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The Rāmāyana, Volume 4. Uttara Kānda

Chapter 124: SECTION CXXIV.
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About This Book

The concluding section of the epic follows the hero's return to his kingdom and the uneasy aftermath of victory, including the exile of his wife after public doubt, her refuge in a sage's hermitage and the birth and upbringing of their twin sons. Episodes recount the youths' confrontation with the royal household during a sacrificial rite, their eventual recognition, the wife's final vindication and departure, and the ruler's last deeds. Interwoven scenes and speeches examine duty, kingship, familial sacrifice, and the moral tensions between public honor and private justice.

SECTION CXXIV.

This Story ends with the Uttara. It is held in reverence by Brahma, composed by Vālmiki and passes as the foremost of all under the name of the Rāmāyana. Thereupon as before, Vishnu, who compriseth the three worlds and all objects, mobile and immobile, again established himself as before in the land of immortals. Thereupon the celestials the Gandharvas, the great Rishis used to hear happily every day in heaven this poem of Rāmāyana. At the Sarādha ceremony the wise should chant this Rāmāyana sacred like the Vedas, removing sins and increasing life and prosperity. Reading even a single verse of this poem, one who hath no son, obtaineth him; one having no riches, gets by them—and people are freed from all sins. By reading even one sloka people are freed from all sins which they commit every day. Clothes, cows, and gold should be conferred upon him who chants this poem, for he being pleased all the deities remain satisfied. Whoever reads this story of Rāmāyana, conferring a long life is honoured in this world along with his sons and grand-sons and as well as in the land of the dead. Whoever shall read this Rāmāyana either in the morning, noon, or evening, shall never be wearied. The picturesque city of Ayodhyā remained devoid of men for many long years but was again peopled under the regime of the King Rishava, Pracheta’s son Vālmiki composed this poem, conferring long life, together with the future story of the deity and the Uttara Kandam. Even Brahmā admitted this.

THE END.

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