VALMIKI: RAMAYANA (In A Nutshell)

 INTRODUCTION

The revered sage Nārada was the one who recounted

The saga of Shri Rāma to the great Vālmīki.

Right then  Creator Brahmā paid a visit to this poet

To inspire him in the composition of this great epic..

Now the poet gave a brief outline of the work.

After Rāma became King of Ayodhya

His two charming sons named Lava and Kusha

Recited for their father the epic from start to end.

Oh, what a wonderful rendition that must have been!

AYODHYA, ITS KING, AND ASHVAMEDA

They began with  a description of  Ayodhya City,

Capital of the country ruled by Dasaratha.

This king had eight ministers, all  upright and wise,

Who  assisted him in  ruling righteously.

The King had all he wanted, except for one thing:

He had no male  progeny to succeed him.

So Dasaratha wanted to perform ashvamedha:

This was a traditional Horse-sacrifice.

This idea was fully approved and blessed

By the king’s ministers and all his priests.

RISHYASHRIṄGA AND THE SACRIFICE

Rishyashriṅga was an eminent  sage,

And he was  married to Princess Shānta.

Shānta was King Romapāda’s daughter

Dasaratha’s Minister Sumantra advised him

To invite Romapāda to the Horse-sacrifice.

Romapāda came there cheerfully

With Rishyashriṅga and wife Shānta.

Dasaratha ordered the sacrifice to start.

His chieftains did every needed thing.

Dasaratha oversaw  all the rituals.

While Rishyashriṅga formally conducted

The various rites involving  horses,

And he blessed Dasaratha to have four sons.

IN THE CELESTIAL WORLD: INCARNATION

At this moment the celestial deities

Appealed to the Creator  Lord Brahmā

To have the rākshasa Rāvaṇā exterminated:

He was creating much havoc on earth below.

To accomplish this worthy goal Lord Brahmā

Asked Vishṇu to incarnate on earth

As a noble personage, and in that form

Exterminate the notorious ogre Rāvaṇā.

BIRTH OF FOUR SONS AND VĀNARĀS

An attendant of Vishṇu  now emerged

At the sanctified sacrificial Fire.

He presented to King Dasaratha

A potion concocted with milk and rice.

The King formally distributed this potion

To his three dear and devoted wives:

Kaushalya, Sumitra, and Kaikeyī, by name

Thus were born Rāma and his brothers:

Lakshmaṇa, Bharata, and Satrughna.

Their births  were celebrated with great fanfare

In Ayodhya as well as in the celestial world.

When the brothers grew up and came of age

They were invested with ritual sacred threads.

At the same time, under Brahmā’s direction

Were also born the chiefs of monkey clans.

These are referred to generally as vānaras.

They play an important role in the Epic. 

ARRIVAL OF SAGE VISHVĀMITRA  

Then it happened unexpectedly

That the sage Vishvāmitra arrived one day

To greet and meet Dasaratha

The King received him with due respects,

But was shocked by a request of the sage:

He wanted Rāma to come with him

To subdue some rākshasas (demonic beings)

That were interfering with a major project

That the rishi was seriously engaged in.

At first Dasaratha refused to comply,

And this made the revered  rishi very upset.

But the minister Rishi Vasishtha asked the king

To grant Vishvāmitra what he wished.

So Dasaratha agreed to send Rāma.

Brother Lakshmaṇa also joined them.