Śrīmad Vālmīki Rāmāyana (English Translation)

Kaikeyī, whose heart was poisoned by the malicious gossip of Mantharā as aforesaid, takes a vow to see that Rāma is sent into exile and Bharata installed as Prince Regent, and asks Mantharā herself how to secure that consummation. Mantharā tells her how in the course of a conflict between gods and demons, in which Daśaratha’s help was enlisted by the gods, the queen, who had accompanied her husban...

While Mantharā was thus trying to impress on Kaikeyī’s mind that the installation of Śrī Rāma on the throne of Ayodhyā would spell disaster to Bharata, Kaikeyī for her part went on harping on Śrī Rāma’s virtues and maintained that his installation as Prince Regent was quite welcome to her. Mantharā, however, goes on labouring her point and urges Kaikeyī to interrupt the installation

Beholding the festivities and finding Kausalyā bestowing large gifts of money on the Brāhmanas, Mantharā, a hunchback hereditary maid- servant of Queen Kaikeyī, who had accidentally ascended the roof of the palace, inquires of Śrī Rāma’s erstwhile nurse the occasion for the festivities and, on being told of Śrī Rāma’s forthcoming installation, feels enraged and, approaching Kaikeyī, instigates her...

Enjoined by sage Vasistha, Śrī Rāma undertakes a vow to bathe early next morning, worship the gods and sleep for the night on a mat of Kuśa grass. On waking up the next morning, he says his Sandhyā prayers and Brāhmanas wish him a propitious day. The citizens decorate the city in order to give it a festal appearance and it is thronged with men eager to witness the installation of Śrī Rāma as Princ...

At the instance of the Emperor, Vasistha calls at Śrī Rāma’s palace and instructing him alongwith Sītā to fast for the night, returns to Daśaratha. Permitted by the sage, the Emperor adjourns the assembly and retires to the gynaeceum.

Apprehending obstruction of Śrī Rāma’s installation from an ominous dream, Daśaratha summons Śrī Rāma immediately and asks him to observe certain sacred vows preliminary to installation alongwith Sītā. Bidding him go by his father, Śrī Rāma enters his mother's gynaeceum and, after receiving her blessings, retires alongwith Sītā, already present there, to his own palace.

Urged by the Emperor to solemnize the installation of Śrī Rāma as Prince Regent, Vasistha enjoins in his turn Daśaratha’s ministers, Sumantra and others, to get ready all requisites for the ceremony. Sent by Sumantra, Śrī Rāma in the meantime calls on his father, who announces his decision to install him as Prince Regent and also tenders some opportune advice to him. Śrī Rāma’s chums break the new...

Daśaratha apprises the assembly of his intention to retire from active rule after relegating the power to Śrī Rāma’s able hands and the councillors with one voice ditto the proposal and urge the Emperor to expedite matters.

Bharata having left for his maternal grandfather’s capital along with Śatrughna, Emperor Daśaratha makes up his mind to install Śrī Rāma as his Regent and, summoning a number of princes for consultation, confers with them on the subject.

On the departure of Paraśurāma, Śrī Rāmaa hands over the bow of Lord Visnu to Varuƒa (the god of water) and, sending his army ahead, King Da‹aratha enters Ayodhyā. After some days Prince Yudhājit, Bharata’s maternal uncle takes away Bharata and Śatrughna to his fatherís capital. THE END OF BĀLAKĀNDA

Fitting the arrow to the bow of Lord Visnu and declaring it as unfailing, Śrī Rāma asks Paraśurāma to point out at whom it may be discharged, and at the instance of the latter puts an end to his title to the (ethereal) worlds earned by him through his austerities. Recognizing Śrī Rāma to be no other than Lord Visnu and taking leave of him, Paraśurāma withdraws to Mount Mahendra in order to resume...

Turning a deaf ear to Daśaratha’s prayer, Paraśurāma relates the history of the bows belonging to Lords Śiva and Visnu and challenges Śrī Rāma to string the bow of Lord Visnu in his possession.

Taking leave of Janaka and Daśaratha, Viśwāmitra returns to his own hermitage and, accepting large wedding presents, Da‹aratha too turns back to Ayodhyā alongwith his sons and their newly- wedded brides. On the way the irascible and redoubtable Paraśurāma, a sworn enemy of the Ksatriyas, suddenly appears before them, axe in hand, and Vasistha and the other sages accompanying the party offer worshi...

Janaka escorts Daśaratha and his four sons clad in nuptial attire to the pavilion erected for the wedding. Placing Viśwāmitra and Śatānanda ahead, Vasistha conducts the marriage ceremony. Śrī Rāma and his three brothers clasp the hand of Sītā and her sisters. Singing and dancing for joy, the gods rain heavenly flowers on the brides and bridegrooms.

Vasistha and Viśwāmitra jointly ask for the hand of the two daughters of Kuśadhwaja in favour of Bharata and Śatrughna and Janaka acquiesces in the proposal. Thereupon Daśaratha gets his sons to perform the rite of Samåvartana and himself performs the Nāndīśrāddha.

Recounting his own pedigree, Janaka offers the hand of his two daughters, Sītā and Ūrmilā, to Śrī Rāma and Laksmana, respectively.

Janaka sends for his younger brother, Kuśadhwaja, from Sānkāśyā. Invited by him, Daśaratha meets Janaka at the latterís palace, where at the instance of Daśaratha, Vasistha glorifies the race of Ikswāku.

With a large number of followers, Daśaratha proceeds to Mithilā for the wedding and is received with signal honour by Janaka and his people and comfortably lodged.

Reaching Ayodhyā, the counsellors of Janaka tell Daśaratha how Śrī Rāma broke the bow of Lord Śiva in Janaka’s custody and won the hand of his daughter, and convey to him their masterís invitation for the wedding, on which Daśaratha makes up his mind in consultation with Vasistha to depart for Mithilā at an early date.

Urged by Viśwāmitra, Śrī Rāma bends the bow, sent by Janaka to the sacrificial hall, in order to string it and in the process breaks it, whereupon Janaka with the concurrence of Viśwāmitra sends his counsellors to Ayodhyā to invite Emperor Daśaratha for the wedding.

On Viśwāmitra apprising Janaka of the eagerness of Śrī Rāma and Laksmana to see his famous bow, Janaka reveals to him its glory and tells him how he got it as well as Sītā and also of his pledge to give her in marriage to Śrī Rāma if he would string it.

On Viśwāmitra not ceasing from his austerities even on his being conferred the title of a Brahmarsi by Brahmā, Vasistha, as urged by gods, recognizes it and here ends the narration of Śatānanda. Having worshipped Viśwāmitra, King Janaka then returns to his palace.

Petrifying by means of a curse Rambhā, the celestial nymph sent by Indra to wean him from his austerities, Viśwāmitra resolves upon a further course of austerities.

Brahmā pays a visit to Viśwāmitra at Puskara and rewards him with the status of a Rsi (seer). There he feels enamoured of Menakā, a celestial nymph deputed by Indra, and enjoys life with her for ten years. At last he realizes his folly and retires to the Himålayas, where he renews his austerities and is rewarded with the status of a Maharsi by Brahmā. Still dissatisfied, he prosecutes his austerit...

On reaching Puskara, while Ambarīsa is taking rest, Śunahśepa approaches Viśwāmitra, who was practising austerities there, and inquires of him a means of escaping death without meeting with the king’s opposition, whereupon Viśwāmitra teaches him a prayer each for propitiating Indra and Lord Visnu, respectively, by reciting which the boy secures release from Ambarīsa’s bondage and the latter gets t...