The Valmiki Ramayana

by Amish Tripathi

  445 A svastika is a kind of musical instrument.

  446 There is an obvious inconsistency in the names of the four apes who went to the four oceans.

  447 Camphor.

  448 That is, Hanumat.

  449 Golden coins.

  450 Probably not the one Rama had just given her.

  451 Rama.

  452 That is, the young did not die before the old.

  453 By implication, from the northern direction.

  454 The pratihara is the gatekeeper or doorkeeper. They waited for the gatekeeper to announce their arrival to Rama.

  455 Agastya’s name.

  456 Brahma.

  457 Meaning Trinavindu.

  458 From vishruta (heard). The son’s name was Vishrava. Poulastya means Pulastya’s son. Therefore, he was also Poulastya.

  459 The same as Vishravasa.

  460 Pulastya.

  461 The lord of riches, dhana + isha, Kubera.

  462 Brahma.

  463 The three fires, garhapatya, ahavaniya and dakshinagni.

  464 The lotus in Vishnu’s navel, Vishnu resting in the waters.

  465 That is, Brahma.

  466 These are Brahma’s words. ‘We shall protect’ is rakshama. Hence, rakshasas. ‘We shall be swift’ is yakshama. Hence, yakshas.

  467 Demons killed by Vishnu.

  468 Kala means time, destiny, death.

  469 Sandhya’s daughter.

  470 Agni’s son means Skanda. There are different stories about the birth of Skanda, Kartikeya or Kumara. In some of these, Ganga figures.

  471 Shiva.

  472 A vimana that was like a city.

  473 Vidyutkesha’s son.

  474 The king of the gandharvas.

  475 This is still Agastya speaking.

  476 There is an allusion to Daksha marrying off his daughters to Dharma. Though the names of the daughters married to Dharma varies, Shri/Lakshmi typically figures in the list.

  477 One of the dishagajas.

  478 Mantras associated with the Rig Veda, Sama Veda and Yajur Veda.

  479 Vata, pitta and kapha. These can be loosely translated as wind, bile and phlegm. In Ayurveda, these are the three doshas or humours in the body and they are always striving against each other.

  480 Brahma.

  481 Invited them to ask for boons.

  482 The residence, that is, the city.

  483 Gandharva lady.

  484 Hri is the personification of modesty and Kirti is the personification of deeds.

  485 The gandharvi is being described as a rakshasi.

  486 Each nakshatra has an associated divinity, which is often the original Vedic name of the nakshatra. Bhaga is the divinity for Uttara Phalguni nakshatra and Bhaga is also the god for marital prosperity.

  487 Since sundari means beautiful, there is a pun.

  488 Yaksha lady.

  489 Earlier, these names have been given as Anala, Sharabha, Sampati and Praghasa.

  490 The enemy (ari) of Kama (the god of love). Since Shiva burnt down Kama, this means Shiva.

  491 The enemy (ari) of Tripura, meaning Shiva.

  492 There is a reason for the use of this expression. Shiva means auspicious and the word used for inauspicious is ashiva.

  493 Kapardi and Nilalohita are Shiva’s names.

  494 Mahadeva.

  495 Humkara means to utter the sound ‘hum’, a sound believed to possess special powers.

  496 Shiva killed a demon named Andhaka.

  497 The word used in the text translates as the two sons of the sun god. The Ashvins are sons of the sun god.

  498 Alternatively, Jrimbha. These are names of famous demons.

  499 A srimara is a kind of animal that is found in marshy places, similar to deer. A chamara is a yak.

  500 Yoga has eight elements—yama (restraint), niyama (rituals), asana (posture), pranayama (control of the breath), pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (retention), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (liberation).

  501 One of Vishnu’s names.

  502 A sharabha is a mythical animal and the concept has evolved over time. A sharabha has eight legs, lives in the mountains, slays lions and lives on raw flesh.

  503 Vishnu.

  504 Shiva.

  505 Indra is the one with tawny horses and Vishnu is Indra’s younger brother.

  506 The Critical Edition excises a shloka where Vishnu looks angrily at Garuda.

  507 Vishnu.

  508 This is a reference to Vishnu’s narasimha (half-man, half-lion) incarnation. In that form, Vishnu killed Hiranyakashipu.

  509 A plough is typically Balarama’s weapon.

  510 Vishnu, the one with the lotus in his navel.

  511 The text uses the plural.

  512 The wielder of the spear is Kartikeya. That is, Vishnu is loved by Kartikeya.

  513 That is, he lost his senses.

  514 There is no indication that Malyavat had been killed.

  515 Searching for an appropriate groom. According to dharma, the daughter has to be given away to someone in marriage.

  516 The evening.

  517 Four fires in four directions and the sun overhead.

  518 Literally, posture of a hero. A seated position used by ascetics.

  519 The four ashramas of brahmacharya, garhasthya, vanaprastha and sannyasa.

  520 Entered Kumbhakarna’s tongue.

  521 This is Brahma speaking.

  522 The Assyrian plum, Cordia myxa.

  523 Of enmity with a brother.

  524 There seems to be a typo in the Critical Edition. Kubera is referred to as a bull among the nairittas.

  525 Vidyut-jihva.

  526 The word used is tata.

  527 By Hema.

  528 Probably meaning the father’s and the mother’s.

  529 On Ravana, by Vishrava.

  530 Vairochana is Bali. Vajrajvala was Bali’s daughter’s daughter.

  531 Derived from sara/sarasa (lake) and ma (do not).

  532 One whose roar (nada) is like that of a cloud (megha).

  533 The messenger.

  534 Kubera’s.

  535 Mahadeva.

  536 Since Kubera looked at Shiva and Parvati with envy, his eye was destroyed. Subsequently, this lost eye was replaced with a yellow eye. This is the standard story, with a slight variation given here.

  537 Kubera.

  538 The yakshas who were there.

  539 The lord of treasures, Kubera.

  540 It was dense with spectators.

  541 Brahma.

  542 Manibhadra is the same as Manichara.

  543 Meaning, one whose crown leans towards one side.

  544 Kubera is accompanied by treasures (nidhi) named Padma and Shamkha, in personified form. Padma emerges from a padma (lotus) and Shamkha emerges from a shamkha (conch shell). Manibhadra is usually Kubera’s general. Proshthapada is a nakshatra. More accurately, it is a collective name for two nakshatras, Purva Bhadrapada and Uttara Bhadrapada. Presumably, this nakshatra and Shukra (Venus) were with Kubera, in embodied form.

  545 Kubera, the lord of treasures, the one who grants treasures.

  546 Mahasena is Kartika. As a child, he was left in a clump of reeds.

  547 Often known simply as Nandi.

  548 The text uses the word vanara. Nandi doesn’t have the face of an ape. He has the face of a bull, with a human body. Therefore, vanara should not be translated as ape. Vanara actually means a special kind of man. This explains our translation.

  549 The word used is Gopati. Go means cattle, as well as the earth. Gopati can therefore be translated both as lord of the earth and lord of cattle.

  550 The Critical Edition excises shlokas and breaks the continuity. Ravana prayed to Mahadeva. That is the reason Mahadeva was pleased.

  551 The word rava means shriek/yell. Hence, Ravana can be interpreted in two ways—someone who himself shrieks, or someone who makes the worlds shriek.

  552 Alternatively, speech has been born to him as
a daughter.

  553 The Critical Edition excises a shloka that says one of her hands had turned into a sword.

  554 Any act of cursing reduces the accumulated merits of austerities.

  555 This is described as a mountain and as a place where King Marutta performed a sacrifice.

  556 Ravana’s adviser.

  557 Ravana.

  558 Varuna’s body is the water.

  559 Yama.

  560 Yama’s servants.

  561 Yama’s soldiers.

  562 Which would eat the dead bodies.

  563 Yama’s rod of chastisement.

  564 Yama.

  565 Mrityu (Death) is usually a synonym for Yama, but is being described separately here.

  566 They had run away earlier.

  567 The capital city of the nagas.

  568 Ashma means made of stone.

  569 An ocean whose water is made out of milk.

  570 The moon, the moon god.

  571 Phenapas are sages who survive on foam.

  572 A kind of liquor.

  573 Gou and Pushkara are the names of two of Varuna’s commanders.

  574 Varuna’s sons.

  575 Because Varuna’s sons were also on chariots travelling through the sky.

  576 They did not fall down on the ground.

  577 There is an inconsistency, since we have earlier been told that Varuna had emerged to fight.

  578 The gandharvas were going to sing in Brahma’s presence.

  579 More accurately, Ushanas (Shukracharya) had cursed Danda, from the lineage of the Ikshvakus, that he would be destined to live in this way.

  580 Ashvamedha is a horse sacrifice, rajasuya is a royal sacrifice. A cow is sacrificed in gomedha, bahusuvarnaka means that a lot of gold is donated.

  581 Dashagriva is speaking to Meghanada, not to Shukracharya.

  582 From Pushpaka.

  583 Ravana’s.

  584 Meaning father’s elder brother.

  585 Vibhishana is implying that Madhu’s act is the consequence of Ravana’s wicked deeds.

  586 Madhu’s city.

  587 Madhu.

  588 The wild croton tree. Alternatively, this can be taken to be the honey tree, or the ashoka.

  589 The imagery is of the moon rising.

  590 By extension.

  591 Flung the water up into the air as part of the ritual of invoking a curse.

  592 For his strength.

  593 This word is being used for Vishnu.

  594 The names of the eight Vasus vary from text to text. The one referred to as Savitra is more commonly known as Prabhasa.

  595 The gods.

  596 Matali is Indra’s charioteer and Matali’s son is Jayanta’s charioteer.

  597 Jayanta’s.

  598 Ravana asked Meghanada not to fight against Indra.

  599 He withdrew from the battle.

  600 However, the words are directed more towards the charioteer.

  601 Lord of the earth or lord of cattle. Here, it means Shiva.

  602 Lanka.

  603 Because Ravana was descended from Brahma.

  604 Someone who has vanquished Indra.

  605 The word ahalya means without being ploughed, without being furrowed. Therefore, it means one without blemish. That is the reason she was known as Ahalya.

  606 Adopting Goutama’s appearance, Indra seduced her.

  607 Meaning Maheshvara.

  608 The capital of the Chedi kingdom, adjacent to Avanti. In today’s Madhya Pradesh.

  609 Vasuretas is the name of the fire god.

  610 The sun’s rays are cool and not hot.

  611 Shiva.

  612 Maricha, Shuka, Sarana, Mahodara and Dhumraksha are obviously five of these. The other two are probably Mahaparshva and Prahasta.

  613 Shiva linga.

  614 Prepared by Ravana.

  615 This is a reference to Mount Meru.

  616 The word used is tata.

  617 Indra.

  618 Madhuparka is a mixture comprising of honey, customarily offered to a guest.

  619 Maheshvara.

  620 Meaning whether sacrifices were being properly conducted.

  621 Pulastya.

  622 By Arjuna.

  623 Ravana.

  624 The male ape is Tara and is the father of Taraa, Vali’s wife.

  625 The evening rituals.

  626 To perform sandhya, Vali had to progressively go to the four oceans.

  627 The text of the Critical Edition causes a problem of translation here. Non-Critical editions use the word mounam. This simply means Vali waited silently. The Critical Edition uses the word karnam instead, meaning ear. We have hence interpreted it as Vali listening with his ears, since his eyes were closed. But the word also means diagonal or the diameter of a circle. It is possible that as part of the sandhya rituals, Vali had drawn auspicious signs on the ground.

  628 Garuda.

  629 The sun.

  630 Vali.

  631 Sugriva.

  632 Shalishuka, a variety of rice.

  633 Meaning Kartikeya.

  634 The red hibiscus.

  635 Rahu was seized by Hanumat.

  636 Rahu.

  637 For an eclipse.

  638 Airavata.

  639 Hanumat.

  640 Rahu is only a mouth, the body having been chopped off by Vishnu at the time of the churning of the ocean, when Rahu disguised himself as a god and had a bit of the amrita.

  641 That is, he struck him a mild blow.

  642 Svadha is an oblation offered to the ancestors.

  643 Those born from wombs, those born from eggs, plants and those born from sweat (insects and worms).

  644 Vayu.

  645 Vayu.

  646 Brahma.

  647 Because he suddenly stood up.

  648 Vayu.

  649 Tridasha is an expression used for the gods in general. Tridasha means thirty and refers to twelve Adityas, eleven Rudras and eight Vasus, adding up to thirty-one. Triyugma means three pairs, that is, one possessing the three pairs. The three pairs are yasha (fame) and virya (valour); aishvarshya (prosperity) and shri (riches); and jnana (knowledge) and vairagya (detachment). Trikaku means one with three peaks and is used to signify that a person possesses thrice the usual excellence. Tridhama means someone who is glorified in the three worlds.

  650 Literally, the one with the jaw.

  651 Surya, the sun god.

  652 The Critical Edition uses the expression Varada, one who grants boons. Non-Critical Editions say Dhanada, Kubera. In any event, this boon is being conferred by Kubera.

  653 Maruta is a specific term for Vayu, not to be confused with Marut. Maruti means Maruta’s son.

  654 Brahmadanda means Brahma’s staff (danda). But it also means punishment and curses levied by brahmanas.

  655 Sugriva was instated as the heir apparent.

  656 Hanumat’s.

  657 This hangs loose. It is not clear what Pratardana has helped Bharata about. (It is not clear from non-Critical Editions either.) The interpretation is that Pratardana had offered (Bharata) that he would help Rama fight against Ravana.

  658 Madhu. Therefore, alternatively, honey.

  659 However, the kings had already left.

  660 Shishira is winter, the months of Magha and Phalguna.

  661 To state the obvious, this is not the Ashokavana in Lanka.

  662 Tree with red flowers, Mallotus phillippensis.

  663 A kind of fragrant wood.

  664 He emerged from the inner quarters.

  665 The gatekeeper.

  666 Rama.

  667 The fire.

  668 For the night.

  669 Shiva.

  670 That is, Lakshmana wants to bathe in the Ganga.

  671 I am ignoring them. I have forgotten them.

  672 Because I was with Rama.

  673 The text doesn’t suggest any reason for this part to be put within quotes. Sita might have directed these words at Lakshm
ana too. But it seems as if this is a message to Rama, to be conveyed by Lakshmana. Therefore, we have put it within quotes.

  674 This could mean either Rama or Lakshmana.

  675 Obviously, Valmiki had gone to meet Sita from his own hermitage. The other sages, in their respective hermitages, had not met him for some time.

  676 He left Sita with the other ascetics.

  677 Dasharatha.

  678 Dasharatha.

  679 Vasishtha.

  680 Durvasa.

  681 The Critical Edition excises a shloka where Durvasa said Rama would have two sons.

  682 Lakshmana.

  683 Sumantra.

  684 The enemy.

  685 For housing the trident.

  686 Shatrughna.

  687 The brother in the middle.

  688 To prevent anarchy, a king is needed. Therefore, a person who kills an existing king must ensure that there is a subsequent king.

  689 As the king of Madhu’s dominion.

  690 In the dual, addressing Lakshmana and Bharata.

  691 Vishnu.

  692 Lavana.

  693 When he is hunting for food outside the city, he doesn’t have the trident with him.

  694 The one with the blue throat, Shiva.