Chapter 22 - On the Puranas (continued, 2)

The great Muni, Valmiki, composed the Ramayana. In it he has given a description of the life of Rama, and incidentally has laid down rules for the conduct of women, kings, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, house-holders, and others. He has given a description of the gods and has also dealt with friendship and enmity. All men who are desirous of their wellbeing should read the Ramayana and try to understand its meaning^[1]. He who has a complete copy of the book in his house is free from sin and danger, and the house which does not contain it is shunned by the manes of the ancestors and by the gods. The man who, through negligence or want of time, does not read daily even one chapter, or half a chapter, or one sloka^[2] or even half a sloka, is the worst of men. If a five year old child commits to memory the first sloka of the Ramayana, commencing with the words “Ma nishada”, he is sure to become a great poet when he comes of age. All the pilgrimages are crowded together at the place where the book is recited, and the deceased ancestors and the gods come to hear the recital.