King Suratha Seizes the Horse

Shesha said

1-3. Seven months passed as the horse easily roamed over Bharatavarsa full of kings. He going round all the excellent Bharata (country) was honoured by excellent kings. Surrounded by excellent warriors and mighty soldiers like Shatrughna he roamed over many countries near the Himalayas. Taking into consideration Rama's might nobody seized him.

4-11. Praised by the kings of Anga, Vanga and Kalinga the horse went to the beautiful city of Suratha. The city was named Kundala, where the ear-rings fell from Aditi's ears trembling with joy and fear. There no man ever violated religious laws. The people there remembered Rama everyday. There everyday men, Rama's servants, fiee from sins, worshipped Asvattha and Tulasi. There everyday men of pure hearts, free from fraud, worship charming temples having Rama's idols. There is the name of Rama (told) in words and never the account of a quarrel. In the heart he alone is meditated on, and no memory of sex finds a place. There men whose bodies are purified by the story of Rama and who have assiduous devotion to truth, never indulge in gambling. In it lives the mighty and righteous (king) Suratha whose mind is delighted by recollecting Rama's feet, and is very mad (after Rama).

12-17. How shall I describe the excellent servant of Rama, viz. Suratha, whose all virtues spread on the earth purify sins? Once the servants of that king saw, while they were wandering, the sacrificial horse smeared with sandal (-paste). When they saw the note (on the forehead) of the horse, which had clear letters, they were amazed. Knowing that the horse which was charming to the eye, was released by Rama, they were delighted; and being eager they told (about him) to the king who was in the assembly: " O lord, there is the city Ayodhya. Its lord is Rama. The horse which is fit for a horse-sacrifice and which is released (by Rama), has, while wandering, reached along with the servants the vicinity of your city. O great king, seize that very charming horse." Shesha said:

18. Hearing these words uttered by his (servants), the king, being full of joy, said to his strong heroes in a voice grave like (the thundering of) the clouds: Suratha said:

19-20. We are blessed that with our servants we shall see the face of Rama. I shall seize his horse surrounded by a crore of warriors. I shall release the horse when Rama would come. The object of me, the devotee, always engaged in meditating (on Rama) will be fulfilled.

Shesha said:

21-24. Saying so, the king ordered his servant: " Forcibly seize the horse. The horse should not be released. He (should be kept) within sight. By this, I think I shall have a great gain in that I shall see Rama's feet, difficult to be obtained by Brahma, Indra and others. He, one's relative, or son, or kinsman, or beast or vehicle, alone is blessed, by whom Rama would be obtained. Therefore, seizing the sacrificial horse which has the speed he desires, which is charming, and which is adorned with a ' golden note, tie him in the stable."

25-26. They who were thus addressed, went and quickly seized Rama's horse and gave him whose entire body was auspicious, to the king. The king, the destroyer of the demons and proficient in righteous deed, gladly received him, and said to his mighty servants:

27-35. " O very intelligent Vatsyayana, listen attentively. No man in his (i.e. Rama's) country was attached to another man's wife. No man was attracted to another man's wealth, and no one was lustful. No man was attached to (things liked by) the tongue, and went along a wrong path; (everyone) would narrate (nothing else) but (the deeds of) Rama." The king said to his servants: " You skilled in religious deeds have come to serve; tell (me) your movements. (In my country) men have the vow of having one wife only (i.e. were loyal to their wives). They do not crave for others' wealth. They are not attached to censuring others. They have not gone away from the course laid down by the Vedas. The warriors everyday do recollection etc. of Rama. I who am angry towards Yama, keep them for service to Rama. I do not allow those wicked, sinful men, behaving in the opposite way, to reside in my country." In his country did not live the most sinful ones who mentally committed sins. (There lived people whose) all sins were destroyed by meditation on Hari and were full of joy. When the country was like this and the king was religious, all the men that died (i.e. after death) obtained bliss. In the city of Suratha there was no entrance for the servants of Yama.

36-38. Then Yama taking up the form of a sage came to the king. He having put on garments of the barks of trees and with his head adorned with matted hair, saw Suratha, the servant of Vishnu, in his assembly. He had the Tulasi (-leaf) on his head and uttered the great name of Hari. He always made his people listen to (i.e. narrated to his people) the accounts dealing with religious deeds. Then the king, seeing the sage who was, as it were, penance incarnate, saluted his feet and gave him water for washing his feet etc. The best king said to the sage who was comfortably seated and who was resting:

39-41. ''Today my existence is blessed; today my house is blessed. Tell me various excellent stories about Rama, hearing which the sin of the hearers perishes everyday." Hearing these words uttered (by the king) the sage, showing all his teeth, laughed very much and clapped his palms. (The king) said to the sage who was laughing: " What is the reason for your laughing? (i.e. what made you laugh)? Kindly tell me so that my heart will be pleased." Then the sage said to the king:

42-54. " O king, listen attentively to the excellent reason for (my) laughter. You told me: To me narrate the glory of Hari (i.e. Vishnu). Who is Hari? Whose glory (should I narrate)? All men are influenced by their deeds (i.e. fate). Due to deeds heaven is obtained; due to deeds (one) would go to hell. Due to deeds alone, all (things) like sons and grandsons would (be had). Indra after performing a hundred sacrifices went to the highest position. Brahma also obtained the wonderful world called 'Satya' due to his deeds (i.e. his fate). Many gods like Maruts who became successful due to their deeds enjoy, being served by the hosts of celestial nymphs, pleasures. Therefore, perform sacrifices etc. and indeed worship deities, so that you will have spotless fame on the earth." Hearing these words of him he, with his mind agitated with anger and with his heart fixed on Rama alone, spoke to the brahmana skilled in (various) acts: " Do not say (anything) about the account of deeds giving a perishable fruit. You who arc condemned by the world, go out of my city. Indra will quickly fall down. Brahma also will fall down, but men eager for Rama's worship will not fall. See Dhruva, Prahlada and the wonderful Bibhisana. So also others who are Rama's devotees never fall. These servants of Yama will beat with iron mallets and by binding with nooses, those wicked ones who condemn Rama.

O mean brahmana, I do not punish you due to your brahmanahood (i.e. because you are a brahmana). Go, go away from my sight; otherwise I shall beat you."

55-63. When the greatest king called Suratha, his servants were eager to drive him out by holding him with his arm, then Yama taking up his own (i.e. original) form, adorned by people,, said to the king: " O servant of Vishnu, I am pleased; ask for (what you want). O you of a good vow, though I tempted (i.e. tried to lead astray) you with many words, you, served by the good, did not swerve from service to Rama." Then the king, seeing Yama very much pleased, said: " If you are pleased, then grant me an excellent boon. Let me not meet with death till I meet Rama. O Yama, let me never have fear from you." Then Yama said to the king: ''This will take place in your case. The chief of the Raghu (family) will truly do everything desired by you." Saying so Yama praising the deeds of him who had set his heart on the devotion to Rama, vanished and went to his own city. That righteous king, the servant of Rama, seized the horse with great joy and said to the servants of Vishnu: " I have seized this horse of Rama, the lord of the earth. All of you, skilled in fighting, should be ready everywhere."

64-69. Thus told, all the very powerful soldiers of the king1 became ready in a moment, and being eager (i.e. eagerly) went to the assembly. The king's ten brave sons were: Campaka, Mohaka, Ripunjaya, Durvara, Pratapin, Balamodaka, Haryaksa, Sahadeva, Bhurideva and Sutapana. These ten sons of the king became ready on the battlefield. Full of great enthusiasm they desired to march (against Shatrughna). The king too called his bright chariot fashioned with the beauty of gold and adorned with horses having excellent speed. The king having enthusiasm to fight, surrounded by the entire army, stood directing all his servants in the assembly.

 

CHAPTER FIFTY

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