The Observation of the Spies

1. Having heard this charming account of the powerful Lava the sage entertaining a doubt again asked the serpent (i.e. Shesha) having a thousand faces. Shri Vatsydyana said:

2-3. Formerly you had said that Rama due to the censure by a washerman and ardently longing for fame abandoned Sita all alone in the forest. Where were the two sons born to Janaki (i.e. Sita)? Where did they learn archery? How did they learn the science which enabled them to take away the horse of Rama? Vyasa said:

4. Hearing these words of the sage, the very intelligent serpent Shesha praised the brahmana and narrated to him the wonderful deeds of Rama. Shesha said:

5-8. Protecting according to dharma a part of the earth, along with his wife Rama ruled in Ayodhya with his brothers. Sita retained his semen (i.e. Sita conceived), and five months had passed (i.e. her pregnancy was five months old). The queen shone very much like the triad (of Vedas) holding the Supreme Being. Some time Rama asked (Sita) the daughter of Videha (king Janaka): "What is your cherished wish? I shall fulfil it." The chaste lady, getting abashed, was asked in private only. With her words faltering through abashment she said these nectar(-like) words to Rama: Sit a said:

9-17. By your grace I have enjoyed everything and shall enjoy good (things). O dear one, no cherished wish remains in my mind. She whose lord is like you whose good feet are praised by gods, has all excellent (things). Nothing remains (to be secured). You are asking with persistence about the cherished wish present in my mind. (So) O you charming lord, I tell the truth to you. O lord, a long time has passed since I saw the chaste ladies like Lopamudra. O lord, my mind becomes eager to see those beautiful ladies. With you I obtained the kingdom and lived happily. I am ungrateful (as I have not seen them). Desirous of saluting them some time, I, having gone (to them) shall honour them, the treasures of penance, with garments etc. I shall also offer them bright gems and ornaments, so that the chaste ladies gratified by me will give me pleasant blessings. This, O dear one, is the longing in my mind. (Please) fulfil it. Hearing these very charming words of Sita, Ramachandra who was very much pleased, said to his beloved (i.e. SIta): "O JanakI, you are lucky. In the morning you will go, and having seen those ladies with penance as their wealth, (and thus) having made yourself blessed, you will come back near (i.e. to) me."

18-26. Hearing these words of Rama she was extremely pleased. (She thought): 'In the morning I shall certainly see the female-ascetics.'The spies who were sent to ascertain his fame that was reported (by others) slowly went to him at night. Everyday listening to very charming stories about Rama, they had that day gone to the large house of a rich man. Seeing a lamp burning and noticing (i.e. hearing) human voices, the spies remained there for a moment, and heard the great giory (of Rama). There a certain beautiful lady pleased with her child sucking her breasts, said these pleasing words to it: "O son, drink (i.e. suck) as much pleasing milk of me as you like. O my son, later it will be dimcult for you to have it. Rama, shining like the petals of a blue lotus, is the lord of this city. Therefore, the people living in the city will not be reborn. How can there be the drinking (i.e. sucking) of milk in the absence of birth? Therefore, thinking in your mind that the milk is (later) difficult to obtain, drink (suck) it repeatedly. For them also who will remember Shri Rama, meditate upon and talk about him, there will certainly be no drinking (i.e. sucking) of (the mother's) milk (i e. they will not be reborn)."

27-38. Hearing these words — the nectar of Rama's glory, they being delighted went to another house — a great house of a fortunate person. Just then, another spy, thinking that it was a pleasant house, remained there for a moment with a desire to listen to Rama's glory. There a beautiful lady, chewing tambula, affectionately offered it to her husband, seated on a couch. She, abounding in beauty, fumigated with camphor and agaru (sandal), seeing her husband, and with her eyes moving said with her bangles making a jingling sound to him having the form of Cupid: "O lord, you appear to me like the lord of Raghu (family) having an extremely handsome and very delicate body, a pair of eyes with their corners resembling lotuses, an attractive and expansive chest, and arms with armlets — you are to me actually Rama." He, handsome like Cupid, having heard these very pleasant words of his wife, dancing (i.e. moving) the corners of his eyes, said: ''Listen, O darling, you, a chaste lady, have spoken very pleasant (words). It is proper for the loyal wives that their husbands are just like Rama to them; but (see), where am I, the luckless one, and where is that great, fortunate Rama? (i.e. there is a great disparity between Rama and me). Where am I, small like an insect, and where (is Rama) worshipped by gods like Brahma? Where is the fire-fly, the gem of the sky, and where is the low moth? Where is the lord of beasts (i.e. the lion), the enemy of the elephants,and where is the dull-witted hare?Where is that respectable Ganga, and where is the water on the street flowing the wrong way? Where is Mem, the abode of the gods, and where is a small heap of the gunja fruits? Similarly, where am I, and where is Rama, by (the touch of) the dust of whose feet the lady who was reduced to a stone, became in a moment one having the form that enticed (even) Brahma?"

39-45. With passion produced in her, taken away by love for him, and making her eye-brows like bows dance (i.e. knitting her eye-brows), she embraced her husband who was speaking these words. Hearing words like these, the spy went to another house. Just then another spy heard words full of glory. Some lady making ready all (things) like a bed with flowers (strewn over it), sandal with camphor, fit for love-making, said (these) words to her husband: "O my lord, lie on the bed with flowers (strewn over it) and fit for enjoyment, also have smearing with sandal etc., so also enjoyment in various ways. People like you alone deserve enjoyment, and not those who are averse to Rama, Enjoy properly everything that is obtained through Rama's grace. A loving (wife) like me, sandal removing torment, a bed with flowers arranged over it — all (this) is due to Rama's grace. Those men who will not worship Rama are deprived of garments, enjoyments etc. and are not able to fill their belly (i.e. to maintain themselves)."

46-51. To the lady who was speaking like this, the husband who was delighted, said: "You are telling the truth; I have everything due to the grace of Rama." The spy, hearing about Rama's glory, went (away). Just then a spy, remaining in someone else's house, heard (these) words. A certain lady engaged in playing upon the lute with her husband on the bed, to whom her husband was singing the glory of Rama, said to her busband: "O lord, we in whose city lord Shri Rama himself is the king and protects his subjects like his own sons, are most fortunate. The great feat, difficult to perform, which he performed, is not easy to do: He controlled the ocean and built a bridge over it; he having killed his enemy Ravana, after having shattered it with (the help of) the monkeys, brought (back) Sita. Thus he performed a great act."

52-56. Hearing this speech containing very sweet words, the husband smiled, and again said these words to her: "O innocent, beautiful lady, this is not a great feat of Ramachandra, viz. the killing of Ravana etc. or controlling the ocean etc. He, the great one, requested by Brahma etc. easily came (down) to the earth and performed good deeds which remove great sins. Do not look upon Rama who gives joy to Kausalya, as a human being. He who sportively obtained humanhood(i.e. was born as a human being), creates, protects and destroys the world. We are lucky that we see Rama's lotus-like face which is difficult to be seen by gods like Brahma.'"

57-67. He heard the deeds of Ramachandra, giving delight to the ears. The spy that stood at the door repeatedly heard such words. Another spy having gone to another house stood there to listen to Hari's (i.e. Rama's) glory. There also he heard the splendid glory of Shri Ramabhadra. A very beautiful lady, playing with dice with her husband, as it were causing her banglesto dance, spoke (these) sweet words: "O dear one, I have speedily won everything; what will you, having a mind to win, do (now)?" Saying these words in jest shejoyfullyembracedher husband. The husband said: "O you of a beautiful body, O you very charming one, T alone have won. T, who always remember Rama, do not have a defeat anywhere. Remembering Rama, the charming one, I shall just now vanquish you, as formerly the gods after remembering him, vanquished Diti's sons (i.e. the demons) in a moment." Saying so he turned over the dice. Just then he won; being delighted he said these words: "What I said has come true; I have defeated you, O young lady. One who remembers Rama has never any fear from one's enemy." Speaking like this they who longed for each other, tightly embraced each other. Then the spy went home. Thus the five great spies, having heard the glory of the king and praising one another gladly went home. One, the sixth spy, having seen the houses of artisans, went there desiring to hear (about) the glory of the king, the lord of the earth.

68-73. A washerman, with his eyes red due to anger and full of anger kicked his wife who had stayed at another's house, and despised her: ''From my house, go to the house of him where you stayed for a day. I shall not accept you who violate my commands." Then his mother said to him: "Do not abandon her who has come (back) to (our) house, who has not committed any fault, and who is free from bad acts." The angry washerman said to his mother: "I am not as great as Rama as to accept (my wife) who stayed in another's house. Whatever that king does, might by lawful; (but) I will not accept my wife who has stayed in another's house." He again and again said these words: "I am not king Rama who protected Sita that had stayed in another's house."

74-79. Having heard these words, the spy was full of anger. He took a sword in hisjiandand decided to kill him (i.e. the washerman). He (then) recollected Rama's words: "None of my subjects should be killed." Realising this, he, of a noble mind, wrathfully withdrew (his sword). On hearing (the washerman's words), he was very much afflicted with grief, and being angry and breathing out and in repeatedly (i.e. repeatedly sighing) he went where the five spies stood. They met one another there, and told (one another) the deeds of Rama honoured by all people without an exception, and heard by them. Having heard his words they told one another: "This censure uttered by a wicked man should not be reported to Raghunatha (i.e. Rama)." Having thus spoken to one another, the eager ones went (home) and slept, after having mentally decided: 'In the morning, we shall tell the king'.

1-9. Having performed the daily morning duties, having duly gratified the brahmanas, the most learned in the Vedas, with presents of gold, he went to the assembly. All men went to the assembly to salute Raghunatha, the king looking after all the subjects like his own sons. Lakshmana had held an umbrella over the king's head. Bharata and Shatrughna had at that time held the chowries. Sages led by Vasishtha attended there (upon Rama). Ministers led by Sumantra who did justice, (were present) there. When the time moved on like this, the six well-adorned spies came to salute the king seated in the assembly. Seeing them desirous of speaking, the best king, being eager, entered the interior, private chamber in the assembly. The good-minded king asked all the spies in private: '-O spies, O you who restrain your enemies, tell me correctly how people talk about me; how (they talk) about my wife; in what way do they talk about the acts of my ministers?" Hearing these words the spies spoke in a grave tone like that of the (thundering) clouds to the lord of the Raghus who was asking them. The spies said:

10-17. O lord, now your fame purifies all people in the world. We heard it, being told by men and women in every house. You the Supreme Being, went to the earth to adorn the great family of Vivasvat. You have largely spread your fame. (In that family) many famous and very mighty (kings) were (born) but they did not have that fame as you have. You, the lord, have made blessed all the subjects that do not have an untimely death and trouble from disease. As the moon, or as the river Ganga illumines the earth, your good fame illumines the earth. Having heard (about) your fame, Brahma and others are very much ashamed. O lord, everywhere your fame now purifies the people. We all who are your spies, O lord, are most blessed, (since) every moment we see your charming face.

Having seen (i.e. heard) these words of the five spies, he asked the sixth one whose face was marked with abashment. Rama said:

18-21. O you very intelligent one, tell me truly what you have heard (being talked) in the commingling (i.e. crowd) of people. Tell all that to me as it is. Otherwise you are a sinner. Again and again, and fast, Rama asked him in detail. Yet he did not tell Rama the words of the people (i.e. popular scandal). Then Rama said to the spy with an abashed face: ''I swear you with truth. Tell me everything properly." Then a spy slowly said (these) words to the spy: "You have to tell what was said by the artisans, even if it is not fit to be told." The spy said:

22-30. O lord, except that your wife stayed in the demon's house, your fame due to your having killed Ravana has (spread) everywhere. But an artisan — a washerman — despising his wife who had stayed in another's house, beat her at night. His mother said to him: "Why do you beat this innocent one? Accept the woman (i.e. your wife); do not censure her; follow my words (of advice)." Then the washerman said: ''I am not king Rama who accepted Sita that had stayed in the demon's house." O lord, (the washerman further said:) ''Every act done by a king is proper. The act of others, even though they perform meritorious deeds, is improper." Again and again he said: "I am not king Rama." I got angry. (But) just at that time I remembered your words (viz. 'Do not kill a human being'). (I also thought:) 'Cutting his head I (should) at that time knock him on the ground.' Then I thought: 'Where is Rama and where is the washerman? (i.e. there is a great disparity between Rama and the washerman). This wicked one is telling a lie. He is not speaking the truth'. O Rama, if you order I (shall) kill him now. Due to your persistence, I told you about the analogy, though (really) it should not have been told. The king is the authority here (i.e. in this matter). Let him think (what is relevant).

31-32. Hearing these words which were like the great thunderbolt, (Rama) heaving and breathing repeatedly fell unconscious. Seeing the king (fallen) unconscious, the spies full of grief fanned him with the end of their garments to remove (Rama's) grief.

33-40. The king who regained consciousness after some time, said to them: ''Go and quickly send Bharata to me." The spies carrying messages and grieved, quickly went to Bharata's house and told (him) Rama's message. The intelligent Bharata, having heard Rama's message went to the assembly. Learning that Rama was in the private (chamber), he quickly came to him, and the noble-minded one said to the door-keeper:''Where is that Ramabhadra, (that) treasure of kindness, my brother?" The hero went to the house charming with gems, indicated by him. Seeing Rama tired out, he became afraid in his mind:'Is this Rama angry? Or is it the grief of the lord?' Then he said to the king, heaving repeatedly: "O lord, how is that your face which is easily pleased, is hanging (like this)? Your face, due to the tears appears like the moon eclipsed by Rahu. Tell me the full and true cause. What do (i.e. should) I do for you? O great king, give up your grief. How can you be the receptacle of grief?"

41-46. The righteous h^ro Ramachandra, who was thus being spoken to by his brother, spoke to him in a faltering voice: ''O brother, listen to my words. (Listen to) the cause of my grief. O very intelligent one, this morning remove it. In the family of Vivasvat no king was (ever) hurt by infamy. My fame today has become foul; Ganga has been joined by Yamuna. The life of those kings only is good on the earth who have fame. The life of those who are wounded by infamy is like (that of) the dead. Those who would have fame on the earth, go to eternal worlds. Those who are bitten by the female serpent in the form of infamy, would go down. Today my fame, the divine river in the world, has become turbid. Listen to the words which the washerman said about me.

47-52. In this city a washerman today uttered certain censurable words about Janaki (i.e. Sita). Then, O brother, what should I do on the earth? Should I abandon myself (i.e. should I commit suicide) today: or should I abandon my wife Janaki? Which of the two should I do? Tell me what is proper." Speaking like this Rama, the crest-jewel of Dharma shedding tears and with his body shaken with horripilation, fell on the ground. Seeing his brother fallen, Bharata, full of grief, having examined him carefully, slowly brought Rama (back) to consciousness. Having seen Ramachandra who was very much grieved, to have regained consciousness, he spoke very charming words to remove his grief: "Who is this washerman? Which censurable words did he utter? I shall cutoff the tongue of him who censures Janaki."

53-60. Then Rama told the words that came out of the washerman's mouth (i.e. that were uttered by the washerman) and that were heard by the spy, to the magnanimous Bharata. Hearing them, Bharata said to his brother who was afflicted with grief: "Brahma said: 'She is pure'. Your father Dasaratha also (said the same thing). (Then) how should she respected by the world, be abandoned merely on (the strength of) the washerman's words? Your fame praised by Brahma and others, purifies the worlds. How will it be turbid today due to the words of the washerman? Therefore, give up the great grief due to the censure of Sita. Look after the kingdom along with her — the very fortunate one — who is pregnant. How do you wish to abandon your charming body? Without you who remove our grief, we all are doomed today. That very glorious Sita will not live without you (even) for a moment. Therefore, with (that) loyal wife enjoy ample glory." Hearing these words of Bharata, the righteous (king), the best among the eloquent, again spoke these words to him:

61-64. "O brother, whatever you say is all just. But by my order, carry out the words which I utter. I know that she is purified in fire, is chaste and is honoured by the world. (But) I am afraid of public scandal. (Therefore) I (shall) abandon my (wife) Janaki. So, taking in your hand a sharp and very fierce sword, (either) cut off (my) head, or abandon (my) wife Janaki in the forest." Hearing these words of Rama, Bharata, with tremor in his body and tears (in his eyes), fell unconscious on the ground.

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