In the solar dynasty, the king Dashratha was performing a sacrifice to get sons. Because of the great deeds he had done, Vishnu was born in his house. From the sacrificial fire, rose a pot. A voice asked the content to be divided among the queens. Seeing two queens there, the king gave the pot to them. The youngest queen, Sumitra was not there then. When she came to know, she was sad. The other two queens, Kaushlaya and Kaikeyi, gave Sumitra portions from their share. Soon the queens were pregnant.
One by one, the queens delivered their children. The eldest son was Rama, a dusky boy, born off Kaushalya. Bharata came next, born off Kaikeyi. Sumitra had twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
The princes began growing and soon it was time for them to go and learn the scriptures and the art of using weapons.
In Mithila, the king Janaka, was farming for many days tilling his land. Lakshmi was born there. Seeing a child in the furrow, Janaka brought her up as his daughter and named her Sita.
Seeing the future, the Gods kept the bow of Shiva, in Janaka's house. They said to Janaka that he should give away his daughter to that person only, who would be able to, easily lift and bend and thus break the bow.
None could break the bow and soon Rama came there and breaking the bow, married Sita.
Listen Yudhistira, what had had happened before this.
Ravana had sent his followers to destroy sacrifices. Seeing this, the sage Vishwamitra went to Dashratha asking for Rama, who was destined to help him. Fearing the sage, the king reluctantly agreed to give Rama and Lakshmana.
On their way, they came across the ferocious rakshashi Taraka. Rama, not fearing her, killed her.
Vishwamitra then took Rama to the place where he would be performing his sacrifice. He said the rakshasas would come when he started his sacrifice. Rama said He would stay guard.
Vishwamitra started his sacrifice. In the skies, the evil Maricha, started his attack. His shadow fell on the pyre. Rama released a flaming arrow, fearing which Maricha fled from there.
The sacrifice finished peacefully.
Vishwamitra then told the princes about the bow of Shiva. Rama said he wanted to see it. Taking the two brothers with him, the sage reached Mithila.
Janaka greeted the sage. Vishwamitra said he wished Rama should marry Sita. Janaka told the sage that he was most willing to have Rama as a his son in law, except that he had promised that Sita would be given to only that person who would break the bow.
Rama said he would do that and went where the bow was, Rama lifted the bow with his left hand. The Gods were wondering if the world would sink and asking Vasuki, who was holding the earth, to be careful. Lakshmana asked Rama to hurry up. Rama took the names of the Gods and pulled the bow. The bow broke and fell down. In Lanka, Ravana heard the noise, and realized that the one who would kill him was there.
Yudhistira asked if Rama was Vishnu, then why did he take the name of Vishnu with the other Gods, before breaking the bow?
The sage said - When Hiranyakashipu was killed Narasimha, the creature kept growling and this disturbed the world. A brahmana then cursed him saying You are so proud of yourself. When you are born again, you will forget about divinity.
With the bow broken, Janaka gave away Sita to Rama. Rama said First send messengers to my father and ask him to come with my two brothers. Only when they are here, I will marry.
Janaka swiftly sent messengers. Dashratha hearing the news, came with his two sons. Janaka had another daughter who was given away to Lakshmana. Janaka's brother, Kushadhwaja had two daughters who were given away to Bharat and Shatrughna.
Dashratha decided to leave for Ayodhya with sons and daughters in law. He got on his chariot when Parashurama appeared there.
To Rama, Parashurama said, All know that I am an enemy of the kshatriyas. You have the audacity to have the same name as mine. You think you are brave because you broke the bow of Shiva. That is an old bow. If you are brave, lift my bow.
Rama agreed. When Parashurama gave his bow to Rama, along with that all his powers also got transferred to Rama. Rama put an arrow on the bow and asked what should he do with that. Parashurama asked Rama to stop his entry to heaven.
Parashurama left and Dashratha also started for Ayodhya, with his sons and daughters in law.
Soon after, one day, Bharata decided to visit his grandfather, father of his mother. he took Shatrughna along with him. Dashratha also decided to make Rama the crown prince.
When Kaikeyi, Bharata's mother heard this from her maid, she became jealous.
When Dashratha came to her, she said she wanted two promises. The king agreed. Kaikeyi said she wanted Bharata to be made king and Rama to be exiled for fourteen years.
The king fainted and when he regained consciousness, he rebuked the queen.
Rama, when he heard this, agreed to go to the forest. Rama went to his mother and told her this and consoled her. Later, he left for the forest with his wife, Sita and Lakshmana.
One by one, the queens delivered their children. The eldest son was Rama, a dusky boy, born off Kaushalya. Bharata came next, born off Kaikeyi. Sumitra had twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna.
The princes began growing and soon it was time for them to go and learn the scriptures and the art of using weapons.
In Mithila, the king Janaka, was farming for many days tilling his land. Lakshmi was born there. Seeing a child in the furrow, Janaka brought her up as his daughter and named her Sita.
Seeing the future, the Gods kept the bow of Shiva, in Janaka's house. They said to Janaka that he should give away his daughter to that person only, who would be able to, easily lift and bend and thus break the bow.
None could break the bow and soon Rama came there and breaking the bow, married Sita.
Listen Yudhistira, what had had happened before this.
Ravana had sent his followers to destroy sacrifices. Seeing this, the sage Vishwamitra went to Dashratha asking for Rama, who was destined to help him. Fearing the sage, the king reluctantly agreed to give Rama and Lakshmana.
On their way, they came across the ferocious rakshashi Taraka. Rama, not fearing her, killed her.
Vishwamitra then took Rama to the place where he would be performing his sacrifice. He said the rakshasas would come when he started his sacrifice. Rama said He would stay guard.
Vishwamitra started his sacrifice. In the skies, the evil Maricha, started his attack. His shadow fell on the pyre. Rama released a flaming arrow, fearing which Maricha fled from there.
The sacrifice finished peacefully.
Vishwamitra then told the princes about the bow of Shiva. Rama said he wanted to see it. Taking the two brothers with him, the sage reached Mithila.
Janaka greeted the sage. Vishwamitra said he wished Rama should marry Sita. Janaka told the sage that he was most willing to have Rama as a his son in law, except that he had promised that Sita would be given to only that person who would break the bow.
Rama said he would do that and went where the bow was, Rama lifted the bow with his left hand. The Gods were wondering if the world would sink and asking Vasuki, who was holding the earth, to be careful. Lakshmana asked Rama to hurry up. Rama took the names of the Gods and pulled the bow. The bow broke and fell down. In Lanka, Ravana heard the noise, and realized that the one who would kill him was there.
Yudhistira asked if Rama was Vishnu, then why did he take the name of Vishnu with the other Gods, before breaking the bow?
The sage said - When Hiranyakashipu was killed Narasimha, the creature kept growling and this disturbed the world. A brahmana then cursed him saying You are so proud of yourself. When you are born again, you will forget about divinity.
With the bow broken, Janaka gave away Sita to Rama. Rama said First send messengers to my father and ask him to come with my two brothers. Only when they are here, I will marry.
Janaka swiftly sent messengers. Dashratha hearing the news, came with his two sons. Janaka had another daughter who was given away to Lakshmana. Janaka's brother, Kushadhwaja had two daughters who were given away to Bharat and Shatrughna.
Dashratha decided to leave for Ayodhya with sons and daughters in law. He got on his chariot when Parashurama appeared there.
To Rama, Parashurama said, All know that I am an enemy of the kshatriyas. You have the audacity to have the same name as mine. You think you are brave because you broke the bow of Shiva. That is an old bow. If you are brave, lift my bow.
Rama agreed. When Parashurama gave his bow to Rama, along with that all his powers also got transferred to Rama. Rama put an arrow on the bow and asked what should he do with that. Parashurama asked Rama to stop his entry to heaven.
Parashurama left and Dashratha also started for Ayodhya, with his sons and daughters in law.
Soon after, one day, Bharata decided to visit his grandfather, father of his mother. he took Shatrughna along with him. Dashratha also decided to make Rama the crown prince.
When Kaikeyi, Bharata's mother heard this from her maid, she became jealous.
When Dashratha came to her, she said she wanted two promises. The king agreed. Kaikeyi said she wanted Bharata to be made king and Rama to be exiled for fourteen years.
The king fainted and when he regained consciousness, he rebuked the queen.
Rama, when he heard this, agreed to go to the forest. Rama went to his mother and told her this and consoled her. Later, he left for the forest with his wife, Sita and Lakshmana.
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