My Krittibas Ramayana Retellings Now on Substack

 For those who enjoy my retellings of the Ramayana by Krittibas , I have news! I've started a Substack page. I'll be sharing these stories there, piece by piece, as a new way to follow along.

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https://writtenbybabu.substack.com/

Song of Ramayana

Rama went back with the horse and completed the sacrifice. Gifts were given to all. Valmiki went their with his disciples. Lava and Kusha were among the disciples. Rama gave seats to all. Valmiki called Lava and Kusha and said - I have taught you who to use weapons. You displayed your skills well and even Rama himself had to face defeat in your hands. I also taught you how to sing and use musical instruments. Tomorrow sing the Ramayana that I taught you. When Rama askes you who are are, say you are my disciples. When in the song you come to the point where Rama has to banish Sita, do not say anything to Rama. Come dressed as hermits.

Early morning, the two boys dressed in bark, came to the court of Rama. They had tied their hair and had a veena in each's hand. Rama asked the two boys to come where the sacrifice had happened. All came to listen to the Ramayana.

Every one was lost in the song of the boys. These were two replicas of Rama who could single handedly fight and win a battle, and also sing a song in a melodious voice.
After the first day's song. Rama asked Lakshmana to reward the boys. Gold was brought for them. Wonderful dresses were brought. The boys said they had no need for this.

Rama asked who had composed this. The boys said This is a song listening to which the childless are blessed with children. The fruits of a sacrifice can be achieved by listening to this. Even before your birth, the great sage Valmiki had composed this song. In Adi Kanda is your birth. In Ayodhya Kanda is your becoming crown prince. On the words of Kaikeyi, the king sent you to the forest. Leaving the people crying, you left for the forest. The king died in shock. His body was preserved in oil. Bharata came and performed the last rites of the king. In Aranya Kanda Sita was taken away by Ravana. In Kishkindhya Kanda Sugriva became king. In Sundar Kanda, the ocean was crossed and in Lanka Kanda, Ravana was killed. Sita had to go through the fire and Vibhishana was made king.

When the boys came to the point where Sita was banished by Rama, they were chocking.

Sampati gets his wings

Sampati, the son of Garuda, was sitting on the peak of a mountain. He heard the vanaras talking. Listening closely, he heard Angada say - Listen to Hanumana. We came here to look for Sita and we find our death. To help Rama, Jatayu went and he too met his death in the hands of Ravana. It now because of Sita, that we will perish in this foreign land.

Sampati called out - Who talks about the death of Jatayu. He was my brother. My wings are burnt which is why I cannot move, else I would have come to you.

The vanaras thought this was a clever ruse for the bird to get them closer and then eat them.

Hanumana said he would go and talk to the bird. He along with the other vanaras lifted Sampati and brought him where the other vanaras were. Angada then told Sampati about Rama, Lakshmana, Vali and Sugriva. After that he told Sampati how Jatayu fought with Ravana and died.

They then asked Sampati how he knew Jatayu. Sampati then said - We were two sons of Garuda - me and Jatayu. One day we decided to have a race and see who could touch the sun first. The heat of the sun became unbearable as we grew closer to the sun. Jatayu was feeling the heat. I covered Jatayu with my wings, and in that process, my wings got burnt. I then fell on this mountain, where you saw me first.
I was lying on the mountain without any food. One day a brahmana came here. He had a bath in the lake, and I saw him hiding behind a banyan tree. The brahamana saw me and greeted me. I was in pain and could not say anything. He then said you will get your wings back. Son of Dashratha, Rama will come to the forest with wife and brother. Seeing the house empty, Ravana will carry away his wife. Vanaras will come to look for Sita, and seeing them you will get back your wings.

Angada said Seeing your size and form we are scared of you. Do tell us about Ravana.

Hanumana then said before you tell us, let me tell you the story of Ramayana. Starting from Valmiki, Hanumana narrated the entire story of Ramayana. He spoke of the seven kandas of Ramayana and said in Sundarkanda a bridge would be built, in LankaKanda Ravana would die and in Uttarkanda the Ramayana would be sung. While Hanumana was saying this, Sampati's wings started appearing. By the time he was done, Sampati had a new pair of wings.

Sampati then said, if I raise my neck, I can see Sita in Lanka, in the Ashoka grove. Many Rakshashis are guarding her. One among you who is the strongest , should try to cross the ocean with one jump. He then spoke about his son Suparshwa. he stayed in the Himalayas and got food for his father. One day he was delayed. When Sampati asked him the cause of delay, He said he had seen Ravana carrying away a fair lady. Afraid that he would accidentally kill the woman, he let Ravana go. He can carry you on his back and take you to Lanka.

While they were talking, Suparshwa appeared there. He was about to eat the vanaras and seeing this, the vanaras hid behind Sampati. Sampati asked him to carry the vanaras over to Lanka on his back. Angada declined the offer saying they were sons of the Gods and would find out a way to cross the ocean.

Thanking the vanaras, Sampati then flew off with his son, towards the Himalayas.