Chapter 32 - Satyamandira Established

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Vyāsa said:

1 -6. Thereupon those messengers of Rāma bowed down to Rāma and spoke: “O Rāma, O mighty one, an excellent lady of splendid countenance (was seen by us). On seeing that lonely lady bedecked in excellent garments and ornaments and sweet-speaking, lamenting loudly, we became surprised. We went near her and the celestial beauty was asked: “Who are you, O excellent divine lady? Are you a goddess or a demoness, O lady? It is Rāma who asks you. Tell all facts to us.” On hearing those words, that lady spoke sweet words: “Welfare unto you all. Send Rāma (here) who will be the proper man to remove my misery.” On hearing it, Rāma hastened there with excitement. On seeing her distressed with grief, he too became very miserable. With palms joined together, Rāma said:

Śrīrāma said:

7. O splendid lady, who are you? Whose wife (are you)? By whom have you been abandoned in this lonely place? By whom has your money been robbed. O mother, speak everything to me.

8-9. After saying thus, the extremely miserable Rāma, the most excellent one among intelligent persons, who appeared like another Discus-bearing Lord, prostrated before her like a straight log.

Rāma also was saluted in return by her and bowed to again and again. He was eulogized in sweet words by her, since she was extremely delighted:

10-18. “O Supreme Soul, O great ruler, O eternal one, O remover of miseries! The task for which you have taken the incarnation has been carried out by you.

Innumerable demons have been vanquished by you on the battlefield. They are terrible fellows like Rāvaṇa, Kuṃbhakarṇa, Khara, Dūṣaṇa, Triśiras, Mārīca, Akṣakumāra, Indrajit and others.

How can I adequately describe your excellent form, O lord of the worlds? Brahmā born of the lotus coming out of your body, saw the entire universe embedded therein, just as a leaf of a banyan tree is regarded as the banyan tree itself. Blessed is Daśaratha in the world and Kausalyā, your mother, inasmuch as, O Govinda, the lord of the universe, you, the Supreme Being, were born of them.

Blessed is that family, O Rāma, wherein you came (were born) yourself. Blessed is the city of Ayodhyā, O Rāma, and blessed are the people who have resorted to you.

Blessed is Poet Vālmīki by whom, through his intelligence, Rāmāyaṇa was composed in advance for prominent Brāhmaṇas.

This family too has been excessively sanctified by you, O Lord.

You are a part of Viṣṇu but are being remembered as a king by people. Possessing excellent and charming good qualities, you yourself are verily Viṣṇu.

You pre-meditated on some task (to be accomplished) for the good of the universe and have taken the incarnation. May you have no impediments while carrying it out here, O dear one.”

19. She eulogized Rāma in her speech, and said: “While you are the ruler at present, I have been desolate for a long time, as if it is a fault (of mine).

20. Know me to be the presiding deity of the holy place Dharmāraṇya. I have been extremely miserable for the last twelve years that have elapsed.

21-23. O highly intelligent one, remove my desolate state today. O Rāma, all the Brāhmaṇas and all the merchants have fled to all the ten quarters and they are extremely distressed wherever they stay now.

That Daitya who terrified all the Devas has been killed by the Devas themselves. The unassailable Daitya of great Māyā (deception) had attacked this place. Hence those people do not come. They are extremely terrified and suspicious of him.

24-34. For twelve years till date, the whole place is like a place bereft of any protector. It is no better than a desolate house.

People used to take holy ablutions and perform Dāna rites in many tanks here. Today pigs fall therein.

Where women enjoyed aquatic sports in the company of their husbands, there buffaloes plunge themselves into the water-tanks.

In the place where bunches of flowers lay scattered profusely, thorny shrubs and hedges abound now. It is infested by tigers and lions.

In the grounds where boys incessantly played about, cubs of panthers^[1] are roaming and playing with great delight.

Where the Brāhmaṇas chanted Vedic hymns continuously, terrible howls of jackals are heard there.

Where formerly the (fragrant) smoke from Agnihotra sacrifices was seen coming up in every house very widely, immense forest fires are visible with profuse smoke there.

Where dancers used to perform dance programmes in front of the Brāhmaṇas, there deluded ghosts and vampires continue their disgusting devilish dances.

Where kings used to hold courts and take counsels, there wild oxen, bears and porcupines lie relaxing.

Where formerly there were abodes of the Brāhmaṇas and the merchants, there are now seen paved floors full of hollows. The hollows of trees form their windows everywhere.

Where quadrangular lofty altars made for sacrifices occurred before, there they are now seen covered by anthills.

35-36. O Rāma who are excellent among kings, know that my abode has become of this sort. Since it is totally desolate, it is not fit for dwelling. Hence the Brāhmaṇas went away. Therefore, I am excessively miserable. Hence, save me, O lord of men.”

On hearing this, Rāma, foremost among eloquent persons, spoke thus:

Śrīrāma said:

37-38. I do not know your Brāhmaṇas who have resorted to all the four quarters. I do not know the number of these Brāhmaṇas nor their names and Gotras.

Therefore kindly tell me the names of their Gotras and kinsmen correctly. Then I shall bring them all and rehabilitate them in their respective places.

Śrīmātā said:

39-43. Eighteen thousand Brāhmaṇas well-versed in the Vedas and divided into sixty-four Gotras were established, O lord of men, by Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśa. They are well-known in the world as conversant with the Vedic sciences, O king of immeasurable splendour.

Śrīmātā taught the Vedic science to these well-established Brāhmaṇas of sixty-four Gotras. All of them are excellent Brāhmaṇas. There were thirty-six thousand righteous merchants. It should be known that they were of noble conduct. They were eagerly engaged in serving the Brāhmaṇas.

The deity Bahulārka (Bakulārka?) shines here along with Goddess Saṃjñā. So also the twin gods, Aśvins. Dhanada (Kubera) meets all the expenses. I am known, O Rāma, by the name Bhaṭṭārikā. I am the presiding deity.

Śrī Sūta said:

44. The special code of conduct and formalities pertaining to the holy place and the special traditional family observances—everything was described by Śrīmātā in the presence of Rāma.

45-47. Hearing her words, Rāma was delighted: “Truth, truth, again it is the real truth! Truth has been spoken by you. Since the truth has been spoken by you, I shall colonise a splendid city by that name. O Moṃer of the uṃverse, it shall be (known as) ‘Satyamandira’. May this Satyamandira of excellent nature be well-known in all the three worlds.”

48. After saying this, Rāma despatched a hundred thousand of his servants for the purpose of bringing back the Brāhmaṇas.

[Rāma ordered:]

49-53. “Wherever the excellent Brāhmaṇas, the former residents of Dharmāraṇya, might have gone, (whether to) countries, zones, forests, banks of rivers, plots bordering the holy spot or villages in different areas, immediately bring them here after honouring them with Arghya, Pādya etc.

I shall take food here only when I see the excellent Brāhmaṇas (back). He who comes here after insulting these Brāhmaṇas shall be deemed worthy of being killed, punished or exiled from the country.”

On hearing that terrible, unbearable and unassailable order, the messengers complying with the orders of Rāma, went to all the ten directions.

54. The Brāhmaṇas were duly traced. On meeting them all were delighted. The (servants) worshipped and honoured them in accordance with the stipulated injunctions.

55-59. They duly eulogized with humility and conventional reverence. Addressing all the Brāhmaṇas, they proclaimed to them the words of Rāma.

Thereupon, all those Brāhmaṇas accompanied by the servants began to get ready for going. The Brāhmaṇas engrossed in Vedic and scriptural studies approached Rāma with due honour and veneration.

On seeing the Brāhmaṇas arrived, the king, the son of Daśaratha, had his hair standing all over his body (through a thrill of joy). He considered himself as one who had successfully achieved his task.

He hastily got up, extremely thrilled (with joy) and walked ahead on foot. He knelt before them with palms joined together and shed tears of joy. He spoke thus:

60. “With the favour of Brāhmaṇas, I have become the consort of Kamalā (Lakṣmī). Due to the favour of Brāhmaṇas I have become the uplifter of the earth. With the favour of Brāhmaṇas I have become the lord of the universe. With the favour of Brāhmaṇas I have become known by the name of Rāma.”

61-65. Saying thus, the Brāhmaṇas were made greatly delighted by Rāma. They revered him with good wishes of victory and blessed him to be long-lived.

They were won over by Rāma with Pādya, Arghya and offering of seats. He prostrated before them and eulogized them. Standing with joined palms, he bowed down to their feet.

Rāma, the son of Daśaratha, offered to them different kinds of seats and golden ornaments.

He gave them rings and garments, sacred threads and ear-rings. He gave cows of different colours to the prominent Brāhmaṇas. To each of them he gave a hundred cows along with their calves. All of them had udders as big as pots. Cloths were spread over the cows. Bells were tied round their necks. Their horns were bedecked (capped with) in gold, their hoofs with silver, and their backs with copper. Brass vessels too were given to them in addition.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Citraka is a hyper-sanskritisation of the new Indo-Aryan word ‘Cītā’.