RAMAYAN

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🙏 Arrival of Vishwamitra 🙏

In the court of Maharaj Dashrath, the ruler of Ayodhya, Guru Vashishtha, ministers, and courtiers were seated in their proper places.

The King of Ayodhya said to Guru Vashishtha, "O Gurudev! Life is fleeting, and I am growing old. Ram, Bharat, Lakshman, and Shatrughan, all four princes, have now become adults. My wish is to see the marriages of my princes before I leave this body. Therefore, I request you to arrange for the search of suitable maidens for these princes." As soon as Maharaj Dashrath finished speaking, the doorkeeper announced the arrival of Sage Vishwamitra. King Dashrath himself went to the door to greet Vishwamitra and respectfully led him into the court. He offered him a seat near Guru Vashishtha and honored him appropriately.

After inquiring about his well-being, King Dashrath, in a humble voice, said to Sage Vishwamitra, "O Muni-Shreshtha! I am blessed by your presence, and this royal court and the entire city of Ayodhya have been sanctified by the holy dust of your feet. Now, please tell me the purpose of your visit. I would consider myself extremely fortunate to be of any service to you."

Hearing the King's humble words, Muni Vishwamitra said, "O King! You have spoken words befitting the honor of your lineage. The kings of the Ikshvaku dynasty have always held reverence for cows, Brahmins, and sages. I have come to you for a special purpose; understand that I have come to ask for something. If you promise to give me what I desire, then I will present my request to you. If you do not give your word, I will return without asking for anything."

Maharaj Dashrath said, "O Brahmarshi! Please state your demand without hesitation. The whole world knows that the word of the kings of Raghu's lineage is their vow. You may ask for it, and I can even cut off my head and place it at your feet." Assured by these words, Sage Vishwamitra said, "King! I am performing a Yagya (sacrificial ritual) in my ashram. At the time of its completion, two demons named Marich and Subahu come and throw impure things like blood and flesh into the Yagya altar. Thus, the Yagya cannot be completed. They have done this many times. I cannot destroy them with my spiritual power by cursing them because anger is f*******n during a Yagya.

I know that you are a king who upholds righteousness, is benevolent towards sages, and loves his subjects. I have come to ask you for your eldest son, Ram, so that he may accompany me and protect my Yagya from the demons, and my ritual can be completed without hindrance. I know that Ram can easily destroy both of them. Therefore, please give me Ram for only ten days. Once the work is done, I will safely return him to you."

Hearing Vishwamitra's words, King Dashrath was greatly saddened. It seemed as if he would faint. Then, composing himself, he said, "O Munivar! Ram is still a child. It will not be possible for him to face the demons. I myself am ready to go to protect your Yagya." Vishwamitra said, "King! Do not doubt for a moment that Ram cannot face them. I have estimated their powers with my yogic strength. Send Ram with me without any hesitation."

To this, King Dashrath replied, "O Muni-Shreshtha! Ram has not yet seen the illusory tricks of any demon, nor does he have experience in such warfare. Since he was born, I have never let him out of my sight. My life will leave me due to his separation. I humbly request you to kindly allow me to come with my army."

Seeing King Dashrath, afflicted by paternal affection, deviate from his promise, Sage Vishwamitra became enraged. He said, "King! I did not know that the tradition of fulfilling vows has ended in the Raghu lineage. If I had known, I would never have come. See, I am leaving now." As he finished speaking, his face turned red with anger.

Seeing Vishwamitra so enraged, the courtiers and ministers were terrified and trembled at the thought of some misfortune. Guru Vashishtha explained to the King, "O King! Do not tarnish the honor of the Raghu lineage, the fulfillment of vows, and integrity by being gripped by the affection for your son. I advise you to forget that Ram is a child and send him with the revered sage without any hesitation. The great sage is extremely learned, skilled in policy, and knowledgeable in weaponry. Going with the revered sage will not harm Ram in any way; on the contrary, by staying with him, he will become exceedingly skilled in both weaponry and scriptures, and it will be for his well-being."

Assured by Guru Vashishtha's words, King Dashrath summoned Ram. Lakshman also came there with Ram. King Dashrath ordered Ram to go with Sage Vishwamitra. Accepting his father's command, when Ram was ready to go with the revered sage, Lakshman also requested Sage Vishwamitra to accompany them and asked his father for permission to go with Ram. Having received permission, Ram and Lakshman, after taking blessings from all their elders, set off with Sage Vishwamitra.

All the residents of Ayodhya saw that behind the slowly walking Muni-Shreshtha Vishwamitra, the two brothers, Ram and Lakshman, with bows on their shoulders and quivers full of arrows, looked as if the two Ashwini Kumars were following Lord Brahma. The two brothers, endowed with amazing radiance, wore gloves made of iguana skin, and bows adorned their hands while sharp daggers graced their waists. It seemed as if valor itself had taken on a bodily form and was walking.

Passing through the thickets of vines and trees, they covered a six-kos (approx. 12 miles) long path and reached the bank of the holy Saryu River. Muni Vishwamitra said in a sweet, affectionate voice, "O वत्स (child)! Now you two should relieve your fatigue by performing ablutions and bathing in the holy waters of the Saryu, then I will train you. First, I will teach you the sciences of Bala and Atibala." When Ram expressed curiosity about these sciences, Sage Vishwamitra explained, "Both these sciences are extraordinary. Those proficient in these sciences are counted among the greatest men in the world. Scholars have called them the mother of all sciences. By acquiring these sciences, you will conquer hunger and thirst. These effulgent sciences were created by Lord Brahma himself. I am bestowing them upon you, considering you worthy of receiving them."

After Ram and Lakshman had finished their ablutions, Vishwamitra initiated them into these sciences. Upon receiving these sciences, an amazing radiance appeared on their faces. All three rested on the bank of the Saryu. After serving their Guru, both brothers slept on straw beds.

🙏 Kamadeva's Ashram 🙏

The next day, abandoning sleep at the Brahma-Muhurta (pre-dawn hours), Muni Vishwamitra went to Ram and Lakshman, who were resting on straw beds, and said, "O Ram and Lakshman! Wake up. The night is over. In a short while, Lord Bhuvan-Bhaskar (the Sun-God) will rise in the east. Just as he destroys darkness and spreads light in all directions, so too must you destroy the demons with your valor. Finish your daily rituals, perform Sandhya-Upasana (evening prayers). Please the gods with Agnihotra etc. Abandon laziness and get up quickly, for it is no longer time to sleep."

As soon as they received their Guru's command, both brothers left their beds and, after completing their daily rituals, baths, and meditation, set off towards the banks of the Ganga with the revered sage. They reached the confluence of the Ganga and Saryu, where peaceful and beautiful ashrams of sages and ascetics were built. Seeing an extremely beautiful ashram, Ramachandra asked Guru Vishwamitra, "O Gurudev! Whose abode is this supremely delightful ashram?"

In response to Ram's question, Sage Vishwamitra explained, "O Ram! This is a special ashram. In ancient times, Lord Mahadev, the Lord of Kailash, performed severe penance here. The entire world was disturbed by his penance. Devraj Indra became frightened by his penance and decided to break Lord Shankar's penance. For this task, he appointed Kamadeva (the god of love). Kamadeva shot several arrows at Lord Shiva, one after another, which obstructed his penance. Enraged, Mahadev opened his third eye. Kamadeva was incinerated by the effulgent flame from that third eye. Being a deity, Kamadeva did not die; only his body was destroyed. Thus, because his body was destroyed (Anga Nashta), he came to be known as Ananga (bodiless), and this place became known as Angdesh. This is Lord Shiva's ashram, but because Lord Shiva incinerated Kamadeva here, it is also called Kamadeva's ashram."

According to Guru Vishwamitra's command, everyone decided to rest there for the night. Ram and Lakshman, both brothers, brought fruits and roots from the forest and offered them to the revered sage, and both brothers partook of the Prasad (blessed food) with their Guru. Thereafter, after completing their baths, Sandhya-Upasana, etc., Ram and Lakshman listened to many types of stories and religious discourses from Guru Vishwamitra. Finally, after appropriately serving their Guru and receiving his permission, they went to rest on straw beds while chanting the supremely sacred Gayatri Mantra.