RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN--CHAPTER 16

RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN –CHAPTER 16

                                                                  THE DIVINE PAYASA

Narayana replied to the entreaties of the Devas in feigned ignorance. “Well, my children, I shall do as you wish. But I don’t see the easy method in which to bring about Ravana’s death. You have thought over it long. You should know the way and means of killing him.”

The Devas replied, “Lord, Ravana has contrived to get a boon from Brahma. To go by the boon immunity was granted to him from death at the hands of everyone. But luckily the arrogant Ravana left men in his list. He is contemptible of human race. So we pray You to be born to Dasaratha as a human being.

Then Lord Vishnu said, “I shall come down among men, as the son of Dasaratha. I know he is even now performing a sacrifice to get a son. Then he vanished from there.

Soon after Rishyasringa performed a rite. In the course of which rite, he made offerings to Fire Ahavania. He rose out of fire and stood like a towering peak. The noonday sun was nothing before the blinding glory of that mighty One. His face of fiery red. And the hair looked like molten gold. He was clad in the reddish black. He was adorned with lovely ornaments. He was of inconceivable might and power. His voice sounded as the great war drums that fill the warrior’s heart with fire and energy. His hands were closed around a golden vessel. And this vessel was full of divine payasa. He said to the king, “I am a man sent by Brahma.”

Dasaratha replied, “Lord! Has the journey here was pleasant? What my Lord wants His servant to do?”

The radiant figure said, “The gods are pleased with you and your Horse-Sacrifice. They have sent you this divine Payasa. It confers glory and the son you wanted. Accept it. Let your queens drink it. And you would have four sons.”

Thereafter the king concluded the rite. Then he retired to his apartments. He said to his queens, “This divine Payasa is the gift of the celestials. It will bear you sons. You drink it.” The queens’ faces shone at it.

He then distributed it among them. One half to Kausalya, one-fourth to Sumitra and one-eighth to Kaikeyi. One eighth remained. If it was given to her it would place her on a level with Sumitra. Sumitra was older to her. So he divided it equally between the two. The queens were very much satisfied. They ate the Payasa and shone through out the pregnancy. And the old king’s heart was warmed. His sorrow was gone. He rejoiced even as the great Indra, honoured in Heaven by the Siddhas and the Sages.