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Hari Prasad Shastri
THE
RAMAYANA
OF
VALMIKI
TratulaUtl by
HARI PRASAD SHASTRI
VoL I.
BALAKANDA
AYDOHYA KANDA
SHANTI SADAN
29 CBBPSTOW VILLAS
LONDON, W.11
1952
Pri----
.. IM Bvaunoa - l.oMiu MN4, Bmm>L
DBDICA1BD TO
LISL FUCHS AND MARJORIE ROBLEY
CONTENTS
llooJt 1-BAI.A KANDA
CIW'TBR PAGB
1. Shri Narada relates to Valmil:i the story ofRama • • 3
:. Valmiki aeates the metrical form for the story - - 9
3· The deeds of Rama that will be described in the sacred
4· sbriC·• .;;nscl..n;the~ : IuS
S· King Dasaratha's kingdom and capital 17
6. The city of Ayodhya - 18
i: ~ 'kt:niJ.:: ,C:,C=foi,':;~s scrlfice for the birth :0
of a son -
9· Sumantra relates a tradition that a son will be born
through the help of Rishyasriogs - - - -
10. He describes how Rishyssrings wss brought to King
Lomapada's court - ... -Lo-msE-a, - - -
n. King Dssaratha P.!"' to King by whose
permission Risbyasrings comes to odhya - -
IZ. Rishyasrings agrees to assist in the sacri - .. ..
13. The sacri1ic:e is commenced-
14. The C~ereJDDoics arc performed with the appropriate rites
15. To destroy Ravana, Shri Vishnu resolves to incarnate
16. He decides to incarnate as the four sons of King Dasaratha
17. To assist Shri VJSbnu, a:lestial beings inc:arnate as
warriors of the monkey tribe - - - - -
18. King Dasaratba's sons are born and grow to manhood -
19. Vishwamitra's request -
:a. The king's reluctance to allow Shri Rama to contend
with Marieba and Suvabu -
~: ~m~=~::-~~=':thVidt~...;
~ ~~~.:.:.~ ~~~b ebmdd ,. dark c.,...;
:s. VllhwofaTmairtraak ase eks -to c-onvin-ce R-ama- tha-t it is- bis- duty- 54
:6. How~ &!alLU::T arab ~ ~ : : : : : 5576
~: ~isa :.~v:;;:.c :tial ~~ - 6519
2!1· VJShwamitra relates the story of his hermitage and
COIIUIIeiiCeB the aacrifiao • •
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGB
30. Maric:ba and Suvahu obstruct the sacrifu:e and ue slain
byRama- - - - - - - - - - 64
31. Vishwamitra starlll out with the two princes to attend
King Janaka's sacrifice - 66
32. Vishwamitta tells of his anceston and the dynasty of
KingKusha- - - - - - - - - 68
33· King Kushanabha's bundled daughters - - 69
34· His son, Gadhi, is the father of V1Shwamitta - 71
35· Visbwamitra begins to narrate the origin of the holy river
Gunga----------73
36. ThestoryoftheKingofHimalayas'youngerdaugbterUma 74
37· The king's elder daughter, Gunga - - - - - 76
38. The story of Kina Sagan, Sbri Rama's ancestor - - 78
39· The bone with w'hich he perfOrms a sacrifice is stolen - So
40· The king's sons seOich for the bone ; they accuse
Sbri Ka~ of stealing it and Oie reduced to ashes - 81
4'· King SagOla s grandson, Anshuman, finds the bone and
the ashes of his uncles. He is told the funeral rites
m=u's;t ;he" p erformed with the waten of the holy river
Gunga---------- 83
4•· Ansbuman's son, Dilipa, fails and his son Bhagirstha
_austerities to induce the holy river to 84
43· Lord Shiva leiS loose the saaed river which foUows
King Bhagintba's celestial c:bariot - 86
44· King Bhagirstha completes the funeral rites for his
anceston - • 88
45· Visbwamitta hegins to relate the story of the city of
Visbala and the churning of the ocean, which leads to
the combat herween the Devas and the Titans - 90
46. Diti undergoes severe austerities fur the birth of a son 93
47· The holy ssge and the princes Oirive at Visbala and are
welcomed br King Pramati - - - - - - 94
48. They come to Gauwna's hermitage and Visbwamitra
relates its story - - - - - - - - 95
49· Sbri Rama liberates Ahalya from Gautama's cune and
so. Theyd eOpiaer rws efulcro Mmeitdb ialat the- plac-e of- sacr-ifice- by -King- 97
Janalta - · 99
51. Gaurama's son Sbatananda relates more of the story of
sz. Howt hKei nSgag Ve JVSibswbwamamittiat rvai si-ts Va-sish-tha's -herm-itag-e and- 101
accepts bospitslity provided by the wish-fulfilling
cow,Shaba18- - - .. - - - ... - 103
53· The king desires to possesa Sbabsla but Vasishtha wiU
notgiveberup - - - - - - - - '04
S4· King VlSbwamitta attempts to carry her away by force - 1o6
viii
CONTENTS
CllAPll!ll PAGI
SS· Sbabala creates an army which IIDJiihilates VIShwamitra's
s6. Shri fuVrca:seiss hth-a by his spiritual strength conquers VISb-- 107
wamitra who then engages in~ • • • ICIJ
S7· Shri Vasishtha refUses to help .King Trishanku enter
s8. The hkeinavge na PiJn!. 0h8ilss pthoy sSicharli sVtaatesi s-htha-'s so-ns to- co-nduc-t 111
the sattilic:e. TheY curse him and he appeals to
VIShwamitra - • 112
S9· VISbawnadm Mitraah osedeekvsa ;t bteb eh7e rlCpf Uosfe atbned aSrOeD Sc uorsfe dV asi-shtha- 114
6o. TbrougbfearofVISbwamttra,tbesagesassistinthesacritice
and King Trishanku ascends to a specially created
heaven - - - - - - - - - - liS
61. King Ambarisha's ssaificial horse is lost and he seeks
a human victim - - 117
62. Shunasbepba, tbe human victim, seeks and obtains help
from V!Shwamitra- - 118
63. AfterM:.Jus~ties- V~~tr~ is -~m:d ~ 120
64. Indra is perturbed and sends Rambba to disturb tbe
further austerities of the sage - - - - - 122
65. Vishwamitra performs another t&ousand years' austerities
and acquires brabmanhood - - - - - 123
66. King J811Ua relates tbe stOry oft he great bow and tbe birth
ofSita - - - - - - - - - - 126
67. The illustrious Rama bresb the bow and is given the
Princ:ess Sill in marriage - - - - - - 127
68. King J811Ua sends messengers to invite King Dasaratha
to the capital - - 129
69. King Dasaratha sets out with his spiritual preceptor,
relations and ministers - - - - - - - 130
70· The king, Vishwamitra and the princes arc invited to
King J811Ua's court where VJShwamitra relates the
dcsc:ent of the dynasty - - - - - - - 131
71. King J811Ua gives an account of tbe succession and his
dynasty - - - - - - - - - - 134
72· The marriage of tbe fuur SODS of King Dassratha is
~and preparations commenc:e - - 135
73· The mamagc ceremonies are COID{>leted • - - 137
74- ParasutaDIS appeara amidst inausptcious signs - - 139
7S· He challcngcs Rama to combat - - - - - 141
76. Parasuramli is vanquished and deprived of his glory
andpower - - - - - - - - - 142
77· King Dassratha with his army, tbe princes and their
brides, retnm to Ayodhya - - 144
CONTENTS
llool: 11-AYODBYA
CBAPTJDl PAGE
I. KinK Dasaratba is inc:lined to res!gn his throne to Prince
"'Rams and summons a council - - - - - I49
:a. The elcleia and c:ouncillon willingly accept Shri Rama
as regent- - ... - - - .. - - 152
3· The king resolves Shri Rama shaD be installed - ISS
4s.· SOhnr iV Raasimshat haan'ds aPdrviniccee stsh eSyit ao bpsreerpvae iae ffbasrt the ce-remo-ny -- IIS6BI
6. The city of Ayodhya is dea>rated fOr the etoclamation • I62
1· The hunchhack maid, Manthara, infOrms Queen IUikeyi
of Shri Rams's coming inatallatiun - - I64
8. Manthara persuades the queen that Bharata should be
re~t-and Prince Rama banished - - - - I66
9· Queen Kaikeyi is resolved upon hot evil design - • 169
IO. The king is deeply alllicted at the sight of the weeping
queen - IP.
n. She asks lOt the two boons promised bet by the king - I7S
12. The king suffers bitter agony at the thought of sending
Prince Rama into exile - - I76
I3. Kaikeyi disregards the king's immeasurable distress - 184
I4. The~~o ver~me-by-~'~ q~n -·~~ ISS
IS. Sumsntta hutries to Prince Rams's palace - - - - IB9
I6. Shri Rama in his chariot drives swiftly to the king - - I92
II7·. He advances to the palace amidst the eulo8J7 of his friends I9S
8 He sees the king full of angnish and speecbless ; IUikeyi
utters the cruel words - - I¢
I9. Shri Ramachandra bettays no sign of distress and prepares
:: fotexile-----;-::-.- - •199
~~.:: ::::=t!'~~ ":Smi
:ZOI
Labhman&; i."!P!'es lOt departure - - - - 205
22. He appeals to Shri Lakshmana not to grieve - - - 209
23. Shri Lakshmana offers to defeat aD those who obstruct
Shri llama's installation - 211
24· The queen realises she has no power to resttain Shri
bRam:lal's. rte:s"olu tion .. - - .. - ... .. - 213
as. The ~ ~~ ~d ~ ~~· -~ 2I6
26. Shri Rama acqusints Princess Sill of his resolution - 219
27. She entreats llama to aDow hot to accompany him - - 22I
"
CONTENTS
~ PAQ
z8. Shri Rama seeks to dissuade her - :uz
"'I· Sita continues ber entreaties but the prince is unwilling
to consent - •24
30. Seeing bet fixed molve Shri Rama gtaDts her request - zzs
31. Shri Laksbmana is resolved to aca>mpany them - - zz8
3•· Shri Rama bestows bis wealth upon the brabmins, bis
friends and servanta - 230
33· He goes, with Sita and Lakslunalla, to King Dasaratba's
34· Tbe ~f! :i,rus ~Iessing .,;bile dte ;~ p~ ;;filled 333
35· s.....=ua armi;'Q:..;.. ~ : : : : : ~~i
36. She disregards the words of tbe chief minister and the king Z40
37· Despite the insttuction ofVasisbtba, Sbri Sita stiU desites
to enter the mrest - - - - - - - 24Z
38. Sbri Rama requests the king to protect bis motbet during
bis absenee - • Z44
39· As~~~~~ ~ce _reso~-wi~ 246
40. AU Ayodbya is distressed to see Shri Rams's c:batiot
41. The: wo;ld grlev;, for-P~ i.m.- : : : ~
4•· Without Rama tbe king'• heart can find no rest - :os•
43· The lament of que<:n Kausbalya - - - - - >54
44· Sbe finds peace m tbe conaolation of Queen Sumitra :os6
4S· Tbe lament of the brabmins wbo mllow Shri Rama - zsB
46. Sbri Rama, with Sita and LakslunaJla and tbe c:barioteer,
drive on alone to tbe mrest - - 26o
47· Those wbo have iOUowed Prince Rama find themselves
alone · z6:o
48. Ayodbya without Sbri Ramacbandra is bereft of beauty 263
4so9.· TTbhee yc r:beaarcihnt t bc:ero roisveest tGbeu nbgoau anndda rmy eoeft Ktboes calhai ef o-f ferr-yme-n, 265
Guha - z66
51. They pass tbe night on tbe bank oftbe saaed rivet - 270
52. Sumantra is Otdered to return ; Sbri Rama, Sita and
Laksbmana cross tbe holy rivet - - - - - 271
53· Determined to iOUow their destiny they enter upon esi1e 277
S4· They spend tbe night at Prayaga in tbe hermitage of
SS· J"beytb cer oSsas gteb eB bYaarmailnwnaaj aa nd- trave-l on- •- •• •- •• :2o7819t
$6. TheY teach the mountain Cbittrakuta and build a
betmitage • • • • - - • • • :o83
S1· Sumantra returnS to tbe stricken city of Ayodbya - - 286
sa. He delivers Shri Rams's mossage to the king - - • :o88
S!l· The king bewailing tbe absezice of Rama is drownins
in a 101 of sorrow - - 290
xi
