6 - Manifestation of Vishnu as Rama (continued)

 Narada said:

1-2. After Bharata had gone, Råma saluted the parents and others. King Dasaratha said to Råma, “Raghava (Rama)! listen to me, you have been anointed mentally by the people as ruler on account of (your) qualities. Ishall make you the heirapparent (next) morning." 

3-4. “In the night you observe (the necessary) rites (vows) along with Sita.” And the eight ministers¹ of the king-Srushti, Jayanta, Vijaya, Siddhartha, Råshțravardhana, Ashoka, Dharma- pala and Sumantra and also Vasishtha spoke. 

5. After hearing the words of the father and others, Råghava said that he will do accordingly. He worshipped the gods and informed the news to Kausalyä. 

6. The king told Vasishtha and others to gather the materials required for the coronation of Råma and went to Kaikeyi. 

7. After seeing the decoration of the city of Ayodhyå and knowing that the coronation of Ráma is to take place, Manthara informed her friend Kaikeyi (accordingly). 

8. Having been pulled by Råma by the foot by mistake, on account of that enmityshe desired of Rama's sojourn to the forest. 

1. Some of the names of the ministers are little different from those found in the Ramayana. Instead of the name Drati, Arthasidhaka and Mantrapala in the Ramayana we have Srsti, Rastravardhana and Dharmapala here. See Rarr. I. vii.3. 

9. "O! Kaikeyi! you get up (and see) the anointment of Råma. There is no doubt (that it is) death (itself) for your son, to me and to you" (said Manthara). 

10-11.she (Kaikeyi) heard the words of the kubja (hunchbacked) (Manthara) and gave her an ornament.she said "Just as Råma is (my son) so also Bharata is my son. I do not find any plan, by which Bharata may get the kingdom.” The angry Mantharà after rejecting the ornament (given by Kaikeyi) said to Kaikeyi:

12. "O! stupid girl you protect Bharata, yourself and me from Raghava. Raghava will be the king in future and then his son." 

13-15. O Kaikeyi, “The royal lineage will be taken away from Bharata. Once when the people were persecuted by Sambara¹ at the time of the battle between the gods and demons, when the king went there for (rendering help), you protected him by your art and skill. Then the king gave you two boons. (You) ask for them now from the king. (The boons are) the stay of Råma in the forest for fourteen years and the conferment of the heir-apparentship on Bharata. These (the king) will give." 

1. Sambara was a demon chief, son of Kasyapa und Danu. At the time of the battle between the celestial and the demons Sambara wu harassing the peopic. Indra bought help from Dasaratha. Dasaratha who lost his consciousness in the battle was safely charioted back by Kaikeyi. See Ram. I. ix. 11 ff. 

16.she (Kaikeyi) being encouraged by the deformed lady (Mantharā), who saw meaning in the worthless thing, said (to her), "(Tell) me a good plan which would make it work." 

17-18. (Kaikeyi) having entered the anger apartment (remained) in a swoon fallen to the ground. Then the king Dasaratha having honoured the twice-borns (came there and) saw the angry Kaikeyi (and) said, “How (is)she such? Isshe sick or agitated by fear," (and said) “Ishall do as you wish”. 

19. “Without which Råma, I cannot live (even) a moment, I swear by him that I will do as you wish O beautiful woman!" 

20-22. "Speak the truth”, saidshe to the king (and added), “The two boons (you) granted me formerly, you give me (now) (as you swear) by truth, O King! Let Rama live in the forest for fourteen years being self-controlled (and) with these preparations let Bharata be installed here this day itself (and) if you do not grant (these boons) O King! Ishall die (after) drinking poison." Having heard these (words) the (king) fell into a swoon on the earth as if struck by a mace. 

23-25. After a moment he regained his consciousness and said, “What (harm) was done to you by Råma or by me, O lady, determined to do sins! What you tell me in this manner is unpleasant to all the people. By merely doing (something) pleasing to you, I will be censured. What a kind of wife (you are) like the night of destruction¹ at the end of the world. Bharata is not such a kind of son. (You) rule the kingdom as a widower after I have died and the son has gone." 

1. Kalardtri, the night of destruction at the end of the world is identified with the Goddess Durga. 

26-29. Being bound by the noose of truth, (he) called Råma and said to him), "O! Råma, I have been cheated by Kaikeyi; restraining me (you) rule the kingdom. You have to live in the forest and Bharata, (the son of) Kaikeyi (is to be) the king." Having saluted his father and Kaikeyi, after doing a circumambulation, and bowing down to Kausalya and having consoled her and with Lakshmaņa, with (his) wife Sitã and with Sumantra in the chariot and having made the gifts for the brahmins, poor and destitutes, he left the city with the mothers, brahmins and others stricken with grief. 

30. Having spent the night on the banks of the (river) Tamaså (he went away) leaving the people. Not finding him in the morning they all returned to Ayodhya again. 

31. The lamenting king also went to the apartments of Kausalya extremely grief-stricken. Being separated from the king all the citizens and women wept. 

32. Råma, being seated in the chariot and wearing the barkgarments went to Srungaberapura. Being entertained by Guha² there, he resorted to the foot of the Indgudi (tree). 

2. Guha, a hunter chief was reigning at Śrungaberapura. He was an admirer of Rama. See Ram. II.1.33. 

33-34. And during the nights Lakshmaņa and Guha kept awake. Leaving Sumantra together with the chariot in the morning, Råma, Lakshmaņa and Sità crossed the river Jahnavi (Ganges) by boat and reached Prayaga. (They) paid their obeisance to (the sage) Bharadvaja (and then) reached the Citrakūta mountain. 

35. Then (they) having performed the Vastupaja (propitiatory rites at the house site), stayed on the banks of the Mandakini (Ganges). And (then) Råghavashowed the Chitrakūța (mountain) to Sitä. 

36. With an arrow (Råma) plucked one of the eyes of the crow which was tearing her (Sita) with its) nails. Then the crow sought refuge in the celestials. 

37-40. On the sixth day after Råma had gone to the forest, the king told Kausalya in the night the past story of how in (his) youth he had killed unknowingly with (his) Sabdabheda¹ (weapon) the ascetic youth Yajñadatta as (he was filling) the pot raising asound. Lamenting his father cursed (Dasaratha). His mother felt griefstricken and wept again and again and the (two) said, “We will die without the son. You will also die of grief.” “O Kausalya! without the son and remembering (the past) my death (will come off now) on account of grief." After narrating this story and uttering (the words) “Alas! Råma!", the king passed away. 

1. Sabdabheda was a missile capable of reaching a mark merely by the sound associated with the mark, the object itself not being perceived. 

41-42. Thinking that the king was sleeping, Kausalya also slept on account of pangs of grief. Early in the morning the singers and bards such as the sütas, mågadhas, the awakeners attempted to wake him up. He did not wake up and was dead. Know ing him as dead, Kausalyā said, “O I have been ruined.” 

43. The men and women then wept. Then Bharata along with Satrughna was hurriedly brought to the city from the royal palace by Vasishtha and others. 

44. Having seen the grief-stricken Kaikeyi he reproached (her) out of grief. “(You) have made censure fall on the head” and praised Kausalyā. 

45-46. Having done the funeral rites of his father (whose body was kept preserved) in oil in oval vessel on the banks of the river Sarayü, when (he) was asked by Vasishtha and others to rule the kingdom, he said, "I go now to bring back Råma. Rāma is the king stronger than myself”. (He went) to Srungavera and to Prayaga where he was entertained by Bharadvaja. 

47-48. Having saluted Bharadväja, (Bharata) came to Råma and Lakshmaņa (and said), “O Råma! Our father has reached the heaven. You become the king of Ayodhya. I will go to the forest adhering to your command.” Having heard this, Råma (after) giving him water asked him to go (back) taking the sandals. 

49. (Bharata said), "I will not go to the city. I swear, I will be remaining with matted locks.” On being urged by Råma, Bharata returned to Nandigrama and stationed there with his army, leaving the sandal at Ayodhya and worshipping it ruled over the kingdom.