SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM: CANTO 9

S'rî S'uka said: 'From Khathvânga there was Dîrghabâhu, from him was the renown and dexterous Raghu born, from whose son Aja was born the great king Das'aratha.

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: The son of Mahârâja Khathvânga was Dirghâbahu, and his son was the celebrated Mahârâja Raghu. From Mahârâja Raghu came Aja, and from Aja was born the great personality Mahârâja Das'aratha. (Vedabase)

Text 2

Upon the prayers of the God-conscious was there from him the Absolute Truth in four forms with the Supreme Lord in person and three expansions of Him; they appearing as four sons were thus known as Râma, Lakshmana, Bharata and S'atrughna.

Being prayed for by the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Absolute Truth Himself, directly appeared with His expansion and expansions of the expansion. Their holy names were Râma, Lakshmana, Bharata and S'atrughna. These celebrated incarnations thus appeared in four forms as the sons of Mahârâja Das'aratha. (Vedabase)

Text 3

Of His transcendental exploits as the husband of Sîtâ, o King, have you more than enough [*] heard through the nice descriptions by the many seers and knowers of the Reality [compare B.G. 4: 34].

O King Parîkshit, the transcendental activities of Lord Râmacandra have been described by great saintly persons who have seen the truth. Because you have heard again and again about Lord Râmacandra, the husband of mother Sîtâ, I shall describe these activities only in brief. Please listen. (Vedabase)

Text 4

Faithful to the teachings [answering to a promise his father made] abandoned He the royal position and wandered He, accompanied by His loved ones [Sîtâ and Lakshmana] who relieved Him of His fatigue on the path, from forest to forest on His bare lotus feet that were as tender to the touch as a hand palm. He was [by Râvana] separated from His sweetheart Sitâ because of disfiguring S'ûrpanakhâ [the sister of Râvana who got her nose cut off] and found support with the king of the monkeys [Hanumân]. Over the ocean, that was afraid of His eyebrows raised in anger, was a bridge constructed [to Lankâ, the residence of Râvana] and became He, like a forestfire burning the envious ones, the king of Ayodhyâ. May His mercy be upon us.

To keep the promise of His father intact, Lord Râmacandra immediately gave up the position of king and, accompanied by His wife, mother Sîtâ, wandered from one forest to another on His lotus feet, which were so delicate that they were unable to bear even the touch of Sîtâ's palms. The Lord was also accompanied by Hanumân [or by another monkey, Sugrîva], king of the monkeys, and by His own younger brother Lord Lakshmana, both of whom gave Him relief from the fatigue of wandering in the forest. Having cut off the nose and ears of S'ûrpanakhâ, thus disfiguring her, the Lord was separated from mother Sîtâ. He therefore became angry, moving His eyebrows and thus frightening the ocean, who then allowed the Lord to construct a bridge to cross the ocean. Subsequently, the Lord entered the kingdom of Râvana to kill him, like a fire devouring a forest. May that Supreme Lord, Râmacandra, give us all protection. (Vedabase)

Text 5

With a [as'vamedha] sacrifice of Vis'vâmitra was His honor defended of indeed under the supervision of Lakshmana, having killed the wanderers of the dark headed by Mârîca, the great chiefs of the Râkshasas.

In the arena of the sacrifice performed by Vis'vâmitra, Lord Râmacandra, the King of Ayodhyâ, killed many demons, Râkshasas and uncivilized men who wandered at night in the mode of darkness. May Lord Râmacandra, who killed these demons in the presence of Lakshmana, be kind enough to give us protection. (Vedabase)

Text 6-7:

It was He who of all the heroes in the world in the hall where Sîtâ would select her husband took up the mighty bow of S'iva that had to be carried by three hundred men. Fastening the string, o King, and bending it broke He the bow in two the way a baby elephant breaks a stick of sugar cane. With first by the victory gaining to His chest the divine girl named Sîtâ, who in her qualities, behavior, age and limbs was a perfect match for Him, met and defeated He on his way home with her the deep-rooted pride of Bhrigupati [Paras'urâma] who three times [seven, thus twenty one times] had rid the earth [of its burden of unrighteous rulers] that now without royalty had Him as the seed [see 9.16].

O King, the pastimes of Lord Râmacandra were wonderful, like those of a baby elephant. In the assembly where mother Sîtâ was to choose her husband, in the midst of the heroes of this world, He broke the bow belonging to Lord S'iva. This bow was so heavy that it was carried by three hundred men, but Lord Râmacandra bent and strung it and broke it in the middle, just as a baby elephant breaks a stick of sugarcane. Thus the Lord achieved the hand of mother Sîtâ, who was equally as endowed with transcendental qualities of form, beauty, behavior, age and nature. Indeed, she was the goddess of fortune who constantly rests on the chest of the Lord. While returning from Sîtâ's home after gaining her at the assembly of competitors, Lord Râmacandra met Paras'urâma. Although Paras'urâma was very proud, having rid the earth of the royal order twenty-one times, he was defeated by the Lord, who appeared to be a kshatriya of the royal order. (Vedabase)

Text 8

He had indeed to the order on His head of His father, who so very attached had made a promise to his wife [**], to accept that He had to abandon the kingdom, residence, opulence, relatives and friends and go live in the forest like a liberated soul.

Carrying out the order of His father, who was bound by a promise to his wife, Lord Râmacandra left behind His kingdom, opulence, friends, well-wishers, residence and everything else, just as a liberated soul gives up his life, and went to the forest with Sîtâ. (Vedabase)

Text 9

With Him, wandering through the forest living a life of hardship, was the body of the Râkshasa [Râvana] his sister maimed because she had a mind foul of lust and were, with in His hands His invincible bow and arrows, the fourteen-thousand of her many friends headed by Khara, Tris'ira and Dûshana, killed by Him.

While wandering in the forest, where He accepted a life of hardship, carrying His invincible bow and arrows in His hand, Lord Râmacandra deformed Râvana's sister, who was polluted with lusty desires, by cutting off her nose and ears. He also killed her fourteen thousand Râkshasa friends, headed by Khara, Tris'ira and Dûshana. (Vedabase)

Text 10

O ruler of man, hearing the stories about Sîtâ, stirred the heart of ten-head Râvana and made him lust to see her. Mârîca in the form of a golden deer then lured Him away from their stay and was, like S'iva did with Daksha [see 4.5: 22], by Him killed on the spot with a sharp arrow.

O King Parîkshit, when Râvana, who had ten heads on his shoulders, heard about the beautiful and attractive features of Sîtâ, his mind was agitated by lusty desires, and he went to kidnap her. To distract Lord Râmacandra from His âs'rama, Râvana sent Mârîca in the form of a golden deer, and when Lord Râmacandra saw that wonderful deer, He left His residence and followed it and finally killed it with a sharp arrow, just as Lord S'iva killed Daksha. (Vedabase)

Text 11

With Him together with His brother in the forest, was the unprotected daughter of the king of Videha [Janaka] by the tiger, the most wicked Râkshasa, kidnapped and wandered He around posing as a man who attached to women is in distress over being separated from his dearest wife, thus giving an example [s'ringâra-rasa] of what attachment leads to.

When Râmacandra entered the forest and Lakshmana was also absent, the worst of the Râkshasas, Râvana, kidnapped Sîtâdevî, the daughter of the King of Videha, just as a tiger seizes unprotected sheep when the shepherd is absent. Then Lord Râmacandra wandered in the forest with His brother Lakshmana as if very much distressed due to separation from His wife. Thus He showed by His personal example the condition of a person attached to women. (Vedabase)

Text 12

After cremating the one who had died for His sake [the eagle Jathâyu], killed He Kabandha [a headless monster] and made He friends with the leaders of the monkey hordes in order to free Sîtâ. He whose feet are worshiped by Brahmâ and S'iva, but appeared as a normal man, next in their acquaintance killed Vâli [a wicked brother of Hanumân] and proceeded, accompanied by the monkey soldiers, to the shore of the ocean.

Lord Râmacandra, whose lotus feet are worshiped by Lord Brahmâ and Lord S'iva, had assumed the form of a human being. Thus He performed the funeral ceremony of Jathâyu, who was killed by Râvana. The Lord then killed the demon named Kabandha, and after making friends with the monkey chiefs, killing Vâli and arranging for the deliverance of mother Sîtâ, He went to the beach of the ocean. (Vedaba s e)

Text 13

The ocean silent of fear because of His angry glance - of which all the crocodiles and sharks were agitated - carried, assuming a personal form, on its head all that was needed to worship Him and said, reaching the lotus feet, the following:

After reaching the beach, Lord Râmacandra fasted for three days, awaiting the arrival of the ocean personified. When the ocean did not come, the Lord exhibited His pastimes of anger, and simply by His glancing over the ocean, all the living entities within it, including the crocodiles and sharks, were agitated by fear. Then the personified ocean fearfully approached Lord Râmacandra, taking all paraphernalia to worship Him. Falling at the Lord's lotus feet, the personified ocean spoke as follows. (Vedabase)

Text 14

'We, the dull-minded, are truly not capable of, o Supreme One, knowing You as residing in the core of the heart as the Original Person and Supreme Master of all Universes; the God-conscious under Your direction fixed in their attention are infatuated with goodness, the controllers of the people are infatuated with passion, while the rulers of the physical existence are [as ghosts] under the influence of slowness, but Your Lordship art in Your position the Master over these modes.

O all-pervading Supreme Person, we are dull-minded and did not understand who You are, but now we understand that You are the Supreme Person, the master of the entire universe, the unchanging and original Personality of Godhead. The demigods are infatuated with the mode of goodness, the Prajâpatis with the mode of passion, and the lord of ghosts with the mode of ignorance, but You are the master of all these qualities. (Vedabase)

Text 15

You may cross as you like! Just conquer that son of Vis'ravâ called Râvana, that urine pollution of the three worlds, and regain Your wife o hero. Build a bridge here so that Your fame may spread; the great kings and heroes still to come will all glorify You for it.'

My Lord, You may use my water as You like. Indeed, You may cross it and go to the abode of Râvana, who is the great source of disturbance and crying for the three worlds. He is the son of Vis'ravâ, but is condemned like urine. Please go kill him and thus regain Your wife, Sîtâdevî. O great hero, although my water presents no impediment to Your going to Lankâ, please construct a bridge over it to spread Your transcendental fame. Upon seeing this wonderfully uncommon deed of Your Lordship, all the great heroes and kings in the future will glorify You. (Vedabase)

Text 16

After the Master of the Raghu dynasty with all sorts of mountain peaks, complete with trees and plants, that were transported by hand by the mighty monkeys, had constructed a bridge in the ocean [***], entered He, helped by the directions of Vibhîshana [a virtuous brother of Râvana], with the soldiers led by Sugrîva, Nîla and Hanumân [the island of] Lankâ that just before had been set afire [by Hanumân's tail].

S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: After constructing a bridge over the ocean by throwing into the water the peaks of mountains whose trees and other vegetation had been shaken by the hands of great monkeys, Lord Râmacandra went to Lankâ to release Sîtâdevî from the clutches of Râvana. With the direction and help of Vibhîshana, Râvana's brother, the Lord, along with the monkey soldiers, headed by Sugrîva, Nîla and Hanumân, entered Râvana's kingdom, Lankâ, which had previously been burnt by Hanumân. (Vedabase)

Text 17

Right there were the houses of pleasure, granaries, treasuries, palace doors and city gates, assembly houses, palace frontages and [even the] pigeon houses by force taken in and dismantled by the Vânara [monkey people]-leaders who like an elephant herd turned the squares and crossroads, with all their flags and golden waterpots on the rooftops into one swirling river.

After entering Lankâ, the monkey soldiers, led by chiefs like Sugrîva, Nîla and Hanumân, occupied all the sporting houses, granaries, treasuries, palace doorways, city gates, assembly houses, palace frontages and even the resting houses of the pigeons. When the city's crossroads, platforms, flags and golden waterpots on its domes were all destroyed, the entire city of Lankâ appeared like a river disturbed by a herd of elephants. (Vedabase)

Text 18:

When the master of the Râkshasas saw that summoned he Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhûmrâksha, Durmukha, Surântaka, Narântaka and others to fight, and called he as well for his son Indrajit, his followers Prahasta, Atikâya, Vikampana and finally for Kumbhakarna [his mighty brother, see 4.1: 37, 7.1: 44 and 7.10: 36].

When Râvana, the master of the Râkshasas, saw the disturbances created by the monkey soldiers, he called for Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhûmrâksha, Durmukha, Surântaka, Narântaka and other Râkshasas and also his son Indrajit. Thereafter he called for Prahasta, Atikâya, Vikampana and finally Kumbhakarna. Then he induced all his followers to fight against the enemies. (Ve d abase)

Text 19:

All the râkshasa soldiers with hard to defeat swords, lances, bows, barbed missiles and spears, firebrands, javelins and scimitars [a curved sword] came in front of Him who was surrounded by Sugrîva, Lakshmana, Hanumân, Gandhamâda, Nîla, Angada, Riksha, Panasa and others.

Lord Râmacandra, surrounded by Lakshmana and monkey soldiers like Sugrîva, Hanumân, Gandhamâda, Nîla, Angada, Jâmbavân and Panasa, attacked the soldiers of the Râkshasas, who were fully equipped with various invincible weapons like swords, lances, bows, prâsas, rishthis, s'akti arrows, khadgas and tomaras. (Vedabase)

Text 20:

The commanders of the soldiers of the Ruler of the Raghu dynasty, together out to defeat all the enemies, fought the hordes by elephant, on foot, from chariots and on horseback. By the warriors lead by Angada and others were they with trees, mountain peaks, clubs and arrows all killed as the luck of Râvana's dependents had ran out being condemned by the anger of mother Sîtâ.

Angada and the other commanders of the soldiers of Râmacandra faced the elephants, infantry, horses and chariots of the enemy and hurled against them big trees, mountain peaks, clubs and arrows. Thus the soldiers of Lord Râmacandra killed Râvana's soldiers, who had lost all good fortune because Râvana had been condemned by the anger of mother Sîtâ. (Vedabase)

Text 21:

The râkshasa leader fuming of seeing his forces defeated thereupon drove his vehicle forward proceeding towards the effulgent Râma who, glittering on the chariot of Indra that Mâtali [the driver] had brought, struck him with the sharpest arrows.

Thereafter, when Râvana, the king of the Râkshasas, observed that his soldiers had been lost, he was extremely angry. Thus he mounted his airplane, which was decorated with flowers, and proceeded toward Lord Râmacandra, who sat on the effulgent chariot brought by Mâtali, the chariot driver of Indra. Then Râvana struck Lord Râmacandra with sharp arrows. (Vedabase)

Text 22:

Râma said to him: 'You servant of scum, since you criminal like a dog have kidnapped My helpless wife will I as the Time itself in person, will I unfailing in my heroism, for that shameless act, as a result today punish you, abominable evildoer [see also B.G. 16: 6-18]!'

Lord Râmacandra said to Râvana: You are the most abominable of the man-eaters. Indeed, you are like their stool. You resemble a dog, for as a dog steals eatables from the kitchen in the absence of the householder, in My absence you kidnapped My wife, Sîtâdevî. Therefore as Yamarâja punishes sinful men, I shall also punish you. You are most abominable, sinful and shameless. Today, therefore, I, whose attempt never fails, shall punish you. (Vedabase)

Text 23:

Thus rebuking him released He the arrow He had fixed on His bow and that arrow like a thunderbolt pierced his heart. Vomiting blood from his ten mouths he fell from his heavenly vehicle while all his folk roared: 'Alas, what befell us?', just like the pious do when they fall down [see also B.G. 9: 21].

After thus rebuking Râvana, Lord Râmacandra fixed an arrow to His bow, aimed at Râvana, and released the arrow, which pierced Râvana's heart like a thunderbolt. Upon seeing this, Râvana's followers raised a tumultuous sound, crying, "Alas! Alas! What has happened? What has happened?" as Râvana, vomiting blood from his ten mouths, fell from his airplane, just as a pious man falls to earth from the heavenly planets when the results of his pious activities are exhausted. (Vedabase)

Text 24:

Thereafter came the wives of the demons headed by Mandodarî [Râvana's wife] out of Lankâ and lamented they upon approaching [their dead husbands].

Thereafter, all the women whose husbands had fallen in the battle, headed by Mandodarî, the wife of Râvana, came out of Lankâ. Continuously crying, they approached the dead bodies of Râvana and the other Râkshasas. (Vedabase)

Text 25:

Embracing their beloved and friends all killed by Lakshmana's arrows beated they, so poor, their breasts and cried they, [for the victors] pleasant to hear, piteously.

Striking their breasts in affliction because their husbands had been killed by the arrows of Lakshmana, the women embraced their respective husbands and cried piteously in voices appealing to everyone. (Vedabase)

Text 26:

'O alas, killed is he who in the past protected us all! O, Râvana, cause of our cries, to whom must the state of Lankâ, overcome by the enemy, turn for shelter, now that it is bereft of your good self?

O my lord, O master! You epitomized trouble for others, and therefore you were called Râvana. But now that you have been defeated, we also are defeated, for without you the state of Lankâ has been conquered by the enemy. To whom will it go for shelter? (Vedabase)

Text 27:

O greatest patron, as a result of having fallen under the influence of lusty desires, had you really no idea of how mother Sîtâ could put you in a situation like this.

O greatly fortunate one, you came under the influence of lusty desires, and therefore you could not understand the influence of mother Sîtâ. Now, because of her curse, you have been reduced tothis state, having been killed by Lord Râmacandra. (Vedabase)

Text 28:

O glory of the dynasty, because of what you did are we and the state of Lankâ now without a protector and is your body there as fodder for the vultures and your soul destined for hell [compare B.G. 16: 19].'

O pleasure of the Râkshasa dynasty, because of you the state of Lankâ and also we ourselves now have no protector. By your deeds you have made your body fit to be eaten by vultures and your soul fit to go to hell. (Vedabase)

Text 29:

S'rî S'uka said: 'On the approval of the King of Kosala [Râma] performed, of the [Râvana] family, Vibhîshana the funeral rites that for a deceased one have to be observed to save him from hell.

S'rî S'ukadeva Gosvâmî said: Vibhîshana, the pious brother of Râvana and devotee of Lord Râmacandra, received approval from Lord Râmacandra, the King of Kosala. Then he performed the prescribed funeral ceremonies for his family members to save them from the path to hell. (Vedabase)

Text 30:

Next found the Supreme Lord in an as'oka forest His love back taking shelter in a small cottage at the foot of a s'ims'apâ [as'oka] tree, very lean from suffering the separation from Him.

Thereafter, Lord Râmacandra found Sîtâdevî sitting in a small cottage beneath the tree named s'ims'apâ in a forest of as'oka trees. She was lean and thin, being aggrieved because of separation from Him. (Ve d abase)

Text 31:

Râma finding His dearmost wife so poor off became very compassionate with her while her lotuslike mouth, the moment she saw her beloved, was overwhelmed by a great joy.

Seeing His wife in that condition, Lord Râmacandra was very compassionate. When Râmacandra came before her, she was exceedingly happy to see her beloved, and her lotuslike mouth showed her joy. (Vedabase)

Text 32:

The Supreme Lord, putting Vibhîshana in charge of the rule over Lankâ's Râkshasas for the duration of a kalpa, placed her on his vehicle and got in Himself together with Hanumân and the brothers [Lakshmana and Sugrîva the commander] to return to the home town [Ayodhyâ] and to conclude the term of the vow [to stay away for 14 years].

After giving Vibhîshana the power to rule the Râkshasa population of Lankâ for the duration of one kalpa, Lord Râmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Bhagavân], placed Sîtâdevî on an airplane decorated with flowers and then got on the plane Himself. The period for His living in the forest having ended, the Lord returned to Ayodhyâ, accompanied by Hanumân, Sugrîva and His brother Lakshmana. (Vedabase)

Text 33:

On the road was He showered by a choice of fragrant flowers offered by the higher class to honor His uncommon activities and were the seer of the absolute truth [Brahmâ] and those belonging to him of great jubilation.

When Lord Râmacandra returned to His capital, Ayodhyâ, He was greeted on the road by the princely order, who showered His body with beautiful, fragrant flowers, while great personalities like Lord Brahmâ and other demigods glorified the activities of the Lord in great jubilation. (Vedabase)

Text 34:

The One of Great Compassion was very sorry to hear how His brother Bharata with matted locks was lying down on a kus'a mat, ate from barley cooked in cows urine and had covered Himself with tree bark.

Upon reaching Ayodhyâ, Lord Râmacandra heard that in His absence His brother Bharata was eating barley cooked in the urine of a cow, covering His body with the bark of trees, wearing matted locks of hair, and lying on a mattress of kus'a. The most merciful Lord very much lamented this. (Vedabase)

Text 35-38:

Bharata hearing of the arrival took the two sandals on His head [that Râma had left behind on the throne to represent Him] and went, accompanied by all citizens, the ministers and the priests, out to welcome His eldest brother. Departing from His camp Nandigrâma were there songs, the sounds of musical instruments, the constant recitation of mantras by brahmins, with gold embroidered flags on golden chariots pulled by the most beautiful, with gold caparisoned, horses and soldiers in gold-covered armor. In procession with nicely dressed courtesans and servants and also soldiers on foot and everything else that would befit a royal reception, like a wealth of all kinds of jewelry, fell He down at the lotus feet in an ecstatic love that softened the core of His [ascetic] heart and filled His eyes with tears.

When Lord Bharata understood that Lord Râmacandra was returning to the capital, Ayodhyâ, He immediately took upon His own head Lord Râmacandra's wooden shoes and came out from His camp at Nandigrâma. Lord Bharata was accompanied by ministers, priests and other respectable citizens, by professional musicians vibrating pleasing musical sounds, and by learned brâhmanas loudly chanting Vedic hymns. Following in the procession were chariots drawn by beautiful horses with harnesses of golden rope. These chariots were decorated by flags with golden embroidery and by other flags of various sizes and patterns. There were soldiers bedecked with golden armor, servants bearing betel nut, and many well-known and beautiful prostitutes. Many servants followed on foot, bearing an umbrella, whisks, different grades of precious jewels, and other paraphernalia befitting a royal reception. Accompanied in this way, Lord Bharata, His heart softened in ecstasy and His eyes full of tears, approached Lord Râmacandra and fell at His lotus feet with great ecstatic love. (Vedabase)

Text 39-40:

Placing the two slippers with folded hands before His golden brother embraced He Him with His cheeks wet, bathing Him in His arms for a long time with the water from His eyes. Râma, together with Lakshmana and Sîtâ, personally offered the learned and the others worthy of worship their obeisances and received them also back from all the citizens.

After offering the wooden shoes before Lord Râmacandra, Lord Bharata stood with folded hands, His eyes full of tears, and Lord Râmacandra bathed Bharata with tears while embracing Him with both arms for a long time. Accompanied by mother Sîtâ and Lakshmana, Lord Râmacandra then offered His respectful obeisances unto the learned brâhmanas and the elderly persons in the family, and all the citizens of Ayodhyâ offered their respectful obeisances unto the Lord. (Vedabase)

Text 41:

Seeing their Lord returning after so many years waved the citizens of Kosala with their upper garments, offered they Him garlands and started they to dance in great jubilation.

The citizens of Ayodhyâ, upon seeing their King return after a long absence, offered Him flower garlands, waved their upper cloths, and danced in great jubilation. (Vedabase)

Text 42-43:

The sandals were carried by Bharata, the whisk and luxurious fan by Vibhîshana and Sugrîva, a white parasol by the son of the Maruts [Hanumân], the bow and two quivers by S'atrughna, Sîtâ had the waterpot with water from the holy places, Angada had the sword made of gold and the King of the Rikshas [Jâmbavân, leader of the bears that also assisted in the war] held the shield, o King.

O King, Lord Bharata carried Lord Râmacandra's wooden shoes, Sugrîva and Vibhîshana carried a whisk and an excellent fan, Hanumân carried a white umbrella, S'atrughna carried a bow and two quivers, and Sîtâdevî carried a waterpot filled with water from holy places. Angada carried a sword, and Jâmbavân, King of the Rikshas, carried a golden shield. (Vedabase)

Text 44:

To sit on Kuvera's heavenly chariot [the 'Pushpaka' captured from Râvana] made Him, the Supreme Lord, with the worshipful prayers of the women and the reciters, o King, appear as beautiful as the moon risen between the planets.

O King Parîkshit, as the Lord sat on His airplane of flowers, with women offering Him prayers and reciters chanting about His characteristics, He appeared like the moon with the stars and planets. (Vedabase)

Text 45-46:

Properly welcomed by His brother was He thereafter festively received in the city of Ayodhyâ. Upon entering the royal palace paid He mother Kaikeyî, His other stepmothers and His own mother [Kaus'alyâ] His respects. The spiritual teachers, friends of their age and the younger ones were all of worship and befittingly was the welcome returned by Him, the princess of the Videhas [Sîtâ] and Lakshmana.

Thereafter, having been welcomed by His brother Bharata, Lord Râmacandra entered the city of Ayodhyâ in the midst of a festival. When He entered the palace, He offered obeisances to all the mothers, including Kaikeyî and the other wives of Mahârâja Das'aratha, and especially His own mother, Kaus'alyâ. He also offered obeisances to the spiritual preceptors, such as Vasishthha. Friends of His own age and younger friends worshiped Him, and He returned their respectful obeisances, as did Lakshmana and mother Sîtâ. In this way they all entered the palace. (Vedabase)

Text 47:

As bodies awakening from sleep rose their mothers to their feet and moistened they, keeping their sons on their lap, them with a continuous flow of tears as they gave up their grief [of being separated for so long from them].

Upon seeing their sons, the mothers of Râma, Lakshmana, Bharata and S'atrughna immediately arose, like unconscious bodies returning to consciousness. The mothers placed their sons on their laps and bathed Them with tears, thus relieving themselves of the grief of long separation. (Vedabase)

Text 48:

Shaving off the matted locks, was by the family priest and the elders of the family according the vidhi with the water of the four oceans and other paraphernalia a bathing ceremony performed to the like of the purification of King Indra [see 6: 13].

The family priest or spiritual master, Vasishthha, had Lord Râmacandra cleanly shaved, freeing Him from His matted locks of hair. Then, with the cooperation of the elderly members of the family, he performed the bathing ceremony [abhisheka] for Lord Râmacandra with the water of the four seas and with other substances, just as it was performed for King Indra. (Vedabase)

Text 49:

Thus having been bathed completely, nicely dressed, decorated and garlanded, shone He brightly with His brothers and His wife.

Lord Râmacandra, fully bathed and His head clean-shaven, dressed Himself very nicely and was decorated with a garland and ornaments. Thus He shone brightly, surrounded by His brothers and wife, who were similarly dressed and ornamented. (Vedabase)

Text 50:

Pleased with the surrender He accepted the throne submitted to Him by His brother and also the citizens who, engaged in the occupational duties of their status-orientations [varnâs'rama, see B.G. 4: 13], all had become fit for His protection; Râma was therein just like a father and by them was He also considered as being their father.

Being pleased by the full surrender and submission of Lord Bharata, Lord Râmacandra then accepted the throne of the state. He cared for the citizens exactly like a father, and the citizens, being fully engaged in their occupational duties of varna and âs'rama, accepted Him as their father. (Vedabase)

Text 51:

Although it was Tretâ-yuga became the period equal to Satya-yuga because of Râma's presence as the ruling king in full respect of the dharma that makes all living beings happy [see also 12.3: 15].

Lord Râmacandra became King during Tretâ-yuga, but because of His good government, the age was like Satya-yuga. Everyone was religious and completely happy. (Vedabase)

Text 52:

The forests, rivers, hills and mountains, the lands, the islands, the oceans and the seas yielded for all the living beings all they could desire for their existence, o best of the Bharatas.

O Mahârâja Parîkshit, best of the Bharata dynasty, during the reign of Lord Râmacandra the forests, the rivers, the hills and mountains, the states, the seven islands and the seven seas were all favorable in supplying the necessities of life for all living beings. (Vedabase)

Text 53:

There was no suffering [due to oneself, others and nature], no disease, old age, bereavement, distress, lamentation, fear and fatigue or an unwanted death during the period that Lord Râma, the One beyond All, was king.

When Lord Râmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was the King of this world, all bodily and mental suffering, disease, old age, bereavement, lamentation, distress, fear and fatigue were completely absent. There was even no death for those who did not want it. (Vedabase)

Text 54:

Vowed not to take another woman [for reasons of principle He separated from Sîtâ, see next chapter] was He, as a saintly King pure of character in His dharma, especially teaching the householders by the example of His personal dutifulness.

Lord Râmacandra took a vow to accept only one wife and have no connection with any other women. He was a saintly king, and everything in His character was good, untinged by qualities like anger. He taught good behavior for everyone, especially for householders, in terms of varnâs'rama-dharma. Thus He taught the general public by His personal activities. (Vedabase)

Text 55:

In loving service unto her husband was Sîtâ by her good character always submissive and ready to please, and captivated she His mind being chaste and unafraid, bashfully and understanding her husband's position.'

Mother Sîtâ was very submissive, faithful, shy and chaste, always understanding the attitude of her husband. Thus by her character and her love and service she completely attracted the mind of the Lord. (Vedabase)

*: This and the next chapter are a summary of Vâlmîki's Râmâyana, the original scripture describing the st0ry of Râma.

**: Prabhupâda explains: 'Mahârâja Das'aratha had three wives. One of them, Kaikeyî, served him very pleasingly, and he therefore wanted to give her a benediction. Kaikeyî, however, said that she would ask for the benediction when it was necessary. At the time of the coronation of Prince Râmacandra, Kaikeyî requested her husband to enthrone her son Bharata and send Râmacandra to the forest. Mahârâja Das'aratha, being bound by his promise, ordered Râmacandra to go to the forest, according to the dictation of his beloved.'

***: This bridge is till today really present there in the form of a narrow passage of land close to the surface of the ocean between Lanka and India. It is called the Adam's Bridge and consists of a chain of shoals, c.18 miles (30 km) long [see picture and article].