Quotes from V?lm?ki

introductory cantos has borrowed the name and person, inconsistently indeed, but with the intention of enhancing the dignity of the poet by ascribing

There is no deity powerful than time.

Afterwards RishyaÅ›ring said again to the King"I will perform another sacrificial act to secure thee a son."Then the son of Vibhá?dak, of subdued passions

Let us keep ever in our minds the fact that it is the Ramayana and the Mahabharata that bind our vast numbers together as one people, despite caste, space and language that seemingly divide them.

With berries, fruit, and water-brooks. There build thee with thy brother's aid A cottage in the quiet shade, And faithful to thy sire's behest, Obedient to the sentence, rest. For well, O sinless chieftain, well I know thy tale, how all befell: Stern penance and the love I bore Thy royal sire supply

Ráma's glory

KauÅ›alyá bore an infant blest With heavenly marks of grace impressed;

bade the Maithil dame adieu, His saving errand done. With Sleep

succour me. Too well I see the demon band The slaughter of my love have

Still on his head, well trained in lore Of duty, Ráma's shoes he bore. Ráma's shoes are here

Lakshma? sped With brows whence all the light had fled. Near and more near the

his father lying on the bare floor in anguish. The King evidently had been struck down with some great sorrow. His face

Rámáyan leaves

Graced with a conch-shell's triple line, His throat displays the auspicious sign.16

gods, the Dánavas and the Yakshas have born (sic) all, (his oppression); this lord of Rákshas therefore distresses the universe; and, inflated by this promise unjustly vexes the divine sages, the Yakshas, and Gandharvas, the Asuras, and men: where Ráva?a remains there the sun loses his force, the winds through fear of him do not blow; the fire