RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN--CHAPTER 74

                                         RAMAYANA FOR CHILDREN—CHAPTER 74

                                                               RAMA OF THE AXE

When the shades of Night melted away, Visvamitra took leave of the kings. He departed for his distant home in the north. He left behind his blessings that hovered over the princes as ministering angels. And close upon that came the departure of Dasaratha. Janaka gave him reluctant leave.

Janaka followed Dasaratha a long way. Right royal was the handsome dowry he paid for his girls. He gave herds of kine past count. He also gave rare and costly carpets. He gave clothes of lovely texture and priceless value. He gave untold wealth in gold and gems, coral and pearl, slaves and servants, horses and elephants, chariots and troops. They were magnificently dressed and gaily caparisoned. These and many other gifts evidenced his loving heart. Dasaratha persuaded the happy Janaka to turn back to his capital.

Well, it was over, the painful parting. And the Ruler of Ayodhya set his face towards his capital. He journeyed there by easy stages. He travelled in the sweet company of his noble sons and the saintly hermits.

While he was travelling thus, frightful cries of birds met him. It was an ill-omen and harsh thing. At the same time the beasts of earth passed from right to left. It was a sign of good. Dasaratha’s heart was in a quiver with fatherly anxiety. His senses were in a whirl. Dasaratha turned questioning eyes to Vasishtha and cried, “Lo! These signs! The birds cry hoarsely. The beasts of the forest pass from right to left. I feel a sinking of the heart. And a mist rises before my eyes. What may it be, your Reverence?”

To him the sage answered sweetly. “The birds warn us of the approach of some danger. But the beasts allay it. Let not this trouble your royal heart.”

When they were talking like this, there rushed a mighty wind. At this the solid earth trembled in fear. The giant trees of the forest strewed the ground with their shattered limbs. A pall of darkness swept across the bright luminary. The quarters of the earth were confused. Next, a shower of ashes rained down.

And in that fearful darkness in which the armies of the king were dimly visible even as so many statues of ashes. They saw a terrible Being approach. He had massive coils of matted hair crowning his head. He was Rama and the Axe. He was the son of Jamadagni. He belonged to the royal race of Brigu. He was the dread one who laid low the proudest heads of the earth. He was strong and unassailable even as the mighty Kailasa. He was unapproachable like the Fire of Dissolution. His lustre blazed forth. The ordinary men shrank away blinded. On his lofty shoulders rested the terrible Axe. Also, there was a huge bow readily strung. His hand grasped a mighty dart. It was like Lord Mahadeva when he went forth against the Demons of the Three Cities.

Great was the anxiety that filled the heart of Vasishtha and the other sages. They spoke to one another, “Is it possible that the cruel fate of his sire still rankles in his heart? Has he once again lifted his terrible axe against the royal race on earth? The vengeance he took was dire. He put away his anger and with it the desire for vengeance. It behoves him not to lay his axe once again at the root of the Solar Race.”

They hastened to offer him respect. They sought to pacify the fiery spirit with sweet words of welcome. He accepted it of the sages. And as if not heeding them, he haughtily turned towards Rama.