RAMAAYAANA ... 2

RAMAAYAANA ... 2

(Adapted from C. Rajagopalachari's book 'Ramayana by Sugata Bose)

Out of the fire of the sacrifice arose a celestial figure holding a golden bowl containing payasam (rice pudding) which he exhorted Dasarath to feed his wives whereupon they would conceive sons. The king carried out the divine commandment and in due course Ram, Bharat, Lakshman and Shatrughna were born to Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra respectively with Sumitra becoming the mother of twins, Lakshman and Shatrughna.

The four sons of Dasarath grew to maturity armed in all the virtues of kshatriyas and erudition in the scriptures which they mastered in sage Vashishtha's ashram.