DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.638#0463
378 INDIAN MYTH AND LEGEND
Kausalya of Rama, Kaikeyi of Bharata, and Sumitra of
Laksh'mana, and Satrughna. The people of the king-
dom rejoiced greatly; they danced and sang and decked
Ayodhya with streamers and flower garlands.
Of the four children Rama was the most beautiful:
lying in his white cradle he was like to a blue lotus
bloom amidst the gleaming waves of the Ganges. Va-
sishtha, the wise Brahman, perceived that he had all the
marks of Vishnu, and revealed his knowledge to the
Maharajah, by whom the child was well beloved.' One
evening the full moon rose in all its splendour, and Rama
stretched out his hands because he desired to have it for
a toy. His mother bought him jewels, but he threw
them from him and wailed and wept until his eyes were
red and swollen. Many of the women assembled round
the cradle in deep concern. One said that the child was
hungry, but he refused to drink; another that the Sasti
was unpropitious, and offerings were at once made to that
goddess; still Rama wept. A third woman declared that
a ghost haunted and terrified the child, and mantras were
chanted.
When the women found that they were unable to
soothe Kausalya's son, the Maharajah was called, but
Rama heeded him not. In his despair Dasaratha sent
for his chief counsellor, who placed in Rama's hands a
mirror which reflected the moon. Then the little prince
was comforted, believing that he had obtained the moon;
he ceased to weep, and everyone was put at ease once
again.
When the children grew older they began to lisp
words, and as they were unable to pronounce "peeta
and "mata"1 they said "pa" and "ma". If Rama
were asked his name, he answered "Ama ". Sometimes
1 Father and mother.
Kausalya of Rama, Kaikeyi of Bharata, and Sumitra of
Laksh'mana, and Satrughna. The people of the king-
dom rejoiced greatly; they danced and sang and decked
Ayodhya with streamers and flower garlands.
Of the four children Rama was the most beautiful:
lying in his white cradle he was like to a blue lotus
bloom amidst the gleaming waves of the Ganges. Va-
sishtha, the wise Brahman, perceived that he had all the
marks of Vishnu, and revealed his knowledge to the
Maharajah, by whom the child was well beloved.' One
evening the full moon rose in all its splendour, and Rama
stretched out his hands because he desired to have it for
a toy. His mother bought him jewels, but he threw
them from him and wailed and wept until his eyes were
red and swollen. Many of the women assembled round
the cradle in deep concern. One said that the child was
hungry, but he refused to drink; another that the Sasti
was unpropitious, and offerings were at once made to that
goddess; still Rama wept. A third woman declared that
a ghost haunted and terrified the child, and mantras were
chanted.
When the women found that they were unable to
soothe Kausalya's son, the Maharajah was called, but
Rama heeded him not. In his despair Dasaratha sent
for his chief counsellor, who placed in Rama's hands a
mirror which reflected the moon. Then the little prince
was comforted, believing that he had obtained the moon;
he ceased to weep, and everyone was put at ease once
again.
When the children grew older they began to lisp
words, and as they were unable to pronounce "peeta
and "mata"1 they said "pa" and "ma". If Rama
were asked his name, he answered "Ama ". Sometimes
1 Father and mother.