1122 An abstract Translation from the Pudma Pooran. [No. 131. 



up the living waters." This object being effected, Roodra converted 

 mount Meroo into a bow, and took the serpent Vasookey for a string, 

 and Vishnoo for an arrow. The sun and moon formed the wheels of his 

 chariot, the four Vedas were his four horses, driven by Brahma as coachman, 

 and the ocean was his quiver of arrows. Thus armed, he charged the 

 giants, and fired the arrow Vishnoo into the midst of them, all fell dead 

 in a moment. Roodra made a present of the bow to Davarat, grand-father 

 of Janaka, and it has remained with the family ever since. Ramah being 

 made acquainted with the terms of the proclamation, took the bow in 

 his hands, easily bent it back, and adjusted the string, and fired the arrows 

 in rapid succession. The conditions being fulfilled, Janaka gave his 

 daughter Seta to Ramah, and his second daughter Oormulla to Luchmun ; 

 after the celebration of the nuptials, the brothers set off on their return 

 to Oude. In the way they met Parasoo Ramah, who addressed Ramah, 

 saying, " Your father Dasarada refused to fight with me, and ran away. 

 I hear your prowess is great. Let me see if you can bend this bow." 

 Ramah said he would do his best, he then took the bow and bent it, and 

 discharged the arrows. Parasoo Ramah then said, " Oh Ramah,* you are 

 indeed very powerful, he who can bend this bow, can build a staircase to 

 heaven with the heads of kings." 



The brothers then proceeded on their journey, and arrived safely at 

 Oude with their wives, where they lived very happily with their parents. 



Dasarada being now advanced in years, wished to place Ramah on the 

 throne; upon which his wife Kikia observed, " Once upon a time when you 

 and I went out in a chariot to hunt in the vicinity of Jountopoor, a giant 

 named Sumbarasoor came to fight with you. If you remember well, you 

 discharged your arrows and drove the chariot. In the midst of the fight, the 

 linch-pin of one of the wheels fell out, and the chariot would have fallen 

 had I not put my finger in the place of the linch-pin, and kept it there 

 until you had killed the giant. For this service you desired that I would 

 ask some favor and it should be granted. I said that I had nothing to ask 

 for at that time, but that I would make a request at some future period, to 

 this, if you remember, you assented. The time is now arrived, and my 

 request is this, that you banish Ramah for fourteen years to the jungles, 

 and appoint my son Bhurata as king during that period." Dasarada 

 being bound to perform his promises, granted her request. Then Ramah 

 and Luchmun with their wives departed from Oude, and came to the 

 city of Chitrakoot. When Dasarada heard that they had left Oude, 

 and gone into the jungles, he became exceeding sorrowful and died. Then 



* Original obscure— supposed meaning. 





