> > Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 9
> > Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> > (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> > *****

> > Canto 9: 'Liberation'

> > *****

> > Chapter Ten: The Pastimes of the Supreme Lord, Râmacandra

> > ******

> > TEXT 1

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > khatvângâd dîrghabâhus ca

> > raghus tasmât prthu-sravâh

> > ajas tato mahâ-râjas

> > tasmâd dasaratho 'bhavat

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; khatvângât--from Mahârâja Khatvânga; dîrghabâhuh--the son named Dîrghabâhu; ca--and; raghuh tasmât--from him Raghu was born; prthu-sravâh--saintly and celebrated; ajah--the son named Aja; tatah--from him; mahâ-râjah--the great king called Mahârâja Dasaratha; tasmât--from Aja; dasarathah--by the name Dasaratha; abhavat--was born.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami said: The son of Maharaja Khatvanga was Dirghabahu, and his son was the celebrated Maharaja Raghu. From Maharaja Raghu came Aja, and from Aja was born the great personality Maharaja Dasaratha.

> > ******

> > TEXT 2

> > tasyâpi bhagavân esa

> > sâksâd brahmamayo harih

> > amsâmsena caturdhâgât

> > putratvam prârthitah suraih

> > râma-laksmana-bharata-

> > satrughnâ iti samjnayâ

> > tasya--of him, Mahârâja Dasaratha; api--also; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; esah--all of them; sâksât--directly; brahma-mayah--the Supreme Parabrahman, the Absolute Truth; harih--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; amsa-amsena--by an expansion of a plenary portion; caturdhâ--by fourfold expansions; agât--accepted; putratvam--sonhood; prârthitah--being prayed for; suraih--by the demigods; râma--Lord Râmacandra; laksmana--Lord Laksmana; bharata--Lord Bharata; satrughnâh--and Lord Satrughna; iti--thus; samjnayâ--by different names.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna. These celebrated incarnations thus appeared in four forms as the sons of Maharaja Dasaratha.

> > ******

> > TEXT 3

> > tasyânucaritam râjann

> > rsibhis tattva-darsibhih

> > srutam hi varnitam bhûri

> > tvayâ sîtâ-pater muhuh

> > tasya--of Him, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Râmacandra and His brothers; anucaritam--transcendental activities; rajan--O King (Mahârâja Parîksit); rsibhih--by great sages or saintly persons; tattva-darsibhih--by persons who know the Absolute Truth; srutam--have all been heard; hi--indeed; varnitam--as they have been so nicely described; bhûri--many; tvayâ --by you; sîtâ-pateh--of Lord Râmacandra, the husband of mother Sîtâ; muhuh--more than often.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 4

> > gurv-arthe tyakta-râjyo vyacarad anuvanam

> > padma-padbhyâm priyâyâh

> > pâni-sparsâksamâbhyâm mrjita-patha-rujo

> > yo harîndrânujâbhyâm

> > vairûpyâc chûrpanakhyâh priya-viraha-rusâ

> > âropita-bhrû-vijrmbha-

> > trastâbdhir baddha-setuh khala-dava-dahanah

> > kosalendro 'vatân nah

> > guru-arthe--for the sake of keeping the promise of His father; tyakta-râjyah--giving up the position of king; vyacarat--wandered; anuvanam--from one forest to another; padma-padbhyâm--by His two lotus feet; priyâyâh--with His very dear wife, mother Sîtâ; pâni-sparsa-aksamâbhyâm--which were so delicate that they were unable to bear even the touch of Sîtâ's palm; mrjita-patha-rujah--whose fatigue due to walking on the street was diminished; yah--the Lord who; harîndra-anujâbhyâm--accompanied by the king of the monkeys, Hanumân, and His younger brother Laksmana; vairûpyât--because of being disfigured; sûrpanakhyah--of the Râksasî (demoness) named Sûrpanakhâ; priya-viraha--being aggrieved by separation from His very dear wife; rusâ âropita-bhrû-vijrmbha--by flickering of His raised eyebrows in anger; trasta--fearing; abdhih--the ocean; baddha-setuh--one who constructed a bridge over the ocean; khala-dava-dahanah--killer of envious persons like Râvana, like a fire devouring a forest; kosala-indrah--the King of Ayodhyâ; avatât--be pleased to protect; nah--us.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Hanuman [or by another monkey, Sugriva], king of the monkeys, and by His own younger brother Lord Laksmana, both of whom gave Him relief from the fatigue of wandering in the forest. Having cut off the nose and ears of Surpanakha, 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 Ravana to kill him, like a fire devouring a forest. May that Supreme Lord, Râmacandra, give us all protection.

> > ******

> > TEXT 5

> > visvâmitrâdhvare yena

> > mârîcâdyâ nisâ-carâh

> > pasyato laksmanasyaiva

> > hatâ nairrta-pungavâh

> > visvâmitra-adhvare--in the sacrificial arena of the great sage Visvâmitra; yena--by whom (Lord Râmacandra); mârîca-âdyâh--headed by Mârîca; nisâ-carâh--the uncivilized persons wandering at night in the darkness of ignorance; pasyatah laksmanasya--being seen by Laksmana; eva--indeed; hatâh--were killed; nairrta-pungavah--the great chiefs of the Râksasas.

> > TRANSLATION

> > In the arena of the sacrifice performed by Visvamitra, Lord Râmacandra, the King of Ayodhya, killed many demons, Raksasas and uncivilized men who wandered at night in the mode of darkness. May Lord Râmacandra, who killed these demons in the presence of Laksmana, be kind enough to give us protection.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 6-7

> > yo loka-vîra-samitau dhanur aisam ugram

> > sîtâ-svayamvara-grhe trisatopanîtam

> > âdâya bâla-gaja-lîla iveksu-yastim

> > sajjyî-krtam nrpa vikrsya babhanja madhye

> > jitvânurûpa-guna-sîla-vayo 'nga-rûpâm

> > sîtâbhidhâm sriyam urasy abhilabdhamânâm

> > mârge vrajan bhrgupater vyanayat prarûdham

> > darpam mahîm akrta yas trir arâja-bîjâm

> > yah--Lord Râmacandra who; loka-vîra-samitau--in the society or in the midst of many heroes of this world; dhanuh--the bow; aisam--of Lord Siva; ugram--very fierce; sîtâ-svayamvara-grhe--in the hall where mother Sîtâ stood to select her husband; trisata-upanîtam--the bow carried by three hundred men; âdâya--taking (that bow); bâla-gaja-lîlah--acting like a baby elephant in a forest of sugarcane; iva--like that; iksu-yastim--astick of sugarcane; sajjyî-krtam--fastened the string of the bow; nrpa--O King; vikrsya--by bending; babhanja--broke it; madhye--in the middle;

> > jitvâ--gaining by victory; anurûpa--just befitting His position and beauty; guna--qualities; sîla--behavior; vayah--age; anga--body; rûpâm--beauty; sîtâ-abhidhâm--the girl named Sîtâ; sriyam--the goddess of fortune; urasi--on the chest; abhilabdhamânâm--had gotten her previously; mârge--on the way; vrajan--while walking; bhrgupateh--of Bhrgupati; vyanayat--destroyed; prarûdham--rooted very deep; darpam--pride; mahîm--the earth; akrta--finished; yah--one who; trih--three times (seven); arâja--without a royal dynasty; bîjâm--seed.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Siva. 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 Parasurama. Although Parasurama 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 ksatriya of the royal order.

> > ******

> > TEXT 8

> > yah satya-pâsa-parivîta-pitur nidesam

> > strainasya câpi sirasâ jagrhe sabhâryah

> > râjyam sriyam pranayinah suhrdo nivâsam

> > tyaktvâ yayau vanam asûn iva mukta-sangah

> > yah--Lord Râmacandra who; satya-pâsa-parivîta-pituh--of His father, who was bound by the promise to his wife; nidesam--the order; strainasya--of the father who was very much attached to his wife; ca--also; api--indeed; sirasâ--on His head; jagrhe--accepted; sa-bhâryah--with His wife; râjyam--the kingdom; sriyam--opulence; pranayinah--relatives; suhrdah--friends; nivâsam--residence; tyaktvâ--giving up; yayau--went; vanam--to the forest; asûn--life; iva--like; mukta-sangah--a liberated soul.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 9

> > raksah-svasur vyakrta rûpam asuddha-buddhes

> > tasyâh khara-trisira-dûsana-mukhya-bandhûn

> > jaghne caturdasa-sahasram apâranîya-

> > kodanda-pânir atamâna uvâsa krcchram

> > raksah-svasuh--of Sûrpanakhâ, the sister of the Râksasa (Râvana); vyakrta--(Lord Râma) deformed; rûpam--the form; asuddha-buddheh--because her intelligence was polluted by lusty desires; tasyâh--of her; khara-trisira-dûsana-mukhya-bandhûn--many friends, headed by Khara, Trisira and Dûsana; jaghne--He (Lord Râmacandra) killed; caturdasa-sahasram--fourteen thousand; apâranîya--invincible; kodanda--bows and arrows; pânih--in His hand; atamânah--wandering in the forest; uvâsa--lived there; krcchram--with great difficulties.

> > TRANSLATION

> > While wandering in the forest, where He accepted a life of hardship, carrying His invincible bow and arrows in His hand, Lord Râmacandra deformed Ravana's sister, who was polluted with lusty desires, by cutting off her nose and ears. He also killed her fourteen thousand Raksasa friends, headed by Khara, Trisira and Dusana.

> > ******

> > TEXT 10

> > sîtâ-kathâ-sravana-dîpita-hrc-chayena

> > srstam vilokya nrpate dasa-kandharena

> > jaghne 'dbhutaina-vapusâsramato 'pakrsto

> > mârîcam âsu visikhena yathâ kam ugrah

> > sîtâ-kathâ--topics about Sîtâdevî; sravana--by hearing; dîpita--agitated; hrt-sayena--lusty desires within the mind of Râvana; srstam--created; vilokya--seeing that; nrpate--O King Parîksit; dasa-kandharena--by Râvana, who had ten heads; jaghne--the Lord killed; adbhuta-ena-vapusâ--by a deer made of gold; âsramatah--from His residence; apakrstah--distracted to a distance; mârîcam--the demon Mârîca, who assumed the form of a golden deer; âsu--immediately; visikhena--by a sharp arrow; yathâ--as; kam--Daksa; ugrah--Lord Siva.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, when Ravana, 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 asrama, Ravana sent Marica 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 Siva killed Daksa.

> > ******

> > TEXT 11

> > rakso-'dhamena vrkavad vipine 'samaksam

> > vaideha-râja-duhitary apayâpitâyâm

> > bhrâtrâ vane krpanavat priyayâ viyuktah

> > strî-sanginâm gatim iti prathayams cacâra

> > raksah-adhamena--by the most wicked among Râksasas, Râvana; vrka-vat--like a tiger; vipine--in the forest; asamaksam--unprotected; vaideha-râja-duhitari--by this condition of mother Sîtâ, the daughter of the King of Videha; apayâpitâyâm--having been kidnapped; bhrâtrâ--with His brother; vane--in the forest; krpana-vat--as if a very distressed person; priyayâ--by his dear wife; viyuktah--separated; strî-sanginâm--of persons attracted to or connected with women; gatim--destination; iti--thus; prathayan--giving an example; cacâra--wandered.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Râmacandra entered the forest and Laksmana was also absent, the worst of the Raksasas, Ravana, kidnapped Sîtâdevi, 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 Laksmana 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 12

> > dagdhvâtma-krtya-hata-krtyam ahan kabandham

> > sakhyam vidhâya kapibhir dayitâ-gatim taih

> > buddhvâtha vâlini hate plavagendra-sainyair

> > velâm agât sa manujo 'ja-bhavârcitânghrih

> > dagdhvâ--by burning; âtma-krtya-hata-krtyam--after performing religious rituals required after the death of Jatâyu, who died for the Lord's cause; ahan--killed; kabandham--the demon Kabandha; sakhyam--friendship; vidhâya--after creating; kapibhih--with the monkey chiefs; dayitâ-gatim--the arrangement for delivering Sîtâ; taih--by them; buddhvâ--knowing; atha--thereafter; vâlini hate--when Vâli had been killed; plavaga-indra-sainyaih--with the help of the soldiers of the monkeys; velâm--to the beach of the ocean; agât--went; sah--He, Lord Râmacandra; manu-jah--appearing as a human being; aja--by Lord Brahmâ; bhava--and by Lord Siva; arcita-anghrih--whose lotus feet are worshiped.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Râmacandra, whose lotus feet are worshiped by Lord Brahma and Lord Siva, had assumed the form of a human being. Thus He performed the funeral ceremony of Jatayu, who was killed by Ravana. The Lord then killed the demon named Kabandha, and after making friends with the monkey chiefs, killing Vali and arranging for the deliverance of mother Sîtâ, He went to the beach of the ocean.

> > ******

> > TEXT 13

> > yad-rosa-vibhrama-vivrtta-katâksa-pâta-

> > sambhrânta-nakra-makaro bhaya-gîrna-ghosah

> > sindhuh sirasy arhanam parigrhya rûpî

> > pâdâravindam upagamya babhâsa etat

> > yat-rosa--whose anger; vibhrama--induced by; vivrtta--turned; katâksa-pâta--by the glance; sambhrânta--agitated; nakra--crocodiles; makarah--and sharks; bhaya-gîrna-ghosah--whose loud sound was silenced through fear; sindhuh--the ocean; sirasi--on his head; arhanam--all paraphernalia for worshiping the Lord; parigrhya--carrying; rûpî--taking form; pâda-aravindam--the lotus feet of the Lord; upagamya--reaching; babhâsa--said; etat--the following.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 14

> > na tvâm vayam jada-dhiyo nu vidâma bhûman

> > kûta-stham âdi-purusam jagatâm adhîsam

> > yat-sattvatah sura-ganâ rajasah prajesâ

> > manyos ca bhûta-patayah sa bhavân gunesah

> > na--not; tvâm--Your Lordship; vayam--we; jada-dhiyah--dull-minded, possessing blunt intelligence; nu--indeed; vidâmah--can know; bhûman--O Supreme; kûta-stham--within the core of the heart; âdi-purusam--the original Personality of Godhead; jagatâm--of the universes, which progressively go on; adhîsam--the supreme master; yat--fixed under Your direction; sattvatah--infatuated with sattva-guna; sura-ganâh--such demigods; rajasah--infatuated with rajo-guna; prajâ-îsâh--the Prajâpatis; manyoh--influenced by tamo-guna; ca--and; bhûta-patayah--rulers of ghosts; sah--such a personality; bhavân--Your Lordship; guna-îsah--the master of all three modes of material nature.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Prajapatis with the mode of passion, and the lord of ghosts with the mode of ignorance, but You are the master of all these qualities..

> > ******

> > TEXT 15

> > kâmam prayâhi jahi visravaso 'vameham

> > trailokya-râvanam avâpnuhi vîra patnîm

> > badhnîhi setum iha te yasaso vitatyai

> > gâyanti dig-vijayino yam upetya bhûpâh

> > kâmam--as You like; prayâhi--You may go over my water; jahi--just conquer; visravasah--of Visravâ Muni; avameham--pollution, like urine; trailokya--for the three worlds; râvanam--the person known as Râvana, the cause of weeping; avâpnuhi--regain; vîra--O great hero; patnîm--Your wife; badhnîhi--just construct; setum--a bridge; iha--here (on this water); te--of Your good self; yasasah--fame; vitatyai--to expand; gâyanti--will glorify; dik-vijayinah--great heroes who have conquered all directions; yam--which (bridge); upetya--coming near; bhûpâh--great kings.

> > TRANSLATION

> > My Lord, You may use my water as You like. Indeed, You may cross it and go to the abode of Ravana, who is the great source of disturbance and crying for the three worlds. He is the son of Visrava, but is condemned like urine. Please go kill him and thus regain Your wife, Sîtâdevi. O great hero, although my water presents no impediment to Your going to Lanka, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 16

> > baddhvodadhau raghu-patir vividhâdri-kûtaih

> > setum kapîndra-kara-kampita-bhûruhângaih

> > sugrîva-nîla-hanumat-pramukhair anîkair

> > lankâm vibhîsana-drsâvisad agra-dagdhâm

> > baddhvâ--after constructing; udadhau--in the water of the ocean; raghu-patih--Lord Râmacandra; vividha--varieties of; adri-kûtaih--with peaks of great mountains; setum--a bridge; kapi-indra--of powerful monkeys; kara-kampita--moved by the great hands; bhûruha-angaih--with the trees and plants; sugrîva--Sugrîva; nîla--Nîla; hanumat--Hanumân; pramukhaih--led by; anîkaih--with such soldiers; lankâm--Lankâ, the kingdom of Râvana; vibhîsana-drsâ--by the direction of Vibhîsana, the brother of Râvana; âvisat--entered; agra-dagdhâm--which was previously burnt (by the monkey soldier Hanumân).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sukadeva Gosvami 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 Lanka to release Sîtâdevi from the clutches of Ravana. With the direction and help of Vibhisana, Ravana's brother, the Lord, along with the monkey soldiers, headed by Sugriva, Nila and Hanuman, entered Ravana's kingdom, Lanka, which had previously been burnt by Hanuman.

> > ******

> > TEXT 17

> > sâ vânarendra-bala-ruddha-vihâra-kostha-

> > srî-dvâra-gopura-sado-valabhî-vitanka

> > nirbhajyamâna-dhisana-dhvaja-hema-kumbha-

> > srngâtakâ gaja-kulair hradinîva ghûrnâ

> > sâ--the place known as Lankâ; vânara-indra--of the great chiefs of the monkeys; bala--by the strength; ruddha--stopped, encircled; vihâra--pleasure houses; kostha--the places where food grains were stocked; srî--the treasury houses; dvâra--the doors of palaces; gopura--the gates of the city; sadah--the assembly houses; valabhî--the frontage of great palaces; vitankâ--the rest houses for the pigeons; nirbhajyamâna--in the process of being dismantled; dhisana--platforms; dhvaja--the flags; hema-kumbha--golden waterpots on the domes; srngâtakâ--and the crossroads; gaja-kulaih--by herds of elephants; hradinî--a river; iva--like; ghûrnâ--agitated.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After entering Lanka, the monkey soldiers, led by chiefs like Sugriva, Nila and Hanuman, 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 Lanka appeared like a river disturbed by a herd of elephants.

> > ******

> > TEXT 18

> > raksah-patis tad avalokya nikumbha-kumbha-

> > dhûmrâksa-durmukha-surântaka-narântakâdîn

> > putram prahastam atikâya-vikampanâdîn

> > sarvânugân samahinod atha kumbhakarnam

> > raksah-patih--the master of the Râksasas (Râvana); tat--such disturbances; avalokya--after seeing; nikumbha--Nikumbha; kumbha--Kumbha; dhûmrâksa--Dhûmrâksa; durmukha--Durmukha; surântaka--Surântaka; narântaka--Narântaka; âdîn--all of them together; putram--his son, Indrajit; prahastam--Prahasta; atikâya--Atikâya; vikampana--Vikampana; âdîn--all of them together; sarva-anugân--all followers of Râvana; samahinot--ordered (to fight with the enemies); atha--at last; kumbhakarnam--Kumbhakarna, the most important brother.

> > TRANSLATION

> > When Ravana, the master of the Raksasas, saw the disturbances created by the monkey soldiers, he called for Nikumbha, Kumbha, Dhumraksa, Durmukha, Surantaka, Narantaka and other Raksasas and also his son Indrajit. Thereafter he called for Prahasta, Atikaya, Vikampana and finally Kumbhakarna. Then he induced all his followers to fight against the enemies.

> > ******

> > TEXT 19

> > tâm yâtudhâna-prtanâm asi-sûla-câpa-

> > prâsarsti-saktisara-tomara-khadga-durgâm

> > sugrîva-laksmana-marutsuta-gandhamâda-

> > nîlângadarksa-panasâdibhir anvito 'gât

> > tâm--all of them; yâtudhâna-prtanâm--the soldiers of the Râksasas; asi--by swords; sûla--by lances; câpa--by bows; prâsa-rsti--prâsa weapons and rsti weapons; sakti-sara--sakti arrows; tomara--tomara weapons; khadga--by a type of sword; durgâm--all invincible; sugrîva--by the monkey named Sugrîva; laksmana--by Lord Râmacandra's younger brother; marut-suta--by Hanumân; gandhamâda--by Gandhamâda, another monkey; nîla--by the monkey named Nîla; angada--Angada; rksa--Rksa; panasa--Panasa; âdibhih--and by other soldiers; anvitah--being surrounded, Lord Râmacandra; agât--came in front of (for the sake of fighting).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Râmacandra, surrounded by Laksmana and monkey soldiers like Sugriva, Hanuman, Gandhamada, Nila, Angada, Jambavan and Panasa, attacked the soldiers of the Raksasas, who were fully equipped with various invincible weapons like swords, lances, bows, prasas, rstis, sakti arrows, khadgas and tomaras.

> > ******

> > TEXT 20

> > te 'nîkapâ raghupater abhipatya sarve

> > dvandvam varûtham ibha-patti-rathâsva-yodhaih

> > jaghnur drumair giri-gadesubhir angadâdyâh

> > sîtâbhimarsa-hata-mangala-râvanesân

> > te--all of them; anîka-pâh--the commanders of the soldiers; raghupateh--of Lord Srî Râmacandra; abhipatya--chasing the enemy; sarve--all of them; dvandvam--fighting; varûtham--the soldiers of Râvana; ibha--by elephants; patti--by infantry; ratha--by chariots; asva--by horses; yodhaih--by such warriors; jaghnuh--killed them; drumaih--by throwing big trees; giri--by peaks of mountains; gadâ--by clubs; isubhih--by arrows; angada-âdyâh--all the soldiers of Lord Râmacandra, headed by Angada and others; sîtâ--of mother Sîtâ; abhimarsa--by the anger; hata--had been condemned; mangala--whose auspiciousness; râvana-îsân--the followers or dependents of Râvana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Ravana's soldiers, who had lost all good fortune because Ravana had been condemned by the anger of mother Sîtâ.

> > ******

> > TEXT 21

> > raksah-patih sva-bala-nastim aveksya rusta

> > âruhya yânakam athâbhisasâra râmam

> > svah-syandane dyumati mâtalinopanîte

> > vibhrâjamânam ahanan nisitaih ksurapraih

> > raksah-patih--the leader of the Râksasas, Râvana; sva-bala-nastim--the destruction of his own soldiers; aveksya--after observing; rustah--became very angry; âruhya--riding on; yânakam--his beautiful airplane decorated with flowers; atha--thereafter; abhisasâra--proceeded toward; râmam--Lord Râmacandra; svah-syandane--in the celestial chariot of Indra; dyumati--glittering; mâtalinâ--by Mâtali, the chariot driver of Indra; upanîte--having been brought; vibhrâjamânam--Lord Râmacandra, as if brilliantly illuminating; ahanat--Râvana struck him; nisitaih--very sharp; ksurapraih--with arrows.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, when Ravana, the king of the Raksasas, 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 Matali, the chariot driver of Indra. Then Ravana struck Lord Râmacandra with sharp arrows.

> > ******

> > TEXT 22

> > râmas tam âha purusâda-purîsa yan nah

> > kântâsamaksam asatâpahrtâ svavat te

> > tyakta-trapasya phalam adya jugupSîtâsya

> > yacchâmi kâla iva kartur alanghya-vîryah

> > râmah--Lord Râmacandra; tam--unto him, Râvana; âha--said; purusa-ada-purîsa--you are the stool of the man-eaters (Râksasas); yat--because; nah--My; kântâ--wife; asamaksam--helpless because of My absence; asatâ--by you, the most sinful; apahrtâ--was kidnapped; sva-vat--like a dog who takes food from the kitchen in the absence of the proprietor; te--of you; tyakta-trapasya--because you are shameless; phalam adya--I shall give you the result today; jugupSîtâsya--of you, the most abominable; yacchâmi--I shall punish you; kâlah iva--like death; kartuh--of you, who are the performer of all sinful activities; alanghya-vîryah--but I, being omnipotent, never fail in My attempt.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Lord Râmacandra said to Ravana: 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, Sîtâdevi. Therefore as Yamaraja 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 23

> > evam ksipan dhanusi sandhitam utsasarja

> > bânam sa vajram iva tad-dhrdayam bibheda

> > so 'srg vaman dasa-mukhair nyapatad vimânâd

> > dhâheti jalpati jane sukrtîva riktah

> > evam--in this way; ksipan--chastising (Râvana); dhanusi--on the bow; sandhitam--fixed an arrow; utsasarja--released (toward him); bânam--the arrow; sah--that arrow; vajram iva--like a thunderbolt; tat-hrdayam--the heart of Râvana; bibheda--pierced; sah--he, Râvana; asrk--blood; vaman--vomiting; dasa-mukhaih--through the ten mouths; nyapatat--fell down; vimânât--from his airplane; hâhâ--alas, what happened; iti--thus; jalpati--roaring; jane--when all the people present there; sukrtî iva--like a pious man; riktah--when the results of his pious activities are finished.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After thus rebuking Ravana, Lord Râmacandra fixed an arrow to His bow, aimed at Ravana, and released the arrow, which pierced Ravana's heart like a thunderbolt. Upon seeing this, Ravana's followers raised a tumultuous sound, crying, "Alas! Alas! What has happened? What has happened?" as Ravana, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 24

> > tato niskramya lankâyâ

> > yâtudhânyah sahasrasah

> > mandodaryâ samam tatra

> > prarudantya upâdravan

> > tatah--thereafter; niskramya--coming out; lankâyâh--from Lankâ; yâtudhânyah--the wives of the Râksasas; sahasrasah--by thousands and thousands; mandodaryâ--headed by Mandodarî, the wife of Râvana; samam--with; tatra--there; prarudantyah--crying in lamentation; upâdravan--came near (their dead husbands).

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, all the women whose husbands had fallen in the battle, headed by Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, came out of Lanka. Continuously crying, they approached the dead bodies of Ravana and the other Raksasas.

> > ******

> > TEXT 25

> > svân svân bandhûn parisvajya

> > laksmanesubhir arditân

> > ruruduh susvaram dînâ

> > ghnantya âtmânam âtmanâ

> > svân svân--their own respective husbands; bandhûn--friends; parisvajya--embracing; laksmana-isubhih--by the arrows of Laksmana; arditân--who were killed; ruruduh--all the wives cried piteously; su-svaram--it was very sweet to hear; dînâh--very poor; ghnantyah--striking; âtmânam--their breasts; âtmanâ--by themselves.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 26

> > hâ hatâh sma vayam nâtha

> > loka-râvana râvana

> > kam yâyâc charanam lankâ

> > tvad-vihînâ parârditâ

> > hâ--alas; hatâh--killed; sma--in the past; vayam--all of us; nâtha--O protector; loka-râvana--O husband, who created the crying of so many other people; râvana--O Râvana, one who can cause crying of others; kam--unto whom; yâyât--will go; saranam--shelter; lankâ--the state of Lankâ; tvat-vihînâ--being bereft of your good self; para-arditâ--being defeated by the enemies.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 27

> > na vai veda mahâ-bhâga

> > bhavân kâma-vasam gatah

> > tejo 'nubhâvam sîtâyâ

> > yena nito dasâm imâm

> > na--not; vai--indeed; veda--did know; mahâ-bhâga--O greatly fortunate one; bhavân--yourself; kâma-vasam--influenced by lusty desires; gatah--having become; tejah--by influence; anubhâvam--as a result of such influence; sîtâyâh--of mother Sîtâ; yena--by which; nîtah--brought into; dasâm--condition; imâm--like this (destruction).

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 28

> > krtaisâ vidhavâ lankâ

> > vayam ca kula-nandana

> > dehah krto 'nnam grdhrânâm

> > âtmâ naraka-hetave

> > krtâ--made by you; esâ--all of this; vidhavâ--without a protector; lankâ--the state of Lankâ; vayam ca--and us; kula-nandana--O pleasure of the Râksasas; dehah--the body; krtah--made by you; annam--eatable; grdhrânâm--of the vultures; âtmâ--and your soul; naraka-hetave--for going to hell.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O pleasure of the Raksasa dynasty, because of you the state of Lanka 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 29

> > srî-suka uvâca

> > svânâm vibhîsanas cakre

> > kosalendrânumoditah

> > pitr-medha-vidhânena

> > yad uktam sâmparâyikam

> > srî-sukah uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; svânâm--of his own family members; vibhîsanah&emdash;Vibhîsana, the brother of Râvana and devotee of Lord Râmacandra; cakre--executed; kosala-indra-anumoditah--approved by the King of Kosala, Lord Râmacandra; pitr-medha-vidhânena--by the funeral ceremony performed by the son after the death of his father or some family member; yat uktam--which have been prescribed; sâmparâyikam--duties to be performed after a person's death to save him from the path to hell.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Vibhisana, the pious brother of Ravana 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 30

> > tato dadarsa bhagavân

> > asoka-vanikâsrame

> > ksâmâm sva-viraha-vyâdhim

> > simsapâ-mûlam-âsritâm

> > tatah--thereafter; dadarsa--saw; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asoka-vanika-âsrame--in a small cottage in the forest of Asoka trees; ksâmâm--very lean and thin; sva-viraha-vyâdhim--suffering from the disease of separation from Lord Râmacandra; simsapâ--of the tree known as Simsapâ; mûlam--the root; âsritâm--taking shelter of.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, Lord Râmacandra found Sîtâdevi sitting in a small cottage beneath the tree named Simsapa in a forest of Asoka trees. She was lean and thin, being aggrieved because of separation from Him.

> > ******

> > TEXT 31

> > râmah priyatamâm bhâryâm

> > dînâm vîksyânvakampata

> > âtma-sandarsanâhlâda-

> > vikasan-mukha-pankajâm

> > râmah--Lord Râmacandra; priya-tamâm--upon His dearmost; bhâryâm--wife; dînâm--so poorly situated; vîksya--looking; anvakampata--became very compassionate; âtma-sandarsana--when one sees his beloved; âhlâda--an ecstasy of joyful life; vikasat--manifesting; mukha--mouth; pankajâm--like a lotus.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 32

> > âropyâruruhe yânam

> > bhrâtrbhyâm hanumad-yutah

> > vibhîsanâya bhagavân

> > dattvâ rakso-ganesatâm

> > lankâm âyus ca kalpântam

> > yayau cîrna-vratah purîm

> > âropya--keeping or placing; âruruhe--got up; yânam--on the airplane; bhrâtrbhyâm--with His brother Laksmana and the commander Sugrîva; hanumat-yutah--accompanied by Hanumân; vibhîsanâya--unto Vibhîsana, the brother of Râvana; bhagavân--the Lord; dattvâ--gave charge; raksah-gana-îsatâm--the power to rule over the Râksasa population of Lankâ; lankâm--the state of Lanka; âyuh ca--and the duration of life; kalpa-antam--for many, many years, until the end of one kalpa; yayau--returned home; cîrna-vratah--finishing the duration of time living in the forest; purîm--to Ayodhyâ-purî.

> > TRANSLATION

> > After giving Vibhisana the power to rule the Raksasa population of Lanka for the duration of one kalpa, Lord Râmacandra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead [Bhagavan], placed Sîtâdevi 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 Ayodhya, accompanied by Hanuman, Sugriva and His brother Laksmana.

> > ******

> > TEXT 33

> > avakîryamânah sukusumair

> > lokapâlârpitaih pathi

> > upagîyamâna-caritah

> > satadhrty-âdibhir mudâ

> > avakîryamânah--being overflooded; su-kusumaih--by fragrant and beautiful flowers; loka-pâla-arpitaih--offered by the princely order; pathi--on the road; upagîyamâna-caritah--being glorified for His uncommon activities; satadhrti-âdibhih--by personalities like Lord Brahmâ and other demigods; mudâ--with great jubilation.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 34

> > go-mûtra-yâvakam srutvâ

> > bhrâtaram valkalâmbaram

> > mahâ-kâruniko 'tapyaj

> > jatilam sthandile-sayam

> > go-mûtra-yâvakam--eating barley boiled in the urine of a cow; srutvâ--hearing; bhrâtaram--His brother Bharata; valkala-ambaram--covered with the bark of trees; mahâ-kârunikah--the supremely merciful Lord Râmacandra; atapyat--lamented very much; jatilam--wearing matted locks of hair; sthandile-sayam--lying down on a grass mattress, or kusâsana.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon reaching Ayodhya, 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 kusa. The most merciful Lord very much lamented this.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 35-38

> > bharatah prâptam âkarnya

> > paurâmâtya-purohitaih

> > pâduke sirasi nyasya

> > râmam pratyudyato 'grajam

> > nandigrâmât sva-sibirâd

> > gîta-vâditra-nihsvanaih

> > brahma-ghosena ca muhuh

> > pathadbhir brahmavâdibhih

> > svarna-kaksa-patâkâbhir

> > haimais citra-dhvajai rathaih

> > sad-asvai rukma-sannâhair

> > bhataih purata-varmabhih

> > srenîbhir vâra-mukhyâbhir

> > bhrtyais caiva padânugaih

> > pâramesthyâny upâdâya

> > panyâny uccâvacâni ca

> > pâdayor nyapatat premnâ

> > praklinna-hrdayeksanah

> > bharatah--Lord Bharata; prâptam--coming back home; âkarnya--hearing; paura--all kinds of citizens; amâtya--all the ministers; purohitaih--accompanied by all the priests; pâduke--the two wooden shoes; sirasi--on the head; nyasya--keeping; râmam--unto Lord Râmacandra; pratyudyatah--going forward to receive; agrajam--His eldest brother;

> > nandigrâmât--from His residence, known as Nandigrâma; sva-sibirât--from His own camp; gîta-vâditra--songs and vibrations of drums and other musical instruments; nihsvanaih--accompanied by such sounds; brahma-ghosena--by the sound of chanting of Vedic mantras; ca--and; muhuh--always; pathadbhih--reciting from the Vedas; brahma-vâdibhih--by first-class brâhmanas;

> > svarna-kaksa-patâkâbhih--decorated with flags with golden embroidery; haimaih--golden; citra-dhvajaih--with decorated flags; rathaih--with chariots; sat-asvaih--having very beautiful horses; rukma--golden; sannâhaih--with harnesses; bhataih--by soldiers; purata-varmabhih--covered with armor made of gold;

> > srenîbhih--by such a line or procession; vâra-mukhyâbhih--accompanied by beautiful, well-dressed prostitutes; bhrtyaih--by servants; ca--also; eva--indeed; pada-anugaih--by infantry; pâramesthyâni--other paraphernalia befitting a royal reception; upâdâya--taking all together; panyâni--valuable jewels, etc.; ucca-avacâni--of different values; ca--also; pâdayoh--at the lotus feet of the Lord; nyapatat--fell down; premnâ--in ecstatic love; praklinna--softened, moistened; hrdaya--the core of the heart; îksanah--whose eyes.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 39-40

> > pâduke nyasya puratah

> > prânjalir bâspa-locanah

> > tam âslisya ciram dorbhyâm

> > snâpayan netrajair jalaih

> > râmo laksmana-sîtâbhyâm

> > viprebhyo ye 'rha-sattamâh

> > tebhyah svayam namascakre

> > prajâbhis ca namaskrtah

> > pâduke--the two wooden shoes; nyasya--after placing; puratah--before Lord Râmacandra; prânjalih--with folded hands; bâspa-locanah--with tears in the eyes; tam--unto Him, Bharata; âslisya--embracing; ciram--for a long time; dorbhyâm--with His two arms; snâpayan--bathing; netra-jaih--coming from His eyes; jalaih--with the water;

> > râmah--Lord Râmacandra; laksmana-sîtâbhyâm--with Laksmana and mother Sîtâ; viprebhyah--unto the learned brâhmanas; ye--also others who; arha-sattamâh--worthy of being worshiped; tebhyah--unto them; svayam--personally; namah-cakre--offered respectful obeisances; prajâbhih--by the citizens; ca--and; namah-krtah--was offered obeisances.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 Laksmana, Lord Râmacandra then offered His respectful obeisances unto the learned brahmanas and the elderly persons in the family, and all the citizens of Ayodhya offered their respectful obeisances unto the Lord.

> > ******

> > TEXT 41

> > dhunvanta uttarâsangân

> > patim vîksya cirâgatam

> > uttarâh kosalâ mâlyaih

> > kiranto nanrtur mudâ

> > dhunvantah--waving; uttara-âsangân--the upper cloths covering the body; patim--the Lord; vîksya--seeing; cira-âgatam--returned after many years of banishment; uttarâh kosalâh--the citizens of Ayodhyâ; mâlyaih kirantah--offering Him garlands; nanrtuh--began to dance; mudâ--in great jubilation.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXTS 42-43

> > pâduke bharato 'grhnâc

> > câmara-vyajanottame

> > vibhîsanah sasugrîah

> > sveta-cchatram marut-sutah

> > dhanur-nisangân chatrughnah

> > sîtâ tîrtha-kamandalum

> > abibhrad angadah khadgam

> > haimam carmarksa-rân nrpa

> > pâduke--the two wooden shoes; bharatah--Lord Bharata; agrhnât--carried; câmara--whisk; vyajana--fan; uttame--very opulent; vibhîsanah--the brother of Râvana; sa-sugrîvah--with Sugrîva; sveta-chatram--a white umbrella; marut-sutah--Hanumân, the son of the wind-god;

> > dhanuh--the bow; nisangân--with two quivers; satrughnah--one of the brothers of Lord Râmacandra; sîtâ--mother Sîtâ; tîrtha-kamandalum--the waterpot filled with water from holy places; abibhrat--carried; angadah--the monkey commander named Angada; khadgam--the sword; haimam--made of gold; carma--shield; rksa-rât--the King of the Rksas, Jâmbavân; nrpa--O King.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King, Lord Bharata carried Lord Râmacandra's wooden shoes, Sugriva and Vibhisana carried a whisk and an excellent fan, Hanuman carried a white umbrella, Satrughna carried a bow and two quivers, and Sîtâdevi carried a waterpot filled with water from holy places. Angada carried a sword, and Jambavan, King of the Rksas, carried a golden shield.

> > ******

> > TEXT 44

> > puspaka-stho nutah strîbhih

> > stûyamânas ca vandibhih

> > vireje bhagavân râjan

> > grahais candra ivoditah

> > puspaka-sthah--seated on the airplane made of flowers; nutah--worshiped; strîbhih--by the women; stûyamânah--being offered prayers; ca--and; vandibhih--by the reciters; vireje--beautified; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Râmacandra; râjan--O King Parîksit; grahaih--among the planets; candrah--the moon; iva--like; uditah--risen.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O King Pariksit, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXTS 45-46

> > bhrâtrâbhinanditah so 'tha

> > sotsavâm prâvisat purîm

> > pravisya râja-bhavanam

> > guru-patnîh sva-mâtaram

> > gurûn vayasyâvarajân

> > pûjitah pratyapûjayat

> > vaidehî laksmanas caiva

> > yathâvat samupeyatuh

> > bhrâtrâ--by His brother (Bharata); abhinanditah--being welcomed properly; sah--He, Lord Râmacandra; atha--thereafter; sa-utsavâm--in the midst of a festival; prâvisat--entered; purîm--the city of Ayodhyâ; pravisya--after entering; râja-bhavanam--the royal palace; guru-patnih--Kaikeyî and other stepmothers; sva-mâtaram--His own mother (Kausalyâ);

> > gurûn--the spiritual masters (Srî Vasistha and others); vayasya--unto friends of the same age; avara-jân--and those who were younger than He; pûjitah--being worshiped by them; pratyapûjayat--He returned the obeisances; vaidehî--mother Sîtâ; laksmanah--Laksmana; ca eva--and; yathâ-vat--in a befitting way; samupeyatuh--being welcomed, entered the palace.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Thereafter, having been welcomed by His brother Bharata, Lord Râmacandra entered the city of Ayodhya in the midst of a festival. When He entered the palace, He offered obeisances to all the mothers, including Kaikeyi and the other wives of Maharaja Dasaratha, and especially His own mother, Kausalya. He also offered obeisances to the spiritual preceptors, such as Vasistha. Friends of His own age and younger friends worshiped Him, and He returned their respectful obeisances, as did Laksmana and mother Sîtâ. In this way they all entered the palace.

> > ******

> > TEXT 47

> > putrân sva-mâtaras tâs tu

> > prânâms tanva ivotthitâh

> > âropyânke 'bhisincantyo

> > bâspaughair vijahuh sucah

> > putrân--the sons; sva-mâtarah--Their mothers; tâh--they, headed by Kausalyâ and Kaikeyî; tu--but; prânân--life; tanvah--bodies; iva--like; utthitâh--arisen; âropya--keeping; anke--on the lap; abhisincantyah--moistening (the bodies of their sons); bâspa--by tears; oghaih--continuously pouring; vijahuh--gave up; sucah--lamentation due to separation from their sons.

> > TRANSLATION

> > Upon seeing their sons, the mothers of Rama, Laksmana, Bharata and Satrughna 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 48

> > jatâ nirmucya vidhivat

> > kula-vrddhaih samam guruh

> > abhyasincad yathaivendram

> > catuh-sindhu-jâladibhih

> > jatâh--the matted locks of hair on the head; nirmucya--shaving clean; vidhi-vat--according to regulative principles; kula-vrddhaih--the elderly persons in the family; samam--with; guruh--the family priest or spiritual master, Vasistha; abhyasincat--performed the abhiseka ceremony of Lord Râmacandra; yathâ--as; eva--like; indram--unto King Indra; catuh-sindhu-jala--with the water of the four oceans; âdibhih--and with other paraphernalia for bathing.

> > TRANSLATION

> > The family priest or spiritual master, Vasistha, 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 [abhiseka] for Lord Râmacandra with the water of the four seas and with other substances, just as it was performed for King Indra.

> > ******

> > TEXT 49

> > evam krta-sirah-snânah

> > suvâsâh sragvy-alankrtah

> > svalankrtaih suvâsobhir

> > bhrâtrbhir bhâryayâ babhau

> > evam--thus; krta-sirah-snânah--having completely bathed, washing the head; su-vâsâh--being nicely dressed; sragvi-alankrtah--being decorated with a garland; su-alankrtaih--decorated nicely; su-vâsobhih--dressed nicely; bhrâtrbhih--with His brothers; bhâryayâ--and with His wife, Sîtâ; babhau--the Lord became very brilliant.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 50

> > agrahîd âsanam bhrâtrâ

> > pranipatya prasâditah

> > prajâh sva-dharma-niratâ

> > varnâsrama-gunânvitâh

> > jugopa pitrvad râmo

> > menire pitaram ca tam

> > agrahî--accepted; âsanam--the throne of the state; bhrâtrâ--by His brother (Bharata); pranipatya--after fully surrendering unto Him; prasâditah--having been pleased; prajâh--and the citizens; sva-dharma-niratâh--fully engaged in their respective occupational duties; varnâsrama--according to the system of varna and âsrama; guna-anvitâh--all of them being qualified in that process; jugopa--the Lord protected them; pitr-vat--exactly like a father; râmah--Lord Râmacandra; menire--they considered; pitaram--exactly like a father; ca--also; tam--Him, Lord Râmacandra.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 asrama, accepted Him as their father.

> > ******

> > TEXT 51

> > tretâyâm vartamânâyâm

> > kâlah krta-samo 'bhavat

> > râme râjani dharma-jne

> > sarva-bhûa-sukhâvahe

> > tretâyâm--in the Tretâ-yuga; vartamânâyâm--although situated in that period; kâlah--the period; krta--with Satya-yuga; samah--equal; abhavat--it so became; râme--because of Lord Râmacandra's being present; râjani--as the ruling king; dharma-jne--because He was fully religious; sarva-bhûta--of all living entities; sukha-âvahe--giving full happiness.

> > TRANSLATION

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

> > ******

> > TEXT 52

> > vanâni nadyo girayo

> > varsâni dvîpa-sindhavah

> > sarve kâma-dughâ âsan

> > prajânâm bharatarsabha

> > vanâni--the forests; nadyah--the rivers; girayah--the hills and mountains; varsâni--various parts of the states or divisions on the surface of the earth; dvîpa--islands; sindhavah--the oceans and seas; sarve--all of them; kâma-dughâh--full of their respective opulences; âsan--existed like that; prajânâm--of all the living beings; bharata-rsabha--O Mahârâja Parîksit, best of the Bharata dynasty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > O Maharaja Pariksit, 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 53

> > nâdhi-vyâdhi-jarâ-glâni-

> > duhkha-soka-bhaya-klamâh

> > mrtyus cânicchatâm nâsîd

> > râme râjany adhoksaje

> > na--not; âdhi--adhyâtmika, adhibhautika and adhidaivika sufferings (that is, sufferings from the body and mind, from other living entities and from nature); vyâdhi--diseases; jarâ--old age; glâni--bereavement; duhkha--grief; soka--lamentation; bhaya--fear; klamâh--and fatigue; mrtyuh--death; ca--also; anicchatâm--of those who did not like it; na âsît--there was not; râme--during the rule of Lord Râmacandra; râjani--because of His being the king; adhoksaje--the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is beyond this material world.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > ******

> > TEXT 54

> > eka-patnî-vrata-dharo

> > râjarsi-caritah sucih

> > sva-dharmam grha-medhîyam

> > siksayan svayam âcarat

> > eka-patnî-vrata-dharah--taking a vow not to accept a second wife or to have any connection with any other woman; râja-rsi--like a saintly king; caritah--whose character; sucih--pure; sva-dharmam--one's own occupational duty; grha-medhîyam--especially of persons situated in household life; siksayan--teaching (by personal behavior); svayam--personally; âcarat--executedHis duty.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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 varnasrama-dharma. Thus He taught the general public by His personal activities.

> > ******

> > TEXT 55

> > premnânuvrttyâ sîlena

> > prasrayâvanatâ satî

> > bhiyâ hriyâ ca bhâva-jnâ

> > bhartuh sîtâharan manah

> > premnâ anuvrttyâ--because of service rendered to the husband with love and faith; sîlena--by such good character; prasraya-avanatâ--always very submissive and ready to satisfy the husband; satî--chaste; bhiyâ--by being afraid; hriyâ--by shyness; ca--also; bhâva-jnâ--understanding the attitude (of the husband); bhartuh--of her husband, Lord Râmacandra; sîtâ--mother Sîtâ; aharat--simply captivated; manah--the mind.

> > TRANSLATION

> > 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.

> > Back to the running text