Agastya Rewards Rama The three decided to visit Agastya, one of the most powerful sage in history. When they saw him, they understood how he had been able to accomplish so many prodigious deeds. They admired … Read More
The six types of association which enhance bhakti are described in the fourth verse: dadati pratigrhnati guhyam akhyati prcchati bhunkte bhojayate caiva sad-vidham priti-laksanam Giving gifts received in charity, accepting gifts from charity, sharing one’s thoughts, … Read More
The Hermitage of Sarabhanga After killing Viradha, Rama wanted to go and visit the hermitage of the sage Sarabhanga. As they came closer, he saw Indra talking to the sage. Indra saw him coming and hid, … Read More
Thus Karna was born. At birth, he wore a natural armor and two wonderful earrings, which were one with the body. Kunti, entranced by the child’s extraordinary beauty and grace, felt a great maternal love being … Read More
Aranya Kanda In Dandaka: Rama Kills Viradha That forest infested with terrible Raksasas was called Dandaka. Along the way, they found the huts of several quiet and serene ascetics who were jolly, and who possessed a … Read More
Visit To The Sage Kanva A short time later, most the ascetics of the hill, alarmed by the arrival of numerous Raksasas, departed, leaving Citrakuta desolate. Without those sages, the place was no longer as attractive … Read More
The six obstacles to advancement in Bhakti are mentioned in the second verse: atyaharah prayasas ca prajalpo niyamagrahah jana-sangas ca laulyam ca sadbhir bhaktir vinasyati Devotional service is ruined when one gets too entangled in the … Read More
Bharata Invites Rama to Return After the funeral ceremonies in honor of Dasaratha, Bharata consulted with his brother Satrughna and the court sages. During the interview, Satrughna could no longer contain himself and wanted to throw … Read More
Several months had passed since the sage’s departure, when one morning Kunti, seeing the sun rise, was enchanted by the beauty of that celestial star. She wondered about how beautiful the Deva who ruled such a … Read More
Bharata and Satrughna Return to Ayodhya The king’s death was a severe blow to the citizens of Ayodhya, already marked by the pain of separation from Rama. The king, despite what happened, was much loved by … Read More
Dasaratha’s Curse Sumantra accompanied Rama to Bharadvaja’s hermitage and then, from there, he returned to Ayodhya to give the latest news to the king. Dasaratha was gloomy, absorbed in sad kind of thoughts. He listened to … Read More
Arrival In Citrakuta Evening fell. Rama and his faithful companions had walked all day. They arrived at the hermitage of sage Bharadvaja, the disciple of Valmiki, not far from the confluence of the Ganges with the … Read More
Joyfully, the Vanaras forts began to take huge boulders, mountain peaks, trees, and anything else that could add volume to the construction of the bridge, and after writing the sacred name of Rama on them, … Read More
In Exile Rama had no attachment to the glory or happiness that can be obtained in this world. Meditating on the spirit world and the Supreme Personality of God, he first went to his mother and … Read More
Manthara Many years earlier, Queen Kaikeyi had adopted a hunchbacked, orphaned child she met in her maternal uncle’s house. Her name was Manthara, and she was given the task of looking after the queen’s private rooms. … Read More
There are two ways to free oneself from anarthas: directly, by following the rules, and indirectly, by observing the restrictions. The means of freeing oneself from the three anarthas – material desires, heart weaknesses and … Read More
Ayodhya Kanda Dasaratha Wants to Crown Rama Years went by. As always happens, very few notice the inexorable passage of time that drags the things or the people they love most away from their hands. Time … Read More
Years of Happiness A few years later, Dasaratha sent Bharata and Satrughna to Kekaya to visit Yudhajit, his maternal uncle. The glorious prince Rama thus spent twelve years of happiness with his wife Sita. The two … Read More
King Sura, of the Vrishni lineage, had a son named Vasudeva and a daughter named Pritha. His cousin Kuntibhoja, on the other hand, had not been able to have children, so Sura decided to give him … Read More
Parasurama The day was beautiful and the sun was high in the sky. Everything seemed to express happiness and absence of problems. Sita and Rama, contemplating each other, were talking about a thousand things. But even … Read More
