Ramayana

Bala Kanda: The Beginning

The Sage

Along the river bank the sage Valmiki in deep thought pondered,
When all at once a soft, sweet singing into his ears wandered.

He raised his head from whence to find the voice that filled the summer’s day
And saw a pair of curlews in the sun’s bright, innocent ray.

Enrapt in awe he watched their play just as the gods upon us gaze,
When all at once from world unseen a hunter ripped through in a blaze.

From bended bow a swift arrow flew through the air with fated blow
As two small curlews unawares were parted in such bloody woe,

And torn to pieces both mates and sage in pity the prophet sang
A curse upon the hunter laid as new verse to the heavens rang.

Hearing this new verse called sloka the god Brahma now appeared
And bade the poet that he write the story that would be revered.

The story is of Rama’s way inspired by the gods on high,
Now told to all that they might learn and faster on to heaven fly.

Unbalance

In heaven do the gods all hear from earth the feasts of sacrifice,
And to their will they must all bend, the broken law thus to suffice.

There lived three brothers all of whom obeisance to the gods did burn.
Ravana the most pious was and through this worship he did earn

A boon from the great Lord Brahma: Ask what he will and it shall be.
He needed not much time to think, he wish’d for immortality.

Denying thus, it could not be, Lord Brahma bade him wish anew.
His ten heads did refuse to see the pride that now did turn the screw.

His wished to be invincible, o’er demons, gods and spirits all.
He prayed that none of these could be the master of his own downfall.

Contempt he held for one and all but most severely toward man,
Thus of this wicked boon exempt, man must destroy the evil plan.

Ravana with his new found pow’r set out to gain all that he could,
The heavens, earth and in between learned that he could not be withstood.

From Lanka’s heart he ruled all spheres, in evil wrath he reigned with fire.
All worlds were thrown to disarray and life was rolled into the mire.

From far and wide all did complain at Brahma’s feet they did recoil,
Yet Brahma knows the tale of time and feared not this mighty toil.


Lord Vishnu was to balance bring the order of the broken law,
Through glorious, but simple means all creatures would in marvel awe.

Birth

In the land of Kosala lived a king most noble and upright.
King Dasaratha is that king who fair Ayodhya holds in sight.

For sixty thousand years he ruled, but time is master of all men
And as his days began to wane he sought a son to rule after him.

With no posterity he sought to offer sacrifice and ask,
The gods to bless him with a son that could fulfill this heavy task.

Rishyashringa his chiefest priest performed the sacred ritual rite,
And once the offering was ripe, he led all to the holy light.

The remnants of the off’ring were, between the three wives of the king
Divided that they each might eat and thus a royal son forth bring.

Lord Vishnu did to earth now hie in human form the world to save,
As Dasaratha’s loyal sons he came to balance out the knave.

Four sons in fair Ayodhya born, the eldest son to Kausalya
This was Rama, most dutiful. The second son was Bharata,

Born to the youngest of the queens, Kaikeyi who the plot begins,
And last of all to Sumitra were born a pair of loyal twins.

Lakshmana, most devoted man, to Rama was a right hand man,
While Shatrughna to Bharata, an equally devoted fan.

Marriage

He loved his sons so well the king, but Rama was his favorite one,
Thus when Vishvamitra did come and beg the king to send his son,

To slay the demons in the woods who did disrupt their holy pleas
That driving off these rakshasas they might be left in quiet lees,

The king was somewhat hesitant and feared his favored son to send,
But Rama filled with valiance did soon his fathers will ascend

That he and Lakshmana did go with the wise sage, the wood to purge
Of all the demon rakshasas so that with heav’n each sage might merge.

The purging done, the sons were blessed and on their head the sage bestowed
Magical weapons fit for gods and led them on to a new road.

The kingdom where fair Sita lived was the kingdom of Videha,
Ruled over by a goodly king who was her father Janaka.

A godly bow he did possess and promised to whom it could bend
The hand of Sita in marriage, but none was found whom it could rend.

Strong Rama came and tried the bow. He raised it up with one great arm
And with no effort seemingly, he did the bow the greatest harm,

He pulled the string with the other and the god’s bow began to crack
The godly Rama filled with strength, broke the bow with a deaf’ning snap.

In delightful matrimony, Lord Rama was to Sita wed
And home to Ayodhya returned with joyous for all to spread.

Ayodhya Kanda: In Ayodhya

The Two Wishes

As age lingers on, joy abounds. The king seeks now to crown an heir.
All hail great Rama the new king who rules in justice blind and fair.

The world rejoices but not all, a cunning hunchback takes offence,
And to Kaikeyi swift in flight, she speaks and makes evil commence.

She preys upon the poor queen who, through slippery words she deceives
And thus her means she brings about through the third queen who stands naïve.

In times past fought Dasaratha many battles on foreign field
For truth and righteousness he sought and never once his will did yield.

Yet once in midst of heated war, he fell and was it seemed to die,
But in that time his charioteer did quickly to his rescue fly,

And from a mortal wound was saved the king, to rule and fight again.
That charioteer who saved his life he made his queen with him to reign.

Now as his third queen Kaikeyi does reign beside midst shining moons
And this he promised he would give to her as she did please, two boons.

Straight to his side again she flew when news of Rama’s crowning soared.
She to her husband’s mind did bring and those two boons humbly implored.

The king was duty bound to give what long ago he then had vowed
To Kaikeyi with deepest fear, of him two boons he thus allowed.

She begged that he, her son enshrine upon the his throne to rule the land.
And next that Rama should be sent to woods thus from the city banned.

With sorrow in his heart, obeyed the king afraid not to follow
All people of that blessed land, lonesome in the mire to wallow.

Thus Rama and fair Sita go with Lakshmana the faithful one,
Into Dandaka’s forest dark, a duty which has to be done.

Exile

The citizens of Ayodhya refuse to see poor Rama go,
Into Dandaka forest then with him their loyalty they show.

But Rama the most dutiful arises early in the morn,
And with his faithful wife and kin sets on before the dawn.

His people are with one accord forced to return with heavy heart,
And mourn the loss of their new king as home in mourning they do start.

Bharata, brother true, denies to rule in Rama’s rightful stead,
To the forest he goes in search to bring some sense to Rama’s head.

But duty bound he won’t return and Rama stays for fourteen years,
To live life as an ascetic and then to govern all his peers.

To place upon the vacant throne Bharata meekly takes his shoes
He swears as steward he will rule ‘til Rama has paid all his dues.

Thus fourteen years the forest held as captive that wise example
Who taught the way that we should act - this piece of his life to sample.

Aranya Kanda: In the Forest

Sita’s Aduction

Fourteen years have now gone passed and his return is awaited,
As they journey to the kingdom another path seems now fated.

Ravana to the world lays waste and promised Vishnu must restore
The balance that was overthrown when evil into the world bored.

As he flew in fine Pushpaka, across the sky in search of more,
The demon’s eye on Sita fell, her beauty struck him to the core.

Devising thus a wicked plan he sent through woods a golden deer,
Maricha, lowly rakshasa, was forced the wheel of fate to steer.

Through the woods as a deer he ran across the path of Sita’s gaze,
Who was enthralled with such a sight and found her senses in a daze.

She begged that for her Rama would, that golden deer kill as her prize,
But Rama wisely refused her ‘til he could no longer bear her cries.

Then in Lakshmana’s able hands he left her as he flew to find
That golden deer that he might slay to thus appease his wife’s in kind.

Thus deceived he hunts the demon, but Sita soon impatient grows
And through much feminine coaxing sends Lakshmana to chase the foe.

Exposed now to the demon king, alone she stands with no safeguard.
And from his chariot up high he swoops down to the earth now marred.

After much attempted swooning, by force he steals another’s wife,
While Rama and Lakshmana hunt, poor Sita struggles for her life.

Jatayu that most noble bird, who always does what should be done,
Sees from the sky this evil deed, so swift to aid and evil shun.

He tears at Ravana in flight and mars and maims him with his might,
It seems that this great bird will win and so as well will what is right.

But in a moment of great rage, Ravana pulls free his sharp sword,
And lashing with his twenty arms he cuts right through a wingly cord.

Defeated to the earth he falls, Jatayu that most noble bird,
Dejected he there lies to die as evil could not be deferred.

Disabused of their deception, our heroes now return to find,
That Sita is no longer there, a dying vulture left behind.

Jatayu, that most noble bird, relates to them all that occurred,
And Rama now filled with remorse lets loose a cry ne’er before heard.

Now as Jatayu slowly dies, in search of Sita off they set,
Reborn again as vulture king, the balance promised will be met.

Kishkindha Kanda: In Kishkindha

Hanuman and Sugriva

Through the forest went the brothers in desperate search of Sita lost,
When they came upon two monkeys who seemed down trodden and storm tossed.

Once introductions had been made, the monkeys’ set to tell their tale
How, Vali, their evil brother had given them great cause to wail.

Sugriva was the rightful king, but Vali in a jealous rage,
Had from him his sweet bride deprived and heavy war upon them waged.

Now Hanuman, raised by gods, remained a brother at his side,
The only monkey in the earth who would not from duty hide.

A pact was made betwixt them there that Rama would his crown restore,
And having thus regained his place, Sugriva would the search explore.

So to vanara they all went to wage upon a wicked king,
A war that would presage the peace that Rama would forever bring.

Vanara

As they arrive in Kishkindha, our heroes here are forced to hide,
That Hanuman and Sugriva might subtly reverse the tide.

Barred from ent’ring the monkey cave Sugriva calls a challenge in,
That Vali’s pride cannot deny and out he goes to face his kin.

But his wise wife doth counsel give that he should quit while he’s ahead.
Yet as a wicked king he fails by prudent warning to be led.

On to face in mighty combat, the fierce warrior Sugriva,
Yet Vali too a tough soldier, they fight as destructive Shiva.

Both seasoned veterans of the fight, it looks as though neither can win,
The upper hand no one can tell as in a blur the spin and spin.

Sugriva seems about to win, when Vali to our great dismay,
Strikes him with a hefty blow and Sugriva is about to slay.

At this most pivotal moment from the forest deep inside,
An arrow from a hidden place through wispy air to Vali flies.

Deep in his back the arrow sinks and to the earth villain falls,
Sugriva now is king again and to order his kingdom calls.

The Search Begins

Allegiance now to Rama pledged he calls a meeting of all beasts,
From far and wide the armies come to counsel while they sit at feast.

The search for Sita is their goal and how to save her is their zest,
The animals of all the earth to Rama pledge their ablest best.

Armies sent in all directions scour the earth in desperate searching,
Man and beast ‘gainst demon opposed shall bring to pass a godly thing.

Sundara Kanda: The Beautiful Book

The Search Continues

Toward the south and Lanka was sent the army of Hanuman,
Among the leaders of this group was the bear ruler Jambavan.

In everywhere along the way they searched for clues, but all in vain,
‘Til to a cave they duly came and entered in hope to attain.

But this was Maya’s cave of trees and once inside they were deceived,
Unable to escape they cried for someone to their plight retrieve.

Swayamprahba their cry did hear but only then for Rama’s sake,
Aid them in their sorrowful state and show them how they might escape.

Free from the cave they found themselves upon the sands of vastless seas.
In anguish once again they cried and felt to die upon their knees.

In Vanara all had returned save one last army Lanka’s way,
A month had passed and time up, the search had failed to light the day.

Yet Hanuman was still missing still and all wondered what could be wrong,
The journey through the cave had been, unknown to them a whole month long.

Hanuman’s Adventure

Upon the shore with all hope lost they found a vulture almost dead,
This was Sampati sunly scorched, the brother of Jatayu bred.

For many years he had lain there, unable to rise from searing heat,
Ravana he had barely seen, to Lanka’s gate fly in retreat.

With joyous shout the army sang, but worried how to cross the sea,
Then Hanuman his power showed and leapt across as only he,

Trained of the gods could hope to do, as mighty in his leaping bound
For Lanka ‘til he did arrive and safely land upon the ground.

All through the city despairing in search of Sita he did go,
‘Til hidden behind the castle, Sita he found in sacred grove.

He tried to take her off with him, but this was not in his mission,
Return to Rama with this news as was his divine commission.

Before he left some havoc caused and with his strength killed many guards,
But Indrajit with magic bound him with invisible wax cords,

Before Ravana he did stand and sentenced to be burned alive,
From his iron chains he ‘scaped with flaming tail he survived,

But set, as from Lanka he flew, the whole city ablaze with fire,
And laughed to see as he leapt, home the city in a plight so dire.

In triumph back to Vanara, as he and all his army came,
A scolding king did meet them there, but soon aware did laud their name.

To Lanka then they all did set to save poor Sita from despair,
All mortal beings from far and wide, did venture forth for this affair.

Yuddha Kanda: War

The Bridge

Not all as Hanuman could jump across the vast and raging sea.
Therefore the animals did build a bridge that spanned elegantly,

The raging waters of Lanka which surrounded the demon’s lair.
All animals with one accord did aid from squirrel up to bear,

Until the mighty bridge was done and Lanka was attainable,
Then the army crossed waters to begin the battle fabled.

The Battle

From within the hidden city rakshasas poured ready to fight,
As man and beast fought side by side: the darkness thus against the light.

The war was exceedingly sore as soldiers fell on either side,
But greater far the demon’s fell, as evil’s power began to slide.

Then desperate to hold his reign, to Indrajit Ravana flew,
And begged his son to use his pow’r to Rama’s army thus subdue.

Then Indrajit with lightning speed into the battle skies he took,
Upon his chariot he flew, invisible to all that looked.

From there he rained down magic spells that wounded all within their path,
And soon the battle field was still with nothing but a bloody bath.

None stirred except for Hanuman who possessed immortality,
And up he rose to jump again to Himalya across the sea.

The healing mount upon his back he raised and to the battle field,
Returned with healing in his wings and would not vict’ry to death yield.

As Rama rose Ravana feared and counseled with Vibbhishana,
Whose counsel he refused to hear, but would rather ‘gainst Rama.

For Sita he would not set free and on to face Rama he went,
But Vibhishana wiser was and before Rama did repent.

The demon king came out to meet, arrayed in warfare’s thick armor,
The godly Rama, king of men, to fight over each’s honor.

Each struck mighty blow upon blow and each refused at all to yield,
When with pow’rful, searing strike, the sword of Rama struck the shield,

And into cinders it crumbled to leave the demon’s flesh laid bare,
Yet still he fought with vicious zeal and anger in his eyes did flair,

‘Til Rama made the fatal strike as through the demon’s flesh sword seared,
The end had come for Ravana who mortal man had never feared.

Fair Sita was returned to him and balance once again restored,
But only by much blood being shed and through the horror of dark war.

Back to Ayodhya they travel and hope that evil’s at its end,
The city, overjoyed, sings praise as hope and peace Rama did mend.

Uttara Kanda: The Last Chapter

Dissent

For many thousand years he ruled with Sita, queenly, at his side,
But dissension ‘mounst his people he could hear from him did hide.

To Lakshmana he begged answers, whence he could handle it no more,
He learned the virtue of his queen was the issue of such discord,

Though he knew her to be faithful, for his people he dispelled her,
And from thence in misery lived ‘til death upon him would transfer.

The Poem

Queenly Sita who wished to die, the good Lord Brahma sent to me,
Where Rama’s twin sons she did bare, I am the poet Valmiki.

I wrote in this spontaneous verse the story of Rama’s great way,
And on the morrow Rama comes to hear it sung all through the day.

As Rama heard his twin sons sing, he wished for Sita once again,
Who then returned before the crowd and pled her innocence from sin,

But biting arrows from the mob to Rama’s plea refused rebirth,
Thus Sita proved her faithfulness and called upon the Goddess Earth,

Who from within below did then arise and to her bosom Sita went,
Her faith was proved and there to stay ‘til Rama for her could be sent,

And this only when more years passed and Rama’s time on earth expired,
No more to do but leave man be and from this earth he then retired.

But still lives on his legacy as all men might this story hear,
In this great poem of Rama’s way, may teach us how to live each year.

The End.

Copyright © 2008 by Layne Cockcroft

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