The seventh incarnation of महाविष्णु , a very powerful king of the solar dynasty

Genealogy

Descended from विष्णु thus: ब्रह्मा - मरीचि - कश्यप - विवस्वान् - वैवस्वतमनु - महाबाहु - प्रसन्धि - क्षुप - इक्ष्वाकु - विकुक्षि - शशाद - ककुत्स्थ ( पुरञ्जय )- अनेनस् - पृथुलाश्व - प्रसेनजित् - युवनाश्व - मान्धाता - पुरुकुत्स - त्रसदस्यु - अनरण्य - ह्र्यश्व - वसुमनस् - सुतन्वा - त्रैय्यारुण - सत्यव्रत ( त्रिशङ्कु )- हरिश्चन्द्र - रोहिताव - हरित - चुञ्चु - सुदेव - भरुक - बाहुक - सगर - असमञ्जस - अंशुमान् - भगीरथ - श्रुतनाभ - सिन्धुद्वीप - अयुतायुस् - ऋतुपर्ण - सर्वकाम - सुदास् - मित्रसख ( कल्माषपाद )- अश्मक - मूलक - खट्वाङ्ग - दिलीप ( दीर्घबाहु )- रघु - अज - दशरथ - राम .

Reason for his birth

When रावण was ruling over लङ्का as a terror to the world, evils and cruelties like matricide, patricide, fratricide, killing of cows, hatred for good people, children's death, abduction of women, killing of मुनिस् , thefts etc. became rampant. When the world became grief-stricken भूमिदेवी (Goddess of earth) assumed the form of a cow and took refuge with इन्द्र in स्वर्ग . She told him about the atrocities committed by रावण and the other राक्षसस् . Then इन्द्र took भूमिदेवी (cow) to ब्रह्मा , who took them to शिव at कैलास as killing रावण was beyond his ( ब्रह्मा 's) power. शिव thought it improper on his part to kill रावण and so he took ब्रह्मा and others to विष्णु and submitted their grievance to him. विष्णु consoled them by saying as follows:--"I have decided to incarnate myself as the son of दशरथ , king of अयोध्या . You देवस् also should take birth on earth to help me to kill रावण and other evil राक्षसस् and to protect भूमिदेवी and the good people on the earth." (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Pūrva Kāṇḍa) .

Birth

King दशरथ of the solar dynasty ruled कोसल with अयोध्या as his capital. महर्षि वसिष्ठ was his family preceptor. With the cooperation of eight ministers such as Sumantra and others he ruled the country in the path of supreme welfare and prosperity. A daughter, शान्ता , was born to him of his wife कौसल्या . Years passed by, yet he had no son. One of those days King लोमपाद , close friend of दशरथ visited अयोध्या . लोमपाद , who was childless requested दशरथ for शान्ता and she was given as his adopted daughter by दशरथ . लोमपाद gave her in marriage to ऋष्यशृङ्ग , who had once caused rain-fall in अङ्ग . (For details see under Ṛṣyaśṛṅga)

To have a son, दशरथ took as his second wife कैकेयी , daughter of the King of Kekaya and younger sister of युधाजित् . But she turned out to be barren. Then he married सुमित्रा , daughter of the King of काशी . Even after many years none of the three wives of दशरथ presented him with a son.

One of those days Da aratha went deep into the forest, hunting. While resting on the banks of river सरयू he heard a sound like that of an elephant drinking water in the river. Without realising the fact that the voice was that of the son of a मुनि filling water in a pot for his aged parents, the King released an arrow against him. When Da aratha walked to the spot, he realised his mistake. He had hit unknowingly a ब्रह्मिन् boy, a मुनि 's son. The boy lay wounded about to die. The boy explained to दशरथ who he was and how he had come to the river to carry water to his aged parents. After telling the King details about him he breathed his last. Sobbing at his misadventure, दशरथ went to the aged parents of the dead boy with the pot filled with water. The parents, who were blind thought that it was their son who was approaching them when दशरथ revealed the sad story to them. After cursing दशरथ that he too would die of separation from his son, the aged मुनि expired; his wife also died in his funeral pyre. The grief-stricken King returned to अयोध्या .

Only वसिष्ठ and सुमन्त्र were told about the curse, which, though a cause for great sorrow, implied that दशरथ would have sons. वसिष्ठ , therefore, advised दशरथ to get the यज्ञ , called पुत्रकामेष्टि performed by ऋष्यशृङ्ग . Accordingly the King invited his daughter शान्ता and his son-in-law, ऋष्यशृङ्ग to अयोध्या , and the यज्ञ began. ऋष्यशृङ्ग made offerings in the sacred fire chanting the पुत्रकाम hymn. Then a divine person arose from the fire with a golden vessel full of pudding (nectar of the Devas) and disappeared again in the fire after giving the vessel to ऋष्यशृङ्ग . ऋष्यशृङ्ग handed it over to दशरथ , who as advised by the महर्षि divided the pudding between कौसल्या and कैकेयी . They gave a part of their shares of the pudding to सुमित्रा also. The three queens conceived, and in due course of time कौसल्या and कैकेयी delivered a son each and सुमित्रा two sons. The son of कौसल्या was named राम , the son of कैकेयी , भरत , and sons of सुमित्रा were named लक्ष्मण and शत्रुघ्न . (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa)

Boons granted to कैकेयि

Before the sons were born to दशरथ , the mighty असुर called शम्बर once attacked देवलोक . दशरथ was at that time known as नेमि , and he was a great friend of इन्द्र , and on his invitation नेमि , along with कैकेयी , went to देवलोक in a chariot. नेमि killed the असुर army within half an hour. Then शम्बर assumed the form of ten शम्बरस् and attacked नेमि from ten points. In this context नेमि turned and twisted his chariot in all the ten directions at the same time and killed all the ten शम्बरस् and recaptured स्वर्ग . It was from that day onwards that नेमि came to be known as दशरथ .

In the fight with the Sambaras on all points दशरथ 's chariot was so violently shaken that the key of its axle was about to slip off and fall down. Noticing the threatened danger कैकेयी applied her finger to the proper place of the axle and thus averted the mishap. When दशरथ knew about this timely action of कैकेयी he was so very pleased that he asked her to choose any two boons she desired, and she asked him to keep the boons with him to be granted whenever she requested for them. दशरथ and कैकेयी took leave of इन्द्र and returned to अयोध्या . (Kamba Rāmāyaṇa, Bālakāṇḍa) .

In the company of विश्वामित्र

The four sons of दशरथ grew up in अयोध्या . Though they were equally friendly to one another, intimacy between राम and लक्ष्मण and also between भरत and शत्रुघ्न came to be thicker. Once विश्वामित्र decided to conduct a यज्ञ for the happiness and contentment of all people. At the very commencement of the यज्ञ , राक्षसस् , in batches, tried to spoil it, and मारीच and सुबाहु , sons of ताटका were the leaders of the obstructionists. विश्वामित्र knew that राम was the most effective weapon against the राक्षसस् and requested दशरथ to lend him राम 's help. दशरथ felt sad about it and विश्वामित्र was getting excited over the former's attitude when वसिष्ठ advised दशरथ to send राम along with विश्वामित्र . Accordingly दशरथ sent राम to the forest in the company of विश्वामित्र . लक्ष्मण too followed his brother.

While walking in the forest विश्वामित्र related many old stories to राम and लक्ष्मण . They crossed river सरयू , passed by many आश्रमस् of मुनिस् and reached the पाल forest. Here विश्वामित्र imparted to राम and लक्ष्मण , who felt too weak on account of hunger and thirst the two mantras बला and अतिबला , which would ward off hunger and thirst. He also taught them the use of certain rare arrows. श्री राम was specially taught the use of a divine arrow called जृम्भकास्त्र .

ताटका killed

While विश्वामित्र was relating to them the story of ताटका , who dwelt in the forest, they saw the fierce राक्षसी coming fast with a long spear in her hand. She threw a big rock at विश्वामित्र . राम shattered the rock with an arrow. Next, ताटका dashed forward against राम roaring furiously, and राम , with another arrow killed her. The soul of the dead ताटका assumed the form of a गन्धर्व woman and ascended to heaven.

Salvation to अहल्या

राक्षसस् like सुबाहु lined up to obstruct the yajña, which विश्वामित्र began after the killing of ताटका . राम killed सुबाहु ; मारीच ran away in fright and hid himself in the sea. राम drove away the other राक्षसस् .

Next, विश्वामित्र , hearing about the Svayaṃvara of सीता , daughter of King जनक started for his palace with राम and लक्ष्मण , and on the way he told the boys many पुराणिच् stories. They bathed in the river गङ्गा and a short walk took them to the vacant आश्रम of गौतम . The great मुनि called गौतम had once lived in this आश्रम with his dutiful wife अहल्या and their son शतानन्द , an erudite scholar in all sciences. इन्द्र , who lost his head over the great beauty of अहल्या went to the आश्रम one midnight in the form of a cock and crew. Thinking it was already dawn गौतम went to the river for bath when इन्द्र assumed the form of the मुनि , entered his bed room and slept with अहल्या . When गौतम understood the fraud thus played upon him, he cursed her into a stone. She was to resume her old form when, during त्रेतायुग , श्री राम trod upon the stone. Accordingly, as soon as राम trod on the stone अहल्या cast off her form as stone and resumed her old form as अहल्या . Immediately गौतम and शतानन्द also appeared on the scene. अहल्या ascended to the sky as a देवी .

Marriage

विश्वामित्र came to king जनक 's palace with राम and लक्ष्मण . जनक 's daughter सीता and his younger brothers' daughters माण्डवी , ऊर्मिला and श्रुतकीर्ति were living in the palace as sisters and very good friends. One day the princesses who were playing in the garden could not pluck jasmine flowers from a height. सीता then brought the शैवचाप ( शिव 's bow) from the weapon-room and shot down Jasmine flowers with it. As जनक watched सीता 's action of shooting with the शैवचाप an idea came into his head. He announced that the hero, who succeeded in shooting with शैवचाप , would be given सीता in marriage.

Just as राम and लक्ष्मण were inseparable companions सीता and ऊर्मिला were always to be found together and माण्डवी and श्रुतकीर्ति were particular friends. श्री राम shot an arrow from शिव 's bow and he was selected as सीता 's husband. जनक informed दशरथ of the marriage and he came with his attendants. भरत married माण्डवी , लक्ष्मण , ऊर्मिला and शत्रुघ्न , श्रुतकीर्ति . After living in मिथिला for sometime दशरथ and others returned to अयोध्या . विश्वामित्र went to the हिमालय s for rest.

परशुराम 's threat

दशरथ and others on their way back to अयोध्या passed the Videha kingdom and reached the suburbs of भार्गवाश्रम . All of a sudden a shining form of a brahmin with क्षत्रिय effulgence appeared in front of the procession. वसिष्ठ understood that it was परशुराम and दशरथ and others were alarmed. परशुराम approached श्री राम who was viewing the former with quiet serenity. परशुराम was very angry that राम broke the bow of शिव who was his ( परशुराम 's) preceptor. All राम 's conciliatory talk failed to pacify परशुराम , who spoke thus to राम : "You, impudent fellow! you insulted me and my preceptor. All right, let me see your power. Take this my bow, and shoot with it."

श्री राम took hold of the bow and bent it easily and fixing an arrow on it asked परशुराम to point out the target for it. As परशुराम feared that if the arrow was sent, it might crush the whole univese, he asked राम so choose the result of his ( परशुराम 's) तपस् as target for the arrow. Both the bow and the arrow were of विष्णु 's power. That power as well as his own वैष्णव power, परशुराम transferred to श्री राम and having thus fulfilled the object of his incarnation परशुराम went to पुण्याश्रम for permanent तपस् .

Ruin of the country

दशरथ decided to install श्री राम as crown prince. The people whole-heartedly welcomed it. During the night previous to the coronation, while the wives of दशरथ were gladly discussing the happy incident, मन्थरा , the tale-bearing maid of कैकेयी advised her mistress to prevail upon दशरथ to exile राम into the forest and install भरत as crown prince. मन्थरा also reminded कैकेयी about the boons, which had been promised to her by दशरथ during the देवासुर war. कैकेयी fell into the trap thus set by मन्थरा . कैकेयी put on a wrathful face and shut herself up in a room. When दशरथ enquired of her the reason for her anger she asked him to make her son भरत , the crown prince and exile राम for fourteen years' life in forest. The king fainted when he heard the demand But, श्री राम , on hearing about it, put on an anchorite's apparel and got ready to start for the forest. सीता and लक्ष्मण also got ready to follow राम into the forest. While the entire population of अयोध्या stood there weeping, राम , लक्ष्मण and सीता wearing the forest-dwellers' garb started for the forest.

Death of दशरथ and भरत 's decision

As soon as Sumantra, who had accompanied राम and others returned to अयोध्या , दशरथ expired on account of unbearable grief caused by राम 's exile. Messengers brought to अयोध्या भरत and शत्रुघ्न from केकय where they were put up with their uncle युधाजित् at the time of their father's death. But, they were kept in the dark of all that had happened in their absence till their arrival at the palace. भरत , who heard of everything from his mother was greatly upset and got ready to go to राम in the forest. शत्रुघ्न too got ready to accompany him. अरुन्धती and वसिष्ठ in a chariot in the fore-front, कौसल्या and सुमित्रा in another chariot just behind the first one, भरत and शत्रुघ्न behind them--in this manner the great journey into the forest started. Leaving all others behind him, भरत went forward and prostrated before राम and लक्ष्मण at चित्रकूट . श्री राम broke into tears on hearing about the death of their father. But in spite of भरत 's pressing request राम refused to return to अयोध्या . At last भरत yielded to राम 's injunction and returned to अयोध्या with the latter's sandals. But he did not enter the palace; instead he built an आश्रम at नन्दिग्राम and worshipping राम 's sandals lived there.

Trip to पञ्चवटी

From Mount चित्रकूट श्री राम and others started towards the forest. When they continued their journey after visiting the Sage अत्रि 's आश्रम a राक्षस called विराध ran away carrying off सीता . राम killed विराध and regained सीता . Then they visited the आश्रम of sage शरभङ्ग in the कुमुद forest. Therefrom they went to the मृकण्डु forest where they visited महर्षि अगस्त्य , and there राम took the vow to kill रावण and other evil राक्षसस् and thus render the land safe for sages to perform तपस् . अगस्त्य presented to राम a वैष्णव bow, a ब्राह्म arrow and a शैव quiver. राम kept them with अगस्त्य himself to be given to him when required. Then अगस्त्य gave राम a divine ornament such as was not available in all the three worlds. राम tied it round सीता 's neck. Taking leave of अगस्त्य , राम and others went to the दण्डक forest. It was on a high peak of Mount महाक्रौञ्च in the forest that जटायु , brother of सम्पाति and a very close friend of राम lived. राम and जटायु renewed their old friendship and decided to be of mutual service in future. After that राम and others rested themselves on the banks of the near-by गोदावरी .

Stay at पञ्चवटी

पञ्चवटी was on the southern bank of the गोदावरी . Five वटस् (peepal trees) of the same size stood there in a circle, and so the place was called पञ्चवटी . (See under Pañcavaṭī) . श्री राम decided to build his आश्रम at the centre of those trees. लक्ष्मण cut down an ebony tree there to put up a पर्णशाला (hut) At once the log disappeared and the dead body of a राक्षस youth was found there. It was the corpse of शम्भुकुमार , son of शूर्पणखा . He was performing तपस् there to propitiate शिव when he was overcome by the beauty of सीता and to look at her from a hidden spot he had assumed the form of the ebony tree. It was him that लक्ष्मण had cut down. श्री राम understood the situation and explained to his wife and brother about the trickeries of the राक्षसस् . Then the पर्णशाला was constructed and they lived there. Hearing about the coming of राम all the sages of the दण्डक forest visited them. They lived in पञ्चवटी for thirteen years.

Test by परमेश्वर ( शिव ) and पार्वती

परमेश्वर and पार्वती , who knew that many tricky changes would occur in the thirteenth year of the life of राम and सीता there, decided to submit them to a test. The object of the test was to see whether राम and सीता would recognise each other under all circumstances. When सीता one day entered the river गोदावरी to fetch water, she saw two swans enjoying themselves in a lotus pool in the middle of a sand-shoal in the river. When सीता went near the pool she saw राम bathing in it. But on a closer look she recognised that it was not राम , but शिव , in the guise of राम , who was bathing there. To befool सीता शिव , who was disguised as राम , told her:--Dear one! Please come to me quickly. Why were you so late?

सीता :--Oh, Deva! salutations. Why did you alone come to the bath?

राम :--I had to come alone as देवी did not come with me at once and was late in coming.

सीता :--Why did not the देवी come? You two are unique. देवी might be alone at कैलास just now. It was not good that you did not bring her also with you.

शिव : Oh great देवी ! salutations to your divine greatness. Let me return to कैलास after saluting श्री राम . Hail unto thee.

Meanwhile श्री राम was waiting impatiently for सीता to return. Then सीता approached him looking into a lotus flower she held in her hand and also throwing, off and on, amorous glances at him. (She was in fact पार्वती in the guise of सीता ). And she told राम :--My Lord! you would excuse my delay in returning. The delay was due to my tarrying there to look at the play of two swans. श्री राम looked closely and recognised that it was not सीता and replied as follows:--Oh देवी ! my salutations. Did you come alone? Where is देव ? How is it that you are separated from him? महादेव and महादेवी are one and inseparable. Then how this separation? सीता ( पार्वती ):--Salutations. Thou art omniscient and omnipotent. I return to the presence of शिव .

The incident of शूर्पणखा

शूर्पणखा was the wife of a राक्षस called विद्युज्जिह्व . Once in a war which रावण , विद्युज्जिह्व and other राक्षसस् fought at देवलोक विद्युज्जिह्व was killed by mistake. रावण , therefore, permitted शूर्पणखा to choose whomsoever she liked as her husband, and she went about the world in search of a suitable husband. She liked some persons, but they did not like her, and vice versa. Thus she was roaming about discontented. She was also on the look-out for an opportunity to take vengeance on लक्ष्मण for killing her son, शम्भुकुमार .

शूर्पणखा , who heard about the beauty of राम and लक्ष्मण came to पञ्चवटी disguised as ललिता . श्री राम alone was there in the आश्रम at the time and she told him that she was love-sick. श्री राम rejected her prayer on the plea that he was already married. Then she approached लक्ष्मण with the same request. He too refused to oblige her. Then she saw सीता there and decided to shatter her married life and also to make a present of her to रावण . She also thought that if सीता were got rid of she would have राम for husband. Maddened by such thoughts she rushed into the आश्रम . But, लक्ष्मण drove her out. Then, carrying लक्ष्मण with her she rose into the sky and he cut away both her ears, breasts and nose. Thus disfigured she resumed her form of राक्षसी . She flew away in the sky roaring loudly.

Khara killed

Having heard about the disfigurement of शूर्पणखा खर sent fourteen राक्षसस् to राम 's आश्रम . लक्ष्मण killed them very easily. Next, खर , his brothers दूषण and त्रिशिरस् with fourteen thousand राक्षस soldiers came to fight राम . राम and लक्ष्मण killed them also. This saddened शूर्पणखा very much and she reported the entire affair to रावण at लङ्का . She told him that राम and लक्ष्मण were very courageous warriors and he was not to enter into direct fighting with them, but was to abduct सीता whose loss would cause राम 's death. She also assured रावण that if राम died, लक्ष्मण would himself end his life.

सीता abducted

Next day a spotted deer was found playing near the आश्रम . सीता desired to have the deer and श्री राम , after asking his brother to take care of सीता , followed the deer, which enticed him to a great distance in the forest. At last, finding it difficult to catch the deer alive, राम shot an arrow at it. Hit by the arrow the deer transformed itself into a gigantic राक्षस and fell down dead crying. "Oh! सीता O! लक्ष्मण , a राक्षस is killing me. Come and save me."

The राक्षस , who thus fell a prey to राम 's arrow was really मारीच , uncle of रावण . मारीच had gone in the form of a deer to राम 's आश्रम at the instance of his nephew to cheat राम . सीता heard the false cry of मारीच and asked लक्ष्मण to hurry up to the spot for राम 's protection. लक्ष्मण at first did not want to leave सीता there alone and go after राम . But, when she used hard and cruel words against him लक्ष्मण quitted the आश्रम and went into the forest. When राम and लक्ष्मण were thus absent at the आश्रम an old सन्न्यासिन् came for alms at the courtyard. सीता , who came out to offer alms was forcibly carried away by रावण (the sannyāsin was रावण in disguise) in his पुष्पक aerial chariot to लङ्का . On the way जटायु saw रावण and put up a fight with him to get सीता released. But, जटायु had to fall down wounded by the sword of रावण and he lay there awaiting राम 's arrival.

राम and लक्ष्मण returned to the आश्रम only to find सीता missing. While they advanced some distance lamenting over the loss of सीता they saw जटायु lying in the forest, his wings cut, but happy in expectation of salvation and repeating the name of राम . जटायु gave राम all details about सीता and then gave up his body and ascended to वैकुण्ठ .

Salvation to कबन्ध

राम and लक्ष्मण moved towards the south in quest of सीता . An asura woman called अयोमुखी , sister of शूरपद्म tried to entice लक्ष्मण , who went alone to a pool to fetch water. When लक्ष्मण resisted and kept away from her allurements, she tried to carry him away into the sky. But, he drove her away disfigured. When the brothers continued their search for सीता they were caught in the arms stretched out in semi-circular form. It was a राक्षस called कबन्ध , and they cut away one arm each. At once the fierce कबन्ध (headless body) form disappeared and a गन्धर्व youth appeared in his place. After offering मोक्ष to कबन्ध राम and लक्ष्मण continued their search for सीता . (See under Kabandha) .

Salvation to शबरी

राम and लक्ष्मण reached शबर्याश्रम and were duly received by the female hermit शबरी . She presented them with fruits. Not only that, she personally tasted each fruit for its quality and then gave the best to the guests. राम was so very pleased with her pure devotion that he offered her salvation. (For details see under Śabarī)

राम - सुग्रिव alliance

राम and लक्ष्मण bathed in the पम्पा river and thus refreshed they travelled upto the height of Mount ऋष्यमूक where सुग्रीव lived with हनूमान् as his Prime Minister. सुग्रीव , who saw राम and लक्ष्मण coming, deputed हनूमान् to find out whether they were friends or foes. हनूमान् , in the guise of a brahmin boy talked with them, who related their story from the abduction of सीता . Having understood the matters हनूमान् resumed his actual form and carried राम and लक्ष्मण on his shoulders into the presence of सुग्रीव .

सुग्रीव related to राम the story of his expulsion from किष्किन्धा by बालि , his elder brother. सुग्रीव wanted a powerful ally to recapture the country. Similarly श्री राम too wanted a powerful ally to regain सीता . So both the parties entered into an alliance, राम undertaking to kill बालि and restore his kingdom and his wife to सुग्रीव and सुग्रीव undertaking to search for and find out सीता for राम .

Though the above pact was made, सुग्रीव was doubtful about राम 's capacity to honour his part of the contract, and राम , knowing this suspicion of सुग्रीव , wanted to dispel it. The mountain-like body of दुन्दुभि , the राक्षस killed by बालि , lay there in a big heap of bones and at the instance of राम , लक्ष्मण threw it into the distant southern sea with the big toe of his left foot. सुग्रीव was wonder-struck at this feat of लक्ष्मण and praised him. Yet सुग्रीव was not quite cured of his doubt and राम wanted to further convince him of their prowess.

There were seven big trees there known as सप्तसालस् . Bāli used to wrestle with the trees due to his overflowing vitality and power. (See under Saptasāla) . श्रीराम went near the trees and suddenly fixed an arrow on his bow-string and shot it by drawing the bow, with the big toe of his right foot pressed against a rock. The arrow cut down the seven trees at one and the same time and then automatically returned to its quiver. सुग्रीव was taken aback by this marvellous show of power.

Exhibition of ornaments

They came again to ऋष्यमूकाचल and सुग्रीव placed before राम a bundle of ornaments and said that it was dropped down by a weeping woman from an aerial chariot, which had, a few days back, passed above the mountain. राम recognised them as सीता 's ornaments, shed tears and sat there motionless for some time. At last सुग्रीव and लक्ष्मण consoled him and he handed over the bundle of ornaments to लक्ष्मण .

Kingdom restored to सुग्रीव

The very next day सुग्रीव took राम to किष्किन्धा , and the former challenged बालि for a combat. राम , from a distance, viewed the fierce fight between the brothers, but he could not do anything as it was impossible to distinguish between बालि and सुग्रीव on account of their very close resemblance. सुग्रीव , who was defeated in the first round and retired from fight felt angry towards राम , but was soon satisfied with राम 's explanation for his inaction. To distinguish सुग्रीव from बालि श्री राम , the next day, put a garland on the former's neck and wearing the garland सुग्रीव challenged बालि a second time to a duel. Though बालि 's wife, तारा , this time prevented him from accepting the challenge बालि paid no heed to her protests and rushed forth for the duel.

बालि and सुग्रीव fought again, and this time राम from his concealment behind a tree shot an arrow at the chest of बालि . The arrow felled him. राम and लक्ष्मण then came into the open and बालि spoke disparagingly to राम about shooting the arrow from concealment. राम answered him saying that if he had seen him ( राम ) face to face he would have become his devotee and he had to shoot बालि from his hiding place as it was not proper to kill one's devotees. At last, after handing over charge of his wife and son अङ्गद , to सुग्रीव , बालि breathed his last. श्री राम decided to crown सुग्रीव as King and install अङ्गद as crown prince and returned to ऋष्यमूकाचल for rest after entrusting, under the supervision of लक्ष्मण , हनूमान् and जाम्बवान् with the duty of making preparations for the coronation. Though सुग्रीव invited श्री राम to किष्किन्धा when preparations for coronation were over, the latter declined the invitation gracefully and deputed लक्ष्मण to represent him at the ceremony. लक्ष्मण installed सुग्रीव as the महाराज , अङ्गद as crown prince, रुमा as queen and तारा as queen-mother. Also, हनूमान् was appointed as सुग्रीव 's minister. Those things over, लक्ष्मण returned to राम at ऋष्यमूकाचल .

लक्ष्मण 's wrath

The next four months were rainy period. Even after that सुग्रीव did not make necessary arrangements to search for सीता . At राम 's instance लक्ष्मण went to किष्किन्धा to enquire about the reason for the delay. The monkeys were alarmed by the grave appearance of लक्ष्मण and तारा came out and apologised to him. Arrangements were soon finalised for the quest of सीता . Armies of many lakhs of monkeys were deputed to the eight regions to search for सीता . सुषेण was appointed chief of the army for the west, शतबलि for the north, विनत for the east and अङ्गद for the south. As the south was the chief place for the search, monkeys like हनूमान् , जाम्बवान् , विविद , नल , निल , कुमुद , each of them an expert in various ways, were appointed chiefs of different matters. Every chief and his assistant was given suitable instructions by लक्ष्मण and सुग्रीव , and accordingly the army of monkeys began its march under the leadership of हनूमान् .

Words of recognition

To convince सीता that it was really the emissary of राम who went to her the latter imparted to हनूमान् the following three sentences for timely use.

When I took leave of you for life in exile in the forest you ( सीता ) who were then in the inner apartment dressed in ordinary fashion came out in the same dress prepared to follow me saying 'I too...' feigning anger'.

When, for out life in the forest, we had left the city and approached a shrubbery, शीता in her childish ignorance and goodness of heart told me "This place will do for our forest life."

While she was one day massaging my leg in our bedroom she threw away from her finger the ring studded with stones. When I asked her the reason for it she answered me as follows:--This ring studded with stones may prove to be of danger to me. When your feet touched the hard granite rock it turned out into a world beauty ( अहल्या ). Under the circumstances how much more beautiful would be the woman, who would be created by the touch of your foot on the beautiful stone of the ring? And, because of that beauty you may...me...and then...". We two--I and सीता --alone knew about the above incident.

Carrying thus श्री राम 's signet ring and words of recognition हनूमान् went along with the army, which started for the south. सुग्रीव gave one month's time to the searching parties to find out सीता and warned them that their throats would be cut if they failed in their mission.

Saw स्वयम्प्रभा

अङ्गद , हनूमान् , जाम्बवान् and others during their search came to an extensive forest. They were dead tired with hunger and thirst. The leader of the party looked about for something to eat and drink when he saw small birds flying up from a distant pit. From drops of water falling from the wings of the birds it was inferred that the pit contained water. When हनूमान् and others entered the pit (cave) and walked a great distance they came to a spacious garden. They were astonished to find a solitary beauty there, and she related to them her autobiography as follows:--

I am the faithful maid of रम्भा . The powerful asura called चतुरास्य wanted me to procure रम्भा for him and he got this garden city built by मयाचार्य , the architect of the दैत्यस् , for me as reward for my service to him in the matter of रम्भा . Various kinds of gems light this place and creepers and trees supply food materials. चतुआर्स्य , I and रम्भा alone were living here. But, इन्द्र came to know of it, came here, killed चतुरास्य and took away रम्भा with him. He cursed me to lead a solitary life here as punishment for having helped चतुरास्य . I prayed for redemption from the curse and इन्द्र told me, that after thousands of years a company of monkeys would come here in search of सीता and that after entertaining them with food I must see राम and then return to स्वर्ग . I have thus been awaiting your arrival and now I am leaving the place, which will vanish as soon as I quit it. All of you, please stand there with eyes closed and I shall send you back to the place where you were before coming here.

Accordingly the monkeys stood there with eyes closed and when they opened their eyes there was neither the garden city nor स्वयम्प्रभा there but they were standing in the old plain. स्वयम्प्रभा appeared before राम , praised him and then went to स्वर्ग .

सम्पाति

The monkeys again went southward, reached महेन्द्रगिरि and descending on its southern side came to the shores of the southern sea. They could advance no further to the south. They were suffering from great hunger and thirst and if they returned with no tangible information about सीता , सुग्रीव would kill them. They preferred death by fasting on the seashore to death by the sword of सुग्रीव .

Having decided thus the monkeys spread darbha grass on the extensive plain of महेन्द्र mountain and lay on the grass to die. In a large cave in the mountain was living सम्पाति . The huge bird सम्पाति was starving without food and was not able to fly as it had lost its wings. But it dragged itself to the mouth of the cave and saw the monkeys lying there awaiting death, and it thought of eating the monkeys one by one. The monkeys, who understood this idea of सम्पाति cursed their fate and sang the praise of जटायु .

Hearing the word ' जटायु ' सम्पाति approached the monkeys, who related to him the object of their journey. Being told about the death of जटायु . सम्पाति shed tears and told the monkeys as follows:-

जटायु was my younger brother. Our mother was महाश्वेता and father सूर्यदेव . On account of the boon of our parents I was King of all the birds and जटायु the crown Prince. As our brotherliness grew thicker our haughtiness due to our power and speed also increased. Once we flew up towards the orbit of the Sun to see him, our father. In his youthful enthusiasm my younger brother, जटायु , climbed higher up in the sky leaving me behind. Due to the heat of the Sun his wings lost their power and energy. Then, to save him, I flew up above him and shaded him. Therefore he could descend to the earth without his wings being burned and thus killed. But, my wings got burned and I fell down on the महेन्द्र mountain and got my legs broken. Thus I lost the power either to fly or to walk.

I stayed here as the attendant of निशाकर Maharṣi, who could divine the future also. He told me the story about राम 's incarnation. He told me further that monkeys in search of सीता would come here when I should tell them where सीता was and that then I would regain my health."

After telling the monkeys the above facts सम्पाति , with their cooperation, performed the obsequies of जटायु . Then the King of birds ( सम्पाति ) raised its head and surveyed the ocean and he saw the following: Mountain सुबेल in the heart of the southern sea; the plain at the heights of the mountain constituting the base of लङ्का ; in the centre of लङ्का there was रावण 's capital; nearby the ladies' quarters; near the quarters the अशोक garden; at the centre of the garden the शिंशपा tree and under the tree सीतादेवी .

As soon as सम्पाति had finished telling the monkeys the above details he regained his health.

सम्पाति told the monkeys another story also as follows: रावण once abducted a यक्ष beauty from अलकापुरी and carried her away in his पुष्पक विमान . सम्पाति clashed with रावण on his way and destroyed his plane. But the plane, which was self-generating came again into existence. सम्पाति threw away by its beak the चन्द्रहास ( रावण 's sword) and kicked his crown down. At last, at the request of रावण , he and सम्पाति signed a non-aggression pact. That was the reason why सम्पाति could not fight रावण in person.

हनूमान् saw सीता

अङ्गद said that for the search for सीता in लङ्का as told by सम्पाति , some one should jump across the ocean. Though many a monkey tried to do so it was हनूमान् , who succeeded in crossing the sea. At one jump he reached the heights of महेन्द्रगिरि whence he took another jump forward. But, midway सुरसा , mother of the नागस् , swallowed him, and he came out through her ear and continued his journey towards लङ्का . When he had advanced some more distance an evil spirit called छायाग्राहिणी obstructed his way by a mysterious attack on his shadow. हनूमान् quickly understood what had happened and killed the evil spirit with one kick of his left foot. He again continued his flight. But, he very soon became weak and exhausted. Then Mount मैनाक emerged from the ocean and fed हनूमान् with fruits and roots. He reached लङ्का at dusk. He defeated लङ्कालक्ष्मी , who tried to prevent his entry into the city. In fact लङ्कालक्ष्मी was विजयलक्ष्मी , who had been cursed by ब्रह्मा . (For details see under Vijayalakṣmī) . After defeating her, who was thus absolved from the curse, हनूमान् saw सीता seated under the अशोक tree. But, none saw him as he was perched on a tree.

हनूमान् 's return

That night रावण dressed in all splendour visited सीता and tried to secure her favour by soft words and cajolery, all to no purpose. Then he threatened her with punishments, which too proved to be of no avail. After instructing the राक्षस women that सीता should be somehow brought round within a month's time, रावण returned to his palace.

राक्षसीस् surrounded सीता and described to her the greatness and various merits of रावण . सीता continued to sob. Then came there त्रिजटा , daughter of विभीषण , the great devotee of विष्णु , and Saramā, to console सीता . त्रिजटा had boundless devotion towards राम and great love for सीता . She repeated to सीता certain dreams she had had.

Left to herself सीता began saying to herself various things regarding her past. She roferred to her infancy, beginning of youth, wedding, stay at अयोध्या , forestlife and life in पञ्चवटी and wept over her recurring thoughts about them. हनूमान् , who heard सीता 's soliloquy completed सीता 's story by relating, from his place on the tree, about जटायु 's salvation, salvation given to कबन्ध and शबरी , alliance with सुग्रीव , killing of बालि , expedition of the monkeys in search of सीता , meeting with सम्पाति , himself ( हनूमान् ) crossing the sea and his finding out सीता . Hearing the words of हनूमान् , सीता looked up in astonishment. Immediately हनूमान् came down the tree and presented the signet ring at सीता 's feet. When she examined the ring her hands shook and tears dimmed her eyes. हनूमान् talked to her in detail and told her that he would, if only सीता permitted him, carry her on his shoulders to राम . He told her further that if she did not welcome the idea of thus returning to राम , he would return with श्री राम and others, defeat रावण in war and take her back. सीता was not convinced about the power and prowess of हनूमान् . He then increased his body in size so that his limbs grew into the size of a mountain, hands into that of trees, head into that of a mountain peak, tail into that of a river etc. His breathing became akin to a storm. Then he roared in such a manner that even the very ends of the world shook and the people of लङ्का were awakened by it.

सीता was now absolutely convinced of हनूमान् 's bona fides and faithfulness. She handed over to him her चूडामणि (ornament worn on the head) to be given to राम and also told him the following three words of recognition so that राम might be all the more convinced.

When राम first came to the garden near the palace in मिथिला I ( सीता ) saw his reflection in the blue mirror in the veranda of my palace and the beauty of the reflection attracted me. I looked towards the garden to see the original of the reflection. Then he ( राम ) was looking down into the waters of the glass pond. He also saw my face reflected in the water and suddenly he looked at me. Our eyes met and in all shyness I hurried to and hid myself in the ladies' quarters.

Before our wedding I sent him through a faithful maid, a love letter to which he gave me a suitable reply.

After our wedding while we were living in अयोध्या when one day I returned to our bedroom after a long chitchat with my younger sisters, my lord ( राम ) was lying on the cot in feigned sleep. Quietly I went up to him and kissed him on the lips. Because of the pressure on his lips and as my breast then touched his chest he pretended to have suddenly woken up and embraced me.

Having received thus from सीता the चूडामणि and these words of recognition हनूमान् took leave of सीता and with her implied sanction went about to have a look at लङ्का . At one place he heard विभीषण reciting विष्णु 's names. After wishing that this house of the devotee should turn into a royal abode he passed विभीषण 's house. Then he came to रावण 's palace and gathered information about the राक्षस power. "Now I must see रावण in person, let him know personally the fact of my visit and I would give him righteous advice"--with this object in view हनूमान् began destroying the garden. He drove away the राक्षसस् , who came to punish him and some of them were killed. At last मेघनाद ( इन्द्रजित् ) attacked हनूमान् . Hiding in the sky he shot the ब्रह्मास्त्र against हनूमान् , who yielded to it. The राक्षसस् took हनूमान् captive to रावण . He freed himself of the cords that bound him, extended his tail which he shaped into circles, one over the other so that the last one rose more in height than रावण 's throne and seated himself on its top. रावण and हनूमान् then began a conversation. रावण , who got angry at the disrespect shown to him by हनूमान् , ordered the latter to be killed, but विभीषण opposed it saying that to kill emissaries and messengers was worse than killing one's own mother. Finally रावण ordered that हनूमान् 's tail be set fire to and he be insulted and humiliated.

Immediately राक्षसस् began to cover हनूमान् 's tail with clothes. But, ths tail began growing longer and longer with the result that no quantity of clothings sufficed to completely cover the ever-extending tail. At last the राक्षसस् poured oil over the tail and set fire to it. Then हनूमान् broke loose from captivity and jumped up into the air causing universal disaster by fire in लङ्का . The fire did not affect the palace of विभीषण and also the platform around the शिंशपा tree where सीता sat. After thus burning down लङ्का हनूमान् extinguished the fire on his tail by dipping it in the ocean. Taking leave once again of सीता , हनूमान् crossed the sea and reached महेन्द्रगिरि .

राम-रावण war

श्री राम and सुग्रीव , who received हनूमान् 's report about his visit to लङ्का started for it with an army of monkeys. They camped on the shores of the south sea. रावण held a meeting of his war council attended by his brothers and others. He expelled विभीषण , who opposed war and advised his brother to return सीता to राम and to apologise to him. विभीषण quitted लङ्का and took refuge with राम .

राम and others, who had assembled on the sea-shore decided to build a bund to लङ्का . The first thing राम did, for the successful conclusion of the expedition, was to install a शिवलिङ्ग at रामेश्वर . (See under Rāmeśvara) . Then he prayed to वरुणदेव for a passage across the sea. But, वरुण did not present himself and श्री राम , angry with him, shot the आग्नेय (fiery) arrow into the heart of the sea when वरुण appeared, saluted him and advised him to build a bund across the sea. As a reward for वरुण श्री राम , as requested by the former, killed with one arrow all the राक्षसस् , who lived in गान्धार island on the north-western shore of the ocean. वरुण returned to his abode. The construction of the bund was begun under the leadership of सुग्रीव with नल as chief planner and नील as his co-planner. जाम्बवान् and हनूमान् functioned as supervisors and other monkeys as workers. Mountains, hills, rocks etc. were brought from various quarters and the construction of the bund was begun.

Meanwhile, रावण sent a great magician called मरुत्त disguised as King Janaka to सीता to convert her to the side of रावण . But, the attempt failed. रावण then sent his two expert spies, शुक and सारण disguised as monkeys to राम 's camp. जाम्बवान् and हनूमान् captured and brought them before सुग्रीव . Weepingly they both sought refuge in राम , who set them free. They returned to लङ्का and reported matters to रावण , who felt a desire to have a look at राम for which purpose he, with his attendants, climbed to the top of the northern tower. राम , who knew about it by his spies climbed the heights of सुबेल mountain whence he stared at रावण . Their eyes met in anger seeing which सुग्रीव by one leap reached रावण and kicked off to राम the crown from the central head of रावण . After performing something like a destructive dance on रावण 's head सुग्रीव by another leap returned to राम .

Full of disappointment रावण returned to his palace. His father-in-law, माल्यवान् , tried his best to dissuade रावण from war, all to no purpose. राम sent an emissary to him to ask him to send सीता back. रावण declined to oblige, and immediately war began. During the first day of the war, the majority of the राक्षसस् including their great leaders like महाबाहु , महापार्श्व , महोदर , महाकाय etc were killed. On the second day the राक्षस army under the command of अतिकाय , son of रावण , set out from the northern tower to fight. लक्ष्मण killed अतिकाय with ब्रह्मास्त्र . The other two राक्षस -commanders were त्रिशिरस् and मेघनाद . लक्ष्मण encountered them. When the latter failed to win by righteous fighting he resorted to cunningness. That too did not bring victory to him, and then he hid himself in the sky and shot the नागास्त्र given to him by शिव against the enemy. That arrow rendered लक्ष्मण , सुग्रीव and all the monkeys unconscious. At that time विभीषण was away to arrange for food.

When विभीषण returned with food he was taken aback to find लक्ष्मण and others lying in an unconscious condition. राम was informed about the matter and when he came to the battle-ground and saw लक्ष्मण , सुग्रीव , हनूमान् and all the others lying there unconscious he lost self-confidence for a short while and remarked that it was all the result of his having put faith in विभीषण , रावण 's brother whom he had put in charge of the battlefield. This comment of राम pained विभीषण much; but श्री राम soon treated him kindly.

Even the देवस् who witnessed the scene were alarmed. But राम sat there for sometime immersed in meditation and then a light emerged from his right eye, shot towards the north and disappeared in the horizon. At once गरुड appeared on the scene from the west and removed with his beak the नागास्त्र from लक्ष्मण 's body. लक्ष्मण jumped up from his unconscious state; सुग्रीव and others also regained consciousness. In the fighting that followed all the राक्षस leaders were killed. It was हनूमान् , who killed कुम्भकर्ण . At the time of his death कुम्भकर्ण made a last request to राम , that is, his head should be cut off and thrown into the sea as otherwise the राक्षसस् would laught at him to see the head from which the ears have been bitten off by monkeys. Accordingly राम got हनूमान् to throw कुम्भकर्ण 's head into the sea.

Then श्री राम told लक्ष्मण thus: Today I shall fight इन्द्रजित् . The war shall not continue yet further. Today इन्द्रजित् and tomorrow रावण should be killed and the next day we will return to अयोध्या . लक्ष्मण answered:--"I shall fight इन्द्रजित् . I have told विभीषण that I will kill इन्द्रजित् within three days."

With श्री राम 's blessings लक्ष्मण began fighting again. इन्द्रजित् shot नारायणास्त्र which attracted by the 'seven-letter-Mantra' (Namo नारायणाय ) of लक्ष्मण circled him thrice and entered his quiver. The राक्षस minister called महोदर converted his elephant into ऐरावत and himself changed into देवेन्द्र and encountered लक्ष्मण . Saying that he had no quarrel with इन्द्र and would not fight him लक्ष्मण put down his bow, and इन्द्रजित् , exploiting the situation shot ब्रह्मास्त्र against लक्ष्मण under cover of the clouds. लक्ष्मण , सुग्रीव and others fainted. Then श्री राम was in the army-camp, worshipping weapons to render them more powerful. राम returned to the battle-ground to find लक्ष्मण and others in life-less condition and crying like a mere ignorant fellow he lay by the side of लक्ष्मण . विभीषण , who returned with food prayed for the grace of देवस् . इन्द्र appeared, gave to विभीषण गङ्गा water in a golden vessel and asked it to be given to हनूमान् and जाम्बवान् , who, though unconscious were not dead.

विभीषण did so and both हनूमान् and जाम्बवान् regained consciousness. जाम्बवान् told हनूमान् that if मृतसञ्जीविनी (herbal medicine which will put life back into the dead) were brought from the distant हिमालयस् before dawn the next day all the dead ones like लक्ष्मण and सुग्रीव could be brought back to life. (See under Mṛtasañjīvinī) . Accordingly हनूमान् started for the हिमालयस् . Meanwhile इन्द्रजित् had told रावण about his victory, and as suggested by the latter राक्षस women took सीता to the battlefield in the पुष्पक विमान , showed her राम , लक्ष्मण and others lying there in a life-less condition and told her that all of them were dead. सीता wept aloud, but त्रिजटा consoled her by saying that the पुष्पक विमान would not carry widows and therefore राम was not dead.

हनूमान् returned before dawn the next day. As he could not distinguish मृतसञ्जीविनी he had brought with him a mountain peak where the four medicinal plants, शल्यहरणी , विशल्यकरणी , सन्धानकरणी and मृतसञ्जीविनी grew. जाम्बवान् distinguished मृतसञ्जीविनी from the others and carried the four herbs into the battlefield. Contact with the air, which carried the smell of मृतसञ्जीविनी brought the dead back to life. विशल्यकरणी removed all the arrows from their bodies and सन्धानकरणी healed the wounds.

लक्ष्मण again went out to fight इन्द्रजित् . Reluctant to fight with the former, इन्द्रजित् resorted to a new magical trick. He created an artificial or illusory सीता and with her seated in a chariot he rose up in the sky and said as follows: " रावण has abandoned सीता who brings about humiliation to the राक्षसस् and ruin to लङ्का . So, I cut her to pieces." So saying he cut into two, by one stroke of his sword, सीता , who cried Oh! my lord! oh! brother." Blood fell on the battlefield and इन्द्रजित् disappeared. Though राम and others were alarmed by all these, विभीषण explained that it was all the magic of the राक्षसस् , and in the fierce fighting that followed लक्ष्मण killed इन्द्रजित् . By now all the important and prominent राक्षसस् were killed. At last रावण himself entered the battlefield. His first encounter was with लक्ष्मण . Then the fighting turned into one between राम and रावण . The former broke the bow of रावण and did not want to fight with the weaponless राक्षस King. Next day रावण brought पाताल रावण and कुम्भोदर to लङ्का . Both of them entered राम 's camp during night, but पाताल रावण , who realised that nothing could be achieved there returned to पाताल with कुम्भोदर . He built a tunnel from पाताल upwards to earth, where in the fort created by हनूमान् 's tail twisted in a circle lay श्री राम and others. The tunnel opened into this 'fort', and पाताल रावण and his brother made राम and लक्ष्मण unconscious by making them inhale सम्मोहन medicine and carried them off into पाताल . राम and लक्ष्मण were laid in the court-yard of a काली temple to be sacrificed to महाकाली the very same night. Arrangements for the sacrifice were completed.

हनूमान् had been frequently looking inside the fort. As soon as the absence of राम and लक्ष्मण was noticed, सुग्रीव and others, under the leadership of विभीषण reached the काली temple through the tunnel. In the fighting that followed हनूमान् killed पाताल रावण and अङ्गद killed महोदर . The only son of पाताल रावण , सुमाली , was crowned King of पाताल . रावण entered the field again against राम . राम shot the Mahendra arrow against रावण . The arrow, which represented in itself the effulgence of Mahendra, the hardness of diamonds, the intensity of fire and विष्णु 's glow cut off the ten heads of रावण . His physical body fell on earth and his spirit ascended to heaven.

Return

राम and others, who were pleased with the turn of events, crowned विभीषण King of लङ्का . त्रिजटा was put in charge of dressing सीता in new clothes. अप्सरास् appeared on the scene. शचीदेवी presented to सीता a chain, उर्वशी an ornament for the head, मेनका , two bangles, रम्भा a waist-let, तिलोत्तमा a set of chains for the feet, and अनसूया , wife of अत्रि , a चूडामणि . When she wore all these ornaments सीता appeared to be equal to लक्ष्मीदेवी in grandeur and charm. She was brought in a palanquin to श्री राम by विभीषण and others. राम was taken aback by the glamorous dress, ornaments etc. of शीता , and immediately a suspicion arose in his mind, and he kept mum after asking लक्ष्मण to do whatever सीता wanted. As soon as she heard those words of राम , सीता asked लक्ष्मण to light a funeral pyre saying that the woman suspected by her husband should not live and so she ( सीता ) would quit her life in the very presence of राम .

लक्ष्मण cast a pathetic look at राम ; but his face exhibited no change of feeling. He granted सीता 's request by his silence. Those present there awaited developments with bated breath. लक्ष्मण , with the help of the monkeys got a pyre ready. After going round राम with folded hands सीता leapt into the glowing fire. Within a very short time three divine forms emerged from the fire, स्वाहादेवी , सीतादेवी and God अग्नि .

His suspicions having thus vanished राम welcomed सीता back and the next day they left for अयोध्या in the पुष्पक विमान . विभीषण , सुग्रीव , हनूमान् and others followed them. After reaching अयोध्या राम returned the पुष्पक to कुबेर . भरत came back from नन्दिग्राम . In the presence of all relations and others concerned the coronation of राम as king took place. भरत was appointed crown Prince, लक्ष्मण Commander-in-chief of armies and शत्रुघ्न , Finance minister.

सीता abandoned

Under राम 's rule the country overflowed with milk and honey. Nobody had to fear anything from enemies. He made सीता kill सहस्रमुख रावण . (For details see under Sahasramukharāvaṇa)

श्री राम used to go about the country in disguise to enquire about the welfare of his subjects. On a particular dawn he happened to be standing outside the house of a washerman. The washerman scolded his wife, who had gone out of the house that night for something. He suspected that she had gone to meet her paramour. He bluntly told his wife that he was not prepared to act like राम , who had accepted सीता , though she had lived with another person. श्री राम , who heard the above talk, returned to his palace very sad. After thinking about for a long time he decided that it was his duty to abandon सीता in the interests of his subjects. Then सीता was in the seventh month of her pregnancy. She had on the previous day, expressed a desire to go to the forest areas once again. राम considered this as the most suitable opportunity to abandon सीता in the forest and लक्ष्मण was entrusted with the matter. That day at Sun-rise लक्ष्मण took सीता in a chariot to the suburbs of वाल्मीकि 's आश्रम , abandoned her there and returned to the palace. (According to the Rāmāyaṇa written by Kamba, a Tamil author, it is said that Sītā was left in the suburbs of Gautama's hut. There, Sītā who was pregnant was looked after by Ahalyā, the wife of Gautama.) Weeping aloud सीता fell down. Young munis-- वाल्मीकि 's disciples--saw her and took her to the आश्रम . At the आश्रम she delivered two sons, कुश and लव .

अश्वमेध

After abandoning सीता in the forests राम led a sad life for five years. Yet, he decided to perform an अश्वमेध yajña. As soon as राम thought of him, हनूमान् appeared and he was deputed to invite विभीषण , सुग्रीव and others from लङ्का and किष्किन्धा and the feudatory princes and armies from other countries.

सुग्रीव was put in charge of the armies, विभीषण in charge of finance, and central authority was vested in लक्ष्मण . Then the याज्ञिच् horse, accompanied by the army, was let loose to travel all over the country. Accompanied by cavalry, the elephant division, infantry and the chariot-force the horse went about the various kingdoms. The army, on its way back to अयोध्या with presents collected from many kingdoms, encamped for rest near वाल्मीकि 's आश्रम when कुश and लव tied the याज्ञिच् horse, which was strolling there unfettered. Consequent upon this action of कुश and लव a fight broke out between them and the king's army in which the latter got defeated. Even the arrows of लक्ष्मण failed to have any effect on the boys. The boys having not returned even though it had become very late in the evening, the आश्रमितेस् went in search of them and it was only when they came to the scene of fighting did लक्ष्मण and others know who the boys really were.

During this period of time infants' death was very much on the increase in अयोध्या . It was believed that such deaths increased when शूद्रस् did tapas, and to find out if any शूद्र was engaged in tapas राम flew over the दण्डक forest where he found a शूद्र called शम्बूक performing tapas hanging down from the branch of a tree with his head down. राम killed him and his spirit got salvation. Afterwards, appreciating the beauties of the forest राम came near वाल्मीकि 's āśrama where he and सीता met face to face. कुश and लव also came there and they noticed with surprise the change in appearance brought about in their mother and राम on their meeting each other. When they heard from हनूमान् the real facts about राम they withdrew their arrows and prostrated at the feet of राम .

श्री राम then, with the consent of all and in accordance with his own desire, took back सीता and returned with her to अयोध्या . लक्ष्मण and others followed him. कौसल्या and others received सीता most heartily. श्री राम , who till then was having no wife, had made a golden image of सीता for the purposes of the a vamedha. Now, since the real सीता was with him the idol was an unnecessary thing. The अश्वमेधयज्ञ went off very well.

The end

श्री राम 's reign became all the more prosperous. It was during this period that राम , as desired by the मुनिस् in the यमुना plain, killed लवणासुर , son of मधु in the great city called दुर्ग in the centre of the मधु forest. (For details see under Lavaṇa) . After लवण 's death, a sect of गन्धर्वस् called शैलूषस् , who lived on the shores of the eastern sea, proved to be enemies of अयोध्या . श्री राम annihilated them also. कैकेयी began getting jealous of the prosperity and happiness of सीता . One day when राम had gone to hunt in the forest, कैकेयी closely questioned सीता over particulars in लङ्का and prevailed upon her, overruling her unwillingness, to draw a picture of रावण . सीता drew on a piece of 'sitting-plank' रावण 's figure with the ten heads. कैकेयी took away the picture on the pretext of exhibiting it in the ladies' quarters, and gave it to राम , when he returned from hunting, to sit on at the time of पूजा (worship). राम got angry to find रावण 's picture drawn on the 'sitting plank'. कैकेयी then told him that it was सीता , who had drawn the picture and also that she usually praised लङ्का and रावण . राम pronounced the death penalty on सीता for having drawn रावण 's picture. The inmates of the palace shuddered to hear the judgement. When लक्ष्मण seated सीता on the floor to kill her, भूमिदेवी (earth) rent itself open into two and carried her off through the opening.

श्री राम grew sadder and sadder following the disappearance of सीता . Ill omens began to appear in अयोध्या in increasing measure. One day a divine ऋषि whom the people of अयोध्या had not seen till then, came to राम 's palace. He told राम that he had to impart certain secrets to the latter and after making राम vow that no one would enter the room while they were conversing and that if any one did come when they were talking, he should either be killed or forsaken for ever, he began to talk with राम in a secluded spot. राम posted लक्ष्मण at the entrance with the strict injunctions that nobody should come into their presence. Within a short time great मुनिस् like सनक came there and told लक्ष्मण that they wanted to see राम . They were not prepared to wait even for a short time as requested by लक्ष्मण , but threatened ruin to the royal family. लक्ष्मण then, was prepared to suffer the consequence, and went to राम and told him about the arrival of सनक and others. राम , in keeping with his vow, banished लक्ष्मण immediately. But, when राम came out and looked for सनक and others no one was to be found anywhere there. When he returned to the inner apartment the ऋषि also was not to be seen. In fact they were काल and his emissaries deputed by ब्रह्मा to recall राम as the object of his incarnation was already achieved.

राम , who had already been suffering mental agony on account of सीता 's departure, lost all peace of mind as लक्ष्मण 's banishment followed सीता 's departure. He decided to put an end to his life for which purpose he went to the river सरयू . All the dependants followed him. While the great mass of people who thronged both the banks of the river burst out into weeping श्री राम and his followers drowned themselves in the waters of the सरयू , and their spirits attained वैकुण्ठ . (Vālmīki Rāmāyaṇa, Kamba Rāmāyaṇa and Tulasīdāsa Rāmāyaṇa)