The Golden Deer They soon came to the hut of those whom Ravana considered to be his unsuspecting and helpless victims. It was a beautiful day. The sun was high in the sky and the forest … Read More
Years passed. Meanwhile, for Pandu’s wives the desire to have children became more and more overbearing. Then, even knowing the curse inflicted on her husband, they decided to talk to him to find a solution. “The … Read More
Maricha Is Forced The violent and vindictive character prevailed over reason, and Ravana yelled at his assistants to prepare the battle chariot. So, with all that paraphernalia, he went back to Maricha’s. Seeing him arrive, Maricha … Read More
Surpanakha Wants Revenge Back at the palace, Ravana found Surpanakha waiting for him. When he saw her wounded and crying, he felt his chest swell with anger and hatred towards the one who had hurt his … Read More
The Manah-siksa (7) enjoins one to abandon one’s harmful mentality in the form of desire for fame and dishonest criticism: pratisthasa dhrsta svapacaramani me hrdi natet katham sadhu-prema sprsati sucir-etan-nanu manah sada tvam sevasva prabhu-dayita-samanta-matulam yatha … Read More
Ravana Goes to Maricha Ravana thought for a long time about what had happened and decided to go see Maricha for advice. He trusted Maricha a lot, and when there were emergency situations, he always went … Read More
Akampana Tells What Happened to Ravana Only one Raksasa named Akampana managed to escape. He possessed mystical powers thanks to which he could travel through the air at great speed. He fled to Lanka, Ravana’s kingdom. … Read More
It is forbidden to offend the sadhus. It is offensive to see a Vaisnava according to material conceptions. The Upadesamrta says (6): drstaih svabhava-janitair vapusas ca dosair na prakrtatvam iha bhakta-janasya pasyet gangambhasam na khalu budbuda-phena-pankair … Read More
A few years later Kunti married the virtuous and brave Pandu. The young man’s life, in the company of his two wives, passed in full delight, but the shadow of Vyasa’s prediction was looming. One spring … Read More
The Battle Against the 14,000 Raksasas Bleeding and screaming like a possessed, Surpanakha ran into the Janasthana forest, not far from Pancavati, and there she found her brother Khara. As soon as he saw her arrive … Read More
Surpanakha One day, along the path that skirted Rama’s hut, Surpanakha, Ravana’s sister, the king of the Raksasas, happened to pass by chance. Surpanakha was a monstrous and evil being, a worthy sister of Ravana. … Read More
These six types of association, when exchanged between devotees, increase devotion. They diminish it when exchanged between non-devotees. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, with the following words taken from Sri Caitanya-candrodaya-nataka, even forbade looking at one who enjoys … Read More
Pancavati and Jatayu Following Agastya’s advice, Rama, Laksmana, and Sita went to Pancavati. As they made their way to their destination, they encountered a giant vulture watching them menacingly. It was so big that Sita began … Read More
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
