Ramayana. Rama Reigns.
Then, while Rama sat on the throne, all the great hermits came to visit him who had regained his kingdom. They came from east and west and north and south, led by Agastya, and Rama worshipped them and appointed for them splendid seats of sacrificial grass and gold-embroidered deer-skin. Then the sages praised Rama's fortune, especially inasmuch as he had slain Ravana's son, mightier than Ravana himself, and had delivered men and gods from fear. Then Rama questioned the sages about the former history of Ravana and Ravana's son, and they related to him at length the story of the rakshasas' origin -- how they had come to Lanka; how Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana had won each a boon from the grandsire; what evil deeds had been done by Ravana; and how the gods had appointed Vishnu to take human form to achieve his death. Likewise they told of the origin and deeds of the monkeys Vali and Sugriva and Hanuman. "And, O Rama!" they said, "in the golden age the demon sought to fight with thee; for those whom the gods destroy go to the heaven of the gods till they are born again on earth; those whom Vishnu slays go to Vishnu's heaven, so that his very wrath is a blessing. And it was for this that Ravana stole Sita away and thou didst assume a human form for his destruction, O great one, know that thou art Narayana: do thou recollect thyself. Thou art the eternal Vishnu, and Sita is Lakshmi."
Rama himself and all the assembled folk -- Rama's brothers, the monkey-chiefs, the rakshasas under Vibhishana, the vassal kings, and the Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras of Ayodhya -- marvelled at the words of the great sages; and Agastya took leave of Rama and departed, and night fell.
Then, while Rama sat on the throne, all the great hermits came to visit him who had regained his kingdom. They came from east and west and north and south, led by Agastya, and Rama worshipped them and appointed for them splendid seats of sacrificial grass and gold-embroidered deer-skin. Then the sages praised Rama's fortune, especially inasmuch as he had slain Ravana's son, mightier than Ravana himself, and had delivered men and gods from fear. Then Rama questioned the sages about the former history of Ravana and Ravana's son, and they related to him at length the story of the rakshasas' origin -- how they had come to Lanka; how Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana had won each a boon from the grandsire; what evil deeds had been done by Ravana; and how the gods had appointed Vishnu to take human form to achieve his death. Likewise they told of the origin and deeds of the monkeys Vali and Sugriva and Hanuman. "And, O Rama!" they said, "in the golden age the demon sought to fight with thee; for those whom the gods destroy go to the heaven of the gods till they are born again on earth; those whom Vishnu slays go to Vishnu's heaven, so that his very wrath is a blessing. And it was for this that Ravana stole Sita away and thou didst assume a human form for his destruction, O great one, know that thou art Narayana: do thou recollect thyself. Thou art the eternal Vishnu, and Sita is Lakshmi."
Rama himself and all the assembled folk -- Rama's brothers, the monkey-chiefs, the rakshasas under Vibhishana, the vassal kings, and the Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras of Ayodhya -- marvelled at the words of the great sages; and Agastya took leave of Rama and departed, and night fell.
Footer section, if any
Ramayana
Previous Page
Table of Contents
Next Page
Then, while Rama sat on the throne, all the great hermits came to visit him who had regained his kingdom. They came from east and west and north and south, led by Agastya, and Rama worshipped them and appointed for them splendid seats of sacrificial grass and gold-embroidered deer-skin. Then the sages praised Rama's fortune, especially inasmuch as he had slain Ravana's son, mightier than Ravana himself, and had delivered men and gods from fear. Then Rama questioned the sages about the former history of Ravana and Ravana's son, and they related to him at length the story of the rakshasas' origin -- how they had come to Lanka; how Ravana, Kumbhakarna, and Vibhishana had won each a boon from the grandsire; what evil deeds had been done by Ravana; and how the gods had appointed Vishnu to take human form to achieve his death. Likewise they told of the origin and deeds of the monkeys Vali and Sugriva and Hanuman. "And, O Rama!" they said, "in the golden age the demon sought to fight with thee; for those whom the gods destroy go to the heaven of the gods till they are born again on earth; those whom Vishnu slays go to Vishnu's heaven, so that his very wrath is a blessing. And it was for this that Ravana stole Sita away and thou didst assume a human form for his destruction, O great one, know that thou art Narayana: do thou recollect thyself. Thou art the eternal Vishnu, and Sita is Lakshmi."
Rama himself and all the assembled folk -- Rama's brothers, the monkey-chiefs, the rakshasas under Vibhishana, the vassal kings, and the Brahmans, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras of Ayodhya -- marvelled at the words of the great sages; and Agastya took leave of Rama and departed, and night fell.
Previous Page
Table of Contents
Next Page
Back to the top
Footer section, if any
Footer section, if any