The Ramayana I remember ended with the return of Rama, Sita and others to Ayodhya and his consecration as the King of Ayodhya. I distinctly remember being told that one does not need to read Uttarakanda, which is said to have been added later on by Valmiki! I guess happy endings are important.
Yuddha kanda in Valmiki Ramayana ends this way:
Having enjoyed the kingship for ten thousand years, Rama performed a hundred horse-sacrifices, in which good horses were sacrificed and numerous gifts bestowed. That Rama, having his long arms reaching down his knees, having a broad chest and glorious, ruled this earth with Lakshmana as his companion.
Obtaining a very great kingdom the righteous Rama propitiated the almighty with many kinds of sacrifices, with the team-work of his sons, brothers and relatives. While Rama was ruling the kingdom, there were no widows to lament, nor there was no danger from wild animals, nor any fear born of diseases.
The world was bereft of thieves and robberies. No one felt worthless nor did old people perform obsequies concerning youngsters. Every creature felt pleased. Every one was intent on virtue. Turning their eyes towards Rama alone, creatures did not kill one another. While Rama was ruling the kingdom, people survived for thousands of years, with thousands of their progeny, all free of illness and grief.
While Rama ruled the kingdom, the talks of the people centered round Rama, Rama and Rama. The world became Rama's world. The trees there were bearing flowers and fruits regularly, without any injury by pests and insects. The clouds were raining in time and the wind was delightful to the touch. Brahmins (the priest-class), Kshatriyas (the warrior-class), Vaishyas (the class of merchants and agriculturists), Shudras (the servant-class) were performing their own duties, satisfied with their own work and bereft of any greed. While Rama was ruling, the people were intent on virtue and lived without telling lies.
All the people were endowed with excellent characteristics. All were engaged in virtue. Rama was engaged in the kingship thus for one thousand years. In this world, whoever person reads and listens to this foremost lyric derived from the speech of a sage, which is endowed with righteousness, conferring fame and longevity, fetching victory to kings and as written at first by Valmiki, that person is delivered from all misfortune.
On hearing the narrative of his coronation in this world, a person seeking for sons gets sons. A person looking for wealth, gets the riches. A king conquers the earth and overcomes his enemies. Even as Kausalya, the mother has Rama as her living son, or as Sumitra has Lakshmana or as Kaikeyi has Bharata, the women likewise can become mothers of living sons, endowed with children as well as grand children and thus become happy forever.
On hearing this epic of Ramayana and all the episode of victory of Rama, who was unweary in his actions, a person gets longevity to life. He or she, who hears with attention and with a subdued anger, this poetic composition done by Valmiki long ago, that person overcomes the difficulties.
Whoever hears this poetical composition written by Valmiki long ago, they at the conclusion of their absence from home, meet their relatives and get rejoiced. They get all the boons, entreated from Rama. All the gods get pleased with those who carefully listen to it.
Whoever carefully listens to the epic in his house, all obstacles come to an end. A king conquers the earth. A person staying away from home, fares well. On hearing the epic, the menstruating women give birth to excellent sons. The adorer and the reader of this ancient epic gets relieved of all sins and obtains longer life.
The epic is to be listened by warrior-class, after offering their salutation with their heads bent low, from brahmins every day regularly. There is no doubt that the listener and the reader of this entire Ramayana will get lordship and the birth of a son. Rama gets forever pleased with him who listens to or reads Ramayana daily. He is indeed the eternal Vishnu, the Lord of preservation. Rama is the primordial Lord, clearly placed before the eyes the powerful Lord removing the sins and the great-armed; who has abode on waters (of the ocean of milk) Sesha (the serpent-god forming his couch is said to be Lakshmana.
Tell this epic which occurred long ago in this manner, to those who ask for it, fearlessly. Let there be happiness to you! Let the strength of Vishnu increase! By studying and listening to this epic, all the gods get appeased. By listening to this Ramayana, the forefathers forever get pleased.
To those persons who transcribe with devotion this collection of poems depicting the story of Rama residence in heaven is assured. By listening to this highly meaningful and auspicious poetical composition, a person gets family-prosperity, augmentation in money and grain, superior women, exquisite happiness and all the acquisition of wealth on this earth. This narrative is to be listened invariably by good people, seeking for wisdom, longevity, health, fame, fraternity, intelligence, welfare and brilliance.
I suppose it is wise to be non-judgemental, especially now, as there is no hope of protection from those whose sentiments are easily and conveniently hurt! I was a bit worried about depicting Hanuman as a married man and not a Brahmachari! But I did not invent the story, so I think I am safe! It is better to be careful!
Raghunath said...
Obviously composed as an anodyne. This is an impossible outcome! However, the accent on male off spring is evident and the the neglect of the female part of the society (except the royal queens) is significant. For all the eulogy Ramayana is an improbable story in contrast to Mahabharata1
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