Śrīmad Vālmīki Rāmāyana (English Translation)

Seeking the presence of Śrī Rāma, Sumantra communicates to him the Emperor’s command asking Sumantra to bring Rāma with him, and departs. Mounting his gold chariot and accompanied by Laksmana, who ho…

While going out of the gynaeceum to bring Śrī Rāma, Sumantra sees Vasistha and others as well as a number of kings waiting at the gate and hastens back to announce their presence to the king. He is, …

Citing other instances of the Emperor’s fidelity to truth and threatening to lay down her life in the event of his not carrying out her wishes, Kaikeyī insists on his sending Śrī Rāma into exile at o…

Further tormented by Kaikeyī through her importunity to have the boons granted by the Emperor implemented, the latter piteously wails his lot and reproaches her. The sun having set in the meanwhile, …

Extolling the virtues of Śrī Rāma and showing him undeserving of exile, the Emperor endeavours to dissuade Kaikeyī from her pertinacity in sending Śrī Rāma into exile. Quoting the examples of Hariśca…

Egged on by Kaikeyī to grant her desire, Daśaratha gives his word of honour to her to that effect. Invoking the presence of gods as witnesses and reminding the Emperor of what took place during the c…

Having told off Sumantra and others to get together necessaries for the installation of Śrī Rāma, Daśarathaa calls on Kaikeyī to break the happy news to her. Not finding her in her apartments, howeve…

Kaikeyī, whose heart was poisoned by the malicious gossip of Mantharā as aforesaid, takes a vow to see that Rāma is sent into exile and Bharata installed as Prince Regent, and asks Mantharā herself h…

While Mantharā was thus trying to impress on Kaikeyī’s mind that the installation of Śrī Rāma on the throne of Ayodhyā would spell disaster to Bharata, Kaikeyī for her part went on harping on Śrī Rām…

Beholding the festivities and finding Kausalyā bestowing large gifts of money on the Brāhmanas, Mantharā, a hunchback hereditary maid- servant of Queen Kaikeyī, who had accidentally ascended the roof…

Enjoined by sage Vasistha, Śrī Rāma undertakes a vow to bathe early next morning, worship the gods and sleep for the night on a mat of Kuśa grass. On waking up the next morning, he says his Sandhyā p…

Apprehending obstruction of Śrī Rāma’s installation from an ominous dream, Daśaratha summons Śrī Rāma immediately and asks him to observe certain sacred vows preliminary to installation alongwith Sīt…

Urged by the Emperor to solemnize the installation of Śrī Rāma as Prince Regent, Vasistha enjoins in his turn Daśaratha’s ministers, Sumantra and others, to get ready all requisites for the ceremony.…

Daśaratha apprises the assembly of his intention to retire from active rule after relegating the power to Śrī Rāma’s able hands and the councillors with one voice ditto the proposal and urge the Empe…

Bharata having left for his maternal grandfather’s capital along with Śatrughna, Emperor Daśaratha makes up his mind to install Śrī Rāma as his Regent and, summoning a number of princes for consultat…