Ramayana. Rama's Justice.
Then the dog went in and stood before Rama, and praised his truth and asked his pardon; and Rama inquired: "What shall I do for thee? Do thou speak without fear." Then the dog related how a certain Brahman mendicant had beaten him without cause, and Rama sent for the Brahman, and he came, and asked what Rama required of him. Then Rama reasoned with him, saying: "O twice-born one, thou hast hurt this dog, who hurt thee not. Lo, anger is the worst of passions, like a sharp dagger, and steals away all virtue. Greater is the evil that may be wrought by lack of self-control than by the sword, or a serpent, or a foe implacable." The Brahman answered: "I had been seeking alms and was tired and hungry, and this dog would not move away, althought I asked him, so I struck him. But, O king, I am guilty of error, and thou shouldst punish me, that I may escape from the fear of hell."
Rama considered what was a fitting punishment; but the dog requested: "Do thou appoint this Brahman head of a family." So Rama honoured him and sent him away riding on an elephant; but the counsellors were astonished. To them Rama said: "You do not understand this matter; but the dog knows what it signifies." Then the dog, addressed by Rama, explained: "I was once the head of a family, and I served the gods and Brahmans, and fed the very servants before I took my food, and I was gentle and benevolent; yet I have fallen into this sorry state. O King, this Brahman is cruel and impatient in his nature, and he will fail to discharge the duties of the head of a family, and will fall into Hell." Then Rama wondered at the dog's words, but the dog went away and betook himself to penance in Benares.
Another time there came a Brahman to the palace gate bearing the dead body of his son, and wailing: "O my son, thou art but fourteen years of age, and I know not for what sin of mine it is that thou hast died; never have I lied, or hurt an animal, or done any other sin. It must be for some other reason that thou hast gone to Yama's realm. Indeed, it must be that the king has sinned, for else such things may not befall. Therefore, O king, do thou confer life again upon him; or, if not, my wife and I will die here at thy gate, like those that have no king."
Then Rama summoned a council of eight chief Brahmans, and Narada took up the word and explained to Rama what had been the cause of the boy's premature death. He told him of the four ages. "And now, O king, the Kali age begins already, for a Shudra has begun to practise penances in thy kingdom, and for this cause the boy has died. Do thou search the matter out and put down such misdeeds, so that the virtue of thy subjects may increase and this boy may be restored to life."
So Rama ordered the body of the boy to be preserved in sweet oil, and he bethought him of the self-coursing car Pushpaka, and it knew his mind and came to him straight-way. Then Rama mounted the car and sought through every quarter; but he found no sin in the west nor in the north, and the east was crystal clear. Only in the south, beside a sacred pool, he found a yogi standing on his head practising the most severe disciplines, and Rama asked him: "O thou blest and self-devoted, who art thou, and what thy colour, and what dost thou seek to win, whether Heaven or aught else?" And the yogi answered: "O great Rama, I am of the Shudras, and it is for Heaven that I do this penance." Then Rama drew his sword and cut off the yogi's head, and the gods rained down flowers and praised the deed; but the Shudra yogi attained to the abode of the heavenly ones. Now Rama prayed to the gods: "If ye are pleased with me, do ye restore to life the Brahman's son and so fulfil my promise"; and they granted it, and Rama returned to Ayodhya. Meanwhile Sita, dwelling at Valmiki's hermitage, gave birth to sons, and they were named Kusha and Lava; and they grew up in the forest hermitage, and Valmiki taught them wisdom, and he made this book of the Ramayana in shlokas, and gave them skill in recitation.
Then the dog went in and stood before Rama, and praised his truth and asked his pardon; and Rama inquired: "What shall I do for thee? Do thou speak without fear." Then the dog related how a certain Brahman mendicant had beaten him without cause, and Rama sent for the Brahman, and he came, and asked what Rama required of him. Then Rama reasoned with him, saying: "O twice-born one, thou hast hurt this dog, who hurt thee not. Lo, anger is the worst of passions, like a sharp dagger, and steals away all virtue. Greater is the evil that may be wrought by lack of self-control than by the sword, or a serpent, or a foe implacable." The Brahman answered: "I had been seeking alms and was tired and hungry, and this dog would not move away, althought I asked him, so I struck him. But, O king, I am guilty of error, and thou shouldst punish me, that I may escape from the fear of hell."
Rama considered what was a fitting punishment; but the dog requested: "Do thou appoint this Brahman head of a family." So Rama honoured him and sent him away riding on an elephant; but the counsellors were astonished. To them Rama said: "You do not understand this matter; but the dog knows what it signifies." Then the dog, addressed by Rama, explained: "I was once the head of a family, and I served the gods and Brahmans, and fed the very servants before I took my food, and I was gentle and benevolent; yet I have fallen into this sorry state. O King, this Brahman is cruel and impatient in his nature, and he will fail to discharge the duties of the head of a family, and will fall into Hell." Then Rama wondered at the dog's words, but the dog went away and betook himself to penance in Benares.
Another time there came a Brahman to the palace gate bearing the dead body of his son, and wailing: "O my son, thou art but fourteen years of age, and I know not for what sin of mine it is that thou hast died; never have I lied, or hurt an animal, or done any other sin. It must be for some other reason that thou hast gone to Yama's realm. Indeed, it must be that the king has sinned, for else such things may not befall. Therefore, O king, do thou confer life again upon him; or, if not, my wife and I will die here at thy gate, like those that have no king."
Then Rama summoned a council of eight chief Brahmans, and Narada took up the word and explained to Rama what had been the cause of the boy's premature death. He told him of the four ages. "And now, O king, the Kali age begins already, for a Shudra has begun to practise penances in thy kingdom, and for this cause the boy has died. Do thou search the matter out and put down such misdeeds, so that the virtue of thy subjects may increase and this boy may be restored to life."
So Rama ordered the body of the boy to be preserved in sweet oil, and he bethought him of the self-coursing car Pushpaka, and it knew his mind and came to him straight-way. Then Rama mounted the car and sought through every quarter; but he found no sin in the west nor in the north, and the east was crystal clear. Only in the south, beside a sacred pool, he found a yogi standing on his head practising the most severe disciplines, and Rama asked him: "O thou blest and self-devoted, who art thou, and what thy colour, and what dost thou seek to win, whether Heaven or aught else?" And the yogi answered: "O great Rama, I am of the Shudras, and it is for Heaven that I do this penance." Then Rama drew his sword and cut off the yogi's head, and the gods rained down flowers and praised the deed; but the Shudra yogi attained to the abode of the heavenly ones. Now Rama prayed to the gods: "If ye are pleased with me, do ye restore to life the Brahman's son and so fulfil my promise"; and they granted it, and Rama returned to Ayodhya. Meanwhile Sita, dwelling at Valmiki's hermitage, gave birth to sons, and they were named Kusha and Lava; and they grew up in the forest hermitage, and Valmiki taught them wisdom, and he made this book of the Ramayana in shlokas, and gave them skill in recitation.
Footer section, if any
Ramayana
Previous Page
Table of Contents
Next Page
Then the dog went in and stood before Rama, and praised his truth and asked his pardon; and Rama inquired: "What shall I do for thee? Do thou speak without fear." Then the dog related how a certain Brahman mendicant had beaten him without cause, and Rama sent for the Brahman, and he came, and asked what Rama required of him. Then Rama reasoned with him, saying: "O twice-born one, thou hast hurt this dog, who hurt thee not. Lo, anger is the worst of passions, like a sharp dagger, and steals away all virtue. Greater is the evil that may be wrought by lack of self-control than by the sword, or a serpent, or a foe implacable." The Brahman answered: "I had been seeking alms and was tired and hungry, and this dog would not move away, althought I asked him, so I struck him. But, O king, I am guilty of error, and thou shouldst punish me, that I may escape from the fear of hell."
Rama considered what was a fitting punishment; but the dog requested: "Do thou appoint this Brahman head of a family." So Rama honoured him and sent him away riding on an elephant; but the counsellors were astonished. To them Rama said: "You do not understand this matter; but the dog knows what it signifies." Then the dog, addressed by Rama, explained: "I was once the head of a family, and I served the gods and Brahmans, and fed the very servants before I took my food, and I was gentle and benevolent; yet I have fallen into this sorry state. O King, this Brahman is cruel and impatient in his nature, and he will fail to discharge the duties of the head of a family, and will fall into Hell." Then Rama wondered at the dog's words, but the dog went away and betook himself to penance in Benares.
Another time there came a Brahman to the palace gate bearing the dead body of his son, and wailing: "O my son, thou art but fourteen years of age, and I know not for what sin of mine it is that thou hast died; never have I lied, or hurt an animal, or done any other sin. It must be for some other reason that thou hast gone to Yama's realm. Indeed, it must be that the king has sinned, for else such things may not befall. Therefore, O king, do thou confer life again upon him; or, if not, my wife and I will die here at thy gate, like those that have no king."
Then Rama summoned a council of eight chief Brahmans, and Narada took up the word and explained to Rama what had been the cause of the boy's premature death. He told him of the four ages. "And now, O king, the Kali age begins already, for a Shudra has begun to practise penances in thy kingdom, and for this cause the boy has died. Do thou search the matter out and put down such misdeeds, so that the virtue of thy subjects may increase and this boy may be restored to life."
So Rama ordered the body of the boy to be preserved in sweet oil, and he bethought him of the self-coursing car Pushpaka, and it knew his mind and came to him straight-way. Then Rama mounted the car and sought through every quarter; but he found no sin in the west nor in the north, and the east was crystal clear. Only in the south, beside a sacred pool, he found a yogi standing on his head practising the most severe disciplines, and Rama asked him: "O thou blest and self-devoted, who art thou, and what thy colour, and what dost thou seek to win, whether Heaven or aught else?" And the yogi answered: "O great Rama, I am of the Shudras, and it is for Heaven that I do this penance." Then Rama drew his sword and cut off the yogi's head, and the gods rained down flowers and praised the deed; but the Shudra yogi attained to the abode of the heavenly ones. Now Rama prayed to the gods: "If ye are pleased with me, do ye restore to life the Brahman's son and so fulfil my promise"; and they granted it, and Rama returned to Ayodhya. Meanwhile Sita, dwelling at Valmiki's hermitage, gave birth to sons, and they were named Kusha and Lava; and they grew up in the forest hermitage, and Valmiki taught them wisdom, and he made this book of the Ramayana in shlokas, and gave them skill in recitation.
Previous Page
Table of Contents
Next Page
Back to the top
Footer section, if any
Footer section, if any