Ramayan of Krittivas Ojha: a study *New updt pg 11 - Page 9

@ Debi didi

Originally posted by: eyeofnewt

Thanks so much for this insightful thread, Urmilla11!!! 😛

Is there any possibility you could create a similar one based on the Telugu Ranganatha Ramayana and the Gujarati Ramayan? I know there are very interesting and different accounts of Sita's birth in those two versions (born from a golden lotus and a pot of rishis' blood, respectively).

Originally posted by: Vibhishna

Thanks a lot for the beautiful stories. Just started reading them - will try to catch up.

Aadikand

Ravan's attempt on the Hardhanu before Sita's swaymvar

Dashanan Ravan, the king of golden Lanka, heard all of these. He arrived at Mithila along with Akampan, Prahasta, Marich & Mahodar. When Janak heard this he became worried, "Now what to do? If Ravan fails he will burst into anger & surely will snatch my daughter", he said.

But Janak could not misbehave with his guest. He welcomed Ravan & offered him a beautiful singhasan. Then gently asked, "I am fortunate enough to meet you. What is the reason of your arrival?" Ravan replied, "O King! Do give me your daughter Sita, I have come to marry her." Janak told, "Oh sure! Who else can equal you as her husband? But there is a condition, King! Go & string the bowstring of Shiv's bow, & I will perform the kanya daan in no time." Ravan laughed wildly, "I have put the great Kailas Parvat on my hand, what challenge this small bow is for me! Do give me Sita first, if you wish so much I will break that bow before leaving Mithila."

Janak calmly said, "No Dashanan! You have to fulfill my promise first. All my prajas must watch & know that my promise became fulfilled & the Hardhanu had really been broken." Then Prahasta supported Janak & said to Ravan, "Do never break one's promise, king! Janak will give his Janaki after you win that bow, otherwise you will snatch her with force." At last Ravan said, "Ok, mamaji!* But remember, I will not accept any kind of excuse after winning the bow."

All people of Mithla broke down to watch Ravan's attempt. Ravan proudly entered into the room where Hardhanu was placed. He became greatly tensed watching the divine bow but did not express that feeling on his face. He applied all his twenty hands at a time on the bow but could not move it a little. Prahasta was beside him, Ravan asked, "Mamaji! What to do now? It cannot be moved", Prahasta said, "King Lankeshwar! Don't make these people of Mithila Nagari laugh at you! Forget your worry & fear, collect all of your energy & try again."

Ravan tried again & again but failed. He thought, "What's the matter? I have put Kailas & Mandar in hand but this bow seems to be heavier that the great Parvat!" He suggested Prahasta, "Let's try together", but Prahasta denied, "Then who will be decided as Sita'a husband? You have to try again, save your prestige." Ravan told, "This is beyond my capacity. Bring my chariot soon, I will return Lanka."

Before riding on his chariot, Ravan looked at Heaven in search of Indra. He thought, "Did Indra see my failure? Hopefully not." 😆

The proud king of Lanka fled from Mithila. All the Gods saw this from above & became happy.

Who can snatch the Lakshmi of Shri Lakshmipati? 😍The Hardhanu's bowstring will be stringed by Lord Narayan only! ⭐️

* Here Prahasta is shown as Ravan's maternal uncle.

Lankakand

Hanuman finds out Ravan's mrityu-vaan

Vibhishon said, "My Lord! When we three brothers performed tapasya & Lord Bramha appeared, Dashanan wished to be immortal as a boon. Bramha denied giving such boon but Ravan did not change his mind. Then Bramha said, 'Don't worry, Dashanan! I will make you immortal with an indirect boon. If your ten heads or twenty hands are slashed by enemy you will be still alive. No weapon would be able to harm you. Only one arrow (vaan) I am giving you, when this Bramha vaan will enter into your body you will be killed. So accept it & keep very carefully. Remember, if your enemy finds it once, you can no more be saved.'

This is the fact, my Lord! Queen Mandodari has kept that arrow with great care. I don't know where she has hidden that mrityu-vaan. "

Shri Ram sighed, "Then we are helpless, friend! Who dare to enter into Mandodari's room at Ravan's palace? Even Gods cannot enter there", but Hanuman stood up & said with full confidence, "Why are you being worried so much, Raghunath? I will bring it to you at once." Hanuman offered his pranaam to Lord's feet & seeking his blessings, he entered into Ravan's palace with disguise of an old Brahmin. He had books & danda in his hand, & sandal on his forehead. "May King Ravan live long" he was uttering again & again. He introduced himself as an astrologer.

Mandodari heard that a Brahmin & wise astrologer has arrived. She called him at once. Hanuman entered into her chamber & took his seat on kushasan, rejecting the golden seat given by the queen. Then he told the queen, "I am equipped with all knowledge of astrology. I am a well wisher of Lankeshwar. He is in great danger now; I came to bless him for his victory. O queen! You have a very precious wealth in your hand! If you can protect it nobody can conquer your husband. So don't worry at all!"

Mandodari asked, "What is that wealth, Lord?" Hanuman said, "I came to know it with my prediction. The king's life & death is in your chamber." Mandodari said, "I cannot understand what you are watching in my room." Hanuman smiled, "No, queen! Don't try to cheat me! I know very high level of astrology. I can tell about each & everything of this Lankapuri. Anyway, remember what I say. Even if Lord Bramha himself come here & ask you about that precious thing, never express where you have kept it."

The queen became astonished very much. How this Brahmin could know about that vaan? She realized that he is not an ordinary astrologer. She said, "I have carefully hidden it." Hanuman told, "Happy to hear this from you. Be careful & alert about it." Saying this he was about to leave the room, but turned suddenly & said, "Queen, You are an ignorant woman. Yes I agree that you have kept it with sufficient care but I cannot trust you fully. This is the life & death question of our king! You know, the betrayer Vibhishon is a great enemy of king. He can cause a danger at any moment. There is no place in Lanka which is unknown to Vibhishon! How can our king be saved?"

Then Mandodari told him, "Lord! You need not worry about it! If it could be seen externally I could not save it from Vibhishon. You are a great well wisher of king. I can happily express the secret to you. Bless him that nobody can touch it. It is hidden within this pillar!"

Maruti saw the pillar mentioned by the queen. He kicked on it. The pillar broke down & the arrow comes out. Hanuman took the arrow & coming to his original form, jumped to Ram's camp in no time. He offered the arrow to Shri Ram who hugged him affectionately. All the vanar heroes shouted, "Jai Shri Ram!" 😃

Originally posted by: Urmila11

Before riding on his chariot, Ravan looked at Heaven in search of Indra. He thought, "Did Indra see my failure? Hopefully not." 😆

ROTFL 🤣

The proud king of Lanka fled from Mithila. All the Gods saw this from above & became happy.

Who can snatch the Lakshmi of Shri Lakshmipati? 😍The Hardhanu's bowstring will be stringed by Lord Narayan only! ⭐️

And who can lift the bow of Mahadev against Mahadev's own will?😉😃

* Here Prahasta is shown as Ravan's maternal uncle.

Yeah. That's quite evident at quite a few places in your story. There can be multiple persons in the same dynasty with the same name and there can be a slightly different relation with the same person in different kalp Ramayan. Either of these two possibilities are open.

Lankakand

Ravan expresses his Birodhi Bhakti to Mandodari

Ravan smiled a little, "Queen Mandodari! You are a complete foolish!

Lol!!!!!!! Who is explaining/preaching whom? Or rather who is required to preach whom? Who is more eligible? What an amazing opposite explanation of the same event!!!!!!!!! Our beloved and sympathyworthy Mandodari is actually made look like foolish & sympathyworthy in a different sense this time with such a high level spirituality preached by Ravan.

Sita Thakurani is Shakti-swarupini Mahalakshmi, I know this very well & you need not explain the same to me. Even the great saints cannot keep Her in their house in spite of performing jap-jagya-pujas, I never worshipped Her, but see, that Mahalakshmi is present at my house door!

Babu moshay!!!!!!😉😆 Ham sab is rangmanch ki kathputliyan hain!!!! Aur ab rangmanch ka parda girne hi wala hai...😃

All the rishis worship with hard tapasya but can neither get darshan, nor realize His actual swaroop, such Lord Ram Himself thinks me, leaving food & sleep! His heart is full only with my form; He is only thinking when He will slay me!

Wonderful and clear elaboration of Ravan's virodhi bhakti we have been knowing & discussing often about. Ye to Kevat ke jaisa trickster nikla. Aur bhakti kar hi nahi raha karaa bhi raha hai Bhagwan se.😛 Buddhiyog dono taraf se. Action and reaction are same. God's response.

If I have the fortune to be killed by Him, Yamdoot can never touch me! Vishnudoot will carry me on divine viman & I will straightly reach Vaikunth-lok! See, Mandodari! The Indra & Devatas are my servants in this life, when I will reach Vaikunth, then also I will be placed above them. Thus Ravan will keep his supremacy unaltered even after his death. You don't realize these things, so you are telling me 'unfortunate'. Truth is that there is no fortunate like me in this universe!"

Itni height of devotion aur spiritual knowledge tak pohonch kar bhi uske dimag me Indra ke sath ki rivalry phir se aayee?? 😆 But what a competition to have if it is for this destination. Shouldn't there be a dialog now in the source of Ravan with Ram/Vishnu at the time of leaving the body that "Sorry dear!!! Yamdoot can't come to touch you and you are killed by my own hands; but I can't carry you to Vaikunth still because you still have to be born again for the third time in Dwapar (This was your 2nd birth). I will only carry you after that with me. I know I have killed you. But this is the curse we have to make true together which is still in progress."