THESTORYOFTHER？M？YANA.

thestoryoftherÂmÂyana.

brahma,creatoroftheuniverse,thoughallpowerful,couldnotrevokeapromiseoncemade.forthisreason,ravana,thedemongodofceylon,stoodonhisheadinthemidstoffivefiresfortenthousandyears,andattheendofthattimeboldlydemandedofbrahmaasarewardthatheshouldnotbeslainbygods,demons,orgenii.healsorequestedthegiftofnineotherheadsandeighteenadditionalarmsandhands.

thesehavingbeengranted,hebeganbytheaidofhisevilspirits,therakshasas,tolaywastetheearthandtodoviolencetothegood,especiallytothepriests.

atthetimewhenravana'soutrageswerespreadingterrorthroughouttheland,andbrahma,lookingdownfromhisthrone,shudderedtoseethemonsterhehadgiftedwithsuchfellpower,therereignedinayodhya,nowthecityofoude,agoodandwiseraja,dasaratha,whohadreignedoverthesplendidcityforninethousandyearswithoutoncegrowingweary.hehadbutonegrief,—thathewaschildless,—andattheopeningofthestoryhewaspreparingtomakethegreatsacrifice,asva-medha,topropitiatethegods,thattheymightgivehimason.

thegods,wellpleased,borehisrequesttobrahmainperson,andincidentallypreferredarequestthatheprovidesomemeansofdestroyingthemonsterravanathatwasworkingsuchwoeamongtheirpriests,anddisturbingtheirsacrifices.

brahmagrantedthefirstrequest,and,cudgelinghisbrainsforadevicetodestroyravana,bethoughthimselfthatwhilehehadpromisedthatneithergods,genii,nordemonsshouldslayhim,hehadsaidnothingofman.heaccordinglyledtheappealinggodstovishnu,whoproclaimedthatthemonstershouldbeslainbymenandmonkeys,andthathewouldhimselfbere-incarnatedastheeldestsonofdasarathaandinthisformcompassthedeathofravana.

incourseoftime,asarewardforhisperformanceofthegreatsacrifice,foursonswereborntodasaratha,ramabykausalya,hisoldestwife,bharata,whosemotherwaskaikeyi,andtwinsons,lakshmanaandsatrughna,whosemotherwassumitra.

rama,theincarnationofvishnu,destinedtodestroyravana,grewdailyingrace,beauty,andstrength.whenhewasbutsixteenyearsold,havingbeensentforbyasagetodestroythedemonswhoweredisturbingtheforesthermitsintheirreligiousrites,hedepartedunattended,savebyhisbrotherlakshmanaandaguide,intothepathlessforests,whereheessfullyovercametheterriblerakshasa,tarika,andconveyedherbodytothegratefulsage.

whilehewasjourneyingthroughtheforests,destroyingcountlessrakshasas,hechancedtopassnearthekingdomofmithilaandheardthatitsking,janaka,hadofferedhispeerlessdaughter,sita,inmarriagetothemanwhocouldbendthemightybowofsivathedestroyer,which,sinceitsowner'sdeath,hadbeenkeptatjanaka'scourt.

ramaatoncedeterminedtoaccomplishthefeat,whichhadbeenessayedinvainbysomanysuitors.whenhepresentedhimselfatcourtjanakawasatoncewonbyhisyouthandbeauty;andwhenthemightybow,restinguponaneight-wheeledcar,wasdrawninbyfivethousandmen,andramawithoutapparenteffortbentituntilitbroke,hegladlygavehimhisbeautifuldaughter,andafterthesplendidweddingceremonieswereover,loadedthehappypairwithpresentstocarrybacktoayodhya.

whendasaratha,whohadattendedthemarriageofhissonatmithila,returnedhome,hebegantofeelwearyofreigning,andbethoughthimselfoftheancienthinducustomofmakingtheeldestsonandheirapparentayuva-raja,—thatisappointinghimassistantking.ramadeservedthishonor,andwould,moreover,beofgreatassistancetohim.

hishappypeoplereceivedtheannouncementofhisintentionwithdelight;thepriestsapprovedofitaswell,andthewholecitywasinthemidstofthemostsplendidpreparationsfortheceremony,whenitoccurredtodasarathathatallhelackedwasthecongratulationsofhisyoungestandfavoritewife,kaikeyi,onthisgreatevent.thewell-wateredstreetsandthegarlandedhouseshadalreadyarousedthesuspicionsofkaikeyi,—suspicionsspeedilyconfirmedbythereportofhermaid.angeredandjealousbecausethesonofkausalyaandnotherdarlingbharata,atthattimeabsentfromthecity,wastobemadeyuva-raja,shefledtothe"chamberofsorrows,"andwastherefoundbytheoldraja.

thoughkaikeyiwashisyoungestandmostbeautifulwife,hertears,threats,andentreatieswouldhavebeenofnoavailhadshenotrecalledthat,monthsbefore,theoldraja,ingratitudeforherdevotednursingduringhisillness,hadgrantedhertwopromises.shenowdemandedthefulfilmentofthesebeforeshewouldconsenttosmileuponhim,andtheconsentwon,sherequiredhim,first,toappointbharatayuva-raja;and,second,toexileramaforfourteenyearstotheterribleforestofdandaka.

thepromiseofahindu,oncegiven,cannotberevoked.inspiteofthegriefoftheoldraja,ofkausalya,hisoldwife,andofallthepeople,whowereatthepointofrevoltatthesuddendisgraceoftheirfavoriteprince,theterriblenewswasannouncedtorama,andhedeclaredhimselfreadytogo,tosavehisfatherfromdishonor.

hepurposedtogoalone,butsitawouldnotsufferherselftobethusdeserted.lifewithouthim,shepleaded,wasworsethandeath;andsoeloquentwashergriefatthethoughtofpartingthatshewasatlastpermittedtodontheroughgarmentofbarkprovidedbythemaliciouskaikeyi.

thepeopleofayodhya,determinedtosharethefateoftheirfavorites,accompaniedthemfromthecity,theirtearslayingthedustraisedbyrama'schariotwheels.butwhensleepovercamethem,rama,sita,andlakshmanaescapedfromthem,dismissedtheircharioteer,and,crossingtheganges,madetheirwaytothemountainofcitra-kuta,wheretheytookuptheirabode.

nomorebeautifulplacecouldbeimagined.flowersofeverykind,deliciousfruits,andoneverysidethemostpleasingprospects,togetherwithperfectlove,madetheirhermitageaparadiseonearth.heretheexilesledanidyllicexistenceuntilsoughtoutbybharata,who,learningfromhismotheronhisreturnhometheruinshehadwroughtintheraj,hadindignantlyspurnedher,andhastenedtodandaka.theoldrajahaddiedfromgriefsoonafterthedepartureoftheexiles,andbharatanowdemandedthatramashouldreturntoayodhyaandbecomeraja,aswashisright,aseldestson.

whenramarefusedtodothisuntiltheendofhisfourteenyearsofexile,bharatavowedthatforfourteenyearshewouldwearthegarbofadevoteeandliveoutsidethecity,committingthemanagementoftherajtoapairofgoldensandalswhichhetookfromrama'sfeet.alltheaffairsofstatewouldbetransactedundertheauthorityofthesandals,andbharata,whilerulingtheraj,wouldpayhomagetothem.

soonafterthedepartureofbharatatheexileswerewarnedtodepartfromtheirhomeoncitra-kutaandseekasaferhermitage,forterriblerakshasasfilledthispartoftheforest.theyaccordinglysoughttheabodeofatrithehermit,whosewifeanasuyawassopleasedwithsita'spietyanddevotiontoherhusbandthatshebestoweduponherthecrownofimmortalyouthandbeauty.theysoonfoundanewabodeintheforestofpancarati,onthebanksoftherivergodavari,wherelakshmanaerectedaspaciousbamboohouse.

theirhappinessinthiselysianspotwasdestinedtobeshort-lived.nearthemdweltahorriblerakshasa,surpanakhabyname,whofellinlovewithrama.whenshefoundthathedidnotadmirethebeautifulformsheassumedtowinhim,andthatbothheandlakshmanalaughedatheradvances,sheattemptedtodestroysita,onlytoreceiveintheattemptadisfiguringwoundfromthewatchfullakshmana.desiringrevengeforherdisfiguredcountenanceandherscornedlove,shehastenedtothecourtofherbrotherravana,inceylon,andinordertoinducehimtoavengeherwrongs,dweltuponthecharmsofthebeautifulwifeoframa.

somedaysafter,sitaespiedagoldenfawn,fleckedwithsilver,amongthetreesneartheirhome.itsshiningbody,itsjewel-likehorns,socaptivatedherfancythatsheimploredrama,ifpossible,totakeitaliveforher;ifnot,atleasttobringheritsskinforacouch.asramadeparted,hewarnedlakshmananottoleavesitaforonemoment;hewouldsurelyreturn,sincenoweaponcouldharmhim.inthedepthsoftheforestthefawnfellbyhisarrow,cryingasitfell,"osita!olakshmana!"inrama'sverytones.

whensitaheardthecryshereproachedlakshmanafornotgoingtohisbrother'said,untilhelefthertoescapeherbitterwords.hehadnosoonerdisappearedinthedirectionofthecrythanahermitappearedandaskedhertoministeruntohiswants.

sitacarriedhimfood,bathedhisfeet,andconversedwithhimuntil,ablenolongertoconcealhisadmirationforher,herevealedhimselfinhistrueformasthedemongodofceylon.

whensheindignantlyrepulsedhimheseizedher,andmountinghischariotdroverapidlytowardsceylon.

whenramaandlakshmanareturnedhome,soonafter,theyfoundthehouseempty.astheysearchedthroughtheforestfortracesofhertheyfoundagiantvulturedyingfromwoundsreceivedwhileendeavoringtorescuetheshriekingsita.goingfarther,theyencounteredthemonkeykingsugrivaandhischiefs,amongwhomsitahaddroppedfromthechariotherscarfandornaments.

sugrivahadbeendeposedfromhiskingdombyhisbrotherbali,whohadalsotakenhiswifefromhim.ramaagreedtoconquerbaliifsugrivawouldassistinthesearchforsita;and,theagreementmade,theyatoncemarcheduponkishkindha,togetherslewbali,andgainedpossessionofthewealthycityandthequeentara.theywerenowreadytosearchforthelostsita.

inhisquestthrougheveryland,hanuman,themonkeygeneral,learnedfromthekingofthevulturesthatshehadbeencarriedtoceylon.heimmediatelysetoutforthecoastwithhisarmy,onlytofindabridgelessoceanstretchingbetweenthemandtheisland.commandinghissoldierstoremainwheretheywere,hanumanexpandedhisbodytoenormousproportions,leapedthevastexpanseofwater,andalighteduponamountain,fromwhichhecouldlookdownuponlanka,thecapitalcityofceylon.perceivingthecitytobecloselyguarded,heassumedtheformofacat,andthus,unsuspected,creptthroughthebarriersandexaminedthecity.hefoundthedemongodinhisapartments,surroundedbybeautifulwomen,butsitawasnotamongthem.continuinghissearch,heatlastdiscoveredher,herbeautydimmedbygrief,seatedunderatreeinabeautifulasokagrove,guardedbyhideousrakshasaswiththefacesofbuffaloes,dogs,andswine.

assumingtheformofatinymonkey,hanumancreptdownthetree,andgivinghertheringoframa,tookonefromher.heofferedtocarryherawaywithhim,butsitadeclaredthatramamusthimselfcometoherrescue.whiletheyweretalkingtogether,thedemongodappeared,and,afterfruitlesswooing,announcedthatifsitadidnotyieldherselftohimintwomonthshewouldhaveherguards"minceherlimbswithsteel"forhismorningrepast.

inhisrage,hanumandestroyedamangogroveandwascapturedbythedemon'sguards,whowereorderedtosethistailonfire.assoonasthiswasdone,hanumanmadehimselfsosmallthatheslippedfromhisbonds,and,jumpingupontheroofs,spreadaconflagrationthroughthecityoflanka.

heleapedbacktothemainland,conveyedthenewsofsita'scaptivitytoramaandsugriva,andwassoonengagedinactivepreparationsforthecampaign.

aslongastheoceanwasunbridgeditwasimpossibleforanyonesavehanumantocrossit.inhisangeratbeingsothwarted,ramaturnedhisweaponsagainstit,untilfromtheterrifiedwavesrosethegodoftheocean,whopromisedhimthatifnalabuiltabridge,thewavesshouldsupportthematerialsasfirmlyasthoughitwerebuiltonland.

terrorreignedinlankaatthenewsoftheapproachoframa.vibishana,ravana'sbrother,desertedtorama,becauseofthedemon'sragewhenheadvisedhimtomakepeacewithrama.fiercelyfoughtbattlesensued,inwhicheventhegodstookpart,vishnuandindratakingsideswithrama,andtheevilspiritsfightingwithravana.

afterthewarhadbeencarriedonforsometime,withvaryingresults,itwasdecidedtodetermineitbysinglecombatbetweenravanaandrama.theneventhegodswereterrifiedatthefiercenessoftheconflict.ateachshotrama'smightybowcutoffaheadofthedemon,whichatoncegrewback,andtheherowasindespairuntilherememberedtheall-powerfularrowgivenhimbybrahma.

asthedemonfellbythisweapon,flowersrainedfromheavenuponthehappyvictor,andhisearswereravishedwithcelestialmusic.

touchedbythegriefofravana'swidows,ramaorderedhisfoeasplendidfuneral,andthensoughttheconqueredcity.

sitawasledforth,beamingwithhappinessatfindingherselfre-unitedtoherhusband;butherhappinesswasdestinedtobeofshortduration.ramareceivedherwithcoldnessandwithdowncasteyes,sayingthatshecouldnolongerbehiswife,afterhavingdweltinthezenanaofthedemon.sitaassuredhimofherinnocence;butonhiscontinuingtorevileher,sheorderedherfuneralpyretobebuilt,sinceshewouldratherdiebyfirethanlivedespisedbyrama.thesympathyofallthebystanderswaswithsita,butramasawherentertheflameswithoutatremor.soonagni,thegodoffire,appeared,bearingtheuninjuredsitainhisarms.herinnocencethuspubliclyprovedbythetrialbyfire,shewaswelcomedbyrama,whosetreatmentshetenderlyforgave.

theconquestmade,thedemondestroyed,andsitarestored,ramareturnedintriumphtoayodhya,andassumedthegovernment.thecitywasprosperous,thepeoplewerehappy,andforatimeallwentwell.itwasnotlong,however,beforewhispersconcerningsita'slongabodeinceylonspreadabroad,andsomeonewhisperedtoramathatafamineinthecountrywasduetotheguiltofsita,whohadsufferedthecaressesofthedemonwhileincaptivityinceylon.forgetfulofthetrialbyfire,forgetfulofsita'sdevotiontohimthroughwealandwoe,theungratefulramaimmediatelyorderedhertotheforestinwhichtheyhadspenttogetherthehappyyearsoftheirexile.

withoutamurmurtheunhappysita,aloneandunbefriended,edherselftotheforest,and,tornwithgriefofbodyandspirit,foundthehermitageofvalmiki,whereshegavebirthtotwinsons,lavaandkuça.heresherearedthem,withtheassistanceofthehermit,whowastheirteacher,andunderwhosecaretheygrewtomanhood,handsomeandstrong.

itchancedaboutthetimetheyouthsweretwentyyearsold,thatrama,whohadgrownpeevishanddisagreeablewithage,begantothinkthegodswereangeredwithhimbecausehehadkilledravana,whowasthesonofabrahman.determinedtopropitiatethembymeansofthegreatsacrifice,hecausedahorsetobeturnedlooseintheforest.whenhismenwenttoretakeit,attheendoftheyear,itwascaughtbytwostrongandbeautifulyouthswhoresistedalleffortstocapturethem.inhisrageramawenttotheforestinperson,onlytolearnthattheyouthswerehistwinsons,lavaandkuça.struckwithremorse,ramarecalledthesufferingsofhiswifesita,andonlearningthatshewasatthehermitageofvalmiki,orderedhertocometohim,thathemighttakehertohimagain,havingfirstcausedhertoendurethetrialbyfiretoproveherinnocencetoallhiscourt.

sitahadhadtimetorecoverfromtheloveofheryouth,andtheprospectoflifewithrama,withoutthecouleurderoseofyouthfullove,wasnotaltogetherpleasant.atfirst,sheevenrefusedtoseehim;butfinally,movedbytheappealsofvalmikiandhiswife,shecladherselfinherrichestrobes,and,youngandbeautifulaswhenfirstwonbyrama,shestoodbeforehim.notdeigningtolookinhisface,sheappealedtotheearth.ifshehadneverlovedanymanbutrama,ifhertruthandpuritywereknowntotheearth,letitopenitsbosomandtakehertoit.whilethearmiesstoodtremblingwithhorror,theearthopened,agorgeousthroneappeared,andthegoddessofearth,seateduponit,tooksitabesideherandconveyedhertotherealmsofeternalhappiness,leavingthetoolaterepentantramatowearouthisremainingyearsinshameandpenitence.