Book Excerpt
Rāmāyaṅa In New Dress
Fifty new paintings illustrate Vālmīki’s immortal tale of Lord Rāmacandra’s divine activities on this planet.
The new, abridged, edition of the Rāmāyaṅa produced by the Mediterranean division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust features the art of Italian artist Parama Dāsa, whose mastery of state-of-the-art computer software is evident in his extraordinary illustrations. The text of this edition of the Vālmīki Rāmāyaṅa was compiled by Pūrṅaprajña Dāsa and is based on the Gita Press edition. Here we present an excerpt from the book, along with samples of the art. The excerpt starts after the epic final battle, as Lord Rāmacandra and His associates are about to leave Laṅkā for Ayodhyā.
Vibhīṣaṅa swiftly brought the Puṣpaka chariot, the astounding vehicle that Rāvaṅa stole from Kuvera. It was built by Viśvakarmā mostly from gold. Its seats were made of vaidūrya-maṅis, gems that display different colors. The mental indications of its driver were enough to direct it anywhere.
Thus the fine chariot awaited Rāma and Lakṣmaṅa’s commands, and They felt astonished.
Before departing, Rāma requested Vibhīṣaṅa to give gold and jewels to all the monkey soldiers.
Mounting the Puṣpaka chariot with Lakṣmaṅa and Sītā, Rāma addressed all those around Him: “There is no way I can repay you monkey warriors for your heroic fighting on My behalf. Your unflinching devotional service will always serve as an inspiration to future devotees. Your glories will shine forever. Now please return to Kiṣkindha and live happily under Sugrīva, your king.
“Dear Vibhīṣaṅa, immediately begin governing Laṅkā, for the citizens are bereft of their king.”
Standing before Rāma with joined palms, Sugrīva and Vibhīṣaṅa pleaded, “O Lord, please allow us to accompany You to Ayodhyāwe shall return home after seeing Your coronation.”
Rāma replied, “There is nothing that would please Me more than returning to Ayodhyā with all My dear friends. Please mount the Puṣpaka chariot, and let all the other monkeys and Rākṣasa heroes also enter.”
After everyone was comfortably seated, the Puṣpaka chariot majestically lifted off.
The monkeys, bears, and Rākṣasas were enjoying the flight, while Rāma pointed out all the sights to Sītā.
Rāma said, “See the great battlefield where all the heroic Rākṣasas died for Your sake. Over there is Nalasetu, the bridge we built to cross the ocean. There, on the far shore, is Setubandha, where the construction of the bridge began. From now on, Setubandha will be a sacred place, capable of washing away all one’s sinful reactions.”
When Rāma pointed to Kiṣkindha, Sītā said, “I would be pleased if I could return to Ayodhyā with all the monkey chiefs’ wives.”
Rāma granted Sītās wish, and after halting the chariot, He instructed Sugrīva and others to go and invite their wives. Once everyone was seated, the journey continued.
Rāma said, “Look, there is Mount Ṛṣyamūka, where I met Sugrīva, and nearby you can see heavenly Pampā Lake, which is full of blue lotuses. Further on, You can see the river Godāvarī, and, on its shore, Agastya Ṛṣi’s āśrama.
“Dear Sītā, see there, the spot where Rāvaṅa kidnapped you. And there is Citrakūṭa, where Bharata met Me. There is the river Yamunā, and there the mighty Gaṅgā; see there, Śṛṅgaverapura, King Guha’s capital.”
In this way, Sītā, Rāma, and Lakṣmaṅa remembered Their entire forest life in reverse order as They retraced their way back to Ayodhyā. Finally, They saw the river Sarayū, and, at last, the outskirts of Ayodhyā. Before entering Ayodhyā, Rāma ordered Hanumān, “Go and inform Guha of My arrival; I will spend the night at Bhāradvāja Ṛṣi’s āśrama. And then go to Nandigrāma to describe to Bharata everything related to Sītās abduction and rescue. Carefully watch Bharata’s expression when He hears about My arrival and then report back to Me. If Bharata wants to rule the kingdom—for position, power, royal luxuries, or even because Kaikeyī urges Him to—I will be glad to grant it to Him.”
Hanumān took a human form and departed through the air. He did what Rāma had ordered him and first went to Guha. Arriving at Nandigrāma, Hanumān saw Bharata with matted hair, dressed in tree bark. Bharata had been living in a cottage. He ate only fruit and roots, and He appeared to be miserable and emaciated.
Hanumān approached Bharata and said, “I have come here as Rāma’s messenger. He inquires about Your welfare and announces His swift return to Ayodhyā.”
Hearing these nectarean words, Bharata’s face lit up with delight. Exhilarated by deep emotions, he suddenly fainted. Coming to his senses, Bharata stood and embraced Hanumān with great joy and bathed him with tears.
Bharata said, “Because you brought me this good news, I will immediately reward you with a hundred thousand cows, a hundred villages, and sixteen girls of marriageable age. Please sit down and tell me everything that happened during Rāma’s exile.”
Hanumān narrated everything and revealed his identity.
Hearing about Rāma’s imminent return, Bharata exclaimed, “My cherished desire will finally be fulfilled.”
Bharata ordered Śatrughna to prepare everything for Rāma’s reception. Sumantra and other ministers soon arrived at Nandigrāma on elephants, and Kauśalyā, Sumitrā, and Kaikeyī came on palanquins. Engineers and work crews quickly constructed a new road to connect Nandigrāma and Ayodhyā.
After all these arrangements, Bharata took up Rāma’s sandals and a white royal umbrella. Accompanied by brāhmaṅas, He left His cottage, while conches were blown and drums beaten.
The news spread, and almost the whole of Ayodhyā, eagerly expecting Rāma, had come to Nandigrāma.
After some time, when there were no signs of Rāma’s arrival, Bharata warned Hanumān, “This better not be a frivolous joke, monkey.”
But Hanumān pointed to distant dust clouds—the monkeys were approaching, and their roars could now be heard.
Finally spotting the Puṣpaka chariot, Hanumān happily shouted, “Śrī Rāma comes.”
A clamor arose as the crowd saw the Puṣpaka chariot appear. Out of respect, everyone dismounted his horse, elephant, or chariot, and from a distance, Bharata already started worshiping Rāma. With joined palms, He recited prayers and then offered articles. Finally, when Bharata saw Rāma magnificently aglow in the front seat, He bowed with the greatest reverence.
The celestial chariot landed, and Bharata climbed aboard to greet His elder brother. Rāma immediately rose to embrace Bharata with affection. Next, Bharata warmly greeted Lakṣmaṅa and Sītā.
Meeting and embracing Sugrīva, Bharata said, “Now you are like Our fifth brother.”
In the meantime, Rāma approached Kauśalyā and lovingly clasped her feet. One after another, Rāma greeted Sumitrā, Kaikeyī, and Vasiṣṭha. Then all the citizens welcomed Rāma.
Placing Rāma’s wooden shoes on Rāma’s lotus feet, Bharata said, “The kingdom I have been governing in Your absence is flourishing by Your mercy, and the treasury, storehouses, and army have increased tenfold. My duty is now fulfilled, and thus I relinquish everything to You.”
Rāma ordered the Puṣpaka chariot to return to Kuvera, its original owner. The vehicle ascended and headed north.
Bharata requested Rāma to accept the throne without delay and resume a life of royal luxury. Rāma consented, and barbers were summoned to shave His matted hair. Rāma bathed and dressed, and the three mothers dressed Sītā and the monkeys’ wives marvelously. At Śatrughna’s command, Sumantra presented a lavish chariot to Rāma, and Rāma graciously mounted it. On the chariot, Bharata held the reins and Śatrughna the royal white umbrella, and on either side of Rāma, waving fan and cāmara, stood Lakṣmaṅa and Vibhīṣaṅa. From the sky, demigods and sages glorified Him with carefully chosen words.
Rāma proceeded toward Ayodhyā followed by an enormous procession. When Rāma entered His capital, all the citizens lined the streets and welcomed Him. Men, women, and children—all gazed upon Rāma as if they had regained their lives.
About the Artist:
Parama Dāsa was born in Gallarate, northern Italy, in 1976. His family joined the Hare Kṛṣṅa community near Florence in 1982, and he began his education in the gurukula school there at age seven.
Parama received his diploma from the State Art Institute in Florence in 1996, specializing in theatrical scenography. During his studies he began copying art of the Renaissance, and after graduation he worked in a restoration laboratory, where he learned classical pictorial techniques.
For ten years, beginning in 1998, he reproduced more than 150 commissioned works of the most important European artists of the period between the 1400s and the 1800s. He has also developed his own aesthetic language, combining classical and modern techniques with the latest digital technology.