The Rāmāyana, Volume 2. Āranya, Kishkindhā, and Sundara Kāndam

The Rāmāyana, Volume 2. Āranya, Kishkindhā, and Sundara Kāndam

This book was transcribed from scans of several different copies of the original found at the Internet Archive. The typesetters of the original book represented the letter (with a macron above) as (with circumflex above) when italicized, but this etext uses the macron throughout. Words in italics in this etext were italicized in the original book. I have corrected obvious misspellings but I've left variant spellings alone. Some words and names, like yojana and Garuda, were spelled two different ways in the same text. I have spelled them consistently to avoid confusion. Entering the extensive forest of Dandaka, the irrepressible and self-composed Rma saw the collection of asylums belonging unto the ascetics, strewn with Kua and bark, and environed by spiritual energy; incapable of being beheld; like the solar disc in the heavens,the refuge of all creatureswith their ornamented yards; filled with a great many deer, and abounding in multitudes of birds; in which Apsars always danced and which they held in respect; (asylums) beauteous with spacious rooms for fire-sacrifice, with sacrificial necessaries, deer-skins, Kua, faggots, water-pitchers, fruits and roots; surrounded by mighty and sacred forest-trees; crowned with lucious fruits; honored with Vli1 and Homa2; holy; resounding with the sounds of Vedic recitations; scattered with divers blossoms; and containing tanks filled with lotuses; with ancient ascetics living on fruits and roots, having their senses under control, wearing bark and black deer-skins, and possessing the splendour of the sun or fire; and adorned by great and holy sages living upon regulated fare. Beholding that collection of asylums belonging unto the ascetics, resembling the regions of Brahm, resonant with the voices of Vedic recitations; and grateful; with highly pious Brhmanas versed in the Vedas,the exceedingly energetic and graceful Rghava entered the same, having first unstrung his mighty bow. Thereupon, seeing the righteous Rma resembling the moon risen, as well as Lakshmana and the illustrious Vaidehi, those Maharshis endeued with spiritual intuition, came forward (to meet the incomers); and, having uttered benedictions, those persons of rigid vows, received them. And those dwellers of the wood, struck with wonder, beheld Rma's tender grace and lovliness and elegance of dress. And struck with astonishment, those inhabitants of the woods of pre-eminent piety saw Vaidehi, Lakshmana and Rma, with winkless eyes. And those persons of exalted virtue, engaged in the welfare of all creatures, made Rghava, their guest, sit down in their thatched cottage. Then, having received Rma respectfully according to scriptural prescription, those virtuous ones of eminent piety, resembling fire, procured water (for Rma). And, experiencing great delight, those high-souled ones, uttering benedictions, procured wild fruits, flowers and roots; and, having assigned an asylum (unto Rma), those persons cognizant of righteousness, said with joined hands, "Possessed of high fame, thou, the protector of righteousness, art the refuge of these people. Thou shoudst be honored and worshipped, being their king, holding the rod, and their superior. O Rghava, it is because he that governs his subjects, is a fourth part of Indra himself, that the king, being bowed down unto by all, enjoys the choicest things. And we, being in thy dominions, ought to be protected by thee. Whether living in the city or in the woods, thou, lord of men, art our sovereign. We have renounced chastising others; and, O monarch, we have conquered our anger, and subdued our passions. Therefore, even as a child in its mother's womb (should be protected by her), should we be protected by thee." Having said this, they entertained Rghava, along with Lakshmana, with fruits and roots and flowers and diverse other edibles procurable in the woods. In the same way, other ascetics of accomplished purposes, living lives of integrity, duly pleased that lord, Rma, resembling Vaiynara. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 57826
Author: Valmiki
Release Date: Aug 31, 2018
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Translator: Dutt, Manmatha Nath