Page 22 - Ramayana - Eng
P. 22
Rāmāyaṇa
acclaim of their expert recitation of His transcendental
pastimes, Lord Rāma took great pleasure in inviting
them to His palace to recite the Rāmāyaṇa. Still, although
they were His sons, He did not recognize them.
After respectfully receiving the twin sages, the Lord
invited them into His royal assembly. Lord Rāma observed
that the boys, although dressed as ascetic brāhmaṇas, had
the features of kṣatriyas. Speaking to His brothers, Bharata,
Lakṣmaṇa and Śatrughna, Rāma said, “O best of King
Raghu’s dynasty, please listen to this wonderful narration.
Although these two singers appear like ascetics, they have
the marks of great rulers. Listen to this story, because it is
full of literary beauty and has universal appeal.”
As Lava and Kuśa began the narration of the beautiful
epic poem, Rāma and His brothers soon forgot everything
else, becoming fully absorbed in hearing the Rāmāyaṇa. The
bonds of material existence can be completely cut by simply
chanting and hearing the Lord’s glories.
GGGbHHH
The great tract of land known as Kosala extended along the
banks of the Sarayū River. This land was verdant, prosperous
and rich in grain. Within this vast territory was the renowned
city of Ayodhyā, built by the desire of Vaivasvata Manu, the
ruler of mankind. This glorious city was ninety-six miles
long and twenty-four miles wide. It was well laid out, and its
beautiful, straight roads were perfumed with scented water
sprayed from the trunks of intoxicated elephants. Every day,
the damsels of the celestial planets hovered above it in their
beautiful airplanes and showered it with flowers.