RAMA 632

proper place of the axle and thus averted the mishap. Rama trod upon the stone. Accordingly, as soon as When Dasaratha knew about this timely action of Rama trod on the stone cast off her form as stone Kaikeyl he was so very pleased that he asked her to and resumed her old form as Ahalya. Immediately choose any two boons she desired, and she asked him Gautama and Satananda also appeared on the scene. to keep the boons with him to be granted whenever Ahalya ascended to the sky as a devi. she requested for them. Dasaratha and Kaikeyl took 8) Marriage. VlsVamitra came to king 's palace leave of Indra and returned to . (Kamba with Rama and Laksmana. Janaka's daughter and , ). his younger brothers' daughters , Ormila and 5) In the company of Vtivamitra. The four sons of Srutakirti were living in the palace as sisters and very DaSaratha grew up in Ayodhya. Though they were good friends. One day the princesses who were playing equally friendly to one another, intimacy between Rama in the garden could not pluck jasmine flowers from a and Laksmana and also between and Satrughna height. Sita then brought the Saivacapa (Siva's bow) came to be thicker. Once VisVamitra decided to con- from the weapon-room and shot down Jasmine flowers duct a for the happiness and contentment of all with it. As Janaka watched Sita's action of shooting people. At the very commencement of the yajna, Raksasas, with the Saivacapa an idea came into his head. He in batches, tried to spoil it, and Marica and Subahu, announced that the hero, who succeeded in shoot- sons of were the leaders of the obstructionists. ing with Saivacapa, would be given Sita in marriage. Visvamitra knew that Rama was the most effective Just as Rama and Laksmana were inseparable compan- weapon against the Raksasas and requested Dasaratha ions Sita and Ormila were always to be found together to lend him Rama's help. Dasaratha felt sad about it and Mandavi and Srutakirti were particular friends. and Visvamitra was getting excited over the former's Sri Rama shot an arrow from Siva's bow and he was attitude when Vasistha advised Dasaratha to send Rama selected as Sita's husband. Janaka informed Dasaratha along with Visvamitra. Accordingly DaSaratha sent of the marriage and he came with his attendants. Rama to the forest in the company of Visvamitra. Bharata married Mandavi, Laksmana, and Laksmana too followed his brother. Satrughna, Srutakirti. After living in Mithila for some- While walking in the forest Visvamitra related many time Dasaratha and others returned to Ayodhya. Visva- old stories to Rama and Laksmana. They crossed mitra went to the Himalayas for rest. river Sarayu, passed by many asramas of munis and 9) Paras urania's threat. Dasaratha and others on their reached the Pala forest. Here Visvamitra imparted to way back to Ayodhya passed the Videha kingdom and Rama and Laksmana, who felt too weak on account reached the suburbs of Bhargavasrama. All of a sudden of hunger and thirst the two mantras Bala and Atibala, a shining form of a brahmin with Ksatriya effulgence which would ward off hunger and thirst. He also appeared in front of the procession. Vasistha under- taught them the use of certain rare arrows. Sri Rama stood that it was Paraiurama and Dasaratha and was specially taught the use of a divine arrow called others were alarmed. Paras urama approached Sri Rama Jrmbhakastra. who was viewing the former with quiet serenity. Paraiu- 6) Tdfakd killed. While Visvamitra was relating to rama was very angry that Rama broke the bow of Siva them the story of Tataka, who dwelt in the forest, they who was his (Paras urama's) preceptor. All Rama's con- saw the fierce Raksasi coming fast with a long spear in ciliatory talk failed to pacify Paras urama, who spoke her hand. She threw a big rock at Visvamitra. Rama thus to Rama : "You, impudent fellow ! you insulted shattered the rock with an arrow. Next, Tataka dashed me and my preceptor. All right, let me see your power. forward against Rama roaring furiously, and Rama, Take this my bow, and shoot with it." with another arrow killed her. The soul of the dead Sri Rama took hold of the bow and bent it easily and the Tataka assumed form of a Gandharva woman and fixing an arrow on it asked Parasurama to point out the to heaven. it. feared that if the arrow ascended . target for As Parasurama 7) Salvation to Ahalyd. Raksasas like Subahu lined up was sent, it might crush the whole univese, he asked to obstruct the yajna, which Visvamitra began after Rama so choose the result of his (Paras urama's) tapas of Rama killed Subahu Marica ran for Both the bow and the arrow the killing Tataka. ; as target the arrow. away in fright and hid himself in the sea. Rama drove were of Visnu's power. That power as well as his own away the other Raksasas. Vaisnava power, Parasurama transferred to Sri Rama Next, Visvamitra, hearing about the Svayarhvara of and having thus fulfilled the object of his incarnation Sita, daughter of King Janaka started for his palace with Parasurama went to Punyasrama for permanent tapas. Sri Rama and Laksmana, and on the way he told the boys 10) Ruin of the country. Dasaratha decided to install many Puranic stories. They bathed in the river Gaiiga Rama as crown prince. The people whole-heartedly and a short walk took them to the vacant asrama of welcomed it. During the night previous to the corona- Gautama. The great muni called Gautama had once tion, while the wives of DaSaratha were gladly discussing lived in this alrama with his dutiful wife Ahalya and the happy incident, , the tale-bearing maid of their son Satananda, an erudite scholar in all sciences. advised her mistress to prevail upon Dasaratha Indra, who lost his head over the great beauty of Ahalya to exile Rama into the forest and install Bharata as went to the aSrama one midnight in the form of a crown prince. Manthara also reminded Kaikeyi about cock and crew. Thinking it was already dawn Gautama the boons, which had been promised to her by Dasaratha went to the river for bath when Indra assumed the during the devasura war. Kaikeyi fell into the trap form of the muni, entered his bed room and slept with thus set by Manthara. Kaikeyi put on a wrathful face and Ahalya. When Gautama understood the fraud thus shut herself up in a room. When Dasaratha enquired played upon him, he cursed her into a stone. She was of her the reason for her anger she asked him to make to resume her old form when, during Tretayuga, Sri her son Bharata, the crown prince and exile Rama for