Kamba Ramayanam- An introduction

By

P.R.Ramachander

Without any doubt whatsoever , the story of Rama was popularized by the Ramayana written by Valmiki. This has been translated in to almost all the main languages in India. Kamban (who is supposed to have lived between 1180-1250 AD) one of the greatest poets of Tamil Nadu translated it in to Tamil . He preferred to call it Ramavatharam(the incarnation of Rama) . In this great job, he received the support of Thiruvennai nallur Chadayappa vallal, a great philanthropist who lived in Tamil Nadu at that time. Kamban who admired this Vallal mentions his name once in 1000 verses in his book. Kamban did not do a literal translation of Valmiki Ramayana. He condensed it a lot , while adding some portions of his own. While Valmiki’s great epic consists of 24000 verses, Kamaban’s translation only contains 12000 verses. Though he adopted the six book(Kandam) concept of Valmiki , he has not adopted the sargam concept of Valimi. He has divided the Kandas in to Padalams and his Padalams are not direct translation of the Sargams of Valmiki. His book has only 123 Padalams . Kamban also did not adopt the story of Valmiki verbatim and made changes to the story. There is a folk story that The entire Kamba Ramayanam was written by Lord Ganesa as per his dictation.

I have done this translation based on the great commentary in Tamil published by the Kamban trust by a group of 16 experts lead by Professor Aa.Sa.Jnanasambandan in 8 volumes . I am deeply indebted to this great trust and great author.

I am feeling greatly inadequate to undertake this great job and I would like to quote Kamban’s own verse :-

One cat reached that great ocean of milk

And desired to drink it all by licking and slapping,

And like that I desired to tell the whole story ,

Of Rama who won over everything without committing any fault .

I have now posted the translation of the first five Padalams of Bala Kandams as of now in my new blog

http://englishkambaramayanam.blogspot.in/2014/04/kamba-ramayanam-bala-kandam-i.html

I request blessings from all my elders and prayers from all those young well wishers of mine .

P.R.Ramachander

Kamba Ramayanam- Bala Kandam-I

Translated by

P.R.Ramachander

(Unlike the Valmiki Ramayana, Kamba Ramayana does not start with Valmiki asking sage Narada to suggest a proper Subject for writing an epic. It starts as per the grammatical rules for writing Tamil epics, with a prayer to God, a short introduction about his inabilities followed by picturesque description of the river surrounding Kosala kingdom, , Kosala kingdom, city of Ayodhya, the rule of Ayodhya and a short description of the king. These are given in five chapters and the rest of the book deals with story from birth of Rama till his marriage with Sita and their return to Ayodhya)

Payiram- Prayer to God and introduction

( Here the great poet prays to God to help him complete the huge task that he has undertaken and also gives an introduction to the task that he is undertaking.)

1.He who forever plays the sports of

Creating all the world by his thought,

Looks after it and destroys it ,

And is our lord and we only surrender to him.

2.I do not know how to realize the goodness ,

That cannot be easily realized of that God,

But among those three qualities only the first one is good,

And so drown and play in the sea of goodness of those people.

3.Those people learned the beginning , end and rare of everything ,

But know that Vedas are that which can be measured and not measured,

Those who do not have any desires would not catch hold of any other feet ,

Except the feet of He who is the abode of wisdom, good conduct and goodness.

4.One cat reached that great ocean of milk

And desired to drink it all by licking and slapping,

And like that I desired to tell the whole story ,

Of Rama who won over everything without committing any fault .

5.I started spinning this tale by using simple understandable words ,

Of the greatness of that great one , who by one arrow pierced the seven Mara Maras ,

Definitely like the curses of great ones becoming true immediately,

Which was told in this country by its first poet which even today lives.

6. In spite of Making the heavens curse me and that guilt getting attached to me ,

The reason for which I am writing this is because ,

I wanted to make the world understand the greatness of those godly poets,

Whose poetic skill came from and has come from questions which are not the untruth.

7. If those ears which are the store house of different type of poems,

Happen to hear my poems , they like the Asuna animal whose ear drinks,

Only the soulful music of the lyre would feel like it heard,

The harsh sounds produced by playing of drums.

8. I would very much like to tell those great poets ,

Who are experts in composing Tamil literature , song and Drama ,

“Would those words told by mad ones or by ignorant ones,

Or by the ones who are devoted be analyzed and researched?”

9, If on the floors of the room little children and dancing dames ,

Make scratches , would the architects bother about it?

Reading this inferior poems written by me, which does not have,

Even with a little knowledge of God, would expert writers get angry?

10. Though this story was written by three people in Sanskrit,

I have followed that one which was written first and I have ,

Written in Tamizh language using poems.

11.Basing on good character and describing the happenings,

Of the very great Hero from the time of his birth ,

This epic has been written in a faultless language ,

And was composed in Thiruvennai Nallore of Chadayappan.

1.Bala Kandam

1.AAthu Padalam

1.The chapter on river.

( The author as per the grammar of epics in Tamil language , goes on to give a description of the back ground of the place where the story took place. He naturally starts with the river, which during those times and even today determines the prosperity of the country. In this and in the following chapters , the poet possibly describes his own country and environment and follows the great tamil tradition. The river around Ayodhya was Sarayu , which was a tributary to the river Ganges. Dasaratha was ruling over the Kosa;a country with Ayodhya as its capital. Some of his forefathers had lost the country that they were ruling and Dasaratha got the kingdom of Kosala from his queen Kausalya)

12. Both those five edged arrows which do many crimes,

And the arrow like eyes of those ladies who have .

Busts laden with very many ornaments ,

Do not go beyond Dharma in the Kosala country,

And we would talk about the river that encircles that country.

13. Those clouds that resemble the colour of the ash coated God,

After making the paths it travels over beautiful and after gathering food from the sea,

Became of the colour of him who is being approached by Goddess Lakshmi,

Having breasts coloured with the smoke of incense and then returned.

14.That sea sent those clouds spread densely thinking that ,

“My father in law * has become very dry,

Due to the heat of the sun and so I will bathe him with water,”

And made them pour water all over the mountain, and rose very high.

*(Sea is the husband of all rivers and mountains their father.)

15. Similar to the devas thinking that that Himalaya mountain was made of Gold,

And made the stars fall all over the mountain like a rain of silver,

Similar to the philanthropists giving their all ,

The clouds gave away all the water they had to that mountain.

16.The water in the river (Sarayu) flowed rapidly like ,

The travel of the fame of those great kings who ruled under a cool umbrella ,

Who had great sense of self respect and who followed Dharma and who followed justice of Manu,

And like the charity being given to the wise Brahmins who knew the four Vedas.

17. Like hugging the heads , bodies and hands and

Without stopping there , deserting them after some time,

The water took away all that was anywhere in the mountain,

And flowed swiftly in the river like a courtesan.

18.Because it was flowing carrying gems, gold , peacock feathers,

Pretty tusks of the elephant. Incense ,sandal , incomparable garlands

From one place to other , that river resembled the men of trade.

19. Arranging many coloured flowers , fixing soft pollen grains,

Getting mixed with honey , having pure golden crystals,

And also carrying the Must which flowed from elephants,

That river resembled the many coloured rainbow.

20.Because it was carrying Mountains, Uprooted trees ,

And nearby leaves and bringing them, that river resembled ,

The movement of the monkeys when Rama wanted

To bridge the ocean which was full of waves.

21. With flies and bees hovering around it ,

With it crossing its boundaries,

Increased enthusiasm making it looking greatly confused,

And due to it dragging teak would logs and burping ,

That river looked like the men who drank alcohol.

22.With huge headed joyful elephants dragging,

Large number of other animals in a formation,

Making huge sounds and with flag like ,

Scenes arising there from which were seen there ,

The river appeared to march for a battle against the sea.

23. Adopting the very good character which should be appreciated ,

Among the innumerable kings of the clan of the sun,

That river Sarayu, to all the beings in worlds surrounded by water,

Was continuous similar to the feeding breasts of the mother.

24.Since it was dragging and bringing the scented powders made by ladies of Mountain,

Along with saffron , kottaam, cardamom, the sandal* which makes the body shiver with cold,

Vetchi flower , citrus , lemon grass , myrobalam, kondrai, aathi , different type of leaves,

The bee hives of the mountain , logs of Akil tree the Water of the Sarayu river was scented.

(* Sandal and cardamom are not found on Himalayas but on western ghats)

25.Due to making hunters living in small villages by rain of arrows (water)run way,

Due to driving away hunter ladies , making them beat again and again their belly with their hands

By showering arrows with sharp ends and bows similar to the showering of water similar to the waves,

That river was similar to the army of a king who use to win in the battle.

26.Stealing together the well set curd, butter and Ghee.

And eating all of them together, breaking huge Marudha and kurutha trees,

Drenching the eyes of cowherd women and stealing al the dresses that they wear,

And dancing on the snake decorated by lions as well as dots,

Is the holy pure one and the holy river was also like that.

27.Lashing against the doors of dams , making the cultivators shout with joy,

Making the streams fill up with water, making the honey bees drilling holes,

Pushing the water and separating series of gems, making whirl pools fall by its tide,

It was similar to the elephant which rains must and reached the cultivated land.

28.Making the forests in to mountainous land.

Making cultivated lands to forests,

Making the grassy sea shore in to matchless cultivated lands,

And carrying innumerable things from one place to another,

It resembled fate which was dragging events , the way it liked.

29.With the alarm ringing showing arrival of water,

In the water canals guarded by the farmers,

With the water bubbles which travel in proper fashion,

With gold and gems being thrown by the tides of the river,

Heightened by tide, . Standing tall due to great waves,

Tearing the earth and going ahead, taking water,

From one canal to another, the waters of the river Sarayu,

Travelled similar to branches of families of human beings.

30 The waters of the river born in between rocks of Himalayas,

And merging with the waters of the sea ,

Seems to say that the boundless Vedas,

Were telling , “This is the divine truth,”,

By being single while it began and later spread,

Among the lakes and ponds all over ,

And was similar to the words of many religious scholars ,

Who studied the books and told about a single divine truth.

31. The waters of Sarayu wandered all over,

In gardens where lots of pollen grains fall,

In the forests thickly occupied by Champa trees,

In the newly form sand banks all over its shores,

In the Gardens of betel nut palms with a fence of Kurukathi plants,

In the paddy fields , like the soul which wanders around,

Different bodies which were all learning the books with four branches.

2.Nattu Padalam

(The chapter on the country)

(After describing the river of the country, the author describes the Kosala country of Dasaratha. Sage Valmiki has also described the KOsala country)

32.Using four lined verses , the great one called Valmiki,

Composed sweet poems which were drunk by devas using their ears,

After drinking the alcohol called love , I am now talking ,

About the country he described like a dumb one who has started talking.

33.There , all the fields were full of pearls, the water ways to fields were full of conches,

The paths dividing fields meant for over flow of water were full of pure gold,

The ditches where buffaloes take bath was all full of red lotus flowers,

Corals in places water stood , swans occupying all the paddy fields,

In the uncultivated land near by , were flowing with honey,

And in all the pretty gardens bees were dancing after drinking honey.

34. In the limits of that great cultivable lands was the sound of rivers flowing,

The sound created by farmers when they were working,

The sound of juice of sugarcane flowing from the work place,

The big sound which was coming out of the big mouth of conches,

The sound of bull dashing against bull. The sound created by buffalos swimming in the water

Were being heard one mixing with the other , in different times.

35.With peacocks playing in the garden , With lotus flowers holding the lamps,

With clouds making sound like drums, With kuvalai flowers opening their eyes and seeing,

With water storages shining like curtains, With bees singing like the honey sound Of Yaazh(a stringed instrument),

It appeared as if the lady of cultivable land was sitting in a regal manner.

36. The goddess Mahalakshmi who increases the beauty of the bees lives in the lotus,

The eyes of ladies and the arrows of God of love, would strike the lovers in the cool evenings,

The corals of the ocean and the shining pearls would live in the big black clouds,

And the truth and the inner meaning of famous books live on the Toungues of people of Kosala.

37. The water would sleep in the conches, the buffaloes sleep in the shades of trees,

The bees sleep inside flower garland, The goddess Lakshmi sleeps inside the lotus flowers,

The Tortoise sleeps in the slushy mud, The shells of pearls would sleep in stored waters,

The swans sleep in the harvested paddy and the peacock sleeps in the gardens.

38.The Gold which comes out when ploughing, the pearls produced by the shells,

The collection of gems which shine in the fields which have been ploughed,

The new fresh awns of paddy and the tender sugarcane and the bees,

And faces of the farm women , like the lotus flower shine with their eyes open.

39.The rustic musicians having small lyre producing clear music notes,

After drinking the toddy made with sweetness along with soft drum beats,

And the songs which were being sung here and there, would wake up,

Those peacock like ladies with jet black eye sleeping on the cots made of pure gold,

On the halls which shine with pure whiteness of the high order.

40.

The sweet juice coming out of sugarcane in the factories,

The juice coming out of cutting the flowers by toddy tappers,

The sweet juice flowing out of the fallen fruits in the orchards,

The honey flowing out of the pierced wound made by arrows in honeycombs,

The honey that flows from the flower garlands ,being excess flowed rapidly,

Reached the places where ships are there in the sea and fishes drank them and were overjoyed.

41.The farm women spoke words which are as sweet as poems,

And their broad long eyes were matching with their hands, legs as well as mouth,

And since none of their limbs were similar to the pretty weed flowers like lotus,

Those farmers from whose side of the mouth , the toddy flowed ,

Were walking hither and thither not able to throw away the weeds,

Because of the great love they had for their women folk. Would they be able to live?

42.The waves of the black sea were full of the scent taken from the hairs of the women,

Decorated by sandal and flowers, Who were taking bath in the newly flowing water of the rivers,

And what can we say about the number of such women , who were speaking honey like words by their red mouth,

And who were seeing the men with their sword like side long eyes, making the men desire for them.

43.Due to the pretty men who were wearing ear studs and also wearing the creams mixed with natural camphor,

And also sandal paste mixed further with saffron . taking bath by dipping in the river ,

Making the excess water flow in to the gardens and in the fields of crops like paddy,

In those areas and in places of alluvial soil, the bees would always be crowding about.

44.The red legged swan wandering in the fields like the ladies who had fish like eyes,

Had left their tender young ones on the bed of lotus flowers, and they started drinking milk ,

That was flowing from the udders of buffaloes with slushy mud sticking on their legs ,

When then they started making noise recollecting the young ones and let out milk,

And started sleeping to the lullaby sung by the green coloured toads.

45.While the koels are happy with their mate ,

While the peacocks that were dancing behind the tree branches ,

Were making the stage prettier than the ladies with the spear like eyes,

The swans with packed feather were sleeping on the bed of very many lotus flowers,

And to wake them up the bees being drunk were singing the tunes which are to be sung at dusk.

46-49 .While those who have married ladies who were very compatible with them,

Who were following them like the shadow that follows the flying kite ,

Were enjoying the music sung which were following its grammar,

Were enjoying with their ears the great books which were sweeter than nectar,

And Were celebrating the festival of food after they saw the face of their guests,

Some others were showing an angry mind and reddish coloured eyes,

Seeing the cock with a knife tied on its feet, showing severe anger without any previous enmity,

Showing no distaste for entering in to The war , because if a stain is created in the valorousness of life,

And did not bother about their life and those make them fight,

And some others , who were surrounded by bees which were attracted

By the flowers that they wore in their hair,

Were shouting at the top of their voice the sound of which went up to the cloud,

When the red eyed buffalo calves given birth by the she buffaloes ,

Were dashing against each other making others feel it is the angry thunder,

And then were nearing each other making one feel that the darkness has spread everywhere,

And later dividing themselves in to two groups , then got angry with each other,

And there were also farmers who were driving the bullocks shouting at them ,

Making the white tip of lotus flowers , opening on the stem with thorns, break,

Making the gold and pearls in the land swept to a side ,

With the conch called Chalamchala making booming sound,

With fishes caught in the plough spring here and there,

With tortoises withdrawing themselves in to their shells,

And the big wishes trying to hide themselves in the side of the path.

50. Since the country was protected by a king, who knew the rules of ruling,

Who kept his desires under control , Who got angry when and where he should,

Who knew the amount of tax that he was collecting and who was merciful to his citizens,
That country was avoiding the burden and were similar to the land which was like god to them,

And the ships unburdened themselves their golden imports on the beach land.

51. The Farmers carried the harvested straw of the paddy cut by the knife ,

Arranged them in heaps which touched the sky, marked them for identification,

And after beating the paddy, they used to heap them and while bringing it to depots

Would help the needy and would make some paddy reach their homes so that guests can take them,

And the rest would be laden fully and carried in carts and these would make the earth bend due to their load.

52.The farmers like the honey bee which takes up honey from various flowers,

Take up the cultivation of cereal crops which grow in the fields in plains,

Scented flower crops which grow in water, fruit crops which are harvested from old trees,

Pulse crops which grow in uplands,. Fruits and flower crop grown from cuttings,

And various other Root and tuber crops which are grown in pits.

53. All over the country the nectar like food suitable to be served to gods of earth,

Which consisted of three fruits (Jack, banana and mango) which are considered the best fruits,

Along with various type of Dhals , with ghee drowning the food that has been served,

With pieces of red curd and with sugar candy pieces placed in between the cooked rice,

Were cooked in every house and was partaken along with various guests and relatives,

54.The male bees in those crop lands seeing the shining lotus like faces,

Of young girls , which had pretty eyes on which collyrium was applied,

And thinking that they were female bees who were their consorts,

With great love waited all the day long in those Crop growing lands.

55.On one side of that crop land , the ladies of the farm who were having,

A face which has won the god of love , along with breasts which make the passion grow,

Which make the males submissive , Made them stand erect like The ribbon fishes,

Which had drunk the toddy that was oozing out from the leaf sheaths .

56.The black she buffalos which are immersed in cold water of the field,

Which looked like some blue clouds of the sky , used to rain the milk ,

From their udder , when they thought about their calves m which were,

Left out In the village and due to that the red paddy crops look more healthy.

57.The water that used to wash the rice before it is kept for cooking,

In a kitchen which does not have any scarcity for any thing,

Over flows and flows through the garden of very tall betel nut palms ,

And would reach the nursery field of red rice and make the seedlings healthy.

58. Those very clear coloured cocks with plumes on their head,

When they scratched the earth with dirt using their legs ,

See shining ruby stones on that heap of dirt,

And thinking they are glow worms , would keep them in their nests.

59.The maidens of the caste of cow herds would churn the curd,

Which has white foam colour till the sound of churner is heard ,

Again and again , With their ornamental conch bangles creates the sound of murmur,

And with their verry narrow waists which makes them bent forward,

Till their extremely pretty hands start paining.

60.The sweet musical sound of the sweet young birds in the crop fields,

The sound of young bees which is heard on the buds of flowers,

And the sound created by the flock of birds near the water bodies,

Are similar to the auspicious song of the pestle in the homes of rich charitable people.

61, Those girls with black eyes who reside near the sea shore,

Who have not learnt how to attract the mind of men,

Go and bring the shells of betel nuts in a small containers,

And build small houses in their courtyards, where pearls are scattered.

62.The water rich clouds which are hindered by huge mountains,

Shines after getting scared after hearing the huge sound created by

By dashing of the heads of the very huge headed male sheep,

Which have two huge horns and are born the very soft natured female sheep.

63.Leaving out the she elephants and calves , when the elephants,

Are tied using chains , in the areas where they are available for capture,

By those valorous people who normally live in the mountain,

The sound raised by them would scare away male swans which are happy with their mates.

64.Those who dig for root crops get very costly gems from there,

While those who harvest hanging mango fruits would get honey drops,

And those golden coloured punnai flowers would have dots,

And the swans which live in lotus tank would be sleeping.

65.In the courtyards of cowherds with flute made bamboo and ixora tree,

The song of Kuravai of land which is cultivated makes calves sleep,

The songs by the ladies occupying area near sea and the beach,

Flies and is heard in gardens which are guarded and lands which are irrigated.

66. Due to the dashing of wind in the bamboo bush , when the bee hive breaks ,

And when the new honey flows like snakes hanging from mountains,

Makes the colocasia stems break due to its speed,

And it is being grazed by conches in canals flowing from tanks with lilies.

67.Those broad eyed ladies have crescent shaped,

Forehead and have great wealth as well as great knowledge,

And because of that they give feast to all those who approach them,

And also daily host a feast for every one and what else can one expect?

68. In all the halls where free food is given with desire , there lie

Heaps of good and pure vegetable cut with crescent shaped knife

Along with cooked dhal and along with rice of the colour of white pearl.

69. To all those citizens of that Kosala country,

Ships would continuously bring them very great wealth,

The cultivable lands continuously would lead them to prosperity

The mines would continuously give them precious stones,

And the difficult to get clan heritage would give them good conduct.

70.Since nothing wrong is committed there , there is no unnatural death,

Due to the purity of thought of people , there is no anger there,

Due to absence of activities which are not good ,

Except for progress there is no deterioration.

71.That which spreads crossing its path there, is the flood,

That which has lost its recognition, is the shoulders of saffron mark,

That which is small is the thin , are waists of ladies there ,

And that which is scented there is the hair of girls decorated by flowers.

72.The smoke raised by putting incense sticks in fire, The smoke from kitchen,

The good smoke coming from Sugarcane processing places,

And the pretty smoke coming from Vedic fire sacrifices,

Spread everywhere and were looking like exuberant clouds.

73.The peacocks have borrowed prettiness from their ladies and walk about,

The sun was shining like the ornaments worn by those ladies over their breasts

The clouds were moving in sky resembling the hair on the head of those ladies,

And the pretty fishes which are like their eyes are rolling about in fields.

74.Those ladies whose waists look as if it is real were bathing in the churning water,

The lotus flowers which were like their reddish lips were opening ,

And they were walking like swans in the lake along with pretty locks ,

And the face of those ladies of that country opened like lotus flowers.

75.The spear like eyes of the ladies were laughing at the four faced Brahma,

Their gait was laughing at the walk of the she elephants,

Their two breasts were laughing at the lotus buds,

And their pretty faces were making fun of the moon with his crescents.

76. The gems that those ladies were wearing were shining better than the Sun,

The breasts of those women were looking better than tender coconuts,

The cloths that they were wearing was thinner than the foam of milk,

And the drums played at their wedding was louder than the thunder of clouds.

77. The gardens of that country was comparable to the clouds ,

The heaps of harvested produce in their fields was comparable to mountains,

The water that they have stopped in their dams was looking like the sea,

And that country blessed with wealth was similar to the land of devas.

78.Wherever mountains of paddy is not there , there would be mountains of pearls,

Wherever the pearl mountains were not there, there were mountains of sea nectar(salt),

Wherever those salt mountains are not there , there were mountains of Gold brought by the river,

And in several places there were huge sand banks full of costly gems.

79. The place where pretty damsels learn to play the ball,

Even though if it is not a sandal forest , due to their body scent would be Champaka forest,

And place where the Muruga(Subrahamanya) like males learn archery and other arts,

Though it is a garden with various flowers , will have a jasmine scent.

80.The nightingales in that country speak the sugar like sweet baby talk of their ladies,

The peacocks learn their gait again from them,

And the young female shells of the sea .

Are only giving out pearls after seeing their teeth.

81. In the homes of those who sell toddy , old toddy is there,

In the homes of those who cultivate , the implements for cultivation are there,

In the homes of the young men who get married, the sound of auspicious instruments echoes,

And in the house very great musicians(panar) , there are Yaazh with strings.

82. The flower garlands there ooze out honey ,

The commercial ships that come bring lot of gems and gold,

The wind showers the nectar drops that give life,

And the stories written by poets give songs sweet to the ears.

83. The peacocks which have very pretty feathers ,

Seeing the pleasing shadow of their peahens follow them,

Similar to the mind of youth , who after seeing ,

Their girls with flower ornamented hair,

And With pearl necklaces hanging over their breasts,

84.Since poverty is not there, there is no charity there,

Since there are none to fight face to face ,Strength cannot be exhibited,

Since no body tells a lie , there is no definition of truth,

And since wealth of questions are asked , there is no ignorance.

85.Since carts bringing huge stocks of gingelly, millets , ragi and maize

And the carts bringing lot of salt from the slushy salt farms

Are not able to be driven properly due to heaviness of their load,

They are being pushed by men who meet and mingle with each other.

86.Like those souls who cannot get salvation due to lack of divine wisdom,

Are born several times to completely wipe away Karmas done earlier,

Sugar, honey , sugary juices , the curd of lands of cowherds and toddy.

87.In those streets where the vocal music and the music from flute,

Is sung separately , like a river meeting yet another river,

The crowds coming for festivals and marriages meet with each other.

88.The sound of conches which are played by keeping them in the nose,

The sound of drums which give sound when beaten by sticks,

And the sound of big drums that are hung on the shoulder by belts,

Would all fade away in the sound of chastising of bulls by farmers.

89. The pretty hands of ladies who feed milk and rice,

To those children wearing the locket of Lord Vishnu ,

And who rain watery nectar like fluid from their mouth on their chests,

Look like the folded lotus flowers when the moon rises.

90. The outer beauty was permanent due to their inner beauty,

Due to their being without a lie , their justice lives permanently,

Due to love of their women , all the dharmas were permanent,

And due to the virtuous life of their women , the seasonal rain was permanent.

91.Who is capable of going round its garden filled lands,

And come back safely after seeing its boundaries?

For even the river Sarayu with plenty of flowing water,

Which runs through several canals has not seen its boundaries.

92We have till now told about the greatness ,

Of the faultless city of Kosala, which cannot be destroyed.

Even if the entire sea lead by huge wind enters in to it.,

And now we would describe about its capital city Ayodhya.

3.Nagara Padalam

(Chapter about the city.)

(After describing the country, the poet describes the city , with its huge boundary walls , their great moats , the mansions in them as well its decorations.)

93. Ayodhya is described Using sweet appropriate words ,

And the best among the good and sweet words,

By all those great poets of yore ,

As well as those sages who have written the northern book,

Where the people living all over the world without boundaries,

Desire to do penance and also those people who live in ether worlds,

Consider very suitable to be born again and is a very great city.

94.Is the city of Ayodhya , the face of the earth or the thilaka on its face,

Is it the very long auspicious thread of the marriage?

Is it the gem studded necklace worn over the breasts?

Is it the place to live? , is it the lotus in which Lakshmi lives?

Is it the golden box studded with gems worn by Lord Vishnu?

Is it the city above the city of devas? How can we tell which?

95.Because Lord Shiva who occupies the other part of body of Parvathi,

Lord Vishnu who is the husband to both Goddess Lakshmi and earth,

And Lord Brahma who lives on the lotus flower thinking it as great wealth,

Have described it as the city which cannot be matched with any other,

The sun and moon, pushed by very great desire to wander there without blinking on the sky,

And can we find any other reason for them to wander above it?

96.The city of the king of devas who has the sharp Vajrayudha,

The city Alakapuri of Khubera were possibly created for practice by Brahma,

For the sake of creating this great divine and special city,

And Maya as well as the architects of devas stood ashamed,

For their inability to create such a city and forgot their jobs,

And so how can we describe the greatness of this city,

Which has huge tall buildings which even touch the sky?

97.The opinion of the great Vedas is that,

Those who do blessed deeds would reach heavens after death,

And who else is there in this world except Raghava,

Who nurtured dharma with penance in this world?

And if that one of very rare and great qualities ,

Ruled over all the seven worlds sitting here,

Can we point out any other place where,

There is much more happiness than this city?

98.If Lord Vishnu , who is the place of protection of all,

Those great ones who had mercy and Dharma with them,

Who were controlling all the sense organs which were their enemies,

And who were blessed with divine knowledge and great penance,

Considered tht this is suitable place for his incarnation,

And ruled this city for immesurable number of years along with Goddess Lakshmi ,

WE have to doubt whether there is any other city,

In this universe which is equivalent to this city.

99.All the kings are there, the best among ornaments are there,

All the gems which can never be got are all there ,

All the elephants in rut with rope tied to their neck are all there,

All the things in this world are there ,

And if all sages , devas and asuras have all assembled there ,

And if all of them praise the greatness of that city,

Is there a comparison to it . It is definitely difficult to find.

100. There are no mountains from the snow capped mountains ,

Which are like the city’s tall boundary walls ,

Which have been erected in a square as per rules of architecture here.

And so there is no comparison to its boundary walls ,

And if we want to talk about those great boundary walls ,

WE can say it is as high as the true divine knowledge ,

Which can be got after mastering great books of wisdom ,

And after that bring them to practice and get it in the micro form.

101.These boundary walls are similar to Vedas as their end cannot be seen,

They are like devas because they also have reached the world of devas,

They are like sages because they control outside attachments,

They are like like Goddess Durga who rides on deer as they both guard the city,

They are like Goddess Kali , because both hold spears for war,(spears are attached to walls)

And are like God because both of them are difficult to reach.

102.Those walls seem to have risen up to see the world of devas,

And to find out whether that city has pretty damsels like the city of Ayodhya,

Which is full of pretty ladies having shining nails fed with red colour,

By the juice of red cotton . having lotus like red feet,

Having thin waists like a climber plant, With breasts like small unripe coconuts,

Having bent bamboo like shoulders which are soft and stout,

And having the ability of very pretty attractive speech.

103.Those boundary walls were like the leaders of the clan of Sun,

Because it protects (Measures) the world by its scepter(scale),

Because they chop off the heads of those kings who attack the city(Walls can throw swords)

Because of their just(level) manner as dictated by the books of Manu,

Because of their ability to protect the city without anybody noticing it,

Because both of them posses weapons like the spear,

Because of their great strength , making impossible for others to defeat,

Because of their greatness and because of the way that they use the wheel.

104.Armed with machines which can throw weapons like the very angry spear ,

The sword which kills enemies , bow , axe , staff , wheel ,

THomara and the pestle and with the sling stone .

Which scares even the great thunder of clouds ,

Each of them being innumerable , these walls would be,

Able to kill the crowds of mosquitoes,

Or even Garuda , the king of birds , or even,

Fast travelling wind and even the mind ,

Which thinks about things that are harmful,

And if it is so what else needs to be told about security of the wall

105 . The kings born in the clan of Sun who protect the people,

Who follow virtuous character thinking that fame is better than ornaments,

Who shines in that the darkness from all the eight directions,

And whose order is implemented by their scepter and wheel ,

And are capable of even protecting the worlds of devas ,

But what is decorating the city are only those walls.

106.We are now going to talk of the moat which surrounds,

The boundary walls like the sea surrounding the round mountain,

Which goes very much down like the minds of Prostitutes,

Which is not very clear like verses which are not good,

And which cannot be approached by any one like private parts of a lady,

And has crocodiles like the five senses which prevent people from approaching good things.

107.The clouds which runs along with other cloud groups,

Seeing the borderless moat which is as deep as the world of serpents,

Thinking that it is the sea which will scare it , takes away water from there,

And thinking that the wall by its side is a mountain , rains on it.

108. The forest of scented lotus flowers , which grows inside the moat,

Which is by the side of that great wall being defeated in beauty by ,

The shining faces of ladies in private apartments of the king ,

Again regains its strength and looks as if it surrounds that great wall .

109. The crocodiles which live and rise from,

That moat which was built around the city , which had been built,

Carefully along with various type of deterrents and built by ,

Breaking all the stones all around , looked like elephants in rut.

Which could not escape from the sea and are sinking in it.

110.Those crocodiles waving their saw like tails and shining teeth,

Open their mouths and along with shining fire like eyes,

And are trying to fight and drive each other in that moat,

And are like the giants in the battle field who are fighting with each other.

111. That moat was resembling the great army of the kings,

With the wandering swans resembling white umbrellas,

With the wandering and encircling crocodiles looking like elephants,

With the waving lotus flowers along with the leaves resembling the horses,

And the fishes that are in it looking like swords and spears.

112. With the moat being built with edges that look like silver ,

And the inside of the moat looking as if it was built by crystal sheets,

Even devas would not be able to identify the crystal like bank of the moat,

From the crystal paved water in the moat .

113.That long and deep moat which was all around.,

The walls which looked like Chakravaka mountains ,

Is the forest which looked like a ribbon of darkness ,

Or if we think it as garden , it looks like a blue ribbon dress.

114 The four gates of that city stood firmly like the elephants ,

That are guarding all the directions of the earth and were tall ,

Like Trivikrama , the form to which he grew up from the short Vamana form,

And because they were making all the prosperous citizens,

Of the city walk in the right path, they resembled the four Vedas.

115.When the male dove called with love and,

Was attracted by the female dove picture above the gate,

And was not coming near it, the lady dove got upset,

And went away and hid itself in the Karpaga garden of the world of devas.

116-118. The seven storied tower over these entrances ,

Which were raised by arranging stones over each other .

Pasted with cut crystal sheets in the front , over which,

Gold was in laid and over which several gems were inlaid ,

Over which the partitions made of silver were constructed,

Over the shining stories constructed with emerald stones,

Over which faultless pillars of diamond were arranged,

Over which gold was inlaid , over which the long row,

Of shining lions were constructed and over which,

A hand width of cats eye gems were arranged,

And similar Seven stories which looked like seven branches were thus built,

AS per the architectural rule of erecting towers ,

And over the tower a roof of red copper were spread on the top of those ,

Over which at the peak a gem studded pot was kept,

And this tower looked like the crown placed on the head of Goddess earth.

119. The white houses which were painted with white lime ,

Got from burning the conches and looking at its whitness,

It made one exclaim, “Even the moon is blacker than this,”

And looked like the foam of the ocean of milk,

Which went up as a result of a huge stormy wind.

120.Those houses where the doves with spots on the body lived,

Had a roof made of several sheets of gold and looked like,

The faultless sun shining on a silver mountain,

With its early rays spreading on that mountain.

121.There were crores of such homes in that city ,

Which were built on pillars made of diamond.

Over which beams made of emerald were erected,

And looked like paintings have come out alive.

122. There were also innumerable villas with,

Floors paved with moon stone all over,

And had rows of pillars made out of sandalwood,

Over which beams made of red rubies were kept,

And with all its walls paved with blue topaz stones.

123. There were also innumerable homes ,

With artistic pillars having lotus shaped base ,

In between areas looking like serpents ,

Which would be looked at with desire by all people ,

With its very soft golden polished looks.

124.The eyelids of those who see it would remain opened,

And never get closed and since the sparkling light falls upon them,

They would all shine like devas and those ,

Houses were always having that sparkle live the air chariots of devas.

125. The ladies wearing pretty ornaments as well as,

The men who wear garlands over their chest ,

Would always follow boldly the path of Dharma there,

And those homes built by gems as well as gold,

Would never be less in deeds of Dharma ,

And by their luster would even win over the sun.

126 . Those mansions in the city touch the sky ,

Are very rich, have their fame spread everywhere,

And are surrounded by great light and are ,

Bear evidence of innumerable very fair citizens,

Who live like their stainless king who follows Dharma.

127. Those mansions bow like a stream and have,

Pearl necklaces that move here and there,

It has several flags and heaps of big gems ,

Have ornaments made of pure Gold ,

And also have very pretty peacocks,

128.Those mansions where the smoke of incense mixed everywhere,

Had huge flags which cannot be differentiated from clouds,

Along with spears tied at the tip of tall flag staffs ,

They were like the rows of flashes of lightning.

129. In those mansions where the peacock like ladies,

With very thin waists and stout breasts , wearing anklets on both legs,

Walk and create jingling sound, the pearl garlands,

Hung in those flags looked like Garlands flowered in wish giving trees.

130. Like the banana gardens which are seen in huge mountains,

In the flag post long flags are relatively more , and the reason,

For the moon to loose his crescents daily and its shine,

Is because of the rubbing of these long flags.

131. Those halls which are not made of gold are those,made of flowers,

Those halls where large number of people,

Do not assemble are buildings with more than one stair,

And those which are not constructed hills are courtyards of gems,

And those which are not courtyards are Pandals made of gems.

132. That city built by gold which can never be destroyed,

When exposed to lights like lightning or lamps or the rays of sun,

Was reflected up and city of devas looked golden.

133.The round shaped sun rises in the sky,

When it is rising has very weak light ,

At noon it increases and at evening .

It again decreases and that golden wall ,

Built by properly stacking gems which reflect fire ,

Makes the sun shine due to luster shines ,

Like the shadow of ladies of Ayodhya.

134. When the ladies wearing a well made golden waist belt ,

Raised smoke in the mansions to scent and dry their hairs,

That black smoke of incense went and attached themselves to the clouds,

And if that smoke also makes the ocean scented,

Is there need to tell about the quality of rain water?

135.The lisps of girl children whose hair has not been tied,

Would resemble the music of the flute , the talk of young girls,

Would be similar to the music of Makara yaazh(a stringed instrument),

And sweet music sung by the pretty damsels would be like the song of dancers,

In the street where the old ones sell toddy.

136.While the male elephants which show anger in their eyes,

Are cutting the ground with waving of their feet and making holes,

The attractive good to look at youth who go to play ,

In those grounds , fill them up by the scented powder that they wear.

137.When the young ladies play ball in the fields , the pearls,

They wear keep on falling , and when their lady servants,

Collect those limitless pearls and heap them on the field,

And these heaps of pearls give out light which make the moon ashamed.

138.When the pretty ladies dance on the stage , the spear,

Of the look of their side long eyes , melt the hearts of their lovers,

And due to this soul of those boys become as thin as the waist of those ladies,

And the love of those boys towards the girls keeps on increasing

139.When in some gardens the honey is raining,

The breeze and bees enter the garden to eat them with desire,

And when they enter creating pain to lovers, the breasts of ladies,

Who are boiling with love to their lover becomes smaller.

140. When the sweet music brought out from Makara Yazh with strumming,

Which makes the mind happier decreases in tone ,

The drums tied with belts increase in their tone ,

And the parrots which talk with the girls close their eyes and sleep.

141.The strong shoulders of men who are kicked with love tiff,

By the feet of the girls with a forehead similar to the strung ready bow,

And with lips similar to the red fruit and,

Who are engaged in painting the nails of their feet,

Which are like the red soft lotuses with dense petals, appear red.

142.It is possible that the paintings of that town are not closing their eyes,

So that they desire to keep on seeing the shining body without any defects,

Of the ladies who are fit to be saluted by every one ,

Whose shine makes it difficult to find time in that unmatched city.

143. The darkness of the mansions of the city in which lives

The Goddess Lakshmi who lives in the cool lotus flowers,

Is shining with light not because of good lamps lit with ghee or the gem lamps ,

But due to the shine and luster of the bodies of ladies there.

144.The great dancers of the city used to dance as per rules of dance,

Accompanied by drums sound of beats , and sound of songs ,

And their anklets used to describe the dance of their feet,

And the horse of the city used to dance very much like them.

145. A smile appears on their face and that smile,
leads to great sorrow to the one who loves her,

AS their waist keeps on reducing in size ,

And their breasts wearing pearl and hold necklaces,

Increase in size and make their waist more miserable.

146. Those which do not loose joy from time to time,

Are those young swans which have a very pretty gait,

The big Kayal fishes in ponds where lotus has flowered,

The male bee which lives with its own female bees,

And t he elephant in rut eating “birasam?” and also,

The eyes of very pretty ladies.

147.The lions with fire like eyes and their lionesses,

Would like to live in mountain caves and the ,

The water of rut would rain like water,

And that would make the mud slushy and,

In that chariots with flags would sink .

148. The discarded flower garlands by ladies.

Would tie the legs of the horses dancing there,

And the discarded sandal paste from their breasts,

By the ladies after tiff and making love to their lovers,

Would make those who run there slide and fall.

149.When the horses run in the streets, the dust raised by their hoofs raises,

And the gems of those heroes who ride on the horses get hidden,

And they would be cleaned by the honey dripping from the garlands that they wear.

150. The juice of rut of the elephants have the scent of Vengai flowers,

The mouth of girls born in noble families have a scent of lotus,

The unmatched light emanating from their ornaments are shining everywhere.

And the flower that ladies decorate their hair give out pleasant smell.

151.What is the need to compare the city of devas,

Which is not counted in line with best cities, with this city?

Apart from it being different in giving all types of wealth,

After seeing the market place of this city, the wealthy Alakapuri lost to it

152.The armlets made great sound, their weapons are shining,

Their gem studded ornaments shine out , the scent of musk spreads everywhere,

The gems shine out , the honey bee swarms are singing,

And like this the crowd of gents was shining.

153.The sound of conches and horns , the sound of Makara Veena,

The sound of drums , the sound of Kinnara, the sound of hole instruments like flute,

And the sound of various musical instruments working in different ways,

Were being heard together , making the sound of sea feeble.

154.The city was full of pavilions where the tribute of several kings was being counted,

Pavilions where the ladies with swan like gait dance ,

Pavilions where the Vedas which is beyond thought are chanted by great people ,

And Pavilions where learned people debate about arts which are scarce.

155,The ornamental hangings of the village are greater than rays of Sun,

The directions all round the city were smaller than the wide streets,

The water of rut from elephants bigger than stream on mountain,

And The horse stables were bigger than the ocean.

156.The top of the mansions in the city vie with the clouds,

The decorative hangings of the city are shining because of pretty faces of ladies there,

And the eyes which are like arrows would dip in the hearts of men.

157.The sound produced by the heroic armlets of the king,

Are echoing as the sound of golden chariots as also,

The sound of the cavalry and the swans in the lotus pond,

Where the sound of anklets of pretty damsels is heard are jealous of that.

158.In that city people spend their time in lover’s tiff,

And then making love , become happy by singing ,

The songs that are greater than the soul,

Make expert lady musicians sing and enjoy it,

Dance as per the music and decorate themselves with pretty flowers.

159.Riding on trumpeting elephants of great vigour due to their great strength ,

And by riding on chariots drawn by very powerful horses,

Some people of that city spent their time by giving sufficient wealth and gold,

So that sorrow of poor people who are forced to beg is destroyed.

160.Others in that great city spent their time by making ,

Elephants fight with other elephants ,

Or by learning to use the powerful bows that they are having with them,

Or Riding on horses which have long manes.

Or by playing the matchless ball or by learning the art of war.

161. Some others in that shining city spent their time by plucking flowers in the garden,

Or walking like a female deer along with their young friends and taking bath in the pond,

Or by keep on drinking honey so that red pearl colour of their mouth is altered,

Or by playing all the games involving dice or by gambling.

162.The flags that are flying on the mansions without any wants,

Fly in different ways on the sky and going upward ,

Reach the Akasa Ganga and make that river dry,

Like The white clouds drink away the water of fish scented ocean.

163.The big entrances of that city blessed with decorative hangings,

AS well as the golden ramparts of the inner and outer city making a threesome,

All rise up to the sky but finding no place further to grow,

Similar to the mountain like shoulders of the male of the city ,

And their good character and friendly heart which are rising up,

Existed so that even mountains were ashamed on seeing them.

164.In the forests . backyards and the edges of ocean like moat of that city,

In the ponds where ladies play , in the mountains where streams are flowing,

In the houses on the top and in the pearl strewn on the Pandals,

In the garden where several bees keep on making sound ,

There would be beds made out of flower and tender leaves.

165. In that city where the clouds that give out clear water and oceans with waves are scared,

Daily the drums tied with leather would keep on making sound

Even among the animals there is no one to guard as there is no theft,

And because there is no one who begs , there is none who gives.

166.Due to the fact there are no one there who have not studied,

There is no one there who can be considered as top in one aspect,

There are no greats in any aspect and there are none there who do not know anything,

Since all the people in the city have learned and posses everything,

In that city there are none who do not have anything and also having everything.

167. That city was like the fruit tree , which had sprouted from “Education”,

Which has risen up and has large number of branches which are,

The knowledge gleaned from various books and is the first and the strong,

With great penance as leaves, with buds which is the love towards all beings,

Which flower as acts of Dharma which gives rise “sweet experience” as fruit,

4.Arasiyar Padalam

(The chapter on governance)

168. The king of that great city is the king of kings,

And using his honourable scepter, which was matchless,

He ruled the city so that he could go to the seven worlds,

He is the great personification of Dharma who fathered,

The very strong and famous hero Rama of this great story,

Who wore the heroic armlet and shined.

169.The great characters like being first, brainy , follower of Dharma ,

Peace loving nature, heroism which was fault and matchless,

Charity and justice , were complete within him,

But only half as much required in all other kings.

170.In this ancient world , which is encircled by the ocean,

There was no hand which were not made wet ,

By the water which he took in his hand while giving charity ,

And all the yagas which Were left as difficult to be performed

By the kings who were following true Vedic tenets ,

Were all done by this king and forgotten.

171.That king was similar to the mother in loving others,

Was similar to penance in doing good to others,

Was like their children because he stood with them,

At their time of death and helped them go to heaven,

Was like medicine as he was trying to cure sickness of people,

And he was like wisdom, when one tries analyze matters.

172. That king crossed those who begged with him, by the boat of “giving”,

He crossed the ocean of wisdom , by using the boat of “research of great books”,

He crossed the ocean of enemies using the boat of anger and sword,

And he crossed the ocean of riches that followed him by contentment.

173.That king of kings who carried the spear in the leather case ,

Who had a fame that never diminishes and was called,

“The philanthropic Dasaratha” ruled in such a way ,

That , birds , animals and the mind of prostitutes ,

Went in a straight path without crossing its boundary ,

And was staying stable of his great fame.

174. The entire world with the mountain of horizon as its boundary walls,

The very broad ocean surrounding it as its moat,

With all the mountains becoming gem studded great mansions,

Was like Ayodhya the capital city of that great king.

175. Due to his participating in wars , in which he was match ,

To the strength of any one who opposed him in war,

And who carried his pet weapons of sword and spear ,

Which had lost their sharpness because they were used ,

Again and again and by the touch of the feet of the king,

On the row of the crowns of those kings who bowed before him.

176.The moon like white Umbrella of Dasaratha is sufficient,

For growing day by day without diminishing,

And give cool shade to all the beings on earth,

And also make the world with no darkness at all ,

And so they say this Kosala tree does not need a moon,

Which is in the sky and which diminishes and increases.

177.Since that king Dasaratha who has lion like strength ,

And who was wearing diamond studded ornaments,

Was protecting the soul of all others , just like his soul,

In this faultless world , became the body in which,

All the souls of all the world preferred to live.

178.That Dasaratha who had very big shoulders like the mountain,

Appearing like the hot sun in the very tall sky and the great God,

Wandered all around the moving and not moving beings ,

And carried out the job of protecting them all with his victorious wheel of rule.

176.Since that king had no enemies who were interested in attacking him,

And his big shoulders looking like drums were irritating and longing for a war

And he was looking after the souls of all the world ,

Like a poor man who sincerely looks after his fields and ruling with sweetness.

5.Thiru avathara Padalam

The chapter on divine incarnation

(This chapter starts with Dasaratha telling Vasishta that he does not have sons and wants them. Vasishta remembers about the promise of Lord Vishnu to be born as son of Dasaratha. He advises him to get ASwamedha sacrifice by bringing sage Rishya Srunga. A ghost like being comes out of the fire and gives a PInda of sweet offering. Dasaratha divides it and gives it to his queens Kausalya , Kaikeyi and Sumathra . Rama , BHaratha, Lakshmana and Sathrugna are born to them. They grow up wel and are taught by sage Vasishta. Dasaratha loves Rama most.

Valmiki Ramayana tells this story in a different manner. Dasaratha desires to do Aswamedha yaga to get sons. Sumanthra his minister tells him how he has heard Sage Sanathkumara telling other sages that Lord Vishnu would be born as son to Dasaratha. He also tells him that the Fire sacrifice should be performed under leadership of Rishya Srunga, Dasaratha brings Rishya Srunga and ASwamedha sacrifice is performed. At the end to fulfill the desire of Dasaratha for sons a “Puthra Ishti” is performed by Rishya Srunga. A divine being comes out of the fire and gives Payasa to Dasaratha who distributes it among his queens. Children are born to them and they are taught by sage Vasishta. )

180.One day that king approached and worshipped sage Vasishta* ,

Who was equivalent to God Brahma and told him,

“You are the result of penance of mothers and fathers of our clan,

AS well the God on whom I have great respectful love ,

And you all others as well all the souls to me .”

* Vasishta is the son of Lord Brahma.

181.”The leaders of my clan looked after the world like sun God and made their clan famous ,

And though there are none who do not get soft by fame,

I looked after this entire world properly from this Ayodhya ,

Due to the shower of your grace .”

182.”I have ruled over this world suppressing all my enemies,

For the past sixty thousand years and I do not have any problems,

Except a worry in me that after me this world is likely to be confused.”

183.”The sages doing great penance and great Brahmins,

Were living very comfortably without any sorrow til now,

Due to my having no children , would not ,

Those great ones suffer due to great sorrow.

This worry is causing great sorrow in my mind.”

184.Then Vasishta , the son of Lord Brahma who sits on a lotus,

Hearing all these words from the king ,

Who had a door where drums are being played ,

And who was wearing a crown studded with gems,

Started thinking like this in his mind.

185. The God Vishnu who had the colour of the dark cloud,

Who was sleeping like huge mountain on a serpent bed ,

Which was in the middle of the ocean of milk,

Had given word to the suffering devas , that ,

He would put an end to the Rakshasas whose only job was killing.

186.When the devas who were living in heaven troubled.

By the Rakshasas whose job was causing trouble to them,

Approached the feet of Lord Shiva , who had poison standing in his neck,

And when they told him about their sorrow , that God Shiva,

Who already knew what the future holds,

Told them, “I will not fight from now on” and,

Along with the Devas went to Lord Brahma.

187.They reached the jeweled pavilion without any defects,

At the top of the Meru mountain and saluted the Lord Brahma who came there,

And started telling him about the evil acts of those Asuras,

Who were enemies of devas , Which were like the thunder in the sky .

188.Then Lord Brahma who sits on the lotus flower told ,

About how The Meghanadha(indrajith) kidnapped Indra from his town,

And how he tied him and took to the city of Lanka,

And how he went there and brought back Indra.

189.Against that twenty armed and ten headed Ravana,

Who lacked the wealth of graceful nature,

Since we were not able to take any action ,

The only way to release us from this problem,

Would be for Lord Vishnu who is like a black cloud ,

And is the sea of mercy to wage a war and then kill him.

190.After mentally saluting Lord Vishnu who is like a divine emerald mountain,

Who was lying on the ocean of milk with its torrential waves,

If he salute him with folded hands , meditate on him and pray him,

With a knowledge that this indeed is salvation , he would without delay help.

191. Then Lord Vishnu came like a blackish cloud ,

Making the forest of lotus flowers bloom,

And Holding two flames on both his sides,

And appeared there as if he was climbing on a golden mountain,

Along with Lakshmi who was sitting on a full open lotus flower ,

Riding on Garuda and reached the great Meru mountain.

192.Then the lord with the blue neck and Brahma who likes ,

To sit on a lotus flower saluted his feet and along with devas ,

Along with all devas stood up and went before Lord Vishnu,

And when they were praising him , danced with great joy.

193. They all drank the honey of joy thinking that,

All the asuras have been killed and without knowing any other thing,

Sang and danced , ran here and there and after saluting,

The feet of that God with scent of THulasi (ocimum sanctum) and kept it on their head.

194. With the prettiness of a cloud getting down from the golden mount Meru,

Getting down from the shoulders of the great one who has made me his own,

Reaching the pavilion which was as tall as the sky ,

My lord sat on a seat which was looking like a lion.

195.Lord Brahma, the sages , all the devas,

And Lord Shiva who has tufted hair and wears the moon,

With great wonder and with great happiness ,

Sat on seats near to that of Lord Vishnu ,

And informed him of the cruel acts of those bad Asuras.

196.”Oh Lord of Goddess Lakshmi due to the ten headed Ravana,

And those born after him who are all strong asuras,

The earth and heavens are slowly loosing their blessed deeds,

And there is no way to save them” saying this they left a deep breath.

197.” Those asuras who have grown great , due to our great boons ,

Are killing the people of all the three worlds by fighting with them.

Oh Lord with lotus like eyes , if we do not put an end to their cruelties now,

Very soon they would destroy all the three worlds.”

198.When so saying , those sorrowing devas prayed and saluted Lord Vishnu,

He who is pretty wearing the scented THulasi and flower garlands ,

Told them, “Do not wory, I would cut off the heads of those cheating asuras,

And remove the sorrow of the worldand please hear about it.”

199.” Let all of you in heavens , go and be born as monkeys,

In the forests , mountains and valleys as my army “

Thus told Lord Vishnu who was an ocean of mercy.

200.”I myself would be born in the earth , as son of Dasaratha,

Who has sea like army walking as well as riding on elephants, horses and chariots,

And using my arrows which never miss their target .

I would destroy the mirage like Asuras, their strength got out of boons and their lives.”

201. “The wheel and conch which are my weapons and Adhisesha,

Who has a poison which would even destroy the northern fire ,

Would be born as my younger brothers who would salute me,

In the city of Ayodhya which has walls all across the earth.”

202.When he the enchanter who wears the scented Thulasi garland,

Told like this , due to great happiness all the devas

Thinking that God saved them all, stood up and danced ,

And sang the auspicious song that does good to all.

203. Indra became happy thinking that his sorrow has come to an end,

Brahma who lived in the pure lotus flower and Lord Shiva who wore the crescent ,

And all those who live in the great heavens said, “our subjugation is now over”,

And then That Lord Vishnu who had once swallowed the entire earth,

Placed his divine feet with his anklets on Garuda , his steed.

204.After Lord Vishnu who has made me his, has gone back ,

On the Garuda , Lord Brahma addressing the devas told,

“Even earlier I have been born as Jambavan , the king of bears,

And you all now go back take incarnation as monkeys.”

205.Then Indra who was the Lord of Devas who possessed the wish giving tree,

Told, “My contribution is Vali who is like thunder to his enemies and Angadha,”

Sun God told “Understand that my contribution is Sugreeva, the brother of Vali”,

And the god of fire told, My contribution is the monkey hero called Neela.”

206.When the wind God told that he is represented by Maruthi,

All the other devas told that they have decided to be born,

AS monkeys who will destroy enemies in earth,

And Lord Shiva who burnt the three cities told that

He would be born as Hanuman and so he asked

“How can there be sorrow to all people in the world?”

207.As per the desire of the merciful lotus eyed God ,

Lord Brahma who sits on the lotus and the dark necked Lord Shiva,

Along with the devas , took the forms as mentioned above ,

And have come as monkeys in dark forests and the earth ,

And Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva both went to their places of residences.

208.Sage Vasishta thought in his mind , that these have happened earlier,

And told , “Oh king who has powerful shoulders and who has won in wars everywhere,

Please do not get worried due to not getting a son. If you perform properly

That fire sacrifice which can give you sons who can protect ,

All the fourteen worlds , your sorrow of the mind will vanish,”

209.When the great sage Vasishta told like this , Dasaratha,

Stood up with very great joy , saluted the feet of that great sage ,

“How can sorrow come to me , when I have surrendered to you only?

And so please tell me the work involved of doing that fire sacrifice properly?”

210-211. The son of sage Kashyapa who is the father of guiltless devas ,

As well as other asuras , has a son called Vibhandaka ,

Who has been praised even by Lord Shiva who carries the Ganges

And who is equal to his father Kashyapa , and he himself has a son,

Who is equal to Lord Brahma , if we consider his great mastery of knowledge ,

And due to his knowledge of tenets of justice as told by Vedas.

He is one who is ignorant of of the differing personalities and nature of the world,

And has a deer like antlers attached to his face and is called Sringa .

212.He is one with a mind which thinks that all human beings of this great earth,

Which is carried by the very many heads of the snake are only animals,

And who has done great penance and if we properly consider ,

He is the one who is fit to be praised by Brahma who likes to sit on lotus,

And the Lord Shiva who destroyed the three cities,

And if that Rishya Srunga carries out the fire sacrifice,

Which would give sons , definitely you will get sons.

213.Then that king of kings of all the worlds after worshipping,

The flower like feet of that great sage , who gave him this good advice ,

And who is the chief of all the great sages who do penance ,

Asked him, “Where does that faultless sage who has all good qualities live?

How can I bring that great sage here? Oh sage who is like a God to me ,please tell me.”

214. There is a king called Roma pada , who rules all this world and,

Who is the son of Uthanapada who was born in the clan of Manu ,

Who was capable of winning over all his enemies,

Who was like the cool shade even for mercy , Who was having a true nature,

Who used to rule his country in such a way that ,

The bad fate which was like an anthill and strange sorrows are destroyed.

215. In the divine country ruled by that great king ,

Since for a long time the clouds that lead to lightning was not there,

Which lead to great sorrow , the king summoned great sages who were expert in Vedas,

And gave them gifts of charity as mentioned in Vedas ,

And since this also did not lead to the coming of the rain,

He again summoned those sages and enquired ways to bring rain,

And they told , if sage Rishya Srunga comes to the kingdom then it would rain.

216,When he thought about ways to bring that great sage ,

Who thought that all men who are in this earth dressed by sea are only animals,

And who has faultless great penance , some ladies of the assembly ,

Who had shining forehead , long black eyes, red coral like lips .

And who had firm breasts, stood up and told,

“We would bring that great sage here.”

217.When they told like this, the king was overjoyed and gave them,

Ornaments and cloths as per need and asked them with,

Foreheads like a cool moon’s crescent , With shoulders like thick Bamboo,

Thin waist , thick breasts , dark hair m, shifting eyes and red mouth like silk cotton flowers,

And told them, “Oh ladies who resemble the ornamental climbing plant , please go”,

And on hearing this they saluted the king and went by chariot.

218.Those girls after crossing several Yojanas and understanding,

The hermitage of the faultless sage was only one Yojana from there,

Constructed a place to stay using leaves and branches ,

And Started living there as faultless sages of great penance.

219.Then waiting for a suitable time when his father of great penance was not there,

Those ladies with black broad eyes who were experts in all arts reached the hermitage of the saint,

And then that sage thinking that they are also sages,

Who thought men are animals started being hospitable to them.

220.He gave them water to wash and drink , and offered them a seat ,

And after sweetly telling them to occupy their seats

And then those girls who had lips like murukku flower,

After saluting the saint speedily got up and entered his hermitage.

221, Those ladies who were wearing gem studded ornaments , after a few days,

Again visited him carrying several fruits like jack fruit , Banana fruit and mango fruit ,

And also coconut and told him , “oh sage of great penance ,

Please eat these and that age ate them.

222.After several similar days had passed by ,

Those damsels having a pretty forehead,

Requested that sage Rishya srunga who is faultless,

“You have to come to our house also.”

And then saluted him and that sage went along with them.

223. With very great joy and with great surprise ,

Those ladies having dark eyes , followed by that great sage,

Took him through the long broad path , saying this is our home,

And took him speedily in a path, which they liked.

224.Even before the great sage Rishya Sringa came and reached the town,

The clouds in the sky became as black as the poison filled neck of Lord Shiva,

And went on raining with very huge rain drops , so that the ponds and rivers got filled up.

225.Due the flowing water due to that heavy rain ,

When the ponds and rivers filled up as per the wishes of people,

The sugarcane and red rice became pretty and grew luxuriously,

Seeing the continuous heavy rain, the king knew about coming of the sage.

226.That king of sages Rishya Srunga who has forsaken,

Passion , anger as well as enjoyment , due to the trick played by,

Those ladies who had red lips like the Kovai fruit ,

Face like lotus flower , teeth like lustrous pearls,

And smoke like hair which was perfumed with smoke of Akil,

Has possibly come here , that king thought.

227.Thinking like that, king who had strong rounded shoulders,

Rose up and started , surrounded by four parts of his army ,

Great sages who were expert in Vedas and went for two Yojanas,

And saw Rishya Srunga who was like a mountain of penance,

Amidst the girls who had pretty and scented hair.

228,As soon as that king saw the sage, with his eyes,

Filled with tears of joy saluted him by falling on the floor and said,

“From now on me and the people of my country have got back our life”,

And then that king who had a mind filled with joy told those ladies,

Who saluted him, “By your trick you have removed my sorrow.”

229.When the king and sages went and met him, the blessed saint,

Understood that he has been brought there by deceit ,

And the devas started shivering with fear and due to request of the king,

That sage who was like a ocean with waves which can damage the shore kept quiet.

230. The king who possessed a sharp sword , requested that sage several times,

And told him how the rain which cannot be stopped by any one removed sorrow,

In great detail , then the great anger that was in the mind of sage left him.

231, With grace entering him and anger going away , that sage ,

Blessed the king and entered the chariot which can travel fast,

And with many sages with good ideas and thoughts following him ,

That sage who was capable of giving boons to all those with good thoughts , went further.

232. That city was decorated and the people came towards him to receive him,

And the king along with the sage reached his palace in that city,

Reached a pavilion constructed of matchless gold ,

And then the king made that sage sit on a throne .

233.,. As if there is nothing to be told further ,after hospitably treating him,

By giving him water to wash and drink , that king ,

Adopting the rituals of the Vedas gave in marriage ,

His daughter Santha who was as soft as the flower of Murukku tree.

234.Due to the gift from the sky , the disease of poverty was cured ,

That country completely got rid of all its sorrow,

And being properly looked after by the daughter of the king with pretty hair,

That sage is happily staying there, told Vasishta.

235.When the great saint told like this Dasaratha saluted his feet,

Said, “now itself I will go and bring him “ and he climbed in to his chariot decorated by gems,

After being saluted by many kings who wore heroic armlets and gem studded crown,

And after being saluted and praised by Sumanthra and great ministers like him,

And then all the devas blessed him and showered ceaselessly flowers,

Saying, “Our problems have come to an end from today,” and also praised the king.

236. With huge drums and other musical instruments making sound greater than ocean,

With songs being sung by great musicians ,With great Brahmins who are experts in Vedas praising him,

With pretty sweet ladies singing “long live” , With ocean like army accompanying him,

He went speedily like Sun, crossing all difficulties and reached the divine city of Romapada.

237. Informed by the spies , that the king whose fame was spreading like burning fire ,

Has reached his city , That king Romapada who wore heroic anklets ,

Surrounded by ocean like soldiers who held bows , which has become thin with use,

With very great ear studs and other ornaments shining , with poets coming as crowd and praising him,

With ebbing joy , he went one Yojana to properly receive ,

That king whose fame keeps on spreading like a climbing plant.

238. After seeing that victorious king who had come to receive him ,

When he got down from his golden chariot which would make even the clouds ashamed,

Romapada fell at his feet , with greatly ebbing love further increasing,

Dasaratha made him rise up and hugged him and the very joyous Romapada ,

Seeing that king with greatly shining spear spoke as follows.

239.” Oh king with a shining spear who made the world of devas firm,

Is it due to the great penance that I did, that you have come here to see me?,

Or is it because the penance this country undertook? Or other good acts done by us?”

Saying like this with great joy Romapada , who made the bodies of enemies as dead bodies,

With his shining and sharp spear and who had great shoulders made Dasaratha climb on his chariot,

And brought that king who had a powerful chariot army , in to his prosperous city.

240.After reaching a pavilion in a mansion shining like gold,

And after pretty ladies who had decorated their legs, ,

Sang the greetings of a long life , the one with a flower decorated spear,

Was made to sit on a golden seat and after .

And was offered formalities as per the rules of hospitality,

By that Romapada who was wearing a garland of densely tied flowers,

And the king who saved the world of the devas became extremely happy..

241.After the feast the king Romapada offered scented sandal paste ,

And looking at that king of ten chariots and told him,

“Kindly tell us the purpose of your visit?”

For which Dasaratha told in detail all that happened,

And further told, “I would take sage Rishya srunga ,

Who does not have any bad qualities like jealousy,

To Ayodhya and after wards bring him back,

Oh king who is wearing a pretty crown,” said Romapada,

And immediately Dasaratha retuned back to Ayodhya.

242.After the king went back , the king Romapada who was victorious,

Reached the place of the blessed saint who looked like personification of Vedas,

And after saluting the lotus like feet of the sage so that it became ornament to his crown,

And after doing necessary honours and while he was standing there,

When the sage asked about the purpose of his visit ,

The king told him “Please give a boon to this lowly man.”

243.Romapada told the boon he wanted was that,

“You should visit the well protected city of Ayodhya,

Decorated with gems which is ruled by the famous Dasaratha,

Who is one with a great scepter and who has a spear ,

Which defeated Asuras who caused trouble to devas.

Who was one who followed Dharma strictly ,

Who belonged to the clan of Emperor Shibi,

Who for the sake of saving a dove,

Kept his own flesh on the balance,

And then return back to this same city.”

244. When that sage of great penance said, “ I give you that boon,

And so go and bring the chariot “ that Romapada who possessed,

A spear which was sharpened and which had very great luster,

Saluted the feet of the sage Rishya Srunga , and thinking that,

The king of kings Dasaratha would now live happily forsaking his sorrow,

Immediately arranged for a chariot with a rolling sound brought,

And said, “ Oh greatest in all arts , please get in to this chariot,

Along with Santha who has a crescent like forehead and is like Lakshmi”,

And then that sage took his seat as requested in that chariot.

245.With the king who possessed a curved bow , stood saluting him,

With many faultless sages following him , that sage,

Who looked like the personification of rare Vedas ,

Along with his wife sat on that mechanical chariot ,

And desired to proceed to do his Dharma.

246.Dharma as well as Devas thinking that this sage will ,

Shower his grace so that the great god of truth would appear there,

So that the fate that gives great sorrow due to the asuras would be destroyed,

And started playing the divine drums and other musical instruments.

And went on showering scented flowers from the sky.

247.The emissaries who were standing on the way reached Ayodhya,

And informed about the arrival of the great sage Rishya Srunga ,

Before the great assemblage of kings with big shoulders ,

Who have arrived from different directions and ,

King Dasaratha dipped himself in to the measureless ocean of love ,

248.Dasaratha speedily got on to his chariot,

And flowers were showered on him ,

Words of blessings were chanted,

Various musical instruments were played,

Drums were played and the bad fate was uprooted.

249.That great king of kings who had drums which made great sound,

Thinking that the mountain of sorrow in his mind has been powdered,

Travelled three Yojana distance and saw with his own eyes,

That mature saint who had done great penance.

250-251. That sage looked as if all good penances ,

Have taken a form of faultlessness , who was ,

Looking like a deer and was wearing a wooden hide ,

Who seems to have a form which was not looking suitable ,

Who seems to have the ability to remove the fate ,

Of the great sorrow of devas and the undefeatable strength of asuras,

Who possessed water pot , umbrella , books as per the rules,

As well as the staff in his hand ,

252.That king of king as soon as he saw the sage ,

Got down from his chariot and fell down and saluted,

On the lotus like feet of that sage and that sage ,
looking like a stick allowing the climbing plants of the Vedas to spread,

According to the proper rules , told words of blessing.

253. With all other sages also blessing him , Dasaratha,

With hands that gives charity like the clouds giving rain,

Saluted that sage and his wife who had eyes ,

Which were like fish in the ebbing water of the lake ,

And made that expert in arts climb on the chariot,

That he has taken and brought them,

To his town with proper hospitality.

254.With ladies having lustrous face like lotus greeting him all the way,

That king who was wearing a crown along with the sage Rishya Srunga ,

With in a very short time reached Ayodhya where drums were being beaten by sticks.

255.Vasishta who has controlled his five sense organs ,

Because they were wandering like ignorant thieves,

Who were responsible for sinful activities,

Being great sage who was greatly shining,

Like the personification of rare Vedas

Reached the royal court and made it shine further.

256. After reaching that great jeweled pavilion and making ,

The great saint Rishya Srunga who was equal to Vedas ,

Sit on throne , made by faultless gems and after attending

Very properly to the responsibilities which he would accept,

He started telling him about other aspects in a best manner.

257.” Oh greatest among the greats , oh pure one ,

Who shines just like penance and Dharma ,

Due to your coming and by your grace ,

My age old clan would shine greatly.

And I also would not lose my penance like qualities.”

258.When he told like this , that sage saw him sweetly and told,

“Please hear , oh king of kings, when you have the help ,

Of the famous Vasishta who has done very great penance ,

And also your own guiltless behavior ,

Would any other king of this world be equal to you.”

259. After telling several such sweet words to him he told,

“oh king with big shoulders who carries suitable and great bow,

Did you call me here , thinking about performing the aswamedha sacrifice,

Which would lead to good results .please tell”

260.Dasaratha replied, “for several innumerable years ,

Without any problem I was carrying the burden of this kingdom,

But sons who would look after it after me were not born to me,

And so I request you to bless me with sons , who are capable of looking after,

This kingdom after me so that my welfare and fame are increased.”

261. When he told like this “Oh king , do not become sad,

Please get ready to do a great fire sacrifice which ,

Can give you sons with great ability who can rule,

Either this world or even all the fourteen worlds.”

262.All that was needed for that great fire sacrifice,

Was brought by Dasaratha’s servants , even before he said “hey”,

And that king of kings after taking bath in pure water ,

Reached the pavilion erected as per Vedic injunctions.

263. After the fire sacrifice was started, in the fire that rose,

During morning, noon and evening , sacrificial offerings ,

Were offered and after twelve such months,

In the faultless sky the music of divine instruments were heard,

And devas assembled in the sky filling it without any left over space.

264.All the devas who were living in the heavens of the sky stood there,

With their shining lotus like faces , rained scented flowers from there,

And raised sounds of greetings and that saint who was suitable ,

Offered the offering meant to get sons in the middle of the fire.

265. Then from the sacrificial fire one ghost * with burning fire like hair ,

And red eyes , carrying a pretty golden plate ,

Over which was one pure heap of cooked rice resembling nectar

Was kept , rose from that fire.

* It could be translated as “being” also.

266.That ghost which appeared in that manner , kept ,

That golden plate on the earth and went again,

Inside the sacrificial fire and vanished and the saint,

Instructed the king to give that heap of nectar like rice,

To his queens in the order of their seniority .

267. As per the instruction of that great saint , that king of kings ,

Gave a part of that nectar like rice in the hands of Kausalya.

Who had black hair scented by akil smoke and red fruit like mouth ,

And then conches blared and the grace continued.

268.That Dasaratha king of Kosala country which is blessed,

With ponds , rivers and gardens where swans live ,

In a similar fashion gave a part of that nectar like rice

In the hands of the daughter of Kekaya with Devas greeting him loudly.

269. That king who was born in the clan of Nimi who was strong enough,

To make all enemies shiver greatly , similar to the previous times,

Gave a portion to Sumithra his youngest wife when, Indra ,

The king of devas along with devas celebrated saying ,

“From today all our enemies would be destroyed.”

270. And again that great one collected the remaining rice ,

Which was scattered on the plate and gave it to Sumithra herself,

Making the eyes and shoulders of his enemies ,

Throb on the left side and to all other beings on the right side .

271. After completing the fire sacrifice of the horses that jump ,

And the great fire sacrifice that would lead to birth of sins,

And other connected rituals as per the instruction of that Brahmin,

That protector of the world , stood up , being praised by every one.

272. Drums and several other musical instruments blared,

All the people whose world was darkened by the asuras ,

Got out from their sorrows and after finishing the fire sacrifice,

That gives clarity , that graceful king reached his royal hall.

273.After doing his duties without error and having,

Given offerings properly to proper Gods without mistake,

After giving offerings to al the devas as per practice ,

He also rained gold to all the Brahmins.

274.He also gave other kings as per their status ,

Country , wealth , chariots , horses and good cloths ,

And then accompanied by playing of various musical instruments,

He reached the Ghats of the river Sarayu and took bath.

275. Then accompanied by playing of drums and other musical instruments,

With a white pearl royal umbrella giving him shade ,

With very many kings surrounding him , he reached the royal hall,

And saluted the feet of sage Vasishta who had fame ,

Which would make even Lord Brahma shy and became great.

276.As per the orders of Vasishta who had done very great penance ,

He saluted the feet of sage Rishya srunga and praised him,

Using suitable words of praise and told him,

“Because of you I am honoured and what other thing is there for me to achieve.”

277.When Dasaratha told him, “Oh my father like saint , due to your grace and help,

I have come out of my sorrow and have become successful”.

That sage Rishya Srunga of great penance due to great joy blessed the king ,

And along with sages who accompanied him got in to chariots to start back.”

278.That king who had got rid of his sorrow , afterwards saluted,

And praised all sages who had accompanied Rishya Sringa ,

And those sages who became very happy because of great treatment,

Blessed the king and went back and Dasaratha lived happily.

279. Those three middle aged queens , after some more days,

Got many desires and also underwent many sufferings of pregnancy,

And apart from their face , their other limbs ,

Also shined like moon and they were like moon because of it.

280.When the time for delivery came ,

And the goddess earth became very happy

And the bamboo like Punar poosam star . the devas,

And the pure Rasi of Kadaka , jumped with joy.

281. Sidhas , devas and middle aged women,

Famous saints , those who live in heaven,

And those who live in heaven after death ,

Shouted in joy when time came closer and closer ,

Thinking that the great God of Dharma would live long.

282.That Kousalya with great ability , for the sake of auspiciousness.

Gave birth to a child , who kept the world safe during the time of final deluge ,

By keeping it in his belly , And who is the one who cannot be understood by Vedas,

And who is the lustrous light showing the prettiness of a budding cloud.

283.With devas shouting with joy in all directions,

And with Indra and other devas saluting and praising,

The daughter of the faultless king of Kekaya ,

Gave birth to a son in Pushya star ,

When the meena Rasi was shining.

284. While Indra who wears the garland of flowers of the wish giving tree,

Who cut off with great anger the feathers of all mountains ,

And all his subjects who are the devas shouted in the world of devas ,

When the snake born Ayilya atar and the crab rasi of Kadaka becoming friends ,

The youngest queen who was like a thin climber gave birth to the younger one.

285. With the world supported by Adhi sesha with several heads dancing ,

And the Vedas also recited the music for that dance ,

The queen had eyes which can trouble like poison,

Gave birth to another child when Maka star and Simha rasi joined together.

286.The divine damsels danced, Kinnaras sang the songs of seven notes,

Several type of drums were played and due to ebbing joy,

Born out of the feeling that all Asuras have been destroyed,

They all ran and wandered all around the sky.

287,. The lady assistants ran to meet the king and after telling,

The news of birth of his sons , they all danced,

All priests of the palace joined together and examined position of planets and days,

And told that by the birth of these sons world would be saved from evil.

288. The king of kings became extremely happy and,

After bathing in cold water gave in charity ,

Plenty of paddy and other grains and with white conches blowing,

Went along with the great sage and went and saw pretty faces of the princes.

289.That great king ordered that it should be announced along with drums,

That the kings who have paid seven year tribute need not pay further tribute ,

And also that the doors of the treasury be opened and kept open,

So that poor people can take away whatever they want without limit.

290. He further told., “Let all the kings captured by me in war be released,

So that they can go to their homes and let Brahmins who are expert in Vedas ,

Be released if they have been punished for any misbehavior ,

And let all the temples in the country celebrate festivals.”

291. Let all the temples in country be repaired,

Let special roads be built for those who follow dharma along with junctions,

And let pretty lamps and garlands for Gods be given as ,

A gift to all temples in the country.”

292. When the king ordered like this , the announcer,

Riding on an elephants and with beating of good drums ,

Made this announcement and hearing this,

The citizens and the ladies with lightning like waist ,

Reached the immeasurable ocean of joy through weeping..

293.Again and again those citizens shouted with joy ,

And their bodies were covered by the excess of joy leading to sweating,

And they went on giving lot of gifts to all those who told the news of birth,

Possibly indicating that they knew that God who should be saluted is born.

294.In that great pretty city , there was a great elation,

Among girls in the crowd of girls and boys in crowd of boys,

And they went on sprinkling oil mixed with,

Scented powders as well as unguents.

295.Like this the citizens of Ayodhya for those twelve days,

Were elated with joy in their mind and ,

Were not able to recognize even their own selves,

And the faultless sage thought of naming those children.

296. To that Lord who was real , who rushed and killed the crocodile,

When the elephant who was caught by a crocodile and got tired,

Called him “Oh God who sleeps on the bed of serpent “

Sage Vasishta gave the name of “Rama.”

297.That Vasishta who observed all penances and knew ,

The real meaning of Vedas as clear as the gooseberry in a palm,

Named the next shining child as “Bharatha.”

298. And he said , “From now on the deceiving Asuras are dead,

Devas would get welfare , the problems of Goddess earth comes to an end,

And the lustrous baby who is very strong and who is going to do this all is called Lakshmana.”

299.Since the other baby was as pretty as if pearls ,

Have taken a shape of baby and looks as if it is ,

A fully opened lotus flower and called baby Sathrugna.

300.After Vasishta who has never gone in the path of lie,

Named the children as per tenets of Vedas,

The river of gifts that flowed through the hands of the king,

More and more filled up the mind Brahmins who were experts in arts.

301.That Dasaratha who was looking after the earth all under his royal umbrella,

Thinking that there is body and soul , which are there for him,

Looked after Rama who was as pretty as a picture ,

And who was like the blue lily and red lotus , lived happily.

302-304 .During the time when those babies were growing ,

Talking nectar like lisping , practicing to walk the pretty baby walk,

Looking like Sun God who is coming to remove the darkness,

And similar to the four Vedas, so that all problems of earth are removed,

Performed rituals like Choula(first hair cut) and Upanayana( sacred thread ceremony), as per rules,

And when Vasishta who was equal to Lord Shiva who wears the moon,

Taught them all the important arts along with the Vedas ,

As if there is no end to such knowledge and with no measure to what is taught,

They were taught managing and driving of elephant, horses and chariots,

And also all other arts of war necessary for the princes,

And also fighting with bow and arrow as well as other weapons ,

As also the understanding of the body parts of enemies.

And like this Rama who is the matchless leader of devas

Was growing up along with his younger brothers,

305. Sages who are experts in Vedas, devas , the goddess earth,

And the people living in that city , were confidant that ,

All the problems that they faced would be solved by this prince ,

And so they would never go away from the place where he lives,

And were living in places where those princes resided.

306.The lord Rama and his younger brother , for the sake,

Of intimately knowing about the penances and assets of the pretty earth,

Reached rivers and gardens surrounded by dark clouds ,

And wandered everywhere like the thread and the cloth.

307.Bharatha and Sathurugna , though , they were,

Wandering everywhere riding on horses without a gap even in a minute,

Were together even when they were learning Vedas,

And were together like our Lord Rama and Lakshmana,

308.Rama and his brothers going to the gardens which were sweet scented,

And there they met great sages and talked to them with love ,

And when they were returning to city of Ayodhya in the evening,

Whoever met them became joyous, like crops at the receipt of rain.

309.All the ladies and their very strong husbands ,

Who lived hugging the heavy breasts of such ladies ,

And the relations and friends who were living there,

Said that these children would live long as also Kausalya and Dasaratha ,

And for that purpose saluted and worshipped their Gods.

310. Rama and Lakshmana who are difficult to search and see by the Vedas,

Resembled the black clouds given out by the sea and the bevy the lustrous lotus,

Accompanied by the Meru mountain , said people who saw them both.

311.My God Rama with his very matured merciful kindness,

When he saw the people of his city , with face shining like fully opened lotus,

Asked “Is there any thing that I can do for you? Is there any sorrow?

Is your wife doing well ? and Are your intelligent sons living with strength?”

312.”oh sir , we are all OK, Since we have you as our king,

This is not important to us but you should be our king,

Till the deluge of Brahma and as long as,

All the seven worlds exist and as long as we exist.”

313.Like this all the citizens , praised him truly,

And his three younger brothers of great valour,

Without fail prayed his divine holy feet ,

And Rama who is the first among,

Vishnu , Shiva and Brahma started living.

6.Kayadai padalam

(The chapter on handing over)

(This chapter deals with coming of sage Viswamithra to the court of Dasartha and his requesting for Rama to protect his Fire sacrifice from Rakshasas. Due to great love when Dasaratha refuses and when Viswamithra was getting very angry, sage Vasishta advises Dasaratha to hand over the princes to Vasishta. They leave Ayodhya and after some timereached the garden where Lord Shiva did penance.

In Valmiki Ramayana as soon as Viswamithra takes Rama and Lakshmana to the forest, he teaches them Bala and Athibala which would help them to live without food or sleep. This is not mentioned in Kama Ramayanam. There is also description of Rama , Lakshmana and the sage crossing river Ganga. This again is not there in Kambar’s version of Ramayanam.)

314-315. During that time when the great king was ruling all the world,

With the matchless royal umbrella shining , with his drum of victory playing,

With all sages praising him and he was drowned,

In the limitless ocean of joy and living,

He built a gem studded pavilion which rose up to the sky , and was beyond capability of,

Maya who had great knowledge and expertise in construction , who built,

The town of Amaravathi where the buds of wish giving trees were opening,

316.The Charanas , the spies of Gods who wander all over the sky ,

Seeing Dasaratha and suspecting , whether he was their king Indra,

And seeing that thousand eyes are not seen, got rid of their doubt,

And like this Dasaratha sat on the pure and holy throne and shined.

317. In front of Dasaratha who had strength like a lion ,

Sage Viswamithra who created all beings who were found in this world separately ,

And said that I would now itself create the four headed Lord Brahma himself

And had the great anger to start it , appeared .

318.When sage Viswamithra reached that pavilion , Dasaratha ,

Who was wearing a jewel necklace , which made even the Sun get afraid due to its luster,

Got up like Indra who saw the coming of Brahma who lived on a scented lotus,

And went and saluted the feet of that divine sage.

319. After Dasaratha saluted the sage and offering him ,

A golden seat where Gems were studded in a very close manner ,

And with great reverence made that sage sit on it ,

Worshipped both his divine feet and told him,

“The tie of my Karmas have been cut today “

Saluted that sage and told him like this.

320.”Oh great sage who has a very long history of penance ,

The act of your coming with great simplicity , so that,

I can go round you and also salute you must be due,

The great penance which was done by this country ,

Or due to my fate dictated by good acts ,

Or due to the great penance done by my ancestors,”

And when Dasaratha told this sweet words, the sage told.

321. “Oh king who holds the spear with the smell of meat got from wars,

Sages and devas who are like me , if they get in to any problem only go to

Either to the silver mountain which due to its great luster laughs at other mountains,

Or to the ocean of milk or to the city of Brahma where he sits on a lotus,

Or to the town of devas which has the wish giving tree ,

Or to Ayodhya which has several gem studded pavilions .

Except for these places , where else can we seek protection?

322.”Ok king , Indra lost the kingdom that he is now ruling ,

And also lost his seat in the shade of wish giving tree on which

Its flowers showered honey and approached you ,

Who under your royal matchless white umbrella was ruling the entire world,

And when he told his problems and was standing begging you ,

And you destroyed Sambara with mountain like shoulders as well as his family ,

And made the Deva loka as your own and later gave it to Indra,

And is it not that country that Purandara(Indra) is ruling as his kingdom till now?”

323. When the sage praised him like this seeing his face , the mind of Dasaratha,

Was filled a sea of joy , which cannot be measured by any one ,

And saluting that sage with folded hands , he said,

“Only today I got the real result of becoming the king ,

And please tell me what I should do?”.

Like this when Dasaratha who has a home entrance where drums are played,

Told, , that sage Viswamithra started telling.

324. He said, “Please give me the matchless black son of yours.

Among your four sons to wage a war with the Asuras ,

Who are destroying the big fire sacrifice which I am conducting ,

In the forest with very many densely growing trees ,

And who due to their mind being affected ,

By evil habits like passion and jealousy,

And are making the saints who do penance there scared.”

And these words , which were like the god of death taking life away .

Hurt the king in an extremely bad way.

325.These words of the sage of very great penance was like ,

Throwing a spear at the fatal part , was like glowing fire ,

Entering the big river of the bodily wound ,

And when these entered in the ears of the king,

With the sorrow of the heart pushing out the soul from the body,

And the soul of Dasaratha was neither able to stay nor go out ,

And he felt like one with eyesight loosing it ,

And that king Dasaratha who has a spear which will kill his enemies,

Fell in to extremely great sorrow and grieved a lot.

326.That Dasaratha who was wearing a flower garland which was dripping honey,

Similar to that from a bee hive , some how consoled himself and said

“Oh elderly one , Rama is only a boy and has not sufficiently matured in training of war,

And if this only is your command , even if Lord Shiva with water dripping from Ganga on his head ,

Who has a matted hair and Lord Brahma and Lord Indra come,

As help to those asuras and help them in their evil acts ,

I would put a stop to that and protect the fire sacrifice ,

And please get up so that you can complete the great fire sacrifice.”

327. When the king Dasaratha told like that , that sage who started creating the world,

Got up with very great anger , and his upper eye brows went and hit his forehead,

And he also laughed with anger , and both his eyes became red,

And the sun who was wandering in the sky hid himself and all beings,

Of this world and other worlds were scared, confused and wandered,

All the directions became dark and all the devas thought that final deluge has come.

328.Seeing the intention of that Viswamithra who was extremely angry ,

After telling him, “Please wait” Vasishta seeing the king told,

Would you say no to the coming of all the good to your son.”

329.”Sir, Like the water overflowing due to the falling of rain,

Runs with great speed to go and join the ocean with large water,

The time for your sons to get measureless knowledge ,

Has now arrived , “ said the great Vasishta.

330.Hearing the words of his teacher , that king, said,

“Go and bring the lord of goddess Lakshmi “

And as soon as it was told Rama ,

Who is the greatest among the wise arrived near the king.

331.After seeing his son who had come along with his younger brother,

He showed them to the great sage who knew all the four Vedas,

And told him, You are their father , you are their mother ,

And I have given them to you and get whatever you want to be got done by them.

332,After receiving the sons given to him by Dasaratha,

Leaving out the anger which was in his mind,

And after blessing Dasaratha and after saying ,

“Now I will complete the fire sacrifice that I began”

That sage who got rid of his fault started from there.

333, Rama who was the incarnation of the god who protects ,

After tying the victorious sword on his hips ,

Taking arrows which never get destroyed like truth and the quiver,

And tied them on his shoulders and On the two shoulders

Which were like mountains, he carried a bow of victory.

334. Thus that elder and younger brothers carrying the weapons

Feeling as if the soul of their dear father was following them,

Like a shadow went behind that sage who has done great penance ,

And crossed the boundaries of that golden city of Ayodhya.

335. After crossing the city which was greater than cities of devas,

Where the people doing penance live suitable to boons received by them,

Crossed the river Sarayu which has water flowing with a sound

Like the sound of anklets of the dames dancing on stage .

336. They then crossed the gardens where the crabs live ,

Which are black like the hair of the ladies with budding breasts,

Of the cultivated lands in which the flowing honey from arecanut trees,

Which fall down due to the wind blowing over the sugarcane fields ,

And flow over the boundaries of those fields.

337. When the seven green horses of Sun Gods came,

Over the famous highest peak of huge mountains

Seen in the valleys which hug huge clouds ,

And which looked like an elephant wearing a mask

They all crossed the river Sarayu at noon.

338.After saluting that great sage with great penance ,

After seeing the garden which was hugging the smoke ,

Coming from the fire which had accepted the offerings,

And which was the toungue of the devas,

Rama asked the sage “Which is this garden?”

7.Thadagai vadhai padalam

Chapter on killing of Thadga,

(Initially Lord Viswamithra describes the garden where Lord Shiva did penance and later a desert like place. He tells that Rakshasi Thadaga was responsible for it becoming a desert. The sage teaches them a manthra to get rid of their fatigue in the desert Thadaga makes her appearance. When Rama hesitates because she was a lady , Viswamithra convinces Rama about the need to kill Thadaga. Rama kills Thadaga by hitting her chest with an arrow,

There is no description of a desert in such a vivid manner in Valmiki Ramayana,. There is no mention of the sage teaching Rama a manthra to get rid of the fatigue in the desert. Also Rama and Lakshmana cut both hands of Thadaga before killing her.)

339.” When the God of love shot an arrow at Lord Shiva carrying a crescent here,

And when due to very great ebbing anger , from the eye on forehead which spits fire,

Fire came out and when the his body resembling silk cotton flower was

Completely burnt the God of love , He became Ananga , the one without body.”

340”.Oh Rama who lives in the Vedas , on the day Shiva covered himself with elephant hide ,

Got angry with god of love , since his burnt body which lost all its moisture fell here,

In to various pieces , All this land is called Anga(body) country .

And due to that this hermitage also was called Kaman(god of love) hermitage.

341.”if that great lord Shiva, who leads the great sages , who have completely lost,

Attachment to things and due to that have completely got cured of the birth death cycle,

Anfd got salvation has himself done penance here, can the holiness of this place be measured?”

342.When this was told to them by the Brahmin, Rama and Lakshmana were surprised,

And stayed at that place along with the great sage who travels in the right path,

Started from there when the Sun with broad rays , went above the hill and reached a desert.

343. Due to the fact that the Sun God was victoriously marching above that land,

With an intention of taking the moisture from there, except summer there is no other season there,

And due to this even if the fire God thinks about the heat of that place ,

Even his heart would be burnt and if the eye sees it , it would also be burnt.

344. Even if some one tells about the heat of this desert, his toungue would be burnt,

Even the darkness which covers everywhere and top of sky would get burnt,

.After sun rises, even its rays would get burnt, the clouds, thunder and lightning would get burnt ,

And so is there anything that this desert is not capable of burning?

345. This heat of the desert would never get cool like the mind of,

Defeated warriors , who have lost their respect by the deceitful imprisonment ,

By the tricks of deceivers and not by hit of the arrow and spear on their chest,

Which would be like the downpour of torrential rain.

346.The mature trees of cactus are split open by the heat ,like the splitting of the

Body of the ghost with the little pieces of black Akhil pieces in it were spreading out,

The dry bamboo plants without leaves dries and splits throwing out white pearls,

And due to the heat the snakes get dried and spits out Rathna gems which spread out.

And all these were strewn all over that desert,

347. Due to the heat of the desert , the land there cannot run away ,

As it has the nature of not moving from its place ,

The Goddess Kali of that desert does not run away , as God cannot leave one in trouble,

The chariot of the sun God with its weakened horses also cannot run away ,

The black cloud above cannot run away and The blowing wind does not go there.

348. Due to the heat of the Sun splitting the ground, the king of the snakes,

Who has fire in his eyes which tears the eyes and comes out ,
Sent out light from his heads which was similar to lightning from black clouds ,

And with that reddish light the body of the goddess earth seemed to be wounded.

349.That big snake which was rolling on the desert due to hunger giving rise to heat,

Which has opened its big mouth so that it can swallow those whom it sees against it,

Felt wounded in its mouth by the hot sun but the elephants which trumpet ,

Enters its mouth while seeking shade in that desert.

350.In the desert where the horrifying fire was ruling,

The crows as well the elephants got burnt and became ash,

And due to the very horrifying fire called Vada mukhagni ,

The clouds in the sky also was burnt and appeared to have fallen down.

351. Due to more heat rising inside the desert would run away,

And rise up to burn the sky , the god of water taking pity on the devas,

Sent the mirage down , which is the chariot of ghost in that cruel desert,

So that the heat from the desert does not travel upward.

352.That chariot of ghost (mirage) which makes its appearance .

On the fire like burning desert appeared like a crystal throne ,

Which had legs of pure gold and was supposed to be meant,

For the king called summer who protects that desert,

Where everything which was there appeared to have burnt.

353.The minds of sages which would try destroy the good and bad Karma

Which were jumping and coming, after crossing the security of the three enemies* of life,

And attain salvation as well the mind of prostitutes who sell their body for gold,

Would be extremely dry without emotions , and like that this desert also is dry.

*Passion , anger and ignorance

354.That desert where the small stones fried by heat lie scattered,

Had split and because these very big splits go down even up to Patala,

The world of serpents of the snake king who has gems and golden colour,

Was also made very hot by the rays of the hot sun.

355.As soon sage Viswamithra reached this very and cruel desert,

He thought that even if these princes are very powerful,

Since they have a body which is softer even than the flower,

They would suffer a little and then he saw those princes.

356.Sage Viswamithra looked at the faces of those princes,

And seeing that , those princes saluted his feet,

And he transferred two great knowledge given to him,

By Lord Brahma to those princes and encouraged them to receive it,

And those princes also made those two great knowledge set in their mind.

357. When those two princes mediated on those manthras,

The travel through desert which was more harsher than the fire at deluge.

And even though they were going through the great fire that seem to burn ceaselessly,

They felt as as if they were going though clear and very cool water ,

And then Rama saluted the sage and started telling him.

358.”Oh great seer who knows everything , was this place burnt,

By the forehead eye of Lord Shiva who carries the ganges,

And wears the ixora flower garand? Or is there any other reason?

What is the reason that this area which is under ,

The good rule of my stainless father being destroyed thus? Please tell.”

359.When he asked like this sage addressing Rama told,

“Please hear about the news of a lady who has ,

The strength of thousand elephants and looks of God of death ,

And is engaged in roaming and killing of all beings.”

360.”Suppose she wishes , she is capable of carrying the earth with anger,

Or taking all the water of the sea or capable of hitting the clouds.

She is personification of the minor sins done by the mind,

And larger sins done by the body and has the form of a lady.”

361 If there is a sea which has two mountains as its breasts,

With poison like eyes , with a loud voice like thunder,

With hair like fire at deluge and is like union of two crescents,

It would be similar to her body which makes every one scared.

362.”Oh Rama who if seen by males would be attracted ,

By your lady like shoulders, That cruel one holds a spear ,

And wears snakes as hand ornaments , lives in this forest

And is well known by her name as Thadaga.”

363.”The only bad character of the mind that never vanishes,

Is the character of greed , which has the quality of,

Destroying all measureless good qualities and like that,

This Rakshasi who has unspeakable cruel behavior ,

Has eaten away everything of this faultless,

Cultivated land and has made it in to a desert.”

364.”She as per the orders of the king of Lanka with her animal strength,

Creates road blocks and does not allow me to carry fire sacrifice ,

Oh Rama who is like the cloud with garland , That Rakshasi ‘s only job,

Is destroying all the people of this area along with their clan.”

365.”Oh son of Dasaratha who protects all the life of this world,

She thinks that all such protected life are her food,

I have only one thing to tell you , in another few days,

She would swallow all the beings left alive in this world.”

366.When that great god like teacher told all this ,Rama,

Who holds the matchless bow in his hands that holds the conch,

Shook his head decorated with scented flowers having honey,

And asked him, Where does this Rakshasi who does these cruel deeds live?”

367. Hearing the words of Rama who was like a mountain with trunk ,

And who was like a bull, That sage who controls five sense organs by his mind,

Said, “Oh Rama , this is the mountain where she lives” and before he could point out,

That Thadaga came looking like fire on the top of the black mountain.”

368. Thadaga came wearing anklets on which mountains were studded,

With sea water filling up the step mark of her feet, which made earth go down,

With the God of death who has a burning fire like eyes hiding in caves ,

And with all the mountains on the earth following her.

369.Thadaga who had the end of the her eye brows were throbbing greatly ,

Had the crescents of her teeth which were exhibiting the end of the row outside,

Had a folded mouth which looked like cave and who was Rakshasi,

Who has crossed the limits of the limit of the Vedas,

And who was looking like the Badavagni has split in to two,

And appeared as if it has grown up from the full sea,

And she stared at Rama and others like fire.

370. That Rakshasi who wore a garland made of one trunk of an elephant,

Tied to the trunk of another elephant and had a moving waist because of that,

Shouted in so loudly that the places of devas as well as the seven worlds ,

As well as all directions shivered and making all beings shiver and faint.

371.She who was like a thundering cloud , looking at them ,

Laughed angrily making every one scared,

After showing her sharp edged trident which was like God of death,

Gnashed her teeth and opened her big cave like mouth said as follows.

372. “This is the place under my control , where no one can enter,

I have destroyed everything that was here and possibly,

Thinking That it is difficult to get me tasty meat or

Due to the powerful push of fate for your destruction ,

You have come here, Please tell me why you have come here.”

373.Staring so that even clouds get broken and getting agitated ,

And kicking on the mountain from which she came so that it shook,

Gnashing the teeth which looked like the hard part of the moon,

Holding her spear and saying , I would throw this to hit you”,

She came before them and in great anger and screamed.

374. Though it was the decision of the great sage to kill that Rakshasi,

Rama did not send the arrow with an order , “go and take her life”,

For though she was a murderer making all the beings shiver ,

And though she had started an action that was evil,

That great one in his mind thought , that she was a lady.

375. Even when that Thadaga with evil smell and red hair ,

AS well as white teeth saing “I will kill” took hold of the spear,

Understanding the thought process of Rama who was wearing a dense flower garland ,

That Brahmin who was an expert in four Vedas started telling.

376.” Though she has done all that can be considered as evil ,

She has not eaten us because she thought we are without juice,

And this is the only shortfall in all the evils that she did,

What can we think about her who is like this?

Oh Rama who wears auspicious ornaments,

Is it proper to think about such a one as a lady?”

377.”If we trouble ladies with shyness , others would laugh at us,

But in this case the strength of shoulders of men who are experts in weapons,

Would get defeated if her name is heard by them , please think,

About who will posses the fearless character of males ?”

378.”Indra was defeated by her , Asuras and Devas ,

With their army was scattered by her and ran away,

And if her shoulders are like the Mandara mountain,

Where is the difference between her and masculinity?”

379.”Oh great one who has been born in the clan of those,

Who rotated the wheel of their rule and protected the world,

Does she , who sinned against great people and killed ,

All the beings of the world and destroyed Dharma , need a make form?”

380” Oh valorous one holding a spear and is equal to God of death,

Apart from as per fate thinking about the passing of age ,

Thinking about Dharma and going to heaven

Is there a god of death in this world , are there other gods,

Of death like this one who sensing the smell ,Kills and eats them .”

381.”Is there a greater evil than taking beings in hand full

Putting them in her mouth and eating them like this Rakshasi,

Oh Lord , in spite of that , thinking her who is with low flowing hair ,

As one who has a merciful heart and a lady is indeed not to be appreciated.”

382.”I have told all this after seeing the deathless Dharma,

And I am not telling this out of anger at her and ,

So You who belong to the family of kings

Standing patiently like this is not good in spite of knowing this ,”

And then that Brahmin told “kill her.”

383.Then the lord hearing the words of the sage told him.

“Even if you order me to do a work which is not Dharama,

Taking your words as Vedas I would do it ,Oh great one,

Who never slides from truthful behavior,

For your words are Dharma to me.”

384.The fire like Thadaga observing the opinion of Rama,

Who belonged to the Kosala country where the sweet water of Ganges flows,

Took in her red hand the horrifying fire like spear and

Along with fire raining from her eyes threw it on them.

385. Thrown by her who was like the new God of death with great anger,

That spear with three leaf like points which was similar to horrifying fire,

Came towards Rama who was standing there as per orders of the saint,

Like the planet Rahu coming to eat the full moon in the sky.

386. The Rama who was lord Vishnu immediately took the bow,

Bent his pretty bow , which was not percieved by the devas .

Or the saints in the earth but they all saw was the the spear,

Which was sent by her and which had the form of god of death ,

Crushed and strewn as several pieces and falling on earth.

387.That Thadaga who was black like the rain falling at night ,

Even before a word was uttered went on throwing stones.

By picking them by her hand and which were sufficient to fill up the ocean ,

And they were all removed away by rain of arrows by that great hero.

388.An arrow which had speed of the curse words of people ,

Was sent by that Great pretty one who was black ,

And the lady who had the colour of the night and

That arrow not stopping at the diamond like hard chest of hers,

Went through her and went out of her back and it went,

Like the knowledge taught by good people to the bad people who were not intelligent.

389. That arrow which had dots on its front side which had the nature ,

Of the very tall golden Meru mountain , like the speed gale at deluge ,

And as soon as it blew caused rain with thunders to fall from the sky ,

And she fell like the thunder emanating from the cloud of final deluge.

390. That Thadaga with a fat body , protruding teeth and cave like mouth ,

When she fell filled that forest which had lot of dust with the flowing blood,

And was possibly indication of the future when the Rakshasa ,

With ten heads and each head having a crown would be destroyed.

And she was like the flag of victory which is going to fall on earth that day.

391.The blood that flowed from the hard chest of that Rakshhasi due to that arrow,

Made the forest turn itself in to an ocean and in the late evening ,

When the sky turned red , it appeared as having some connection with earth.

392.The God of death who was hiding , shivering and wandering ,

Fearing to take the life of the members of the clan of Asuras

Who were armed with sword and other weapons of war,

On seeing the debut war of Rama who belonged to the Kakustha clan,

And who was wearing ornaments made of gold and gems,

As per the orders of Viswamithra who was equal to lord Brahma,

Who liked to sit on the lotus flower with scent , slightly tasted the war.

393. Those devas told the great sage Viswamithra that,

“We have reached the place of our residence and you,

Yourself will not face any trouble from these Asuras,

And so Give that prince , great weapons of divine origin “

And afterwards they rained flowers on the cloud like Rama and went back.

8.Velvi Padalam

The chapter on fire sacrifice

( This chapter tells how sage Viswamithra gave divine arrows to Rama. Viswamithra tells the store of his forefathers and also about his father Gadhi,, his sister Kaushiki the story of Mahabali and Vamana and tells him about Sidhasrama where Lord Vishnu did penance. Then Viswamithra starts the Yaga, after the sixth day the asuras come . Rama kills Subahu and throws out Mareecha in the sea and also kills lot of asuras. The Yaga is satisfactorily completed.

Apart from these aspects the Valmiki Ramyana in detail tells the story of Ganga as well as the birth of karthikeya. I am not able to tell why Kambar chose to leave out the story of Karthikeya, in spite of Karthikeya (Subrahmanya) being the main God of Tamil Nadu.)

394.After the departure of the devas , leaving that cool forest ,

In which devas had showered the fully open flowers,

Viswamithra who has done unbearable penance ,

Gave Rama and Lakshmana weapons ,

Which were like the words of Philanthropist ,

THiruvennai naloor Chadayapa , which were the medicine ,

To the poverty disease of the people

(Thiruvennai nallor Chadayappa Vallal was the patron who helped Kambar with wealth ,

So that he can write the epic. In gratitude Kambar mentions his name once in every 1000 verses.)

395.All those divine weapons , as soon that sage who got his sorrows removed,

And as soon as the sage told the correct chants ,

Like the good karmas done in the birth of a pure hearted man

Searches for him and joins in him the next birth

With great joy went and reached the Lord Rama.

396.When the gods of the weapon told Rama that , “Oh valorous one ,

WE have reached you . Whatever work you give and send us,

WE will do that job like your younger brother Lakshmana and come back to you.”

And Rama told them , “great” , they started doing the outside jobs.

Of Rama who had the black colour of Kayampoo.

397.After all these things happened , they walked ,

A further distande of two Kadhams (10 miles) and then , they all ,

Heard a very big sound from a nearby place ,

And when Rama asked the sage , “ What is this sound?”,

That great sage who became a great saint ,

And lost both fates by doing great penance told.

398.” That is the sound of the divine river Sarayu which,

Originates from Manasarovar and which is praised by devas ,

Joining with another great river called Gomathi.,.

And once they crossed it and further they reached,

Another very great and big river , which,

Is capable of removing the sorrow of the birth death cycle.

399.There when, Rama asked that blessed sage , Which ,

Is the river that is worshipped by even devas , he told,

“Brahma who lives on the lotus flower had a son ,

Called Kucha who was greatly victorious and a great one ,

And a king of kings who is praised by great people ,

And he had four sons who were like four Vedas.

400 .Kuchanabha who was one of them had hundred daughters,

Who all had pretty voice and coral like lips ,

And once when they were growing up , they went to a garden to play and

Lord Wind God who came there was greatly attracted by them.

401. He told them, “I am now very sad being attacked by Manmatha,

Who has the matchless Makara fish on his flag and used the arrows from his curved bow.

And so oh girls who have pretty eyes like the fold of mango just formed,

Please marry me:. “ And they told him,

“Go and salute and request for our hands with our father and if he agrees ,

And gives us to you along with water , we would marry you.”

The wind God became angry with them and broke their back ,

And all those lustrous girl who wore bangles , fell down.

402. After the wind God went from there , those girls crawled on earth,

And reached their father and told him in nectar like lisping tones,

That king consoled those girls with long hair and gave in marriage

Those girls who were like Goddess Lakshmi, To the fainted ,.

Brahma Dutta who was the son of Chooli of great penance .

403. When Brahma Dutta caressed those girls with his flower like hands,

Their hunchback was cured and they again became pretty,

That Kuchanabha , the ruler of the world who did not have any sons

Performed the fire sacrifice for getting sons, with the assistance of proper saints,

And from the middle of that suitable fire, He got a suitable son called Gadhi,

Who was having suitable and speedy horses.

404-405. After that king gave Gadhi the kingdom and kingship and reached the gold like heavens ,

To that Gadhi who was ruling in a city called Mahodhaya,

I and kaushiki who was born before me was born ,

And that king Gadhi who was the king of kings wearing a crown,

Gave in marriage the Kaushiki to Rasika who was the son of Brugu

Who was greater even than his father and had a broad mind ,

And he who was expert in great Vedas after living with Kaushiki for some time ,

And after having a lead a happy life and earning lots of wealth ,

Wanting to attain salvation did penance to God and attained him.

406.After her husband left for to heavens due to the great penance,

My sister Kaushiki not able to tolerate the parting , took a form of a very big river,

And when she started to go to heavens , Rasika who was the king of sages,

Told her become a river so that the sorrow of earth is removed,

And he himself went to the world of Brahma.

407 Hearing the great sage Visamithra tell them that

“.My elder sister Kaushiki , took the form of a very big river”

The elder and younger brother , became wonderstruck,

And further after walking for some more time ,

Asked the sage about a garden which was covered with cloud

The sage of great penance started telling them about that.

408.”This garden is as pure as the mind of great women ,

Who think that there is no greater God than their husband , Please hear further.

This is the place where Lord Vishnu , the red eyed God , who is not reachable ,

To all the four Vedas , intelligence of devas and all others

Lived and carried out a great fire sacrifice .”

409.” In this world and in heavens, to get rid of worldly attachments,

What is chanted are only his names and the great misunderstandings.

Done by that divine one are not clearly understood by any one .”

Saying this he told, I am not capable of understanding the mind of,

That Great god who is stainless and he did penance here for hundred yugas(eons) .”

410.”And when that great God Vishnu was living here , there lived Mahabali ,

Who was comparable to Varaha who had two teeth which ,

Were capable of putting an end to this world and that one,

Made the heavens as well as the earth as his.”

411.” Mahabali who had usurped the earth and the heavens ,

Thinking of completing a great fire sacrifice with Ghee ,

Which is impossible even for the devas to do and

He decided to give the earth to Brahmins who had a heart without doubt.”

412 :”When the devas came to know about this activity of Mahabali,

They went to Lord Vishnu and stood there saluting him,

And they begged him to put an end to the cruel deeds of cruel Mahabali ,

And Lord Vishnu who was their leader decided to do their job.”

413.To the sage Kashyapa who could calculate and know ,

The past , present and who was a master in real knowledge ,

And his wife Adhithi was born a matchless child ,

Who was an incarnation of Lord Vishnu who was ,

Like the seed of Banyan tree in a micro form ,

And who was having a form of a dwarf.

414.That wonderful one was wearing a three fold sacred thread,

And was having a waist belt made oh Muncha grass,

Had a toungue which helped him learn Vedas,

And who lit fire with his hand (samitha Dhanam) and he took a form ,

Which only wise people recognize and,

Which was suitable to the great wisdom he had ,

And he went to the hall of fire sacrifice of Mahabali.

415.On that day hearing about his arrival , That Mahabali ,

Who has won over all the world , rushed and received him and said,

“Oh one who is filled with penance , I do not find any Brahmin better than you,

And from now on who would be better than me.

416.When that valorous Mahabali told him like that

That Vamana who knew everything told him,

“Oh long armed one , who gives much more than need to every one

All those who come to you now are not without honour ,

But are those who do not have majesty,

417.Mahabali became very happy on hearing this ,

And asked “What can I do for you ?’ and

Hearing that , that Brahmin told Mahabali

“Oh great one with great power ,if you have,

Please give me three feet of earth measured by my feet,

And even before he could complete ,

Mahabali told “I have given” and his teacher Shukra forbade him,

418.He told, “Oh Lord , if we do research this form appears ,

To be of an imposter and do not take it as a dwarf form which is like cloud,

For this is the form of Vishnu , who swallowed this earth and the universe,

Please know about this before taking action.”

419.Mahabali replied,” You are not speaking after proper thought ,

.If when my hand is above and if his hand is below ,

Which is not correct to his position and if this,

The cloud like black hand is the hand of Lord Vishnu ,

What can ever be more beneficial than this.”

420. “Those great learned people always think of only good,

If without differentiating between those who are close and those who are not close ,

Decide that what they have decided to give , should go only to great ones,

And who can be more great than this Vamana.”

421.” You are one with knowledge that is white and you told as per your nature,

Those great people , if they are charitable by nature ,

Would give to those who ask , even their soul , but would not jeer.

“Getting free from others is bad but giving is always good.”

422. “Those people who have lost their souls are not those who are dead,

But those who stretch their hands to beg to those who have wealth are dead ones,

“Oh teacher who is like my father , even if one loses his body ,

Great people would always live in their mind with body of fame ,

AS they are the people who give to those people who beg from them.”

423.:Those who do bad acts which scares others are not enemies,

Bu those who stand before those who beg and ,

Stop the one who wants to give from giving are the real enemies.

There is no evil higher than that “, he told.

424. It is niggardliness to prevent people from doing charity ,

At the time when they are having wealth and wanting to give in charity,

To those who request from them and thus perform Dharma ,

And it has been told in books of justice , as a thing to be avoided.”

425,’Oh Shukra who lacks greatness , Is it proper for you,

To stop the donor from giving , what he has , to the person who wants it?

Oh cruel person who stops charity , your progeny who depend on you,

Would become one without food and apparel, please know this,”

426. After telling all these completely , without being convinced,

By words of his teacher and minister , that Vamana was indeed cruel,

Mahabali told that Vamana , “you can now measure and take ,

The three feet of the earth that you want”

427.That water of charity which had the smell of the pond,

As soon as it touched the hands of the one who is so dwarf,

Which stature even his own parents did not like it ,

To the wonderment of all those who were watching,

Grew to a form almost touching the sky, like the,

Help becoming great when it is done to great people

428.The feet that was fixed on the earth grew and covered all the land,

And did not grow further and the leg which went on growing making the sky small,

Made the entire sky look very small and because there was no space , it stopped growing.

429-430 . The feet that was in the earth measured the entire earth by one feet,

And since there was no space for the third step , The head of that devotee,

Himself became the third feet , and Oh Rama who carries the bow ,

That very dwarf Vamana who wore Thulasi garland and ,

Who was the only lord of earth, gave the three worlds to Indra to rule ,

And reached near the of ocean of milk and laid down on his bed there.

And those black divine feet of Lord Vishnu , when caressed,

By Goddess Lakshmi appeared as if it was red in colour.

431. “Oh God who cuts off Karma and protects those who suffer,

Those who see this place with love would not see any disease of birth cycle,

And so I who want to carry out this sacrifice as per Vedic rules,

Have decided that there is no other place except this to do this fire sacrifice.”

432. After saying that “I would do the fire sacrifice from here “ he went,

Inside the garden with long flowers and collected all materials ,

That were necessary and after requesting those pretty princes,

To guard the fire sacrifice , he started performing it.

433. The sons of the king who was protecting the earth,

Were protecting for six days, without even batting their eyes,

The fire sacrifice that was being done by the sage , which is a great as well as rare job.

434. The elder one who was going round and round,

The hall of sacrifice guarding it , who was like a bull asked ,

The sage who was the one who knew everything,

“Oh sage who has all good qualities that deserve praise ,

When will the persons whom you told who are supposed to do cruel deeds,

Come to this great hall of fire sacrifice .”

435.The sage who was silent preferred not to open his mouth,

And the lad who was an expert in warfare saluted the sage and went back,

And then , when he saw the sky he saw the asuras,

Who were shouting like clouds , which made even the thunder scared.

436.They shot arrows , they threw spears , they poured,

Fire and water , They uprooted big mountains and threw it,

They shouted , they scared , They threw axes ,

And they went on doing several magical tricks.

437. The bodies of enemies they threw , they threw battle weapons ,

And they like torrential rain covered the forest ,

Like the sea of wishes rising and hiding the sky,

And the huge surrounding army hid the entire horizon.

438.The different type of armies who came with the bows

And shining swords, came playing the drums with small sticks,

And made this act look like the torrential rain at time of final deluge.

439.Some of them were with split teeth , some had bitten their mouth,

Some were having hair of the pearl red colour ,

Some had rotating eyes emitting fire and Rama showed them to Lakshmana,

And told him, These are the people told by the Brahmin sage with matted hair.

440. That younger brother to whom Rama showed all those people ,

Saw the sky as well as his bow and seeing Rama saluted him and told,

“Oh chief of devas you will now see that whatever is there ,

Would start falling now as the pieces of the bodies of those people .”

441. The lotus eyed one thinking that the blood and pieces of the body of those,

Asuras whose spear emits smoke may fall on the pure sacrificial fire ,

Using only his arrows made the place where the royal sage ,

Was occupying in to a tent with arrows as roofs.

442.Like the devas who sought the protection of lord Shiva ,

Who wears the shaking crescent when,

The poison came ebbing out of the great ocean,

All the great sages sought the protection of Rama ,

From the attack of those very angry asuras and told,

“Oh Rama who is of the black colour , protect us.”

443.Rama who showed the sign of protection to those sages ,

Told them, “do not get worried , and pulled his divine bow up to his ears,

And made the entire forest in to ocean of blood and

Made a heap of Asura heads which looked like a mountain.

444. One of those divine arrows shot by the consort of Goddess Lakshmi,

Making all the three worlds scared and attacked the two sons of Thadaga,

And put one of them(Mareecha) in sea and sent the other (Subahu) to the place of God of death,.

445.That Rama who wore the garland made of the bunch of flowers,

Shot arrows at the asuras and covered the entire sky within a second.

Those Asuras telling each other that princes may walk on their corpses,

And would capture them , ran one behind the other.

446.Those arrows which were sent to kill those Asuras,

Who were running away went and hit their target,

And their bodies without head danced ,

And even the Ghosts which had come to eat those corpses,

Sung the glory of Rama and flew like group of birds on the sky.

447.The flowers that were showered by the devas tore this curtain of birds ,and fell down ,

and from the sky the divine drums like Dundhubhi made great sound like the clouds ,

Indra and other devas came there and stood crowding the sky ,

And praised and felicitated that pretty archer.

448. All the great sages showered blessings as well as flowers ,

All the different type of trees in that forest rained flowers,

And that time that sage who completed the fire sacrifice properly.

Became extremely happy and told Rama the following words.

448.” You who have created all the worlds and later you,

Who protected all of them by keeping them in your divine pretty belly

So that none of them are damaged and ,

You have now protected my fire sacrifice without any damage ,

So would be the thought of the world , but the luck has been mine,

But I know that this job done has not been out of ordinary for you.

450. After the sage appreciated him thus , Rama stayed with joy

In that forest with flowers along with sages of great penance

And when the son of Kosala asked the sage Viswamithra,

Who had mountain like good qualities “what is my job for today?

Please give orders to me “ , he started telling him.

451.”Oh lord, if I say something as a difficult job, there is nothing difficult to you ,

But there is a big job for you and for doing that time would come later and so,

We will go and see a fire sacrifice being conducted by Janaka ,

Whose country is completely surrounded by cultivated lands ,

And so please come with me “ and the three people proceeded.

9.Ahaligai padalam

(The chapter on Ahalya)

( Rama along with the sage enters the pretty Mithila. Near the gate of the town they had a strange experience in giving redemption to Ahalya. Ahalya was created as the most pretty lady by Brahma and given to sage Gautama in marriage. Indra fell in love with her. So when the sage was away he came to his hermitage he made love to Ahalya. She too realized that it was not her husband but permitted it. Sage Gautama came back , caught them red handed and cursed that Indra should have 1000 woman’s private parts on his body and Ahalya would become a stone. When Rama was walking that way , the dust of his feet touched that stone and she regained her form. Sage Viswamithra took Ahalya to the hermitage of sage Gautama and reunited Ahalya with him. Then they proceeded to MIthila , the capital of king Janaka.

In Valmiki Ramayanam , sage Gautama curses that Indra should loose his testicles and Ahalya would become invisible and be in her house . Rama enters her hermitage and she regains her original form. The devas attach a testicle of a Ram to Indra. When Ahalya regains her form, sage Gautama comes there and gets reunited with her.)

452. They reached the river Sona which had sand dunes ,

Which are washed by best of gems and sandal and Akil,

Which had breasts which wore ornaments giving great joy,

Which had thin waist resembling the climbing plants of Vanchi Nadu,

Which wears Mekala , the belt like ornament , which has black sand looking like haris,

And which had canals going round the hill as its anklets going round its legs,

453.When they all reached the river Sona , the sun which had thousand rays ,

Thinking that till it would rise the next day , and provide cool atmosphere for them,

And to Reduce its normal boiling nature giving heat , went more speedily ,

Than the eyes of his charioteer Aruna and along ,

With the horses drawing his chariot bathed in the sea,

454. The scented lotus flowers with long stem ,

Which had only opened on that same day,

Which grow in the water bodies with cool water ,

Which are the temples of Dharma giving charity became closed and

Going away from that attractive forest of lotus flowers

The male bees which become happy on drinking honey during day

Went away to search and settle down with female bees for night.

And in one of those gardens they settled for night.

455. The Sun who was having large number of rays .

After removing the dark black colour of the night ,

Along with his chariot started from the blue sea ,

And looked like the huge lotus flower and ,

Appeared as if it had risen from the belly of Vishnu along with Brahma.

456.Those three who were like trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva,

Departing from there reached a river which drags the yellow,

Ixora flowers along with honey from the forest like matted hair,

Of Lord Shiva who rides on the red eyed bull and also keeps him in his flag,

Which was similar to the golden Cauvery and which was called Ganga

Which was pretty , great and lashing on both its shores.

457.The good crane which has just woken up from sleep in the lotus forest,

Those former girls who were plucking weeds from water filled fields,

With shining eyes , which the cranes thought were fish and plucked by their nose,

But later they felt ashamed and such was the cultivable lands of Mithila ,

And the three people lead by sage Viswamithra reached there.

458.In the gardens of that country , where huge water storages give out the sound of drum,

With Asoka trees giving out new flowers daily which appeared like lamps held by the tree,

With bees singing in the Yaazh of good flowers,

From where honey drips looking like a srting of the Yaazh,

The peacocks were dancing in these gardens.

459.When in those fields, using their sight as emissary and wishing to join with their lovers ,

Who are wandering here and there , was sent by the ladies with lustrous forehead

Making the minds of the ladies hate the cultivators in the fields,

Who throw the weeds of the blue lily plants which look like eyes, on the round pretty lotus flowers

Making those ladies think that some other ladies were looking at their lover and become sad.

460.In that land , the swans which are in the water storages ,

After seeing the pretty walk of the ladies there ,

Under the impression they are their mates follow them.

IN the cold water after ladies with nightingale like voice take their bath,

Making birds come in to contact with the Kumkum left by them,

Those outside fight with them, thinking they are some other birds,

Leading the birds not to sleep even though lotus flowers sleep.

461. In the rivers of that country apart from clear cool water flowing,

The milk from the udder of the buffaloes which follow each other

The juice of mango fruits fallen from the tall growing mango trees on both banks,

The juice of cut sugar cane which turn like nectar when shaken in the factories,

And the honey from the broken bee hives also flow.

462. In the dancing stage where ladies who have waist as thin as a cotton thread ,

Bending backward due their mountain peak like breasts and their rain drop like cool eyes danced,

When the players of drums were playing their big drums loudly,

Hearing that pretty music the big young bullocks run greatly scared

And go and mix the water in the streams with their horns ,

The fish in those streams get very scared and jump on ,

The leaf sheaths of betel nut tree growing on its shores.

464. When the ladies of that country put their sword like eyes,

In those sword case like eye lids and close them tightly ,

And take bath in widely standing water bodies ,

And rise from there after taking a dip , they look like Goddess Lakshmi,

Rising up from the ocean of milk when it was churned ,

And those ladies along with their densely worn bangles ,

Again sink in the water creating sound of their bangles,

The bees bore in to the flowers and drink honey from that.

464.After reaching such a great country of Mithila with joy,

They stayed outside the boundary walls with many flags,

There they saw the big hill and over that a granite stone ,

Which was the wife of great sage Gauthama ,

Who was cursed due to her losing her virtue,

Which is against the proper tenets of family life.

465.When the feet of Rama belonging to the Kakustha clan,

Touched that stone , like the one who got true wisdom,

Was removed from the darkness of the mind affected by ignorance,

And as a result got his real true form and joined with the feet of God,

That Ahalya got back her old form and stood there,

And sage Viswamithra who saw it , told Rama like this.

466.Oh son who was born in the family of king who brought river Ganges from the sky,

She who is standing with great joy and with shyness , who is like a streak of lightning,

Is Ahalya , the wife of Gautama who gave one thousand red eyes ,

To the king of Devas who made love another’s wife willingly.

467.When Rama , who is the lord of earth heard this from the one with golden matted hair ,

Asked, “What is the nature of this event ? How did this happen ?How did it end?

“Did it happen due to Karma done in previous birth?Is there some reason for it to happen?

Please tell me how this happened to this lady who is looking like my mother.

468. When Rama told these words , seeing at him that sage told,

“Oh Rama who has all good qualities, please hear .Once upon a time ,

Lord Indra who had the lustrous weapon called Vajrayudha ,

Wanted to join with the pretty breasts of the doe eyed lady Ahalya ,

When the great sage who did not have qualities like jealousy ,

Was not there in his hermitage.”

469. Due to the spear like eyes of the lady and the arrows of Love god hitting him

Indra started searching for a method to love her and one day,

Due to the great love , he lost his brain and he made that great sage,

With a mind without deceit Go away from there ,

Took the form of the sage and entered his hermitage.

470.When he entered there and when both of them were enjoying ,

The fresh scented honey like love play , she realized her mistake,

And after wards though realizing that act , which was like new honey was not proper ,
And when she was continuing it with full consent,

That very able sage who was in no way less angry than Lord Shiva with three eyes,

Very speedily came back to his hermitage.

471. By the time that sage Gautama, who has capacity to give boons as well as ,

Capable of cursing which was unlike arrows which can be stopped,

Reached his hermitage , that lady who had earned a bad name,

Which will stand in the world permenantly for all time to come,

Stood there greatly nervous due to great fear and the shivering Indra,

Started his efforts to go away from there.

472. That sage who had a very clean mind , getting angry , spitting fire from his eyes,

And understanding about the sinful act done by both of them ,

In words which were hot like the arrows leaving your bow ,

Told Indra, “let you have thousand private part of women in your body”,

And within no time all those thousand came and joined the body of Indra.

473.That Indra became matchlessly ashamed due to that in his body,

Which made others laugh at him went back to heaven and then the sage,

Seeing that tender lady and cursed her too,”You please become a stone like the courtesan,

And she immediately became a black stone and has been lying here ever since.”

474.That lady while becoming a stone told the sage ,

“Oh god like sage who showers fire from his eyes,

It is told that to excuse the fault of younger ones is the duty of elder ones,

And so please tell me how this great curse will end in me,

And that sage who wears a flower garland frequented by bees told,

When the dust of the feet of one called Dasaratha Rama falls on you ,

You would get rid of the form of stone and become your normal self,”

475. Viswamithra continued and told , “this is what ,happened earlier

From now on , all the beings of the world would get rid of all sorrow only,

As they should not suffer any more sorrow , Oh Lord of the colour of the cloud ,

While coming , when you killed the black Rakshasi in war, I saw greatness of your hand,

And here in this place I saw the greatness of your feet.”

476.That black Rama who has provided Ahalya help without evil,

After hearing and understanding all that was told by Viswamithra,

Told Ahalya, “Oh mother , to get the mercy of the saint with great penance ,

You serve him and do not be sad, thinking about what happened in the middle ,”

And Ahalya after saluting the golden feet of Rama went away.

477-478. .When all of them reached the hermitage of Gautama of very great penance,

That sage who was greatly surprised to see his guests , hospitably received them,

And treated without any shortcoming of hospitality and then Viswamithra ,

Who was the son of Gadhi told him, “as soon as the dust of the feet of this black coloured Rama touched

That lady with a climbing plant like waist regained her old form and stood up,

Please call her who has not done a sin willfully “and sage Gautama,

Who was similar to Lord Brahma born out of lotus , consented to this.

479. That charitable Rama who was great in all the good qualities,

Saluted the lotus like feet of Gautama , went round him clockwise,

And entrusted that lady with great virtuous character in his hand,

And immediately along with Viswamithra of great penance ,

Came out of that garden with scent of flowers

And all of them saw the outer gem studded boundary wall of Mithila.

10.Mithilai Kakshi Padalam

The chapter on looks of MIthila

(Rama and Viswamithra enter the town of MIthila. A picturesque description of the town is then given. Sita who was playing in the “maiden mansion” , saw Rama and he also saw her. Both of them fall in love with each other .There is a lucid description of the love sickness of Sita. Rama and Viswamithra go to the sacrificial hall of king Janaka. Rama is introduced to Sadananda, the son of Ahalya and Guru of king Janaka. That night Sadananda tells Rama about the story of sage Viswamithra. That night Rama is affected by love sickness for Sita. Next day they go to the palace of Janaka. When Janaka starts enquiring about Rama, Viswamithra starts telling about him.

In Valmiki Ramayana, the description of MIthila is very short . Rama and Sita do not see each other. Sadananda indeed tells the story of sage Viswamithra to Rama. The description of love sickness of Sita is very exhaustive and follows the normal tradition of older Tamil literature.)

480. That city which was well guarded was saying ,” That goddess Lakshmi,

Due to the great penance I did has left her lotus flower and has come,

And living within me “ waving her hand like gem studded flags

And it appeared to them as calling that lotus eyed one, “come quickly.”

481.All the three of them saw those gem studded flowers on the top,

Of the great mansions of the town , which appeared to them as if they were with waving with joy,

On the sky and telling, “Since no one once has the suitability to marry sita,

AS per the invitation of the God of Dharma , Rama is coming here ,

To marry Sita of matchless beauty “ and it appeared that the divine damsels were dancing in the sky.

482. They saw that sun of the day was setting and the sky was appearing like ocean of milk,

And on the terraces of the mansion of the MIthila city ,

When the long flags there while waving touched the clouds and became wet because of that and ,

They were getting dry by the cloud like smoke from Akil and were waving again.

483. Interested in drawing and dipping the painting brush in nectar ,

And later getting perplexed thinking, “how to draw her pretty form?”

The love God himself thought that it was impossible to draw her pretty form

And the city which was having her resembled the lotus flower in which Goddess Lakshmi sat.

And all the three of them entered such a city which had golden walls.

484. Like The dried up sea after the great sage who was a great artist with words drank it,

And which is seen as one strewn with very many shining gems

Like The sky with has large number of shining stars in dense formation,

The avenues of the town were shining with strewn gold ornaments ,

Which were thrown by ladies with crescent shaped foreheads and men,

And in to these shining streets those three people walked.

485,Due to showering of water of rut by mountain like elephants ,

Who are capable of breaking the goad runs like a black river ,

And the white foam of the mouth of strapped horses,

Fall in that river and make it in to a white river,

And due to chariots which are running without break ,

Making the mud slushy and again due further running of chariots,

The slushy land becomes dusty and thus the streets ,

Are not similar at any time and in such a street those three walked.

486. The lad and the lass being similar without break making deep love ,

And after enjoying it together , when the tender girls are lying tired in the war of love making

And the flower garlands thrown by them who speak words which are like music in the lovers tiff ,

Along with bees had fallen down on the streets and were .

Dripping honey in such streets and they were walking through them.

487.They heard songs being sung in baby’s lisp which was like the honey like sound of Yaazh,

Also songs sung in Makara Veena which is played by caressing the strings by the hands,

As well as sound of drums, which were all being heard together one after one,

And saw dances where the eyes of the dancers were following the signs showed by hands,

With their mind going after that by Ladies with waists , whose existence is in doubt on golden stages.

488.They also saw swings tied in arecanut trees whose bearing ,

Comes and goes like the guilty people ,Which bear pearl like red fruits

And were green like emerald, over which the ladies were swinging ,

And due to its movement the bees which rose up with great noise,

And their waist unable to bear this were crying out loud,

And those ladies at that time where thinking of their lovers.

489.For building field dividers for fields to control water ,

The farmers had heaped limitless gems ,gold,and pearls,

The tail of musk deer , the Akil pieces which are available in forests ,

As well as peacock feathers and tusks of elephants ,

Which lie scattered all over the banks of river which was like Cauvery,

And they also had very large number of shops.

490. They heard by their ears and enjoyed the songs accompanied by music,

Raised by their ladies who with the thin fingers with sharp nails,

Who tightened the knobs of Veena and also tightly hugging the strings ,

And along with imprint of their hands also imprinting the mind,

With a smiling face which was like serving very good and tasty food.

491.They saw well bred natural horses with halters and which were running ,

Like the rotated wheel for making pots made to rotate by the potter,

Round and round and like great people never allow a split to come in between their friendship and like the mind of philosophers not deviating from their aim.,

And which cannot be guessed about the type it can classified to.

492. They saw The elephants with white tusks as hard as diamond,

Become very angry with each other,

When the arrow of love God strikes and

After having love tiff like the churner of curd,

When they were getting engaged in love making like

Very intimate lovers who are like soul of each other ,

With eyes becoming deep red and were fighting

Like a mountain with another mountain.

493.They saw the rise of several moons through the windows,

On the gem studded terrace of those several mansions ,

With spear like eyes , with love arrows of the God of love,

With hair like the blue black colour of the bee ,

With bright red lips and who have removed t he problem of appearing only at night.

494.They also saw many ladies with lotus like faces ,

Who were exhibiting love tiff , like one exhibits ,

The effect of wine which has the fresh smell,

Taken in a crystal cup and having the meaningless laugh,

Due to it and also meaningless prattling,

Which even if they want , they cannot hide.

495.The mind of the prostitutes who make love to the men,

And take money for it and who have private parts,

Resembling the hood of the black snake is like crystal,

Which looks black when the black eyes of damsels fall on it,

And would look red when they take them in their red hands,

And they saw similar balls which were being played by those damsels.

496. They also saw the sports arena of the long spear eyed ladies,

Who were wearing bangles , ear studs and several other ornaments,

Wearing the costly upper cloths of Kalinga made with thin threads ,

Who were decorating their pretty hair with scented garlands and make it grow,

Who were keeping as wager the Makara Yaazh and were moving ,

With their reds hands the coins which resembled a dog

497.Lotus flowers , black lily which are not comparable to the faces of ladies,

Red lilys not comparable to their mouth ,

The leaves of Climb plant vallai not comparable to their ears ,

The waves not comparable to the folds of their belly and Varal fish not comparable to their calves,

Blue lotus not comparable to their hair , Chengidai not comparable to their lips,

Were all sad but made themselves comparable to different parts,

Of the pretty body of those damsels who were taking bath in the lakes , and were seen by them.

498,With the five sense organs which get attracted dragging them to different directions,

And going along with them and having lost their senses and wandering here and there,

Having applied the mixture of scented pastes and with scars on their hand

Made when they tightly Embrace the breasts of ladies

And the wealth and wisdom not going away from their shoulders,

The many heroic men were playing with rolling dices and were seen by them.

499. They also saw many young lads who appeared to be angry ,

Who were feeling the pain of having born on this earth,

Who have merciful heart giving away things requested from them,

Who were like love God but cannot be ever burnt by fire,

Who were having red hands holding the bow ,

And who had red hairs because they were able to solve the love tiffs of ladies,

Due to their falling at the feet of those ladies with red painted feet.

500. They also saw gardens with ladies who speak with words like sugar syrup,

With pretty parrots and make the divine ladies become shy due to their prettiness,

Who had hair like that of peacock feathers ,

Who were comparable to the bunch of flowers due to their tender nature ,

Who defeated the swans by the beauty of their walk and made those swans follow them,

And seeing that the bees of the garden were greatly shouting with happiness

501.They then saw the moat as deep as the river Ganges from which water was ebbing out ;

Inside the city surrounding the golden palace of Janaka who has a very great army ,

Which was like a shadow of those mansions in which Indra and other devas live ,

And was showing the very pretty nature of those homes in heaven.

502. Then they stood at the place where they saw ,

On the terrace of a mansion in which maids live ,

Where the male swans were playing and prattling with female swans

A form of a girl with the cluster of gold and the scent of flowers ,

With the sweet taste of honey dripping down from bees ,

And with the pleasure of a poem built with very proper words .

503. That girl who had come could only be compared to Goddess Lakshmi ,

Who had the best of every part of every lady who had been created

AS told by Lord Brahma sitting on the lotus and every being on earth,

And How can they or any one use any other comparison to her.

504. Seeing her , all ladies who were comparable to Goddess Parvathi,

Saluted her with hands raised over their heads as she,

Was blessed with good qualities like patience , and

Not able to see the other shore of her beauty , the humans,

Were sad that they did not get eyes that never blink,

And devas whose eyes never blink were also sad,

Because they felt that her beauty cannot be measured by mere two eyes.

505.After defeating the looks of a deer .

With flower decorated spear and the killing sword retreating on seeing her eyes,

With the Kayal fishes suitable to compare standing behind,

That Sita with roving eyes was like the nectar that came out ,

Even in those days when the sea was churned using a mountain.

506.Would it be possible for Lord Brahma to create ,

Another girl like her , even if all devas gather together and request ,

“Please create a girl who is comparable to this girl with honey like words”,

And even if those devas who do not eat anything except nectar ,

Go near the sea which is the home of gems and request it ,

That sea can again possibly give them nectar and not a girl like her?

507. Menaka and other divine ladies who are liked by indra who rules over the divine world,

Who had lustrous eyes after seeing her form, understanding that if all other beauty ,

Were to join together , it would not be equal to her beauty and getting nervous,

Were having a faded down face like the day time moon,

But she had a face like full moon which did not differentiate between day and night.

508. Is it because the Brahmins who are innumerable observed penance ,

So that their body has undergone sufferings so that this lady had decided,

To come leaving her lotus to live on this earth.

Or is it the God of dharma or this earth or the heavens ,

Or is it the world of devas ? we are not able to know which?

509.Many friends who were , who do not have any one comparable to them,

Addressing her as , Oh deer who has hands soft like the red tender leaves,

Oh mother ,Oh honey , Oh difficult to get nectar and saluted her feet,

Walked in front filling up the path with flowers , and she ,

Was walking on those flowers which were coated with pollen.

510.Several of her friends, who were wearing golden anklets on their thin legs

Wearing gem studded garlands, flower garlands , wearing waist belt,

And who were looking like creeping flowering plants were ,

Staring at the beauty of Sita who was with them .

Lighting that place like one hundred crore streaks of lightning ,

And who was looking the king of all lightning.

511.Sita had eyes that will defeat The killing spear,and the god of death

Which are filled with joy and that was something none can describe,

And that Sita who was a fruit taking human form which was capable of melting,

Huge hills . small walls , big stones , and small grass, was standing there.

512. That Sita was giving extreme joy to all those ladies who see her by their eyes

Who were themselves looking like a festival to the eyes of Gents who sees them,

And that Sita was like a nectar to all those ladies ,

And so how will she look like to Rama, who was the lord of us all?

513.Though the ear ornaments and garlands had been there

Before the birth of Sita in this earth and had ,

Moved with ladies who have cool eyes like that of rain,

Because this Sita was born , they who make others pretty became more pretty.

514. When that Sita who was more prettier than any one’s concept of beauty,

Was standing there, her eyes and that of Rama dragged each other,

And each of their eyes wanted to steal the other and eat it,

And due to this both their consciousness became one single one,

And he saw her and she also saw him.

515.The sight that Sita saw with her eyes became,

Two sharp spears and pierced the shoulders of that strong one,

And the sight of that red eyed Rama who wore Hero’s anklets ,

Went and pierced the two breasts of that girl who hurts others by her beauty..

516.Since their sights which drank each other ,

Tied each other and was dragging each other’s hearts,

That Rama with a strong bow and Sita with sword like eyes.

Pierced each others heart and stayed there.

517. That lady with no waist(thin waist) and that Rama without any fault,

Became a single soul along their two bodies ,

If they who had parted with each other ,

On the floating bed in the ocean of milk,

Meet with each other in one place , Is there a need to talk?

518.Those eyes without an end went on seeing him

And since they were not closing ,

Sita who was wearing gold ornaments,

Stood immobile like the lady in a picture,.

Rama who was followed by thought about her,

Went forward along with the sage ,

Till he vanished from sight of Sita.

519. When Rama who was wearing scented garlands ,

Vanished from her sight and though her mind ,

Which was like an elephant in rut which made the very strong Goad straight ,

But that Sita who had a crescent like forehead was stopped,

By her qualities which were lady like.

520.When the thought of love came strongly ,

Her mind and body became thin like her waist,

And through her black long eyes , the sickness of love ,

Just like a drop of curd in the milk , spread all over her body.

521.Though she was suffering from the disease of love ,

Since she was not able to tell it, she was weeping,

Within her mind like a dumb girl and then the God of love,

Shot an arrow in to her mind , which was like ,

Putting one more piece of wood in to a raging fire.

522.That Sita whose eyes went near to her ears

Which were wearing a lustrous ear stud ,

And which were like a spear not burnt in fire ,

With her disheveled hair and loose dress ,

Faded like a climbing plant put in fire.

523.That Sita who had the waist bels slipping,

Who had lost her mental strength and conch bangles,

Who had faded mind and wisdom as well as ,

The colour of her body due to that love sickness.

Was like the ocean which lost everything ,

When the devas churned it by a mountain.

524. When her ornaments loosened, her shyness deserted her ,

When her beauty changes and when she was hit on her breasts by arrows of love ,

And was suffering like a deer hit by the arrow of the hunter,

And when she standing jaded like this , her friends took that Sita

Who had a colour of a peacock and was wearing ear studs , with great difficulty.

525.Those friends and took Sita , who was wearing ear globes in her ears,

Whose eyes move like the Khayal fish and hand and feet which were like new leaves,

To a bed of flowers over which cold snow has been sprinkled along with tincture of flowers.

526,When Sita was made to lie down on a bed of flowers that had just opened

Faded like the lotus flowers growing densely in a lake ,

Got faded by the rain of snow , which was white like silk cotton flowers,

And like the fading of the moon when it was swallowed by a snake.

527.The sweat which formed in the edge of her eye brows dried immediately

Due to her tortured breath which gave out heat like a Black smith’s klin,

And her pearl like tears from her very long eyes fell on

The top of her breasts like the rain falling on the mountain top .

528, She fell like the peacock which fell ,

As a result of the arrow sent by a hunter in the forest,

Of a very a cruel mind which never gets disturbed ,

And due to her mind which was burning due to the fire of love ,

She fell like a burnt flower branch on that flower bed.

529.The flowers that were spread on that flower bed ,

Appeared to her like sharp thorns and hurt her body,

The sandal paste on her body which got dried due to,

The heat of her the fire of love fell like fire sparks

That burning fire within her also burnt the thread ,

Of her ornaments and the flowers in the bed dried..

530.Her servants , the foster mothers, five type of mothers,

And those who were like sister for her became very sad,

Due to disease of Sita and became mentally upset ,

Because they were not able to understand the nature of the illness,

In spite of deep thought , brought water with many flowers,

And rotated in front of her so that evil eye would be cured.

531, Due to air of the waving of that big fan by her friends,

The fire within her burnt with more vigour ,

The ornaments and flower garlands started drying and scalding

And this made her like an idol made of gold .

532. She will tell Rama’s hair is a flower garland made of darkness,

And his two shoulders are two great and big pillars or

Two mountains which are made of emerald stone ,

And his eyes are red lotus flowers and he is a cloud,

Which came from the sky with the bow of Indra(lightning)

533.He has entered my dense mind and also destroyed,

The determination of my mind and my feminine qualities,

But on his mountain like shoulders he does not ,

Seem to carry a bow of sugarcane and so he is not god of love.

534.On thinking about it, he is not one belonging to the land of devas.

As he is like the scented lotus and also blinks his eye,

He carries a huge well made bow and wears a sacred thread,

And considering his age , he looks like only a son of a king.

535.After seeing him I am not able to see in me ,

My feminine nature , the shyness that was born with me ,

And the wisdom of my mind and that young lad,

Who walked on the path of mud , looks like a thief,

Who can enter in to my mind through my eyes.

536. His black hair is like the gem Indra neela,

His face is like full moon and his hands hanging up to knee,

And his great shoulders did not steal my soul,

But it was his smile that first attracted me.

537.Not only his broad chest which was lustrous,

And g his great feet which were like lotus flowers,

But also his gait which was like that of an elephant,

From whose face the water of rut was ebbing out ,

Entered in to my mind and got fixed there.

538. Would it be possible for me to at least see once that lad,

Who destroyed the security wall of my virginity* ,

Which was born along with me and is a machine,

Attached to the wall of hall of virgins where I roam,

And understand about him and then die? Please tell.

* prevents entry of males in to the mind

539.When Sita was telling this and many other such things to her mind,

She told herself, “Here stands the valorous one whom I saw earlier.”

Then she will say, “Now he has gone away” and like this,

Her love sick mind was suffering due to these thoughts of passion.

540.The hot sun feeling that the fire of love which was burning,

Sita who had a swan like gait was rising up and heating him also,

And not able to bear it which made his long arms shiver,

Ran and dipped himself in to the ocean.

541. The breeze which blew increasing her love sickness ,

Made Sita, the rare maid see , the red sky at dusk and the black dark night,

As the god of death with red hair and black colour,

Due to that dusk which heats up the feelings of love

542. The sound of birds that was coming from the top,

The sound from the sea which was like the sound of anklets,

And the blood coloured sky and the darkness of the night,

Which was like the black dress increased the love suffering of Sita,

And it was only proper to call it the Sadhakas(great goddess devotees)

543 Along With ponds becoming dry due to fire , With scented flowers being coated by poison,

The breeze was strolling like a spear and the arrows sent by God of love ,

Entered deep in to the already existing wounds of love and due to that,

The good wisdom as well as the feminine characteristics have been destroyed in case of Sita,

And she seeing the evening time which had come to take away her soul,

Was greatly scared thinking that this was the real form of god of death.

544. When Sita was greatly suffering and when she was thinking ,

“Is this ocean , is it rain , Is it big blue stone , Is it the scented flower of never fading plant,

Is it the scented flower of Karum kuvalai plant ? Is it the blue lotus.

Is it the flower of Karu neithal plant , I do not know which of them,

Would give maximum trouble to young girls and take away their life?”

Then very strong Rakshasa like Black late evening came before her.”

545.”Oh serpent who is of the colour of black colour spreading in the sky,

Who has stars as its poisonous teeth , the deep breath of hot air ,

And The red sky as its poisonous fang, Why are you surrounding me?

Why are you inimical to me and give me sorrow? Already the god of love ,

Who shoots arrows at me , without getting any tiresomeness in his hand,

Never leaves the shooting of arrows? Since I have only one soul,

And , there is nothing with me for you to steal if he snatches it away from me .

When I am trying to save myself from that God of love .

Why are you unnecessarily attacking me to take away my life?”

546,”Has the sorrow taken the form of darkness , matured further and,

Has the great Halahala poison spread all over the world,, after emerging from sea?

Has the black ocean rise out and come out? Or is it that whoever thinks of the colour ,

Of the great one , they get the colour which spreads everywhere?

Is it that the black colour of god of death that has been further mixed with black paste ,

And applied all over the earth and the entire sky?”

547. “Oh bird My lord just made appearance before my eyes and suddenly vanished,

And I did not see any one to help me to stop him, and hey without pitying on me,

Thinking that I am a simple girl , he did not take any mercy on me?

Was this deception taught to you by God of love who was hiding ,

In the darkness of night and shooting his arrows of love on me?

Or is it due to the sins committed by this simple girl in previous birth?

And has that sin come in the form of darkness to haunt me?”

548,When at that place when she thinking about such things was greatly suffering,

In the big mansion of maids , which was touching the broad sky by its height,

On the platform made by the cool moon stone , thinking that,

The long lamps with big flame would produce more heat and make her suffer,

The friends of Sita removed all such lamps and brought the lamps,

With gems and made the night in that place in to the day time.

549.When the great strong Lord Vishnu .made the Mandhara mountain in to a churner

And started churning it using the snake as the rope , for the sake of the devas

Several drops of milk as well as gems fell out and later the golden pot of nectar

Which was more lustrous than the stars rose out, similar to rising of moon from black sea.

550. Long time ago , lying on a banyan leaf , acting as if he was very angry ,

Lord Vishnu ate all the worlds and the sea and when the sea of the belly,

Flowered from there and with bees chanting Vedas, a flower was produced ,

On which sat Brahma and similarly the moon rose from the sea ,

And it looked like another white lotus flower flowered from the sea.

551. When in the sky where the shining stars which looks like dots in the sky,

The moon light which eats away the darkness accumulated at night,

Has spread the leaf sheath of young arecanut tree kept beside the silver pot on the east,

And we do not know how this will turn out to Sita who talks sweetly like a bird.

552.The lustrous evening spreading his hands , with an intention of ,

Eating away the darkness of the entire world and moon light ,

Which spread as soon as the cool moon arose in the sky,

Like the spread of the fame of the philanthropist Chadayan*,

Which has spread in the earth and sky and in all directions ,

Making his own all the fields which are irrigated.

*the philanthropist from THiruvennainallur

553. It was like the extremely white moon who is an architect who arose from the water of the sea

Seeing that the world which was made by Lord Vishnu on the flower that arose ,

From his belly button has become very old , spreading his rays which are his hands,

And using the white paint of his moon light has painted it and made it new.

554.When that moon who was like the big scented lotus flower came to him as per its wish,

Along with Goddess Lakshmi , and when the lotus flowers closed making the bees go away ,

The red lily flowers noticing that the king who looks after the world with his scepter has gone,

Started to show off themselves like the small kings who was waiting for suitable time.

555.Oh white coloured burning coal , who forms in the midst of the black growing burning coal,

Which is the personification of darkness that has stolen the entire world,

Having been defeated by that great one who creates the permanent illusion,

By his colour , why are you being cruel to me as well as the ocean which is outside.

556.Oh moon who rose from the sea, by nature you are not cruel,

As you are not killing any one and you were born along with,

The faultless nectar and along with a damsel with a she elephant’s gait,

And such being the case , it is not proper for you to burn me.

557.Because the rays of the moon which raises in the sky,

Beats me on her very tender breasts , like a whip ,

That female swan ,felt as if she was caught in a cruel raging fire,

And went on rolling on the bed which was full of lotus flowers.

558.Due to moon light which never left and spread everywhere,

Hurting her , Sita got scalded , cooked and fell down,

And the lotus flowers in which she used to live were made as her bed,

And due to the heat of love in her body , even those flowers got wilted.

559.That Sita who had tender breasts ,suffered with a burning body,

When her friends applied large quantity of sandal paste with other cooling pastes,

And when she was fanned by huge fans , her body became more hot ,

Is there any medicine to cure the illness caused by love?

560.When due to the fire of love , her body was burning ,

Even the beds made by flowers , pollen as well as very tender leaves,

Start getting burning up , her friends who loved her more than her mother,

Brought two thousand beds and went on stacking them on each other.

561. We have seen how the female swan like Sita ,

Who was in the home for maids suffered on the flower beds,

And now we will say as to what happened to Rama,

Who has seen her body which resembled rays of lightning.

562.When all of them (Rama and others) went and saw the king Janaka,

He with great joy received them by coming out ,

And took them to a mansion which was touching the sky ,

In that land of pleasures which was like the golden town of Indra.

563.Sage Sadananda who was the son of Ahalya ,

Who has assumed her original form due to the dust,

From the lotus like feet of Rama who was valorous and faultless

Came to see them and he looked as if all the great penances ,

Have taken a form of good character and came walking.

564.Rama , the very charitable one received that sage with great respect ,

And with great joy and saluted him. Then that sage ,

Who had matchless good qualities blessed Rama ,

And went and reached near sage Viswamithra.

565.That great sage who was the son of sage Gowthama,

Seeing the face of Viswamithra of great penance told,

“What is the great penance that has been done by this great city.”

566.Seeing the face of great Sadananda, Who was equal to the lord,

With the seat of the cool lotus flower(Brahma) and

Who has friendship with every one as also has done great penance,

Viswamithra who is the master of all arts told like this.

567.”Oh Great sage of very great penance , please hear,

This charitable Rama has killed the Thadaga who had a voice like thunder,

And protected my fire sacrifice and also lifted the curse,

That had befallen on your mother one by one and,

He has thus removed all the sorrows that I had.”

568.As soon as sage Viswamithra told like this,

That great sage got limitless joy and told,

“Oh sage of great penance , due to your grace ,

Which os there on these lads now , What job is impossible,

For this very valorous Rama “ and further he told.

569-570. Seeing that moon faced Charitable Rama ,

Whose body was comparable to the

Incomparable non fading flowers , Blue gem stone,

The slushy ocean , crowds of clouds,

And the Blue lotus flowers with open flowers , he told,

“Oh Lord who wears the garland made of scented flowers,

I shall tell you an important news, This sage Viswamithra ,

Was king of a kingdom earlier , which he ruled for several years,

As per the rule of law and with mercy to all beings.”

571. “When he was ruling his country as per dharma,

He happened to go to the forest for hunting in to dense forests ,

And reached the hermitage of Sage Vasishta of great penance

Who is praised and worshipped by every one.”

572.That consort of Arundathi treated this sage Koushika ,

In a very hospitable manner by looking after all his wants

And requested him,Please stay here and then go.”

And when Koushika agreed to that and Vasishta told him,

“I would treat you all with a feast “ and then he called the cow Surabhi,

And told her, “You yourself produce nectar like food and give them,”

And That Surabhi as per the words of Vasishta produced ,

All that was necessary and gave them all a great feast.

573. Then Vasishta addressing king Kausiga told,

“Oh king share this feast with six tastes ,

Along with the members of your army also .”

And gave all that was produced by Surabhi to them,

And after king Koushika and his army ate that feast .

And then scented flower garland and sandal paste was given to all,

And king Viswamithra after his tiredness vanished.

After thinking it deeply told Vasishta the following.

574-576 .”Oh sage of great penance though you did not get up from your seat,

This divine cow gave faultless food to all the victorious army.

And has done a very special deed and because ,

All the great people who do not have any fault ,

Who are masters of Veda are telling that ,

“All great things in the kingdom belong to the king,,

And also since this cow is not that suitable to you,

You please give this great cow Surabhi to me.”

And when he told like this Vasishta did not reply for some time,

And later told,”Oh king who has the spear to destroy the enemies,

I who am a sage who wears the tree hide as dress ,

I do not have the right too give Surabhi to you.

And so you yourself can take her of your own accord,

And as soon as he told this, that king saluted him and said,

“I would do accordingly” and got up with lot of enthusiasm,

And when he tied that Cow Surabhi and was starting ,

That cow got herself freed of the rope by which is tied,

And asked sage Vasishta “oh sage , who has learned and,

Who has nderstood all the Vedas , Did you give me to,

Viswamithra who has pretty shoulders?”

And then That sage who knew all arts started replying.

577. “I did not give you but this king with victorious umbrella ,

Has caught you and taking you of his own accord.” Replied the sage ,

That cow who got very angry told “I would myself destroy,

The army of the king who have drums that make sound like thunder, please see it.”

And immediately all the hair of her body shook greatly

578.Then Babbara , Yavana , Chinese , Jonakas* and other Mlecha soldiers,

Appeared from her body along with various weapons ,

And completely made in to pieces the entire strong army of King Koushika,

And then the sons of Koushika who are by nature

Short tempered started attacking her.

*Muslims are called Jonakas in Kerala even today

579.Those very angry sons of Koushika assuming that their army,

Was not killed by Mlechas or the cow Surabhi but thinking that,

It was by the deception of the divine saint who knew all Vedas,

Telling the valorous words, “Now itself we will cut his head off”,

And went near Vasishta who stared at them by his eyes,

Which produced fire and all the sons of Viswamithra died.

580.Then Viswamithra seeing that all his hundred sons have been killed,

Rose like a fire on which ghee has been poured , came in his chariot with a long flag,

Bent his bow extremely and started shooting his arrows continuously at Vasishta.

And he in turn kept his staff of Brahma in front of himself and told ,

Now receive all those arrows sent by Viswamithra.

581.Then Viswamithra sent at him the arrows of different gods which he had learnt,

But the staff of Vasishta swallowed all of them and was shining undefeated,

And Koushika saluted Lord Shiva who had the mountain Meru as his bow,

And as soon as he prayed him Lord Shiva came , gave him an arrow and vanished

582.Viswamithra then sent that weapon and all those in the world of devas ,

Thinking that he would burn all the worlds, were scared and hid themselves,

But Vasishta who saw that weapon which neared him burning like fire,

Produced very hot fire from his body and made that weapon not effective,

And thus the weapon of Shiva which cannot be destroyed became ineffective.

583.That king who saw the weapon of Shiva becoming ineffective ,

Understood that thinking strength and certain victory are ,

Definitely for the sages who have learnt the Vedas and not for others,

And further understanding that strength that leads to one to rule the world,

Is nothing comparable before strength of a sage , he decided,

To do penance and went to the east side owned by Devendra.

584.Noticing that the leader of kings Koushika was thinking in his mind,

About the victory attained by the great Vasishta of very great penance,

And was doing penance to attain that type of power,

The king of devas got scared and sent Thilothama ,

The deer like lady among the divine maidens to spoil his penance.

585. The king seeing the beauty of Thilothama was hit ,

By the arrows of God of love , lost his purity of thought,

And for several days got drowned in the sea of passion with her ,

And later understood the books of arts written by great writers,

And started hating that passion like poison and started laughing.

586. Understanding that his penance was spoiled by the cheating,

By the king who ruled over the world of devas , Viswamithra became very angry ,

He cursed Thilothama, “ You would be born in the world as a human lady”,

And due to his lotus eyes becoming red due to his anger of the mind ,

He left that place and reached the southern side ruled by Yama ,

Who was the strongest among those who ruled directions.

587.After he reached the southern side and was carrying out his penance ,

Trisanku who was the strong king of Ayodhya approached his Guru Vasishta,

And requested him to help him to go to heaven along with human body,

And Vasishta told him .”I do not know the method of sending any one,

To the heavens with the human body” and refused his request.

588.Then Trisanku told him, “sir if it is not possible for you ,

I would approach some one else whom I like in this great world,

And get the fire sacrifice done and get my desire fulfilled through him.”

At this Vasishta got very angry with him ,” Oh powerful king who has great anger,

You have removed the teacher of your forefathers and ,

Are saying that you would like to choose Guru of your own.

Because of this you become a Pulaya(untouchable).”

589.”Oh lad , when Vasishta the son of Lord Brahma cursed him like this,

Lost his regal royal form which used to make even sun god jealous ,

Losing his pretty face which was like a fully opened lotus flower,

And assumed a form that all the people of earth hated, then and there.”

590.All the ornaments as well as the crown that he wore became black,

And was similar to iron ,The cloths that he wore as well as his sacred thread ,

Became made of animal hide and he lost all his beauty and became black,

And when he went back like this to his city , he found that,

Every one was abusing him and so he reached the forest.

591.After spending a few days in the forest , one day,

This king reached the hermitage where king Koushika was doing penance,

And when Koushika asked him, “who are you who is looking like a Chandala?

Why have you come here”, Then Trisanku saluted him ,

And told him all the news as it happened.

592.When Koushika heard this , saying with a laugh “only that much?”,

He further told, “I would carry out a great fire sacrifice for you,

And send you to heaven with this human body” and then when he invited,

Several sages of great penance , they all assembled there and at that time,

Sons of sage Vasishta told, “we have not heard of a king,

Performing a fire sacrifice for the sake of a Chandala .”

593.Then all the sages said that they also would not agree to this act,

And Koushika became enraged and cursed the sons of Vasishta,

“You would become hunters who do debased work.” , and,

Immediately they all became hunters and went to different forests,

And Koushika started the fire sacrifice and invited the devas,

And while offering food in the fire told to them,

“All of you who do not take food come and participate.”

594.The devas told , “ this king , for the sake of this Chandala .,

After completing the fire sacrifice is calling us to come speedily,

What a great act” and thus jeered and laughed at Viswamithra,

But that Koushika steadfastly seeing that king,

Who had an army of elephants with rope tied in their neck, told,

“you go to heaven and I am telling it based on the power of my penance,

And Trisanku went up to the heaven like an air plane.

595.When that king went in to the heavens , the devas got very angry and after asking him

“How is it proper that you who is a Chandala is coming to heaven with your body?

And so go back.” and then they pushed him back to earth ,

And when he was falling down with head down,

AS he did not have any support, he shouted ,

“Oh Koushika , you are my only protection and I surrender to you.”

And hearing that Koushika loudly told, “Stop where you are” and laughed like thunder.

596-597. .Then Koushika told , “I will again create another set devas as well as heaven,

Let the sun , moon and all other planets as well as stars that I create

Be always shining and rise in the south and set in the north “

After ordering like this when he started the creation ,

Along with moving and not moving beings , Indra with the scented Kalpaka tree,

Lord Brahma with four faces , Lord Shiva with blackened neck,

Along with all other devas as well as sages and told him,

“Please pardon. The dharma which upholds one is very great .

Let this king Trisanku merge with the stars and be there permanently.”

598.”Oh king of great penance you would become the five stars in the south,

And tell about your greatness to the world as the royal saint,”

And after the devas left that honest saint speedily travelled from there,

And reached the western side which is the side of the God of the sea

And again he was doing great penance there,

599.A king called Ambareeksha Who had an army with great swords,

Who used to talk pleasant to hear sweet words and who was ,

Like the soul to all the beings on this entire earth

And who was one who is dear to all , for the sake of buying a man,

To conduct a fire sacrifice in which a man is offered in the fire,

Was wandering in search all over the forests with gold filled chariots.

600-601. He approached a saint called Richaka who had done great penance ,

In the garden in which he lived and asked him to sell one of his three sons to him,

Richaka’s wife told that youngest son was hers only and cannot be sold,

And Richaka told the eldest son was his and so cannot be sold,

And when they knew that their middle son Sunachepa was willing ,

And laughed at the fact that his parents were willing to sell him,

And seeing Ambareeksha told, “please give sufficient money to my father ,

So that his poverty is completely destroyed” and later he saluted his father ,

And riding on the non stoppable chariot of the king when he was going,

The sun who has rays which give great luster reached the middle of the sky.

602. Ambareeksha got down from the chariot there for performing rituals of noon,

And that Good Sunachepa also got down for the same purpose and there he saw ,

The sage Koushika of the pure mind who had got rid of bad qualities like jealousy

And with great sorrow he saluted the lotus like feet of sage.

603. That saint with great characters seeing that lad who saluted him with the fear of death,

Asked him , “ Why are you so depressed? Please tell me ” and he who had surrendered to the sage told,

“Oh saint who knows inner meaning of books of Dharma , my mother and father after receiving

Great wealth, gave me away to king Ambareeksha” and then he related everything.

604-605.Hearing how the mother along with her husband , sold him,

That great sage told him, “ Leave out this great fear for,

I will protect you “and saying like this he told his sons,

“One of you go instead of him to be sacrificed” and since they refused,

That sage got so angry , with eyes becoming so red that even,

The rising Sun god felt ashamed , With each of his pores of hair ,

Breathing the Badava fire , that Koushika cursed his sons,

“Oh merciless minded ones , you all become savage hunters,

And roam about in forests and suffer great sorrow.”

606 After cursing the four of his sons who did not die,

Earlier due to the anger of sage Vasishta , he told.,

That nephew like lad standing before him ,

“Stop getting depressed and becoming sad.

Please receive two mantras from me just now ,”

And then he taught him those mantras and started telling him.

607.”Oh lad who wears a soft garland with honey*,

You go with the king and when he ties you to the pillar of sacrifice,

Chant these mantras and as soon as you tell it ,

Devas, Brahma , Shiva who rides on a bull would come,

To take their share from the sacrifice and it would come to an end,

But no harm would come to your life” and hearing that ,

That lad praised him and then went along with the king.

* The sacrificial animal would be garlanded before sacrifice.

608.When that lad chanted the mantras as per the directions of the Vedic sage ,

In the place of fire sacrifice , the gods riding on Garuda , swan and the bull,

Surrounded by all devas riding on their steeds came to that fire sacrifice,

And protected that Yaga done as per Vedas as well as life of that lad.

The sage Koushika after finishing the penance in west went towards north.

609. That sage reaching the north , keeping his lotus like hand on his nose ,

And made Ida and PIngala rise through his heart by meditating on Pranava(Om),

And went on doing penance for very many years and then due to,

The root fire raising up and breaking his skull and spread ,

Making the entire world covered by darkness and the world was dejected.

610.When Lord Shiva who burnt the three cities , tore open the elephant,

And when he adjusted his body and used the hide top cover it ,

Like good characters similar to the clouds that spread everywhere ,

The smoke from that root fire from the sage covered the earth.

611. That darkness which was every where joined together ,

And spread all over the world, which made the rays of sun hidden,

And because of it the eyes of all gods who protect all directions ,

As also the eyes of the eight elephants that carry the earth got jaded.

612.When the clouds which are the cause of life spread ,

The entire earth with smoke and went inside every thing,

The moving and not moving beings of the world get scared,

And due to the very harsh and hot sun’s rays the Devas started shivering.

613. The God who lives on lotus , Lord Vishnu who rides on Garuda ,

Lord Shiva who rides on a bull , Indra and all other devas.

Came separately from very many different places ,

And met that great sage whose wealth was penance.

614. The God who wears the moon , The god of great light,

Who wore green thulasi and Brahma who lives on lotus flower .

Seeing that sage told, “Oh great sage , There is no one else,

Other than you who have seen the other shore of Vedas.”

615.That Brahmin who heard these words , bent his head,

Folded his two lotus like hands , “Today I have received,

The fruit of penance that every one desires”

And became very happy and all the devas ,

Who came there went back to their places.

616.”This is all what happened and there is no one like this Koushika ,

Who has attained greatness through his penance and you have got,

The grace of this sage who is greatly just and a great follower of Dharma,

And so no task whatsoever is impossible to both of you,”

So said the sage Sadananda who has limitless goodness.

617. Like this when the son of sage Gowthama told them,

The victorious heroes heard all these with great wonder ,

And became happy and fell at the feet of that sage with great penance ,

And that sage blessed both of them and went back to his place.

618. After the sage and his younger brother as per their custom,

Reached the place of sleep which was sweet for them,

Rama who resembled a fruit of darkness , along ,

With the night, the moon and the loneliness,

Became one with the thoughts of that girl.

619.”Is there a possibility of lightning ,

Getting separated from the clouds ,

And taking the form of a girl ? If so,

I do not know any other case except this ,

For I am seeing her within my eye as well as mind .”

620.”Since the girl has eyes like the ocean of milk,

Where the black Vishnu sleeps on that water on,

Adhisesha who never gets tired of giving ,

Is living on the lotus of my heart,

Has she become the Goddess Lakshmi.”

621. Though she may not have mercy on me ,

As if to cure the love sickness in me ,

Due to the love that I developed to her,

She had swallowed me by her eye

And in this world which is not clear ,

Where moving and non moving things live,

Have all become the golden form of that girl.

622. “Though her golden pot like breats ,,

Over which many ornaments wave

Did not have a chance to press firmly against my chest,

Would it be possible for me at some time or other ,

To again see her full moon like face ,

Which has moon light like smile and ,

Has lips which are like deep red fruits?

623. The lady god of death whom I always think about,

Has a pretty coloured waist belt , tied over chariot base ,

Like hips and she has two long sword like eyes ,

Two very stout breasts , a pleasant smile filled mouth,

And are all these required for her to kill me?”

624.” If that God of love bending his bow of sugarcane ,
Hits me with a rain of flower decked arrows , so that,

I would always be thinking about the girl,

Then what is the point of my having strength and health.”

625.” The moon light which is spreading like water like

The overflow of the deep milk of ocean which ebbs out,

Is trying to destroy my soul which is there because of the thought of that girl,

And I wonder whether there is a white coloured poison also.”

626. Would my mind ever go in a path which is not a good path,

And so the girl who has a syrup like talk and a golden form,

Is indeed a maid(virgin?) , and for this there is no doubt whatsoever.

627.Like the lustrous ceremonial umbrella of the king of night falling,

And like the Chutti* ornament hanging from the youthful,

Hair parting which is blemish less has fallen down,

The moon which was shining went inside the western sea,

*Hanging from hair parting on forehead

628. When the moon who is their God left , the directions,

Who were his darlings on whom he had applied white paste,

Of sandal and as if due to sorrow of parting , they all rubbed it out ,

As soon as the moon set , the white moon light went out.

629.When Rama who was wearing a scented garland , which due to love sickness,

Was getting worn out , The Sun made his wives of lotus flowers,

Show their faces which rose up and he rose as if he is the red fire ,

Which comes out of the eye of the forehead of the god of the ,

Dark sunrise mountain who was wearing elephant hide .

630. Using the dust raising from the Udayagiri mountains ,

Due to the fast and strong hoof strikes of the green horses,

Which were made wet by the water and flower offerings ,

Offered by the hands of Brahmins , the Sun appeared ,

Like the red thilak he put on the elephant controlling the east side ,

And his young rays went on to all the peaks of that stable mountain,

And all those peaks of the mountain appeared red.

631.Before parting with their darlings , the lord tells

His wife about the day when he would come back ,

From fighting war in the battle field or after earning of wealth .

And when that lord who wears scented garlands which are constantly followed by bees,

Who is their lord who is like their soul , comes at the appointed time ,

Riding on a pretty gem studded chariot , then the faces of the darlings,

Which had lost its luster regains the shine and they get free of tiredness ,

And like those virtuous wives , the lotus flowers opened up ,

Seeing their Lord the Sun God coming on his chariot at the appointed time .

And due to this all the lotus ponds were full of shining fully opened flowers.

632. Along With Kinnaras singing innumerable Vedic songs , with world praising ,

With devas , sages, priests and Brahmins saluting him with folded hands ,

And with the drums where wax is applied raising huge sound ,

The red rays of the very lustrous Sun was dancing on the stage of the great sky ,

Opened up golden matted hair of the God who has eye of fire on his forehead ,

633.That Rama of the colour of the cloud , not holding the killer wheel in the very old ocean of milk,

But holding on his strong arms , the powerful bent bow and not sleeping in the bed of thousand heads

Where each head was holding light of gem , due to his being away from his Sita,

Is sleeping on the sea of sorrow and the Sun riding on a lustrous chariot ,

Is slowly caressing his feet so that he would wake up and see the end of the sea of night.

634.When the night passed off as if one long eon had gone by ,

Rama woke up like a decorated elephant and after completing,

The old prescribed rituals , after saluting the sage who had the form of the Vedas,

Along with his dear brother , wearing scented flower garland ,

And his gem studded crown and the necklace of his great clan,

Reached the very big sacrificial hall of king Janaka.

635.That crowned king Janaka after completing the fire sacrifice as per Vedas,

With drums blaring forth in all directions like thunder , like Indra ,

Reached his palace which was so high that it was touching the moon,

And there in the hall of gems received his guests , offering them seats ,

And sat along with the sage of great penance . Rama wearing ,

The fresh garland of betel leaves and holding the bow which by its nature bends,

And with his brother by his side , the king Janaka occupied his position in the hall.

636.After drinking the beauty of the lads of high birth , who were sitting near him,

Janaka saluted the sage with great penance by falling at his feet, he asked,
“oh sage , please tell me who these lads are ? and sage said,” These guests ,

Are the sons of the very honourable Dasaratha and they have come to see your Yaga.

And since that is over they would like to see the bow of Shiva also.”

And then he started telling about the fame and greatness of those lads.

Kamba Ramayanam -Bala Kandam Padalam 11-14

This portion starts with the introduction of Rama and Lakshmana along with their family particulars by sage Viswamithra to king Janaka and ends with departure of Dasaratha along with his people to attend the marriage of Rama.

11. Kula murai kilathu Padalam

(The chapter on narration about family of Rama.)

(in this chapter sage Viswamithra introduces Rama to king Janaka along with particulars of his clan. He also tells him how Rama and Lakshmana killed Thadaga , protected his fire sacrifice and later brought back Ahalya to life. SAge Viswamithra does not mention about the names of the ancestors of Rama but only their well known deeds, In Valmiki Ramayana , the family of Rama is introduced to king Janaka by sage Vasishta , when he comes to attend the marriage of Rama. He lists out the names of his ancestors. )

637. Who in this world does not Manu who is the first in the clan of the Sun?

Even the great king who for the sake of avoiding the sorrow of all beings from hunger,

Who did the great deed of using his well formed bow milked the earth , also belongs to his clan.

(king Prathu)

638.Oh king Janaka in whose crown all the nine types of gems are well set,

The one who for the sake of destroying sickness and removing evil acts which cause it,

Did penance for several years addressed to Brahma who was born out of a lotus,

And due to his blessing brought the statue of the lustrous Lord Vishnu,

Sleeping on the bed of the great snake , so that people like me can see him ,

Along with the stage(rangam) * also is from his clan and,

Those who do not know it do not know anything.

*(This lord was shifted to Sri Rangam table later /not mentioned by Vamiki) )

639.When Indra begged him and told him about his great problem of ,

An asura whom he is not able to defeat and requested to kill all those asuras.

And reconquer the land of devas and give it to him , agreeing to that,

And after giving him a boon , and immediately went there ,

Holding a great bow and fought with those asuras is the king ,

Puranjaya who was carried by Indra taking a form a form of the bull,

Again belongs to his great clan and he was known as Kakustha,

640. I am incapable of telling the greatness of all kings

Belonging to that great king’s clan,

For one of the kings of the clan helped in churning the ocean of milk

Using Mandra mountain and gave nectar,

So that the devas do not get old, their body does not age and also they do not die.

641. Oh king , who puts his spear in the spear sheath after doing war,

The ancestors of these two sent their shining wheel of rule without any blocks,

Were ruling all the three worlds , Who had unimaginable qualities like mercy

And were innumerable in number and one of them ruled the world,

In such a way that male tigers and female deer were drinking water from same ghat.

642.Oh King whose feet are saluted by very many victorious kings ,

Once upon a time when devas and Rakshasas were engaged in a battle,

One of their ancestors , who was crowned as per the tenets of Vedas ,

Along with his gem studded crown garlands shinning swords and hand held bows and arrows,

Alone wandered like the God of Dharma in to the land of devas and protected Amarapathi.(capital of devas)

643.Oh king who holds a long spear which is like streak of lightning ,

Who can afford to praise The kings of these clan who wore the golden anklet of great valour,

Were the soul for all the good souls of the world , ruled this great world,

For one of the kings of clan gave his flesh , to save the soul of a soft soul.

644.Oh king who has a long spear that has pierced the body of his enemies,

The kings of their clan sorrowing because the Aswamedha horse was missing ,

Rolled with their feet huge mountains like they were coconuts and made this world,

In to , ups and downs and dug the sea which was full of salt water .

Is it necessary to add any more to bring out the greatness of this clan.

645.”Oh king with a lustrous spear to which the flesh of enemies are attached,

If Adhisesha would be unable to describe their greatness , is it easy for me to do it?

The one who brought the river with holy water making it flow through ,

The head of Lord Shiva who wears Ixora flowers to the earth also is from their clan.

646.Oh king who has a royal white umbrella similar to moon without rabbit patch,

One of the kings born in their clan , made the entire earth surrounded by the sea,

Like a gooseberry of his hand and conducted hundred incomparable Aswamedhas,

According to Vedic rules and created problem for the great king of Devas.

647.The clan of these boys , had a king who defeated the moon God,

Another who defeated Rudra , another with harsh arrows killed Dundhu,

And another king of the clan called Ragu with his very firm bow,

Won over Indra and defeated all the kings of the eight directions.

648.The King Aja who belonged to their clan using his Mandara like bow,

Churned the ocean of his army and made Indumathi who had a smile,

Which was like pearls and who was like Goddess Lakshmi ,

An ornament to his chest which was black like that of God Vishnu .

As also his big shoulders which appeared as personification of wrestling.

649.”Oh king who has a door of his palace where several music instruments played ,

There is no body in this world who do not know Dasaratha the son of king Aja.

These greatness of sons who were born to him cannot be properly described by Lord Brahma,

Still I would try to narrate it to you , the limited knowledge that I have.

650.The Dasaratha who is like the wheel of God Vishnu using which ,

He made people of all the world live properly , like victory of Sun over snow,

Won victory over his enemies , Who never liked the help of any others,

Who wore Dharma as his armour and who was the follower of rules of Justice,

Formulated by the great Manu , was sad because he did not have sons.

651.He decided to see the help of Rishya Sringa Who followed ,

The prostitutes with forehead like a bent bow , Red mouth like that of,

The child which resembled a red fruit , long black eye, large hips,

Which are sold for money and waist which is like a streak of lightning,

Thinking they are animals with their breasts as horns and reached,

The town of Roma pada and helped him to solve his problem.

652.After saluting he told the sage “ Possibly due to lack of my penance ,

Sons who wear garland and have a scented hair ,were,

Not conceived in the gem like belly of my queens ,

Who were tying their breasts by cloth and so ,

Please get me sons who will look after

The earth surrounded by the sea , which was protected by me.”

653. Hearing that , that sage with mind filled with joy told ,

“I would give you young boys who would not only rule this earth,

But also look after all the three worlds .So now make ,

Arrangement to bring all materials to conduct a fire sacrifice,

In which the offerings we give are eaten by the devas.”

654.Accordingly the king speedily arranged to assemble.

All the things that were needed to conduct a Yaga for getting sons.

That one who does great penance completed that Yaga.

From that sacrificial fire the king of group of ghosts,

Emerged carrying nectar like white sweet rice,

Kept on a golden plate which was studded with gems.

655.That sage who had understood the meaning of Vedas,

Gave the nectar like sweet food kept in a vessel of gold

To Dasaratha who was equal to him in good character ,

Who made in to four parts and gave it to his three queens,

All of whom had pretty foreheads , according to their seniority.

656.The queen called Kausalya gave birth to this sea of black,

Who had red mouth , wearing big bangles and prettiness which cannot be painted,

Who was born to destroy the evils that have spread all over the world,

And to protect the limitless Dharmas mentioned in the great Vedas.

657.The daughter of the king of Kekaya gave birth to Bharatha,

Who had unsullied character ,prettiness and nature of charity,

Who was like a sea which can be mentioned as a great pit,

In Which the waters of unstoppable great rivers enter,

And who was very similar to this great one sitting here .

658,The third queen who was junior to these two queens gave birth to,

To two children who had great strength , who scared the very strong,

Rakshasas who were bent upon spoiling Dharma,

And who when they are armed with a bow , looked like ,

The red golden mountain Meru and silvery tall mountain Kailasa facing each other.

659.Those four sons who were like the four Vedas, were greater than,

Goddess Saraswathi in the great and mature knowledge,

Who were served like defeated kings by the Dhanurveda , the science of archery

Grew up like the sea with tides at the break of the rise,

Of the greatly lustrous full moon which was round in shape.

660.Oh king who has a very long spear which is kept in its case,

Dasaratha who was saluted by kings who brought tributes to these sons,

Whose feet was decorated by the dense anklets of a great hero,

And who was having the nature of great patience ,

Put the sacred threads for them and made them study Vedas,

By sage Vasishta who was really the one who brought them up.

661.With a desire of getting killed the Rakshasas , who speedily,

Created problems for carrying out my fire sacrifices , by them,

I brought these sons of Dasaratha who were wearing heroic anklets,

Which were as soft as a flower and entered the forest,

And even before we entered the forest A Rakshasi called Thadaga,

Who cannot be opposed by others made her appearance .

662.Oh king This masculine Rama who has the form of black waves of the sea,

Has a very tall grown shoulders , and so please examine his strength carefully,

One of the arrows pierced the chest of Thadaga who has eyes like raging fire,

And later pierced a mountain and several trees and also the earth.

663.The heads of Rakshasas having fire like hair which has the colour of the reddish sky

Went on falling endlessly making a huge mountain and there ,

One of the sons of the Rakshasi went to heaven as soon as he was hit by Rama’s arrow,

And the place where the other son was thrown is not known to me,

And after completing my fire sacrifice in a complete manner , I came here.

664. Oh king, Please understand the greatness of Rama which even Brahma does not know ,

I who presented him due to the great penance that I did,

Great weapons which are capable of burning all the worlds, sea and mountains

And am shivering before him and standing here obeying his orders.

665.He is the one who gave the former form to the wife of the wife of Gowthama ,

By using the dust of his feet wearing golden anklet and which is like unfading lotus flower,

And I have more love towards this Rama of back colour , even more than my soul,

And he concluded, “ This is an account about Rama and the great strength of his shoulders.

12.Karmukha padalam

(The chapter of the bow.)

( The bow is brought by the servants of the king. Sixty thousand of them lifted the bow by placing wooden logs in between them. In Valmiki Ramayanam five hundred people drag it by keeping it in an iron cart. Guru Sadananda told them the story of that bow as well as that of Sita.Under the orders of sage Viswamithra Rama breaks that bow,. King Janaka, all devas, and all people of Mithila became happy and celebrate the event. One of the friends of Sita goes and informs this to the love sick Sita. After listening , Sita concludes that it is Rama himself. As per the advice of Viswamithra , Janaka sends emissaries along with marriage proposal.)

666.”What can I tell against your words, I am greatly upset because,

I had kept this illusory bow as the condition of marriage of my daughter ,

And because of the condition my wish has not so far been fulfilled ,

And suppose this lad who has all good characters,

Is able to shoot an arrow out of this great bow,

He would be helping me to get out of my sea of sorrow,

And my daughter also would realize the result of her penance.”

667.Then seeing his assistants who were standing before him, he said,

“Bring that mountain like great bow here” and those four people saluted him, Said “yes”,

Ran quickly and went to the place where the bow decorated with gold was kept.

668.Sixty thousand of his people who had a body like a strong elephant,

Who had mountain like shoulders which were covered by hair,

After keeping pillar like stays in several places in between the bow,

Carried it on those pillars which they kept on their shoulders.

669. The earth where the bow was kept got her much needed rest,

And the Meru mountain which has grown very tall became very shy on seeing it,

And the people who have spread like an ocean , seeing the bow coming,

Felt that there would not be any more space for them.

670.Some people told, “Except Lord Vishnu holding the conch and the wheel,

Who had red hands and who was like a he lion , no one else can lift it,

And suppose he cannot who is there in this world , who can even dare to touch it ,

And if today this lad bends this bow , Sita’s marriage would live well.”

671. They further said,” Calling it a bow is a word of deceit, for this is like Golden Meru,

“ Even Brahma who is supposed to have made it has not touched it with his hand,

But had made it using his great penance.” Some people there told,

“WE do not know who in the early times was able to pull its string?”

672.Some where doubting whether it was made by using the tall Meru mountain,

And some others told, “No it was made using Mandhara mountain after ,

The long pretty ocean was churned.” And some others said,

“It is indeed the king of serpents who had great luster and some said,
Perhaps the bow Of Indra might have slipped from sky and has fallen down.”

673.Some said, “Why did this king ordered this bow to be brought?”

“Are there any foolish people like this king who wants to bend that bow”

“Possibly by some good deed done in earlier life , he may be able to do it”,

And some said,” Has the maid Sita ever seen this bow?”

674.Some said, “What would be the aim of the arrow kept in this bow?”,

“Janaka has kept this bow only for the good of his daughter Sita”,

“Would the God Vishnu be able to bend this arrow?”

And some said, “This is the play of fate” and became sad.

675.When the people of Mithila who had assembled were talking like this,

The servants of the king who brought it kept in the bow on earth, making the back of earth bend,

And all those kings who saw it were telling, “who is going to bend this bow?”

And being scared even to touch the bow started shivering.

676.Janaka seeing Rama who was like an elephant calf and his beauty,

And seeing that bow which was giving him pain and again thought of his daughter,

And when he was getting worried whether Sita would ever get marired,

Sadananda the son of Gautama started telling.

677. That Shiva who bent the mountain Meru as a bow ,

Because “Daksha had insulted Uma who was by his side”,

Due the ebbing anger which was not having patience ,

Took this bow and reached the place of Yaga of Dhaksha.

678.Some of those devas who had come there started running greatly tired,

And entered and hid in places where the devas will never hide,

The fire in the fire sacrifice was put out and Shiva also lost his anger.

679,. Lord Shiva seeing that all the devas were shivering ,

And knowing well that their life span was very long,

Gave that great bow to a king born in the clan of Janaka,

Who used to cultivate his country using his sword.

680.” I Should tell about the greatness of this bow now?

Except for sages who are equal to Lord Shiva , no body can do it.

Also please hear the story of the daughter of Janaka ,

Who has hips like the storey of the chariot.

681.For performing the yagna , on the hump of a bull with steel like two horns,

A beam which was shining like crystal was fixed and to which was tied,

A golden plough embedded with several gem was tied to it ,

And this was dragged several times on the fertile field over several channels.

682. While ploughing on the face of the plough , like a shining sun,

There appeared a form which appeared to be that of goddess earth,

A child whom even Goddess Lakshmi who was born with nectar from ocean of milk,

Would move to one side and salute and who appeared to be the queen of all girls.

683.How can I tell about the good natures of this girl for all those good natures,

Are quarrelling with each other to become one with that girl who was like a flower branch.

What about her beauty? After this girl with big ear globes appeared ,

All other girls lost their beauty like the rivers losing their holiness,

When the river called Ganges came down from the sky to this earth.

684.”Oh lord who knows everything , due to their mastery in arts like archery ,

And their fate lying on different directions , all devas were attracted by Goddess Lakshmi ,

This Lakshmi like girl all the kings of earth loved and this happening,

Cannot be found in any other case on this earth.”

685,All kings who were having huge army of elephants with trunk and are in rut,

Along with their ocean like army , making sound like a torrential sea,

Came requesting for her hand in marriage and we told them that ,

Only a person who can bend the bow ,of lord Shiva who wore,

The tiger skin and elephant hide as dress , by his own strength,

Would be suitable to marry this pretty maid in a firm manner.

686.”Oh saint who protects the world using the bow of words,

Those kings who were not able to bend this great bow,

Who were not even capable of bending the sugarcane bow of God of love ,

Since they loved this black haired beauty who came with,

The huge bow of Shiva which was like a mountain,

Called us and started waging war against us.

687.The big army of our great king due to unremitting war,

Started reducing like the wealth which reduces only just kings.

And the army of those kings who loved this girl,

Whose curled hair was surrounded by the humming of bees,

Went on increasing just like the desires of those kings.

688.Those devas who wear shining crowns seeing that this king,

With strong and pretty shoulders was thinning down,

In the battles to protect the bow of the God who has bull as steed,

Took mercy on him and helped him by giving the four segments of the army,

And the kings went away like a crow getting scared of an owl.

689. From that day till to date no body has gone near this bow,

And the kings with chariots who went to hiding , also did not come back,

And we were all thinking that Sita would never get married,

And so if This Rama is able to pull the string of this bow it would be good,

Because the beauty of Sita who decorates her hair with flowers would not be wasted.

690. After keenly hearing all that was told by sage Sadananda ,

The learned sage after deep thought shook his pretty matted hair ,

And saw the face of Rama who was like a bull ready to fight ,

And that hero who was like a picture understanding the sign

Shown by the great sage , saw that great bow with interest.

691.He stood up the like the rising flash of fire from the sacred fire,

When all the ghee is together poured in to it as oblation,

And went towards the bow and the devas shouted, “The bow is broken”,

And words of blessings were told by sages who had won ,

Over their three enemies Passion , jealousy and anger.

692.The one sent by the ancient sage who has undertaken great penances,

Before he broke that great bow , the God of love shot his arrows.

At the minds of ladies with pretty ornaments ,

And they all became a victim the love bow of his.

693.Some ladies told, The feet of the great bow we are seeing is strong,

And some told that if the red and pretty hand of the shy Sita,

Is not caught by the long hand with red palm of this lad,

Sita with a shining forehead would not have any further life.

694. Some ladies with folded hands in salutation said,

If this lad who is like an elephant calf is not able to bend ,

This bow bringing tears of joy in to our eyes ,

The Sita with musk scented hair and also ourselves,

Would jump and drown in the burning fire.

695.If the charitable king indeed wanted to become happy by this marriage,

He would have told this Rama to get married to Sita and not ,

Put this bow of the Shiva who carries Ganges before him,

And ask him to bend and send an arrow, as it is foolish.

697. When all the ladies were talking like this within them selves,

With the good blessings of great sages and creating joy,

Among all in the world of devas Rama who was like a big bull,

Making the golden mountain Meru and the elephants ashamed,

Walked and reached the place where the bow was kept.

698.He lifted that huge bow of Shiva which resembled a golden mountain,

Like a garland of flowers meant for wearing it To Sita ,

Who was like a difficult to search gem and ,

Was wearing golden bangles as well as armlets.

699.All those who had stopped blinking of their eyes,

So that they could see all the happenings, saw,

Rama planting his feet on the lower end of the bow,

And tying the string on the other end but,

Due to the speed of the action they could only see,

That he took it by his hand but they also heard it break.

700. The devas and Lord Brahma who was born in a lotus,

Thinking that great universe has broken and getting worried,

As to with whom they will surrender and seek protection,

If this is the case of the world of devas, what can be told about earth?

And the snake which carries the universe on his head and ,

Was lying like a root to the world got greatly scared.

701. The devas concluding that The victory and the fearful spear of Janaka,

Has been helped by the good deeds he did in last birth only today,

Showered flowers, The clouds showered Gold and all the great oceans,

Sprinkled various types of gems and made huge applauding sound,

And all great sages chanted words of blessing to the king.

702. White conches , horns and several other musical instruments blared in the city,

People were giving flower garlands , ornaments , sandal paste , scented powders ,

Scented oils , the pearl from the sea , gold , gems and fine cloth to each other,

And like the ocean was making huge sound like in season , and sound reverberated.

703. Ladies with spear like eyes and rising moon at night danced like peacocks ,

Dancing when they see dark clouds With playing of Veena(yaazh) like dripping of honey,

Decorated with smile , ear studs and were spreading light every where.

704.Like one drunk with toddy that spoils the brain, the black eyed damsels,

With red shot eyes hugged their husbands so that the love tiff is removed,

Like the white clouds drinking water from the sea with large waves ,

The poor people went on taking away the wealth of their king.

705.Drinking the sweet music of dancers , nectar like songs of ladies,

The song of Panars (minstrel musicians) singing religious songs to accompaniment of Yaazh,

Which appeared as if they were extracting honey from such songs,

The songs of various tunes using the flute , using their ears ,

Devas stood there with benumbed bodies like statues.

706.The ladies of the world of devas who had come down to see the strength of Rama,

During the breaking of the bow , came down from the sky and by acion and form,

Danced with damsels of earth and not able to find out the difference hugged them,

But seeing their long black eyes wearing Kajal blinking ,

They understood that they were not Deva damsels and stood perplexed.

707. Some of them said ,”son of Dasaratha “ Some said , “Lotus eyed lad”,

Some said his colour is black like cloud, some said it resembled Black kamyapoo flowers,

Same said, “He is not human being”, Some said , He is Lord Vishnu of the sea where fishes live,”

And some of them were saying :”this world is in stupor.”

708.Some said ,”to see the beauty of Rama , Sita should have thousand eyes,”

Some said, “since every time we see the flower branch like sita , we see a new prettiness,

It is Rama who needs the thousand eyes” some said , “see his brother , the world is lucky,”

And some others , “let us all salute Viswamithra who brought these lads to this city.”

709. When things like these were happening in the court , we will start telling about ,

What happened in the” maiden house” to Sita who spent the night along with the moon,

And afterwards with the desire to see that lad again , who was little energized ,

Though her soul had undergone torture ,and who had very thin waist and very huge breasts,

Black eyes with reddish tinge and who was Wearing golden bangles .

710. Sita with a soul which was swinging between life and death like a swing,

Got up from the flower bed , which was the reason for melting of her body,

With friends who were wearing ornaments made of pure gold surrounding her,

She went and reached the banks of lake which was crowded with faultless lotus flowers,

Where in a room built by crystal , and laid down in a pretty bed of flowers ,

Which was cooled by moon stones as well as sprinkling of cold water.

711.Oh lotus plants which has cool pleasant scent ,

Understanding that a girl is suffering due to parting with her lover ,

And exhibiting your greatness , you showed his colour by your leaves ,

And I was little consoled and you also showed the colour of his eyes,

Which stole my colour resembling young leaves using your flowers,

But why did you retreat without giving him to me.

712. I saw him with bow like Meru mountain tied with a string like Adhi sesha,

With his hands caressing that string , with mountain like shoulders ,

With the quiver tied in between the arrows , With wave of sacred thread like lustrous moon light,

And with a chest covered by flower garland . If I am able to see him once more ,

I would definitely be able to see my soul once again.

713.With a face like moon who is in the sky , with a hair braid ,

Which is roved about by bees wanting to drink honey from flower garland,

That cloud which was wearing a very long bow using its two eyes,

Drank and drank my soul , It is true that the cloud is there ,

Within me now and not only that will be there always.

714.When that cruel God of love with his long victorious bow ,

Using his cruel arrows has attacked my soul like ,

The fire attacking the cotton and wounded my mind,

And when confusion and sorrow mixes in my mind,

He did not come near me to tell ,”do not be scared “

And offer me protection. What type of masculinity is his ?

715.Oh breasts of mine which do not thin down,

Since you are growing out and out,

What great thing are you going to achieve.

Like a moon who is not able to appear in the sky,

Would the way open for me to tightly hug the chest of him,

Who has a shining face , who holds a bow which is difficult to bend ,

In his hand . Please tell me the various penances that I should do for that.”

716.”That God of love after wandering in my mind and hit an arrow,

On my breasts where the sickness of mind primarily rises, like pouring poison on it,

But The moon which appeared before me yesterday is not moon,

Because it did not have stain on it , and where did that moon come from?”

717.”oh my mind, that god of love came near me making my mind boil,

And send a poisoned arrow and due to the pain it caused ,

My soul did not stay there and without getting destroyed ,

Came out from there and surrendered at the feet of that lad,

Who was like a big black elephant from whom the warm water of rut flows out,

And followed him .I do not understand how my soul came back?’

718. “Similar to the cloud that was formed in the sky coming down on earth,

That Lord with the sacred thread that he wore on his chest came before me,

And though he does not go away from my mind , I am not able to recognize him,

Even though he is visible before my eyes, why am I not able to recognize him?”

719” .Like those fools from whose hands the pot of gold containing nectar slipped,

Though it was born in the milky ocean and became available to them by their good deeds,

I did not hug tightly the shoulders of the lord which appeared before me ,

And why am I lamenting like this after losing the chance at that time?”

720.When Sita , near whose breasts the golden coloured love scar appeared ,

With a very sorry heart was piteously weeping and getting drowned in sorrow ,

We will now tell the news brought by one of her friends , who had a cool mind,

And who had moon like face with kajal tainted eyes , who happened to witness ,

The breaking of the mountain like bow by Rama personally .

721.That Neela Maa who had eyes like a blue lotus in a very big lake,

Shining like with many more colours than the rain bow since she was wearing ,

Due to wearing several necklaces and ear globes in both her ears,

Came running with her braided hair with flowers and dress slipping down.

722.AS soon as she came she did not salute the feet of Sita but shouted,

With great joy , danced and sang songs and seeing her Sita told,

“please tell me the reason for the joy of your mind and happenings that caused it”,

And then friend immediately saluted Sita and started telling.

723. A son of Dasaratha who has ocean like collection of elephants,

Horses and Chariots , Who is great in wisdom and who has long hands,

Which shower his riches like clouds shower rain and,

Who rules over his kingdom with all the earth praising him,

Is there who is more pretty than God of love ,

Who puts the entire world in to trance by his arrows.

724. That lad who has strong shoulders like Maramara trees,

And who raises a doubt in our mind whether he is Lord Vishnu,

Who sleeps on a serpent and who is named as Rama,

Along with his younger brother and a sage,

Whose fame cannot be measured has reached our town.

725. That one who has shoulders wearing shoulder rings,

Had came here to see the divine bow of Lord shiva ,

And as per the orders of the king he had bent that bow,

And tied the string easily making the land of devas shiver.

726.Within a second by stepping on one end of the bow,

Possibly with a feeling that it is but a very old bow,

He bent by the strength of his shoulders and then,

Devas praised him , Flowers were showered from the sky,

And that bow broke and fell , making the people of king’s council shiver.

727.Hearing that he was like a cloud and came with a great sage ,

And also that he was lotus eyed and as strong as Vishnu .

Sita decided, “It is him”, and her suspicion was cleared ,

And with her hip enlarging her waist belt shook.

728. People who used to tell that she does not have any waist,

Would be now saying that she indeed has a waist,

With her breasts enlarging she was breathing deeply ,

And decided in her mind that he is that person,

And if he is not I would certainly embrace death.

729.With emotion of love increasing she felt little feeble ,

And Janaka hearing the sound of breaking of the bow,

Created by Brahma who lives in a lotus flower with fresh leaves,

Became extremely happy and started telling sage Viswamithra,

730.Oh great one , is it your desire that the ritual of marriage ,

Of this lad who looks like your son be celebrated today itself?

Or do you desire that we should call to this city the king Dasaratha,

Who wears heroes armlets an huge army along with sound raised by drums,

And celebrate the marriage ?Please think well and tell me.

731.When Janaka who isan expert in wrestling told these words ,

And when the sage said that it would me more proper for Dasaratha to reach there,

Janaka with matchless joy gave a letter and told his messengers,

To inform about all happenings there and sent them away swiftly.

13.Ezhuchi Padalam

Chapter on departure.

(Another 5 chapters describe how Dasaratha departed from his city along with his wifves, teacher , army and men ans women. This entire aspect is covered by Valmiki using very few slokas .Another important difference is that none of the ladies of Ayodhya including the queens attend the wedding of Rama. No women from the family of Janaka also allow d the wedding. Similar system is followed even today in some sections of North India. Possibly Kamban wanted to follow the custom of South India.)

732.Those messengers who travelled fast went with the speed of wind,

And reached the city of Ayodhya where drums were playing like thunder,

And reached the main door of the king where the small kings with knocking crowns,

Were crowding,, since they did not get space to salute the feet of the king.

733.After getting the grace of the king they entered inside ,

And as per rule reached in his front and after saluting the feet of the king,

And also praised the king and told, “oh king ,

This is what has happened after your sons left with sage Viswamithra,”

734.After telling about Rama ‘s valorous deeds they showed.

The king the note requesting marriage and then told,

“Oh king without endless fame , this is a letter given by king Janaka .

Another learned official of the court who was supposed to read notes and letters,

Received the note with joy and Dasarathha who was wearing ,

Changing clanging heroic armlets told him, “You may read.”

735.When he heard what Janaka wrote about the proficiency in use of bow,

By his eldest son in that note on palm leaf , his diamond like shoulders ,

Increased in size with great joy and the armlets that he was wearing started crying.

736.That king who had victorious spear in his hand ,with great surprise told,

That he heard in Ayodhya the great sound raised by the breaking of the huge bow ,

Which was used to win over the seven worlds after destroying Yagna by Daksha,

By Lord Shiva who had a very long matted hair and who had axe as a weapon.

737.Dasaratha who was having stout shoulders resembling the mountain,

After telling suitable reply and telling “Let those messengers ,

Who were wearing heroic armlets close by receive it”,

And went on giving them golden ornaments and cloths.

738.Dasaratha ordered , “ Let Valluvai(Official announcer)

Play drums which are kept on elephants and announce”,

“Let our army as well as princes go in front towards Mithila,

Where Rama who looks likes the God of love ,

Who was born to good acts of forefathers belonging to clan of Sun is there.”

739.Like Jambavan announced the news of the reddish eyed Lord Vishnu ,

Who has hair decorated by Thulasi leaves which used to shower honey ,

As per his nature measured all the world by two of his steps,

The Announcer(valluvan) of the ocean like army ,

Went round all places and announced the news.

740.The army of the king who walked like a bull,

Making it appear that there is no space left in this world

Rose like the sea at the deluge with great wind,

And marched imprinting its feet everywhere.

741.Making it appear that the entire earth is but a small place ,

The densely marching chariots in which kings rode,

Looked like Sun, similar to the Sun embossed on them

And the elephants with decorations of their head

Made by pearls which were rays of the Sun ,

And also like the clouds having rain bows.

742.The white decorative umbrellas being held in between the army,

Looked like innumerable swans flying on the sky spreading their wings ,

And the crowd of decorative flags which were held up

Appeared as if they were falling from sky whose skin is removed.

743.The waving flags on the elephants whose water of rut,

Was flowing down to the holes in the trunk belonging to the army ,

Which was making people say “This indeed is the sea.” ,
And flags which were like clouds which appeared,

As if they were coming down to drink water of the sea.

744. The ornaments worn by people reflected the early sun’s rays,

Which hits the umbrellas made of peacock feathers , which without leaving a shadow,

Spreads in all places and those peacock feather umbrellas ,

Would make the blue water rich clouds in the sky ashamed,

And the drums would blare out from the army making those clouds wilt,

Because they do not posses such a very regal sound.

745.The horses tied with bells on the neck carrying the ladies ,

Look like the flowing river with tide carrying swans .

Those ladies with dense breasts and long thin braids looked like ,

Streaks of lightning and the young she elephants looked like clouds.

746. Due to the huge crowd as one person was rubbing on another ,

The saffron red paste worn on the breasts of young ladies ,

And the sandal paste worn on the mountain like shoulders by men,

Dropped down and the ocean like path that the army followed,

Shined like the thin bed on which men and women engaged in love play.

747. The breasts of Ladies with words which are sweeter than sugar syrup and a red mouth,

Which trouble like god of death and which are hidden by their cloth ,

Using the pearl necklaces lying over them give out the luster of moon,

And due to the gems that they are wearing in a row , give out early sun light.

748.The men with scented hair , having shoulders which say that mountains are not their equal,

Who wear very great quality gold ornaments , holding the bow as well as the sword,

Walked like the male elephants which walk embracing the she elephants,

By the side of their pretty wives who had a waist like a thin climbing plant.

749.Like the pretty flowers with good perfume surrounding the clouds ,

Since only the faces of ladies with large hair was visible that too near each other,

The groups of palanquins in which they were travelling looked like,

Several full moons were travelling together in vehicles on the sky.

750.Due to the ceaseless flow of rut of elephants wearing face decoration ,

The entire land was slushy and not able to cross that slushy earth,

Al the elephants were confused and with the booming sound of ocean with tides,

And it seemed that they were searching for the eight elephants that bear the earth.

751.The flock of the horses like the nature of God as well as the mind of prostitutes,

Who show love outside but who really do not love , who wear cloth over their pretty breasts,

With the jingling sound by the gems in their neck , were jumping in different directions,

And were not firm and stable in any place for a long time,

752. Those ladies who had love tiff with their men , Who were not seeing them directly,

Who were taking deep breath often , Who were lifting up their eye brows in anger ,

Who were wearing garland with open flowers, and who were spreading their hair,

On hearing the news like the soul of men went very near to their men.

753. The fearless elephants who had cheeks from which water of rut flows like a stream,

And which give out fire when they hear the word “goad” , considering that they are their enemies,

Dash against both shores and break the huge trees in several places , uprooting some times,

And rubbing on those trees some times and looked as if one river was moving.

754.The tree branch like Dasaratha who showers grace on all persons in trouble,

Still had not departed from Ayodhya and in spite of it , it looks as if there is no space ,

Even to put a black gram on earth and one part of his army which left Ayodhya,

Had already reached and touched the outer walls of the great city of Mithila.

755. The ladies surrounded by bees travelling in a series of carts ,

Were causing confusion in the mind of men who see them,

And the crowd of the faces of those ladies were like lotus flowers in a lake.

756. When a lady who was getting up a cart , with dense love,

Saw with a corner of her eyes her lover who was running behind her,

The Kajal of her eyes appeared like sweet nectar to that man.

757.A man who was going away from a lady who had eyes of a young deer,

In those cultivated fields which were filled with water and slushy mud,

Saw a swan and tender lotus flower and being reminded ,

Of his lover’s gait and feet was tottering with body and mind ,

And had the appearance of of one who was swinging in the swing.

758.That army accompanied by the blaring noise of conch and drums,

Due to it being completely filled with white umbrellas and fans,

Looked like the River Ganges and the royal insignia were found in pretty heaven.

759.That army also was comparable to a big battle field because ,

Their ladies who speak sweetly and are comparable to celestial maidens,

Were sending their sharp tipped eyes which was comparable to

The spear of God of death To hit on the chest of their lads.

760. The shoulders neared each other like pillars of stone ,

The sword army neared each other like lightning of their swords,

The feet neared each other like the intertwining of lotus flowers,

And the foot soldiers neared each other like Yalis.

761. One lad who never moved away his face which was staring,

At the tied up breasts of a young lady , not able to know his path,

Proceeded like a blind man and hit against an elephant in rut.

762.When a girl who had the looks of a peacock slipped and fell,

From A springing horse with good hair whorls on his body,

A merciful man using his long hands supported ,

But instead of keeping her down, continued to hold her.

763. When one pretty girl was continuously walking moaning,

Her two lotus like feet pain, One lad said,

“To hug this girl with huge breasts resembling ,

A head of elephant in rut , my chest is not broad enough”.

764.One person who had curly hair over which bees fly around,

And who was walking like an elephant showering water of rut ,

Seeing a girl’s eyes which were very sharp , his sharp spear,

Wanted to find out which of them is more sharper.

765.Seeing a pretty lady with wave like hair ,

With lotus like feet and sword like black eyes,

A lad asked, “Oh lady who has long arms wearing bangles,

Where have you misplaced your waist while coming?”

766.Seeing a lady with killing eyes like god of death,

And who did not reply by her mouth but only by her eyes,

One lad asked, “Who would help you to climb ashore ,

By lifting you from the waters of the river on the way?”

767.One camel which was carrying a big burden ,

Which it cannot download , without eating ,

All the newly formed fresh leaves was eating the bitter leaves of neem,

Like the people drinking toddy whose heart and mouth had dried.

768.Those people of Babbara country who had red eyes,

And body of dark colour , who were tied to a staff,

And carried a huge stick on their shoulders so they cannot move speedily,

Went forward like an elephant in rut carrying a huge stem ,

Which was tied so that they would not knock on each other ,

Carrying the stick of the frame of their burden.

769.When the mad elephant getting angry ,touched,

The she elephant then those ladies sitting on that she elephant,

Greatly scared wanted to close their eyes by their hand,

But became sad because Their eyes was beyond their two hands.

770.In that forest of pretty lotus flowers ,

The ladies travelling on she elephants whose tails touched the earth,

Looked like a toad travelling on a tortoise

With their dwarf guards travelling with them.

771.One flower branch like lady carried by a horse ,

Which had bent its forelegs upward and was being ,

Followed by an elephant looked like saying,

“This girl is not fit to live here but ,

She belongs to the king of devas.”

772.When the men told that our lord Rama ,

Has broken the bow , well pleased the ladies,

Who had tied hair which was likely to fall ,

Instead of holding it and without trying ,

To collect the gems when their waist belts broke ,

Started running thinking of marriage of Rama.

773,The Brahmins who were scared of the elephant in rut ,

As well as pretty damsels started going in the front,

Holding their umbrella , walking on their toes,

Holding their water pot and without taking their hand from their nose.

774.The ladies with scented flowers decorating their hair,

When they saw a form of a lad came before them bringing tears in to their eyes,

Told them, “If you have come to receive me ,

Get in to chariot with me “ and waved their hands.

775.Chariots making sound , elephants , horses,

Long row of drums generating sound,

Made all the people not understand ,

What the other person was talking ,

And all of them were walking dumb.

776.The ladies who wore cloths thinner than the small spider web,

Who were having pretty black hair, which made bees fly around,

When they were walking with gem stuffed anklets making sound,

And they resembled the swans in the lake making sound.

777.The ladies who resembled Goddess Lakshmi who was,

Born in the ocean of milk with very clear waves ,

When they were watching them through a hole in the thin screen,

The eyes of lads were filled with joy and made them shout loudly ,

And also the playful bees seeing the rut water from elephants made noise.

778.The anklets worn by ladies with black eyes

Which can reach the soul of the lads,

Produced music similar the sound of deer,

And accompanying it the horses neighed ,

Resembling the thunder of clouds.

779.The lustrous face of ladies who were walking,

With soft steps making the Goddess earth happy ,

And their eyes which resembled the small bees,

Trapped in the lotus flower after drinking honey,

Made the God of love happy as well as some lads.

780. Apart from the dust raised by the army the scented powders,

Dropping from the coconut like and well built breasts of ladies,

Whose waist was smaller than thought , who had pretty coral like red mouth,

And spoke words which were sweeter than fruits, filled up everywhere

781.The big chariots decorated by pictures whose ,

Number cannot be guessed very easily was crowded,

By innumerable men as well as ladies and ,

All of them were rushing forward crowding with each other,

Only bothered about the way that they have to take .

782.With harnessed horses , chariots and soldiers assembled,

And travelling very fast , the dust raised spread and mingled ,

With the water drops of the cloud and not only that ,

They spread in all directions and reached the elephants in eight directions,

And blocked the holes through which rut water flowed of those elephants.

783.With their hands that held the shield holding the lustrous sword ,

And wearing shining armlets due to being studded with gems in the other hand,

Holding their wives wearing anklets in legs by their tender hand wearing choodakam(bangle?)

They slowly lead them through the slippery path made by ,

The flow of rut water from several elephants wearing decorative face shield.

784.Seeing the fields , ponds and depressions were completely filled ,

With fully open Neithal flowers , lilies and red lotus flowers,

Which indicated their hands , face mouth as well as eyes ,

The ladies saluted their husbands to pluck and give it to them.

785.The ladies who got down on the earth from horses going in a row,

Seeing that an elephant has come started running helter-skelter,

With their scented tied up hair falling down due to weight,

With gem studded ornaments falling down and with the pretty thin cloth,

That were wearing getting loosened and they ,

Ran like a peacock holding their cloth with their tender hands.

786.With umbrellas with peacock feather hangings , cluster garlands,

And with forest of flags which had hidden all areas without leaving even a small area,

Which made the place dark but different weapons of the army ,

And crowns which were worn by people went on ,

Spreading and spreading light everywhere ,

The path of the army had day as well as night time.

787”.Ladies with lips like drumstick tree flowers and with pearl like teeth,

Are having eyes which are like sharpened knives on their lotus like pretty faces

Which are capable of cutting us if we go near , so come away, come away “

Saying like this those men who were having sun like bodies moved themselves away.

788.In the difficult to travel path due to crowding people , being cut off ,

The gems with great shine and pearls fell down and were scattered,

And due to that surrounded by several gems and having hips which is like the hood of snake ,

They were not able to walk with tender feet decorated by jingling anklets .

And getting very perplexed they stood there itself.

789Very good musical instruments sounded like thunder of clouds ,

And as a result the bullocks pulling the carts got scared,

Making the simple girls resembling swans scared and move away,

Upsetting all the load that they were carrying by throwing them down,

And as the connection to the bullocks were cut ,

They went away like saints making an end to all sorrow.

790.Mountain like elephants got down in water bodies,

And without bothering about the balls being thrown by the Mahouts,

Showing out their breasts which are normally tied and ,

Also showing out their trunk as well as tusk,

And stood there without coming out like the divine elephant ,

Born from the ocean of milk , without coming out.

791. The women folk singers(viraliyar) who were comparable to Kinnara singers,

Who had hair like black sand , sword like eyes , Red mouth showering nectar,

Accompanied by male folk singer (Panan) who were playing using Yaazh ,

Got up horses and like pouring nectar in one’s ears sang nectar like songs,

Set in Naivala Pan and went further without making any mistakes.

792.When the goad of the Mahout was lifted up , the elephant ,

Rising up like the mountain from which water of streams flow ,

And started angrily running without any control, and this made ,

All people move away , but the bees which have opened up wings,

Moving away from that elephant which had youth and small eyes ,

Went and settled on the flowing rut of another elephant and

Sat on the black hair of ladies and moved to a she elephant.

793. With the army playing drums like the blue sea which has seen the full moon,

When Elephants , chariots , victorious horses , ladies whose eyes are blood stained spears,

And Lads gathered in a pretty manner and were speedily going by the road,

The dear ladies of the king Dasaratha also started to Mithila.

794.Like a swan in the middle of the forest of lotus flowers in the lake,

The daughter of king of Kekaya surrounded by two hundred maids ,

Making even the deva maidens shy , with the bees humming a song ,

Departed in a palanquin made by selected gems.

795.Two thousand maids riding on the back of zebra wearing open gem garlands,

Who had broad eyes with tinge of red accompanied the lady with two sons(Sumithra),

Making one suspect whether her form is indeed a streak of lightning ,

Travelled on a palanquin studded with blue gems , along with music of Yaazh.

796.She with white teeth , red mouth resembling flower petals of silk cotton tree,

Seeing whom all the stars thought she was the full moon and came near her ,

Who was the lady who gave birth to Rama travelled in a multigem palanquin ,

Which appeared as if all the stars in the sky have joined together .

Accompanied by expert musicians singing honey like songs and devas saluting her.

797.When we think about it ,it looked like that the entire earth which was surrounded by seven seas,

Except here and there, there were no ladies , for ladies holding in their pretty hand ,

Peacocks, swans small birds , female dolls and ornamental white fans

Which were like the conches which have been just taken out , went near the palanquins.

798.The security guards who were stitched dress up to the feet , from whose eyes fire,

Came out for no reason at all , who were holding big staff exhibiting their valour,

Were either riding on horses with jingling bells or walking on earth ,

And who spoke harsh words which made all others sad,

Went on protecting the feet of those ladies who were similar to divine damsels

799.When the white horses over which hunchbacks and groups of dwarf and mini dwarfs,

Were riding, they were moving on earth similar to the swans and the ladies,

Wearing flowers and hence were followed by honey bees and bees and grass hoppers

Walked on the sides similar to the walk of the she elephants.

800. Sixty thousand ladies with thin breasts like the lotus flower buds,

Who were having the matchless prettiness of the Goddess Lakshmi,

Got in to carts which were shining due to corals, pearls , gold, rubies

As well as the emeralds and were looking as if they were matchless ,

And went profusely praised by art works.

801. Vasishta the husband of the virtuous Arundathi surrounded by

Thousand crore Brahmins who have heard using their ear ,

One hundred nectar like questions and who were habituated,

To offer devas offerings which would be tasted by them,

Riding on a white palanquin in the shade of white umbrella,

Looking like God Brahma who moved riding on a swan.

802.The battle elephants , horses and pretty chariots,

And lads wearing heroic golden armlets surrounded ,

The two brothers Bharatha and Sathugna ,

Like the ocean surrounding the passage less mountain,

And went in front as well as behind them and those two,

Having a chest where valorous Lakshmi existed ,

And who had divine bow and were heroes riding on chariot,

Went like the other two brothers who followed the sage.

803. Dasaratha who was wearing ornaments made of pearls and quality diamonds,

After completing his daily rituals , after keeping the feet of Lord Vishnu on his head,

After presenting limitless gem, gold , rows of flocks of cows and earth,

With great happiness to Brahmins who are experts in Vedas,

Started on a good day that was greatly auspicious.

804. After eight thousand Brahmins holding gem embedded pots ,

And chanting rare Vedic Manthra groups , sprinkled water ,

And after they greeted him and after crores of ladies who had,

Auspicious lisp and red mouth and who had heavy golden waist belts ,

And who generation after generation sang “Long live” to the king ,

With proper tune sang song of “long live” Dasaratha departed from there.

805.”Some said, “the conches blared , some told, “Possibly king would be starting”,

The small kings all came together and “Saw me” some said, “did not see me , “ said some others,

Some said”My ear globes fell down” and some others saying that,

“Now it will not be possible to go near him” but went near him.

806.With ladies wearing Bangles , the crowd of horses which were wearing ,

Golden garlands were moving like the wave of ocean which was full of lotus flowers,

With heroic kings holding their red hands like a lotus bud and saluting him,

Dasaratha like another Sun God travelled in another gem studded chariot,

807. The dust raised by the huge army went up and touched the sky,

And returned not finding place there and completely masked all directions,

Making it impossible for one person to see another person,

And as if showing its enmity towards the ocean, went and filled up all oceans.

808. The conches , flutes , horns , cymbals , the drums indicating auspiciousness ,

Raised so much sound that the sound of thunder in the sky was driven out,

The flower garlands umbrellas , the pea cock feather fans hiding the sun,

And moon running away after seeing the white royal umbrella ,

And the devas being grealy confused Dasaratha went from there with greatness.

809.When Dasaratha who had as much riches as Indra was going from there ,

The sound of singing of Vedas, The sound of blaring of right whorled conches,

The sound of the blessings by Brahmins , the sound of the blaring drums,

The shouting of elephants to break away the staff on which they are tied,

And the singing of time keepers to indicate time reverberated in all directions.

810.With people in all directions looking only at him , With kings,

Wearing heroic anklets on their legs saluting him with their hands ,

Which were like fully opened lotus flowers

With elephants fighting with each other and with horses ,m chariots and marching land army,

Tion of

811”.When heroes Elephants, Chariots , Horses and near by armies ,

Wanted to shift camps there was no place in earth which was vacant ,

Because since there is no other world , the earth dressed by the sea,

Unable to bear the burden bent its back slightly ,

Does this indicate that Dasaratha lightened the burden of the earth?”

This is what is said by wise people of earth.

812.The king of kings Dasaratha thus departing and travelled for two Yojanas,

And reached the bottom of Chandra saila mountain which was similar to Meru mountain.

His great army stayed there which had the scent of breasts of ladies ,

Which are the flowers of God of love and had the natural scent of paste of sandalwood.

14.Chandra Saila Padalam

The chapter on moon mountain

(The departure of Dasaratha is given in a very few slokas in Valmiki Ramayanam. There is no mention of Chandra saila(moon mountain) mountains in Valmiki Ramayana, which is the first resting place of the departing army.)

813. Some tall elephants making the well grown branches

Of the banyan trees touching the sky split ,

Which wanted to drink water from the lake ,

And which were ridden by a man who was like god of love with his bow ,

Were tied on Devadara trees and sandal wood trees.

or

From that tall elephants which defeated the Meru mountain by its height ,

Using their breasts which is used by the God of love to steal the soul of their lovers,

The ladies who speak sweet words , embraced the lovers and got down.

814. One elephant , like the plan of the good king whose mind never gets tired,

And who defeats the undefeatable kings by tricks which are the royal tricks ,

Uprooted the tree on which it was tied and which was touching the sky by its height,

By its very base and walked away from there like a mountain.

815. Like the lord Krishna when he was a baby crawling with a huge mortar,

In between two Maruda trees which had very long and healthy branches

So that those trees fell down, one elephant rolling and dragging the log on which it was tied,

Went through two mango trees and made both of them fall down.

816. That Mahout who tried to pacify it from its very great anger ,

By telling it sweet words and tame it from its anger of rut,

Was like the minister who tried to pacify the king from going on a wrong path.

Then that elephant was like that king who did not bother ,

To hear the words of the minister which were good to him.

817. Not able to see any of his enemies when making sound like thunder of cloud,

When it was hurt by an iron thorn like goad , that elephant,

Followed the path taken by the wild elephants and when it was followed ,

By eagles , it went from there with a great speed of wind,

And it was like one river flowing through the path of a dead river.

818. When one elephant was tied separately getting the scent of rut,

From the Sapthaparni(ezhilai palai) tree making the goad in the hands of its mahout straight ,

Following the scent of rut it reached the Sapathaparni tree in flowering,

And made in to small, small pieces by its forelegs and rubbed it on the earth.

819. The innumerable male elephants and the several she elephants,

Which had a saffron thilak on its forehead and which had joined with them

As well as the elephant calves along with them made them appear like a group of wild elephants.

And that mountain of moon (Chandra shaila) was like the chief of that wild elephants.

820.Learned and wise men even when they join with people of lower rung,

Will change their baser instincts and confused mind which refused to learn,

This is what happens in the world like a chariot with wheels made of gold,

Since it goes on rolling and rolling it would change even a black stone to gold colour.

821.The peacocks that live in the forest seeing the mouth of ladies looking like a red fruit,

Suspecting that Indrakopa* beetles have sought protection and are living there ,

Went on roaming round the deer eyed ladies who wear pretty waist belts

AS if they want to examine the matchless beauty of those girls

*Preferred food of peacocks which are red in colour

822. Those ladies slowly walking like swans , reached the shade of crowded young trees,

After getting down from their horses due to their wearing Bangles, garlands ,

Waist belts , they shined like branch of a tree which was full of flowers.

823.Ladies having been exhausted by the travel , the well matured bees of the garland,

Thinking that they are the fully open lotus flowers were going round and round,

Their feet as well as their faces and when they were sleeping on a crystal bed,

Their friends were confused that their shadow on the bed was themselves.

824. Some ladies who were looking like ornamental climbing plants ,

Who had a waist similar to a Udukkai drum (hand held drum) , when they descended from the back

Of a she elephant which was sitting were looking like, the lightning streaks on the clouds ,

And went in to their quarters similar to Goddess Lakshmi entering her lotus.

825. The horses brought from Turkey fed with food in their mouth by lads,

And brought in to the city made neighing sound which was scary,

And those big horses decorated by ornaments were properly tied together,

And were looking like a garland of several gems on the chest of the mother earth.

826.Just like continuous waves of water , they tied the screens one after another,

Just like the sea has been properly made and they erected the shopping streets,

Just like rows of clouds , they arranged the elephants in a sequence in the garden,

And just like arranging the wind properly they tied the horses in a row.

827.Like the dancing peacocks when the deer eyed ladies and the soldiers ,

With sharpened spears were wandering in trance without knowing where they were going,

Recognising by the beating of the drums and blaring of the conches,

And by the flags , the residence of the king , they reached the quarters of the king.

828.The young lads seeing that the bodies of their wives were made dull,

By the covering of the dust raised by the walking of elephants,

Cleaned them using cloth which was as thin as the foam of the milk,

And those ladies looked like the pretty painting polished by their painters.

829. The princes riding on elephants looking like a big lion descending from a mountain,

Got down from their huge elephants and being fanned on both sides by broad leaf sheaths ,

Entered in to the tents made for them which was erected well with plenty of light.

830.In all those tents with victory banners made of white cloth , the ladies,

With natural scent and pretty smile , with faces like the moon moving about in the sky,

Looked like the lustrous shadow of the faultless moon in the white foamy waters

Of the sea , in all the places that we happen to see.

831.The elephant in rut falling on the ground so that it is coated with dust,

Standing up as if wanting to join the sky , Fanning white perfumed dust on one side,

So that its black colour is hidden and fanning the perfumed dust on the other side,

Looked like Lord Shiva who is allowing Lord Vishnu to be a part of himself.

832.Like the good people joining with bad people and later leaving them ,

When they really understand them , the good horses which run speedily ,

As soon as some dust settles on their body , get up,

Shake themselves off the dust and stand up free of dust,

833.The horses came after cutting off the three stringed big rope ,

And understanding what they have to do by the ability of the driver

And also understanding the earth on which they travel ,

Similar to the great yogis who cut off the three big ties of land, lady and gold,

Due to the power of their yoga after understanding the true state of their soul,

And also understand the nature of the divine God and travel speedily towards good.

834.When the tides of the sea blow to a very great height , The fat Kayal fishes,

Separate from the sea and like that when the thin curtains which are ,

Like the snow falling from the sky are blown away by the wind,

In all the tents The black eyes of ladies which play tricks appear.

835. Though the rivers with clear water do not give rise to great flow of water always,

When you did and further dig they give rise to springs of water and help us,

And they were like the charitable people give riches without saying no,

When they have wealth and even when the wealth is lost ,

And continue giving whatever they have to their friends.

836.Those warriors wearing gem garlands which look like they move with raging fire,

And whose hair waves with wind, entered their tents which had the smell of newness,

And were like the killer lions which enters different caves on the mountain.

837.The big war elephants with sharp tusks which are close by,

Which have put suitable mark on its forehead with red hair,

With bells tolling one by one differently , keep on ,

Turning the water of the lake with waves and are like ,

Madhu kaidaba who turn and mix the big black sea.

838.The big black elephants in rut which do not obey the signs of the Mahout,

Which are prevented from both sides by assistant mahouts from going anywhere,

Which without bothering for any thing do not get out of water bodies,

Are similar to those lovers who do not obey the advice of wise people ,

Who are found fault by relatives and friends who gather as a crowd,

And who are not bothered about it and who are interested ,

Only on the hips of the prostitutes wearing waist belts.

839.With men coming near to the ladies who cover their waists with cloth,

And bring burning fire from the kitchen which makes even sun dull,

And when this produces smoke on the Akil logs,

That smoke goes up in the sky makes clouds which do not cause rain,

Which looks like a big ocean and was like their city.

840 The Vidhyadharas who live on that mountain with splits ,

Who had come to see that great army and seeing the pretty lads and lasses,

Who were assembled there were terribly confused as to ,

Which of them do not belong to their group and thus,

That huge army made one doubt whether the world of devas ,

Have slipped down and has fallen there,

841.All those who ladies who woke up earlier than the morn,

Who were pretty ,and who were angry due to long love tiff,

Talked sweetly with Koels , made sound with anklets that would be echoed by mountains,

Wore ornaments making their luster more than that of the sun,

And roamed here and there like the flock of peacocks.

842. All the valorous males with both heroic anklets making sound,

With bees making great sound around the garlands they were wearing,

With swords tied to their hip shining With their shoulder amulets,

Shining due to the red gems inlaid in them,

Inspected all the mountains around which were like their shoulders,

Very similar to the very cruel roaming in that forest.

Kamba Ramayanam-Bala Kandam Padalam 15-18

The following four chapters further describe the journey of king Dasaratha and his army to Mithila. This is in continuation of the description contained in the two earlier chapters. These four chapters do not refer to Rama or his parents or his story in any way . Here the emperor of poets Kamban , using several astonishing similes and metaphors is trying to describe the people of Ayodhya with special reference to their love life . Those who want to read the story of Rama as written by Kamban can afford to miss reading these four chapters but those who want to know about the poetic genius of Kamban cannot miss it at all.

15.Varai kakshi padalam

The chapter on picturesque description.

(This is a pretty description of the people of Dasaratha after they settled down on Chandra Saila mountains. The chapter starts with sun rise and ends with the sun set and dusk.)

843.Looking like all the seas of the world have surrounded the Meru mountain ,

Decorated by shining gems , that army spread all around that mountain.

Kings, their queens , the princes , the flower branch like princesses,

And their relations saw the Chandra saila mountain, which we are going to describe.

844.The he elephants with long tusks would break the spreading branches of Karpaga tree ,

Which had its own luster and was surrounded by bees of various types singing Parani pan,

Using its palm tree like hands and gave it to the she elephants who are like their soul.

845.The ladies of mountain land with ,red mouth which create great music

With eyes like blue lily and face like lotus and who know the art of foretelling ,

The black bees which do not like the honey from the Vengai tree ,

Thinking that the stars are the new honey giving Karapunnai flowers,

The bees start to jump towards the stars which are in the sky.

846.The good elephant called moon which lives with the stars which are she elephants,

Pierced using its long white horns and honey started flowing torrentially,

Making great sound, but the tribals who cultivate red grain of Thinai,

Stopped that flow and irrigated using the waters of Akasa Ganga,

And grow the mountain rice using this water.

847,Since the moon was not able to cross that very tall mountain ,

He preferred to stay on its slopes and he being like a looking glass,

On both his sides , on one side tribal girls looking at him dressed according to their wish,

And the damsels of the sky preferred to do is seeing its other side

(possibly it was called “Moon mountain” because of this.)

848. The fire that burns in the black smith’s yard by air pumped by the bellows,

The very poisonous water from the mouth and ghee fed spears

Are capable of eating away the soul , like the burning spear like eyes of tribal women,

And their men brought the crescent of the moon and compared it to the forehead of their ladies.

849.The sweet to look at elephant calves born to very pretty she elephants,

Would play with lion cubs which are bred as pets by those tribal men,

And the young moon which is capable of bending was found playing with,

The babes born to tribal ladies who had crescent shaped foreheads.

850.That mountain made of blue sapphire had the big steps of very angry lion,

Which killed the black mountain like elephant whose cheek is wetted by rut water,

And also the red painted wet steps of ladies on the heads ,

Of the Vidhyadhara kings who had pretty hair on their head.

851.With eyes similar to the red Kayal fishes which extend up to the ears,

With their not visible teeth when they smile, With large hair which was not falling down,

With eyebrows not arching , with lotus like palms and after stabilizing their musical voice,

With playing the strings , when they sing, even Kinnaras would be surprised.

852 When .Ladies with pretty ears , sword like eyes to kill males , wearing honey dripping garland ,

Take bath in the clear water standing on crystal stone base , the Kukum they wear ,

Is left out and visible in those waters and look like a gem studded cup and toddy.

853, When the wives of devas with reddish eye due to love tiff,

Throw away the flower garlands that they wear on their head

Making their men sad those garlands of opened flowers ,

Are seen here and there dripping honey and also not fading.

854. The tribal ladies of that mountain with body as soft of new mango leaves,

Would decorate the leaf sheath of Betelnut using a garland and compare it with themselves,

And the deva maidens wearing pretty ornaments , after removing their gem studded bangles,

Which shine like fire wear it on Kanthal flowers and compare with their hands.

855. When the deva maidens whose bow like arched eye brows were not moving,

After singing accompanied by playing of Yaazh and also dancing prettily , enter in to a love tiff,

And throw out their gem studded garlands , and when the he monkeys which live on the trees,

Make their she monkeys wear those garlands they become pleased on seeing them.

856.In those mountain slopes where tall sandal wood trees grow , all the she elephants,

Which take red colour due to shine of red stones , the shine of the red Padmaraga gems ,

Which look like they are painted with Kumkum paste merging along with,

The sun’s rays of the early morn would paint the sky red.

857.The white ganges which falls on the head of the consort of Goddess Uma .

Which goes on sprinkling pearls on the earth , looking like ornaments for her ,

And which brings measureless gold as well as lots of white pearls ,

Making it look like the upper shoulder cloth of God who measured the world.

858.Those tribals living on the mountain wearing Karapunnai and Ilvanga flowers,

Drove away the honey bees and went on drinking fresh honey with good perfume,

And their love tiff is solved by singing of the Kinnara couple ,

Accompanied by the Makara Yaazh and also the horse faced devas.

859.The chest of lads who were similar to the big elephants were hit by her twin breasts,

Which were matchless like the flower buds , which had flowered on the flower stem ,

Which resembled their thin waists and both of them saw that male bees were playing ,

With the female bees on their black heads and it looked like they were getting married.

860.When the ladies with lotus flower like face , which resembled the lustrous full moon,

Walked over clear water under the impression that it was a bed made of crystal,

The cloth they had tied on their hip as well as their upper cloth got wet,

And the lads wearing bangles in their hands as well as anklets clapped and laughed at them.

861.They saw very many beds made of flowers.

They saw many golden necklaces which were thrown out,

They saw the spit after chewing betel which were red like Indra kopa insects,

They also saw many burnt out beds due to Vidhyadhara maids ,

Who have left their husbands as well as lost their senses by sleeping there.

862.They saw there the swings used by the Deva maidens ,

With their blue lotus eyes swings , with smile appearing on their coral like mouth ,

With the costly ornaments worn over their big thick breasts swinging,

With honey bees flying around their hair and with the ear globes ,

Which were made of gems and gold swinging in the air.

863. Like the men driven away by the prostitutes wearing golden dress

Who were willing to sell their hips ,

After stealing all the wealth and deciding that it is no use any further ,

They saw many empty honey containers left there by the pretty Deva maidens ,

After drinking the honey and sugar juice which were left there by honey bees.

864. In the bed room made by the crystal rocks which could make even night in to day ,

The Deva maidens who had foreheads fighting with the bow , after being made love,

By the devas who had a broad chest which even would defeat the wrestlers,

Had thrown away the garlands made of Karpaga flowers ,

Because they were creating discomfort during love making and they saw such garlands.

865 There were Ladies there who after seeing the Kanthal flowers which were like the spread out palm,

Fearing that it is a serpent with a hood and closing their eyes with their palms,

And others who were seeing the shadow of the real flower of on the diamond rock bed,

Who saluted their husbands and requested them, “Please pluck it for me.”

866. Pinching the leaf sprouts of Asoka tree by their nails and attaching ,

Those pieces prettily on their breasts , picking honeyed flowers,

In the mountain where many type of colours are to be seen, ladies bathed,

In the streams where it appears that the wandering swans have just entered

867.Similar to the sprout of mangoes appearing in the middle of mountains ,

The sides of the mountain which looked like sheets of lustrous gold,

And the deer, elephants snakes and bamboo trees ,

Karapunna trees which are similar to the shoulders of ladies were there.

868. The wild boars which are black like night due to the slushy mud,

Formed by the kumkum thrown out by ladies during love tiff ,

Would rub their bodies against the mango and sandalwood trees,

And due to the ladies who are like the divine maidens in sweet conversation,

Occupying that place , that mountain was looking like heaven.

869.Due to big snakes moving away with great desire for food ,

The bamboos are uprooted and this made the wild cows run scared,

And due to this dust spreads everywhere and the streams ,

Along with large number of pearls making great sounds run there.

870.When the breasts of ladies with lustrous eye of reddish tinge ,

Joined with pretty shoulders of men who were like sword like lions,

The Akil and sandal paste get applied on their shoulders and they looked pretty,

And in those arms which were like mountains sandal, Kumkuma and Kongu trees were there.

871. In that mountain , Banana plants grow in a dense manner ,

And they look like the thighs of the divine ladies who come there ,

And the ladies there play the Yaazh and sing songs,

Similar to the Kinnara ladies of the heaven.

872.The water of rut of the elephants went on flowing in that mountain,

And damaged all the mango trees in that big forest, and the Aacha trees,

And Bamboos on the paths of that forest were uprooted and was shaking.

The animals that go to drink water in the mountain streams were mountain goats and other animals.

873. The black tribal woman who live on those mountains, dig the mountain,

For getting beautiful tubers , The tigers live there densely ,

And on all sides of the mountain huge drums blare out making huge sound .

874.While the very strong elephants play there in the lakes,

The banyan trees which provide cold shade as well as the lotus flowers,

Are greatly shaken and damaged , the lions roared ,

And the bees lived happily on the hair of Deva maidens,

Who stay on those mountain with trees on their side.

875.It is very proper to say that this is the place of Lord Vishnu,

On whose chest the Goddess Lakshmi lives as her temple,

For on the top of that place dense clouds are there,

And in the bottom there would lie heaps and heaps of garlands.

876.Like the bees crowding around flowers from which honey flows,

In all the places of that mountain slopes Ladies and men lived,

And with no interest to go from there, played sweetly with each other.

877.Those men and ladies who lived on that mountain,

Thinking that getting down would cause them sorrow,

Never thought about it and became like the good people,

Who are enjoying the happiness of heaven ,

And could not forget the wealth of that mountain.

878.That mountain with clouds on its top was like an elephant,

And the Sun with its hot rays is like a lion pouncing on it,

And the red sky was like the blood flow if the lion hurts the elephant.

879.Due the red sun light falling on the branches of very big trees,

Most of the leafs of the tree looked like just sprouted ones,

And due to the red light spreading all over it , that faultless mountain,

Looked like a mountain decorated all over by red gems.

880. Beautified due to the sight which was sweet to the eye ,

And due to the number of peaks which were innumerable ,

That stainless mountain looked like the great black Vishnu,

Who had applied coloured sandal paste on his chest.

881.Those ladies and gents who loved each other like the soul and the body,

Like male and female elephants , Like stong lions and lionesses,

Like he and she deer , like the honey bee and other small bees,

Lived on the bottom of the mountain making great sound.

882. When the Sun God who wanders on the sky riding on his one wheel chariot ,

Like the lion with burning and cruel eyes seeking protection from arrows aimed at him,

And who has manes on the neck and anger which can kill,

Entered on the west side of the mountain , it became very dark,

And it spread like the huge crowd of black elephants everywhere.

883.The sea like army of Dasaratha, the king of kings ,

Who is surrounded by scent of honey dripping ,

From flower garlands that he wears,

Went on keeping lighted lamps in that sea like place ,

Which booms with sound without any reduction,

And it looked like a forest of fully opened red lotus flowers.

884. The moon Which rose from the waves of the sea ,

Which sprinkles many water drops, and shines in between the stars,

Is like the white conch travelling in between the white sand heaps ,

Which has very many white shining gems surrounding it.

885.When the ocean which had the smell of the fishes ,

Gave birth to the white coloured moon, not able to tolerate it,

That ocean of the army gave rise to innumerable crores,

Of moon like lady faces which were like full moons,

And which were also like the faces of maids of Deva loka.

886.In all the arenas where dancers perform their art,

When beating drums produce sweet sound, ladies who sing also dance,

And very many musical instruments also produce pleasing sound,

The stringed instruments properly set gave rise to good musical tones,

The flute , the holed instrument also accompanied and all this,

Made the people of Deva loka very greatly surprised.

887.After removing the lustrous precious necklaces of gems ,

And getting a simple pearl chain from the friend, and later ,

Dried the forest of their hairs by the smoke of Akil,

And throwing out the thin faded jasmine garlands ,

They wore the garland of Karumugai which had scented petals.

888.That forest was full of sounds of the Mahouts trying to tame,

The caught elephants using tamed elephants , who were ,

Singing a song which they had just then composed like,

The passionate words spoken by drunken men to their sweet hearts,

The sound of bells tied to the hip belt of the prostitutes when they move about,

And the sound raised by elephants in rut due to their great pride.

889. That night passed with the men of the army having spent their time,

By eating the nectar like food which was not eaten and which was form of art,

By making efforts to remove the love tiff of the difficult to get nectar like ladies,

And by hearing songs set to music and seeing the dances based on its meaning .

16.Poo Koi padalam

Chapter on plucking of flowers

( The sun rises again and at that time the pretty ladies requests their lovers as well as mates to pluck pretty flowers for them. They go to a forest near river Sona and get engaged in this job. The poet also describes lot of occasions when love tiff occurs.)

890.Getting angry at Hiranya the night which had stars as its teeth,

With the swinging his thousand hands which were thousand rays of the sun,

Emerging from the golden pillar which can be called as Udayagiri,

That lion man with great luster like the Sun God came out.

891. After completing all his morning rituals Dasaratha started in his chariot,

With all the kings saluting him . The army that was accompanying him,

Making the places in between rivers as well as mountains as gardens ,

Making all the depressions that they saw as crowd of red lily flowers,

And making all the water bodies that they saw as lotus tanks,

And they all reached the banks of the Sona river.

892.After deciding to stay on the banks of river Sona,

Lord Sun rose up in the sky and kings and their sons ,

Along with their wives reached the cool scented gardens,

Surrounded by pure lakes as well as ponds ,

To happily play by playing plucking the tender flowers bored by bees.

893.Seeing them with bow like eyebrows and reddened black eyes ,

The peacocks thinking that they may wound them went away from there,

Hearing the sweet songs sung by them , the parrots became ashamed,

AS they were not able to sing like that and went away.

And seeing their walk with sound of anklets , swans also went away.

894.With Ear studs made of pure gold which give out light ,

And with ear globes , with shining with bees ,

Flying around making sound when those ladies ,

Were playing with their friends , seeing that ,

Men wearing garlands made of scented and opening flowers ,

Over their chest were not able to recognize them,

As different from the flowering trees and stood there confused.

895.All the koels in that garden hearing the talk of conversation,

Which was with sweet words and like pretty songs,

Between the ladies with broad hips decorated by Gold and gems,

And having cool hair over which honey had spread ,

Were jealous and closed their mouth due to shyness ,

Who can dare to speak before those capable of sweet talk?

896.With eyes which were like poison to those whom they do not like ,

When they looked at with desire using lovely nectar like looks,

And touched with their red lotus flower, the flowering plants ,

Which had grown tall, showered the tender flowers on their feet,

And bent their heads in salutation , for who can remain ,

Without saluting those damsels with hips like vanchi climbers?

897.When those pretty ladies who are similar to the lady of the lotus,

With their flower like soft hands , even the lions who have,

Manes decorated by flowers and who had sword like ,

Terrifying looks were getting terrified and ,

The mountain like shoulders would also bend before them,

And so if I said that the tender flower branches bowed ,

Before them , Is it improper to tell like that.

898.The creeper plant like ladies with foreheads which are like moon’s crescent

In the ponds and rivers are looking like a Blue lotus flowerd on a red lotus,

And seeing that the bees producing sweet sound thought that,

“It is a great wonder to see flower on flowers and started crowding their faces,”

And they did not move away in spite of efforts to drive them away,

Because those who love to see new things , would not leave them easily.

899.Towards the males who had shoulders as strong as very hard rocks,

Who had properly made lustrous body and wore garlands made of flowers,

The peacock like dames , some of them like climbers with fully open flowers .

Were lying down fully jaded and some others,

Were standing straight like the unattainable flowering plants.

900.The ladies seeing that the plants where all their flowers had been plucked ,

Which had lost all its prettiness , worried about how those plants,

Would look to their husbands , made those plants wear their garlands,

Bangles as well hip belts and ear globes and seeing them bend ,

And later stared at those cool flowering branches with great desire.

901.The crowd of bees which normally step on wide open flowers

And wander drinking honey started hovering round ,

The decoration less hairs of ladies without any honey drenched flowers ,

But who wore scented flower garlands which they did not like ,

Unlike the flowers which were liked by them earlier , because,

Wherever good qualities are there, people get all pleasures there.

902.One who is equal in prettiness and is an ornament to Goddess Lakshmi ,
Seeing her own image holding a flower on the white crystal rock,

Thought , that lady would become like soul to my dear husband,

And stood there with eyes shedding tears and flower in hand.

903.One lady who was like a creeper having face like moon surrounded by clouds,

Seeing the garland worn on shoulders of her king was being worn by ,

Another lady who was like peacock , rained tears from her sword like eyes,

On the tip of her own breasts which knew the nature of cloth tying her breasts.

904. When a king who was greatly in love with his wife , seeing her coming like a peacock,

To find out her state of mind hid himself in a creeper enclosure of that faultless garden,

She who is always with her husband and one who has never lived away from him,

Struggled like the body in search of the soul and with great anxiety searched for him all around.

905. One lady having love tiff with her husband who always used to hold a spear ,

Developed a tinge of redness due to anger in her black eyes decorated by Kajal,

Saluted a koel and pointed to it a flower which was not reachable,

And requested that bird, “ Please pluck that flower and give it to me.”

906.One hero seeing the tender coconut on a tall coconut tree said,

“How great, these coconuts are similar to the breasts of the ladies”,

Hearing that his wife asked “ To the breast of which lady that you have seen,,

Are these coconuts similar ”and with a sorrowful mind and With,

A face covered with sweat , let out hot and painful breaths.

907.When a hero whose shoulders increase in size as soon as he hears ,

The word “war”, who had shoulders which resembled mountains ,

Who was similar to love God was plucking flowers to his wife,

And when she who had cloud like hairs and who had a matchless voice like Koel,

Closed his eyes from behind and when he asked , “who has closed my eyes,”,

She felt as if burnt by fire and suspecting his virtue let out a deep breath.

908.To the several wives who were extending their palm,

Which were like lotus flower not growing on slushy mud,

Requesting the king to pluck and give them flowers,

He placed those fresh flowers which drip honey , on his palm,

And was standing in between them without saying no and also not giving,

And was standing like a wild miser, because he was helpless.

909.When the lover who was liked by her, mentioned the name of another woman,

Before this wife who had eyes applied with Kajal ,She stared at him,

With her spear like eyes which would hurt him in his heart,

And becoming shy for having stared at him like that before others,

She moaned and holding a flower by her tender hand she smelt it,

And due to heat of her tortured breath, the flower immediately wilted.

910.That king who moves round in chariots use to wander round,

With the kajal applied eyes of all his wives , each born in great families ,

Following him wherever he goes like the bees which follow the elephant in rut.

911.A man who has a pretty form beyond reproach , when he divided equally the flowers,

Between one of his wives who had a forehead similar to the crescent of moon at dusk,

And the other who was a very pretty one who was worshipped by all who see her,

Both of them threw away all the flowers and not liking to stand before him went like peacocks.

912.Without bothering to take care of her with great fragrance ,

Without bothering about the dress getting untied , without bothering,

To notice that pearls from necklaces falling down all over the garden,

Are they searching for their own souls which is in their own body,

Or is it some other important material or is it the flowers that drip honey?

913. A lady who was comparable to goddess Lakshmi who speaks with sweetness ,

Of the sound of Yaazh was not moved when her husband who is the king,

Who had incomparable strength saluted her, but after he went away ,

With a melted mind she became sad and thinking of a devious trick ,

Deep in her mind , she drove her pet bird and followed it to the place where husband was there,

914.One who had become greatly thoughtful when all the five arrows of love God,

Pierced on his chest wearing pretty flower garlands , without understanding what to do,

Went and weakly stood before a lady who had applied sandal paste on her breasts and had a long hair ,

And asked her “Oh Kurukathi plant would you flower a Mandhara flower and give it to me?”

915.One who wanted to find fault on her husband , without any diminished anger ,

Developing a love tiff and when it was seen by her that her husband was becoming happy ,

Without waiting there , decorated herself with the flowers she collected with difficulty ,

And on seeing her own image in the mirror , felt sad that he was not there to see her.

916. If my husband who feeds the God of death using his lustrous spear ,

Does not come here to see my made up form with decorations,

I Would not agree to live in this world, for how did this make up help me?

Saying this she would give away all her ornaments to the lady who guards the funeral pyre.

917 In case of one lady , the waist was sorrowing due to its not able

To lift the breasts which were coming out of the cloth tied over it ,

And in case of another she was holding a big golden cup in her tender shivering fingers,

To feed the parrot which was hiding in between two huge stones.

918.When one lady was walking like a swan , she seeing a swan coming near her ,

Under the impression that she was her relation , she became friendly with it and told the swan,

“You are my friend , if people see you without cloth they would find fault with you”

And then she was agreeable to give her cloth to that she swan which was young.

919. Another lady with a voice like sugar syrup ,covering her snake hood like hips

With a thin cloth , got scared of a peacock which was coming near to her ,

As it was an enemy of the snake and hid herself behind a flowery branch,

Which had bunches of flowers and closed her eyes using another flowery branch and got weak.

920.Another lady with matchless beauty , with playful anger told her lady friend,

“Oh honey , Oh daughter of a flower , I will now hide myself ,

And you please find me out, “ and hid herself behind the leaves,

Which were ready to harvest and then hid her blue lotus like eyes by her hand and then laughed.

921.One very able hero wearing the string of his bow on his left hand,

And holding a tender lotus flower on his very strong right hand ,

And with great pride was wandering like a sun in the midst of the big lotus forest,

Of the pretty faces of ladies with hair of the colour of darkness of night.

922.When those pretty men hold a red bow made out of the sweet fresh sugarcane,

Brought from the field , even the God of love became ashamed hearing ,

The lisping voice of their pretty and very innocent wives,

And thought that it was a divine art of words repeated by them.

923.The cowherd who resembled the God of love played in their flutes

Which were decorated with flower garlands , a song similar to the sound of bees in the garden,

To signal the time to go back to his herd and like a big bull returning home,

In between the herd of cows,Men were returning home ,

Surrounded by ladies with eyes with kajal , looking like blue lotus in the evening,

924.Though there is a saying that “ That those sages who are strong,

In penance are capable of protecting themselves from the bow of love god,”

But the truth is that even a simple glance from the tip of eyebrow,

Of these ladies who harvest flowers is capable of defeating them.

925. One lady with a with a scented hair and a crescent like forehead,

Was sitting on the mind of her husband who had climbed the Punnai tree to harvest flowers,

And so even though one man has wisdom flowing like a spring from his mind,

Would they ever be able to win over those ladies with huge breasts.

926.One husband who had climbed on a branch of tree to pluck flowers,

Was not able to move his mind or his eyes from the god given beauty of his wife ,

But was plucking buds of flowers and leaves and dropping them down.

927.One man who had shoulders like a big staff weapon ,

Seeing the face of his wife , whose hairs are habituated by bees,

Seeing the vibrations of her mouth of the colour of the red fruit ,

Understood using his mind that she was angry and trembled.

928.After doing activities like this for some time ,

Those men and women lost interest in plucking ,

And decorating with flowers in that cool garden,

And reached a water front with a desire,

Of playing in water with white foam and flow.

17.Neer Vilayattu Padalam

Chapter on water sports

(After getting bored by plucking of flowers the men and women turn their attention to water sports.)

929.Those faultless men and goddess like women,

Making even gods without sorrow being shamed at seeing them,

With the bees with nature of humming and rising up in the sky,

Left those those gardens towards the water fronts,

Like she elephants coming with he elephants in the forest.

930.The scene of the males and females going to play water sports,

Was similar to the scene of the Lord of devas going along ,

With his entire wealth and ladies in to the ocean of milk,

Due to anger of sage Durvasa who was similar to Lord Shiva ,

With the river ganges flowing on his matted hair.

931 . The blue lotus flowers which desired the blackness of Kajal,

Flowered like the eyes of those ladies and their eyes which wanted ,

To become big like their palms looked like fully bloomed blue lotus flowers.

All the red lotus flowers bloomed like the faces of those ladies,

And the faces of those ladies appeared like fully bloomed lotus flowers.

932-939.Some of them were standing there hugging the chests of their husbands,

Like The goddess Lakshmi who lives on the lotus flowers standing on the stalks,

Some standing like victorious Goddess Lakshmi hugging the shoulders of their husbands,

Some who are fanning so that the water spreads like the spreading leaf sheath,

Some who are embracing their husbands scared due to the jumping of Valai fishes,

Some who are fanning scented powders so that the bees like to eat the pollens,

Some who fan the oil of musk and other scented oils facing each other ,

Some who are fanning with flower garlands , some who take the pure water,

In their red mouths and sprinkle them on the bodies of their husbands.

Some who take water in their lotus like palms and sprinkle on the others,

Some with waists like streak of lighting , some with shoulders like Bamboos,

Who decorate the front scroll of hair like that of a peacock,

Who while getting out after immersing themselves in water ,

Seeing that their hairs are hiding their faces , move them away by their hands,

Some who request the swimming swans to play with them.

Some who become sad when flowers in the waves dash against their tender breasts,

Some ladies who were sweet like sugarcane to their husbands appearing as if,

The corals and red fruit are flowers on the lotus plant , who have blue lotus like faces,

Some ladies who are as sweet as a cane about whom we say that they do not have any hips at all,

Some ladies seeing the swimming kayal fish in water and asking their husbands ,

“Do all these water bodies also have eyes?”

Another lady who wears a garland of flowers from which bees drink honey ,

And who had thick hair and was looking like a real goddess,

Seeing the shadow of her own pretty body in the waters of the lake ,

Said, “This lady with the pretty forehead is always laughing whatever I do,

And so she is my friend, “ and gave her matchless invaluable pearl necklace to their image with joy,

Some other ladies who were wearing garland of flowers from which the sound of bees were heard,

Who were hugging the pretty diamond like shoulders of their men, with great passion,

Some were going like tender peacock groups living on the mountains which touch the sky,

With their valuable necklace of gems showering luster and were seen reaching those water bodies,

And one lady whose red eyes like Kayal wish was made more red by her anger,

Hid herself in an area with a crowd of lotus flowers and her husband was in great confusion

While searching for her could not find which was her face and which was the lotus flower

And Whenever some other ladies who were wearing bangles of conch and gold in their tender hands,

Were dipping themselves in water their bangles made sound like bees,

And from their high placed hips due to being moved several times , the belts got loose ,

And fell on their feet and they thinking it is a snake started shouting for help loudly.

940.Surrounded by divine ladies who appeared along with nectar in the sea ,

And surrounded the Mandhara mountain which was used to churn the ocean,

One king wearing garlands , stood with his very strong and pretty mountain like shoulders

Surrounded by a crown of pretty maidens who were dipping in water and were playing.

941.The king who stood in between the crowd of ladies who were wearing bangles,

On their red hands who had pure laugh , who had very pretty mouth ,

And who had hips which used to bend like the climbing creepers,

Looked like The male elephant in rut surrounded by several she elephants,

In the mountain stream with scented lotus flowers as boundary fences.

942.In between the crowd of pretty women who had hair similar to that of a black cloud,

Who caused the loss of the pride of all the peacocks living in the forest ,

One king was standing and was looking like the moon with spreading luster ,

Among the stars which were giving light here and there in the sky.

943.One lady who had two long eyes and who was made up by her servants ,

Who besides having the quality of being desired by all people ,

And who was having all the arrows that the God of love with a sugarcane bow had ,

Was standing out shining in the crowd of the bevy of pretty woman there.

944.One lady who was standing like a peacock among the ladies, who resembled ,

The horrifying spear which wounded the mind of men , shining like a sword,

And Who was having two lustrous eyes on her face with great luster

Was similar to the Karpaga climber which came out from the sea ,

Surrounded by very many climbers capable for producing flowers with many petals.

945. A lady with a hipswhich she received from the chariot , with breasts received from coconut tree,

With a prettiness that cannot be matched by any one , dipped in to the water,

With the cloth tightly tied over her breasts shaking here and there ,

And her pretty face in that pure water looked like the shadow of the moon.

946.When their hips which were not controllable by the dress that they were wearing.

And their pot like breasts , racing with each other dashed against ,

The shoulders of men which by their valour beat even the great mountains,

The water in the water bodies lost their balance and started to over flow.

947.Since the water body made their pretty mouth very red,

Made their eyes further reddish , destroyed the sandal paste applied on their body,

Loosened their dress and was a place where the huge breasts ,

Of those ladies applied with fragrant pastes dipped , it was like their husband.

948.Has it not been told that “all those who are with holy ones,

Would become themselves holy in due time” and like that ,

Those fishes in the water bodies started having the scent of ,

Honey, musk , Teak wood and Akil smoke scent ,

Is there any need to tell ore similes?

949.Due to the sandal paste that was used to decorate the bodies,

The kings in large numbers and due to the KUmkum paste ,

Worn by the ladies who accompanied those kings,

That sweet water was similar to the red sky ,

Where a very huge black cloud had spread all over.

950. Due to the Akil and sandal paste applied on their body,

Which were scented being completely dissolved in that water ,

Those ladies who had mouth like cool red mouth,

Shined like the Manikka gems which were cut.

951.Seeing that the mark that she has drawn with sandal paste ,

On the pure shoulders of him who is as strong as as a jumping lion,

Has been erased , the eyes of her ,who has tender emotions ,

Which are normally black turned red due to anger .

952.When the body of one who suffers out of the heat of passion ,

Who carries the heavy weight of her hips and who wears pretty ornaments,

Became greatly hot by passion that lake with waves cool water ,

With scented powders , with flowers that have just opened scalded her.

953. Like the kings of male elephants who bathe the goddess ,

Who resides in the lotus flower, a man who wears flower garland,

On his shoulders , brought and splashed water .

On the hair of a lady who had applied ghee on it .

954.One very young swan which climbed on a lotus flower

Seeing them walk so nicely that they defeated them,

Became angry and thinking that the tender flower.

Was their small tender feet stamped on those flowers.

955.Would I be able to say about the number of men,

Whose mind was agitated seeing the breasts of women ,

Which looked like golden pots tied with pretty thread

Showing nail marks as the sandal paste has been washed away ,

Due to the water sports that they enjoyed playing.

956.One king who was capable of ruling using his hands,

Which was like the lotus flower with long petals asked her,

“When shall we meet again ?” and that tender one ,

Who had red mouth like Veezhi fruit replied to him,

By sending a message by her eye to her friend, who passed it on to him.

957.Those red lotus flowers which go under water in the clear water ,

Due to the water being pushed away during the water sport,

Appeared like they were not able to be like the pretty faces of those ladies,

Who were like deer and were hiding their faces under water.

958.After bathing like this in those big water storages ,

Those men who wear the big armlets as well as women,

Climbed up from the water leaving it lonely ,

And started wearing proper dresses as well as ornaments.

959. After they who played in them with great desire went away,

That water filled water reserve was like the sky where ,

The stars have crawled away and felt as if all the lotus ,

That populated them earlier have gone and settled somewhere else.

960.The sun who saw the water sports played by the deer eyed ladies,

With men , as if he also had a desire to play such water sports,

Went inside the western ocean which was filled with wish.

961.Like the king having faced defeat earlier and is again,

Coming with courage to fight with another king ,

The moon which was defeated earlier by the pretty faces of those ladies,

Again appeared on the sky to again face those ladies.

18.Undattu Padalam

The chapter on dancing after drinking.

( Here is a peculiar chapter of Ramayana . It describes ladies drinking alchoholic drinks. As , it is mentioned as “Kallu”, the fermented flower juice of palm trees , I have translated it as toddy. In few places the word Madhu (either honey or wine) also is used. There are few stanzas in this chapter which describe love sport , which is called war of love in some places.The incidents described in this chapter happen at night after sun set.)

962. The great moon light which was cool spread everywhere,

Like the white liquid of toddy ebbing out everywhere ,

Like the sweet music taking a form and spreading all over,

And like The passion in the mind spreading to all sense organs.

963.As per the request of the God of love the full moon opened up in the sky,

Like the toddy which increases the sweetness to those engaged in love play,

Like the poison to those couples who are forced to live apart,

And like an emissary to those with love tiff , to again join together.

964.Due to spread of moon light , all rivers became like Ganges,

All oceans became like the ocean of milk ,

Al the hills became like the silvery mountain where lord Shiva lives,

And what more can we say about the spread of moon light?

965,With matchless directions ,when all men and all animals,

Became lustrous due to the pouring moon light on them,

This world which was surrounded by ocean appeared to celebrate the birthday,

Of the God of love who has a very sharp sword and Makara fish on his flag.

966.In the shade of the pearl tent created by lustrous stars ,

In the gardens where the roof curtain is provided by dark clouds,

In the crystal rooms which were shining like ponds,

And in the scented flower gardens, ladies reached to take rest.

967.Those ladies whose hair had the perfume of scented flowers,

With an intention of enjoying the love play on flower spread beds,

Started drinking in pretty golden goblets , the newly extracted toddy,

Which was like the nectar which was made only for that purpose.

968.Those ladies of the heaven full of stars , The Vidhyadhara ladies ,

Were not comparable in prettiness to these ladies and they,

Who were having eyes like deer and honeyed flowers,

Drank toddy like a torrential rain of honey by their mouth.

969.The toddy that entered the mouth of one of those ladies,

Went and settled inside her like nectar and not only her black eyes became red ,

But the white goblet of the colour of the spilled milk ,

Turned red due to their being touched by her lustrous red hands.

970. The pure toddy drunk by the ladies whose hair has been perfumed

By musk and cool akil smoke, similar to the ghee poured in the Fire pit ,

Which is full of burning sacred fire , increased ,

The fire of passion that was burning in their heart.

971. One lady who had a shining forehead resembling a sword ,

Seeing her shadow which was as pretty as her reflected,

In the toddy with cool smell in her golden goblet told,

“Oh friend, please take this along with me and enjoy”,

Is there anywhere the greater ignorance to that of,

Of ladies who have poison like very long eyes,

And who have voice like that of nectar to our ears.

972.One with a waist which looks as if it will break

Having thick hair , black eyes which appears to be coated by poison,

And having a red face with a smile , seeing her shadow in the toddy asked,

“Hey mad one , what are you doing, why are you drinking my left over toddy,

When there is a huge jar full of toddy ?” and then she thinking ,

Her shadow is another lady , laughed showing her jasmine bud like teeth.

973 . Another lady who had eyes like the horrifying spear which can kill,

Seeing the crystal gem studded goblet in which the white rays of moon fell,

Appearing that it is full, , kept that goblet , thinking it is toddy on her lips,

And when all other people teased her for drinking ,

Out of an empty goblet , felt greatly ashamed.

974 She , the one who made one conclude that her lisping voice was the one

That gave sweetness to Yaazh and sweet flute and the one who has a mouth,

Which is as red as the flowers of Murukka tree , happened to ,

See the shadow of her sword like eyes In the big jar of cool toddy

In which, the blue lotus with its stalk has been put,

And she thought that they were bees who have come to drink honey from flowers.

975.There was one lady who wears the ear globes made of pure gold,

Seeing the shadow of the white moon reflected in the toddy ,

With her confused and energetic eyes due to her drinking toddy,

Said, “Oh moon , scared of the snakes that come to attack you,

On the sky , you seem to be hiding here, do not get scared ,

For I am offering you protection.” In a very sweet voice.

976.A lady with a belly button which resembled a whirl pool ,

Of that river that remains stable at one place , noticing the great moon light,

Which pierces the roof made of flowers which dripped red honey ,

Either due to her taking toddy , or due to her having lost her intelligence,

Or due to the timid nature which ladies have,

Thought that it was toddy that is dripping , tried to catch it in her goblet.

977.One lady who had a waist which was similar to a streak of lightning ,

Having a wavering voice instead of her sweet voice like the white nectar,

Took off her pretty waist belt and tied a flower garland there,

And not only that started tying her golden necklace on her curved hair.

978.One lady seeing the drunk image of her face at the bottom of the goblet,

Containing toddy , thinking that moon in the sky has fallen in side the goblet,

With a wish to drink toddy said, “When I have a lover’s tiff with,

My husband who gives me happiness to the mind , you would,

Remove my heat and so I would give this toddy for you to drink.”

979.A lady who had an ornamented nose like flower of gingely ,

Without realizing that she has spilled all the toddy she had ,

Due to the shivering of her hand in to her hips ,

Due to the stupor created by toddy , concluding that ,

Toddy would be there on the back of the goblet and

Kept the goblet upside down and attached to her lips.

980. Seeing the bees which have spread up to the sky,

Similar to the beggars who have come to get the great wealth of misers,

One lady felt shy to open her red mouth which was dripping honey ,

Thinking that the bees would go inside her mouth and started,

To sip the toddy from the goblet using the stem of a tender plant.

981.One lady who had made the kayal fishes in the lotus tanks,

Run away since they felt that they could never compete with her eyes,

Who has the shining eyes similar to sharp knife just taken out of its leather case ,

And who was wearing thin garland made of honeyed flowers over her thin hair,

And was resembling a young peacock did not drink toddy as she knew,

That the lover residing in her heart does not like to drink toddy.

982.One lady made both her death like eyes look deeply red,

Made her eye brows bend and tried to take it to the top of forehead,

Gnashed her lustrous teeth as if she was angry by drinking toddy,

And folded her pretty arms ,which are as pretty as the newly formed leaf.

983.The sweat of the a lady with vibrating red lips which are like red fruits,

Biting them with lustrous teeth which look like cut pieces of the moon,

And staring with their deep red eyes looking like spears tainted by blood,

Was looking like the toddy they have drunk coming out of their skins.

984.The excess of redness of their red fruit like cheeks went to her eyes,

The lustrous eye brows in her lotus like face looked more like a bow ,

And the crescent like forehead became wet because of sweat

Of that lady who was well ornamented and was telling something with thinking some other thing,

985. With the Red ilavam flower like lips becoming deep red,

With the saliva coming in between teeth becoming sweet,

With the cloth tied over their breasts getting loosened up,

With her hair falling down slowly sliding like waves ,

And with the teasing laughter , The toddy and love making by husband appeared similar.

986. One lady wearing a waist belt studded with invaluable gems ,

Tried to send her friend to her husband who has parted from her ,

Asking her to tell her faultless husband that due to the God of love,

Who wears the heroic armlets , she was greatly disturbed ,

And told her , “Would you also stay like my mind with him or come back.”

987.One lady who had eyes that were desired by the deer was ,

Sending all her close friends one by one as emissary to her very strong husband,

And when she noticed that each of them who had gone did not return,

Made herself as her emissary and went to meet him alone.

988. One lady who had honey like lisping talk , who was ,

Drowned in the sea of love which cannot be stopped by shores,

Lying down on a bed of several layers of scented flowers,

With great love and joy hugged the parrot ,

Which was capable of telling all the names of her husband.

989.Sitting in a location which was scented , one lady ,

Having a sword like forehead , hugged her companion parrot and screeched,

“You have not gone and brought my soul like lord ,

What other help except this can be done by you,

And you are like the one who makes sad,

Those who have parted from their lover”

990.When the husband called her by the name of wife junior to her,

One lady whose hand is crowded with bangles and who was like a peacock,

Initially smiled showing her jasmine bud like teeth at the mistake of her husband,

And then, when she thought he is telling the name of junior due to more love towards her,

Tears dropped torrentially from her eyes which were like Kayal fish.

991.One good lady who thought about the mistake done by him earlier,

With passion caught hold of the golden belt which his wife wears over her hip,

And even before the pearls studded in hip belt started falling down,

The pearl like tears of that lady who wore golden bangles reached the floor.

992.One lady who had a hair decorated by well opened flowers,

Was doing serious thinking like , “would I have a love tiff with him?”, or

“Would I enjoy love play with him so that this sickness melting my soul will get cured,”

Or “Would I sing about his good qualities accompanied by the Veena?”

993.Another lady instead of telling her friends about the tiff with her lover,

Touched with her flower like red hands , the Makara Veena with knobs,

And started singing what was in her mind so that her lover would understand.

994. One lady who was like a creeper which has put up new shoots,

Went on drawing love lines on the ground with her feet,

And when they did not meet with each other every time,

Became extremely sad due to the arrows shot by the God of love,

And once in a while left deep breath to prove that she was still alive.

995.One lady who has fingers which made the ball beautiful , due to sorrow of parting,

Send her friend as an emissary to her extremely pretty husband,

And when he came , she closed the door , preventing him from coming in,

And since she was not knowing what her thoughts were, her eyes became red.

996.One lady who wanted to end the love tiff with her husband , lay down on her flower bed

And when her husband did not understand her wish acted as if she has just woken up,

And put her hand and legs on to his body asked, “How much of a time is over now?”

997. One lady becoming worried due to love tiff and with her cotton like soft feet,

Kicked him and due to his body which was like a field with a fence ,

Was made wet because of the flow of sweet emotions ,

The seeds of love germinated in him and his hairs stood up like plants.

998.One hero who had swords by which he made enemy king suffer,

Seeing that her breasts have gone down in size due to his parting,

Realizing the great measure of love that she had towards him,

Became very happy and stood with increased size of his shoulders.

999.One person who was blessed with great beauty reached the place,

Where his wife was there and saw that the flowers of her bed,

Were like the troublesome arrows of God of love and

Noticed that all those flowers have been burnt like new twigs,

And understanding her intensity of sorrow , was perplexed and became thoughtful.

1000.The heat of breasts of a lady caused drying of the sandal paste that was applied,

And seem to tell one hero who worked with his sword, “please protect our country”,

And looked like the pots of holy water kept there for crowning him.

1001.One lady who was not able to tolerate the suffering due to parting,

With her soul like lover , removed the waist belts, golden bells and diamond necklaces,

Thinking that they would make sound and make others know her intention,

And saw with fire like eyes the moon which made her suffer at time of parting.

1002.To a valorous one who was suffering like the sugarcane in a mill,

Due to parting, and a lady who had the sweet tender voice of the garden koel,

And was not able to take out the flower garland that he was wearing on his very strong shoulders,

And What shall we say about the strength of this garland he was wearing?

1003.One lady who had very long hair , for the sake of telling her sorrow,

First saw the picture of the God of love and then she looked at her friend,

And she understanding her plight of trouble from God of love,

Started walking towards the home f her husband who wore honeyed garlands.

1004.One peacock like lady wearing a golden Kuzhai went speedily towards .

A very angry hero who was holding a sword in his hand,

And was this done because the toddy that makes her heart melt,

Or was it the evening time or was it the god of love himself?

1005.When one lady who was defeated by the full strength of love ,

Who was angry and had a crescent like forehead,

Shed tears from her eyes which looked like rain,

And when her husband smilingly asked “What happened to you?”

She lost her shyness and became laughing and joyous.

1006.One lady to whom “this is her waist” was a lie,

Though she had not lost the desire to sports of love,

Took away her hand , due to being drunk from him , and this peculiar act,

Made her husband feel that one sword has entered his chest.

1007.One lady who was tender hugged a lady friend of hers,

And wanted to send her as an emissary to her husband,

And due to her shyness preventing her from telling it,

Went on wailing for a measureless time.

1008. One lady , from whom great love was ebbing out again and again,

Wanting to tell the wrongs done by her lover for whom she is the only soul,

To another lady who was wearing flower garlands with great scent,

Became shy and went on telling unconcerned things.

1009.One couple thinking that their thought process was alike .

Their soul was same and the love that each had to the other was same,

But not knowing why their bodies only were different ,

Hugged tightly with each other so that their bodies could become one.

1010 One lady who had shoulders like bamboo , when her husband,

Who had a tiff with her stood before her , when without her control,

Her mind went towards him stood up and saluted him,

And seeing this as a new act of hers, He was scared thinking that she was angry.

1011.One lady with a curved forehead who had a love tiff ,

Thinking about the pleasure that it could bring and later repented,

Seeing her friend who went as emissary but returned alone ,

Told her that like the breeze and the night that are yet to come,

Her friend would trouble her like her mother..

1012.One lady who was made to love , send her mental feelings also,

Along with her emissary whom she sent to bring her husband,

And she was standing making all those who saw her tell that,

She was looking like one hit by the God in the evening,

But she became action less and went on staring at the direction of arrival of her husband.

1013.One lady who was not able to forget her husband ,

Would always be waiting for his arrival and to her,

Joy and sorrow used to come alternatively like birth and death,

And like the streak of lightning appearing between clouds which cannot be moved,

She would come out thinking he has come and

Disappear thinking that he has not come.

1014.One lady who had breasts that can never be drawn in a picture ,

Had horrific wounds caused by the arrows of God of love on them,

And she caressed them with her hands wearing bangles ,

She cried and laughed and saluted one of her friends,

And requested her to tell about all her sufferings to her lover.

1015.One lady was covered with sweat , thinking how she would tell in words ,

The illness caused by love and the problems that were caused by it,

Which are to made known by signs to the wise people , as it is useless,

And then she told her friend her sorrows with a pained mind and lied down on a bed,

And then with an eye full of anxiety looked at her friend,

Thinking “would she keep quiet and not do everything to make him come.”

1016. The God of love who is inside all the young men and women,

Would have been thrice more happy than young ladies with breasts ,

For without the knowledge of any one , He would have definitely,

Drunk the clear and pure toddy drunk by them inside their bodies. .

1017 . Those men who had tied up hair which is scented due to wearing flower garlands,

After throwing away the cloths worn by ladies who have not understood the love play,

And also after throwing out the waist belt which was used to tie their broad hips,

Because those who can shout and announce should not be there during secret works.

1018.Is it new that a lady threw away her cloths as well as ornaments and,

A lady with pretty forehead also forsook the shyness which is in built in her ,

Like a saint who with great determination has forsaken all attachments,

For only in passion resides the capacity of forsaking oneself.

1019.One man who was like the matchless god of love ,

And a lady who was similar to Goddess Lakshmi living on a lotus flower,

Went on doing the war of love with both of them not being defeated,

Because if the souls of both of them are same who can win or who can loose?

1020.One lady who was sword like in the war of stealing the minds ,

Seeing her pretty lover who liked like God Muruga and was wearing a garland,

Hiding his chest to prevent her kick by the leg due to love tiff,

By his flower like hands , became more angry with him thinking that,

He was trying to protect another lady in his mind out of deceit.

1021.One lady with a mouth which is red and had a taste of milk,

Who was wearing several types of bangles , who had huge shoulders,

Who had eyes like spear and who was looking very tender,

To one who had a mind full of ocean like love and Who had,

Long hands like that of a cloud, gave same type of pleasure,

That made her like the divine lady of heaven.

1022.One lady who was like a peacock living in gardens of mountainous terrain,

Who got very angry thinking about the lies told by her husband ,

And in the war of love with anger engaged by them,

The love that rose in the minds of them only won.

1023. With a cruel eyes a lady resembling personification of murder,

Who had wide hips which appears to start from within her dress,

Hugged her husband tightly and thinking that her breasts ,

Would have pierced the mountain like chest of him, stretched and saw his back.

1024. When the men were enjoying the new sweetness of ladies,

Kumkum fell down , her hair became untied.

The conch bangles made great sound , Cloths slipped down,

And the anklets that they wore in their legs produced great tingling sound.

1025.When love removed the sorrow causing love tiff , like the Sun removing the snow,

One lady who was like a peacock , was pretending to be asleep in spite of it ,

With a very anxious mind , due to the help of a pretended bad dream, hug her husband tightly.

1026. One lady with a round face , who looked like a peacock and her husband,

When they happened to come near hugged very tightly ,

And due to being not willing to separate their pasted bodies,

Never left the hands that embrace and did not realize even when night got over .

1027. To the hero who was like an elephant in a rare rut,

And to a lady who had very black thick hair ,

Due to the war of love , that night went on reducing,

Like their hip which were unable to carry her heavy breasts.

1028.Like those who were not able to do blessed deeds till the end,

Whose wealth slowly vanishes, the moon vanished from the sky .

And the sun appeared in the middle of the black sea with spreading waves ,

Like the shining Kausthubha gem in the black body of Lord Vishnu.

Kamba Ramayanam –Bala Kandam Padalam 19-21

19.Yethir kol Padalam

Chapter on receiving guests)

(This chapter in detail tells us how king Janaka along with his army went and received Dasaratha along with army as well as relations. It also indicates the great arrangements made by the king.. This is just mentioned in one stanza in the Valmiki Ramayana)

1029.Not following those which have been prohibited by the Vedas,

And following without fail those rules of justice as told by the Vedas,

The King Dasaratha who is the king of kings who had the white umbrella and King’s staff,

Along with ocean like army in to which the stream of the water of rut,

From those elephants which had ornamental cover of the face,

Reached the shores of the river Ganga.

1030.Due to that ocean of army armed with arrows and weapons drinking the water,

The clear water of the ganges was much reduced and even the land of the serpents,

Which have split toungue became visible and even the ocean with salty water,

Became thirsty because the stoppage of the flow of water of ganges.

1031.By the time Dasaratha who owned very large area of land crossed the river,

And went near the town of Mithila with broad fields and which had large water resources,

And we would start telling about activities of Janaka who was merciful and

Who had a cavalry who were expert in jumping.

And who had shoulders which were as firm as pillars .

1032.As soon as he heard that king Dasaratha has arrived, with joy ebbing out of his mind,

King Janaka accompanied by an ocean like army with male elephants capable

Of breaking great logs of wood , with chariot army and with horses with stirrups ,

Came similar to the moon who comes to meet the sun, to receive Dasaratha,

Who had great wealth which was as much as Indra’s wealth.

1033.Like all other oceans with their conches going on making great sound,

And joining the ocean of milk, the armies of Dasaratha in whose country,

The river Ganges flows came and joined the army of the fertile country,

Ruled by The king who had a daughter and like the milky ocean,

Which has the lady of the lotus living in it receiving other oceans, received them.

1034. To the army of Dasaratha who were armed with sharp spears like Banyan leaf,

The seven seas which are long and broad and house the sea sharks are comparable,

And to the measureless army with divisions of men, chariots, elephant and horse

Again only the sea which is spread throughout the world is comparable.

1035,White royal umbrellas with garlands which were tied with clump of peacock feathers ,

Of that army hid the entire sky , thereby hiding the sun and making the earth dark ,

And it was comparable to huge lotus ponds where red and white lotus flowers were found mixed.

1036. Does the Goddess Lakshmi who lives in red lotus flowers live in the flags,

Of Dasaratha who was ruling his country without any types of laziness?

Or does she live in his kingdom which had come from generation to the next generation?

Or Does she stay in the ocean like army of his? Or Does she live in his chest?

Or does she stay in the pretty crown of his?, It was not possible to understand.

1037.The pretty sound of bees which hover round the black hair,

Of the ladies whose breasts which ebb out of the cloth tying them,

Is indeed the music with seven types of note , and the sound made by the chariots,

Is very much similar to the waves of the great white oceans,

And the trumpeting sound of his great elephants ,

Is similar to the sound of thunder of the rainy season.

1038.It is easy to tell that the dust raised by the marching army ,

Not only filled up all oceans but also rised and spread in the heavens,

And these dust rised to the heaven through the hole made ,

By the feet of Lord Vishnu who was armed with the wheel ,

When he measured all the three worlds by his feet.

1039.In that army when the kings were marching close to one another,

Their white umbrellas hid the complete sky and it was easy to drive away

The darkness thus created due to the golden gem studded ,

Ornaments that the army wore , which were shining like lightning.

And also many gems due to their luster would create a rainbow,

Creating the heat of the sun and some gems create the cool of the moon.

1040 The very strong Janaka who was capable of shooting powerful arrows ,

When he saw that the faultless king Dasaratha was coming to his city,

Started to go and receive him sprinkling every where the scented powders,

As well as golden dust and the pollen of scented flowers, which were the only dust there.

1041. The slush that was created on the way were , the perfumed honey ,

Musk , the saffron dust as well as the dust of the Akil trees ,

The extra amount of musk created by the deer as well as,

Various other mixtures of scented products mixed,

In the water of rut flowing from the elephants.

1042.The reflected light from the golden ornaments of the ladies , who wore scented flower,

Garlands would go and reach the white umbrellas and go round them ,

Along with this the huge flags which are signs of victory would merge ,

Along with other decorations and would provide cool shade everywhere.

1043.When opposite the army of Dasaratha which had matchless strength,

The army of Janaka which was having more and more ebbing out stood,

The sound created was like the sound of a torrential river ,

Merging with the matchless ocean with beating tides.

1044.The king Janaka with an elephant army capable of breaking huge pillars,

Came before Dasaratha who had the culture and love of father to all,

Pushed by great desire and joy , with the speed of mind riding on a huge chariot.

1045.When Janaka came before the chariot of Dasaratha , he got down from the chariot ,

With his pretty as well as very strong army standing behind him,

And when Dasaratha signed him to get up in to his chariot ,

He got in to it and he and Dasaratha hugged each other with faces full of joy.

1046.That Dasaratha who was like a lion which was being received by a tiger ,

And who was greater than every one , after hugging king Janaka with both hands,

With a faultless mind enquired about the welfare of each of king Janaka ’s relations,

And requested him to go forward along with him and eventually reached the city of MIthila.

1047.When both of them with great joy reached the town of MIthila,

Rama , who was only comparable to himself and who by his strength ,

Broke the bow of Lord Shiva who was of the colour of fire ,

Came out of that city and neared Dasaratha to receive him.

1048.That Rama who was being saluted by the people of earth,

The people of upper and under worlds , surrounded by ,

Very strong army of horses and soldiers , came out of ,

That town which was famous for its army ,

And came riding on a chariot made by red gold and green gems.

1049.Who can estimate the very large number of,

Male elephants, female elephants, chariots and horses,

Which accompanied Rama and Lakshmana as per orders of Janaka,

When they went to meet their father Dasaratha.

1050.Rama who was like Neelothpala, Karum kuvalai and Kayampoo flowers

Who had a matchless form , which was more sweeter that any portrait ,

And who was a boy and who had the divine feet , which was fit to be saluted even by devas,

Came and reached Dasaratha like the soul that had left him earlier.

1051. Rama went speedily to salute the holy feet of his father ,

And when he fell on the feet of the king wearing anklets and got up,

The king hugged him and in the chest of the king , who was like Manu,

The mountain like shoulders of Rama who broke the mountain like bow vanished.

1052.Dasaratha who removed the sorrows of the eight directions as well as the sky,

Whose fame has spread everywhere and who was the greatest among kings,

Was saluted by the younger one, who is of the colour of gold and as soon as he got up,

Hugged him tightly so that he would go within flower garlands he was wearing.

1053. After that Rama who broke the bow that was held by Lord Shiva,

Who had long matted hair , saluted the mother who gave birth to him,

As well as his other mothers and who can properly describe the joy in their minds?

1054. When Bharata in whose mind always the great love to Rama flows like a stream

Which was flowing through his lustrous eyes constantly , saluted Rama and got up,

Rama hugged him similar to how he was hugged by his father,

On his gold like chest , like a soul is hugging another soul.

1055.Lakshmana who accompanied the black coloured Rama,

And the younger brother of him , who is greatest in devotion to Rama ,

Who were both greatness which cannot be matched,

Came near and with their perfumed head ,

Saluted the feet of their brothers who wore golden anklets.

1056. Dasaratha who ruled with great justice and with great deal of mercy,

Was realized as the most ideal wealth , due to his qualities ,

Which gave him fame and had these four sons who had good qualities,

Like the matchless four Vedas and those four sons were great like their father.

1057.That emperor Dasaratha , whose rule was an example to others,

And who had so much mercy that all all beings considered him as their good mother

Saw and ordered Rama to take along with him his army which was considered as great wealth.

1058. The amount love those soldiers who had elephants towards the princes ,

Is something which cannot be measured by any of us.

Was the great joy without stain which arose in them , long lived or short lived?

And as soon as those princes who had decorated their hair with flowers,

Came among them, the joy that all of them felt was equivalent to that of Dasaratha.

1059.With his loving brothers saluting him and coming on victorious horses.

With great joy due to the stable and great love towards their elder brother,

And with hand held conches and very big drums making great sound,

Rama with a beauty which is rare even in pictures rode on a pretty chariot.

1060.The crowd of beautiful women who were looking like dolls,

Whose feet has been painted by the juice of red cotton,

Stood in very tall buildings , which were asking clouds to enter them

And live in them , and threw their poison like eye on Rama

And were also showering flowers from there and ,

Rama reached the very wide streets of Mithila surrounded by walls.

1061.Near all the stages of that town , with their bangles shaking,

With their hair falling down , with their lotus flower like feet ,

Demonstrating the book of sage Bharata , ladies ,

Who have cone like broad breasts which compete with,

The tusk of huge elephants in rut were dancing ,

But the place was home and not dancing stages.

1062.Due the primeval lord of all devas coming near them,

Ladies from little girls to grown up lasses , who had been sent ,

By the God of love who was well armed , came in the streets,

With pretty black long hair and we will tell about it later.

20.Ulaviyar Padalam

Chapter on the procession in the streets.

(No reference to these incidents are made in Valmiki Ramayana. The poet wants us to see the personality of Rama, through the eyes of lasses of Mithila. Dasaratha and Rama reach the hall where they are going to see Sita.)

1063.The ladies whose hair was being made wet by the honey of flowers,

Like the species of deer came and like the peacocks came,

Like the stars shining on the sky and ,like shining stars coming to surround came

With bees making great sound to drink honey from their hairs,

And with their anklets and other ornaments making sound,

And filled up all vacant areas of the street.

1064.Those ladies who were like great ornament to that city,

Were not bothered about the hair which was falling down all round them,

Were not bothered about their waist best falling down , were not bothered,

To catch their thin garments sliding and falling down from their shoulders,

And they neared and crowded round Rama though their this waists were bending,

And shouting , “give way, give way” and they surrounded him like honey bees.

1065.They who were like clear water flowing downwards,

Who had big eyes similar to the big black flowers flowering in the stream,

With their tiny anklets making sound and with their waists giving pain,

Were like those running to catch their mind , which was,

Dragging them all towards Rama.

1066. Telling with each other,” With our eyes we are only seeing love here .

We have realized the greatness of being feminine today,”

They rushed like deer jumping towards clear drinkable water

Which has been produced after a long time by rain,

The rain having failed for a long time and made the land dry.

1067. For seeing those holy feet that gave Ahalya a body which was red in colour and

Those big shoulders which broke the bow to get Sita with scented black hair ,

Ladies came and crowded in those royal avenues and were like ,

Those bees that crowd round a pot of nectar , making sound.

1068.Rama was like the one who jumped along with horse drawn chariot ,

In to the eyes of those ladies who were staring at him ,

With fully opened eyes, and made a new meaning ,

To the word “Kannan(eye like darling) , by this act.

1069.”His chariot will be going with great speed and passing our eyes,”

Like this when those ladies were telling with great dejection,

And they further Said , “Sita who would be seeing to it that Rama who had measured

The world with one step and sky with another, never goes out of her eye and Is indeed great.”

1070.One girl just entering the age of a lady , was prepared to leave ,

Their heritage , the cloth which never left their body , Conch made bangles,

All good acts , their stainless beauty , mind, intelligence , luster ,

Diamond studded ornaments , her innocence , her shyness ,

Her control over mind except possibly only her soul.

1071.With kendai fish like eyes which were above the ornament of ears ,

Raining tears like the rain fall of the cloud was shed by one lady,

Who had youthful breasts , where even a thread cannot go in between,

Who was with wounds caused by the arrows of the love by the god of love his sugarcane bow ,

And stood tired with all her body parts thinning down like her streak of lightning like waist.

1072,Did all the sword like eyes of those girls who had applied red plant extract ,

On their fingers , become black because of the body colour of Rama?

Or Did Rama who had the black body colour resembling the cloud .

Got his colour from all the black eyes of ladies never leaving it? We do not know.

1073.One lady with lustrous forehead and the colour of new leaf of mango tree ,

Seeing the expertise in war of the god of love who sends arrows of bunches of flowers at them,

Asked “Who is that matchless archer who is not bothered

About the greatness of the rule of Dasaratha,

And not realizing the expertise in archery of Rama

And shooting arrows at ornamented ladies?”

1074.One foremost lady who can be compared to Goddess Lakshmi ,

Allowed all her ornaments to slip away from her body due to thinning of body,

And was standing incapable of carrying herself and was standing,

Holding only her cloths like a picture drawn by those who knew about pleasure,

Like the taste of passion which cannot adequately be described by words.

1075.One peacock like lady with eyes like sharp spear as well as the God of death,

With her bow like eye brows , sweat filled forehead , with green colour of parting,

Spreading all over her body and with a greatly dejected mind was standing ,

Not seeing Rama and sadly said ,”Does the merciful Rama go alone?”

1076. One lady who had black hair like Kajal , red mouth and lustrous forehead,

Was becoming greatly sad thinking of Rama and said , “Oh frind , one cheat,

Has entered in to my mind through my eyes and I have closed,

My eyelids tightly so that he cannot go out and so show me ,

The way to my cot so that I can enjoy him fully.”

1077.One lady who was looking like a doll , without bothering about,

Arrows struck by the God of love on her divine body and without,

Realizing that the cloth as well as waist belt has come loose ,

Was seeing all those seeing the body of Rama with love,

With her very angry and fire spitting eyes.

1078.One lady with a spear like eyes which was black as well as white,

And with red lines being seen outside which appears like ,

The lie of her mind was going to escape outside ,which normally,

Was playful , exuberant and was trying to measure length of her hair,

Came with a pleased mind to see Rama and after seeing went back home hot.

1079. One lady with broad eyes with a great desire to see the beauty of Rama ,

Seeing that the heavy black hair , Thick breasts tied with cloth,

The hips and other parts tied by golden belt of the ladies in her front ,

Was hiding his form, Went on seeing Rama through the clearing between their thin waists.

1080.There was nothing in any place in those streets except ,

The ornaments falling down due to the heat their body created ,

Due to the shooting of arrows on their mind by the well prepared God of love ,

The melting sandal paste flowing due to the sweat on their breasts ,

The waist belt , pearl garlands and conch bangles , fallen,

Due to their becoming thin due to love and ,

The flower garlands which had fallen down from their black hairs.

1081.All those who saw Rama’s shoulders saw only his shoulders,

Those saw his lotus like feet wearing heroic anklets , saw only his feet,

And those who saw his large and long hands saw only that ,

And thus which of those ladies with sword like eyes saw his full form,

And they like those who see themselves and not those Gods ,

Deciding fate, saw only a part of him and not the whole.

1082.One lady with a thin waist and very long hair,

Without getting sad , completely filled her mind with Rama,

And who can be greater than the great one who ,

Has filled her mind with the form of that God,

Who at one time kept the entire universe in his belly.

1083. One lady who had waving heavy hair who was wearing selected ornaments,

Came to see Rama like a pretty flowery creeper with her waist belt and anklets making sound ,

And seeing her fall down due excess of pass ion on seeing Rama,

All her friends were forced to assist her back to her home.

1084. At that time one lady with selected ornaments and bud like breasts ,

Told, “Oh Lord who has such a hard heart who did not take mercy on me,

Oh blessed one, who broke Shiva’s bow for the sake of the innocent lady Sita,

Since I am also a girl , break the sugarcane bow of God of love and save me.”

1085.One lady with a black eye in which Kajal has been applied ,

And had a lustrous forehead told “This Rama who has done great penance ,

Should stop from going in that chariot as he is standing before my eyes,

Is it illusion or is it only a dream?”

1086.One lady who did not have any other emissary except her mind,

To send to Rama , became very famished and tired because of love and told,

“What type of penance did Sita who had eyes with red lines ,

Who has ear globes made of gold and well ornamented ears do?”

1087.A lady who did not have any shortcomings , became nervous,

Cried and breathed hot and becoming tired saluted her dear friend,

And told, “Would it be possible for the God of love to draw a picture of Rama ?”

1088.One lady who had a very pretty mouth and a lustrous forehead,

Said, “If we properly think about it ,it is not possible for a man to be this pretty,

And so I am telling you that he is not a man but only Lord Vishnu (Krishna?) ,

All of you are going to realize this later .”

1089. One lady with a lustrous forehead noticing that,

Her golden anklet and bangle got loose and fell down,

And feeling greatly depressed in the mind, said,

“This faultless one has come here because,

Of the great penance that Janaka has done earlier.”

1090.One lady with wet eyes and wearing green gem embedded ,

Ornaments over her hip , became so sad that the beauty ,

That was residing in her for a long time moved away from her,

Thought, “Would he come in my dream alone instead ,

Of being crowded by great sages and kings as of now?”

1091.One lady who was like a peacock joyous in seeing,

Black clouds and who was also like a golden creeper ,

Wanted to hide the love that she felt in her heart,

And when God of love came to know about it ,

He brought out the love in her heart on her face.

1092.One lady who had a face like moon with two eyes,

Went and reached the bed of flowers ,

Like a snake which heard the noise of thunder,

With sweat covering her pretty closely placed breasts,

Lost her ability to think and went on passing deep breaths.

1093.Many ladies who had red mouth like led lily flowers ,

Which drip nectar , became jittery with the soul and unstable

Like Sita who had a hip that was crying and had no reason,

To be joyous . How are they going to live?

1094.Another lady with body covered with sweat and with a depressed soul,

Asked, “The pure Rama has not looked at

Any lady who was weeping and was very sad

With his red eyes,. Does this mean ,

That he is one without any trace of love?”

1095. There was no limit to the lasses in that town,

And there is no adequate measure to beauty of Rama,

And what can the God of love with a golden bow do?

Since all his arrows were exhausted he took out his sword.

1096.We do know about the war between God of love,

And the young ladies of the city with long scented hair,

But do not know about the war between the young god of love ,

And divine ladies in spite of the arrows of God of love,

Had they now also pierced the heart of the ladies of heaven.

1097.”This Rama without desiring anything from all those,

Who are in love with him . Is it proper ?

Looks he does not know what is mercy,

Tell me whether he is one of those realized ones.

It looks like he is one who murders girls, “ one said.

1098.One lady who had sandal paste applied on her breasts to get it cooled,

Who has a thin waist like a hand drum , with both sides thick,

Due to the love on Rama could not recognize her hands or body

Was lying down exhausted with all people saying .

“Would she survive?” and “”she would survive.”

1099. One lady who talks like a sugar syrup ,

Like one swinging in a swing tied between betelnut trees ,

Went behind the chariot of Rama with her feet becoming red,

And would then come back due to shyness. Why is she doing it?”

1100.One lady who had crossed the limits of passion and lost her brain,

Seeing another lady who had come there , asked,

“On your way did you happen to see my mind which followed Rama?”

When the desire exceeds the limit how can there be shyness.

1101.There was one lady who was like Goddess Lakshmi who said ,

”The clan of this Rama are those who have given their soul to those

Who approached them to save and when it is so , how is it this Rama is,

Not willing to give us ,the sweet soul that is very dear to us, “asked she.

1102. One lady who had a good forehead and who was broken down by fear ,

Said, “When we enquire about why this Rama broke the bow of Shiva,

Which was kept in our armory , it appears to me that is not due to his love,

Towards the peacock like lass whose head is filled with the scent,

Of Akil Smoke and who was capable of speaking a pure toungue,

But due to the fact that he wanted to show us what he has learned.”

1103.One lady with disheveled hair , who had lost her pearl necklace,

Cloths and other ornaments and was about to fall down tired,

Asked, “Who are as strong as the god of love who is trying to kill me,

Without any fear in front of Rama who is holding a fearsome bow.”

1104,When ladies of different age groups attained this state of mind,

Rama along with group of kings who were all well armed,

Reached the hall Where the faultless sage Vasishta ,

And Viswamithra who had seen the other shore of knowledge of Vedas were sitting.

1105, That Lord of Goddess Lakshmi came like the moving streaks of lightning ,

Came wearing swinging necklaces of chosen gems on his chest there,

He saluted by falling on the ground similar to monsoon clouds falling down on earth,

The holy and divine feet of the two great sages Vasishta and Viswamithra.

1106.When Rama who was born in Ayodhya to protect Dharma from being destroyed,

Saluted those sages , they blessed him and asked him to sit on a seat,

He sat on a seat decorated by matchless floral designs ,

And shined along with his brothers who followed him like shadow,

1107.Like the white coloured moon coming lighting all over the sky ,

Followed by all the stars , Dasaratha the chief of a great army ,

Reached that hall studded with gems which were really great.

1108.After having saluted those sages with great penance ,

With the best of flowers containing honey being showered on him,

With Brahmins reciting poems of blessing , he took his seat,

Making Indra ashamed feeling that he is not lucky like him.

1109-1111. Ganga kings , Kongu kings , Kalinga kings , Kulinga kings,

The kings of Sinhala , the chera kings , The pandya kings ,

The king of Anga , King of KUlindha , king of Avanthi,

The king of Bengal , The Chozha king , Maratta king ,

The kings of Magadha , King of Matshya desa, the king of mlechas ,

The heroic Ilada king , the king of Vidharbha ,

The king of china , The king of Thengana The king of Chenchakas , The king of Somaka ,

The king of Jonakas , The king of turkey , the king of Guru desa,

The well armed Yadava kingf, The king of Konkanas who have seven groups,

The king of Chedhi country, The king of Thelugus , the kings of Karnataka ,

And all all other shining kings of earth covered by the sky came to that hall.

1112.Those ladies who tell words sweeter than the sweet sugarcane,

Stood by the side of the king Dasaratha and fanned him with cowries,

And those were similar to the luster of the pretty new leaves,

Of The very tall tree of the rising fame of that king.

1113.The sweet sound of ladies who had honeyed hair decorated by flowers,

Over which bees , Minjiru and Karumbu (type of bees ) go round and round,

Wished Dasaratha “Long live” with the back ground of music from flute ,

And their lisping tome sounded like the music played by Yaazh.

1114.The matchless white royal umbrella of the king having elephants with fierce eyes,

Was like the presence of full moon who had come to that place with great mercy ,

To witness the great marriage of Sita who belonged to his clan and become joyous.

1115.Due to the standing of the army of Dasaratha which was standing ,

Without leaving any space like huge long sea all over the city and surroundings,

The country of Janaka who had an elephant army which achieved victory only ,

Was looking more like a city which was full of people .

1116. That Janaka who was the father of Sita who had lustrous forehead ,

Due the love that was pouring in him spent all his wealth ,

For celebrating this marriage , the water of love ,

That flowed from his heart was equal to Rama as well as ,

Those of the people who were having a low status.

21.Kolam kaan padalam

The chapter on seeing the form

(This is a part of the South Indian form of marriage . In Valmiki Ramayana Rama does not see Sita till the day of marriage, as is the case of North Indian marriage . This chapter is also absent from Valmiki Ramayana. In this chapter the poet describes how a bride is dressed up before the wedding. In the later chapter on wedding , this aspect has been left out. Another aspect is that her mother does not come to the hall where this ceremony is taking place .)

1117. Surrounded by the queens who were looking like picture,

Dasaratha who was occupying his seat like Devendra,

His Guru Vasishta seeing Janaka with faultless white umbrella ,

And with the royal staff with great sweetness and told him,

“Please bring Sita with deer like eyes to this place.”

1118.When he was told like this That king with joyful mind ,

Saluted the sage and told some ladies with chosen ornaments ,

“Go and bring the queen of women here.” And those ladies,

Who speak sweetly like honey , pushed by their measureless ,

Love towards Sita went quickly from there and told the same,

To the young lasses who were attendants of Sita.

1119. Not knowing that eye lids which hide are the ornaments for the eyes,

Those attendants covered the pretty form of Sita with lustrous ornaments,

And like adding sweet taste to the already sweet nectar ,

They started beautifying the already beautiful limbs of Sita,

For the people of this earth surrounded by tumultuous sea are ignorant.

1120.Like the colour of Lord Vishnu after filling up the mind of Sita,

Rose up and from there spread as flags all over the world,

Was the hair of Sita and in the middle of that pretty hair ,

They pinned up a Chigazhigai , which was a thick round made of flowers,

And this appeared like the full moon in between the black clouds.

1121,Like as per practice the stars of the sky get attached to the full moon,

They hanged a lustrous chutti which looked like stars on her forehead ,

And like the cow called clouds licking the calf called moon which it created,

They hanged an ornament called lock in the flow of her dark hairs,

Which appeared like breeze like locks on her forehead.

1122”Is he not that hero who broke the great bow of Lord Shiva

Who has ganges on his head, and the lad who went away stealing

Her great femaleness and made me almost lose my soul?”

When the mind of Sita was wavering like this ,

Those friends of hers made her wear the lustrous ear globes which wave.

1123.They also made Sita wear several faultless ornaments which suit her,

On the neck of Sita which was like the divine conch of God Vishnu.

“Which would be the suitable ornament for the neck of the ladies,

When Only the Mangalya of a lady has a prefix of “Thiru(holy)?”

1124. “Should I tell the pearl necklace of Sita worn over ,

Several ornaments hovering over her breast as,

The one made of taking the stars in the sky and stitching it together?”

Or should I say that it was made of cutting in to pieces the full moon?

Or should I say that it is the light of shyness in her face as,

She had to go and See Rama surrounded by so many people?

How would I be able to describe it properly?”

1125.Sita had given red colour to petals of lotus flower,

Which were not comparable to her little feet applied with red juice,

And also gave the red colour to the pearl necklaces worn over her breasts,

Due to their reflecting the red colour of her nectar like body

Indicating that those who depend on good people would become good.

1126.The ornamented shoulders of Sita whose waists were getting tired,

Due to their lifting her very huge breasts which were like saffron tins

Can be like the Bamboo plants only if they wear , Padmaragha stones,

AS well as pearls which make you close one’s eyes due to their luster.

One may ask are there such bamboos and the answer is only such bamboos are equal.

1127. The lotus flower like red hands of Sita who wears flower garlands on her unfurled hair,

Which were as soft as the new leaves have done penance for being touched by,

The tender red hands of Rama and were lovely and thinking that ,

Those lotus flower would close down and become like buds at night,

They made her wear bangles of Padmaragha stones ,

Which had luster like sun so that , they are always open.

1128.On the golden boxes of the breasts of Sita whose hair is decorated in many ways,

They drew flower plants , sugarcane the bow of God of love using paste of sandal and musk,

And created more pain to the waist of Sita , which made one doubt ,

As to whether they are there or not there similar to the concept of God,

AS the divine imagination as in several religious books and tenets .

1129. To the hip which never moves away from the thin silk cloth worn by her ,

They made her wear a waist belt which shows its prettiness outside ,
And hanged on it a round ornament called “THaraka Chummai”,

And to the great luster from gems starting on those ornaments,

Along with the lustrous red colour of Sita also became red ,

And those friends who were moving round her stood fixed ,

There due to the luster of those gems closing their eyes.

1130. Sita who had hips similar to the hood of the snake had her feet ,

AS red even without any painting and were as delicate as the Anicha flower.

To make those tender feet which were like red lotus flowers,

They made her wear anklets which kept on making sounds,

Possibly telling all those friends, “I am tender, tender.”

1131.The eyes of Sita were like poison kept inside which was surrounded by nectar ,

And were straight , had large number of red lines and were as cool as rain,

Without any deceit or wickedness and we are not sure what those friends applied on it,

“It could be black kajal or it could be the colour of Lord Rama.”

1132, Two black lily flowers with bees hovering round it have flowered,

In side a lotus flower and like the third crescent of the growing moon,

Having a star in between the crescent , they put a thilaka on her forehead ,

To that lady who was the thilaka to the maidens of earth, heaven a and serpent land.

1133.With pretty bees , Karumbuus , Minjiru going round ,

They kept in proper places loose flowers , Flowers to be attached to hair ,

Flowers to be kept on top of the head as well as faultless ears

And on the top of them , similar to the shining of young leaves of Karpaga tree ,

They applied powder of gold which was like the pollen of punnai flowers.

1134.After making her pretty like this thinking that evil eye would fall on her,

They waved a ghee lamp round her and along with water sprinkled flowers,

Worshipped the Gods , gave presents of gold to those who are an expert in Vedas,

Applied white mustard on her forehead and waved round the red coloured water ,

And also protected against evil the lady who was brought up like a peacock.

1135.Like the bees which steal the honey which gives joy from lotus flowers ,

Those ladies drinking the beauty of the lady who taught speaking to a parrot,

Faltered in their speech and stood giving up their normal feminine qualities,

Is not the mind same for those ladies and to the men?

1136,Those friends of Sita having hair like that of a black cloud,

Seeing Sita with ornamented breasts like that of a full moon,

Stood there with joy and enchantment. Each of the body parts of ,

The deer like ladies would be desired by several people differently,

But if some one sees all beauty in one place , who can stand,

Without losing all their mind at that place.

1137.Due to having the divine conch , due to living on the lotus ,

And spreading every where and appearing in the minds of people,

As per their want , Virtuous ladies like that of Arundathi ,

Became equal to lord Vishnu , How can we tell a comparison to her?

1138. With broad waist belt , with anklets with bells,

With snake Noopuras , bangles and Tie bells of leg making great sound,

Large number friends of Sita who had sweet voice surrounded her while going,

Like the dancing ladies of Indra coming surrounding her.

1139.Chinthas,* dwarfs ,, hunchbacks as well as the crowd of her friends,

Came near and saluted her feet and then surrounded her ,

And the lass started walking under the shade created by gold and gems,

Like the young moon proceeding in the sky surrounded by stars.

*handicapped people

1140.The earth who gave birth to her who was like a flowery creeper,

Fearing that her tender feet would get hurt if she walks on bare earth,

Spread new tender leaves as well as large number of flowers ,

Which she was wearing in all places where that lass Sita went.

1141,lIke the playful swan being defeated by her soft walk which could be saluted by others,

Fell down and again got up and like that , with Cowries rotating on both her sides ,

That lady came like a peacock with matchless luster towards the hall.

1142. All the ladies of all the worlds came to see the beauty of the lady,

Who was a maid and was brought up like the black eyeballs of the eye ,

And like the sungod who was the light of Rama’s clan coming down on earth,

With great desire Sita came under the shade of one decorated shelter.

1143.Wearing sixteen ornaments made of purified gold of great luster ,

With ornamental belt made of gems tied tightly around her hips,

With bows held down, swords held up and with shining soldiers,

She took steps with her small feet , with great pain on her waist.

1144.She with the luster of her body comparable to the luster of gold,

The scent of flowers , the cool of sandal paste and prettiness of lightning,

Came walking making swans , the deva ladies and the rare nectar ashamed,

And reached the jeweled hall which was in the king’s council.

1145. Since it was not known who made her , she was comparable to the form of Vedas,

And seeing her pure body with heavy breasts , men and women ,

Who had shoulders like Bamboo neither breathed nor lashed their eye like picture.

1146.Rama who was of the colour of the sea seeing that maid who was like nectar ,

Had a doubt whether “she was not the lass whom he saw earlier “ and again,

“She was the lass whom he saw earlier” and later understanding that it was she only,

Struggling with great desire to keep his soul within his body .

Became like Indra who saw the nectar rising from the ocean that was churned.

1147.Rama told within his mind that this was the koel with red feathers ,

Which had come from the top of the hall of virgins and who was ,

Sprayed with nectar like fully matured sweetness of honey,

And was like the result of well done matured acts and wondered ,

How the koel which was in her mind was wandering outside also.

1148.Vasishta thinking , “due to the penance did by me and other sages Rama ,

Who is the Lord Vishnu with big eyes who holds the conch and the wheel, came ,

And this girl is definitely the lady who lives on the lotus” and became happy.

1149.That Dasaratha who roams around the world with the only aim to establish Dharma,

Who rules the world , seeing the beauty of Sita with heavy dark hair ,

Thought “though I have been always been able to rule all the seven worlds,

Only today the goddess Lakshmi has reached me , . How great a victory this is?”

1150.When that great lady who speaks in a sweet tone of Nattapadai pan,

Came near the hands of others except Dasaratha who had enjoyed the world and great sages

Naturally went up their hand in sign of salutation , because , their mind as well as brain,

Considered her as God and is not the body controlled by the mind?

1151.Sita saluted first the great sages and then saluted holy feet of that great king,

And took her seat in the seat reserved for her by her father who was letting down tears of joy,

And it was like Goddess Lakshmi not liking her lotus seat , wanted to enter the palace of kings.

1152.Sage Viswamithra who thought that Sita is the model of all women,

Thought , if Rama had known that by breaking the bow he would get ,

This lady with the poisonous sharp eyes , He who is like a green mountain,

Would not only break the mountain like bow but also seven mountains if there was a need.

1153.Though she had heard about the bending of the bow and breaking it ,

From many people . since she was not knowing the full truth ,

Now the doubt in her mind was cleared to certain extent ,

And she who enjoyed seeing him in the form within her mind ,

Saw him in person , due to the shyness preventing her,

Saw him by the corner of her eyes, in the guise of repairing her bangles, and he enjoyed it.

1154.The river of her light which flowed from the corner of her black eyes towards Rama,

Went and joined the ocean of the body of Rama , And all her doubts were removed,

And with the removal of sorrow to her soul she let of several sweet breaths,

And that Lady who was wearing rare ornaments , feeling as if,

She has consumed the entire pot of nectar became little stout.

1155.That Sita who had black thick hair , understanding that the stealer ,

Of her mind was the one who broke the bow , forgot all earlier sorrow ,

AS soon as the negative feeling that leads to sorrow vanishes ,

Due to the real wisdom arising out of knowledge of philosophy ,

She felt that she has reached the endless joy due to salvation.

1156. The emperor who had an elephant army that punishes,

Seeing Sage Viswamithra who has reached the other shore of knowledge, said,

“Oh great one , please be kind enough to tell , the great holy day ,

On which the creeper like Sita with a very thin waist is to get married.”

1157 “Oh king of the country where valai fishes keep springing and jumping,

Where kayal fishes in the pond bite the head and back of buffaloes lying in the pond,

And the very strong viral fishes jump on the betelnut tree and open its leaf sheath

The proper day for the marriage is tomorrow,” said the great sage Viswamithra.

1158.As soon as this was told Dasaratha , was saluted by all other kings,
with his victorious conch with Diamond decoration booming ,

With his golden crown reflecting the early sun light ,

Took leave of those great sages went back to his great palace.

1159.The swan like Sita parting from Rama without a mind do it ,

And similarly Rama with no mind to part from Sita,

Went and reached the great gold like house which was meant for him.

The kings who were wearing gems also left that place and reached their places,

Great saints also went away and Sun with shining rays and set in Mount Meru.

Kamba Ramayanam –Bala Kandam Padalam 22-23

22.Katimana Padalam

(The chapter on the great marriage)

( The chapter begins with love sickness of Sita and Rama and later in this chapter Rama weds Sita . Though r several common rites of marriage of south India are mentioned, there is no Mangalya dharanam. The poet mentions that the wedding took place on Panguni uthra day, which fact is not there in Valmiki Ramayana. Like Valmiki Ramayana , the mothers of Rama are not present during marriage. After marriage Rama and Sita go inside the palace and salute them. The marriage of brothers of Rama take place the next day as per proposal of Janaka. Even the names of their brides is not mentioned. In Valmiki Ramayana there is a lengthy introduction to each other of the clan of Dasaratha and Janaka. The introduction by Vasishta in Kamba Ramayana is there as soon as Dasaratha arrives from Ayodhya.

With this chapter and one following it , Bala Kandam comes to an end.)

1160.Due to the great hospitality shown by Janaka whose fame is wide spread,

Right from kings who owned elephants who were showering rut ,

To the kings with broad shoulders and princes and those ,

Were all in between these great groups felt as if,

They have gone to the city of Indra along with this body.

1161. Would not those who are greatly thirsty and want to drink pure water,

See the source of good water but unable to find steps to approach the water ,

Lose their strength and would become sorry as well as depressed,

Similarly the lady who was like Koel and was wearing golden bangle attained that state.

1162.”Oh cruel night , Are there people who deceive and kill,

Feeble ladies who do not have any strength whatsoever

without any thought ? AS soon as the sun rises tomorrow,

My Lord would come near me and so please go to the day with speed.”

1163.Oh mind , you have gone along with the feet of the black coloured Rama,

And propose to come back when he returns but you have been with me,

From the day I was born and wander round me without parting from me ..

Are there people like you, who cannot wait for one more day?”

1164. “Oh Andril bird who lives on a palm tree , when I am trying to attain,

Rama like the seven seas which make great sound, due to my bad fate ,

If the day time perhaps never comes but you without any culture ,

Are flying with your mate instead of flying alone. Why are you doing these bad acts?’

1165.”Oh moon , Who has hot spreading rays , which hurt like a sharp spear ,

And is hot like fire, Please tell whether any one else except you is there,

Who trouble the tender lasses whose body is thinning down and who do not avenge.”

1166.”Oh breeze tiger who lives in the best big caves of the southern Podigai mountain,

Have You who are the store house of fragrance and coolness .

Started to eat ladies like me with fire like mouth,

Making the rays of moon light as your teeth.

1167. “A matchless hero is wandering these streets ,

And he is not leaving me during day and night ,

And how this is possible for him , to be at two places?”

How is it that he who has a black body and who is a king by his clan,

Has come to a lass who is alone?”

1168.”Is it this darkness the hell which the sinners attain?.

While my desire is running towards him who shows no mercy,

And this black darkness is like a never ending sea,

Whose shore I would not be able to find ,

How many deluge time does this darkness last?”

1169.”The music of the town seems to be never ending,

And the day time never seems to come and thoughts are not going away.

This night would never become day, my mental pains will never end,

My soul does not appear to move away, eyes do not sleep, Is this my lot?”

1170”Oh ocean, The conch bangles with you are falling down ,

And like me who am very tired you do not seem to have any sleep,

Are you an unmarried maid like me? And are you also,

Agitated due to the fear of the arrows of god of love?”

1171.Sorrowing by telling these words several times,

Thinking of her worries, not able to leave feminine qualities,

She spent that entire night in her palace in darkness,

And now let us see what is happening inside the mind of Rama.

1172”.Due to the great love , having seen her earlier,

I have drawn her in the screen of my mind using the pen of my eyes,

And I have seen her again and then I could not see the other shore of her beauty,

How can some one who has seen a streak of lightning draw it.”

1173.”Her face is like that of Goddess Lakshmi .Oh moon,

You are producing fruits and allowing seeds of passion to grow.

What have you decided to do ?

Would you not become my friend and help me?”

1174,”The darkness that has spread everywhere and

Stood like the black eye Of Sita which tries to push my soul out,

Instead of reducing like the bad name of king who was afraid ,

Of death by his enemies , keeps on increasing .”

1175.”Oh mind which went away with Sita who has deer like eyes,

Would you not think about me once? Is the path to return very long ?

You should come away from those who do not care about you,

Have you completely forgotten about me?”

1176.”It seems that it is an old news that the strongest poison ,

Is housed in the teeth of a snake whose looks can burn,

And now it has been proved that she who is always ,

IN my sight and mind is giving rise to only a cool sight.”

1177.”Though she can play on artificial hills , Gardens with lot of flowers,

Sea beaches and very many other places of entertainment,

I do not know Why that lady whose talk is much sweeter than nectar,

And who has thin hairs , has chosen my mind as the place to play with.”

1178.Since the great king was fully engrossed about the marriage,

Said that the marriage of that lass whose hair is desired by bees ,

Is on the next day and so to further beautify our city ,

Which in inherently beautified by lot of gems and flowers.

And he told them to inform all his citizens about it,

By beating the drums which are carried on elephants.

1179.As soon as the drums were played , the respectable old people.

Youngsters and ladies who had hair that was scented ,

Met with each other and rushed to beautify their town,

And met their relations discussed about the wedding of Sita,

And waiting to see it , some how reached the other shore of the night.

1180.Hearing the news along with the beating of the drum that ,

Rama who is black like Kajal and Sita who stays in the lotus flower,

Would enter in to a faultless marriage that day,

The Sun God , came as if he wanted to see the marriage of the clan member,

On his matchless chariot by piercing the night with his red rays.

1181.The people of the town were setting up ornamental pillars in the street ,

Covering all pillars with cloth , Keeping filled up pots and decorating them with pretty cloth,

Tying lustrous beads on tall buildings which seem to touch the sky,

And were cooking sweet food to the Brahmins who would explain Vedas.

1182.The ladies who had the tender walk of the swans , the lads who walked like bulls,

Were planting banana and betelnut trees in that town not conquered by any,

Were searching and wearing the best gem among the invaluable gems that they have ,

Were dressing with gold ornaments and were also wearing gem studded ornaments.

1183. Some of them wandering all over the streets sprinkling paste of Sandal and Akil,

Some were showering fresh flowers like rain, and Some who were decorating ,

BY hanging invaluable pearl necklaces in those tall buildings already decorated,

Gem studded buildings which even made the rainbows shy .

1184. With scented sheets whose edges were covered by gold ,

Making moon light as well as sun light to come out of them,

With Maikhya gems giving out light in the rows of hall ,

Made by crystal stones , with lamps that were giving out spreading light,

Many people were keeping germinating pots with sweet cool sprouts everywhere.

1185 Like all the groups of stars in the long sky are shining together ,

The front of all multiple storey buildings which were like Mandara mountain ,

The pearls which are capable of showering matchless luster were lighting up,

The entire row and because and because the sun’s rays were spreading .

Some were trying to erect protecting tents to prevent that.

1186. In the stages where green gems have been embedded ,

And surrounded by diamonds , servant girls brought ,

Faultless lamps and kept them there and they would establish,

Flags with golden poles on the boundary walls which seem to touch the moon .

And also were seen putting Akil logs in the burning fire.

1187.Some were bringing lot of cool flowers in carts,

Some were bringing leaves and fruits from the gardens,

Some were dancing Kuravai with their ear globes giving out light ,

And some were putting face mask on the elephants which take lot of food.

1188.Some were applying on themselves the mixture sandal paste ,

Some were examining good dresses with intentions to wear them,

Some were decorating their hair with flowers, some were putting ,

THilak on their moon like faces , some were wearing Chikazhika garlands,

And some were drawing on their red lips resembling Ilavam flowers.

1189.Some ladies who were like peacock , even when they were putting make up,

Or when they were angry and having a love tiff, became those who collected,

Heaps of fallen gems , gold coins , conch bangles , and scented powders ,

That are likely to fall down , as heaps and threw them out.

1190.For the sake of the wedding function , Kings started arriving ,

Brahmins were coming and crowding , Some people were enjoying ,

Honey like music , some were singing and wandering, some ladies were dancing,

And there were some, using hour glasses estimating the time accurately.

1191. Ladies who were experts in dance started crowding ,

Some were learning and practicing many of the sixty four arts ,

And some were coming near the entrance of the palace of king Janaka,

Where the gems from the ornaments of very many minor kings,

And from the crowns of those kings dashing against each other had fallen like mountains.

1192. With golden shields reflecting light , With the tip of spears,

Reflecting light like moon , With lads walking like,

Elephants with long tusks which were experts in war ,

And dancing for increasing happiness of ladies ,

And while they were dancing , those ladies,

Smiled prettily and robbed the souls of those lads.

1194.Some were coming in chariots , some in palanquins,

Some in other types of vehicles , some on elephants .

Having a mask studded with lustrous gems ,

Some were coming on female elephants ,

Some were walking on earth and some in carts.

1195.Some were wearing ornaments made of pearls ,

Some were throwing out the pearl ornaments they were wearing earlier,

Some were becoming joyous by wearing more and more types of ornaments,

Some were wearing on their hair crafted garlands made of flower bunches,

And some were wearing red silk cloths where picture rows were drawn.

1196.Some were having eyes like poison, Some with nectar like voice,

Some having lips like red Netti, , Some who were having white teeth,

Some who were proud of their wide breasts , Some who were having,

Peculiar very narrow waists , Some with gait of female swans ,

And some who walked she elephants crowded there,

1197.It is difficult to see all the wealth of Mithila in one place ,

And even to think of that amount of wealth by mind is difficult,

That marriage day Of Rama could only be comparable to the day of crowning,

Of Indra who rules the lustrous land of the sky .

1198.The king of kings Dasaratha reached the hall ,

Whose limits were difficult to find out , whose roof was made of Gold,

Which was as tall as mountain ,Which was decorated by costly gems,

And where all the auspicious things for wedding has been collected and stored.

1199.With the white royal umbrella giving the light of young moon,

And that umbrella also giving out the light of sun jading the eyes,

With bees which bore in to the flowers singing ,

And dust raising due to the hoofs of victorious horses Dasaratha arrived.

1200.At that time the auspicious sound of wedding drums blared forth,

The groups of conches also boomed , Small and big drums raised their sound,

And the sound of chanting of Vedas by those experts in Vedas,

Matched the sound of the waves of ocean at night, when it will be more.

1201.The wide chariots elephants and the horses that can fleet,

Came in crowds and crowds sorted in to correct groups,

Those kings who normally salute Dasaratha and follow him,

Came along with him like Indra being surrounded by devas,.

1202. Dasaratha who travelled in that great manner ,

Came and sat in a pretty golden seat making it more pretty,

Sages and other kings as per their rank occupied their seats,

And Janaka also occupied the seats along with his relatives.

1203. Due to kings , sages , devas of the sky and the maidens,

Walking like swans who were similar to the ladies of heaven,

Crowding that hall , that matchless hall of marriage ,

Was looking like golden Meru mountain which is circled by planets.

1204.In that marriage hall which was constructed by Maya ,

Properly embedding gems , people who do good,

Without expecting anything in return were there,

Shining ladies were there , matchless stars were there ,

Due to many kings being there , there were the clan of nine precious gems,

Sun and moon were there in the form of Dasaratha and Janaka ,

And it looked like the universe created by Lord Brahma.

1205.Great sages and kings and with devas were kept inside,

IN that marriage hall and so it was like the belly of Lord Vishnu,

Who swallowed earth and heaven and kept it there during deluge.

1206, All the people of not only this earth but the entire universe ,

Crowded there with a wish to see the marriage . Should we ,

Separately say about it? Since there is no need for it ,

We will tell the acts of Rama who has left his bed,

Of Adhisesha and has come over to Ayodhya.

1207.With sacred waters having been brought from the seven sea,

Where crowds of conches are found and with the ,

Very special holy waters that have been mentioned in the Vedas ,

In which the waters of the sacred rivers like Ganga has been mixed,

As per tradition Lord Rama took his auspicious bath.

1208, After giving charity to faultless ladies with Kayal fish like eyes,

Which extended up to their ears and to Great Brahmins ,

Who were expert in Vedas , Rama saluted Ranganatha ,

Their shining family deity who was worshipped by,

His faultless ancestors who had done faultless penance.

1209.Like the grace which saved penance and Dharma

Which was being destroyed, by Rakshasas as there was none to protect them

Taking a form of its own , he who had a form like that of a picture,

Took the sandal paste and applied on himself like cloud applying the moon.

1210.Like the moon which is the store of all auspiciousness

Was produced as a flower by the black sea with rising waves ,

Rama wore Red netti garland , golden garland,

And flower garlands which were stable on his wavy hair.

1211. After Seeing him suffer the love sickness during day and night ,

Similar to The sun and moon coming as emissary to Rama ,

And going near his ears to tell about thoughts of Sita,

Rama wore two shining ear globes on his ears.

1212. Like lord Shiva holding as axe and having the black poison on his neck,

Rama wore the crescent of the moon at the tip of his long hair ,

Rama also wore an ornament called “veera pattigai “ and Thilaka on his forehead.

Making the Sun God think that he would wear all shining things of the world,

1213.Making people think that this was the conch panchajanya near his wheel,

Rama wore several white pearl necklaces , made people think,

That the smile of the White coloured Sita having long black hair ,

Has gone inside Rama, occupied everywhere and has ebbed out.

1214, With properly embedded diamonds looking like dots on the hood of the snake,

And the Manikhya gems having an endless red colour resembling red coloured fire ,

The shoulder ornaments worn on the pretty shoulders of Rama ,

Were looking like Vasuki that was tied round Mandhara mountain.

1215 .The three big threads in which pearls were chained ,

Were tied in the centre of the Wide hands of Rama ,

Possibly indicating that he is the Lord of all the three worlds,

Which is asymbol that has been agreed by every one.

1216.Like the karpaga tree made bangles of gold and gems ,

And tied them on its healthy branches for helping the,

People who come before it with great desire,

Rama wore those shining bracelets on his pretty broad hands.

1217.On the chest where the Goddess Lakshmi who sits on,

The honey dripping lotus flower, sits with great joy ,

Rama wore pretty garland that was hanging with several gems,

And it was like rain bow rising in cloud filled sky with stars.

1218. Like the wisdom of wise people that cannot be ,

Approached by ordinary people , the lustrous upper cloth ,

Was worn over the holy chest of his by Rama,

Who has a form of mercy similar to the luster ,

Of gems worn by Rama on his neck.

1219.The holy thread over the chest which was like sun, moon and fire ,

Is definitely the great trinity that even sages and devas do not know,

And it was tied in its end possibly requesting all to think and realize this truth.

1220. The ornament called stomach belt which is long ,

Which spreads of the luster of the gold , and has ,

A large Manikhya gem in its middle , looked like,

Another golden lotus had flowered on his belly,

So that another Brahma who created the world would be born there.

1221. Rama wore the white silk dhothi on his hips ,

Which was similar to the black sea which is the birthplace ,

Of lustrous Manikhya gems being hugged by the ,

White cool ocean of milk using its long arm like tides.

1222,The pearls that are born in the sea and the lustrous,

Blue Maikhya gems there , due to the production of great light,

By their movement giving out the luster of pure Gold,

Resembled the Sun God going round the golden Meru,

And like That Rama tied the glittering sword to his hip,

1223 With the showering luster of pearls chained together in a row,

Tied by Rama like an ornamented belt which was tied round his waist,

Along with the sword put in its scabbard which was shining like Sun,

Rama hung chained pearls near it and it appeared like the early sun light.

1224,Merging with luster of those who see with the luster of gems,

Were the Kimpuri which was made by hand like a mouth of a shark,

And from the gems which represented the teeth there, the white light emerged,

And Rama wore that ornament on his thigh so that he can find out distances to directions.

1225,Thinking how these feet now would measure the world again,

Rama wore the heroic anklets which had the nature of individually stopping,

And whose workmanship cannot be understood , even if examined with care ,

So that they would surround and catch his lotus like feet.

1226.After getting up from his bed of Adhi sesha , lighted with gems.

Due to penance of those of the devas , and being born as a prince in Ayodhya,

For the sake of devas , Rama dressed himself in this way.

And he was only comparable to himself after that.

1227. He who was the first and the root cause among the trinity ,

Who was the pleasure of those who cut off the attachment to this world ,

Who was the father of all, Who is the nectar of the ocean of milk ,

And who can only be comparable to himself was Rama,

How is it possible to describe the greatness of what he wore?

1228.Rama gave thousands of crowds of cows and Gold,

Limitless land , and the nine precious gems to the good people,

And with the blessing of Brahmins who had the rare wealth,

Of the knowledge of Vedas , he came and climbed in to his chariot.

1229. The chariot of Rama had a huge axel made of Gold

Had wheels made of silver , the travelling space made of Diamond,

And all round it the precious gems were set and gave out light to a great distance,

And was easily comparable to the Chariot of Sun God with one wheel.

1230. Four horses which were perfect as described in the book,

Which had the ability to look deeply , which were filled with great beauty ,

And which were desired by all like dharma, wealth , passion and salvation,

Were chained to the chariot of Rama who could know the nature of matchless hearts.

1231. In such a great chariot , similar to Aruna being the charioteer,

Bharatha who had the eyes shedding tears of joy stood as charioteer,

And took in his hand the stick and Lakshmana who held the bow that can be bent,

Also accompanied him as also his other brothers who were ,

Fanning him with a cowries with handles of gold.

1232.All the people were looking at Rama without closing their eyes like devas.

I do not know whether this was due to the prettiness of the body of Rama,

Or possibly due their thinking of beauty of Rama only by their patient minds.

You may please ascribe it to the reason that you would prefer.

1233,All those devas who along with the crowd of their ladies,

Who had come and assembled in the sky started dancing ,

Thinking that the time for destruction of Rakshasas who were ,

Torturing all the worlds and who were not getting destroyed, has come.

1234.All the ladies of that town showered flowers and perfumed dust on Rama ,

They threw greatly shining gems , gold and apparel to others due to extreme joy,

Possibly because they were with joy , drinking the great beauty of Rama.

We are not able to ascribe any other reason for the acts of these women.

1235. Like giving away all that they have and telling, “take away all that we wear”,

All those ladies who saw the great Rama due to their great desire,

Towards Rama, stood there with all their ornaments getting loose and falling down.

1236.Surrounded by all the kings , without leaving out any one,

Who were all armed with weapons that can be thrown ,

And were standing like a crowd of elephants , Rama reached,

The marriage hall where king Dasaratha was sitting,

Like The Sun with red rays of light approaching the huge ,

Meru mountain, riding on his great chariot.

1237. That Rama decorated by flowers, who was capable of giving boons,

After getting down from the chariot in that place , took the hands,

Of his brothers Bharata and Lakshmana who were standing on both his sides

Saluted the faultless great sages , saluted the feet of his father,

Who has taken, “following dharma” as his penance , and sat near his father.

1238. Like a red flower branch of the colour of gold carrying the moon.

With a bow on whose top were the Kayal fishes, with jasmine buds ,

Slightly opening in the moon , Sita appeared on the eastern corner of the chariot,

Which was like The lady who was born in the ocean with waves ,

Being born in the earth and she being born again at the top of the mountain.

1239.All those devas who were thankful , addressing Rama told that ,

“This day when you are garlanding Sita appears to be more pretty,

Than that holy day when you garlanded the lady with the scented,

And pretty hair who was born when we were churning the ocean.”

1240.Because the beauty of this lady would be greater than,

All the beauty that can be found in land of devas , this earth,

Surrounded by the roaring ocean and land of serpants,

What shall I, who has very little knowledge , say,

About the festival of her wedding which was performed.

1241.To see the beauty of that bride and groom .

Devendra came along with his wife Sachi on the sky.

Lord Shiva who wears the young crescent with his wife,

And Lord Brahma who lives in a lotus came with goddess of the word.

1242, Surrounded by Brahmins wearing the sacred thread ,

And who were experts in Vedas, the great sage Vasishta ,

Came to conduct the wedding as per tradition along with,

Instruments like plough that were needed with great joy.

1243.He then spread the sand, kept Dhurba grass in proper places,

Created a circular place as per rules , poured ghee with tender flowers,

And lit the sacrificial fire and proceeded to carry out,

The rituals as per the rules laid down in the Vedas.

1244. Coming with perfumed materials and who sat on seats for wedding,

And that hero who was victorious and that swan like lady who was having great love,

Were appearing like the great pleasure and the Yoga needed to enjoy it.

1245. King Janaka stood before the son of the emperor and saying,

“You please live with stability like Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi,

Who sit on the lotus flower “ and Poured pure cool water ,

On to the lotus flower like hand of Rama.

1246.That time the sound of the blessing of Brahmins and the songs,

Of “long live” by the ladies who were wearing rare ornaments,

The words of greeting by the kings who were wearing flower garlands ,

The sound of blessing of great sages joined together,

And the sound from auspicious musical instruments roused a great blaring sound.

1247.With the rain of flowers of devas , With gold flower showered by kings,

With lustrous pure pearls showered by all others and with flowers ,

Which had opened by themselves , the earth was like the sky with stars.

1248.Then the great hero Rama , after telling the faultless chants thrice ,

Put the offerings in along with ghee in to the hot fire ,

And then held the tender palms of that lady with his hand.

1249.Along with the broad shouldered Rama , for performing,

The rites on fire , when she was walking around the hot fire ,

Sita with feminine qualities, unlike the soul following the body ,

In different births , followed Rama like the body following the soul.

1250.Then they went round the fire and saluted it , again came round it ,

Saluted and put in to the fire things like puffed rice and other offerings,

Stepped on the lustrous grinding stone and saw ,

Arundathi who was very famous for her stable virtue.

1251. After completing all other rituals that need to be done,

After saluting the vey happy sages of great penance ,

After saluting the king of kings , holding the hands,

Of Sita where she was wearing golden bangles ,

He went inside the palace they were occupying .

1252, The huge drums blared forth , The conches boomed ,

The Sound of four Vedas were heard , The devas made great sound ,

All the arts made great sound, The sound of “long live” was heard,

The sound of bees was heard and the oceans made great sound.

1253. Then he saluted the daughter of the Kekaya king,

With more affection in his mind than towards his own mother,

Then he made the feet o f his mother as ornament to his head,

And then he saluted the feet of Sumithra who had a pure mind.

1254.The swan like princess also saluted their gold like holy feet,

And they all became greatly happy and seeing that maid,

Who had virtue like Arundathi they told , “To our good son,

She would become like a great ornament .”

1255, They hugged the Koel like girl who was wearing conch bangles ,

And told,” To our dear son with pretty eyes which other girl would be more suitable “

And with their eyes filled with joy, filled their minds also with joy.

1256. Then they said , “Let her who is like an ornament for ladies .

Get measureless crores of gold coins,

Numberless crores of pretty rare ornaments , crowd of lady assistants,

Several countries and costly silk apparel .”

1257.Rama who was a sea of mercy like the black ocean,

AS per the advice of wise people who have read sea of books,

Along with Sita who had an ocean of desire in her mind ,

Retired like he normally takes rest in the ocean of milk.

1258.In that day time when it was Uthra star of Panguni month,

After completing the marriage of lion like Rama with thousand names,

Sage Vasishta as per the branches of Vedas lit the auspicious fire and,

Brought the marriage rituals to an auspicious end.

1259.Janaka with faultless victories told , “Please also marry ,

The three daughters of my younger brother , who are like,

The lotus flowers flowered in slushy mud and who are like Goddess Lakshmi,

To the younger brothers of Rama “ and in consultation,

With Dasaratha and other relatives fixed the marriage.

1260. The three daughters of Janaka who was wearing chest full of Garlands

Made from harvested flowers, and that of Kusadwaja the brother Of Janaka

who held a spear applied with ghee, were ready for the marriage,

And those brothers married those with eyes full of Kajal ,

Who were like deva maidens and who had fully come to age.

1261.After they all got married as per their desire , the king Janaka,

Nor giving away the fame that he had earned for several years ,

Gave away all the wealth that he had earned as per truth and Dharma,

To all those who wanted it and fulfilled all their wants.

1262.King Dasaratha also like Janaka gave lot of charity ,

And enjoyed endless happiness and talking ,

With sages who had the wealth of penance as well as knowledge ,

Lived for some days in the town of Mithila and slowly,

The days passed and we will tell what happened now,

23.Parasurama Padalam

The chapter on Parasurama

(Parasurama the son of Jamadagni is also considered as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu., He comes with Vishnu’s bow and challenges Rama to bend it , The story of the destruction of pride of Parasurama is narrated here . The story told here and in Valmiki Ramayana almost matches without any major differences. The only difference appears when bad omens are noticed by Dasaratha. In Valmiki Ramayana , Dasaratha consults sage Vasishta but here, he consylts one expert on omens.)

1263. When Sita daughter of Janaka and Rama enjoyed all pleasures,

As per the incarnation that they have taken, Viswamithra the sage who knew rules of life,

After blessing the groom and bride as per the Vedic law ,

Travelled towards the north and reached Himalayas to do penance.

1264.During one of those days when Dasaratha sweetly told ,

”Let us start along with army to the pretty city of Ayodhya “

And when the crowd of kings along with elephants with trunks ,

Came near his feet , He got in to his matchless chariot ,
like a very strong one with heart full of joy.

1265.The very strong Dasaratha , after being saluted by his,

Sons and daughter in laws and they were all seen following him,

With other princes and the people coming near him,

Making the old residents of Mithila , with a melting mind ,

Entering in to a ocean of sorrow similar to soul leaving the body

Reached the path which was leading to Ayodhya.

1266.Dasaratha who was wearing a large crown as per tradition ,

Was going in front , With the mind of all people of Mithila coming behind him,

And the valorous Rama with his brothers who were like him in prettiness ,

Accompanying him , along with Sita who had a waist like streak ,

Of Lightning went along with the army.

1267.When they were going like this some birds like peacock ,

Went round them on the right side and some birds like crow,

Flew round towards the left side , trying to stop their progress,

Dasaratha who walked like an elephant thought ,

“There seems to be some problem to happen on the way”

And stopped walking and along with his huge chariot he stopped there itself.

1268.Dasaratha then summoned one person who knew well about omens,

And told him , “Would this lead to good, or would this lead to bad, please tell me ,

Without exaggeration “and that omen reader who stood before Dasaratha,

Who had mountain like shoulders said, “Some problem would come,

But very soon that problem would will be solved and good will come.”

1269.As soon as the omen reader told like this , Making the darkness ,

Of the sky to vanish and shine lustrously and light spreading everywhere ,

One person with matted hair who was holding an axe ,

Who was like a gold mountain which was walking , who was breathing fire,

Who could rotate his eyes to any direction he wants and

One whose voice made even the thunder scared came there.

1270.With the world and all beings confused and scared like ,

A boat caught in the torrential sea with great waves,

With elephants in eight directions becoming like pillars with out movement,

With oceans bubbling up and dividing themselves ,

With devas clearing that place and running away scared,

He who tied a string to a gold like bow and was searching ,

For those arrows with very sharp tips , came .

1271.The anger of that great sage was like the stream of blood ,

Which comes out when one is wounded and tore open his eyes and came out,

And it made people think that it may be , for making heavens to fall on earth,

Or it may be for Earth should go up and join with the heavens,

Or it may be for giving all the beings of earth to God of death .

1272.There was smoke in the tip of his matchless axe , which he raises in case of war,

And even sun God who travels in the chariot with one wheel,

Scared of his great anger changes his usual route,

And even Vadavamugani which burns over water ,

Prefers to move on the earth seeing the flame coming out of his body.

1273.With his very powerful shoulders going beyond boundaries ,

And reaching the top , With the tie on his hair touching the sky ,

And with the moon appearing just near the tie of his hair,

With sea water , fire wind , earth and sky trying to ,

Make themselves at deluge like the dancing Shiva , he came.

1274.He is the one having axe as a weapon using which,

He cut off the one thousand shoulders who used to walk ,

Through all the world which is surrounded by sand all by himself,

Who had a very strong army and who is like the THilaka ,

Of all the valorous kings and who stood like a tree before him.

1275.When the guilt stuck to all the kings who ruled the earth,

Using his axe he killed all the members of them twenty one times,

And thus weeded the earth of kings and in the rising sea,

Of their blood , he used to take bath immersing his full body.

1276.He has Done great penance which is the form of patience ,

And the anger which seems to be personification of raging fire.

And he has matchless sharp arrows which can make holes in Krouncha mountain,

To provide swift way to the weakened female swan who has lost its way ,

While it was on its way to the very holy manasa lake.

1277.That holder of axe who could make obey the ocean whose tides can even,

Drown the mountain in its base and could destroy, the pride of the Krouncha mountain,

Embraced by clouds and make it obey his orders came before them .

Dasaratha who had given Rama to the world seeing that thought ,

“For what purpose has this cruel one come here” and let out a hot breath.

1278-1279 ,When Parasurama due to his anger scared the army which was going happily,

With his eye brows going down and up , With his cruel eyes spitting fire,

And with anger which was like the speedily falling thunder, Just like,

A lion coming on a huge chariot and stood before Rama,

That Rama who was having pretty eyes asked Dasaratha “who he is?”

And then that emperor Dasaratha came in between them,

And with sweetness worshipped Parasurama as honoured guest ,

Fell at his holy feet on the ground but that Parasurama,

Who was not able to find the other shore to the ocean of his anger,

Like the Vadamukagni which appears at the time of final deluge ,

Told Rama the following words in a sound resembling the drum.

1280.”Even before this time I know about the greatness of the bow you broke,

And now I want to test about the strength of your pretty golden shoulders.

I also have the desire to fight with my great and huge shoulders,

And this is the only reason that made me come here.” Said the strong Parasurama.

1281.As soon as Parasurama told like this , the emperor Dasaratha,

Getting depressed told him, “Oh Sir who won all the world,

And then gave it as charity to sage Kashyapa ,Lord Shiva,

Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma are no match to you and how can a small man,

Matter to you? Now my soul and this lad are seeking your protection.”

1282.”Oh sir who holds as weapon , the lustrous axe which spits fire,

Those who get angry should only get angry at those who like to do sinful acts,

Are there any ills done by this Rama towards you due to his pride or power?

What is the use of strength of a strong one against one who has the capacity to fight?”

1283.”Oh saint with great penance , who gave the entire world to sage Kashyapa,

Saying “Take it” and due to that having your fame spread all over the world ,

With seven islands , Please avoid this anger against us at this time.

You forsook anger against kings who protect the earth surrounded by ocean,

Taking great mercy on them. . Is it proper for you to get angry again?” said the king.

1284.”What is the use of great strength which makes you ,

Stand not in a just fashion and makes others berate you?

Is it a wise deed? Can it be considered as a matchless deed?

What is described as valour is standing as per dharma ,

Travel in its path and firmly stand in that path itself ,

And living with great fame is specially considered as valour.

Oh valorous one , this act of thinking of destroying us who have surrendered to you,

Is neither just nor according to Dharma .Just by saying “strength” , will it become strength?”

1285.”My son Rama never keeps enmity, and if his soul goes away from body,

Oh Saint with very strong shoulders, I along with my relations as well as,

My citizens would sacrifice this life and would go to heaven .

Oh tall one , I am lying at your feet surrendering myself to you.,

Please do not destroy me with my entire clan., and ,

I am submitting this humble request to you.”

1286. When Dasaratha told like this and fell at his feet,

Without bothering about him , With fire spitting eyes,

He stood before Rama who was wearing a golden yellow cloth ,

And Dasaratha understanding the cruel state of Parasuram,

And Realizing that he cannot do anything about it,

Became depressed attained great pain like,

The cruel snake affected by lightning.

1287.But Parasurama seeing the fainting state of Dasaratha who was crowned ,

And the one whose only ornament was respectability and without realizing .

That his fate has decreed that he would be attaining such a state soon

Told Rama, “ the bow that reached on that day to the consort of Shiva,

Who rides on the bull is defective and so you broke it,

And I will tell you the real story of how the bow came about.”

1288.It seems the makers of sculpture of Devas Viswakarama ,

Created two matchless bows which shined like the sun,

Who travels in one wheeled chariot , which cannot be destroyed,

Which had the strength the northern meru mountain over which clouds hover

And which cannot be even approached by the Gods in the early ages.

1289.One of those bows was being used by the consort of Uma ,

And the other was taken by Lord Vishnu who measured the world by his feet,

And the devas came to know about it they asked Lord Brahma ,

“Which of these two is more stronger” during those days.

1290.That Brahma who lives on scented lotus flower thinking,

That this thought process of the devas is good

Using a suitable plan , using the cause of those two bows,

Created quarrel among those two great Gods who were one ,

And who were greatest among all gods.

1291-1292.Both of them readied both the bows by tying the string,

Making the seven worlds scared with all the directions shiver,

With harsh and great fire rise and when they were ,

Fighting further the bow of Lord Shiva who burnt the three cities,

Broke , that Lord Shiva became very angry ,

And when the war commenced again , devas prevented it ,

And the three eyed Shiva gave that bow to the king of devas ,

And the black lord Vishnu who was winning gave that bow,

To sage Rishika who was my grand father who wasdoing great penance.

1293.Rishika then gave it to my father and this is the same pretty bow,

That was given by my father to me, and if you are able to bend it easily ,

Oh Son, I would agree that there are no kings in the world equal to you,

And I would not continue the war which I wanted to fight with you,

And please also hear further from me.

1294-1295.It is not proper to consider breaking of a broken bow as a great act,

Oh one born in Manu clan, Please hear from me further.

I am one who has enmity with you and all those born in royal family,

My father who never did anything wrong and one who has controlled his anger,

Was killed by a king who was like an Asura some time back and being mentally upset,

I did obsequies to my father as per rules in the pond of blood,

Collected by uprooting twenty one generations of crowned kings,

By the blade by the hot weapon called axe and ,

Then only I was able to get rid of my anger.

1296,After that I gave all the world to sages in charity ,

Controlled all my major enmity , did very great measureless penance ,

And was living on the matchless Mahendra mountain,

Since the sound of your breaking the bow reached me there,

I came here seething and suppose you are one who is strong,

Bend this bow, for I am going to fight with you.

1297.When he told like this , Rama smiled and with a shining face ,

Told him , “Give me the bow used by Narayana who achieved victory with it”,

And Parasurama immediately gave that bow and Rama after taking the bow,

Making Paasurama having close knit matted hair scared,

He bent that bow up to his shoulders and told Parasurama.

1298.”Though you have killed all the kings who ruled over this world,

Apart from being the son of one great sage who like the seed of Vedas protected them,

You are also doing great penance and so I am not supposed to kill you .

Since this arrow that I have taken cannot go without doing a job,

Please tell me the thing that it should hurt.Tell me quickly”, told he.

1299.”Oh just one, do not get angry , I know that you are,

The first among this world the Lord Vishnu who wears the thulasi,

Oh Brahmin , the bow of Lord Shiva who wears the crescent ,

Can only be broken by you only as you only possibly can hold it.”said Parasurama.

1300.”Oh lord who has a pretty feet and wearing victorious anklets,

If it is true that you are lord Vishnu who holds the lustrous wheel,

How can there be sorrow now to this world?

Even the bow of yours which I have given you now ,

Would never be suitable to your great strength now.”

1301.”I request you to aim at all the penance I did ,

To the arrow that you are having and destroy it all,

So that the arrow is not wasted.: when Parasurama told this,

Rama’s hand twitched and that arrow went ,

And brought all the penance done by Parasurama and went back to his quiver.

1302.”Oh Rama who is having the colour of the cleaned blue gem,

Oh Lord who wears the pretty Thulasi garland ,

Oh Lord who is the home of all beings of the three worlds,

Let all that you wished to do be completed in a swift manner..

Iam taking leave of you”, saying this Parasurama saluted him and went away.

1303 After he went away after losing his pride, That stainless one ,

Saluted Dasaratha who has lost feeling of all his five sense organs,

And who was sorrowing after his soul got pained, and with his ebbing love ,

Stood before his father and made him climb to the shore from the ocean of sorrow.

1304.Dasaratha who had the army of elephants , who after becoming his normal self ,

With all his sorrows removed, who had seen the other shore of the ocean of sorrow ,

In which he was earlier drowned, Got drowned in the shore less sea of joy.

1305. He then hugged his son who received the bow,

From Parasurama who had a mind devoid of any mercy,

And had given him a matchless bad name , smelled his head,

And bathed him with his tears which were flowing like a stream.

1306.” Is it possible to do this heroic act

To be done in this faultless young age ?

This boy is the one who gives wealth and salvation,

To people who do blessed and sinful deeds.

This is definitely the truth”, he told.

1307.Seeing Varuna who holds a horrifying spear ,

Among those devas who had come to shower flowers on him,

Rama gave that bow to him and told him, “Look after this great bow.”.

And then when his army shouted with joy , he departed,

With them and reached the very fertile city of Ayodhya,

1308. After all of them reached Ayodhya and were enjoying life,

That king who was full of manly qualities and had an army ,

Which was having a huge collection of drums saw Bharata ,

And told him some thing that no one imagined to him to tell.

1309.”Oh young one , as per the strong wish of your grand father ,

I understand that he has great desire to see you and so ,

Oh Bharata , who has ornaments all over his chest ,

Start to Kekaya country where conches boom in all water reserves”

1310.When the king ordered like this Bharata went and saluted,

The flower like feet of Rama and since he did not have a soul,

That is separate from Rama and went away like,

The body separately going from the soul .

1311.In the chariot drawn by horses with widely scattered manes,

Accompanied by Yudajith , who owned an army where conches boomed,

Along with his brother Sathrugna , he reached ,

In seven days , the fertile Kekaya country blessed with water resources.

1312. After Bharatha went away , the king of kings Asoka

Was continuing his faultless rule and we would tell,

In the forgoing chapters the results of the great penance ,

Done by the devas and other happenings.

Bala Kandam comes to an end

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