Chapter 275

“Yudhishthira said, ‘O adorable one, thou hast described to me in detailthe history of the birth of Rama and others. I wish to learn the cause oftheir exile. Do thou, O Brahmana, relate why the sons of Dasaratha–thebrothers Rama and Lakshmana–went to the forest with famous princess ofMithila.’

“Markandeya said, ‘The pious king Dasaratha, ever mindful of the old andassiduous in religious ceremonies, was greatly pleased when these sonswere born. And his sons gradually grew up in might and they becameconversant with the Vedas together with all their mysteries, and with thescience of arms. And when after having gone through the Brahmacharyyavows the princes were married, king Dasaratha became happy and highlypleased. And the intelligent Rama, the eldest of them all, became thefavourite of his father, and greatly pleased the people with his charmingways. And then, O Bharata, the wise king, considering himself old inyears took counsel with his virtuous ministers and spiritual adviser forinstalling Rama as regent of the kingdom. And all those great ministerswere agreed that it was time to do so. And, O scion of Kuru’s race, kingDasaratha was greatly pleased to behold his son,–that enhancer ofKausalya’s delight–possessed of eyes that were red, and arms that weresinewy. And his steps were like those of a wild elephant. And he had longarms and high shoulders and black and curly hair. And he was valiant, andglowing with splendour, and not inferior to Indra himself in battle. Andhe was well-versed in holy writ and was equal to Vrihaspati in wisdom. Anobject of love with all the people, he was skilled in every science. Andwith senses under complete control, his very enemies were pleased tobehold him. And he was terror of the wicked and the protector of thevirtuous. And possessed of intelligence and incapable of being baffled,he was victorious over all and never vanquished by any. And, O descendantof Kurus, beholding his son–that enhancer of Kausalya’s joy–kingDasaratha became highly pleased. And reflecting on Rama’s virtues, thepowerful and mighty king cheerfully addressed the family priest, saying,’Blessed be thou, O Brahmana! This night of the Pushya constellation willbring in a very auspicious conjunction. Let, therefore, materials becollected and let Rama also be invited. This Pushya constellation willlast till tomorrow. And Rama, therefore, should be invested by me and myministers as prince-regent of all my subjects!’

“Meanwhile Manthara (the maid of Kaikeyi), hearing these words of theking, went to her mistress, and spoke unto her as was suited to theoccasion. And she said, ‘Thy great ill-luck, O Kaikeyi, hath this daybeen proclaimed by the king! O unlucky one, mayst thou be bitten by afierce and enraged snake of virulent poison! Kausalya, indeed, isfortunate, as it is her son that is going to be installed on the throne.Where, indeed, is thy prosperity, when thy son obtaineth not the kingdom?’

“Hearing these words of her maid, the slender-waisted and beautifulKaikeyi put on all her ornaments, and sought her husband in a secludedplace. And with a joyous heart, and smiling pleasantly, she addressedthese words to him with all the blandishments of love, ‘O king, thou artalways true to thy promises. Thou didst promise before to grant me anobject of my desire. Do thou fulfil that promise now and save thyselffrom the sin of unredeemed pledge!’ The king replied, saying, ‘I willgrant thee a boon. Ask thou whatever thou wishest! What man undeservingof death shall be slain today and who that deserves death is to be set atliberty? Upon whom shall I bestow wealth to-day, or whose wealth shall beconfiscated? Whatever wealth there is in this world, save what belongethto Brahmanas, is mine! I am the king of kings in this world, and theprotector of all the four classes! Tell me quickly, O blessed lady, whatthat object is upon which thou hast set thy heart!’ Hearing these wordsof the king, and tying him fast to his pledge, and conscious also of herpower over him, she addressed him in these words, ‘I desire that Bharatabe the recipient of that investiture which thou hast designed for Rama,and let Rama go into exile living in the forest of Dandaka for fourteenyears as an ascetic with matted locks on head and robed in rags anddeer-skins!’ Hearing these disagreeable words of cruel import, the king,O chief of the Bharata race, was sorely afflicted and became utterlyspeechless! But the mighty and virtuous Rama, learning that his fatherhad been thus solicited, went into the forest so that the king’s truthmight remain inviolate. And, blessed be thou, he was followed by theauspicious Lakshmana–that foremost of bowmen and his wife Sita, theprincess of Videha and daughter of Janaka. And after Rama had gone intothe forest, king Dasaratha took leave of his body, agreeably to theeternal law of time. And knowing that Rama not near and that the king wasdead, queen Kaikeyi, causing Bharata to be brought before her, addressedhim in these words, ‘Dasaratha hath gone to heaven and both Rama andLakshmana are in the forest! Take thou this kingdom which is so extensiveand whose peace there is no rival to disturb’. Thereupon the virtuousBharata replied unto her saying, ‘Thou hast done a wicked deed, havingslain thy husband and exterminated this family from lust of wealth alone!Heaping infamy on my head, O accursed woman of our race, thou hast, Omother, attained this, thy object!’ And having said these words, theprince wept aloud. And having proved his innocence before all thesubjects of that realm he set out in the wake of Rama, desiring to bringhim back. And placing Kausalya and Sumitra and Kaikeyi in the vehicles atthe van of his train, he proceeded with a heavy heart, in company withSatrughna. And he was accompanied by Vasishtha and Vamadeva, and otherBrahmanas by thousands and by the people of the cities and the provinces,desiring to bring back Rama. And he saw Rama with Lakshmana, living onthe mountains of Chitrakuta with bow in hand and decked with theornaments of ascetics. Bharata, however, was dismissed by Rama, who wasdetermined to act according to the words, of his father. And returning,Bharata ruled at Nandigrama, keeping before him, his brother’s woodensandals. And Rama fearing a repetition of intrusion by the people ofAyodhya, entered into the great forest towards the asylum of Sarabhanga.And having paid his respects to Sarabhanga, he entered the forest ofDandaka and took up his abode on the banks of beautiful river Godavari.And while living there, Rama was inveigled into hostilities with Khara,then dwelling in Janasthana, on account of Surpanakha. And for theprotection of the ascetics the virtuous scion of Raghu’s race slewfourteen thousand Rakshasas on earth, and having slain those mightyRakshasas, Khara and Dushana, the wise descendant of Raghu once more madethat sacred forest free from danger.’

“And after these Rakshasas had been slain, Surpanakha with mutilated noseand lips, repaired to Lanka–the abode of her brother (Ravana). And whenthat Rakshasa woman, senseless with grief and with dry blood-stains onher face, appeared before Ravana, she fell down at his feet. Andbeholding her so horribly mutilated, Ravana became senseless with wrathand grinding his teeth sprung up from his seat. And dismissing hisministers, he enquired of her in private, saying, ‘Blessed sister, whohath made thee so, forgetting and disregarding me? Who is he that havinggot a sharp-pointed spear hath rubbed his body with it? Who is he thatsleepeth in happiness and security, after placing a fire close to hishead? Who is he that hath trodden upon a revengeful snake of virulentpoison? Who indeed, is that person who standeth with his hand thrust intothe mouth of the maned lion!’ Then flames of wrath burst forth from hisbody, like those that are emitted at night from the hollows of a tree onfire. His sister then related unto him the prowess of Rama and the defeatof the Rakshasas with Khara and Dushana at their head. Informed of theslaughter of his relatives, Ravana, impelled by Fate, remembered Marichafor slaying Rama. And resolving upon the course he was to follow andhaving made arrangements for the government of his capital, he consoledhis sister, and set out on an aerial voyage. And crossing the Trikuta andthe Kala mountains, he beheld the vast receptacle of deep waters–theabode of the Makaras. Then crossing the Ocean, the Ten headed Ravanareached Gokarna–the favourite resort of the illustrious god armed withthe trident. And there Ravana met with his old friend Maricha who, fromfear of Rama himself, had adopted an ascetic mode of life.'”