Valmiki's Ramayana

by Vālmīki,Sattar, Arshia

  Vibhīṣaṇa wondered what Rāma had in mind but he quietly did as he was told. Lakṣmaṇa, Sugrīva and Hanumān were all very disturbed when they heard Rāma’s sharp words. They felt sure that he was angry with Sītā because of what he had said and because he showed no desire to see his wife.

  Deeply embarrassed and shrinking into herself, Sītā approached her husband, followed by Vibhīṣaṇa. When she found herself in the presence of such a huge crowd, she covered her face in shame and whispered, ‘Noble one!’ She gazed at her beloved husband who was like a god to her and her face lit up with love, pleasure and wonder. Her weariness and sorrow fell away the moment she saw her husband’s moon-bright face which she had not seen for so long.

  Rāma looked at Sītā standing meekly by his side and gave vent to the anger in his heart.

  ‘I have killed the enemy, my dear, and I have won you back. In doing so, I have displayed the courage expected of me. I have avenged the insult and it no longer bothers me. I have destroyed the enemy and the disgrace together. I have displayed my prowess and achieved my goals. I have kept my promises. Now I am free.

  ‘You were carried off by a restless rākṣasa while you were alone with no one to protect you. I, a mere mortal, have redressed that wrong decreed by fate. If a man cannot avenge the insults heaped upon him he is a weakling and of no use to anyone. Hanumān’s spectacular feats of leaping over the ocean and causing havoc in Lankā have not been in vain. Sugrīva’s excellent advice and the efforts of his army in battle have all borne fruit. Vibhīṣaṇa, who abandoned a worthless brother and chose to attach himself to me, has also achieved his ends.’

  Sītā’s doe-like eyes filled with tears as Rāma spoke. But the more he looked at her, the angrier Rāma became, blazing like a fire when ghee is poured upon it. He frowned and glared at Sītā, speaking to her cruelly in front of all the rākṣasas and monkeys.

  ‘I have done my duty by rescuing you from the enemy and avenging the insult to myself. You should know that this war, which was won by the heroic efforts of my friends, was not fought for your sake. I did it to vindicate my honour and to save my noble family from disgrace. I have terrible suspicions about your character and conduct. The sight of you is as painful to me as a lamp to a man with diseased eyes!

  ‘You are free to go wherever you want. The world is open to you. I have no more use for you, Sītā! How can a man born into a noble family lovingly take back a woman who has lived in the house of a strange man? I am proud of my noble lineage. How can I take you back when Rāvaṇa has touched you and when you have lived under his lustful gaze? I have regained my reputation. That was the sole motivation for rescuing you! I do not want you any more! You can go where you like!

  ‘I am saying this to you after a great deal of deliberation. Go to Lakṣmaṇa or Bharata or to anyone else who pleases you! To Sugrīva, the king of the monkeys. Or to Vibhīṣaṇa, the king of the rākṣasas! Go wherever you want! Rāvaṇa was aware of your beauty and your good looks. He cannot have kept you in his house for so long without touching you!’

  Sītā could not believe the cruel words her husband had spoken after their long separation. She, who deserved kindness and sweet words, began to weep, like a tender vine crushed by an elephant. She hung her head in shame at being spoken to like that in public. She seemed to shrink into herself, weeping at the arrow-sharp words that had pierced her heart. She wiped the tears that streamed down her face and said, choking, ‘How could you say such things to me, the kind of things a low, common man would say to his woman? I am not what you think I am, hero! I swear to this on my virtue! You judge all women by the conduct of a few. You should know better than to reject me like this!

  ‘If my body was touched by another man, it was not because I wanted it! Destiny must bear the responsibility for that. My heart, the only thing I could control, was always with you. What could I do about the other parts of my body that were subject to the will of others? What hope can there be if you do not know me even now, after we have lived together so intimately for so many years?

  ‘When you sent Hanumān to Lankā to find me, why didn’t you tell me then that you were not going to take me back? If you had told me then that you had abandoned me, I would have killed myself at that very moment, before the very eyes of that great monkey. Then you would not have had to make this tremendous effort, risking your life and causing hardship to your friends, for nothing!

  ‘But you have surrendered to your anger and acted like a common man and you have treated me like a low and vulgar woman! You have not considered that I am the daughter of Janaka, that I was born from the earth. Nor did you consider the fact that my conduct has always been impeccable! The fact that we are married and that I am devoted to you is of no consequence to you at all!’

  Weeping, Sītā turned to Lakṣmaṇa, who stood there silent and miserable. ‘Build a funeral pyre for me, Lakṣmaṇa! That is the only solution I see to this terrible calamity that has befallen me! I cannot bear to live under these false accusations! Despite my virtues, my husband has rejected me in front of all these people. He holds the past against me and I cannot vindicate myself in his eyes. The only thing I can do now is walk into the fire!’

  Lakṣmaṇa looked over at Rāma with pain in his eyes. He understood what Rāma wanted and so heroic Lakṣmaṇa built the pyre. Sītā honoured her husband with a bowed head and approached the flames. She honoured the gods and the brahmins and stood in front of the fire with her palms together. She said, ‘If my heart has never strayed from Rāma, let the god of fire, eternal witness to all that happens in the world, protect me!’ She walked around the fire and then, her mind calm and serene, she stepped into it.

  The massive crowd of young and old that had gathered watched with trepidation as Sītā entered the flames. And when they enveloped her, a huge wail arose from the monkeys and rākṣasas.

  Suddenly, Kubera, Yama, Indra, Varuṇa, Śiva and Brahmā, creator of the worlds and the knower of the Vedas, arrived in Lankā in their chariots which were as bright as the sun. They raised their strong arms that were adorned with jewels and addressed Rāma, who stood in front of them with his palms joined.

  ‘You are the creator of the worlds and the foremost of the wise! How could you let Sītā walk into the fire? Don’t you know that you are the greatest among the gods?

  ‘Long ago, you were Ṛtadhāmā, the best of the vasus. Then you were the self-born Prajāpati, the creator of the three worlds. You were the eighth rudra and the fifth pancama. The aśvins are your ears, the sun and the moon are your eyes. You are visible in the time between the end and the beginning of the worlds. And yet, you have humiliated Sītā as if you were an ordinary man!’

  Rāma, the lord of the worlds, the best among those who practise dharma, said, ‘I always thought I was human, that I was Rāma, the son of Daśaratha. Tell me who I am. Where did I come from? Why am I here?’

  ‘You are Narāyaṇa, the wielder of the discus,’ replied wise Brahmā. ‘You are the single-tusked Varaha, victorious over past and future enemies! You are the eternal brahman, the truth, the middle and the end. You are the supreme dharma, the four-armed commander of the world’s forces. You are the holder of the Śārnga bow. As Puruṣa, you are the first of men. You have conquered your senses, you are mighty and undefeated. You are Kṛṣṇa and Viṣṇu. You are the leader of the celestial army. You are restrained and self-controlled. The worlds arise from you and are absorbed into you. You killed the asura Madhu as Indra’s younger brother. You are Indra. The lotus emerges from your navel. You are Death in battle. Celestial sages come to you for protection because you are the refuge of the oppressed. You are the hundred-fold Veda and its thousand recensions emerge from you. You are the sacrifice, the mantra and the sacred syllable. Your origins and end are unknown. No one knows who you are. Wise men see you in everything: in brahmins, in cows, in the directions, in the sky, the mountains and the forests. You have a
thousand feet, a thousand eyes and a thousand heads. You are the upholder of the worlds, of the mountains and of all creatures. Rāma, at the dissolution of the worlds, you are visible lying on the waters like a huge serpent and holding the worlds, the gods, gandharvas and dānavas within you. I am your heart, Rāma, and Sarasvatī is your tongue. The gods are as inseparable from you, brahman, as the hairs on the body. The night is the blink of your eye, the day is your eye unblinking. The Vedas are your rules for the world. Nothing can exist without you. The world is your body, you are the endurance of the earth. Fire is your anger, your grace is the moon. You carry the mark of Viṣṇu. Long ago, you covered the worlds with your three strides. You made Indra king after you had captured the asura Bali. Sītā is Lakṣmī, you are Viṣṇu, the dark one, the creator.

  ‘You took human form for the destruction of Rāvaṇa. You are the best among those that uphold dharma. You have done what was necessary. Rāvaṇa has been killed. Now return to heaven! Your strength and heroism are infallible and the man who is devoted to you shall always be successful. Those who are firm in their devotion to you, those who recite your glorious deeds shall always be successful.’

  The fire god rose, carrying Sītā in his arms. Sītā shone like the morning sun. She wore ornaments of beaten gold and red clothes, Her hair was dark and curly and her garlands were unwithered. Seated in Fire’s lap, she was exactly as she had been before. The Fire handed her over to Rāma. ‘Here is your Sītā, Rāma,’ said the eternal witness. ‘She is pure. She never wavered in her loyalty to you, not in word or thought or even by looking at someone else. She was abducted from the forest by mighty Rāvaṇa when she was alone and unprotected. She was imprisoned in his palace and was guarded by fierce rākṣasīs. But she was always faithful to you. She was threatened and humiliated and tempted with all kinds of things. But she never gave Rāvaṇa a single thought because her heart was with you. She is pure and chaste, Rāma! Take her back! I will not tolerate any criticism of her!’

  Effulgent and resolute, Rāma, the greatest among the upholders of dharma, said to the great gods, ‘Sītā had to be vindicated in the eyes of the world because this lovely woman had lived inside Rāvaṇa’s palace for such a long time. If I had not subjected her to this test, good people would have said that Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, is blinded by his love for a woman.

  ‘I know Sītā, the daughter of Janaka, loves me dearly. She is devoted to me and lives by my wishes. I take refuge in the truth and so I had to remain detached as she entered the fire. I wanted everyone in the three worlds to believe in her. Wide-eyed Sītā is protected by the power of her own chastity. Rāvaṇa could no more have violated her than the ocean can exceed its bounds. She is as unapproachable as the blazing fire. He could not possibly have touched her. She would never had enjoyed Rāvaṇa’s opulence and splendour because she is as integral to me as the rays are to the sun. Sītā has now been proved innocent in front of the three worlds. She is as inseparable from me as fame is from a renowned man.

  ‘Besides that, I must respect the advice you have given me for my welfare, for you are honoured and loved by all the worlds!’

  The gods praised Rāma for his words because they understood the significance of what he had said. Rāma was reunited with his beloved and was happy, as he deserved to be.

  Śiva now said something that was truly worthy. ‘Mighty Rāma, lotus-eyed, broad-chested enemy burner, best of all warriors, you have done a great thing! You have dispelled the darkness that covered the worlds by killing Rāvaṇa, who terrified all creatures!

  ‘Comfort Bharata and virtuous Kausalyā. Go and see Kaikeyī and Sumitrā. Reclaim the kingship of Ayodhyā and make your friends and well-wishers happy. Have children and establish the line of the Ikṣvākus in the world. Earn the highest honour by performing the horse sacrifice. Give generous gifts to the brahmins and then come back to heaven.

  ‘Here is your father Daśaratha in this celestial chariot. In the world of men, this great man was your teacher and mentor. Because of all that you did, Daśaratha went to Indra’s realm after he died. Now you and Lakṣmaṇa must honour him!’

  Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa honoured their father who was standing in his chariot. He wore dazzling clothes and shone with his own splendour and majesty. When Daśaratha, the king of the earth, saw his son who was dearer to him than his own life, he was filled with joy. He lifted him onto his lap, embraced him and said, ‘All the pleasures of heaven and the respect of the gods were nothing to me without you, Rāma! I swear this is the truth! Kaikeyī’s words which caused your exile still rankle in my heart. But now that I see you and Lakṣmaṇa well and happy, now that I have embraced you, my sorrow has lifted, like a mist dissolves in the sun. Your deeds saved me, my child. Only now have I learned that all this was planned by the gods for the killing of Rāvaṇa.

  ‘Kausalyā shall have her heart’s desire fulfilled! She shall rejoice when you return from, the forest. And those who see you anointed king, dripping with water as you return from your ritual bath, they shall also have their wishes fulfilled. I wish I could see you reunited with righteous Bharata. He is strong and pure and has always been devoted to you.

  ‘You have lived in the forest with Sītā and wise Lakṣmaṇa for fourteen long years! You fulfilled your vow and you made the gods happy by killing Rāvaṇa! You have performed incredible deeds and won fame and affection. Establish your kingdom firmly along with your brothers. I wish you a long and happy life!’

  ‘Forgive Kaikeyī and Bharata, righteous king!’ said Rāma with his palms joined. ‘You declared that you had renounced Kaikeyī and her son! Take those words back!’

  ‘It shall be so!’ said Daśaratha. He embraced Lakṣmaṇa and said to him, ‘You have been devoted to Rāma and Sītā and you have made me very happy. You have been righteous. If Rāma is pleased with you, you shall earn the fruits of righteousness here on earth as well as in heaven and glory in the afterlife. Serve Rāma well, for he is devoted to the welfare of all creatures in the world. You have seen that Indra and the three worlds, the siddhas, cāraṇas, the great souls and the ṛṣis honour Rāma as the best of men. They have declared he is the eternal brahman and the essence of all the gods. You shall earn limitless fame when you serve Rāma and Sītā!’

  ‘It shall be so!’ said Lakṣmaṇa as the righteous king turned to Sītā. ‘Do not be angry with Rāma because he renounced you,’ Daśaratha said to her. ‘He did this in your best interests and so that you would be purified. You need no instruction in devotion to your husband. But it is my duty to tell you that he should be like a god to you.’

  Shining with splendour, Daśaratha returned to heaven in his celestial chariot after he had given this advice to his sons and daughter-in-law.

  Indra was very pleased and said to Rāma, who stood in front of him with his palms joined, ‘Your encounter with us should not be fruitless, Rāma! We are very pleased with you. Tell us what you want!’

  ‘If you really are pleased with me, king of the gods,’ replied Rāma, ‘then be gracious and grant what I ask. Let all the monkeys who fought so bravely and died for my sake be brought back to life! I would like to see all the heroic monkeys and bears alive again, restored to full health, strength and vigour! May there be an abundance of fresh water, roots and fruits in all seasons wherever they choose to live!’

  ‘This is no small thing you ask, Rāma!’ said Indra affectionately. ‘Let the dead rise as if they were waking from a long, deep sleep! Let them happily be reunited with their families and their own people! Trees shall give them fruit and flowers all year round and their rivers shall always be full!’

  All the monkeys whose bodies had been covered with wounds rose up, their injuries healed. ‘What can this be?’ they said to each other in amazement.

  Now that all Rāma’s wishes had been fulfilled, the gods praised him, for he was worthy of praise. ‘Dismiss the monkeys and return to Ayodhyā!’ they s
aid to Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa. ‘Console Sītā and cherish her. She loves you and has been devoted to you. Go and see your brother who has been firm in his vows. Crown yourself king and bring joy to your citizens!’ They bade the princes farewell and returned to heaven in their celestial chariots which shone like the sun.

  Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa honoured the gods and then Rāma gave instructions for everyone to return to their camps. The army, now that it had won fame, was filled with joy and shone like the night lit up by the moon.

  Rāma spent the night pleasantly. When he woke in the morning, Vibhīṣaṇa greeted him as a conquering hero with his palms joined above his head. ‘Your bath water is ready and so are fine new clothes, unguents, sandal paste, jewels and garlands,’ he said. ‘These lovely women are waiting to help you bathe and adorn yourself.’

  ‘Call Sugrīva and the other monkey leaders to bathe,’ said Rāma.

  ‘Bharata, that brave and righteous prince who takes refuge in truth and who deserves all happiness and comfort, he suffers because of me. I cannot bathe and adorn myself unless I am with Bharata! I want to return as soon as I can to Ayodhyā. The journey is long and arduous and I shall take the path along which I came.’

  ‘I will send you back to Ayodhyā in a single day!’ said Vibhīṣaṇa. ‘I have the wondrous chariot Puṣpaka that shines like the sun. It used to belong to Kubera but my brother Rāvaṇa took it away from him by force. Puṣpaka is as large as a cloud. It will take you to Ayodhyā. There is nothing to worry about.

  ‘But if you have any regard for my virtues, if you consider me a friend and if I am at all worthy of you, stay here for a while with your wife and your brother. Let me honour you and give you all that your hearts desire! Give me the pleasure of accepting my hospitality along with your army and your friends. I ask this favour out of friendship and affection but I cannot demand that you comply with my wishes!