Created by Jijith Nadumuri at 23 Aug 2011 12:03 and updated at 23 Aug 2011 12:03
VALMIKI RAMAYANA
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BOOK 7: UTTARA KANDA
SECTION 92
Hearing the wondrous words of the great saint Kumbhayoni, Rama, out of great curiousity and impotance of the subject, again asked him, saying "O Brahman, why was that dense forest, in which the king Sweta used to perform hard penances, divested of birds and animals? And how did he proceed to that forest devoid of men and animals for undergoing penances? I wish to hear the truth.
Hearing the words of Rama stricken with curiosity, the highly effulgent saint Agastya said: O Rama, formerly in the golden age, Manu was the king. His son was Ikshwaku. Having installed the irrepressible Ikshwaku, Manu said: Be thou the lord over creatures.
Saying "so be it" Ikshwakus accepted the command. Thereupon greatly delighted Manu said to his son I have been highly pleased with thee. For sooth thou shalt become a very liberal prince.
Thou shalt govern the subjects meting out proper punishment unto them, but do not punish them without any fault. If the punishment, which a king inflicts upou the guilty, be just it becomes the instrumental in taking the giver to heaven. Therefore,O my son having large arms,be particularly studius as regards punishment for thereby thou shalt acquire great piety.
Having in this wise advised Ikshwaku Manu delightedly repaired to the region of Brahma. After Manu s departure, the effulgent Ikshwaku thought of the means for creating progeny. Thereupon performing many pious rites Manu s son engendered a hundred sons.
O descendant of Raghu, the youngest of all those sons became stupid and ignorant and did not respect his elder brothers. And thinking that he should therefore be punished he named this son Danda. Thereupon finding no other province worthy of Danda he allotted the region between Vindhya and Saivala to him.
Danda became king of that picturesque valley. And having reared a fine city there he named it as Madhumanta and appointed Sukracharya of firm vews as his priest. Having thus established his kingdom, Danda, with his priest, began to lord over it filled with healthy and delighted people like unto the lord of Devas in their region.
O Rama, like unto Mahendra governing his kingdom of heaven under the guidance of Brihaspati, the preceptor of Devas, Danda, the grand son of Manu, governed his own kingdom with the help of Usanas."
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