ADAPTED FROM KALIDASA'S SANSKRIT EPIC tfRAGHUVAMSHAM

APPROVED BY THE COMICS

AUTHORITY Tradition has it that was the ideal king. Gandhiji was only reinforcing it when he named his ideal state ‘Rama-Rajya’. Yet the predecessors of Roma, in his dynasty of the Ikshwakus, were as valiant and as benign as Rama himself. This story tells of their deeds. The heroes of epics have their tragic flaws because epics always tell the whole truth. Like Rama, his ancestors also had flawed characters despite the glory of their per­ sonalities. Inspired by the epic of Valmiki, Kalidasa wrote his classic poem ‘Raghuvamsha’. While chronicling the lives of the ancestors of Rama, it noted the decline of the ruling house also. It is interesting to note that the trace the genealogy of Rama to the Sun. Some of the illustrious ancestors listed in the genealogy are Manu, Ikshwaku, Harischandra, Rohita, Sagara, Bhagiratha, Ambarisha and Rituparna. Brihadbala, who fought in the Mahabhorata war is said to be a descendant of Rama.

WE HAVE BEEN COMPELLED TO INCREASE THE PRICE OF AMAR CHITRA KATHA TO RS. 2.50 PER COPY BECAUSE OF THE RISING COST OF PRODUCTION. WE REQUEST OUR READERS TO KINDLY BEAR WITH US.

Published by H.G. Mirchandani for India Book House Education Trust, 29 Wodehouse Road, Bombay - 400 039 and printed by H.K.Nasta at IBH Printers,’ Marol Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, Andheri (East), Bombay - 400 059*. Editor: Anant Pai Associate Editor: Kamala Chandrakant Script: Kaxnala Chandrakant Illustrations: Ram Waeerkar ANCESTORS OF RAMA

RfMM ’5 ORtPiT-GRANDFATHER, THE PIOUS PILIPfl OF THE IK5HMKU M CE, M $ RENOWNED FOR Hie VIRTUE. HIS WIFE SUPAKSHINA WAS PEVOTEP TO HIM AND HIS SUBJECTS LOVEP HIM. VET HE m s SAP — HE HAP NO CHILPREN.

ONE PM , DILIPft HAD AN IDE/). A FEW DM5 LATER

Pi s h a ll c o n s u lt I HAVE ^ SAGE VASISHTHA. r ENTRUSTED THE \ >

VA5I5HTHA CL05EP HI5 EVES FOR QUEEN ANP ^ A MOMENT. THEN — r~T~ l---^ I ARE VERY UNHAPPY —7------—------W //,^ ^ / LONG, LONG AGO, WHEN WE YEARN FOR A 50N /GANGA FLOWEP IN WHY ARE WE [ HEAVEN ,ANP YOU WERE 'f Z * t g K DEPRIVED I. A YOUNG PRINCE, VOU p W t h u s f y \H A P GONE TO VISIT = AINPRA WITH f) **»/ SUPAKSHINA, J j 0 k your Ixi' i XCHERISHEP T J f f ^ m / J i/ A i T ) bripe.

WHILE RETURNING HOME YOU PA55EP BY 5URABHI, THE DIVINE COW-

J AH! HERE COMES THE CROWN -PRINCE OF AYOPHYA WITH HIS SRIPE TO PAY /ME HOMAGE. I 5HALL BLESS / THEM WITH MANY / \ VALIANT SONS. S ANCESTORS OF RAMA " YOU WERE 50 ENGROSSED IN YOUR YOUNG BRIDE, HOWEVER, THAT YOU HARDLY NOTICED SURABHI. SHE FELT SLIGHTED AND HER INTENDED BLESSING CAME FORTH AS A CURSE. " r VAIN PRINCE, MAY YOU AND YOUR BRIDE NEVER HAVE ANY CHILDREN TILL YOU ATONE. FOR NEGLEC- TING ME BY SERVING /MY OFFSPRING. ^

"BUT THE DIN OF GANG A AS THE WISE WILL WAS SO LOUD THAT YOU TELL YOU, THOSE DID NOT HEAR THE WHO SLIGHT THE CURSE,AND DROVE O N .' WORTHY, ARE THEMSELVES THE

/ 0 VENERABLE ONE, LISTEN. ALONG WITH YOUR IT WAS AN UNINTENDED WIFE, WAIT ON SURABHl’S PAUGHTER 5LIGHT. HOW CAN NANDINI, WITH LOVE AND PEVOT/ON- I ATONE FOR IT ? PLEASED, NANPINI WILL BESTOW ON YOU THE PRICELESS BOON J VOU SEEK. am ar chitra katha AT THAT MOMENT, NANDINI CAME 5Y ANt? STOOD THUS /MAY YOU IVIN NEAR THE SAGE . I---- NANPINI’S RACE ANP ------6 &ECOME THE PROUP f AT PAWN, SUPAKSHINA /HUST FATHER OF MIGHTY ESCORT HER TO THE FORE5T ANP.IN THE EVENIMG > WAIT SONS. TO WELCOME HER. YOU MUST ATTENP UPON HE)? PURING THE PAV-

3EFORE DAWN EACH PAY, 5UDAKSHINA ...AND LED HER TOWARDS WORSHIPPED NANDINI... THE EDGE OF THE FOREST■ ANCESTORS OF RAMA FROM PAWN TO PUSH, DILIPA WAITED UPON NAMDlNI. A S SHE WALKED HE V I 5HALL ^ FOLLOWED HER. I------'V : -71WWM I WArT HERE TO WELCOME HER IN THE EVENING, a

WHLK SHE 5TOPPEP ,HE STOPPED WHILE SHE RESTED, HE TOO RELAXED

AT PUbH EACH Pm \ T f\ w \ m " b e l o v e d q u e e n ! WAITING PATIENT­ LY, A5 USUAL,TO WELCOME NANPINI ANP TAKE HER \ HO/ME. /

AW 50 TWENTY-ONE PAYS ROLLED ON am ar cKitra katha ON THE TWENTY-SECOND PAY, NANDINI UP THE 6REEN SLOPES OF THE WANDERED OUT OF THE FOREST. HIMALAYAS SHE VENTURED...

I THE KING \ J 15 PATIENT " ANDATTEN- I TIVE - NOW ) I MUST TEST \ HIS VALOUR

INTO ’S OWN GROVE ANP DIUPA TURNED TO GAZE AT THE NATURAL SPLENDOUR OF THE LET HER IVAN PER. HER SURROUNDINGS. 5UPPENLY— INNATE SANCTITY , WILL PROTECT IT ’S HER FROM < I • CHDRGE! WHO ■ HARM. J i r K HAS PAREP r \ \ HARM HEP-' A y

HE RAN INTO THE GROVE TO FIND 5UT TO HIS AMAZEMENT, DILI PA FOUND NANDINI AT THE MERC'S OF A UON 9 T I’LL SHOOT THE L IO N ^ ^ P ANP FREE YOU IN F\ ’ \MOMENT, GENTLE ONE-J #~r ANCESTORS Of RA¥A EVEN GREATER. W/)5 HIS AMAZEMENT, WHEN THE LION SPOKE TO HIM

0 KING, I HAVE. CAST A SPELL ON YOU. 5HIVA HAS POSTED ME HERE r NO! I CANNOT 1 TO GUARD Thie TREE, WHICH LET YOU KILL MY BOTH FWRVAT1 AND ME LOVE A GURU'5 COW- L AS A SON. THE COW HA*b M KILL ME j r\TRESPASSED. SHE S. INSTEAD. A MUST DIE.

r HOW CAN I ? IT IS THE COM; THAT HA5 TRES­ PASSED. you ONLY FOLLOWED HER LIKE A V DEVOTED SON - A

AND LIKE A x DEVOTED SON I AM WILLING TO GIVE UP MY LIFE FOR v HERS. y amor chitra kotha BY PYING YOU WOULD BE SAVING ONLY OWE LIFE. BUT BY LIVING YOU COULp PROTECT /MILLIONS. BE SIPES, YOUR PEPENPANTS WOULP BE LOST WITHOUT YOU. SO k PRESERVE YOUR ftv VALUABLE LIFE ANP J T //( ' A l v V RETURN HOME.//'.? i. 1

Y WOULP YOU BE ABLE \ /BUT IVHAT ABOUT /MY 1 TO FACE SHIVA IF HIS r HONOUR ? I VALUE /MY TREE WERE PESTROYEP? REPUTATION, WHICH WILL HOW THEN CAN I BETRAY LIVE AFTER ME,FAR ABOVE THE FAITH OF THE j /MERE LIFE WHICH IS v VENERABLE SAGE f / FLEETING. SO, PLEASE ACCEPT MY OFFER ANP y V LET /MY CHARGE GO V UNHAR/MEp.

PO NOT FEAR N THE 5AGE. YOU THEN SO CAN APPEASE HIM BE IT. v WITH GIFTS. > ANCESTORS OF RAMA AS SOON AS THE L/ON AGREED, THE. THROWING Hie WEAPONS SPELL WAS BROKEN ANP DILIP/) COULD ASIDE • • • i------move- im m rntrm ------;—

...HE FELL BEFORE THE INSTEAD , A SWEET VOICE LION EXPECTING DEATH SOUNDED IN HIS EARS ■ FROM ITS PAWS •

AS PILIPA SLOWLY ROSE, HE WA5 ASTONISHED TO SEE NAN DIN I WHERE THE LION SHOULD HAVE BEEN------7------— _ _ _ _ _ | / VO NOT BE X / m K L W ,0 VALIANT KIN6 . > 1 CREATEP THIS ILLUSION TO I TE5T yOU.VASISHTHA’S 1 SPIRITUAL POWER GUARP5 _ \ m e SO WELL THAT VAMA * / ' — ^ V himself cannot / W R n l f a I) X TOUCH ME.

* THE GOD OF DEATH. omar cbttra k-utha THEN, GIVE ME YOUR LOYALTY A NOBLE 50N ANP PEVOTION HAVE O MOTHER. PLEA5EP ME- YOU RESERVE A BOON.,

A FEW PAVS LATER., THE ROVAL COUPLE RETURNED TO THEIR PALACE III A 5W/FT CHARIOT.

THEN, IN PUE TIME, 5UPAKSHINA 30RE PtUPA A SON. THEN LET U5 NAME HIM RAGHU, r OUR. 5ON 5HALL BE THE SWIFT-MOVING AN INPRA ON EARTH s ONE. ^ HI5 CHARIOT SHALL RANGE OVER HER k REMOTEST &0UNPARIE5. A ITORS OF R A V A SOOA/, RfiGHU WAS OLD ENOUGH TO QtUPA HI/HI SELF INSTRUCTED? BEGIN HIS EDUCATION ■ RAGHU IN THE ART OF WAR- TO VOU, THE WISEST IN THE LAND, I ENTRUST THE SPIRITUAL TRAIN- v INQ OF MY SON. y

RAGHU GREW UP TO BECOME A FEW YEARS AFTER RAGHU Pi i ENE ROUS, NOBLE PRINCE . WAS INSTALLED — J- E my s o n , i plan to perfo rm My HUNDREDTH SACRIFICE,THE ASHWA- MEDHA AND EARN THE TITLE — LORD OF A HUNDRED SACRIFICES WHICH ALONE NOW ENJOYS-YOU SHALL PROTECT THE SACRIFICIAL HORSE AS IT ROAMS ! THROUGH THE KINGDOMS OF FRIEND AND FOE.

f AH! My 50N,THE HOPE OF THE KINGDOM I I MUST NOW GET YOU MARRIED ANP INSTALL , YOU AS THE S. HEIR-APPARENT. . a m ar chit ra katha AS KAQHU AND HIS COM RAPES FOLLOWED THE HORSE, THEY DEFEATED AND SU&PUED MANV HM6& ■ Iy :------T~7~------5T ----- / s o /me pa y i s h a l l ; fflBJ YOU HAVE PEFEATED \ ^ } MAKE VOU SUFFER ) < T •: f ME NOW BUT I SHALL J f e j k A > THE SAME < b P\HAVE MV REVENGE- §g| ( HUMILIATION. (V 5

MEANWHILE, M ?# ?, A7M9 OF 5(P, MAKING HIM SELF THE DEV/iS > WAS PERTURBED. INVISIBLE, INDRA DROVE OFF THE HORSE. IF PILIPA PERFORMS THE V ASHWA/MEPHA, I WILL NO THE HORSE I LONGER HAVE SOLE CLAIM IT’S BEING OVER THE TITLE—LORP OF 5TOLEN- > V ^ A HUNPREP , BUT Tin '256. SACRIFICES. Jb I DON’T SEE ANY BOPV’

INDR.A, HOWEVER, HAD NOT RECKONED WITH NANPINI’S AFFECTION FOR RftQHU- AS THE PRINCE AND HIS FRIENDS STOOD PERPLEXED, SHE BLESSED HIM WITH SUPERNATURAL VISION. ,------

AH | I HAVE RECEIVEP THE GRACE TO SEE THINGS NOT VISIBLE TO THE ' HU/MflN EVE.

12 ANCESTORS OF RAMA ANP HE SAW THAT THE THIEF WAS INPRA WAS AMAZED BY RAGHU’S BOLD WORDS . iN p m , m e o f t h e p e v a s •______HE STOPPED HIS CHARIOT. LET THE HORSE. 6 0 , O GREAT ONE. YOU SHOULP 5/HITE OUR NOBLE PRINCE, YOU F0E5-N0T STEAL THE SPEAK WELL. BUT 5Y HORSE. YOU KNOW YOU PERFORMING THE WILL ENJOY A MAJOR ASHWAMEDHA YOUR OF THE FATHER PLANS TO SACRIFICE .THEN ROB ME OF MY WHY DO YOU TITLE. I MEAN TO KEEP IT.

IN REPLY RAGHU RAISED HIS BOW AND THE ARROW FOUND ITS MARK TOOK A IM . M M M >>M '

YOU’LL ^ HAVE TO KILL ME FIRST. a m a r c h i i r a k a t h a INPRA WAS FURIOUS HE PLACED A PEAPLV ARROW ON HIS BOW AND TOOK AIM . .------?

BUT RAGHU WAS TOO QUICK FOR HIM. ANP BEFORE IN PRA COULD RECOVER FROM THE SHOCK, RAGHU SHOT DOWN HIS FLAG.

HIS THIRD ARROW CUT INPRA’S BOWSTRING ENRAGED, INPRA FLUNG HIS BOW IN TWO- I------ANCESTORS OF RAMA ... SEIZING Hie LETHAL HURLED IT AT RAOHU WEAPON, VAdRA ...

■ ALAS I OUR Y HOW M/ILL BUT LO! THE NEAT PRINCE HAS J WE FACE MOMENT RAGHU WAS V ^ LLEN jy \ ThlE KING? ON HIS FEET AGAIN. 0000 INPRA WAS AMAZED- YOU HAVE WITH- t STOOD MY WEAPON, WHICH EVEN MOUN­ TAINS CANNOT FACE. I’LL GIVE YOU WHAT- l EVER you ASK FOR, K EXCEPT THE HORSE

THEN LET MY FATHER BE GIVEN THE FULL / SO SHALL /MERITS OF ALL HIS SACRIFICES, ^ V IT BE. . EVEN THOUGH HE MAY NOT COMPLETE THE HUNPREPTH. ANP — LET MY FATHER V ^KNOW THIS a ) Ig a & Z A s S ^each PHOvmf\.fjMMy£.

ANP INPRA’S CHARIOT 50AREP HEAVEN WARPS)

15 am ar chitra katha INDRf) KEPT HIS PROMISE. A PROUD PillPft LATER. STOOD WAITING TO WELCOME THE HERO, AS HE ENTERED AVODHVfl IN TRIUMPH. I NOW WISH TO ENTRU5T THE KIN6P0M TO VOU ANP DEAR 50N,INDRA'S MESSENGER 5 POKE OF VOUR VALOUR TOO LEAP AN ASCETIC LIFE BUT VOUR SCARREP HAND5 ) fcWITH VOUR MOTHER, y ARE MORE ELOQUENT. ,//

SO RAGHU BECAME KING AND DILI PA, WITH SUDAKSHIN,A, RETIRED TO THE FORESTS.

16 ANCESTORS OF RAMA MEANWHILE, THE VASSAL KINGS, WHOM RAGHU MADE /) DECISION HAL? $UBDUED> NOW ROSE IN REVOLT.

^ WE SHALL ^ f LEAVE ON A CAM­ PAIGN OF UNIVERSAL CONQUEST. WE WILL NOT RETURN TILL WE HAVE CON- I \ QUEREP THE \ EARTH.

HE SET OUT ON THE CAMPAIGN AT THE HEAP OF A HUGE ARMY. am ar chitra katha A FEW VEARS LATER, HIS MIGHTY MISSION ACCOMPLISHED, ft TRIUMPHANT RAGHU MARCHED HOMEWARDS TO A VO PH Vft .

ft HERALD ANNOUNCED HIS ARRIVAL HIS POWER ESTA5USHEP, RAGHU NOW IN THE CITV. PEC/PEP TO GIVE AWAY ALL HIS WEALTH . ..-ANP INSTEADOl^f !-— === THEIR CROONS THE V W ENOUGH WEALTH ^ DU5T OF H15 CHARIOT f 5H 0U LP FIRST BE GIVEN COVERS THEIR HU/HBLED}_ TO ALL THOSE KINGS^ HEAPS - OUR KIN6 WHOM I HAVE CON-M QUERED. THE REST f H RETURNS WITH < V SHOULP BE P/STRI£UT^ UNTOLD ,-- ‘I ,E P AMONG MV / WEALTH. J m ;V SUBJECTS. a n c e s to r s o f r a v a AS THE LAST LOT OF TREASURES WAS GIVEN ALL IS WELL WITH U5, AWAY, A YOUNG SAGE STOOP 3EFORE RAGHU- 0 KING. I HAP COME FOR THE FEE WHICH I HAVE ALA£>! PAY TO MY TEACHER. THERE 15 1 SEE THAT I HAI/E COME NOTHING TOO LATE . I WILL LEFT. HAVE TO GO ANP TRY EL5E WHERE.

WELCOME, ^ 0 5AGE | HOW 15 YOUR GURCJ? WHAT CAN I [70 v FOR YOU ? ,

AS THE SAGE TURNED TO GO THE SAGE MENTIONED THE AMOUNT- r WAIT, ^ 0 VIRTU0U5 ONE. 1 CANNOT LET YOU PO THAT. WHAT 15 VOUR GURU’5 y ALONE k PEMANP P J a NOW P055E5SE5 5UCH WEALTH. I WILL HAVE TO TAKE IT FROM . A HIM. /

* THE GOP OF WEALTH am ar chitra katha

WHEN KU&ERA PIVINEP HIS INTENTIONS, /)M9 RAINEP A SHOWER OF HOWEVER — ||| | M p ------^ GOLP COIN5 INTO RAGHU’S COFFERS. T i l f l V m N0 watch j f i l RflGHU. ■ / 1 HA!? b e t t e r m l n m THE f / S k \ WEALTH HE I ^ Ep5, BEF0(?E / / f l t t k ? ’' .' i \ \ H E AT T A C K 5.

AT PAWN, AS RAGHU W AS A B O U T TO S E T O U T —

f LORD! WAITJ . N WHILE VOU 5LEPT, THE LORD OF WEALTH HAS FILLED V VOUR COFFERS. >

* KUBERA’S CAPITAL ANCESTORS OF RAMA WHEN RAGHU TOLD THE SAGE ABOUT /T , HE w a s ft m a z e d * ____ ' TO ALL GREAT KINGS EARTH G LA PLY YIELDS HER WEALTH. HOW GREAT MUST HE BE WHEN HEAVEN ITSELF; SHOWERS HIM WITH WEALTH

AND SO THE PROMISED SON WAS &ORN f HE SHALL BE CALLEP^i AJA, THE UNBORN ) L ONE — ARISEN FROM / ' V the supreme b o u i. / i J k W @ 5 n *

Ad A GREW UP TO BE AS VIRTUOUS AND VALIANT A RAGHU WAS TO HIS PARENTS. am ar chitra katha ME f)NWHILE, AT WPARBHA , INPUMATI, THE THE INVITATION REACHEP THE COURT SISTER OF KING BHOdA, HAP COME OF AGE OF RAGHU. HE SEN T FOR Fidft. ' INPU/MATI WOULP INPUMATI MUST SOON /MAKE A PEERLESS BE MARRIEP- I SHALL HOLP BRIPE-GO TO A 5WAYAMVARA FOR HER VIPARBHA ANP WIN TO WHICH I SHALL INVITE k HER,/MY SON- /MANY A NOBLE

50 /?J/? 5£7 OUT WITH A VAST TOWARPS THE ENP OF THEIR. dOURNEV, AS THEY SET UP CAMP ON THE BANKS OF THE NARMAPA ... I------1---

22 ANCESTORS OF ...AM ANGRV ROGUE ELEPHANT ATTACKED THEM • i-----r— : r ~

m e s p E / iR ...AN P HURLEP IT AT THE ANIMAL.

...IT TURNED INTO A GANDHARVAf

$>WOU HAVE REDEEMED ME FROM A CURSE - AS A REWARD PLEASE ACCEPT THI5 MAGIC SPEAR. IT CAN PUT WHOLE ARMIES TO SLEEP-

* A CELESTIAL BEING- am ar chitra katha THE HE XT MORNING > AdA ANP H IS RETINUE RESUMED THEIR JOURNEY THE MEETING WITH < THE GANDHARVA TELLS ME THAT I HAVE BEEN FAVOURED - PERHAPS S I I AM FATED TO IVIN K X.THE FAIR BRIPE^^Si

AT WDftR&HA, r WELCOME,0 SON OF RAGHU &HOJA HIMSELF YOU MAY REST TONIGHT AT CAME OUT TO THE SPECIAL PALACE I HAVE RECEIVE Ad A. BUILT FOR YOU./ny MEN a WILL GUIDE YOU TO VOUR. I < THRONE AT THE SWAYAM- / uhv VARA HALL TOMORROWS

THE NEXT MORNING, AS AJA THE SON OF , f WHAT HOPE DO WE \ ENTERED THE HALL -- > RAGHU! .([ HAVE NOW OF WIN- J |1 ry - 'N W IN fi THE FAIR /{ 111 / OH, THAT BRIDE ? ' \ J U f ME WERE | !l \ NOT HERE 1 I fl \\ i) g S M

24 ANCESTORS OF RAMA t h e m w a s t e n s e a s t h e m ig h t y k in g s a w a it e d h e r e n t r y - e a c h w / t h THE HOPE THAT HE WOULD &E THE CHOSEN LORD.

SOON, THE PALANQUIN BEARING INDU/VI AT! VOAS BROUGHT IN . 1 f T1! / d JTy mmak

f / i

DLL EYES TURNED TO GAZE AT HER • SUNANDA, A ROYAL MATRON, LED HER TO THE KINGS . am ar chitra katha THUS INDUMfiTI PASSEP ' -/ THE PEVOUT KING OF > NOT IN MV /WANTI, WHO IN LOOK5 EYE5. LET AND VALOUR RIVALS J US /WOVE ON sJHE VERY V t W S . A

fiT LAST, SHE STOOP BEFORE fid ft INDUMfiTI MADE NO COMMENT &UT ONLY dLUSHEP IN CONFUSION ■ MF a j a T t h e crow n p r in c THB H OF ,MI6HTV 'HE 15 THE CH06EN)/ SHALL WE PA5S^ m L RAGHU ’5 SON. . J ; ONE. I SHALL y\ON,MV PRINCE55?

IN P U m n HfiRPLY HEfiRP / ANGA HAS HER. MTU HER GR2E STILL 6 BECOME ONE LOCKEP IN H IS,SH E PLfiCED WITH HER FIT THE GfiRLANP fiROUNP 17 4 MATE, THE fid Pi'S NECK. THERE WAS k L OCEAN-A fi ROAR OF APPROVAL FROM THE ASSEMBLY. *

26 ANCESTORS OF RAMA WHILE THE RIVAL SUITORS LOOKED WITH HOSTILITY AT THE Pm , KING &HOJA LED IN DUMAT I AND Ad ft THROUGH THE FESTIVE CITY • 7 RAGHU ONCE MERCI- ' WE MUST 1 I LESSLY HUM3LEP U S \ AVENGE THE \ ANP NOW HI5 SON / k INSULT. < \ WALKS OFF WITH / ! ^1*^ OUR PRIZE. A \\

y LET US v m l 'WAYLAY THEM AS7a THEY RETURN TO AYOPHYA• JU

THREE DAYS LATER, AJA AND HIS &RIDE SET OUT FOR AYODHYH• -----!--- — !— r” T li I I I I I ■

Mi III am ar ohitra katha SUDDENLY

' AN ARROW f > TAKE COURAGE, IT’S m AM0U5H! TIMID ONE. A JA THE DISAPPOINTED SUITO RS! A SHALL NOT LOSE YOU, HIS VERY LIFE. v

HE TURNED TOftN OLD ftND EXPERIENCE^ HI5 BRIDE IN 5ftFE HftND5 COURTIER.. Ad A TURNED ON HI 5 FOE 5. r I ENTRUST MY n BRIDE TO YOU. GUARD HER WHILE WE /MOUNT THE COUNTER-ATTACK CHARGE! ANCESTORS OF RAMA FOR /? WHILE HE LET THE BATTLE R A G E OH THEN, WEARY OF BLOODSHED AND SLAUGHTER, fid ft MADE A d e c is io n , m r ------' WU^BF-----U L f 1 ^HALL NOW

m t Jftm U5[ m V MKFZ\ SPEAR.

AT ONCE JH E BEWILDERED KINGS AND THEIR ARMIES WERE CHARMED INTO SLEEP. THE NOISE AND , , « ■ CONFUSION OF BATTLE WAS STILLED . M

29 am ar chitra katha fldfl 5LEIV HIS CONCH TO ANNOUNCE THEN HE WENT TO INPUM flTI. HI5 VICTORY-

f)NP THEY RESUMED THEIR JOURNEY TO h y o p h y a . i—•/ . n r J7S THE MIGHTY KING,MY FATHER WILL REJOICE WHEN HE HEARS OF OUR VICTORY OVER HIS MOST v POWERFUL VASSAL5.

WHEN THEY REfiCHEP WOPHYfi NEWS OF YOUR VALOUR HAS TRAVELLED HOME BEFORE YOU- COME,MY CHILPREN,THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLP WAITS TO A t> jk ^ HONOUR YOU. h ATER [MY SON, I f\m O L P > ^NOW AND WOULP LIKE TO RENOUNCE THE WORLD BECOME THE SOVEREIGN AND RULE THE COUNTRY/ IN THE TRADITION OF j g v YOUR ANCE STORS •

AJA WAS A JUST , W IS E AN D STRONG KING AND EARNED THE SAME LOVE AND RESPECT FROM HIS SUEJECT5 THAT *HIS FATHER HAD ENJOYED- ALL THAT AYODHYA NOW NEEDS IS AN HEIR AS PIOUS AND VALIANT AS OUR y V „ KING.

AND THAT HOPE TOO WAS SOON FULFILLED WHEN A SON WAS &ORN TO IN DU MAT! - THE SON WHO BECAME KNOWN AS DASHA RATH A , THE FATHER OF RAMA - XJ n d e r s t a n d i n i r U ride rs t a net i ng SCIENCE SCIENCE BASIC SCIENCES FOR CHILDREN \ UNDERSTANDING SCIENCE is a full-colour series that j j p w explains the fundamentals of science through a happy combination of ‘explanations by picture', and of i% w controlled vocabulary with the use of familiar language. ^ V * ‘ /. • •* * O Produced first in Britain, this series is now being made available in Hindi, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada Rs. 5 each and Gujarati besides English. p i C O "E? O O JC S ’Wit: e c H0 STORY-TIME BOCKS FCR CHILDREN pr*J;cMr.vs*a For ECHO we search and research stories to bring the young reader interesting mythology and folklore, easy- to-read history, the best in contemporary fiction, and a miscellany of puzzles, games and generalknowledge.

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We plan to bring out at least 6 volumes of LET US KNOW INDIA every year. As you build your home library of LET US KNOW INDIA your Rs. 5 each child will not only get to know India, but to experience it.

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