Dasharatha

amarx chitra

 __ 1

katha/ 

No. 105 Rs. 2

T H E S T O R Y O F R A M A ' S F A TH TH E R  

Our Amar Chitra Katha, Dasharatha, has been drawn dra wn mainly from Valmiki's famous epic poem— Ramayana. Ravana, an evil Rakshasa, had performed severe penances and obtained a boon from Brahma. No celestial being, being, be it Yaksha, Gandharva Gandha rva or Deva, could kill kill him. him. Armed with w ith this boon, he invaded Amaravati, Amarav ati, the city of the Devas and and played havoc among among its its inhabiinha bitants. Distressed, they appealed to Vishnu. On earth at that time, Dasharatha, the prosperous, wise and just king of Ayodhya, bent on obtaining a son, was engaged in performing a series of sacrifices. To help the Devas De vas Vishnu Vishnu decided to manifest manifest himself himself on earth and destroy Ravana, since Brahma's boon did not protect Ravana Rav ana from men. en. And he chose chos e to be born as as four sons to the three queens of Dasharatha. As Dasharatha delighted in his growing sons, particularly cularly in Rama the eldest, little litt le did he dream that the curse, hurled at him him for a sin committed committ ed by him in ignorance ignora nce when he was w as a mere mere lad, lad, wo woul uld d materialize materialize with an impact that would be the death of him.

° Paper

by

the the

used for the printing of this book was made available Government Government

of

India at concession al

rat es' 1

Printed by H. K. Nasta at IBH Printers, Marol Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, And her i East, Bombay400 059 059 and published by H. G. Mirch andani, andani , for India India Book House Education Trus t, 29, W ode ho use Road, Bombay Bombay4 4000 00039. 39.

Editor: Ana nt Pai

Ass ocia te Edito ditor. r.-- Kamala Cha ndr akan t

Illustrations: M. N. Nangare

Our Amar Chitra Katha, Dasharatha, has been drawn dra wn mainly from Valmiki's famous epic poem— Ramayana. Ravana, an evil Rakshasa, had performed severe penances and obtained a boon from Brahma. No celestial being, being, be it Yaksha, Gandharva Gandha rva or Deva, could kill kill him. him. Armed with w ith this boon, he invaded Amaravati, Amarav ati, the city of the Devas and and played havoc among among its its inhabiinha bitants. Distressed, they appealed to Vishnu. On earth at that time, Dasharatha, the prosperous, wise and just king of Ayodhya, bent on obtaining a son, was engaged in performing a series of sacrifices. To help the Devas De vas Vishnu Vishnu decided to manifest manifest himself himself on earth and destroy Ravana, since Brahma's boon did not protect Ravana Rav ana from men. en. And he chose chos e to be born as as four sons to the three queens of Dasharatha. As Dasharatha delighted in his growing sons, particularly cularly in Rama the eldest, little litt le did he dream that the curse, hurled at him him for a sin committed committ ed by him in ignorance ignora nce when he was w as a mere mere lad, lad, wo woul uld d materialize materialize with an impact that would be the death of him.

° Paper

by

the the

used for the printing of this book was made available Government Government

of

India at concession al

rat es' 1

Printed by H. K. Nasta at IBH Printers, Marol Naka, Mathuradas Vissanji Road, And her i East, Bombay400 059 059 and published by H. G. Mirch andani, andani , for India India Book House Education Trus t, 29, W ode ho use Road, Bombay Bombay4 4000 00039. 39.

Editor: Ana nt Pai

Ass ocia te Edito ditor. r.-- Kamala Cha ndr akan t

Illustrations: M. N. Nangare

DASHA DASHA RA RATH THA A , TH TH E S O N O F f i d f t A ND N D I N DU DU// V\ ATI, WAS WAS THE 6 ELOVED CROW N PR IN CE  O F AYODHY AYODHYA, A, THE CAPIT APITAL AL O F THE FLOURI SH IN G KI N GD OM O F KOSRLA O N THE  BA NK S OF THE RIVER RIVER SARAYU. LI K E HIS FATHER  FATHER , YOU N G DASHARATHA WAS A SK ILFUL AR CHER.H E COUL COULD D H IT HIS TARGET GUIDE GUIDED D ON LY BY SO UN D . AND HE  LOVE LOVED TO EXERCISE EXERCISE THIS S K IL L .

I ONE DARK, RAINY NIGHT I AS DASHARAT DASHAR ATHA HA WAS WAS LOOKIN G  OUT FOR FOR GAM E 

f,A f,A WHAT HAT’S THAT HA T? ^ ^ A THIR5TY IR5TY e l e p h a n t ’s t r u n k , OUT OU T FOR I TS FIL FI L L!

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amar chitra katha

H E / / / M ED A T TH E S O U N D A N D L E T H / S D EA D L Y   ARROW FLY. WHEN THE ARROW FOUN D ITS M ARK 

AH ! MURDER. BIt T ' N , I HAVE HARMED NONE. AH ! MY POOR, OLD, BUND PARENTS! I LEAVE YOU, HELPLESS.

DASHARATHA HAD M IS -  TAKEN THE GURJ3LE O F THE  HERM IT'S FILLING p i t c h  t k . FO R TH E S O U N D O F A N   ELEPH AN T DR IN KI NG WATER 

FOR A M OM ENT HE  STOOD PETRIFIED.

WHAT f  HAVE I d o n e ! > 1 who am a VIRTUOUS KOSALA PRI NCE, THE PROTECTOR OF L THE. WEAK' i

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Wk  THEN , H E RAN TO THE SP OT FROM WHERE  TH E H U M A N CR Y H A D C OM E. A S S O O N A S   THE DYING YOUTH SAW HIM  —

O PRINCE, MY THIRSTY PARENTS ARE WAIT ING AT THE HERMITAGE NEAR BY. GO AND TELL THEM ABOUT M E.B UT FIR5T REMOVE THIS ARROW. LET DEATH RELIEVE ME OF THI S PAIN. DASHARATHA DID AS H E WAS TOL D . THEN , FIL LI N G THE PITCHER WITH  WATER HE M ADE HIS WAY TO THE HERM ITAGE.

DASHARATHA

JU S T THEN THEY HEARD  FOOTSTEPS APPROACHIN G.

M E A N W H I L E .TH E   H E R M l Tf l G E —  

' OUR 50 N HAS BEEN AWAY A LONG WHILE, COULD SOME THING HAVE HAPPENED V TO HIM ? >

A H ! THERE YOU ARE AT LAST. QUICK., GIVE ME THE WATER. I CAN NOT BEAR THE THIR5T ANY LONGER.

" S c i TEARS FLOWED DOWN DASHARATHA^S  FF)CE AS HE STOOD THER E, SPEECH   LESS WITH Q UIL T. [ 

f O   VENERABLE^ ONE, I AM NOT YOU R SON . MY NAME IS DASHARATHA. ) I HAVE COM MITTED A   SIN V HEINOUS  AND 5TAND BEFORE YOU, ^ SAD AND f t lMKREPENTANT.

SILENT, MY SON ? YOU KN THAT YOU ARE OUR VERY LIFE. SPEAK TO DEAR- SON

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f)ND DASHARATHA TOLD THEN) WHAT 

a m a r c h i tr a k a th a

THE OL D COUPLE 5 A T STUNNED  FOR f t FEW SECON D S . THEN PftST  THE CHOKING GR IEF Cf tlYlE THE WORDS 

IT WAS MY 5 0 N . OUR ONLY 50N YOU KILLED HIM

r YOUR SON TOO SHALL BE PARTED FROM YOU. AND YOU 5HALL DIE GRIEVING FOR HIM

ft THOROUGHLY SHf t KEN DftSHft Rft THft  RETURNED TO HIS Pft Lf tCE  . B U T THE IN CID ENT GRft DUft ls  L Y Ff t DED FRO/ Y) HI S MEMORY. ONE DftY ftdf t SENT FOR HI M .

DASHARATHA,EVER SINCE YOUR MOTHER DIED THE KINGDOM HAS BECOME A BURDEN TO ME. YOU HAVE COME OF AGE. NOW YOU RULE THE LAND AND LET ME RETIRE TO A ^ t h e f o r es t ,

SO ON f t FTER } ON THE f tDV/ CE OF HIS M INISTERS  FIND SPlRITUft L GUIDES,Df tSHf tRf tTHft M f tRR/ ED  -i Kf tUSft LYf i, ft PRINCESS OF KOSft Lf t. r ~ r ■

DASHARATHA

Df lSHARf tTHA WAS A NOB LE  , V/ RTUOUS K IN G AND  WAS LOVED BY DLL . SO RENOWNED FO R VALOUR  WAS HE THA T EVEN IN DR.A , KI NG O F THE DEVA S , SOU GH T HIS HELP IN H IS WARS WITH THE AS URA 5 .

B U T DASHARATHA WAS  UNHAPPY. KAUSAL Yft  HAD N O T BORNE HIM  AN Y SONSj  •

I SHALL SEEK THE HAND OF THE LOVELY DAUGHTER OF ASH WA PATH I, LORD OF THE

IN ORDER TO WIN THE B EA UTIFUL K A IK EVI, DASHARATHA . M ADE Ft PROM ISE TO ASHWAPA THI 

THE SON BORN TO KAIKEYI SHALL BECOME THE CROWN PRINCE AND SHE, QUEEN MOTHER.

THE YEARS PA SSED , B UT KA IKEYI TOO FAILED HIM.

I SHALL WED SUMITRA, sTHE GENTLE PRINCESS [V OF M AGADHA.5HE IS SURE TO BEAR ME A SON.  /  cCo p 

B U T 5 U M / TR A TO O   REM AINED A BARREN W IFE 

ama r chitra katha

M EANWHILE IN DRft , KJNG O F THE D EW S, IWft5 IN  TROUBLE ONCE f tSft/ N. ONE DAY—  -y / J S Sf i w   ° K| N e >L°RD

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m S k  ^ ] 5 L

[/ i NDRA SEEKS YOUR ®J  r ^  :^ F W I h e l p ^ & ^i n 5 t (g k Q A \ r k  TH E ASU RA fi T V SHAM BARA. y

Dft SHf tRfi THft TURNED  TO K M KEYI . r-T=E3-------

I-SHALL LEAVE IMMEDIATELY.

LORD, LET ME COME WITH

S VOLL "'s»i \ .

HA,HA, MY X ' DEAR ONE, A > BATTLEFIELD 15 NO PLACE FOR YOU BUT I AM NO ORDINARY WOMAN I AM THE DAU6HTER OF THE j £n \ INVINCIBLE B f c k K A5HWAPATHI.

8ESIDE5,MY LORD, I DO NOT WISH j TO BE HERE J ALONE J WITHOUT^ yo u . y i n 

THEN COME,LOVABLE ONE. COME WITH v ME TO THE BATTLEk . FIELD. ^

DASHARATHA

THE BA TTLE WAS A TERRIBLE ON E AN D TH E AS U RA S W E RE R O U T E D B U T f t W OUND   ED Dft SHARATHA L f t Y ON THE FIELD , SENSELESS, A LM OS T DEA D . KA IKEYI RODE UP  TO Him IN HER CHA RIOT. [

DEAR HUSBAND, I WILL NOT L ET YOU LEAVE ME. I WILL NURSE YOU BACK TO A V FULL LIFE. S 

SHE HAD HIM REM OVED TO HER TENT f tND  TENDED HIM DAY AND N IGH T TILL HE  . AS SOON AS  REGAINED CONSCIOUSN ESS  HE OPENED HIS EYES —  -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------^

^

KAI KEYI,MY DEARE5T AT THIS MOMENT,WITH QUEEN,YOU HAVE YOU ALIVE, I HAVE ALL BROUGHT ME BACIC / I NEED,MY LORD.  _L ASIC FOR THE TO LIFE. ASK ANY /  TWO BOON5 WHEN I ^ NEED THEM .

FROM THEN ON KAIKEYI BECAM E  DASHARATHA’S FAVOURITE QUEEN. THE GENTLE YOUNG SUM ITRA, UNA BLE  TO BEAR HIS NEGLECT, SPOKE HER  HEART OUT TO KAUSALYA WHOSE SPE  CIAL PROTECTION SH E EN JOYED .

EVER SINCE THE BOLD KAIKEYI ACCOMPANIED OUR LORD TO THE BATTLE FIELD, HE NO EYES FOR US. IT HURT5 M E.

MIND, SUMITRA. LET US NUE TO SERVE HIM WITH LOVE AND DEVOTION.

amar chit ra katha

SUCH INFATUATIONS DO NOT LAST LONG. PER- HAPS ONLY TILL ONE OF US BEARS J )  HIM A SON.

B UT NONE O F THE THREE QUEEN S BORE  Dft SHft RATHft ft SON . f t5 THl  YEARS PAS SED, Dft SHf t-  RRTHf t'S YEf tRN/ NG  FOR ft SON GREW. f )T L P i S T -  

I SHALL PERFORM A SACRIFICE AND OB TAIN A SON TO RULE THE KING DOM

ORDERS WERE GIVEN f t ND  f t LL WERE REf tDY FOR THE  GRf t ND Sf t CR/ FlCE. FIS THE  Sft CR/ F/ C/ ft L FIRE BLf tZED, ft BEING HOLD ING ft BOWL O F ‘PftYftSft’ * SUDD ENLY  EM ERGED FROM IT.

THOUGH Kf t/ KEYI WftS HIS  Ff t V OURJTE  , THE JU S T KING  FIR ST TOOK THE Pf tYft Sft TO  Kf tUSf tLYft , HIS CHIEF QUEEN , ft ND Gft VE HER Hf t LF OF IT.

O KING,GIVE THI5 TO YOUR WORTHY QUEEN5 AND THEY SHALL BEAR YOU V S O N S. ^

' PARTAKE OF THI S DEAR WIFE, AND BEAR ME V A SON. >

DASHARATHA

THEN HE WENT TO 5 UM ITRA AND  GAVE HER ft FOURTH OF WHAT WAS  LEFT. I----------- 1  ---------------------7--------------

AG HE WAS AB OUT TO DO   5 0 , A THOUGH T SUDDENLY STRUCK  HIM AND HE CHANGED HI 5 M I N D  

I 5HALL GIVE THE REST TO KAIKEYI.

WITHIN A YEAR, KAUSALYA GAVE BI RTH TO RAM ft-, KAtKEY/  TO BHARATA} AND SUM ITRA, WHO HAD TH E {PAYASA ’ TWICE, TO L AKSH M ANA AN D  SHA TRU6 HN A. THOUGH THE  PRINCE 5 LOVED EACH OTHER — 

R m p \ 15 DEARER. TO f  LAKSHMANA THAN LIFE ** ITSELF. AND 5HATRU6HNA 15 PARTIAL TO BHARATA. I WA5 WI5E TO GIVE THE j  * DOCI LE 5 UM ITRA ^ J B w\ ~ , THE 5 ECOND ! PORTI ON. 11U r

7 I SHALL GIVE HER ONLY HALF OF IT AND GIVE THE RE5T TO GENTLE i   5UMITRA.

 / 9/YD THOU GH ALL FOUR. PRINCES DELIGHTED THE  HEA RT OF DA SHA RATHA , RAM A, THE ELDE5 T, WAS HIS  FAVOURITE. IN D EED , HE WAS THE FAVOURITE OF ALL AYODHYA . n m H r -------------------------------------------------------

 —f—1-----1 J

V  HE HAS EVEN BECOME THE k Lt t g * \ FAVOURITE OF KAIKEYI AND SUMITRA FOR HE J S S S i  LOVE5 ^ ND HONOURS - S r S k X   THE/ Y1 I HE D0E5 f P f ^ n HIS 0WN m o t h e r . llU ! » j W r T ^ - i i [  HE WOULD fYlAKE J  111^” " j n k ^ L l X   AN IDEAL KING J  I  i W FOR AYODHYA. f K f e ,

a m a r c h i tr a k a th a

BUT I m    BOUND BY / M  PROMISE TO KAIKEyf S FATHER WHEN ( MARRIED HER., f l

A FEW DAYS LATER.

HOW WELL BHARATA 5 H OO T5 ! KAIKEYI, MY BELOVED,HE WILL MAKE AN EXCELLENT KING, y

YE6 , AAV LORD. BUT RAMA 15 OUR ELDE5T SON AND 15 AN IDEAL PRINCE. BE5IDE5 HE LOVE5 ME EVEN MORE THAN HI5 V OWN MOTHER. A

i W i f A n r . . H i * , , , .

d a s h  a r a t h  a  w a s  H a p p y t o  h e a r  , t h i s  

HER W0RD5 REA5SURE ME A5 ]  I WOULD HAVE < RAMA RULE AFTER ME.YET, I MU5T f  TAKE CARE TO <  KEEP KAIKEYI JM  IN THI 5 FRAME j p STRIVING TO KEEP KA IK EYI H APPY ALWaYS  DASHARaTHA NEGLECTED KauSALYA AND  I I Tl I d 5 U M I TR A . I----------------------------r 

SENS/ 1 Y6 REJECTION RS W IFE, KAUSALYA M AGNIFIED HER ROLE  RS HOUSEW IFE. ONE DAY RS SH E  EXAM INED THE EXPENSES OF  TH E Q U E E N 5 ’ A P A RTM EN TS  —

KAIKEYI SPENDS MORE THAN WE DO. IF ONLY S  THE KING WOULDN’ T INDULGE M M  her so . i m m t  

DASHARATHA

SH E S EN T FOR. THE  KAIKEYI, EXTRAVAGANCE YOUNGER. QU EEN . IS BADj EVEN IN REGAL

QUARTERS.

 /Y\Y APARTMENTS AND MY PERSON MUST BE WORTHY OF MY LORD, TH E KING.MORE SO AS HE SPENDS MOST OF HIS LEISURE HOURS WITH ME.

THE TBU N T H UR T KA US ALYA B UT SHE  W ISELY M AIN TAIN ED HER. SILENCE. DASHARATHA WHO OVER:  HEARD THE/ R CONVERSA  TION WAS PERTURBED.

M EANW HILE THE CHILDREN HAD GROW N IN TO  d : HAND SOM E YOUTHS, f  ______________  ^

------------H IT IS TIME THE  j g y l PRINCES w e r K T 3 MARRI ED.

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JUS T THEN —  LORD, TH E

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I THEIR QUARRELS SHOULD > N OT SPOI L RRMA’S < CHANCES. I M UST ENSURE THAT SUCH 5 ITUATI ONS DO NOT COME UP AGAIN. f 

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7— RENOWNED ! SA6E,VISHWAMITRA,IS HERE. J 

DASHARATHA AND THE OTH ER S RU SH ED O U T TO W ELCOM E THE SAGE 

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a m a r c h i t r a k a th a

LATER 

0 VENERABLE ONE, CAN I BE OF ANY SERVICE TO YOU ? 1 PROMISE TO GRANT ANY WISH OF YOURS.

O KING*  /  '   CERTAIN RAKSHA5A5* FREQUENT LY SPOIL MY 5ACRED RITUALS.

SEND YOUR V ; ELDE5T SON, ~ THE VALIANT RAMA,WITH ME ONLY HE CAN DESTROY^  j  THEM, m  « / 

DASH ARATHA WAS STUNN ED. H E  COUL D HARDLY SPEAK.

RAMA IS BARELY A MERE BOY. NO ! I CANNOT PART WITH MY FIRST BORN. IF YOU LI KE, MV FRIENDS AND I WILL HELP YOU.

VISHWf iM ITRf l WAS ENRAGED 

O KING, YOUR WORDS ARE UNWORTHY OF YOUR LIN EASE. YOU GAVE M E A PROMISE AND y NOW SAY YOU A CANNOT KEEP \

DASHARATHA

THEN LET LAKSHMANA GO WITH . RAMA, y

AS THE AN GRY  5 .AGE WAS A B OUT TO STOM P OU T, VASISH TA, DASHARATHA’S SPIRITUAL GUID E, TURNED  TO THE K IN G . j— “

KEEP YOUR WORD.' SEND RAMA. THIS MIGHTY SAGE CAN BRING NOTHING BUT GOOD FOR YOUR SON. A FEW DAY5 LA TER, ENVOYS  FROM THE COURT O F JAN AKA, THE K IN G OF M ITHILA, CAME  TO THE CO UR T O F D ASHARATHA.

SO RAMA AND LAKSHM ANA W ENT WITH VISHWAMITR.A.

WE COULD NOT HAVE HOPED FOR A BETTER, ALLIANCE

AN EXCELLENT . PROPOSAL! .

THEN LET US PROCEED EARLY TOMORROW. WE’LL TAKE BHARATA AND SHATRUGHNA WITH US. YOU A R E AT M ITHILA, JANAKA AND HI S  AGREEABLE ,I YOUN GER B ROTHER GAVE THEN  I WOULD GLADLY h ROYAL WELCOM E .LA TER.—  HAVE MY SECOND DAUGHTER, URMILA, WEI LAK5H/ HANA

WE BRING GLAD TID INGS. SITA, THE DAUGHTER OF OUR VALIANT KIN6,HA5 BEEN WON BY RAMA. OUR KING AWAITS YOUR PLEASURE AND INVITES YOU THERE.

a m a r c h i t ra k a t h a

AS WAS THE CUSTOM  IN THOSE DAYS, VA5 I-  3HTH.A A NSW ERED ON  B EHA LF O F DASHARATHA.

JANAKA WAS OVERJOYED.

THEN LET THE FOUR PRINCES BE MARRIED ON THE SAME DAY.THE ROYAL FAMILIE5 OF KOSALA AND MITHILA SHALL

WHILE THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE WEDDINGS WERE  GOING ON , KA IKEYI’5 BROTHER, YUDOHAJI T, CA/V)E TO  M ITHILA AND PRESENTED HIM SELF B EFORE DASHARATHA.

THE PROPOSAL 15 ACCEPTED. IF YOU ARE WILLING WE WOULD ALSO ACCEPT YOUR YOUNGER BROTHER’S DAUGHTERS FOR BHARATA AND SHATRUGHNA.

MY FATHER SENT M E TO AYODHYA TO TAKE BHARATA TO OUR. KINGDOM FOR A FEW YEARS. I HEARD THE'NEWS THERE AND FOLLOWED YOU TO MITHILA.

WELCOME, iWUDDHA  JIT. IT IS FORTUNATE THAT kYOU ARE HERE NOW.'

AS SOON AS THE ARRANGEM ENTS W ERE OV ER, AN AUSPICIOUS  DAY WAS FIXED AND THE N UPTIALS PERFORM ED.

DASHARATHA

DftSHftRft THft f tND THE YOUNG COUPLE5 RETURN ED  TO ft JU& ILFINT f t VODHYf t . f t T THE Pft Lft CE^Dft SHf tRf tTHft ’S W/ l/ £S STOOD JOYOUS f t ND EXPECTftNT.

WELCOME, DEAR, DAUGHTERS. MAY YOU KNOW ONLY HAPPINESS IN L YOUR NEW  /  HOME.  / 

ft FEW M ON THS LETTER,, DASHARf tTHf t S EN T FOR. BHARATft.

YOU MAY NOW GO WITH YOUR UNCLE TO YOUR GRAND FATHER.

' V k  / A v v/

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, NOW ftS ft  f tS THE YEf tRS W ENT BY, RAM f t’S EXCELLENCE  HOUSEHOLD ER.,ENDEARED HIM EVEN M ORE TO THE ftGE~  . ON E D A Y - _ I NG K I N G    ____________  ' I 5HALL 5EE RAMA CROWNED YUVRAJA, WITHOUT ANY DELAY. I SHALL ANNOUNCE MY DECISION AT fiN ASSEMBLY OF ELDERS, KINGS AND WISE MEN.

r. i

DftSHft Rft THft SOO N / V)ftDE HI S WISH  KNOWN TO HIS COUNSELLO RS .THEN 

...AND AS TIME 15 RUNNING OUT THERE 15 LITTLE NEED TO INVITE ASHWAPATHI AND JANAKA TO THE . CORONATION. / I

a m a r c h i t ra k a t h a

AT THE ASSEM BLY, AFTER DASHft RATHA ANN OUNCED HIS DECISION 

iF ANY AMONG YOU FEEL THAT THIS CHOICE IS THAT OF A FOND FATHER. AND NOT A JUST KING, LET ME KNOW WHAT

THE K/ N6S IQND SA GES A T THE Sf t BHf t   — WEIGHED THE M ATTER. CAREFUL LY .TH EN 

O JU5 T KING, INSTALL RAMA AS THE HEIRr APPARENT. WE, THE K  PEOPLE, LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

, ft L ITTL E LA TER Rf tM ft ENTERED THE ASSEM BLY 

DASHARATHA WAS  PLEASED. HE TURN  ED TO SUM ANTRA, HIS FAVOURITE  COUNSELLOR..

BRING RAMA HITHER.. .

DASHARATHA

EM BRACED HIM AND M ADE HIM S IT ON / ) THRONE, SPEC/ ALLY MADE FOP H IM , NEX T TO HIS OWN. t h e  KIN G

WE,THE KING AND THE PEOPLE,PROPOSE TO INSTALL YOU AS THE HEIR-APPARENT.

THE A NN OUN CEM ENT OVER., RAMA RETURNED TO HIS  OW N CHAM BER.. LA TER  .—

PREPARED FOR. THE W ORS T, RAM A STOOD BEFORE DASHARATHA .B U T— 

• •

THE KING WOULD LIKE TO GEE YOU ALONE.

MY SON, I HAVE DECIDED TO HAVE YOU INSTALLED TOMOR ROW IT6ELR LET YOUR FRIENDS PROTECT YOU WELL TONIGHT. FOR, ARE THE HAZARDS THAT THREATEN .AFFAIRS LIKE THIS. RAM A LOOKED UP , AMAZED 

BUT BHARATA IS AWAY FROM THE CAPITAL... HAVE THE PEOPLE. PROMPTED THE KING TO REVERSE A HASTY DECISION ? WELL, WHATEVER HAPPENS IS FOR THE BEST.

WHICH IN MY A OPINION 'MAKES THE TIME MOST OPPORTUNE FOR YOUR INSTAL LS. LATION. y 

a m a r c h i t ra k a t ha

BUT THE MINDS OF EVEN FATHER., RIGHTEOUS AND BHARATA DEVOUT MEN ARE 15 VIRTUOUS INCONSTANT SO YOUR CORONATION MUST 8E AND... HELD TOMORRO YOU MAY 60 NOW.

W HEN THE NEWS  REACHED KA US ALYA

MAY MY GLORIOUS SON LIVE LONG. HERE,ACCEPT THESE FOR BRINGING SUCH AUSPICIOUS TIDINGS.

 V V 

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V M AN THA RA , KA/ KEY/ ’S HUNCH-BACKED CHILDHOOD  N URS E AND CONFt DA NTE, HAPPENED TO SEE TH/ 5.

WHAT! THE THRIFTY KAUSALYA GIVING AWAY GEMS AND GOLD ! i q

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S H E TURNED TO A M AID NEAR BY.

MANTHARA WAS  5H O C K E D .

WHY IS THE CHIEF QUEEN SO HAPPY?

BUT HADN’ T DASHARATHA PROMISED THE KINGDOM TO MY KAIKEYI’S SON? I M UST INFORM HER OF THE TREACHERY AFOOT.

DASHARATHA

ft L ITTL E LATER, RAM A CAME TO HIS  M OTHER’S APARTM ENTS.SUM/ TRA, LAKSHM ANA f t ND SITf t WERE ALREADY  THERE, r - - - - - - -  —

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K  MOTHER, THE PRIE5TS 5 AY THAT SITA MUST FAST WITH ME TONIGHT. PLEASE ARRANGE ALL THAT WE WILL NEED FOR IT.

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leftUS ft LYf t TREM BLED W/ TH  D ELI GH T TO HEft R THE WORDS  SHE Hft D EVER HOPED TO HEf t R. 0 R.RMA , YOU M U S T   THE HEARTS  OF SUM ITRA’S SONS 

M EANWHILE, IN HER ELEGf t NT CHAMBER , AS KA IK EYI AWAITED  DASHARATHA, SHE R EFLECTED ON H ER GOOD FOR TUN E.

EVER SINCE I CAME A5 HIS BRIDE TO AYODHYA,THE KING HAS NEVER LET ME KNOW A MOMENT OF PAIN OR NEGLECT. EVEN BHARATA’S ABSENCE DOES NOT PAIN ME. RAMA BY HIS DEVOTION DOES NOT LET ME FEEL IT. IF ONLY KAUSALYA TOOK / V\ ORE KINDLY

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” MY LIFE AND THIS KINGDOM,TOO, ARE YOURS. RULE r X . WITH ME. . r

LflKSHMANA,

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a m a r c h i tr a k a th a

HER PLEASA NT M USI NGS WERE. RUD ELY INTERRUPTED BY  MANTHARA’S RAUCOUS VOICE.

WAKE UP, KAIKEYI YOUR GOOD DAYS ARE ABOUT TO v COME TO A V RUDE END. y

THE LORD 15 IN HI5 BUT ALL 15 ILL WITH YOU. O MY INNOCENT ONE ,THE CRAFTY KING HA5 5 ENT YOUR. 50N AWAY,ONLY TO INSTALL HI5 RAMA A5

^WHY,Mf l NTNA- ^ y f / y V    )  Rft! YOU ARE P A LE^ ^ S^ I WHAT’5 THE MATTER? ^ 15 ALL WELL WITH MY LORD? KAIKEYI ’5 FACE L I T UP.

MY VIRTUOU5 RAMA?HEIRAPPARENT? YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME HflPPV NEWS.

A DISGUSTED / V1ANTHARA FLUNG  THE OR NA M ENT ASIDE.

DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND? WITH HER. SON A5 THE HEIR.-APPARENT, KAU5ALYA WILL HUMILIATE YOU. SHE HAS A LONG MEMORY.

SH E TOOK OFF HER. NECKLACE FIND 

HERE,TAKE THI5 ASK FOR ANY OTHER REWARD AND IT SHALL v BE YOURS. A

RAMA WILL NOT LET HER.BESIDES,IF THE KINGDOM BE RAMA’S IT WILL BE BHARATA’S TOO. RAMA 15 ABOVE , PETTY DI5TINC- / TION5.

DASHARATHA -----------------------------------i---------------------------------

M ANTHARA B REATHED HARD WITH EXASPERATION.

IMPOSSIBLE ! THE CORONATION OF RAMA WILL CUT BHARATA OFF THE ROYAL LINE FOR EVER. IT 15 YOUR DUTY A5 A KSHATRIYA MOTHER-TO PROTECT THE ROYAL RIGHT5 OF YOUR 50N AND HIS DEPENDANTS. T— m r r ' m u

YES, WHEN RAMA BECOMES KING,HE WILL BANISH BHARATA OR. KJLL HI M .THEN, MY HAUGHTY ONE,YOU WILL BE A SLAVE IN THE ROYAL HOUSE HOLD. HAVE NO DOUBTS ABOUT

I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF THAT!

M  ZsZ il

MY SON MUST BECOME THE KING. THIS VERY DAY I WILL SEND RAMA TO THE FOREST AND INSTALL BHARATA ON THE THRONE. r AH, KAIKEYI LISTEN TO ME THEN.

a m a r c h i t ra k a t h a

REMEMBER THE TWO BOON 5 DASHARATHA HAD OFFERED YOU MANY YEARS AGO.

LAJION OF BHARATA AND THE EXILE OF RAMA FOR. FOURTEEN YEARS. BY THAT TIME BHARATA CAN BE A POPULAR. KING AND AN INVINCIBLE MONARCH. WHEN SHALL I DEMAND THE BOONS?

ft F EW M I N U T E S L f t TER , YQU HAVE ALWAY5 BEEN HIS FAVOURITE. SO BE BOLD AND ACHIEVE YOUR ENDS.

NOW! CAST OFF YOUR FINERY AND ENTER THE CHAMBER OF PROTEST. DO NOT 5PEAKTO THE KING WHEN YOU SEE HIM . LET ONLY YOUR, TEARS FLOW, UNCONTROLLED, LET YOUR. SOBS WRENCH HIS HEART.

HOW WISE YOU ARE,MANTHARA! I WOULD NEVER. HAVE SUSPECTED THE KI NG’ S MOTIVES. YOU SHAL L HAVE ALL THE POWER- AND MONEY YOU WANT WHEN BHARATA IS INSTALLED.

DASHARATHA

A T THAT M OM ENT, DASHARATHA WAS. WAY TO THE Q U EE N ’S APARTM ENTS.

I WILL GO TO x KAIKEYI FIRST 5 HE HAD ALWAYS SEEN THE HEIRr APPARENT IN v RAMA. X

f  THI 5 IS

UNUSUAL. KAIKEYI AWAY FROM HER CHAMBER? AT THIS HOUR?

DASHARATHA HUR RIED THERE. H E WAS A M AZ ED AND DISTRESSED  B Y W HAT HE SAW. (

O KAIKEYI, WHY ARE YOU IN TEARS? TELL ME WHY YOU ARE SAD. I’LL IMME DIATELY 5 ET MATTERS RIGHT.

WHERE 15 QUEEN KAIKEYI?

f  IN THE

CHAMBER, OF PROTEST, YOUR v MAJESTY.

IN THE CHAMBER OF PROTEST? TILL TODAY NOT ONE OF MY QUEENS HAS FOUND THE NEED TO USE IT.

-

r

HA5 " ANYONE OFFENDED YOU? HAS ANYONE REPRI MANDED YOU?

r

a m a r c h i t ra k a th a

KBIKEYI SLOW LY LOOKED UP.

NO, MY LORD. I WANT SOMETHING DONE. IF YOU PROMISE TO DO IT

REMEMBER. THE TWO BOONS YOU HAD OFFERED ME MANY YEARS AGO? I WANT THEM NOW.IF YOU , REFUSE I WILL GIVE ^ UP MY LI FE. ^

YOU KNOW THAT EXCEPT RAMA WHO IS MY VERY LIFE,THERE 15 NO ONE DEARER. TO ME THAN YOU. I SWEAR. BY RAMA

NAME THE 800NS AND I SHALL SEE THA T TH EY ARE YOU RS.

Dft SHRRBTHf) WhS STUNN ED. Hfi D HE HEARD R IG H T? 

NO-O-O-OJ I MAY BANISH KAUSflLYA ^ OR SUMI TRA BUT 1 NEVER RAMA,MY , \   ELDEST SON  /jfc WHOSE LOVE I  y/L SUSTAINS MY **  ’V L I FE. X T ' 

THEN LET MY SON BE PROCLAIMED HEIRAPPARENT AND LET RAMA BE BANISHED TO THE FOREST FOR FOURTEEN YEARS.

DASHARATHA

O SIN FU L WOMAN , WE RE ALL YOUR. PRAISES FOR RAMA UTTERED WITH AN ULTERIOR. MOTIVE? YOU W IL L STAIN THE FAIR. NAME OF OUR.  /  ROYAL FAMILY WITH / TH ESE BOONS. X v ASK FOR.... sC 

SUMITRA W ILL NEVER. TRUST ME IF I BANISH RAMA. AND KflUSALYA ? KAUSALYA, THE PER FECT W IFE , WHOM  j  I HAVE HURT ONLY / TO PLEASE YOU.  jM 

NOTHING STAINS THAT FAIR NAME AS A BROKEN PROMISE 5AND A PROMISE y TO O N E WHO SAVED , \ THE KING AND THE ROYAL LINE .

f   SO

THAT IS IT. THE KINGDOM GOES TO RAMA, ONLY TO PLEASE KAUSALYA. NO! SHE CANNOT BE THE QUEEN MOT HER. I RAMA MUST GO!

V

a m a r c h i t ra k a t h a

KAIKEYI } DON’T YOU REMEMBER HOW RAMA L HAS ALWAYS LOVED L . a n d WORSHIPPED > i T \ YOU?  __ 

RAMA HAS NEVER HURT ANYONE. AM I TO WOUND HIM WITH YOUR PITILESS DEMAND? KAIKEYI, I AM

YOUR FUTILE WORDS TIRE ME. WILL YOU KEEP YOUR PROMISE OR WON’T O w YOU ?

FIND IN G HER- UNM OVED, Dft SHf lM THfi  FEL L PIT HER , FEET.

THE WHOLE WORLD WILL DESPISE ME AS THE GREAT KING WHO BARTERED HIS 5 0 N AWAY FOR A FICKLE WOMAN. O KAI KEYI, I BEG YOU, SAVE ME FROM PUBLIC RIDICULE AND DISGRACE.

O GREAT KING, I SWEAR. BY MY OWN BHARATA THAT NOTHING BUT THE EXILE OF RAMA AND THE INSTALLATION v. OF MY SON, WI LL a  V PACIFY ME.

DASHARATHA

MY BELOVED SON WILL OBEY M E.OH THAT IT WERE NOT SO! FOR IF HE DOES I WILL DIE. KAIKEYI, I CONSENT. LET RAMA 6 0 TO THE FOREST AND LET THE PREPARATIONS FOR TOMORROW, BE FOR MY FUNERAL.

SH OCK ED B Y HER. CRUEL WORDS, DASHARATHA FAIN TED. ,; AN ANXIOUS  JU S T THEN  S Um N TRF) SEN T BY VASISHTHA CAM E THERE.

MY LORD, IT IS TIME FOR. THE CEREMONY. WE AWAIT YOUR. ORDERS. J 

O KI NG, DO NOT RAVE LIKE ONE MAD. INSTALL MY ' SON ON THE THRONE AND BANISH YOURS.

r

TO M AK E SUR E THAT HER. PLAN S SH OUL D  , KAIKEYI ANSWERED  N OT FALL THR OUGH  FOR. D ASHARA THA.

O SUM ANTRA, EXCITED ABOUT THE COMING EVENT THE KING HAS HAD A SLEEPLESS NIGHT HE IS TIRED. BRING RAMA HERE TO HIM FOR HIS BLESSINGS. QUICK!

THE EFFICIENT QUEEN TOO, 15 .IMPATIENT TO 5EE RAMA INSTALLED I MUST HURRY.

a m a r c h i tr a k a th a

. , WHEN THE UNSUSPECTING  WHY 15 MY LATER  FATHER WAN P m n PR ES EN TED H I M S EL F   BEFORE HIS FATHER.  — (-----------771  AND DRAINED >

WHEN KA IKEYI TOO PRESEN TED  A S T ER N C O U N T EN A N C E    —

OF JOY?

MOTHER-, HAVE I OFFENDED MY FATHER?

THE SH AM ELESS KAIICEYI WH OSE HEA RT HAD  , FACED RAM A . BEEN NUMB ED BY CUPIDI TY 

0 MOTHER, HAVE YOU SPOKEN HAR5H WORDS TO MY FATHER? WHY DOES HE GRIEVE? TELL ME THE CAUSE, MOTHER

THE KING H0LD5 YOU ^ DEARER THAN TRUTH. HE CANNOT COMMAND YOU LE5T IT HURT YOU. IF YOU PROMISE TO OBEY HI5 WISHES I 5HALL 5PEAK.

FOR SHAME, MOTHER! WHEN MY FATHER, COMMANDS,! OBEY WITHOUT FLINCHING. AND... RAMA NEVER GOES BACK ON HI5 WORD.

DASHARATHA

YOU ARE MY MOTHER, AND YET KNOW ME NOT. ON t o l d  R .m n   ALL ABOUT  YOUR ORDER. ALONE I THE TW O  WOULD WILLINGLY BOONS. W ITHOUT  SURRENDER. NOT ONLY THE KINGDOM BUT ALSO EXPRESSING  ft TRACE OF  SITA AND MY VERY DISAPPOINT  LIFE. KA/KEYI THEN 

M ENT RA/Y\ft  FACED  KAIKEYI.

ICAIKEYI IM PA TIENTLY IN TERR UPTED  HIS DECLARATIONS. \------------------ ---------

NOW THAT YOU HAVE TO GO, RAMA ,DO NOT DELAY. I SHALL HAVE    BHARATA BROUGHT IMMEDIATELY. / 

AND I SHALL GO AND TAKE LEAVE OF MY MOTHER. AND OFFER MY CONSOLATION N . £> TO SI TA.

THERE 15 NO GREATER. VIRTUE IN THI5 WORLD THAN SERVICE TO ON E’ S PARENTS IN THOUGHT, WORD AND DEED.SO LET BHARATA RULE THE KINGDOM.

O RAMA, W HEN KALI6 ALYA HEARD THE  TERRI BL E NEWS FROlY) RAM A  — THE GOOD

FORTUNE OF A WOMAN WHO HAS KNOWN THE COMPLETE DEVOTION OF HER. HUS BAND, HAS NEVER BEEN MINE.YEARS HAVE I WAI TED TO SEE YOU INSTALLED AND TASTE OF HAPPI NES5.AND NOW WITH A VICIOUS KAIKEYI IT WILL BE LIFE-IN-DEATH

a m a r c h i t r a ka t h a

gf tM f t DIO N OT TRY TO CONSOLE. HIS M OTHER.. INSTEAD — 

MOTHER., MY FATHERls COMMAND BINDS U5 v BOTH.

ft S RfiM f l L EFT FOR- THE FOR EST, W ITH Lf lK SH M f lN f l FIND SITFI WHO  INSISTED ON GOING WITH HIM , DFlSHf iRRTHFl COLLA PSED WITH GRIEF. KPllKEYI REACHED O U T TO HELP HIM .

KEEP AWAY, O VILE KAIKEYI,YOUR TOUCH WILL PO LLUT E M E. YOU WILL ENJOY YOUR BOONS BUT AS A WIDOW. FOR I WILL NOT LIVE LON6

TJ T3 T

YES,MY WORTHY SON. MAY YOU BE HAPPY IN EXILE. I SHALL SERVE YOUR FATHER DUTI FULLY WHILE I PRAY FOR YOUR SAFE RETURN

DASHARATHA -— f-

ON THE FI FTH DAY AFTER RDMA LEFT, KAUSALYA, UNA BL E TO  RESTRAIN HERS ELF AN Y LON GER,TURN ED UPON THE K IN G .

O KINS, IGNORING ME YOU BANISHED MY SON. I MAY NOT EVEN FOLLOW HIM LEST YOU BE DESOLATE. YOU HAVE RUINED ME AND MY SON AND ALL AYODHYA.

F U L L O F A N GU IS H , DASHARATHA PLEADED WI TH H ER .

KAU5ALYAf M OVED BY THE GREAT M ONARCH*5  HUM IL ITY, WA5 ASHAMED O F HER OWN OUTBURST.

PLEASE, KAUSALYA, I ENTREAT YOU, I AM YOUR HUSBAND, VIRTUOUS OR WORTHLESS. AND I KNOW YOU TO BE WISE.

O  LORD, DO NOT

SHAME M E. A WELLBRED WOMAN SHOULD NEVER. MAKE A SUPPLICANT OF HER. LORD. PARDON MY TRANSGRESSION.

a m a r c h i t ra k a t h a

ON THE SI XTH N IGH T O F RA M A’S DEPBR.TUR.Eyf ) / V)EDLEW O F PAST DEED5 RACED ACROSS  DASHARATHA'S BEFUDDLED MIND, B UT ON E STOOD O U T CLEAR.— THE K IL LI N G O F THE  INN OCENT YOUTH . HE HA LTINGLY N ARRATED THE WHOLE f ------------------ INCIDENT TO KAUSALYA.THEN 

JV \ X

His FATHER?S ^ C V ' CURSE HAS COME N T \  / TRUE. I DIE YEARN> (  ING FOR MY SON. O KAUSALYA,I CANNOT SEE YOU COME NEAR. AND TOUCH ME. SEEIN G THAT HIS END WAS NEAR,KAUSALYA SENT FOR SUM ITRA.

O MY PRINCE, MY SON, WHERE ARE YOU ? O KAU5ALYA ! AH, > GENTLE SU M I TR A ! ^ !^

i u u u u u

OVERCOM E 6 Y GRIEF FOR HIS EXIL ED S O N  DASHARATHA, A VICTI/V) O F HIS OW N i j r ■ i KARM A, BREATHED HIS LAST. HI I

L J C J U U t _ l l _ | l _ | U | 4L

NO! LORD DO NOT LEAVE US AND GO.-

BUT ALL KA/ KEY/ ’S EFFORTS TO SECURE  THE THRONE FOR HER SON WERE FUTILE. FOR BHARATA WOULD NOT ASCEND IT. WHEN  RAM A REFUSED TO RETURN TO AYODHYA TILL HE HAD FULFILL ED HIS PLEDGE  , BHARATA PLACED RAM A’S SLI PPERS ON  THE THRONE AND RU LED THE KINGDOM  FOR H IM , TILL HE RETURNED TO BE THE  KING.

&

DASHA AVATAR

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THE TEN INCARNATIONS OF VISHNU TEN STORIES RETOLD IN 96 PAGES Kalki

THE AVATAR CONCEPT IS THE VERY CORNERSTONE OF HINDU THEOLOGY, ACCORDING TO IT THE SUPREME POWER MAN IFESTS ITSELF IN ANIMA L OR HUMAN FOR MS ON EARTH, WITH THE DIVINE MISSION OF CLEANSING IT OF THE PERIODICALLY INCREASING EVIL.

Buddha

IMMORTAL PICTORIAL Krishna

THE AVATARS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED MOST SIGNIFICANT ARE TEN IN NU MB ER AND THEY FORM THE ' ‘DASHAV ATAR” . THESE TEN START WITH THE FORM OF A LOW LY FISH AND WO RK UP TO THE NOB LE MAN, CAST IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

Matsya

amar 

chitra Kurma

Rama

 \ k a t h a / 

THE AVATARS ENA BLE THE COMMON FOLK TO SPE AK OF OR LISTEN TO STORIES OF DIVINE DOINGS WHICH I S A S I M P L E W A Y OF P R O C E ED I NG TOWARDS GODHEAD. [Parashurama

Book ijour order TODAY with qour booksell er or with INDIA BOOK HOUSE 3a Rashtrapati Road, Secunderabad 3 (for V .P .P . Orders only)

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Published by India Book House Education Trust Bombay 400 039.

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