Dasharatha

7/23/2019 Dasharatha

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a m a r x

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No. 105 Rs. 2

THE STORY OF RAM A 'S FATHER



Our Amar Chitra Katha, Dasharatha, has been drawnmainly from Valmiki's famous epic poem— Ramayana.

Ravana, an evil Rakshasa, had performed severepenances and obtained a boon from Brahma. No celes-tial being, be it Yaksha, Gandharva or Deva, could killhim. Armed with this boon, he invaded Amaravati, thecity of the Devas and played havoc among its inhabi-tants. Distressed, they appealed to Vishnu.

On earth at that time, Dasharatha, the prosperous, wise

and just king of Ayodhya, bent on obtaining a son,was engaged in performing a series of sacrifices.

To help the Devas Vishnu decided to manifest himselfon earth and destroy Ravana, since Brahma's boon didnot protect Ravana from men. And he chose to beborn as four sons to the three queens of Dasharatha.

As Dasharatha delighted in his growing sons, parti-cularly in Rama the eldest, little did he dream that thecurse, hurled at him for a sin committed by him in

ignorance when he was a mere lad, would materializewith an impact that would be the death of him.

° Paper used for the printing of this book was made available

by the Government of India at concessional rates'1

Printed by H. K. Nasta at IBH Printers, Marol Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road,Andheri East, Bombay400 059 and published by H. G. Mirchandani, forIndia Book House Education Trust, 29, Wodehouse Road, Bombay400039.

Editor: Ana nt Pai Ass ocia te Editor.- Kamala Cha ndr akan t

Illustrations: M. N. Nangare



DASHA RATHA,THE SON OF f id f t AND INDU/V\ATI, WAS THE 6ELOVED CROWN PRINCE OF AYODHYA, THE CAPITAL OF THE FLOURISHING KINGDOM OF KOSRLA ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER SARAYU. LIKE HIS FATHER , YOUNG DASHARATHA WAS A SK ILFUL ARCHER.HE COULD H IT HIS TARGET GUIDED ONLY BY SOUND . AND HE LOVED TO EXERCISE THIS SK IL L .

ONE DARK, IRAINY NIGHT IAS DASHARATHA WAS LOOKING OUT FOR GAME

f,A WHAT’S THAT? ^^ A THIR5TYe l e p h a n t ’s t r u n k ,

OUT FOR ITS FILL! -



amar chitra katha

HE / / /MED AT THE SOUND AND L ET H/ S DEADLY ARROW FLY. WHEN THE ARROW FOUND ITS M ARK

AH ! MURDER. BIt T ' N ,I HAVE HARMED

NONE. AH ! MY POOR,OLD, BUND PARENTS!

I LEAVE YOU,HELPLESS.

DASHARATHA HAD M IS-

TAKEN THE GURJ3LE OF THE

HERM IT'S FILLING p i t c h t k . FOR THE SOUND O F AN ELEPHANT DRINKING WATER

B l f i

Wk

FOR A MOMENT HE STOOD PETRIFIED.

WHAT

f HAVE I done! >1 who am aVIRTUOUS KOSALA

PRINCE, THEPROTECTOR OF

L THE. WEAK' i

DASHARATHA DID AS HE WAS TOLD . THEN , FIL LING THE PITCHER WITH

WATER HE MADE HIS WAY TO THE HERM ITAGE.

THEN , HE RAN TO THE SPOT FROM WHERE THE HUM AN CRY HAD COM E. AS SOON AS THE DYING YOUTH SAW HIM —

O PRINCE,MY THIRSTY

PARENTS ARE WAITING AT THE HERMITAGE

NEAR BY. GO AND TELLTHEM ABOUT ME.BUT FIR5T

REMOVE THIS ARROW. LET

DEATH RELIEVE ME OF THIS PAIN.



M EA NW H I LE .TH E HERM l Tf lGE —

' OUR 50NHAS BEEN AWAY

A LONG WHILE,COULD SOMETHING HAVE

HAPPENEDV TO HIM ? >

f O VENERABLE^ONE, I AM NOTYOU R SON . MY

NAME ISDASHARATHA.

) I HAVE COMMITTED A

V HEINOUS SINAND 5TANDBEFORE YOU,

^ SAD ANDf t lMKREPENTANT.

\\<VQOOUO

DEAR- SON

| $ K

DASHARATHA

S c i

JUST THEN THEY HEARD FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING.

AH! THEREYOU ARE ATLAST. QUICK.,GIVE ME THEWATER. I CANNOT BEAR THETHIR5T ANY

LONGER.

TEARS FLOWED DOWN DASHARATHA^S FF)CE AS HE STOOD THERE, SPEECH LESS WITH QUILT. [

SILENT, MYSON ? YOU KNTHAT YOU AREOUR VERY LIFE.SPEAK TO

f)ND DASHARATHA TOLD THEN) WHAT HE HAD UNKNOW INGLY DONE.



THE OLD COUPLE 5 AT STUNNED FOR f t FEW SECONDS .THEN PftST THE CHOKING GRIEF Cf tlYlE THE WORDS

r YOUR SON TOO

SHALL BE PARTEDFROM YOU. ANDYOU 5HALL DIE

GRIEVING FOR HIM

IT WAS MY 5 0 N.

OUR ONLY 50NYOU KILLED HIM

ft THOROUGHLY SHf tKEN DftSHftRft THft RETURNED TO HIS Pft Lf tCE .

BUT THE INCIDENT GRftDUft ls LY Ff tDED FRO/Y) HIS MEMORY. ONE DftY ftdf t SENT FOR HIM .

SOON f tFTER } ON THE f tDV/CE OF HIS M INISTERS FIND SPlRITUft L GUIDES,Df tSHf tRf tTHft Mf tRR/ED

Kf tUSft LYf i, ft PRINCESS OF KOSft Lf t . r ~ r ■ -i

DASHARATHA,EVER SINCEYOUR MOTHER DIED THEKINGDOM HAS BECOME ABURDEN TO ME. YOU HAVE

COME OF AGE. NOW YOURULE THE LAND AND LETME RETIRE TO A ^h e f o r e s t ,

a m a r c h i tr a k a th a



DASHARATHA

DflSHARf tTHA WAS A NOBLE , V/RTUOUS KING AND WAS LOVED BY DLL . SO RENOWNED FOR VALOUR WAS HE THAT EVEN INDR.A , KING OF THE DEVAS, SOUGHT HIS HELP IN H IS WARS WITH THE ASURA5 .

BUT DASHARATHA WAS UNHAPPY. KAUSAL Yft HAD NOT BORNE HIM ANY SONSj

•

I SHALL SEEKTHE HAND OFTHE LOVELYDAUGHTER OFASH WA PATH I,LORD OF THE

I SHALL WED SUMITRA,sTHE GENTLE PRINCESS[V OF MAGADHA.5HE

IS SURE TO BEARME A SON. /

THE SON BORNTO KAIKEYI SHALLBECOME THE CROWN

PRINCE AND SHE,QUEEN MOTHER.

IN ORDER TO WIN THE BEAUTIFUL KA IKEVI, DASHARATHA MADE Ft PROM ISE TO ASHWAPA THI .

THE YEARS PASSED, BUT KA IKEYI TOO FAILED HIM.

c Cop

BUT 5UM / TRA TOO REMAINED A BARREN W IFE



ama r ch i t ra katha

DftSHf tRfi THft TURNED TO KM KEYI . r-T=E3-------

MEANWHILE INDRft , KJNG OF THE DEWS, IWft5 IN TROUBLE ONCE f tSft/ N. ONE DAY—

-y / J S S f i w ° K| Ne >L°RD/J [/ iNDRA SEEKS YOUR

m Sk ^ ] 5 L ® J r ^ :̂ F W I h e l p ^ & ^i n 5 t(g k Q A \ r k TH E ASU RA

fi T V SHAM BARA. y

I-SHALL LEAVEIMMEDIATELY.

LORD, LET MECOME WITH

S VOLL"'s»i\ .

HA,HA, MY X' DEAR ONE, A >

BATTLEFIELD 15NO PLACE FOR YOU

THEN COME,LOVABLE

ONE. COME WITHv ME TO THE BATTLE-k . FIELD. ^

BUT I AM NO

ORDINARY WOMANI AM THE DAU6H-TER OF THE

■ j£n \ INVINCIBLEB f c k K A5HWA-

PATHI.

8ESIDE5,MY

LORD, I DONOT WISH jTO BE HERE JALONE JWITHOUT^

yo u . y i n

6



DEAR HUSBAND, I WILLNOT LET YOU LEAVE

ME. I WILL NURSEYOU BACK TO AV FULL LIFE. S

_L ASIC FOR THEBOON5 WHEN I^ NEED THEM .

TWO

DASHARATHA

THE BATTLE WAS A TERRIBLE ONE AND THE ASURAS WERE R OUTED B UT ft WOUND ED DftSHARATHA Lf tY ON THE FIELD , SENSELESS, ALM OST DEAD . KA IKEYI RODE UP

TO Him IN HER CHA RIOT. [

SHE HAD HIM REMOVED TO HER TENT f tND TENDED HIM DAY AND N IGH T TILL HE

REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS . AS SOON AS HE OPENED HIS EYES —

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -̂ ^

KAIKEYI,MY DEARE5T AT THIS MOMENT,WITHQUEEN,YOU HAVE YOU ALIVE, I HAVE ALLBROUGHT ME BACIC / I NEED,MY LORD.TO LIFE. ASK ANY /

FROM THEN ON KAIKEYI BECAME DASHA RATHA’S FAVOURITE QUEEN.

THE GENTLE YOUNG SUM ITRA, UNABLE TO BEAR HIS NEGLECT, SPOKE HER HEART OUT TO KAUSALYA WHOSE SPE CIAL PROTECTION SHE ENJOYED .

EVERSINCE THEBOLD KAIKEYIACCOMPANIED

OUR LORD TOTHE BATTLEFIELD, HENO EYES FORUS. IT HURT5

M E.

MIND,SUMITRA.

LET USNUE

TO SERVEHIM WITHLOVE ANDDEVOTION.



SUCH INFATUATIONS DONOT LAST LONG. PER- -HAPS ONLY TILLONE OF US BEARS J ) HIM A SON.

amar chit ra katha

BUT NONE OF THE THREE QUEENS BORE DftSHftRATHft ft SON . f t5 THl YEARS PASSED, DftSHf t- RRTHf t 'S YEf tRN/ NG FOR ft SON GREW. f )T LP iS T -

I SHALL PERFORM ASACRIFICE AND OBTAIN A SON TORULE THE KING

DOM

' PARTAKEOF THIS DEAR

WIFE, ANDBEAR ME

V A SON. >

ORDERS WERE GIVEN f tND f t LL WERE REf tDY FOR THE GRf tND Sf tCR/ FlCE. FIS THE SftCR/F/C/ ftL FIRE BLf tZED, ft BEING HOLD ING ft BOWL O F ‘PftYftSft ’ * SUDDENLY EMERGED FROM IT.

O KING,GIVE THI5TO YOUR WORTHYQUEEN5 AND THEYSHALL BEAR YOUV SONS. ^

THOUGH Kf t/ KEYI WftS HIS Ff t VOURJTE , THE JU S T KING FIRST TOOK THE Pf tYftSft TO Kf tUSf tLYft , HIS CHIEF QUEEN ,ft ND GftVE HER Hf t LF OF IT.



I 5HALLGIVE THEREST TO

KAIKEYI.

/9/YD THOUGH ALL FOUR. PRINCES DELIGHTED THE HEART OF DASHARATHA, RAMA, THE ELDE5T, WAS HIS FAVOURITE. INDEED , HE WAS THE FAVOURITE OF ALL

AYODHYA. n m H r -------------------------------------------------------

—f—1-----1 J V HE HAS EVEN BECOME THE kLt t g * \ FAVOURITE OF KAIKEYI AND

SUMITRA FOR HE

J S S S i LOVE5 ^ND HONOURSI -S r S k X THE/Y1 HE D0E5

f P f ^ n HIS 0WN m o t h e r .l l U ! » j W r T ^ - i i [ HE WOULD fYlAKE J 1 1 1 ^ ” " jn k ^ L l X AN IDEAL KING J ■ K f e , I i W FOR AYODHYA. f

11 U r Rm p \ 15DEARER. TO

f LAKSHMANA THAN LIFE **

ITSELF. AND 5HATRU6HNA15 PARTIAL TO BHARATA.I WA5 WI5E TO GIVE THE j * DOCILE 5UMITRA ^w\ ~ , THE 5ECOND J B! PORTI ON.

AG HE WAS ABOUT TO DO 50, A THOUGHT SUDDENLY STRUCK HIM AND HE CHANGED HI 5 MIND

DASHARATHA

THEN HE WENT TO 5UM ITRA AND GAVE HER ft FOURTH OF WHAT WAS LEFT. I-----------1 ---------------------7--------------

7 I SHALLGIVE HER

ONLY HALF

OF IT ANDGIVE THERE5T TOGENTLE

i 5UMITRA.

WITHIN A YEAR, KAUSALYA GAVE BIRTH TO RAM ft-, KAtKEY/ TO BHARATA} AND SUM ITRA, WHO HAD THE {PAYASA ’TWICE, TO L AKSHMANA AND SHATRU6HNA. THOUGH THE PRINCE 5 LOVED EACH OTHER —




YE6, AAV LORD. BUTRAMA 15 OUR ELDE5TSON AND 15 AN IDEALPRINCE. BE5IDE5 HE

LOVE5 ME EVENMORE THAN HI5

V OWN MOTHER. A

A FEW DAYS LATER.BUT I m BOUND BY / M PROMISE TO KAIKEyf SFATHER WHEN (MARRIED HER., f l

HOW WELL BHARATA5 H OO T5 ! KAIKEYI,MY BELOVED,HEWILL MAKE ANEXCELLENT KING, y

iWifAnr..Hi*,,,.

d a s h a r a t h a w a s Happy t o h e a r , t h i s SENS/1 Y6 REJECTION RS W IFE, KAUSALYA M AGNIFIED HER ROLE RS HOUSEW IFE. ONE DAY RS SHE EXAM INED THE EXPENSES OF THE QUEEN 5 ’ APARTM ENTS —

HER W0RD5

REA5SURE ME A5 ] I WOULD HAVE <RAMA RULE AFTERME.YET, I MU5T f TAKE CARE TO < KEEP KAIKEYI JM IN THI5 FRAME j p

KAIKEYI SPENDSMORE THAN WEDO. IF ONLY S THE KINGWOULDN’ TINDULGE M M h e r s o . i m m t STRIVING TO KEEP KAIKEYI HAPPY ALWaYS

DASHARaTHA NEGLECTED KauSALYA AND 5 UMITRA. I----------------------------- I I Tl I d r

10



DASHARATHA

SHE SEN T FOR. THE YOUNGER. QUEEN.

KAIKEYI, EXTRAVAGANCEIS BADj EVEN IN REGAL

QUARTERS.

/Y\Y APARTMENTS ANDMY PERSON MUST

BE WORTHY OFMY LORD, TH EKING.MORE SOAS HE SPENDSMOST OF HIS

LEISURE HOURSWITH ME.

THE TBUNT HURT KAUS ALYA BUT SHE WISELY M AINTAINED HER. SILENCE.

M EANWHILE THE CHILDREN HAD GROWN INTO HANDSOME YOUTHS, f ______________ ^ d :------------H IT IS TIME THE /

j g y l PRINCES w e r e ; iK T 3 MARRIED. L

DASHARATHA WHO OVER: HEARD THE/R CONVERSA

TION WAS PERTURBED.

JUST THEN — LORD, TH EI --------- 7— RENOWNEDI a ! SA6E,VISHWA-I MITRA,ISE HERE. J

THEIR QUARRELS SHOULDNOT SPOIL RRMA’S <

CHANCES. I MUST ENSURETHAT SUCH 5ITUATIONS DONOT COME UP AGAIN. f

DASHARATHA AND THE OTHERS RUSHED OUT TO WELCOME THE SAGE



SEND YOUR V ;ELDE5T SON, ~THE VALIANT

RAMA,WITH MEONLY HE CANDESTROY^ j THEM, m « /

/ O KING*' CERTAIN RAK-SHA5A5* FREQUENTLY SPOIL MY5ACRED RITUALS.

SEND YOUR V ;ELDE5T SON, ~THE VALIANT

RAMA,WITH MEONLY HE CANDESTROY^ j THEM, m « /

VISHWf iM ITRf l WAS ENRAGED

O KING, YOUR WORDSARE UNWORTHY OF YOUR

LIN EASE. YOU GAVEME A PROMISE AND y

NOW SAY YOU A \ CANNOT KEEP

a m a r c h i t r a k a th a

0 VENERABLE ONE,CAN I BE OF ANYSERVICE TO YOU ?1 PROMISE TOGRANT ANY WISH

OF YOURS.

LATER

DASHARATHA WAS STUNNED. HE COULD HARDLY SPEAK.

RAMA IS BARELYA MERE BOY. NO ! I CANNOTPART WITH MY FIRSTBORN. IF YOU LIKE,MV FRIENDS AND

WILL HELP YOU.



AS WAS THE CUSTOM IN THOSE DAYS, VA5 I- 3HTH.A ANSWERED ON BEHALF OF DASHARATHA.

THE PRO-POSAL 15ACCEPTED. IFYOU ARE WILL-NG WE WOULDALSO ACCEPTYOUR YOUNGERBROTHER’SDAUGHTERS FORBHARATA ANDHATRUGHNA.

a m a r c h i t ra k a t h a

JANAKA WAS OVERJOYED.

THEN LET THEFOUR PRINCES BEMARRIED ON THESAME DAY.THEROYAL FAMILIE5OF KOSALA ANDMITHILA SHALL

MY FATHER SENTME TO AYODHYATO TAKE BHARATATO OUR. KINGDOMFOR A FEW YEARS.I HEARD THE'NEWSTHERE AND FOLLOW-

ED YOU TOMITHILA.

WELCOME,iWUDDHA JIT. IT ISFORTU-NATE THATkYOU ARE

HERENOW.'

WHILE THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEDDINGS WERE GOING ON, KA IKEYI’5 BROTHER, YUDOHAJIT, CA/V)E TO M ITHILA AND PRESENTED HIM SELF BEFORE DASHARATHA.

AS SOON AS THE ARRANGEMENTS WERE OVER, AN AUSPICIOUS DAY WAS FIXED AND THE NUPTIALS PERFORMED.



DASHARATHA

WELCOME, DEAR,DAUGHTERS. MAYYOU KNOW ONLY

HAPPINESS INL YOUR NEW /

HOME. / ' V k / rrvA v v / V .(W v -

DftSHftRft THft f tND THE YOUNG COUPLE 5 RETURNED TO ft JU& ILFINT f tVODHYf t . f tT THE PftLftCE^DftSHftRf tTHft ’SW/ l/ £S STOOD JOYOUS f tND EXPECTftNT.

ft FEW MONTHS LETTER,, DASHARf tTHft SENT FOR.BHARATf t .

YOU MAY NOW GO

WITH YOUR UNCLETO YOUR GRANDFATHER.

r. i

DftSHftRftTHft SOON /V)ftDE HIS WISH KNOWN TO HIS COUNSELLORS .THEN

...AND AS TIME 15RUNNING OUTTHERE 15 LITTLENEED TO INVITEASHWAPATHI AND

JANAKA TO THE. CORONATION. / I

f tS THE YEftRS WENT BY, RAM f t’S EXCELLENCE ,NOW ftS ft HOUSEHOLDER.,ENDEARED HIM EVEN MORE TO THE ftGE~ ING K IN G .ONE D A Y - _____________

' I 5HALL 5EE RAMACROWNED YUVRAJA,WITHOUT ANY DELAY.I SHALL ANNOUNCEMY DECISION AT fiNASSEMBLY OF ELDERS,

KINGS AND WISEMEN.




AT THE ASSEMBLY, AFTER DASHftRATHA ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION

iF ANY AMONG YOUFEEL THAT THISCHOICE IS THAT OFA FOND FATHER.

AND NOT A JUSTKING, LET MEKNOW WHAT

O JU5T KING, INSTALLRAMA AS THE HEIRrAPPARENT. WE, THE

K PEOPLE, LOOKFORWARD TO IT.

THE K/N6S IQND SAGES A T THE SftBHf t WEIGHED THE MATTER. CAREFULLY .THEN —

DASHARATHA WAS PLEASED. HE TURN ED TO SUMANTRA, HIS FAVOURITE

COUNSELLOR..

BRING RAMAHITHER.. .

f t L ITTL E LA TER Rf tM ft ENTERED THE ASSEMBLY ,



t h e KING EMBRACED HIM AND MADE HIM S IT ON / )THRONE, SPEC/ALLY MADE FOP HIM , NEXT TO HIS OWN.

DASHARATHA

WE,THE KING ANDTHE PEOPLE,PROPOSETO INSTALL YOU AS

THE HEIR-APPARENT.

THE KING WOULDLIKE TO GEE YOU

ALONE.

RAMA LOOKED UP , AMAZED WHICH IN MY AOPINION 'MAKESTHE TIME MOSTOPPORTUNE FOR

YOUR INSTALLS. LATION. y

BUT BHARATAIS AWAY FROMTHE CAPITAL...

HAVE THEPEOPLE.

PROMPTED THEKING TO REVERSEA HASTY

DECISION ? WELL,WHATEVER

HAPPENS ISFOR THE BEST.

PREPARED FOR. THE WORST, RAMA STOOD BEFORE DASHARATHA .B U T—

MY SON,

I HAVEDECIDED TOHAVE YOUINSTALLED TOMORROW IT6ELR LETYOUR FRIENDSPROTECT YOU WELLTONIGHT. FOR,ARE THE HAZARDSTHAT THREATEN

.AFFAIRS LIKE THIS.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OVER., RAMA RETURNED TO HIS OWN CHAMBER.. LATER .—

• •



BUTFATHER.,BHARATA15 VIRTUOUS

AND...

THE MINDS OF EVENRIGHTEOUS ANDDEVOUT MEN AREINCONSTANT SO YOUR

CORONATION MUST 8EHELD TOMORRO

YOU MAY60 NOW.

a m a r c h i t ra k a t ha

WHEN THE NEWS REACHED KAUSALYA

V V

U \

MAY MY GLORIOUSSON LIVE LONG.

HERE,ACCEPT THESE

FOR BRINGING SUCHAUSPICIOUS TIDINGS.

V

MANTHARA, KA/KEY/ ’S HUNCH-BACKED CHILDHOOD NURSE AND CONFtDANTE, HAPPENED TO SEE TH/ 5.

WHAT! THE THRIFTY KAUSALYA GIVING AWAY GEMS AND GOLD ! i q

J,#;.1„ m * a -* j . j . .

SHE TURNED TO A MAID NEAR BY.

WHY ISTHE CHIEFQUEEN SOHAPPY?

MANTHARA WAS

5HOCKED .BUT HADN’TDASHARATHAPROMISED THEKINGDOM TO MYKAIKEYI’S SON?I MUST INFORMHER OF THETREACHERYAFOOT.



DASHARATHA

ft L ITTLE LATER, RAM A CAME TO HIS MOTHER’S APARTMENTS.SUM/ TRA, LAKSHMANA f tND SITf t WERE ALREADY THERE, r

- - - - - — T*'

.

MOTHER, THEPRIE5TS 5 AY THAT SITAMUST FAST WITH METONIGHT. PLEASEARRANGE ALL THAT WE

WILL NEED FOR IT.

J

K >1

A Ml

leftUSft LYf t TREMBLED W/TH DELIGHT TO HEftR THE WORDS SHE HftD EVER HOPED TO HEf tR.

0 R.RMA, YOU MUST THE HEARTS

OF SUM I TRA’S SONS

r LflKSHMANA, ”MY LIFE AND THIS

KINGDOM,TOO, AREYOURS. RULE

r X . WITH ME. .

MEANWHILE, IN HER ELEGf tNT CHAMBER , AS KA IKEYI AWAITED DASHARATHA, SHE REFLECTED ON HER GOOD FORTUNE.

EVER SINCE I CAME A5 HISBRIDE TO AYODHYA,THE KINGHAS NEVER LET ME KNOW AMOMENT OF PAIN OR NEGLECT.EVEN BHARATA’S ABSENCE DOESNOT PAIN ME. RAMA BY HISDEVOTION DOES NOT LET ME

FEEL IT. IF ONLY KAUSALYATOOK /V\ORE KINDLY

1 1p

T illK kj




WAKE UP, KAIKEYIYOUR GOOD DAYS

ARE ABOUT TOv COME TO AV RUDE END. y

^WHY,Mf lNTNA- ^ y f / y V ) Rft! YOU ARE PALE^ ^ S^ I

WHAT’5 THE MATTER? ^15 ALL WELL WITH MY LORD?

HER PLEASANT MUSINGS WERE. RUDELY INTERRUPTED BY MANTHARA’S RAUCOUS VOICE.

THE LORD 15 IN HI5BUT ALL 15 ILL WITH YOU.O MY INNOCENT ONE ,THECRAFTY KING HA5 5ENTYOUR. 50N AWAY,ONLYTO INSTALL HI5 RAMA A5

KAIKEYI ’5 FACE L IT UP.

MY VIRTUOU5RAMA?HEIR-APPARENT?YOU HAVEBROUGHTME HflPPV

NEWS.

SHE TOOK OFF HER. NECKLACE FIND

HERE,TAKE THI5ASK FOR ANY

OTHER REWARDAND IT SHALL

v BE YOURS. A

A DISGUSTED /V1ANTHARA FLUNG THE ORNAM ENT ASIDE.

DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?WITH HER. SON A5 THEHEIR.-APPARENT,KAU5ALYA WILL

HUMILIATE YOU.SHE HAS A LONGMEMORY.

RAMA WILL NOT LETHER.BESIDES,IF THEKINGDOM BE RAMA’S

IT WILL BE BHARATA’STOO. RAMA 15 ABOVE ,

PETTY DI5TINC- /TION5.



I HAD NOTTHOUGHT OF

THAT!

DASHARATHA-----------------------------------i---------------------------------

MANTHARA BREATHED HARD WITH EXASPERATION.

MPOSSIBLE ! THE CORONATIONOF RAMA WILL CUT BHARATAOFF THE ROYAL LINE FOR EVER.T 15 YOUR DUTY A5 A KSHATRIYA

MOTHER-TO PROTECT THE ROYALRIGHT5 OF YOUR50N AND HIS

DEPEN-DA NTS. T—m r r ' m u

M ZsZil

YES, WHEN RAMABECOMES KING,HE WILLBANISH BHARATA OR.KJLL HIM.THEN, MYHAUGHTY ONE,YOUWILL BE A SLAVE IN

THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD. HAVE NODOUBTS ABOUT r AH,

KAIKEYILISTENTO METHEN.

MY SON MUST BECOMETHE KING. THIS VERYDAY I WILL SEND RAMA

TO THE FOREST ANDINSTALL BHARATA

ON THE THRONE.




REMEMBER THE TWOBOON 5 DASHARATHAHAD OFFERED YOU

MANY YEARSAGO.

LAJION OF BHARATA ANDTHE EXILE OF RAMA FOR.FOURTEEN YEARS. BY THATTIME BHARATA CAN BE A POPULAR.KING AND AN INVINCIBLE MONARCH.

WHEN SHALLI DEMAND

THE BOONS?

NOW! CAST OFF YOUR FINERYAND ENTER THE CHAMBER OFPROTEST. DO NOT 5PEAKTOTHE KING WHEN YOU SEE

HIM . LET ONLY YOUR, TEARSFLOW, UNCONTROLLED,LET YOUR. SOBS WRENCH

HIS HEART.

t FEW M INUTES L ft TER,

YQU HAVE ALWAY5BEEN HIS FAVOURITE.SO BE BOLD ANDACHIEVE YOUR

ENDS.

HOW WISE YOU ARE,MANTHARA!I WOULD NEVER. HAVESUSPECTED THE KING’SMOTIVES. YOU SHALL HAVEALL THE POWER- AND MONEY

YOU WANT WHEN BHARATAIS INSTALLED.



rHA5 "

ANYONEOFFENDEDYOU? HAS

ANYONE REPRI

MANDED YOU?

O KAIKEYI,WHY ARE YOU

I WILL GO TO xKAIKEYI FIRST5HE HAD ALWAYS

SEEN THE HEIRrAPPARENT INv RAMA. X

f IN THECHAMBER,OF PROTEST,

YOURv MAJESTY.

WHERE15 QUEENKAIKEYI?

f THI 5 ISUNUSUAL.

KAIKEYI AWAYFROM HER

CHAMBER? AT

THIS HOUR?

DASHARATHA

AT THAT MOMENT, DASHARATHA WAS. WAY TO THE QUEEN ’S APARTMENTS.

IN THE CHAMBER OFPROTEST? TILL TODAY

NOT ONE OF MYQUEENS HAS FOUND

THE NEED TOUSE IT.

DASHARATHA HURRIED THERE.H E WAS AM AZED AND DISTRESSED BY WHAT HE SAW. (

IN TEARS? TELLME WHY YOU ARESAD. I’LL IMME

DIATELY 5 ETMATTERS

RIGHT.

-

r



a m a r c h i t ra k a th a

NAME THE800NS AND ISHALL SEETHAT TH EYARE YOU RS.

REMEMBER. THE TWOBOONS YOU HADOFFERED ME MANY

YEARS AGO? I WANTTHEM NOW.IF YOU

, REFUSE I WILL GIVE^ UP MY LI FE. ^

KBIKEYI SLOWLY LOOKED UP.

NO, MY LORD. I WANTSOMETHING DONE.IF YOU PROMISETO DO IT

YOU KNOW THAT EXCEPTRAMA WHO IS MY VERYLIFE,THERE 15 NO ONEDEARER. TO ME THANYOU. I SWEAR. BY RAMA

DftSHRRBTHf) WhS STUNNED. HfiD HE HEARD R IGH T?

NO-O-O-OJ I MAYBANISH KAUSflLYA

^ OR SUMITRA BUT1 NEVER RAMA,MY\ ELDEST SON ,

/jfc WHOSE LOVE I y/L SUSTAINS MY **

’V L IFE. X T '

THEN LET MY SONBE PROCLAIMED HEIR-APPARENT AND LETRAMA BE BANISHEDTO THE FOREST FORFOURTEEN YEARS.



DASHARATHA

NOTHING STAINS THAT FAIRNAME AS A BROKEN

PROMISE 5AND A PROMISEy TO ONE WHO SAVED ,\ THE KING AND THE

ROYAL LINE.

O SINFUL WOMAN , WEREALL YOUR. PRAISES FORRAMA UTTERED WITHAN ULTERIOR. MOTIVE?YOU W ILL STAIN THEFAIR. NAME OF OUR. /

ROYAL FAMILY WITH /THESE BOONS. Xv ASK FOR.... sC

f SO THAT IS IT.THE KINGDOM GOES

TO RAM A, ONLY TOPLEASE KAUSALYA.NO! SHE CANNOT

BE THE QUEENMOTHER. I RAMA

V MUST GO!

SUMITRA W ILL NEVER.TRUST ME IF I BANISH

RAMA. AND KflUSALYA ?KAUSALYA, THE PER-FECT WIFE , WHOM j I HAVE HURT ONLY /TO PLEASE YOU. jM




KAIKEYI } DON’T YOUREMEMBER HOW RAMAL HAS ALWAYS LOVEDL . a n d WORSHIPPED >i T \ YOU? __

YOURFUTILE WORDS

TIRE ME. WILLYOU KEEP

YOUR PROMISEOR WON’T

O w YOU ?

RAMA HAS NEVER HURT ANYONE.AM I TO WOUND HIM WITH YOURPITILESS DEMAND? KAIKEYI, I AM

FIND ING HER- UNM OVED, Dft SHf lMTHfi FELL PIT HER, FEET.

THE WHOLE WORLD WILLDESPISE ME AS THE GREATKING WHO BARTEREDHIS 50N AWAY FOR AFICKLE WOMAN. OKAIKEYI, I BEG YOU,

SAVE ME FROMPUBLIC RIDICULEAND DISGRACE.

O GREAT KING, I SWEAR.BY MY OWN BHARATATHAT NOTHING BUTTHE EXILE OF RAMAAND THE INSTALLATION

v. OF MY SON, WILL a V PACIFY ME.



THE EFFICIENTQUEEN TOO, 15.IMPATIENT TO 5EE

RAMA INSTALLED, I MUST HURRY.

DASHARATHA

MY BELOVED SON WILLOBEY ME.OH THAT ITWERE NOT SO! FOR IFHE DOES I WILL DIE.KAIKEYI, I CONSENT.LET RAMA 6 0 TO THEFOREST AND LET THEPREPARATIONS FORTOMORROW, BE FOR

MY FUNERAL.

O KING, DO

NOT RAVE LIKEONE MAD. INSTALL MY' SON ON THE THRONE

AND BANISHYOURS.

r

SHOCKED BY HER. CRUEL WORDS, DASHARATHA FAINTED. JUST THEN ,; AN ANXIOUS SUm NTRF) SEN T BY VASISHTHA CAME THERE.

TO MAKE SURE THAT HER. PLANS SHOULD NOT FALL THROUGH , KAIKEYI ANSWERED FOR. DASHARATHA.

MY LORD,T IS TIMEFOR. THE

CEREMONY.WE AWAIT

YOUR.ORDERS. J

O SUMANTRA, EXCITED ABOUT THE COMINGEVENT THE KING HAS HAD A SLEEPLESSNIGHT HE IS TIRED. BRING RAMA HERETO HIM FOR HIS BLESSINGS. QUICK!




WHY 15 MYFATHER WANAND DRAINED> OF JOY?

LATER . , WHEN THE UNSUSPECTING P m n PRESENTED HIM SELF BEFORE HIS FATHER. — (-----------771

MOTHER-,HAVE I

OFFENDEDMY FATHER?

THE SHAM ELESS KAIICEYI WHOSE HEART HAD BEEN NUMBED BY CUPIDITY , FACED RAM A.

THE KING H0LD5 YOU ^DEARER THAN TRUTH. HECANNOT COMMAND YOU

LE5T IT HURT YOU. IFYOU PROMISE TO OBEYHI5 WISHES I 5HALL

5PEAK.

FORSHAME,MOTHER! WHENMY FATHER,COMMANDS,!OBEY WITHOUTFLINCHING.AND... RAMANEVER GOESBACK ON HI5

WORD.

WHEN KA IKEYI TOO PRESENTED A STERN COUNTENANCE —

0 MOTHER, HAVEYOU SPOKEN HAR5HWORDS TO MYFATHER? WHYDOES HE GRIEVE?TELL ME THECAUSE, MOTHER

28



DASHARATHA

KA/KEYI THEN

t o l d R .m n ALL ABOUT THE TWO BOONS. WITHOUT EXPRESSING ft TRACE OF DISAPPOINT MENT RA/Y\ft FACED KAIKEYI.

YOU ARE MY MOTHER, ANDYET KNOW ME NOT. ONYOUR ORDER. ALONE IWOULD WILLINGLYSURRENDER. NOT ONLYTHE KINGDOM BUT ALSO

SITA AND MY VERYLIFE.

THERE 15 NO GREATER.VIRTUE IN THI5 WORLDTHAN SERVICE TOONE’ S PARENTS INTHOUGHT, WORD ANDDEED.SO LET

BHARATA RULETHE KINGDOM.

ICAIKEYI IM PATIENTLY INTERRUPTED HIS DECLARATIONS. \------------------ ---------

WHEN KALI6ALYA HEARD THE TERRIBLE NEWS FROlY) RAM A —

O RAMA,THE GOOD

FORTUNEOF A WOMAN WHO HASKNOWN THE COMPLETE

DEVOTION OF HER. HUSBAND, HAS NEVER BEEN

MINE.YEARS HAVE IWAITED TO SEE YOUINSTALLED AND

TASTE OF HAPPI -NES5.AND NOWWITH A VICIOUS

KAIKEYI IT WILLBE LIFE-IN-DEATH

NOW THAT YOUHAVE TO GO,RAMA ,DO NOTDELAY. I SHALLHAVE BHARATABROUGHT

IMMEDIATELY. /

AND I SHALLGO AND TAKELEAVE OF MYMOTHER. ANDOFFER MY

CONSOLATIONN . £> TO SITA.



a m a r c h i t r a ka t h a

MOTHER.,MY FATHERls

COMMANDBINDS U5v BOTH.

gf tM f t DIO NOT TRY TO CONSOLE. HIS M OTHER.. INSTEAD —

TJT3 T

YES,MY WORTHYSON. MAY YOU BEHAPPY IN EXILE.I SHALL SERVEYOUR FATHER DUTIFULLY WHILE I PRAY

FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN

ft S RfiM f l LEFT FOR- THE FOREST, WITH Lf lKSHM f lN f l FIND SITFI WHO INSISTED ON GOING WITH HIM , DFlSHf iRRTHFl COLLAPSED WITH GRIEF. KPllKEYI REACHED OUT TO HELP HIM.

KEEP AWAY, O VILEKAIKEYI,YOUR TOUCHWILL POLLUT E ME. YOUWILL ENJOY YOURBOONS BUT AS AWIDOW. FOR I WILLNOT LIVE LON6



ON THE FIFTH DAY AFTER RDMA LEFT, KAUSALYA, UNABLE TO RESTRAIN HERSELF ANY LONGER,TURNED UPON THE K IN G.

O KINS,IGNORING ME

YOU BANISHEDMY SON. I MAY

NOT EVEN FOLLOWHIM LEST YOU BEDESOLATE. YOUHAVE RUINED ME

AND MY SONAND ALLAYODHYA.

KAU5ALYAf MOVED BY THE GREAT MONARCH*5 HUM ILITY, WA5 ASHAMED OF HER OWN OUTBURST.

O LORD, DO NOTSHAME M E. A WELL-BRED WOMAN

SHOULD NEVER.MAKE A SUPPLICANT

OF HER. LORD.PARDON MY

TRANSGRESSION.

FULL OF ANGUISH , DASHARATHA PLEADED WITH HER.

PLEASE, KAUSALYA,I ENTREAT YOU,I AM YOUR HUSBAND,

VIRTUOUS ORWORTHLESS. ANDI KNOW YOU TO

BE WISE.

DASHARATHA- — f-




JV \ X His FATHER?S ^ C V '\ CURSE HAS COME N T

/ TRUE. I DIE YEARN- >

( ING FOR MY SON. OKAUSALYA,I CANNOT SEE YOUCOME NEAR. AND TOUCH ME.

ON THE SIXTH NIGHT OF RAMA’S DEPBR.TUR.Eyf ) /V)EDLEW OF PAST DEED5 RACED ACROSS DASHARATHA'S BEFUDDLED MIND, BUT ONE STOOD OUT CLEAR.— THE KILLING OF THE NNOCENT YOUTH .HE HALTINGLY NARRATED THE WHOLE f

----------------- INCIDENT TO KAUSALYA.THEN

NO! LORDDO NOT LEAVE

US AND GO.-

L4LJCJUUt_ll_|l_|U|iuuuuu

SEEING THAT HIS END WAS NEAR,KAUSALYA SENT FOR SUM ITRA.

O MY PRINCE, MY SON,WHERE ARE YOU ?O KAU5ALYA ! AH, >GENTLE SU M I TR A ! ^ !^

OVERCOME 6 Y GRIEF FOR HIS EXILED SON DASHARATHA, A VICTI/V) OF HIS OWN i j r ■ iKARMA, BREATHED HIS LAST. H I I

BUT ALL KA/KEY/ ’S EFFORTS TO SECURE THE THRONE FOR HER SON WERE FUTILE. FOR BHARATA WOULD NOT ASCEND IT. WHEN RAMA REFUSED TO RETURN TO AYODHYA TILL HE HAD FULFILLED HIS PLEDGE ,BHARATA PLACED RAMA’S SLIPPERS ON THE THRONE AND RULED THE KINGDOM FOR HIM , TILL HE RETURNED TO BE THE KING.



&c? DASHA AVATAR

THE TEN INCARNATIONS OF VISHNU

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TEN STORIES

RETOLDIN 96 PAGES

THE AVATAR CONCEPT IS THE VERYCORNERSTONE OF HINDU THEOLOGY,ACCORDING TO IT THE SUPREMEPOWER MAN IFESTS ITSELF IN ANIMA LOR HUMAN FOR MS ON EARTH, WITHTHE DIVINE MISSION OF CLEANSING

IT OF THE PERIODICALLY INCREA-SING EVIL.

THE AVATARS WHICH ARE CONSI-DERED MOST SIGNIFICANT ARE TENIN NU MB ER AND THEY FORM THE' ‘DASHAVATAR” . THESE TEN STARTWITH THE FORM OF A LOW LY FISHAND WO RK UP TO THE NOBLE MAN,CAST IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

[ P a r a s h u r a m a

THE AVATARS ENA BLE THE COMMON

FOLK TO SPEAK OF OR LISTEN TOSTORIES OF DIVINE DOINGS WHICHIS A SIMP LE WAY OF PROCEEDINGTOWARDS GODHEAD.

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