravana, where he and
his wife, Mandodari^ were fast asleep. On beholding
Mandodarij Maruti thought that she was Sita arid that
she fell in love with the demon-king. He got much en
raged, and wa? about to carry them where Rama was stay
ing with Lakshuoian. But, in the meantime, Mandodari

42 Kamavijaya.

was awakened in alarm and said to her husband, " I have
dreamt a dream which indicates thai* Indragit and you will-
be killed, that the Asoka forest will be destroyed, and
that. Lanka will be burnt, because you have unjustly
brought Sita here. I, therefore, implore you to restore
her to her husband." " You need not be afraid of it in
the least/' replied Ravana. " I have posted five crores
of the demons and demonesses to watch the Asoka forest
and they will not allow Rarria to kill us and destroy the
forest." So- saying Havana despatched his servant to
the Asoka forest to see whether Sita was there. Maruti
accompanied the servant in an invisible form. He saw
Sita sitting under the shade of a tree. The servant
returned to Ravana and Maruti remained in the Asoka
forest. The monkey was exceedingly glad whsn he found
Sita, and threw before her the ring which Rama had put
on his finger. She looked at the ring and asked it with,
tears in her eyes, " Ring ? Where have you come from ?.
How is my Rama ? Is he safe ?" While Sita was thua
asking the ring, the demonesses came there and told her
to keep quiet, saying that if she did not listen to them,
they would devour her, when Maruti,, with his tail, tied up
all of them together and flung them down.. Some of
them died and some fled. He then began to sing, which
was so pleasing to her ears that she was very anxious
to see who that creature was. She called the crea
ture several times but nobody responded to her call.
She was disappointed, and prepared herself to commit sui
cide, when the monkey came and stood before her. She
asked him, " Who are you ? What is your name and
where have you come from ?" " I am a servant of Rama,,
and have come here in search of you," replied Maruti.
" Your Rama is well and has come to Kiskinda for you*
He will shortly take you from this place. You need not
be afraid of me. I am not a demon. I am son of the

Ramavijaya. 43

wind, and my name is Maruti." " Besides that ring,"
continued Sita, Se have you got any other proof from Ra
ma that you are his servant ?" Whereupon he recapitula
ted all the calamaties that had befallen her; and she was
thereby convinced that he was her husband's servant.
" I should have annihilated Lanka in a moment and
taken you to Kigkinda," said Maruti, " but Rarna did
not order me to do so. I am very hungry. Will you,
therefore,' allow rue to take fruits from the trees in the
forest for my breakfast ?" " It is not in my power to
allow you to take fruits from this place," replied Sita,
" and if you forcibly take them, the demons and1 demones
ses will kill you. I however tell you to gather for your
breakfast the fruits that have fallen on the ground and
not to take them from the trees witlr your hands and
feet/' rf I swear that I shall not take any fruits from'
the trees with my hands and feet," said Maruti, " I shall
take the fruits which have fallen on- the Around." So1
saying he lengthened his tail and plucked all fruits with
it; and after a few minutes he destroyed the whole of the
Asoka forest. The sixty crores of the deuron-s, who were
watching the forest, at once ca-me u-pon him; but he tied
them up with his tail and flung them down. Some died
and some fled. Hearing this news Ravana sent eight thou
sand demons to catcli the monkey but the latter tied
them up with his tail and killed them all. Ray-ana was
greatly enraged, and. sent one lac of warriors whom the
monkey threw into the sea with? his tail. The demon-king
then sent his son, Akshaya, with a large' army; but he1
was also killed with his other sons. Immediately after,
he despatched a frightful demoness, called Asali, who
had the strength of ten thousand elephants. She opened
her hideous mouth one yojan in length and breadth and
devoured, the monkey, but the latter tore her belly off
and came out. At last Ravana seat his son, Indrajit,,

44T Ramavijaya.

with a large army of demons. He let off his arrows at
Maruti, which the latter broke off with his hands in no
time. The monkey pulled off his rnngut with his tail
broke his chariot and killed his horse. He took up an
iron bar and went killing the demons with it, when Indra-
jit attempted to catch him in a snare but the monkey be
came as small as an atom and escaped through it every
time the. prince put it upon him. Whereupon Indrajit
made; a snare with a small noose and put it upon him,
when he assumed a large form and broke the snare.
When .the prince failed in ' catching him in the snare,
lie combated with the monkey, but the latter flung
him do.wn on the ground. The Prince was alarmed
and . said to himself that if he was seized by the
monkey and carried to Rama, he would be cruelly treated.
So saying, he hid himself in a cave, when Maruti blocked
up the:mouth of it with a mountain. Indrajit cried and
wept. Havana, having been acquainted with this news»
imploringly. said to Bramhadev, " You see, Indrajit is in
difficulty. .If you personally go there, you will be able to
insnare the monkey. I, therefore, beseech you to do the
Work forme." Whereupon Bramhadev went near the'
cfive, when; Indrajit hung his. head down with shame and
said, " Unless you catch hold of the monkey, I can not
venture to come out of the cave,'', Whereupon Bramha-
dev put upon Maruti the Brarhha pasa* which, the latter
could have broken in a minute, but he allowed himself to
be caught in it and carried to the court of Havana.
Indrajit went and vainly told his father that it was he
who had caught the monkey. Maruti made a coil of hi3 tail
higher than' the throne of Havana and sat upon it. The
demon-king; indignantly, asked, " Who: are you and what
.ig the name' of :your master .?" " You are," replied Maruti,
rogue,. . Do. y.p;u Jnxow, . ,wh,o I.am. ?. I am a ser-

* A complicated snare.

Ramavijaya. 45

vant of that prince who had saved your life at the court of
Janak and cut off the nose of your sister. Yon are a
great villain. You have carried off his wife, Sita. I am
sent by my master to ascertain whether she is here. My
master will shortly invade Lanka and, cutting off your
ten faces, will return to Ayodya with Sita/' At these
words Havana was greatly insulted and ordered the de
mons to cut off the tongue, nose, ears and tail of the
monkey. In obedience to the order of the king all the
demons brought weapons of various sorts and began to
pierce him with them but nothing could be done to him,
as his body was made of vajara* Havana was alarmed
and did not know what to do. At last he asked the
monkey by what means he would die. " I am immortal,"
replied Maruti, " but if you cover my tail with cloth so
aked in oil and set fire to it, I shall be immediately burnt
to rdeath. Do not leave any part of my tail uncovered,
and if you do so, nothing can be done to me." Where
upon Havana ordered his servants to cover his tail with
cloth. All the demons accordingly brought innumerable
heaps of cloth soaked in oil and began to cover the tail
of the monkey with them, but the more they covered the
tail with them, the more he lengthened it; and consequently
a part of it remained uncovered. All the cloth in Lanka was
finished and oil exhausted. At last Havana ordered his
servants to go to the Asoka forest and get the dress of
Sita, when Maruti shortened his tail and allowed it to
be entirely covered. The demons then began to set fire
to the tail but they failed to light it. Maruti said, " If
Havana will blow the fire himself, it will catch my tail;
and I shall be immediately burnt to death." Havana
accordingly blew the fire and the tail of the monkey was
lighted. Whilst he was blowing the fire, it caught his
beard; and his mustaches on one side were entirely burnt.

* A diamond.

46 Ramavijaya,

He covered bis face with his handkerchief and retired to hiS
chamber. Maruti rolled on the ground and burnt the beards
and mustaches of the demons and the hairs of the demon
esses with his tail in flames. He burnt many of them to
death, and in a short time one-third part of Lanka was
on fire. After burning Lanka the monkey went to the
Asoka forest and assured Sita that her husband would
take her very soon. Thence he returned to Rama at the
Tampa Sarovar with her ornament as a mark from her
and a letter from Bramhadev to the prince stating what
the monkey had done in Lanka and that one-third of the
country burnt by him had become gold. Rama and Lak-
shuman were very glad to read the contents of the letter
and expressed their thanks to Maruti for the trouble he
had taken for them. The story of how Lanka had become
.gold is as follows: —

•*' Two Brahmans, who were brothers, always quarrel
led about the dakshana1* they had got from their patrons.
Their father became Indignant at their conduct and cursed
them, saying -that they would 'be animals, but that the
god, Krishna, would release them from the curse. One
brother was /transformed into a nakra^ and another into
a gajandra.\. The nakra lived in water and th^
gajr.ndra on a mountain. One day the gajandra accident
ally came to the laite in which the nakra lived; and whilst
drinking the water, the latter dragged the former in the
lake. A severe fighting took place between them. The
nakra severely wounded the gajandra and was about to
kill him, when the latter prayed to Krishna for help.
The god, listening to his prayer, .rode on Garuda^ and
hastened to the lake. Finding -that his devotee, the
gajandra, was wounded by the nakra, Krishna killed the
•crocodile and released him and the elephant from

* ,A present in hard cash, f A crocodile. J An elephant.
§ An eagle called Garuda on which Krishna always rode.

Ramavijaya. 47

the curse. After releasing them from.' the curse
Krishna prepared himself to return to Dwarka, when-
Garuda said to him, ' I am very hungry.- Please, there
fore, give me something to eat.' ' I shall postpone my
departure for an hour or so,' replied Krishna, ' and in?
the meantime, you can eat the corpses of the nakra and
gajandra.' Whereupon Garuda went and picked1 up the-
corpses with his bill and sat on a tree called Jarnbuvrak-
sha for the purpose of eating them. But the branch of
the tree on which he had sat, was broken by his weight,
when he observed tha,t millions of .Rishis sat in meditation
on the leaves of the branch. In order that the branch
might not fall on the ground and kill the Rishis, he firmly
held the1 branch by his bill; and not knowing where to
keep it, he went to his father, Kasyapa, a Rishi, and
informed him of his difficulty.. Whereupon Kasyapa
requested the Rishis to come down, and they complied
with his request. He then told Garuda to leave the branch
on a mountain at Lanka. Garuda accordingly did it and
went away. The branch remained on the mountain and
was converted into gold; and when Maruti burnt Lanka,-
it was melted by the heat of the fire and the liquid over
flowed the part of Lanka which was burnt by the monkey."
Soon after, Rama and Lakshuman made preparations
for march against Ravana; and on the day of ' Dasara*
they set out with eighteen padmas^ of monkeys, seventy-

* " This festival is held on the 10th of Aswin Shud. It is
called Durga Puja. On this day, in commemoration of the victo
ry of Devi, the wife of Siva, over the buffalo-headed demon, Ma-
heshasur, — her image, after having been worshipped for nine days
is thown into the water. On this day Marathas and Kshatryas
or those who consider themselves of the military race, worship
the implements of war and ask protection of them throughout
the year, under a conception that to the propitiousness of the
sword they owe every prosperity,'' j- Ten billions are equal to
one padma.

48 Ramavijaya,

two kotis* of warriors under the command of ar* old mon
key, Jambuvant, and fifty-six kotis of other monkeys.
When they arrived at the sea which Maruti had first cros
sed, they were encamped there, there being no way to pro
ceed farther. This news having spread through
out Lanka, Vibhishan, the youngest brother of the de
mon-king, entreated him to restore Sita to her husband,,
and set all the gods at liberty. He said, " If you do not
listen to me, the whole of Lanka will be annihilated and
all the demons destroyed." Ravan and his son, Indrajit,
replied, " We do not care at all about it. Let Rama and
all the monkeys come upon us, we shall kill them all in a
second." Having failed to persuade the demon -king to
restore Sita to Rama, Vibhishan, accompanied by four de
mons, came where the monkeys had been encamped and
sought to visit the prince. The monkeys were about to
kill the demons, when Vibhishan said, " I arn the youug-
ost brother of Ravana and have come here to see Rama.
1 hear that he killed Vali and gave his kingdom to Su-
griva. In like manner, I want him to kill Ravana and
give his Lanka to me. He is wicked, and has oppressed
both the gods and Brahmans." The monkeys looked up
on him with suspicion and did not believe at first what he
had said. But Maruti said, " Vibhishan is not a wicked
demon. He is a devotee of Rama, and has come here
with some good object." Whereupon Rama desired the
monkeys to allow Vibhishan to see him. Sugriva went
and brought him to Rama. The demon fell at the feet
of the prince, when the latter blessed the former saying
that he would be the king of Lanka and would reign
there as long as the sun and the moon last. Rama asked
him what he should do to cross the sea with his large-
army of monkeys, when Vibhishan replied, " Pray to the
sea, and he may make way for you and your army.''
* One koti is equal to ten millions.

Kamavijaya. 49

Rama went to pray to the sea and Vibhishan left for Lan
ka. Ravana was informed by a demon called Shardula,
that a large army of monkeys under the command of Su-
griva had been encamped near the shore of the sea and
that they would invade Lanka in a day or two. Where-*
upon a demon called Shuka came to Sugriva on behalf of
Ravana and said to him, " Rama is a wicked man, and
why do you help him ? What have you to do with Sita ?
Quietly return home with your army. If you do not listen
to me, the heads of all your monkeys will be cut off ; and
Rama, Lakshuman and you will be killed." The monkeys
were enraged at what the demon had said and beat him
severely, when Lakshuman interfered and let him go.
The demon again said, " You are all stupid donkeys and
will be shortly sacrificed here." Rashabha, a monkey,
replied, " Just tell Ravana to restore Sita to Rama; and
if he refuses to do so, his neck will be cut off with his
ten heads." " Hold your tongue/' said Shuka, " Sita
will never be restored to Rama. I again tell you to leave
the prince alone here; and if you do not listen to me,
your days are numbered." The monkeys again caught
him by his neck and, having belabored him; bound him
with a cord.

Rama prayed to the sea for three days without eating
a morsel of food; but the sea was so impertinent that he
did not listen to his prayer, when the prince got indignant
and aimed his dhanushaban to dry up the sea. The sea
was alarmed and said, " Kindly forgive me and do not
dry me up. I am ready to do what you bid me do.'*
" Very well," replied Rama, " but what shall I do with
this dhanushaban ? It must be at any rate let off accord
ing to rny solemn resolution which cannot be changed under
any circumstances." " There lives in the west a demon"
called Maru, continued the sea. " He devours all crea
tures in the water. Please, therefore, let off the arrow

5

50 Kamavijaya.

at him and ent off his head." Baroa accordingly dischar
ged the arrow at him and cut off his head. When the
head fell on the ground, it drank off a sheet of the sea-
water in the west and thereby a tract of land, which is
now called Marwad,. was formed. The sea regarded Rama
as his son-in-law and presented him with a dress aad
ornaments, whieh he accepted at the request of the mon
keys; and when he wore them, he looked very beautiful.
Kama asked the sea what means- he- should adopt to cross
the water with so many monkeys, when he said, '» You
can have a shetu* built over roe. Let it be built by Nala
with stones and mountains, which will float on the surface-
of the water only by his hands. When Nala was young,
he always worshipped shaligrams^ and threw them into
the sea-water. A Rishi was pleased with him and blessed
him, saying that by his hands,, stones and mountain*
would float on the water,'' So saying to Rama,, the sea
disappeared. Immediately after,. Rama called Nala and
said to him, " To cross the sea, a shetu must be built by
you of stones and mountains, which will float on the water
by your liands only. I, therefore, beg you to order all
the monkeys, to procure stones and mountains and lay
them by your hands in the water.'' Nala was puffed up
with pride and said to himself that the shetu could not
be built without him. So saying Nala ordered the mon
keys to get stones and mountains which the latter brought
and gave in charge of the former. Nala built a portion
of the shetu, but the fishes in the sea ate it. He again
built it but the fishes again ate it. He was at a loss to
know what to do. when Maruti said to him, " Pride goeth
before destruction. You thought that the bridge could
not be built without you. What do you say now ? Leave
off your pride and be humble. Now write the name of

* A bridge or pool, f A black stone found in the river,
Gadanki, and worshipped as sacred to Vishnu.

Pag-eSO

Ramavijaya. 51

Rama on each stone aiid lay it in the water; and if you
do this, you will be able to build the shetu within a short
time. Nala did it as directed by Maruti; and the shetu
was built one hundred yojans in length and breadth so
far as Suvela without any difficulty. After the shetu was
completed, Rama crossed it with his army and came to
Suvela, where he encamped his army,

Kama set Shuka at liberty, who went to Ravana and
informed him of what had happened to him and how they
had built the shetu. He requested the demon-king to
submit to the prince and restore Sita to him. Ravana
got very indignant and said, ** You are alarmed, because
they beat you. If you advise me that way again, I shall
at once cut off your head." Soon after, Ravana sent two
demons, Shuka and Surna, to Suvela to ascertain the posi
tion of the army of Rama. The two demons in the forms
of monkeys mixed themselves with the monkeys belonging
to the army of the prince. Vibhishan informed Raina
that the demons had come to Suvela in the forms of mon
keys to ascertain the position of his army. Whereupon Rama
ordered the monkeys to allow the demons to count their
numbers. The two demons were accordingly taken round
the whole army. They, having seen it, returned to
Lanka and said to the demon-king, " Rama has got a large
army of monkeys, and it will be very difficult for you
to defeat it. We, therefore, implore you to submit to
Rama and restore Sita to him." Ravana was enraged and
threatened them that he would cut off their heads, if they
advised him that way. He then, accompanied by the two
demons, went to the top of his tower to see the army of
Rama. Vibhishan came and informed the prince that the
demon-king had gone to his tower to have a look at his
army, arid while he was there, Sugriva jumped from Suvela,
which was at a distance of hundreds of miles from Lanka,
and returned to his camp with the mug at of Ravan. The

52 Ramavijaya.

-demon-king was alarmed, and immediately - came down-
rstairs. A few days after, he said to his courtiers, '"I
nave now no patience. I must marry Sita as soon as pos
sible. If any of you make her love me and marry me, I
shall be ever grateful to him." Whereupon his minister,
cVidynjiva, who was well versed in magic and sorcery, re
plied, u I shall create, by means of sorcery, a head well eut
jbff and similar to that of Rama and also a dhanushaban
and show them to Sita, so that she may be convinced that
,her husband has been killed. If she is convinced of
it, she will become hopeless and easily love you and marry
you/' "I am very much thankful to you for your excel
lent scheme," replied Havana. " There is no doubt you
•will succeed in it," Vidynjiva accordingly created the head
of Rama and hig dhanushaban. Havana then came to the
Asoka forest and said to Sita, <« I am very sorry to
inform you that your darling husband is killed and
$hat his brother, Lakshuman, has flecj to Ayodya,
Maruti, Sugriva, Nala, Nila, Angada and all other warriors
are also killed. You are alone here, what can you do
now ? You are helpless. I, therefore, beseech you
to marry me. You shall be my first wife and Mandodari
will be your maid-servant. Alas ! Sita, Rama is no more,
Believe me. If you want any proof of what I say, here 13
tjhe head of your. Rama cut off by a demon, and here is
his dhanushaban." As soon as Sita beheld the head of
Rama and his dhanushaban, she fainted. In her gritf she
said fcp Ravana. " I look upon you as my father an>! im
plore you to order a pile of wood to be arranged, so ttiat I
may set fire to it and burn myself in it. I do not wish to
live any longer in this world." As soon as he heard these
words, he returned to his court, leaving Sita alone there.
Jn the mean-time, Sharma, wife of Vibhishan, came to
the Asoka forest and informed her that Rama was doing
weti ancj. that the head4 which was shown to her, was

Hamavijaya. 53

ated by the demons by means of sorcery to make her give
tip her hope of Eama and marry Havana. No sooner did
Sharma inform Sita of this than the created head and dha-
nushaban which were left there, disappeared. Soon after,
the demon-4dng said to his wife, " Mandodari, you are
my faithful wife and love me much. I have a great pas
sion for Sita ; and if you do not help me, I shall die. If
you really love me, go to Sita in tho Asoka forest and
persuade her to marry me." Whereupon Mandodari
went to Sita and, having communicated her husband's
wishes to her, returned home. She said to her husband,
" Dearest, Sita is not a woman who will comply with your
wishes. She is a paragon of virtue. She will sacrifice her
life rather than yield to your passion. There is no use of
your beim- after her. I, therefore, beseech you to restore
her to Rama. Why do you covet another's wife ?" "My
love," replied Havana, " What you say is true, but I shall
never submit to Rama and humiliate myself in the eyes
of all nations. I shall fight with him and die but I shall
never restore Sita to him." Having failed to persuade her
husband, she returned to her palace. Ravana again went
to the top of his tower with his courtiers and began to
look at the army of Rama. Rama also went to the top of
a hill with Sugriva and other monkeys and began to look
at Ravan and his courtiers. Whilst Ravana was looking
at the army of the prince, Sugriva jumped from the hill
and knocked down the muguts put by him on his ten
heads. The demon-king was surprised and combated
with the monkey but the latter, having administered to
him severe blows, returned to Rama with joy. Ravana
was alarmed, and immediately came down with shame
and confusion. After a)l preparations for the war were
completed on both the sides, Vibhishan said to
Rama, " Before an attack is made on Ravana, it is advis
able to negotiate with him for peace. You should, there-

54 Ramavijaya.

fore, send an ambassador to his court and request him to
restore Sita to you." Rama accordingly sent Angada to-
the court of Ravana but no-body noticed him there. The
monkey was, therefore, irritated and said to the
demon-king, " Havana, do you know who I am?'*
"Who are you and what is your name," Ravana indignantly
asked. " I am a servant of Rama," continued Angada,.
*' and my name is Angada. I am son of Vali. I have
come here to negotiate with you for peace." a I shall
never make peace with Rama," replied Ravana, " I tell
you once more to make peace with Rama," said Angada,
" and restore Sita to him. If you refuse to listen to- me,
you will lo.se your life and every thing in Lanka.. He
is very powerful, and you can do nothing to him." "-You
arc a shameless creature," Ravana indignantly replied,
" You know very well that Rama has killed your father
and, instead of revenging yourself upon the enemy you
have now come to. help him. You are a groat donkey."
" Xo doubt, Rama killed my father," said Angada, " but
by his arrow he has go.ne to heaven where he now enjoy*
ever-lasting happiness/' Ravana was furious,, and ordered
four demons to bind Angada. Whereupon the demons-
firmly held him by his arms, when the monkey struck the
chest of Ravana with his tail and jumped from Lanka
with his muguts, chatra and mandap* and returned to
Buvela. The four demons, with whom, the monkey had
jumped, hung upon his shoulders with their heads down
wards, and were killed by a fall on the ground.

The negotiations for peace having fallen, through,
kSusen marched against Lanka with twenty kotis. of mon
key-soldiers and fought with the troops of Ravana under
the command of Dhamaraksha. Susen routed and defeated
them all, and their commander was killed by Maruti
with blows. The news of the defeat having spread through-

Ramavijaya. 55

out Lanka, the demon-king, boiled with rage, sent the
demons, called Vazra Dausti and Sukpana, with a number
of demon-soldiers, but they were also defeated with
heavy loss. Ravana was alarmed and did not know what
to do. But, in the mean-time, his son, Indrajit, kept the
field with the warriors, Janbumali and Vidyaman and let
off arrows at the army of Rama which the latter cut off
and killed the two warriors. Whereupon Indrajit
immediately jumped with his chariot into the sky, where
he hid himself in the clouds and let off serpent-weapons
at the army of Rama, which produced innumerable
serpents. These serpents stung Rama and Lakshuman
and all their soldiers; and consequently they all fell life
less in the field, except Maruti and Vibhishan, who were
immortal. Indrajit, having thus defeated Rama, returned
to Lanka with a great success. The demon-king was
rery glad at the success of his son and- said to his sister,
Trijata, " Sister ? Look at the valor of our Indrajit.
How has he fought and how has he defeated the army of
Rama ? You know, nobody on earth can conquer us.
Now what I want you to do is that you should now go to
Sita and inform her of all that had happened. Show her
Rama, Lakshuman and their soldiers lying lifeless in the
field and tell her that she is now helpless- and I am the
only one who can support her. Tell her all this and
persuade her to marry me. 0 ! sister, I like her much."
Trijata accordingly showed to Sita, Rama, Lakshuman
and the monkey soldiers lying lifeless in the field and
told her all that Ravana had said. Sita, having seen
her beloved Rama and Lakshuman, violently cried and
became hopeless. Maruti and Vibhishan consulted
together as to what they should do to resusitate the prin
ces and their array, but before they arrived at a certain
conclusion, the wind had come and whispered to Rama a
garuda mantra which produced garudas or eagles. These

S# Eamavijaya.

gaf'u'das killed all the serpents and resusitafed
Lakshumari and their army. The fighting was agairi
renewed by the monkeys, when Pravasta, the minister of
Ravana, bravely fought with them and killed many of
them. Whereupon Nala threw at the minister one lac
of mountains which the latter broke in no time and
contiriued the fighting. But after a hot battle Pravasta
was killed by Nala with a tree called Tada, a hundred yojans:
in length. At this defeat, Ravana was greatly enraged
and prepared himself' to fight with the enemies, when
his wife, Mandodari, said to him, " My dearest, yoit
should n'ow give up the idea of your fighting with j&ima
any longer. Why do you want another's wife ? My
love, just restore her to her husband, so that every thing
may end in peace and tranquillity." " My darling,"
Havana laughingly replied, " I am ready to do any thing
for you but please do not tell me to restore Sita to Rama.-
I am prepared to fight with him and kill him with all
his army." RaVana having refused to listen to her, she
returned to her palace. Immediately after, the demon-
king kept the field with his sons, grand-sons, great grand
sons and a large number of warriors and soldiers and
commenced operations, when Sugriva threw a large moun
tain at him, which the latter broke with his arrows.
Whereupon all the monkeys rushed upon him with moun
tains, large trees, rocks and other weapons but he also
broke them with his arrows. Maruti then threw a very
large rock at the demon-king which the latter broke
with his arrows and gave blows to the former. Maruti
-fainted for some time and, having soon come to himself,
returned the blows to him and knocked down his mtiguts
and the chatras held over his ten heads. Havana was
not in the least alarmed and continued the fighting.
•Whereupon Nala produced by a mantra innumerable
Nalas like himself and employed them to throw mountains,

Ramavijaya. 57

trees and rocks at the demon-king, when the latter let
off a Bramhasra* and made them all disappear in a
second. Lakshuman then let of? a Bramhaskti* at Ravana,
which was cut off by the latter into two parts. One part of
it fell on the ground and with another Lakshuman was
struck; and consequently he fainted. Maruti was greatly
enraged and gave Ravana blows, which made him vomit
blood and return to Lanka. When the demon-king wag
thus defeated, he sent his demon-subjects to arouse his
brother, Kumbhakarna, from his fast sleep. The demons
went and shook him but he was not awakened. Whereupon
they threw rocks and mountains at him, pierced
him with sharp weapons, and scratched him with their
nails, but nothing could arouse him from his sleep, He
was snorting with a great noise and drew in and sent out
with his inspiration and respiration the demons, bullocks,
cows, elephants and other animals that had come before
him. At last the demons brought two nymphs and made
them sing before him. By their melodious voice he wag
aroused; and as he was hungry for six months, he at once
devoured billions of bullocks, she-buffaloes, Brahmaris,
cows and even demons, and drank off gallons of liquor
and ghee-\. After his hunger was appeased, the demons
informed him of what had happened to his brother, Ravana,
his kingdom and subjects. Whereupon Kumbhakarna
immediately stood on his legs and began to walk
towards the palace of his brother. The monkeys, looking
at the huge size of the demon, were greatly disheartened
but Maruti went to him and lifted him up thrice in order
that they might not be afraid of him. Kumbhakarna
reached the palace of Ravana and stood before him, when
the latter said to him, " Brother ? I am now in difficulty.
I have brought Sita, the wife of Rama, as I wish to
marry her. In order to recover her from me Rama has
* 4- weapon. f Clarified 'butter.

58

Ramavljaya.

come here with a great number of monkey-soldiers.
They have killed good many demons and destroyed nearly
the whole of Lanka. It is now your duty to help
me.11 " It is not good that you have deprived the help
less woman, Sita, of her husband," replied Kumbhakarna.
** It is a great sin that one should covet another's wife.
You ought to have restored her to her husband. But as
you have brought her here •at the risk of your life, have
you fulfilled your wishes ? If not, transform yourself into
Kama and go to her.'' " Tlrat cannot be done," replied
Havana, " because if I become Rama, all his virtues will
reign iu ine and prevent me from doing any wicked act.
Unless you kill Rurna, I shall not be able to fulfill my
wishes." " As you are my brother," said Kumbhakarna,
" it is my duty to help you. Have courage. I shall devour
all the monkeys in a moment and kill Rama and Lakshu-
man." Taking his leave of Havana, Kumbhakarna
attacked the army of Rama, when four monkeys, in
cluding Sharab and Govaksha flnng mountains and
rocks at the demon which the latter broke with blows and
threw them into the sky. Kumbhakarna devoured a
great number of the monkeys but a few of them
escaped through his ears and nostrils. Sugriva then threw
a mountain at him which the latter broke with one
blow and, having held him by his feet, turned him round
like a reel. He was about to dash the monkey to pieces,
when the latter escaped from his clutches and jum
ped into the sky. But he, having stretched out his
hands in the sky, brought him down and put him
into his anus. Sugriva was disgusted at the stink of his
arms and, having cut off his nose and ears, once more
escaped and jumped into the sky of which Kumbhakarna
knew nothing. He was profusely bled and altogether
disfigured. Having thought that he was successful in the
war, he walked towards the palace of his brother, Ravana.

Eamavijaya. 59

The demon-king was ashamed to behold him in that
state ; and in order to avoid an interview with him he
ordered his barber to show him a mirror. The barber ac
cordingly held a mirror before the demon in which he
beheld hii disfigured face and immediately returned in a
great rage to renew the fight with the monkeys. Despe
rate as he was, he devoured many of the monkeys and
attempted to rush upon Rama, when Lakshuman let off
arrows at him, which he broke with his hands. In the
mean-time, Vibhishan went to fight with his brother,
when the latter said, " You are a great scoundrel. Do
you know who I am ? I am your brother. You are trea
cherous, and have joined our enemies. I should have just
killed you on this spot, but as there will be no one left be
hind us to perform our funeral ceremonies, I spare your
life and command you to leave this place immediately. Do
not show me your face again." Having heard these word*
from the mouth of Kumbhakarna, Vibhishan immediately
disappeared. Kumbhakarna then rushed upon Rama,
when the latter let off arrows at him, but they all were de
voured by the demon. Lastly the prince discharged a
deadly arrow at him and cut off his hands with it, and,
with other arrows, his feet, trunk, and head. On receiving
the news of the fall of Kumbhakarna in the field Ra-
vana much grieved for him, when Indrajit came and con
soled his father . Immediately after, Atikaya, the second
son of Ravana, with other warriors, abravely attacked the
army of Rama and shot a great number of the monkeys ;
but at last Lakshuman killed him with his arrow. Ravana
much lamented for him, when Indrajit consoled his father
and, having washed his body with the blood of human
beings and cows, performed a penance. His goddess was
pleased with him and presented him with a chariot, horses
and weapons. He seated himself in that chariot and jumped
into the sky j and having hid himself in the clouds, he let

60 Ramavijaya.

off arrows at the monkeys and killed them all. Even Raina
and Lakshunoan were struck with his arrows. The demon-
prince again returned to Lanka with success. To resus
citate the monkeys, Maiuti went to get a mountain called
Dronagiri, which was full of medicinal plants. For some
time he stood at the foot of the mountain entreating him
to accompany hioi to Suvela, the place of the war, and re
suscitate the monkeys with his medicinal plants. The
mountain said " Be gone. You, fool. I am not ex
pected to accompany you to Suvela. Depart from this
place.'' M'aruti got indignant at the insolence of the
mountain and, having lifted him up with his tail, brought
him to Suvela. By the odour of the medicinal plants on
the mountain all the monkeys with Kama and Lakshu-
man were resuscitated; and soon after, they entered
Lanka and set fire to it. Whereupon Havana sent the
demons, Jang Prachang, Krochen, Nikuinbha and others
to oppose them and quench the fire. The demons let off
a rain-weapon, which produced water and quenched the
fire. By his mantra Indrajit then created a female called
Kritya and jumped with her into the sky; and hiding him
self behind her back he let off arrows at the monkeys and
killed many of them, when Rama, at the suggestion of the
wind, let off the weapon called Angirastra, which cut off
the female. Whereupon Indrajit immediately came down
and, having defeated the army of Rama with heavy loss,
returned to Lanka with success. The monkeys were alar
med, when Maruti immediately kept the field. At this
time Indrajit created by his mantras a woman exactly like
Sita and, having seated her in his chariot, came to the
field and loudly said in the hearing of all the monkeys,
" You see, on account of this wretched woman my father
has suffered much. If her head is cut off, every thing
will end in peace, and there will be no war-" So saying
he cut off the head of the woman and immediately went to

Ramavijaya. 61

his county, ISTikumbala, to perform a penance with a view
to get from the deity of fire a divyaratha* with horses and
weapons. He entered a solitary place and, posting de-
ions to watch it, began to perform the penance. Indrajit
;lled for the purpose many Brahnv^as and cows and,
ishing his body with their blood, seated himself upon
rpses and carcasses, made a liavan^ and offered the
deity of fire the heads of Brahmans and cows. The deity
having been pleased with him, half of the divyaratha came
out of the havan.

Maruti believed that the woman, whose head had been
cut off, was Sita and communicated the sad news to Kama
and Lakshuman, which disheartened and disappointed all.
In the meantime, Vibhishan came and informed Eama
and the monkeys that Sita was safe in the Asoka forest
and that the Sita, whose head was cut off by Indrajit, was
created by him with his mantras. He also informed them
of the penance and said, " Half of the divyaratha has
come out of the fire ; and if the whole chariot come out,
you will not be able to conquer Indrajit. I, therefore,
advise you to go to Nikumbala as soon as possible and
destroy the havan, so that the chariot may disappear and
not come to the hands of the demon-prince. I also tell you
that as soon as you destroy the havan, he will be desper
ate and fight with you ; but no one will be able to kill
him, unless he has observed fast for 12 years.'* Listen
ing to what Vibhishan had said Rama made a sign to
Lakshuman, who had observed fast for 14 years, and
bade him go with Maruti, Sugriva, and the other monkeys
to Nikumbala to Jostroy the havan and kill Indrajit. Lak
shuman accordingly went with them to Mkumbala and
destroyed the chariot and havan. The noise of the monkeys
aroused Indrajit who was in deep meditation ; and find-

* A beautiful, fine and charming chariot, f Oblation
by fire to a deity.

6

62 Ramavijayar.

ing that the ha van was destroyed, he was so furious that
Ije let off at them a tain-weapon, which produced the rain
and flowed the army of Lakshuman. The prince Dis
charged a wind-weapon, which produced the wind and dis
persed, the rain. Indrajit stopped the wind by. a moun
tain-weapon, which produced innumerable mountains, when
Lakshuman let off a diamond-weapon, which produced dia
monds, and broke the mountains. Indrajit let off a fire-
wea.pon, which produced fire and began to burn the army
of Lakshuman, when the latter discharged a sea-weapon,
which produced volumes of water and extinguished the
fire. Indrajit lastly let off five arrows and struck Lakshu
man with thorn, when Vibhishan threw his gada* at the
demon-prince, who cut it off and struck his uncle with five
arrows. At last Lakshuman let off a deadly arrow and
broke his head with it, and his chariot was broken and
horses killed by Jambuvant. Indrajit however fought
alone on the ground, when all the monkeys threw »t him
innumerable mountains, rocks, and trees at one and the
same time, but he broke them with his arrows in no time.
He then jumped into the sky and, hiding himself in the
clouds, let off arrows at Lakshuman when Maruti placed
the latter on the palm of his hand and lifted him up in
the skyr where he fought with Indrajit, Whereupon
the demon-prince came down, when Maruti brought
Lakshuman on the ground. They fought for some time
on the ground but at last Lakshuman cut off with his
arrows the thighs, arms and the head of his enemy. One
of the arms of the demon-prince, when cut off, fell down
in the compound of the palace of his wife, Sulochana, a
.daughter of Shesha, and the monkeys carried off the
head to their camp with exultation. Rama rejoiced at the
success and told the monkeys to preserve the head and
hand it over to a woman, who would come hither to ask
'for ifc. Sulochana came out of her room, and as soon as

Ramavijaya. 63

she identified her husband's arm, she took it up in her
hands and lamented over it. She said to the arm with
tears in her eyes, " My love, just let me know how you
were killed. If I am faithful to you, let this your arm
write a short account of the battle you had fought with
Rama." So saying she placed a piece of paper, pen and
inkstand before the ;arm, which wrote the full account of
the battle and informed her that the monkeys carried off
his head to Suvela. As soon as Stilochana read the ac
count, sh.?. grieved much anl placed the arm and paper be
fore his father-in-law, Havana. Havana read the letter
and fainted away, when Mandodari came out of her room
and, hearing the sad news of the fall of her brave son,
violently cried and wept. Sulochana said, *' I am going to
burn myself with my beloved Indrajit. I, therefore, im
plore you to get his head back from the monkeys.'' At
the entreaties of his daughter-in-law the demon-king was
rnored, and pitied her ; and at the same time, he was
boiled with rage at the monkeys, and exclaimed, "Daugh
ter, I shall get the head back. Rest assured. I will now
fight with Rama and never return, unless I kill him." So
exclaiming he ordered his courtiers to make prepartions
for march against the prince, when Mandodari said to Su
lochana, " There is no necessity for fighting with Rama.
If you go to him alone, he will give the head to you, as he
is very kind." Ravana said, " She is helpless, if any body
commit outrage upon her.'' " There is not a single mon
key with Rama,'' replied Mandodari, " who will covet
another's wife.'* As soon as Mandodari said these words,
he hid his face with shame and confusion and allowed Su
lochana to go alone to Suvela. Sulochana came to the
camp of the moakeys, when the latter took her to Rama.
She said to the prince, " I am wife of Indrajit and have
come hither to carry the head of my husband, as I am go
ing to burn myself with him. I, therefore, implore you to

64 Ramavij aya.

give it to me." " How did you know that the head of your
nusband was carried off by us," asked the monkeys. Su-
locliana told them what had happened but the monkeys said
to her, " We can not believe what you say. It is impos
sible that a lifeless arm can write. Here is the head of
your husband ; and if you were faithful to him, just make
it laugh ; and then we will be convinced of, what you say."
Whereupon Sulochana, embracing the head, said, " My
love, I am now in difficulty. These monkeys have met
here together to judge of my fidelity towards you ; and if
your head does not laugh, they will look upon me as a vile
woman." Sulochana tried her utmost to make the head
laugh but it did not listen to her. At last she said, " T
made a great mistake. If I had called my father, Shesha,
to help you, nothing could have been done to you." As
soon as she uttered these words, the head heartily laughed.
The monkeys said, " Though Sulochana spoke to the
head in so many pathetic words, it did not laugh but as
soon as she took the name of Shesha, it heartily laughed.*'
" What is this mystery?" asked the monkeys. " Sulochana
is the daughter of Shesha," replied Rama, " and Lakshu-
man is an incarnation of Shesha. The head laughed, be
cause his father-in-law killed his own son-in-law." No
sooner did Rama inform the monkeys of this than Lakshu-,
man much grieved for his son-in-law, Indrajit, when the
former pacified and consoled him, saying that he would re
suscitate the demon-prince, if he wished him to do so.
But at the entreaties of the monkeys Rama did not resus
citate Indrajit. The monkeys then handed the head
over to Sulochana, which she took and brought on the sea
shore near Lanka, where she arranged a pile of wood and,
having set fire to it, burnt herself with the head. Ravana,
who was present there with his family according to the
custom, was deeply affected at the sight, and returned
home over-wiielined with grief. Ravana was in a confused

Ramavijaya. 65

state of mind, and did not know what to do, when his
minister, Yidya, advised him to write a letter to his un
cles, Ahiravana and Mahiravana, in Fatal. Whereupon
the demon-king wrote to them, called them to see him at his
palace and informed them of his misfortune and distress,
when they encouraged him and said, " You need not be
alarmed. We shall carry off Rama and Lakshuman to Fatal
today at midnight and sacrifice them to our goddess."
The ministers of Yibhishan overheard what had passed
between Ravana and the demons and communicated it to
their master. Whereupon Yibhishan told Maruti, Nala,
Nila, Sugriva and other monkeys to guard Rama and Lak
shuman during the night. AH the monkeys, therefore,
made a fortification of their tails and, placing in it the
princes on a cot, guarded them. At midnight Ahira
vana and Mahiravana came there and were greatly surpris
ed at the curious fortification. But there being no way
to get in, they excavated the earth ; and through that
excavation they carried off the princes with the cot to Ma-
hikavati in Fatal, where they put them in trance and con
fined them in a house. They had posted twenty kotis of
demons under the command of Makardwaja to watch the
mouth of the excavation which was near the sea in Fatal.
At the dawn of the day all the monkeys at Suvela
went to visit Rama, when they found, to their great sur
prise, that the cot disappeared with Rama and Lakshu
man. They saw the excavation and the footprints of the
demons, from which they concluded that the demons had
carried off the princes through that hollow. All the mon
keys were greatly alarmed, and did not know what to do,
but, in the mean time, YibL-han came and told them not
to make a noise about it, because if Ravana knew of their
position, he would attack t^em and kill them all in no
time. The monkeys with Yibhishan met together and
asked Maruti whether he could go through the excavation

66 Ramavijaya.

and trace the whereabouts of Rama and Lakshuman.
" Even at the risk of my life I will get Rama and Lak-
shuinan back," replied Maruti. Having thus spoken
Maruti entered the excavation with Nala, Nila, Angada,
and Jambuvant and went through it to the sea -shore half
dead, where they refreshed themselves with a fresh breeze.
Looking at the large numbers of the demons they disguis
ed themselves as Fakirs* and asked the monsters to show
them the way that led to Mahikavati. The demons did
non listen to them and prevented them from proceed
ing further, when Maruti got indignant and threw them
into the sea with his tail. Makardwaja was greatly in
censed, and combated with Maruti but the latter flung
him down and sat on his chest. Makardwaja was alarm
ed, when Maruti called upon him to name the espouser of
his cause. " If my father, Maruti, were here," said Ma
kardwaja, "he would kill you and save my life." As soon
as the demon mentioned the name of Maruti, the latter
wa startled, and, getting up from his chest, said, " My
name is Maruti. I am a Bramhachari f and how do you
say that I am your father ? Just give me an account of
how you were born to me." " When you burnt Lanka,*
replied Makardwaja, " you threw into the sea your
sweat, which my mother, a Magari, \ swallowed up ; and
of that sweat I was born to you." Maruti was astonished
at the account given by Makardwaja, apd blessed him
when, the Magari came to see the monkey and said to him,
" When you came here last time, you had a large size ;
but I now find that your form is very small. I doubt
whether you are that Maruti whom I had seen." Where
upon Maruti assumed his former form and removed her
doubt. He then acquainted her with what had happened

* Mendicants, f A Brahman that religiously abstains from
all sexual commerce with woman ; either for a time or through
life, \ An alligator.

Kamavijaya. 67

to Rama, when she said, " Ahiravana and Mahiravana are
two brothers. They are wicked and treacherous demons.
I know that they have carried off Rama and Lakshuman
to Mahikavati, and they will sacrifice them to their goddess
tomorrow. I, therefore, advise you to go and hide yourself
in the temple of the goddess, where you will find both the
princes." "Have patience/' replied Maruti, " I will 'kill all
the demons and give Mahikavati to your son." " Mahi
kavati," continued the Magari, " is at a distance of 13
yojans, and to reach there you will have to cross a vast
sea, which you will not be able to do. I, therefore, beg
you to sit with your companions in my mouth, and I will
convey you to that place." Nala, Nila, Angad, and
Jambuvant were afraid, as they thought that the Magari
might swallow them up on their way to Mahikavati.
They, therefore, refused her kind offer and stayed on the
sea-shore, while Maruti alone jumped over the sea and
immediately reached Mahikavati, where he became as
small as an atom and entered the temple of the goddess.
As soon as he saw the goddess, he put her into a drain
and, assuming her form, sat in her place. The goddess
was frightened, and did not speak a word for fear of life.
The demoos as usual made offerings to the goddess consist
ing of boiled rice, milk, butter and other things which Maruti
swallowed up to his heart's content and loudly said to the
demons, " I am very much pleased with you, because you
have brought today Rama and Lakshuman for my tiffin
Let me have them. Do not open the doors of the temple*
because you will not be able to bear my power and lustre.
I, therefore, command you to make an opening to one of
the walls of the temple and push them in through it, so
that I may devour them with a great relish. Do not kill
them." Believing that the goddess was much pleased
with them, Ahiravana and Mahiravana removed the trance
from Rama and Lakshuman and brought them to the

68 Ramavijaya.

temple. As directed by the goddess, they made an opening
to one of the walls of the temple and pushed them in
through it. Rama and Lakshuman were frightened at
the sight of the goddess, who opened her mouth and said
to them, u I shall now devour you, as I am very hungry;
but before I do that, name the espouser of your cause."
Whereupon the princes replied, " If Maruti were here,
he would come to our rescue. We are now helpless, and
throw ourselves on your mercy." Maruti was moved with
pity at the princes, and immediately discovered himself
to them. " I am now without weapons," said Rama,
" and how can I kill the demons without them?" " You
need not be afraid," continued Maruti, " I shall get your
weapons here." So saying he brought the weapons and
dhanushabans from Suvela. As princes were hungry,
Maruti gave them to eat the butter and other things which
he had preserved for them; and after they had appeased
their hunger he sat in the place of the goddess, hiding
them behind his back, and loudly exclaimed, " I am now
ready to bless all my beloved demons one by one. Let
Ahiravana come in first." Ahiravana was extremely glad,
as the goddess wanted him first; and without loss of time
lie went in and stood before the deity, who trampled him
under his foot and instantly killed him. As the demon
did not come out for some time, the other demons outside
the temple apprehended that there was some mischief in
the temple, and began to make enquiries about him, when
Maruti broke open the doors of the temple and killed a
great number of the demons with his tail. Having been
informed that his brother was killed by Maruti, Rama
and Lakshuman, Mahiravana commenced to fight with
them. He let off arrows after arrows at his enemies but
they cut them off and let off an arrow and killed the de
mon with it; but, to their great surprise, they found that
every drop of the blood of the demon produced one Main-

Ramavijaya. 69

ravana, and when Rama killed all the Mahiravanas produ
ced by all the drops of the first Mahiravana the drops of
so many Mahiravanas produced innumerable Mahiravanas
and thus the more Kama killed the Mahiravanas, the
more they were produced. At last Rama was confuse d>
and did not know what to do. Maruti went and asked
the Magari to acquaint him with the cause of the pheno
menon. The Magari referred him to Chandraseni, wife
of Ahiravana, and told him that she would toll him all
about it. Whereupon Maruti called upon Chandraseni
and implored her to tell him the cause of the phenomenon,
when she said, *« I shall be very glad to tell you the cause
of the phenomenon, but unless Rama marries me, I shall
not tell you the cause. I am charmed with the prince,
and if you promise me that you will make him marry me,
I shall tell you the cause." " Oh, yes. I can do it very
easily,'' replied Maruti. " Then give me your promise,'*
continued Chandraseni. Maruti gave his promise to her,
when she said, " Ahiravana performed a severe penance
on account of which the god, Siva, was pleased, and
blessed him, saying that every drop of the nectar in the
*kundas in Fatal, if mixed, with every drop of the blood
of Mahiravana, it would produce one Mahiravana and that
the drops of the blood of the Mahiravanas produced by
such drops would multiply the Mahiravanas. So saying
he presented the demon with a string of ^Bramahras and
told him that the Bramahras would supply his brother
with the nectar at the time of a war. Now you see, these
Bramahras, who are as big as mountains, go to Fatal and
sprinkle the nectar over the blood of the Mahiravanas and
consequently there is no end to them. 1, therefore, tell
you to go to Fatal and kill all the Bramahras, so that
the nectar may not be sprinkled over the blood of the
Mahiravanas killed by Rama." As soon as Maruti knew
* Holes in the ground, f Big black flies.

70 Ramavijaya.

the secret, he immediately went to Fatal and killed the
Branaahras except their chief whose life was spared, because
he promised, the monkey that he would be useful to him
on some occasion. Having killed the Bramahras, Maruti
returned to Rama and told him to let off arrows at the
Mahiravanas. The prince accordingly did it and killed
all the Mahiravanas.

Immediately after this success Maruti remembered
the promise given by Mm to Chandraseni and said to him
self, *' I do not know what I should do now. If I tell
Rama to marry Chandraseni, he will never do so, because
he has sworn that he will be faithful to his wife, Sita.
If I fail to fulfil the promise given by me to her, she will
curse me to death." Maruti however made bold and told
Rama all about the promise given by him to Chandraseni.
" I will not at all violate my oath." replied Rama, " If
you like, I can come to the place of Chandraseni and bless
her.'' u Yes," continued Maruti, " you can do so."
Thence Maruti first came alone to Chandraseni and said
to her, " Rama will come to-night. Keep your *manchaka
ready for him, but I tell you one thing that if the man-
chaka is broken by the weight of Rama, he will never
marry you and will go directly home. I therefore, tell
you to order a strong manchaka to be made." Chandra
seni got a strong and beautiful manchaka ready for Rama
and sat there expecting the prince. Maruti sent the
chief of the Bramahra without her knowledge to hollow
the bed-stead in such a manner that as soon as Rama sat
on it, it would be broken to pieces. The Bramahra
skilfully hollowed the whole of the manchaka with his sting
and went away. In the evening Maruti, accompanied by
Rama, came to Chandraseni, who received him and made
him sit on the manchaka; but no sooner did Rama sit on
it than it was broken to pieces. Whereupon Rama

* A bed-stead.

Ramavijaya. 71

immediately got np and began to walk towards his place,
accompanied by Maruti, when CKandraseni indignantly
exclaimed, " Ah, monkey I Thou art a great scoundreL
This is thy dodge. I will now eurse thee to death."
Maruti was alarmed, when Rama went and pacified her,
saying that he would marry her during his another in
carnation and that she would be called Satyabharna.
After all the demons were killed, Rama gave Mahikavati
to Makardwaja and returned to Suvela with Maruti and
the other monkeys.

On the return of Rama to Suvela Ravan said to his
courtiers, '* There is no use of my living in this world
without my beloved son, ludrajit. I must now either kill
Rama or kill myself." So saying he commenced to let off
arrows at Rama which the latter cut off. But the prince
was struck with one arrow, when Vibhishan let off arrows
at the demon-king, who boiled with rage, discharged at
his brother a weapon called Bramahshakti. Lakshuman
immediately cut it off, when Ravana discharged another
powerful weapon at the prince but Maruti caught hold of
it before it struck him. To the great surprise of allr the
weapon became a female in the hands of Maruti and said
to him, " Well, Maruti, you say that you are a Brahma-
chari and how do you touch a female? You will be
sinful, if you do not let me go/' Maruti was greatly asto
nished at the female in hie hands; and as soon as she
uttered the word, 'sin/ he placed her on the ground, when
she immediately became a weapon and, rushing upon
Lakshuman, struck his head and chest ; and consequently
he fell down lifeless. Rama and all the monkeys were
alarmed, and much lamented for him. Ravana, elate
with the success, returned to Lanka with exultation.
Rurna and the monkeys were in confusion, and did not
know what to do. All were discouraged, and thought of
leaving Suvela. Shortly after, Ravana again came to

72 Ramavijaya,

fight, when Kama, boiled with rage, let off arrows at him
and the other demons and killed many of them. The
demon-king, being unable to overcome him, trembled from
head to foot. He became rnad and the picture of Kama
presented itself before him wherever he went. Having
been frightened, he immediately returned to Lanka and
told his wife, Mandodari, about it, when she said, " My
love, my dearest, even now restore Sita to Kama and be
his friend." " No, no," Ravana indignantly replied,
" that can never be done. I will either kill myself or
kill Kama." Immediately after Mandodari had returned
to her palace, he ordered the demons to dig an excavation
in the ground. The excavation was accordingly dug; and
in that excavation he performed a penance to get a divya
ratha from the god of fire and sat there in deep meditation.
Kama grieved for his brother, and all the monkeys were
alarmed. In the meantime, their physician, Susena, felt
the pulse of Lakshuman and said, " Lakshuman has still
life in him and he will be no more, as soon as the sun rises
in the morning. If the plant of nectar is brought here
from Dronagiri in the course of the night, Lakshuman can
be restored to life. Is there any warrior who can go forty
millions of yojans from this place and get the plant here
in the course of the night ?" As soon as the physician put
the question, Maruti said, "I will just go and bring Drona
giri here in three hours." So saying he took his leave
of Rama and jumped from Suvela. He came to a hill
called Madaranchela which was close to Dronagiri. Maruti
was very thirsty ; and to refresh himself he went to the
abode of an old Brahman and requested him for a cup of
water. This Brahman, who had a number of disciples
with him, blessed Maruti and said, " I am very glad to
see you here. Kindly spend this night with us here and
go in the morning." "I can not wait here for a minute,*'
replied Maruti. "I must do my business as soon as

Ramavijaya. 73

possible.'* When the Brahman found that Maruti did
not comply with his wishes, he showed him a river. Maruti
went there and stooped to take water, when a vivasi* as big
as a mountain came out to devour the monkey, who at once
seized her by her legs and instantly killed her. When
she was killed, a beautiful devangana\ came out of her
belly and threw herself at the feet of Maruti. She said, " I
was very beautiful; and, being proud of my beauty, I laughed
at a sage, who got indignant and cursed me, saying that
I would be a vivasi. I implored him to look upon me
with mercy and make the curse a little milder, when he said
that I would be released from the curse by your hands. I
also inform you that the Brahman, who lives in that abode,
is a demon called Kalnemi. He has been here for many
days with his companions, who are also demons. Havana has
sent this demon to detain you here, and when you refused to
comply with his wishes, he told you to go to that river in
order that I might devour you." No sooner did the
devangana inform Maruti of this than he came back to
the abode of the Brahman, when the latter said to the
monkey, " You ought to give me some presents, as
I have pointed out the river to you." " I shall be very
glad to give you presents," replied Maruti. The demon
stared at the monkey, when the latter gave him blows as
precious presents from him. The demon immediately
assumed his original form which was five yojans in length
and breadth, and combated with Maruti but the latter
instantly killed him; and his companions fled to Lanka
to inform Havana of it. Maruti then went to Dronagiri
and implored him to accompany him to Suvela, when the
mountain said, " Thou art a troublesome creature. Go
away. Thou, fool. I will never come with thee." Maruti
got enraged and. having lifted up the mountain with his
tail, set out for Suvela. But on the road Bharat, the
* A goddess, f A courtesan of heaven.

7

74 Ramavijaya.

third brother of Kama, who was living at Nandigram
with the Rishi, Vashista, having looked at the bright and
glittering mountain and, having thought that it was some
thing to entrap Rama and Lakshuman, let off an arrow
at it, which passed through the mountain and pierced an
arm of Maruti. The monkey, having boen wounded,
immediately came down with the mountain, repeating, all
the time, the name of Rama. Bharat heard the repetition
of the name of Rama and asked him who he was, when
the monkey informed him of what had happened to Lak
shuman and said, " What should I do now I How can I
go to Suvela before the sunrise. If I do not reach Suve-
la with tin's mountain in the course of the night, Lakshu
man will be no more/' " You need not be afraid,"
replied Bharat. " I shall send you and the mountain to
Suvela, in a minute, though it is at a distance of thou
sands of yojans from this place. Just sit on the top of
my arrow, which will carry you and the mountain there
in a minute " Maruti was surprised at the valour and
power of Bharat, and continued, " You need not take so
much trouble. I can do it myself." So saying he took
his leave of the prince and jumped from Nan digram with
the mountain and came to Suvela. The physician imme
diately came and, taking out the juice of the plant of
nectar, applied it to Lakshuman and brought him to life.
In like manner he applied the juice to all the monkeys
killed by Ravana and restored them to life. This having
been done, Maruti took the mountain and placed it where it
formerly stood. Ravana however despatched one hundred
demons to snatch Dronagiri from the hands of Maruti
but the latter, holding the mountain in his one hand,
killed them all with his other hand.

Rama, Lakshuman, and the monkeys again prepared
themselves to fight with Ravana but the demon-king did
not come out of Lanka for some time. In the meantime

Raniavijaya. 75

Vibhishan came and said to Rama, « Ravana is perform
ing a penance like that which was done by Indrajit and
half of the divyaratha has come out of fire. Unless
you send some monkey-warriors there and destroy the
havan made by him, you will not be able to overcome him."
No sooner did Vibhishan inform Rama of this than the
latter despatched Marnti, Isfala, Ma, Sugriva, and other
monkeys to Lanka. They all went and searched the place
where the demon -king was performing the penance ; but
they could not find out the place. But, in the mean-time,
Sharma, wife of Vibhishan, showed the place to them.
Whereupon they went to the mouth of the excavation
and, having removed the stone which was placed upon it,
rushed into it, when Ravana was in deep meditation.
The monkeys, having destroyed the havan and the ratha,
tried their utmost to arouse him from his meditation but
they failed to do so. They struck him with their weapons,
they threw rock -and trees upon him, they gave blows to
him but all was in vain. At last Sngriva caught hold of
Mandodari and brought her in the excavation. She was
frightened, and violently cried. Her yell aroused the
demon-king from meditation; and as soon as he saw his
wife there, and having found that the havan was destroy
ed by the monkeys, he was greatly enraged and beat
them all dawn. The monkeys immediately returned to
Suvela leaving Ravana and his wife in the excavation.
The demon-king said to Mandodari " My dearest, do not
grieve for what has happened to you. Pain and pleasure
are made for us mortal beings and we must experience
them according to their turns. ISTow I am going to
fight with Rama. I will either kill myself or kill Rama.
If I return to you, it is all right; and if I be killed, these
are the ]ast words I address to you.'' So saying the
demon-king took the remaining demons with him and
commenced operations, when all the monkeys threw at

76 Ramavijaya.

him innumerable mountains, rocks, and trees but Ravana
cut them off in no time and beat them all down. Finding
that Ravana could not be overcome by the monkeys,
Rama immediately attacked him, when the demon-king
let. off a serpent-weapon, which produced innumerable-
serpents and stung the monkeys. Rama let off a Garuda-
weapon, which produced garudas and killed all the ser
pents. Rama let off a rain-weapon, which produced the
rain and flowed the demons, when Ravana let off a wind-
weapon, which produced the wind and dispersed the rain.
Rama let off a mountain-weapon, which produced moun
tains and stopped the wind. Ravana let off a diamond-
weapon, which produced diamonds and broke all the
mountains. Ravana let off innumerable arrows at Rama
at one and the same time but the latter cut them off with
one arrow. Ravana then let off a very powerful arrow,
which struck Rama and passed through his left foot,
when all the monkeys got enraged and began to throw-
arrows, rocks, and trees at Ravana but the latter bravely
broke them with his weapons. Ravana fought from his
chariot and Rama from the ground. Finding that the
prince was in a bad position, Indra, the chief of the gods
in heaven, sent his chariot for him, which he mounted
and began to fight with his enemy. They both were very
powerful and fought with each other for seven days and
seven nights without cessation. Rama then let off four
arrows and killed the horses of Ravana. The demon-king
then immediately put other horses to his chariot, when
Rama let off an arrow of the size of the half moon, which
Ravana cut off with the like arrow. Whereupon Rama
let off a sharp weapon, which struck the chest of the
demon-king and cut off his ten heads but, to the surprise
of all, the heads again fixed themselves to him. Rama
again cut them off but they again fixed themselves to
Ravana. Rama having failed to separate the heads from

Ramavijaya. 77

Havana, all the monkeys were alarmed, when the chari
oteer, Matuli, said to Rama, " Ravana has got a phial
full of nectar in his breast. Just let off an arrow at his
breast and break the phial, so that the heads will not
fix themselves to the demon-king over and over again.'
Hearing this from Matuli Rama discharged a powerful
weapon called Agasti Data and broke the phial in his
breast; and immediately after, he cut off his ten heads
and killed him on the spot. Vibhishan lamented for his
brother the demon-king, when Rama consoled and pacified
him. Mandodari and his other wives came and violently
cried for their husband. Vibhishan consoled them and
sent them to their palaces. The funeral ceremony of
Ravana was then performed by his brother ; and soon
after, Rama installed him in the throne of Lanka. AH
the demons acknowledged him as their king and paid
homage to him. All the gods and kings imprisoned by
Ravana, were released from the prison there. Rama visited
them all and heartily embraced them. Rama then asked
Maruti and Vibhishan to bring Sita from the Asoka
forest. Whereupon they immediately went to the forest
and informed her of what had happened to Ravana and
said to her, " We are desired by Rama to bring you to
Suvela. Please, therefore, prepare yourself to accompany
us." Sita having prepared herself to accompany them,
Vibhishan seated her in a *sibika and brought her to
Suvela. She went to embrace Rama affectionately, when
the latter said to her, " Do not come near me. I have
set you at liberty in order that the people may not call
me cruel. You have been for so many years in Lanka,
and I do not know what you hava done during that time.
I can not now admit you into my house; you can go
wherever you like. I have no objection to it whatsoever.'
Hearing these words from Rama Sita was over-whelmed

* A planquiij.

78 Eamavijaya.

with grief, and replied, " I am unfortunate. For nothing
you have taken trouble for me. For nothing you have
given trouble to all the monkeys. If you do not like to
admit me into your house, take your sword and cut off
my head. I have led a pious and moral life, and I shall
presently satisfy you about it/' Having addressed these
words to Rama, she requested all the monkeys to arrange
a pile of wood and set fire to it, All the monkeys ac
cordingly arranged a pile and set fire to it. Sita went
near it and loudly exclaimed in the presence of all the
monkeys and demons, " All know that I was carried off
and detained by Ravana. I say that I led a pious and
moral life during the time I was in the kingdom of the
demon. There is the fire ready to receive me. I shall now
throw myself into it; and if what I say is false, I shall be
burnt in it. And if what I say is true, I shall come out
of the fire unhurt.'' So saying Sita threw herself into
the fire and disappeared for about three hours. Rama,
Lakshuman, and all the monkeys grieved for her and
stood near the pile bewildered. But, in the meantime,
the god of fire brought her out of it, well decorated with
ornaments, and gave her in charge of Rama, who heartily
embraced her.

Shortly after, Kama set out for Ayodya in a beauti
ful viman.* Sugriva, Vibhishan, all the monkeys, and
demons were seated in it. On the road Rama visited the
Rishis and his other friends, who had supported him in the
forest, and directly came to Nandigram, where he alighted
from the viman and saw his brother, Bharat, who
heartily embraced him with tears of joy. Kama then sent
the viman back and stayed in the forest of Nandigram,
with Sugriva, Yibhishan, all the monkeys and demons,
In the meantime, Shatrughna and Sumant came to the

* A chariot of the gods serving as a throne or 3,3 a con
veyance through the skies, self-directed and self-moving.

Ramavijaya. 79

forest with all their army and saw Rama, Lakshuman,
and Sita. Kausalya, Suruitra, and Kayakayi also came
there and affectionately embraced their sons. Kayakayi
remembered her past conduct towards Rama and repented
of what she had done to ruin him. They all then seated
themselves in chariots and came to Ayodya with the
acclamation of joy.

On the return of Rama from Suvela all the kings
on earth including his father-in-law, Janaka, saw him.
All the people of Ayodya were exceedingly glad to see
Rama, Lakshuman, and Sita. Kama entertained all the
kings, Rishis, demons, and monkeys for some days. Sita
affectionately embraced her sister and her all relations.
Soon after, Rama was installed by the Rishi, Vashista,
in the throne of Ayodya, when all the kings paid tribute
to him. Immediately after the ceremony of installation
was over, Rama gave presents to Sugriva, Vibhishan and
all other kings. But Maruti did not accept any of the
presents, as the other monkeys did. The monkeys asked
Maruti why he refused the presents from Rama. '' Why
do I want the presents from Rama ?>' replied Maruti.
" Rama is always in my heart.*' Whereupon the mon
keys continued, ** If what you say is true, show us Rama
in your heart.*' As soon as the monkeys uttered these
words, Maruti ripped his heart and showed Rama to them
from within. The monkeys were greatly surprised, and
threw themselves at the feet of Maruti. When Rama
was on the throne, Kayakayi peeped at him through a
window and said, " My son is unfortunate. Look at
Rama, how he is happy. I tried my utmost to get the
throne for him but he did not listen to me. And at last
he has become a slave of his brother, Rama." Vashista
overheard what she had said and replied, " I told you
many things but you would never mind me. It was ow
ing to your own folly a,nd jealousy that Rama was sent to

80 Ramavijaya.

the forest, and it was you who killed your husband, Dasha-
ratha. I now still advise you to be a good woman and
trust, you will love Rama and Lakshuman as your sons,
Bharat and Shairughna." Soon after, Rama, Sugriva,
Vibhishan, and all other kings returned to their respective
armie*. Only Maruti always remained with Rama. Ra
ma reigned in Ayodya for eleven thousand years and all
his subjects were happy under his reign and led a very
pious life.

Sita was in the farmily way for the first time, and
when she passed six months, Rama took her to his pleasant
garden, where they spent some time in pleasure. While
they were there, Rama said to Sita, " My sweet heart,
you have now passed six months of your pregnancy. Just
let me know what you like to enjoy. I am ready to
gratify any of your desires." " My love, what I want to
enjoy is this," replied Sita, " that you and I should go to
a forest where Rishis live, and eat kandamuls} there, and
sleep on the bed of Trana\ on the ground." When Sita
expressed her desire, he said to himself, •' Lo, she suffered
BO much in the forest and yet she likes to go to a forest."
So saying to himself he returned home with her. A few
days before Rama went to the garden he had ordered his
officers to go round the city at night and hear whether his
subjects spoke ill of him. The officers, who had gone round
the city, came to Rama and said to him, " We went to
every door successively for some days and found that
all your subjects spoke well of you except one washerman
called, Rajaka, who scandalized you. One day this Rajaka
beat his wife, and consequently she ran to her parents' house
without his knowledge. Her father intervened and came to
the house of his son-in-law with his daughter and requested
him to admit her into his house, when Rajaka said, ' I will
never admit her into my house. I am not that Rama,
f Esculent roots. J Grass.

Ramavijaya. 81

who shamelessly admitted Sita into his house, though she
lived under the roof of Havana for many years. I am a
pure washerman. I am the man who clean and remove
the dirt and spots on the dresses and clothes of the people^
and do you mean to say that I will admit your unclean
daughter again into my house ? You can take her back.
I do not wish to see her face.' This is the only man who has
scandalized you." As soon as Kama heard these words
from the officers, he became exceedingly sorry and, having
called Lakshuman, said to him, " You see, my brother,
that Rajaka has scandalized me, though Sita is faithful
and as pious as any thing. That wicked washerman has
scandalized me, because I have admitted her into my
house. I cannot bear this at all. I, therefore, bade you
take Sita to the yonder forest and, leaving her there alone,
return to me as soon as possible." " You need not take
to your heart what Rajaka has said about yon," replied
Lakshuman. " There are many wicked persons who are
in the habit of scandalizing others. As a wise and pru
dent man you should not mind it. Let the people say
whatever they like. Why do you mind that stupid man ?
I shall cut off his tongue." " What you say is right," con
tinued Rama, u but if you cut off the tongue of that manj
the people will say that we are guilty. It is, therefore^
far better, if we get rid of Sita, so that nobody may speak
ill of us." Lakshuman hesitated to comply with his wish
es, when Rama exclaimed, " If you do not obey me, I
shall kill myself on this spot." Finding that Rama was
serious, Lakshuman immediately got up and entered the
room of Sita, who kindly received him and made him sit
with her. Lakshuman said to her, " Rama has told me
to take you to the yonder forest as soon as possible. So,
kindly prepare yourself and accompany me there." " Has
Rama told you to take me to the forest ?fl replied she.
" Ah! I am very fortunate. Some days ago he asked

82 Ramavijaya.

ine what I wanted to enjoy, and I told him that I liked
to pass four or five days in a forest, eat kandamuls there
and sleep on the bed of trana. I think, for the same
purpose he is going to send me with you. Let us start.
I am quite ready." Listening to what Sita nad said
Lakshuman felt much and shed tears for her. Soon
after, Lakshuman seated her in a chariot near the river,
Janavi, and began to drive it, when she observed bad
omens and asked him what those omens indicated. Lak-
ehuman, overwhelmed with grief, could not utter a sylla
ble and quietly drove the chariot. When she found him
qniet .and in grief, she said to him, " Why are you so
sorry ? Why don't you speak with me ?" Lakshuman
Btill kept quiet and, crossing the river in a boat, landed
her in the forest, where therp. was no human being and
it was inhabited by lions, serpents, tigers, and other ani
mals. She asked Lakshuman, " Where are the abodes
of Rishis ?" Lakshuman did not reply ; but, making a
bed of grass, he seated her on it. He then fell at her
feet and said with tears in his eyes, " Mother, Rama has
left you alone in this forest. I have brought you here,
as I could not disobey him." No sooner did Lakshuman
speak these words than she fainted. While she was
insensible, Lakshuman prayed to the goddess of the
forest and every creature in it to protect her and started
for Ayodya. When he went some paces off, Sita came
to herself and, standing on her legs, loudly exclaimed,
*' 0 ! Lakshuman, kindly return and take me back. Why
do you leave me here without any faults on my part ?
Kill me and tell Rama of it. Where shall I go in this
dreary forest." So saying she violently cried so much
BO that even trees and stones shed tears for her. Lakshu
man returned to Ayodya and told Rama all about Sita.
Sita wandered in the forest barefooted. She had no shel
ter there. She often fainted. She said to herself, " It

Ramavijaya. 83

is now useless to live in this world. I should have killed
myself but I can not do so. If I kill myself, I shall
be guilty of suicide and murder, because the infant child
in my womb will also be killed with me." So saying to
herself she abandoned the idea of killing herself. In
the meantime, the Rishi, Valmika, having heard the
yells of Sita, came up to her and said, " Who are you ?
What has brought vou here ?" " I am a daughter of Janak
and wife of Rama," replied Sita. Lakshuman left me
alone in this dreary forest without any faults on my part.
I am quite a stranger here. So I implore you to be my
father.*' " My name is Valmika," replied Valmika." Rama
knows me well. Your father, Janak, is my friend ; and
therefore, I look upon you as my daughter. Two sons will
be born to you. They will be more powerful than their
father, and will revenge themselves upon those who have
left you alone in this forest without any faults on your
part." Valmika then led Sita to his abode, when all the
Rishis gathered around him and asked him, " Who is-
this woman ?" " This is Sita," replied Valmika, " Why
have you brought her here ? Surely you will get into diffi
culties on account of her," continued the Rishis. One
of the Rishis said, "If she is Sita, tell her to bring that
river here." Sita prayed to the river, and it flowed where
she was standing. The Rishis were alarmed, and prayed
to her for protection. She again prayed to the river and
sent her back. Valmika brought Sita to his abode and
took every care of her. After the expiration of nine
months, she was delivered of twin sons at midday as
bright as the sun, when the wives of the Rishis came and
helped her in her confinement. The first born son was the
younger and the second born was the eldest. The disciples
of Valmika went and informed the Rishi of the birth of
the two sons. Whereupon Valmika immediately came
to his abcde and performed the necessary ceremony. He

84 Ramavijaya.

sprinkled water over the younger son with a Icusha* and
named him Kusha after it. The eldest son having been
placed on lavas,} the Rishi, in like manner, sprinkled
the water over him and called him Lahu. When the
two sons became eight years old, the Rishi performed their
Vrataband\ and entertained the Rishis for four days. A
kamdhenu or a cow supplied them with whatever they
wanted. The Rishi taught them the Vedas, mantras,
Ramayan, the Purans and dhanurvidya.§ They thoroughly
mastered all sciences and arts and always played with
the sons of the Rishis. When they became ten years old,
they went on hunting excursions and brought home tha
animals killed by them. One day Kusha killed a sage
on the top of a mountain, who was a brother of Valmika.
He was meditating there in the form of a deer. They
dragged the corpse of the sage towards the abode of
Valmika, when the latter asked them on the road what
they were doing. " We have brought a deer for you"
replied they, " and shall make a seat of its skins for you.''
Valamika, having looked at the corpse, found that it was
his brother and said to himself " Now both the boys have
become very brave. They have even killed a Brahman."
So saying to himself Valmika performed the funeral
ceremony of his brother and informed Sita of the valour
of her sons, when bhe said, " What do I know ? It is
you who have taught them dhanurvidya, mantras, arts,
and all sciences. I implore you, Papa, to free them from
the sin.'' " Unless they bring one thousand Brahma
Kamals"^ replied Valmika, " and worship the god, Siva,
with all their heart and soul, they will not be freed from
the sin." u Papa, will you kindly tell us where those
kamals can be had ?" enquired the boys. " We will

* Grass, f A rush-like grass. J The ceremony of invesit-
ing a boy with a thread § The art of using a bow and an arrow
Lotuses.

Ramavijaya. 65'

immediately bring them here." " There is a lake called
Brahmasarovar near Ayodya," continued Valmika, " but
a number of warriors are posted by Kama to watch it.
Those kamals are used by Rama for the worship of Siva."
" Pooh!" said the boys, " We shall immediately bring those
kamals. Let there be hundreds of brave warriors to watch
the lake, we shall punish them and even capture Rama."
So saying they hastened to the lake. Kusha went and
plucked all the kamals, when the warriors came upon him;
but Lahu killed many of them. Those who had escaped,
went and informed Rama of what the boys had done.
Rama was greatly surprised, and praised the valour of the
boys. Lahu and Kusha brought the kamals and worship
ped Siva as directed by Valmika, and thus they were freed
from the sin they had committed in killing the Brahman.
One day, while both the boys were shampooing the feet of
their mother, Kusha asked her, " In what country we were
born ? What is the name of the country and what is our
race and who is our father ?'' "Rama, Lakshuman, Bharat
and Shatrnghna" replied Sita, " are sons of Dasliaratha,
who was the king of Ayodya and belonged to the solar
race. Rama, the eldest son of the king, is your father.
I am left in this forest alone, bacanse a washerman scan
dalized your father on my account.'' So saying1 she shed
tears, when both the boys got much enraged at Kama and
consoled their mother. Owing to the injustice done by
Rama to Sita there was a terrible famine in Ayodya for
twelve years. The people and animals suffered much. The
rain fell in torrents. Rama was alarmed and asked the
Kishi, Yashista, what the cause of the famine was, when
the latter replied, " You havo unjustly left Sita in the
forest, although she is a paragon of virtue ; and this is
the cause of the famine. In order to put it down you
must celebrate an Ashwamedha *." Whereupon Kama

* With a view to be an emperor or to free himself from sin

-86 Ramavijaya.

erected a mandap * on the bank of the' river, Sharayirf
one yojan in length, and invited all kings to' that cere
mony including Vibhishan, Sugriva, Nala, Nik, Maruti,
Sharab, G-ovaksha, and all other monkeys. Rama, having
performed the necessary ceremony, brought the best
horse called skajnaJcarna f from his stable and madje
it stand in the mandap. Yashista tied up to- its fore
head a golden Patrika J and wrote on it the following
words: — " Rama, the king of Ayodya, son of Dasharatha,
lias let the shamakarna loose. It is guarded by six
billions of warriors under the command of Shatrughna,, and
any king, who is powerful and mighty, is required to
capture the horse and fight with its owner, but if he is
unable to do so, he must submit to Rama and pay tribute
to him." Rama worshipped the shamakarna and appointed
Shatrughna as commander-in-chief of the six billions of
the warriors who followed the horse. Rama performed
the necessary yadnya § for many days in the mandap
strongly guarded by Sugriva, Vibhishan, and Maruti.
Lakshuman, Bharat, and Sumant s-npplied him? with all
the necessary things for the purpose.

Shatrughna conquered fifty six kings of very large
countries, who submitted to him and, having paid tribute-
to Rama, followed the prince. The shamakarna of Rama
began to gallop on the road on which the abode of Yalmika

s. monarch would let a horse loose with a patrika or letter on
its fore-head stating that any monarch whose dominion the
animal entered, should either catch it and fight with its master
or submit to him and give him tribute. Wherever this animal
entered, it was accompanied by the monarch with large armies.
Monarchs read the patrika and fought with the invading mon
arch, if they were powerful to do so ; and if not, they gave him
tribute. After all the monarchg were subdued, the horse was
either killed or let go alive, and hence it is called ashwamedha
or horse-sacrifice
* A horse, f An °Pen shade or hall. J A letter. § A sacrifice.

Kamavijaya. 87

stood. The Rishi, Valmika, had gone to Fatal to be
present at the yadnya performed by Yarun. Before he
left for Fatal, he had told the boys to watch his abode in
Ms absence. Both the small boys were playing together
with other playmates near the abode at the time the
shamakarna galloped, when Lalm showed the animal to his
playmates and, having pulled off the patrika from the head
of the horse, read the contents of it. He laughed at what
he had read, and said, " Is Rama only a mighty king on
•sarth ? Pooh! I shall capture this horse, and let me see who
will fight with me and recover the horse." So saying he
tied up the animal to a plantain-tree. All the children of
the Rishis were alarmed and said, '* No doubt this horse
belongs to a king. How dare you capture the animal ? If
the king cerne here and ask us who has detained the horse,
\ve will surely give your name." In the meantime, some
of the warriors came there and, looking at the children
of the Rishis, said, " Who are you ? Who has tied up
the horse to the plaatain-tree ?" il We do not know any
thing about it," replied the children. " There stands the
boy who has tied up the horse to the tree and he will tell
you why he has done so." In the meantime, Shatraghna
•and all other warriors reached there. Looking at the
tenderness of Lahu they coaxed him and went to untie
the horse, when the former loudly exclaimed, " I did
capture the horse. I stand here to fight with you. Who
is your Rama ? Go and tell him that I am ready to fight
with him. You say that I am a child but I will kill you.
all and put down your pride." The warriors said to them
selves, " It is unbecoming on our part to fight with these
tender boys. All the kings will laugh at us,, if we fight
with them. It is far better to untie the horse and walk
• quietly." So saying all the warriors went to untie the
animal, when Lahu let off arrows and cut off the hands
of those who went to untie the horse. All the six: billions

8£ Ramavijaya,

of warriors at once rushed upon the boy, who let off
arrows and defeated them with heavy loss, when Shatru-
ghna drove his chariot but there was no room to move it,
as there were heaps of the corpses of the warriors killed
by Lahu. He however pushed aside the corpses and went
where the boy was standing. Finding him just like Ha-,
ma, he asked him, " Whose child you are ? You have
killed all my warriors. I shall now severely punish you.'*
" Very well, I shall see how you will save your life now,''
replied Lahu. Shatrughna got enraged and let off an
arrow at the boy, who cut it off in no time. He then let
off many arrows which Lahu cut off and struck the for
mer with his arrows. At last he threw at Lahu the deadly
arrow given by Kama to him for use in difficulty,
when Lahu said, " I do not know how to cut off this,
arrow. Kusha has a knowledge of it. If he had not
gone to the forest for kandamuls, he would have cut it
off. '' Lahu however let off a fiery arrow and cut off a part
of the deadly arrow but the remaining half of it struck
the boy ; and consequently he fell insensible on the
ground. Shatrughna was moved, and having gone near
the boy, looked at him attentively. He resembled Rama,
Shatrughna applied water to his eyes and brought to his.
senses ; and in order to show him to Kama he put him into
his chariot and proceeded further with the shamakarna. The
children ran and informed Sitaof the fate of her son, Lahu,
when she fainted and, coining to herself, violently cried. She
exclaimed with grief, " I am helpless and very unfortunate.
Which heartless man has seized my child ? 0 ! mv son,
thou art tender. Thou must have been wounded. Thy eyes
must have been broken by the arrows of the enemy. My
children are too young. They live upon kandamuls and how
will they be strong enough to fight with warriors ? Those
who raise a weapon against a child, are not Kshatriyas.
How is it that nobody felt pity at the child ? Who

Ramavijaya. £9

lias carried off the little wealth T had ? Who hag
carried off the stick of a blind and lame woman ? If my
father, Valmika, were here, he would go to his rescue*
but unfortunately he has gone to patal. Kusha has also
gone to the forest, what shall I do now ? Who will get
my son back." In the meantime, Kusha returned from
the forest and asked his mother where his brother was,
when she, with tears in her eyes, informed him of what
had happened to Lahu. As soon as he was informed
of the fate of his brother, he took up his bow and arrow
and ran after Shatrughna and the other warriors. Kusha
called out and said, " Who are you, thieves. Where are
you going to take the stolen thing ?" So saying he let
off arrows at the army of Shatrughna, when the latter
turned round and loudly said, " Child, I shall immediately
seize and carry you off with us.'' So saying Shatrughna
let off ten arrows at Kusha, which the latter cut off and
broke the chariot and killed the four horses of the former
with nine arrows ; and with three arrows his helmet and
chap * were broken. Shatrughna fell on the ground and
combated with Kusha, when the latter let off two arrows
and cut off his two hands ; and at the same time his head
was cut off with another arrow. On the fall of Shatrugh
na his brother, ]STagendranath, let off twenty arrows at
the boy but the latter broke off the arrows with one arrow
and cut off the head of Nagendranath with an arrow of the
size of the half moon. Having done this, he continued
the letting off arrows at the warriors, who could not
overcome Kusha. The boy killed many billions of war
riors and all the kings who had submitted to Rama.
Kusha then went and searched his brother, whom he found
in the chariot of Shatrughna. He was insensible. Kusha
brought him to senses and embraced him affectionately.
Lahu said, " Let us now go home with the shamakarna."
* 13 ow.

90 Ramavijaya.

" I am sure, many other warriors will come here to fight
with us," replied Kusha. " It is not safe to return home.
Let us kill all who will come here to take the horse, and
then return home." A few wounded warriors went and
informed Rama that Shatrughna and six billions of the
warriors were killed by two small boys of a Rishi. Rama
was alarmed at the news and immediately despatched
Lakshuman with a large army to the seat of the war.
He, looking at the beautiful boys of the age of twelve
years, was greatly surprised at their bravery. The warriors
said, " Capture, capture the boys. Where will they go
now ?" The boys prayed to the sun, who was pleased
with them and presented them with a successful weapon,
which Lahu took up and attacked the warriors of Lak
shuman and killed a large number of them, when Lak
shuman said to Kalajit, " As long as the two boys stand,
together, nobody can overcome them. Let us, therefore,,
separate them both and seize them." So saying Lakshu
man separated the boys with the assistance of all his
warriors but Lahn let off one arrow, which produced kotis
of arrows and killed the warriors. Finding Lakshuman
in a bad position a demon called Rudhi, a great friend of
Rama, jumping into the air, came down where Lahu wa»
standing, and snatched the weapon from his hands and
flew like a bird, when Lahu also flew with him and, seizing
the demon by his hair and turning hijn like a wheel ^
flung him down and instantly killed him. Lakshuman,
got enraged and let off at the two boys five arrows as
powerful as lightning, which Lahu cut off in a minute*
Lalm said to Lakshuman, " You formerly killed Indrajit.
Let me see your valour now. You fasted for fourteen
years. No doubt you must have now rest and I shall just
give it to you." " What is the'name of your father ?»' asked
Lakshuman. " Why do you want to know it ?" replied
Lahu. " Come on, let us now fight." So saying he let of£

Ramavijaya, gj,

one arrow and threw Lakshuman with his chariot into
the sky, which turned in the air and came down on the
ground. Lakshuman mounted another chariot and conti
nued letting off arrows at Lahu, which the latter cut off
one after another in the twinkle of an eye. Lakshuman
then let off an arrow, which produced kotis of * gadas,
when Lahu made use of the mantra given hy Yalmika,
which produced koits of f chakras and out off the ga'das.
Lakshuman then let off a mountain-weapon, which produ
ced mountains but Lahu broke them with the diamonds
produced by a diamond-weapon. Thus Lakshuman tried
bis utmost to kill Lahu with his arrows but he could not
overcome the boy, when the latter said to him, " Why hare
you stopped now ? If your arrows are finished, go back'
And call your Rama." Lakshuman did not reply to what
Lahu had said, and indignantly let off arrows at Lahu,
when the latter let off a melody-weapon, which produced
melodious sounds and charmed Lakshuman, who was an
incarnation of the serpent, Shesha. Lakshuman,. having
been charmed with the melodious sounds, ceased to fight
And began to nod his head with mirth.

Kalajit surrounded Kusha with his troops but the
latter killed them all and joined his brother. Rama was
about to send Bharat with more troops tore-enforce the
Army of Lakshuman with instructions to Lakshuman that
they should put upon the boys a fascination-weapon and,
•seizing the two boys, bring them to him alive, so that
their mother might not cry for them. But in the mean
time, a few wounded warriors went and informed Rama
that Lakshuman had fallen in the field of war with Kalajit
and all the warrio-rs commanded by him. Rama, hearing this,
grieved much for Lakshuman and immediately despatch
ed Maruti and Bharat with more warriors. When Bharat
saw the boys just like Rama, he said to Maruti, " There
is no doubt that the boys are sons of Kama." u I should

92 Raiftavijaya.

think so,'' replied Maruti. Lah'u and Kusha saw them
whisper to each otlier and said, " ~No doubt they will en
gage us in conversation and take the shamakarna from us.''
Kasha told Laliu to watch the horse and he himself came
up to Bharat and asked him, " You are, I suppose, elder
than Lakshuman. Are you not ? You seem to be a
brave soldier." " Just tell me what is your name, who your
parents are, and tell me with whom you fought before ?'*
" My name is Kusha," replied the child. " Depart from
this place," continued Bharat, " and tell your mother that
I have spared your life." " I think, Rama has sent you
here to capture us," said Kusha. " I now tell you< either
fight with me or depart from this place as soon as you can.
1 do not pursue you. Just go and get your Kama here."
Bharat got enraged and let off various arrows and weapons
at Kusha, which the latter cut off very easily. At last he
let off a diamond-weapon at Maruti, and made him in
sensible. This ne\vs having been communicated to Rama,
the latter mounted his chariot and personally came to the
field of the war with the army of the monkeys. The mon
keys threw at the boys mountains, rocks and trees which
they broke with their weapons and killed many monkey-
warriors, and some monkeys fled for fear of life. At this
time Maruti jumped into the air to lift up the boys with
his tail but Kusha, perceiving his intention, let off a power
ful arrow at him, which struck the monkey and brought
him down. Kusha loudly said " Oh ! ugly monkey. You
destroyed the Asoka forest but here you cannot do
any thing. The throwing of stones and mountains at
demons was not a war. There is no Dronagiri here. You
, jumped over the sea and burnt Lanka. There is nothing
like that here." In the meantime, Sugriva threw trees
at the boys but Laliu cut them off, and made Sngriva,
Nila,- Jambuyant,- Angad and Maruti and other monkeys
insensible. Looking at this defeat Rama let off a:ro\vs at

Pay 75^5||^

Ramavijaya. 93

the two boys which the latter cut off and let off innumer
able arrows, which scattered throughout the sky without
hurting Rama. Looking at the bravery of the boys
Rama asked, '• Children of the Rishis, listen to me, I
shall give you what you want. I shall give you a cow,
which will give you milk. I am pleased with you and
will give you whatever you want." " We want nothing
from you," replied the boys, " but on the contrary we will
give you whatever you want. You can enjoy your own wealth.
We have heard enough of you. You are such a heartless.
and cruel man that no one like you can be found on this
earth. Sita, an innocent woman of virtue, you left alone in
the forest. This is most wicked on yonr part " Listening to
what they had said, Rama was moved with affection for them
and thought of stroking their heads with tenderness. But
the boys told him to continue fighting with them. " Just
tell me," said Rama, " Who you are, who your parents are,
which guru gave, you education, who taught you dhanur-
vidya, science, arts and mantras V The boys heartily
laughed and said, " This man does not feel for his bro
thers. He wants us to tell him stoiies. Sir, first fight
with us and then ask us stories. You have killed Havana
and done many brave acts. Now let us see a little of it.
We shall never allow you to depart from this place with
out fighting with us. If you cannot fight with us, return
home quietly or be a * sanyasi, because you have neither
wife, nor children." Rama asked, " Tell me who you are,
and then 1 shall fight with you.'' In the meantime, a voice
in the sky said, '* Rama, do not fight. The boys are yotu*
sons." As soon as Rama heard what the voice had said,
he fell down insensible. Kusha came up to him and, taking
off his mugut, put it on his own head. Lahu stripped
Lakshuman of his ornaments and wore them himself^
Having done this, they mounted the chariot of Rama and
* An ascetic.

94 Bamavijaya.

•tying up Maruti, Sugriva, Angad, Jambuvant and other
monkeys to the chariot for the amusement of their mother,
drove to their abode. They told Sita that they had made
Rama and his brothers insensible in the field of war and
killed all their warriors. " Here are the monkeys," said
they, " we have brought for your amusement." Sita knew
them and did not come out, because they might feel
ashamed of their state. She said to her sons, " Let the
monkeys go away. We shall never keep them here."
The boys then went arid untied them. The monkeys
came and informed Rama of what they had seen. In the
meantime, Valmika returned from Fatal ; and, having
been informed of what had happened, he went and brought
all the warriors to life by sprinkling water over them from
his * Kamandalu. The Rishi then gave the two boys and
Sita in charge of Rama, who heartily embraced them.
Shortly after, Rama took leave of Valmika and returned
to Ayodya with his sons and completed the ashwamedha,

* The water pot used by an ascetic and religious student.

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„ Sadashew Vishram Narvekar ... ... ... 1

„ Sadashiv Ramchandra Jayakar ... ... ... 1

9

Copies.

Mr. Sakharam Phondeo Gupte 1

„ Shamrao Anibernatli Kirtikar ... ... ... 1

„ Shamrao Balwant Palekar ... ... ... 1

„ Shamrao Harischandra D. ... ... ... 1

„ Shamrao Runchordji .. ... ... ... 1

„ Shankar Vithal Acharya 1

,, Shantaram Narayen ... ... ... ... 2

„ Shantaram ISTarayan Rege 1

,, Shewshankar Cassinath ... ... ... ... 1

„ Shridhar Narayan Janvekar ... ... ... 1

„ Sitaram Purshotum Dhotrey ... ... ... 1

„ Soker Ganpatrao Mankar ... ... ... 1

,, Sokerji Bajirao Mankar ... ... ... ... 1

„ Sokerji Govindrao ... ... ... ... 1

„ Soonder Ganpatrao Talpade ... ... ... 1

., Soonderrao Vithoba ... ... ... ... 1

„ 'Soonderrao Govindrao ... ... ... ... 1

„ Subrao Venktesh 1

„ Sunder Y. Palekar 1

„ Sunderrow Narayan , ... 1

T

Mr. Tayabbhai Shaik Abdulali 1

„ Tookarani Lalloo Kurlekar 1

„ Trimbak Nuthoojee Ghemday 1

„ Trimbak Pandurang 1

„ Trimbuck Hurbajee 1

„ Trimbuckrao Anundrao 1

V

Mr. V. M. Kirtikar ... 1

Messrs. V. M. Walyekar & Co 25

„ Y. Rele&Co 20

Mr. Vallubbhoy Jamyetram ... ... ... ... 1

,, Vaman Ganesh Dighe ... ... ... ... 1

Rao Saheb -Varajrai Santokrai Desai... ... ... 1

10

Copies.

Mr. Vasudeo Bapuji Mantri ... ... ... ... l

„ Vasudeo Vinayak Pradhan. ... ... ... 1

„ Venaik Laxumon... ... ... ... ... 1

,, Venayak Bhugwantrao Dhurandhar ... ... 1

„ Venayekrao Jankidass ... ... ... ... 1

„ Venayekrao Shreecrushnajee ... ... ... 1

„ Vinayak Bramhadeo ... ... ... ... 1

„ Vinayak Crustna ... ... ... ... ... 1

„ Vinayak Dhondji Kothare 1

„ Vinayak Dinanath Katvi... ... ... ... 1

,, Vinayak Hari Sinkar ... ... ... ... X

,, Vinayak Harischandra Navalkar... ... ... 1

,, Vinayak Mahadeo Jaole ... ... ... 1

,, Vinayak Mangesli Dubhashi ... ... ... 1

,, Vinayak Narayan Dandekar ... ... ... 1

,, Vinayak Raghunath Pradhan ... ... 1

,, Vinayak Vishwanath Wilaji ... ... ... 1

,, Vinayakrao Damodhar Rao ... ... 1

,, Vinayek Mahadev Kelkar ... ... ... 1

,, Vinayek Manikji ... ... ... ... 1

„ Vishnu Krishna ... ... ... ... J

„ Vishnu Yeshwant Rege ... ... ... ... J

,, Vyankatrao Bhikaji Laud ... ... ... 1

W

Mr. Wamon Balajee ... ... ... ... ... 1

„ Wamon Narayan Naik ... ... ... ... 1

„ Wamon Pandurang G-hosalker 1

,, Wasoodeo Bhawoo Kothare ... ... ... 1

,, Wasudeo Vinaykrao ... ... ... ... 1

„ Wasudeo Vithal Bawdeker ... ... ... J

„ Wasudew Krishna Sakhalker ... ... ... 1

„ Wishwanath Balkrishna Pradhan 1

„ Wishwanath Dhondoba ... ... ... ... 1

„ Wishwanath Karayen Wagle 1

11

Copies.
Y

Mr. Y. R. Senjit 1

„ Yecknath Grimoba... ... ... ... ... 1

„ Yeshwant Wassoodeoji G-oray 1

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„ Yeshwantrao Ramchandraji Mengle 1

MOFUSSIL

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Mr. Keroba Shamrao Dhurandhar 1

Alibag.

Rao Saheb Gopal Vyankatesh Panandhikar 1

Amraoti.

Mr. Antajee Govind Keskar 1

Baroda.

Mr. Hurrichandra Gopall 1

„ LuxmoQ Muccoondji ... ... ... ... 1

Belgamn.
Mr. Hanmant Balvant Kankunwadi ... ... ... 1

„ Mahadev Nilkhant Deshpande ... ... ... 1

„ Nagesh Dattatraya ... ... ... ... 1

„ Ramchandra Bhikaji Gunjikar 1

Bhavnagar.

Mr. Balkrishna Seetaram Moray 1

Broach.
Mr. Ratanram Amritram ... ... ... ... 1

Budaun.

Pundit Jayalal 1

Chalisgaon.

Mr. W. R. Mohony 1

Chikodi.

Mr. Venkatrao Krishna Mahajan ... 1

Cochin.
Mr. E. S. Narayanaiar ... ... ... ... 1

12

Copies.

Cuddapah-

MT. D. Krishnarao ... ... ... ... ... j

Cuttack.

Mr. P. Veeriah Naidu 1

Dakor.

Mr, S. M. Bapooji 1

Dharwar.

Rao Saheb Anantrao Vyankate-sh ... ... 1

Mr. Jairam Govind ... ... ... ... 1

,, M. Kesavarao ... ... ... ... \

Rao Saheb Pandrung Narayen Deshpande ... ... 1

Mr. Parasliuram Ramchandra Shahapurkar ... ... 1

,, Robert R. Gordon 1

Rao Saheb Sittaram Vishwanath Patwardhan ... 1

Mr. Vinayek Daji Behere ... ... ... 1

Dumas.

Mr. Karayen BUawrao Vaidya ... 1

Ellichpore.
Mr. Shripad Mahadeo 1

Patehgarh.

Pandit Kundan Lai 1

Fatehpur.

Mr. Shri Rajeshwari 1

Gadag.
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Goa.

Mr. Anant Krishna Kamat 5

„ Dulba Sadashew Na'ik Prataprao M. Sir Desai ... 1

Godra.
Mr. Wishwanath Moongaji ... ... ... ... 1

Gogh a.
Rao Saheb Ramchandra Ichharam Vyas 1

Hinganghat.
Mr. IS"arayen Bhicaji 4

13

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Hubli.

Mr. Appaji Baburao Divekar I

Hyderabad-Sind.

Mr. Dialmal Daulatram 1

„ GKanchand Belaram ... 1

Indore.

Mr. Bapuji Krishnarao ... r.. 1

Rao Bahadur Khanderao Chimanrao Bedarkar ... 1

Jfoansi.
Mr. Mangesh Raghoonath ... ... ... ... I

Kaira.

Mr. Mahomed Ibrahim 1

Kalyan.

Mr. Ramchandra K. Subnis X.I

Karwar.
Mr. Bhavaai Mangesh Borker ... ... ... I

„ K. M. Raghavendrarao 1

Rao Saheb S. M. Ankle 1

Khamgatim.

Mr. Vinayek Dowlatiao ... 1

Khandesh.
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Khandwa.

Mr. Vithal Wamon Pagay 1

Kolhapur.

Mr. B. P. Modak 1

Rao Bahadur R. K. Vaidya 1

„ Saheb V. K. Kirtikar 1

Kurrachee.
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Mr. B. D. Ramchandani ... ' ... ... ... \

Mahad.

Mr. Keshav Krishna Raleganker 1

Malegaon.
Khan Saheb Cassim Khan Dehelvi I

14

Copies.
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Mr. B. Naraina Pai , .t> j

„ Udyaver Ananda Rao ... ... ... \

Mehkar.
Mr. Kashinath Bhicajee ... ,44 .<. ... 1

Mhow.
Mr. Bapu Karasinva Bhave ... ... ... ... 1

Murbad.

Mr. Sayana Balloo 1

Nagpur.

Rao Saheb Hari Sliridhar Bhaway ... ..* ... 1
Mr. Shamrao Krishna ji Jakate ... ... ... 1

„ W. B. G-okhle 1

Narsinghpur.
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Nasik.

Mr. B. S. Chitnis ' 1

Panwel.
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Poona.

Mr. A. Soamsoondarum Muclliar ... ... ... 1

,, Bapurao M. Natekar ... ... ... ... 1

,, G-nngarani Bhau ... ... ... ... ... 1

„ M. J. Kothare ... ... ... ... ... 1

Rao Bahadur Narayen Bhai Dandekar ... ... 1

Mr. Kamchandra Chintaraon Tilak ... ... ... 1

,, Raracrishna N"ana Yagal ... ... ... ... 1

Rao Saheb Vishnu B. Sohoni...

Mr. Vishnu Raghunath Karmarkar ... ... ... 1

Ranika.

Mr. Dwarkanath Bhasker Sette 1

Ratnagiri.

Mr. Dattatraya Sliridhar Halbo ... ... ... 1

„ Vishnoo Krishna Tilak ... 1

15

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Sachin.

Mr. Soker Eknath Dharadhar...
Satara-

Mr. Janardan G-anesli Kamafc...
Rao Bahadur Jayasatya Bodhrao Trimalrao Inamdar...
Mr. Madhowrao Vittojee Sinde
„ Wasudeo Granesh Deshpande

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Inamdar Pandit Bhowansing ...

Shahabad-

Mr. G-ajanan Vishnu ...
„ Mahadeo Kristna ...

„ Shankar Rajaram

. Sbahapur.
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„ R. T. Nadgir

Sholapur-
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„ Nilkant V. Chhatre 1

Thana.

Mr. ff. H. Hegde

Wardha.

Mr. Wasudeo Vishnu

Bombay ( Additional ).
Mr. Krishnarao Vinayakrao Rele
„ Farayen Grovind Ratanjanker ...
Rainrao Granpatrao Kamalakar ...

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