Chapter 2 - THE STORY OF RAMA

In olden days, there was Sri Rama son of king Dasaratha of Ayodhya, the elder brother of Bharata, Laksmana and Satrughna. He was an incarnation of Visnu, born to kill Ravana and destroy the family of the Raksasas.

He had Sita, daughter of Janaka, dear and affable, as his queen. Not able to control the decrees of fate, king Dasaratha gave the kingdom to Bharata and sent Rama, in exile, to the forest.

Sita and Laksmana followed him of their own will and in affection, to serve him. While they were wandering in the forest, Sita was carried away by Ravana, king of Lanka, in the absence of the two brothers, killing Jatayu who attacked him.

Rama was sad but was consoled by Laksmana. Soon the brothers made friends with Sugriva. On his request they killed Vali, his brother, and gave the kingdom of the monkeys to Sugriva.

In his turn Surgriva sent Anjaneya and other

monkeys in search of Sita. News was brought by Anjaneya that Sita was in the Asoka garden, in Lanka, in the custody of Ravana's servants.

With the help of the monkey hosts Rama and Laksmana crossed the ocean, killed Ravana and gave the kingdom of Lanka to Vibhisana, brother of Ravana, who had sought their support against his unrighteous brother. Thereafter they came back to Ayodhya.

Bharata, a staunch devotee of Rama, gave back the kingdom to Rama and served him faithfully. In course of time Sita was in the family way.

One night Rama, with a few attendants, was out in the city in disguise, to know the mind of the people. In course of the round they overheard a washerman complaining against his wife for spending sometime in the house of her relative. He would not let her in. In anger the woman retorted, "Sri Rama accepted Sita, who was in Lanka for about an year. Perhaps you are greater than Rama."

Rama was sad and was apprehensive that the infamy might spread far and of Rama, wide. left He banished Sita in a Chariot, and Laksmana, at the command forest on the southern side of the Ganges. Lover of reputation would endure long separation rather than face infamy.

By good luck, Sita, big with child, was found in the forest by sage Valmiki, who took her to his asrama. He consoled her and made arrangements for her comfortable stay. The woman of the asrama took care of her.

In course of time, Sita gave birth to a son. Valmiki named him Lava. One day, while she was out in the garden, she requested sage Valmiki to look after the boy in the cradle. He was in samadhi. So she took the boy in her lap and went away.

After some time Valmiki terminated his japa and finding no child in the cradle took a blade of grass and by uttering some incantations changed it to a human child. So he was called Kusa.

Meanwhile Sita returned and was astonished to see another child. Valmiki understood the situation and smiling, he said, "Daughter, you have two sons Lava and Kusa." Sita was overjoyed.

Days and months passed by; Rama in Ayodhya desired to perform Naramedha-human sacrifice.

Laksmana was sent to procure a person with the required auspicious marks. While in search of such a person, Laksmana chanced to meet the boy Lava. He challenged him to fight and hurled mohana arrow against him.

Lava became unconscious and Laksmana carried him away to Ayodhya. Valmiki, the sage, by his insight found out what happened to Lava.

He gave celestial weapons to Kusa and sent him to Ayodhya to bring back Lava. Kusa went to the place of sacrifice and put an end to the proceedings. Laksmana came upon the scene and found that things had gone wrong.

He fought with Kusa but was defeated. Rama came and was vanquished too. He thought it was not possible to conquer the boy, who shone like a celestial being. He asked him, "Boy, why do you fight ? Who are you ?"

He replied, "Laksmana brought my brother Lava here, bound. I came to set him free. We are brothers Lava and Kusa and our mother told us we are sons of Rama." Rama broke in tears and cried "I am Rama, the sinner, who exiled his devout wife."

He embraced the boys and the citizens were very glad. Valmiki, coming to know of all this, came of Ayodhya with Sita and handed her over to Rama declaring that Sita was faultless. Rama crowned his son as prince regents and was happy in the company of Sita.

Kancanaprabha remarked thus, "The brave endure separation for a very long time. You are brave and can wait for a short while."

Somehow the prince Naravahanadatta reined his senses, took leave of Kancanaprabha and went back to Kausambi with Gomukha.

Afterward he spent a restless night and Gomukha entertained him with the following story.