What training were Dasaratha's four sons given?
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All the training prescribed for princes.
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What training were Dasaratha's four sons given?
All the training prescribed for princes.
What happened when Viswamitra prayed to Brahma?
Smoke and flames issued from his body and enveloped the universe.
What did Viswamitra do when he saw the smiling damsel Rambha?
Cursed her and froze her to an image of stone for ten thousand years.
Who was enraged by Dasaratha's attempt to go back on his hasty word?
Sage Viswamitra.
What did Vasishtha say about refusing a promise once made?
It ill becomes the King to refuse having promised once. Born in the Ikshvaku line, he cannot do it. Having once said, 'I will do', he has no option but to do it.
What did Vasishtha assure King Dasaratha about the safety of Rama and Lakshmana?
When they are protected by Viswamitra, no Rakshasa can hurt them.
What did Vasishtha say about Viswamitra's power and abilities?
He is tapas in human form. Bravest of the brave and wisest of the wise, he is master of every weapon. In the three worlds there is not, and there will never be, any to equal him in martial or spiritual prowess.
What did Viswamitra initiate the princes in before they slept on the bank of the river Sarayu?
Two secret mantras - Bala and Atibala, which had the virtue of guarding them from fatigue and harm.
What did Viswamitra do after being defeated and disgraced by Vasishtha?
He entrusted his kingdom to one of his sons and proceeded to the Himalayas to perform tapas.
What did Viswamitra think of the service he still had to do for Rama?
The prince's marriage with Sita.
Why are mythology and holy figures necessary for a great culture?
To rest on a stable spiritual foundation and function as a life-giving inspiration and guide.
What title did Brahma confer on Viswamitra after his tapas?
Maharishi.
How did Dasaratha receive Viswamitra?
He received Viswamitra as Indra would welcome Brahma and touched his feet.
Who asked for three paces of ground as a boon?
Vamana.
What sound reached Tataka in her fastness?
The shrill note of Rama's twanged bow.
Why did Tataka attack Rama and Lakshmana?
She was filled with rage and amazement at the audacious intruder who dared enter her domain.
What did Viswamitra caution Rama against in dealing with Tataka?
Delay in dealing the death-blow to the monster, as Rakshasas grow stronger at night.
What did Sabala do when the soldiers tried to drag her away?
She put to flight the soldiers and sought refuge at the feet of the sage.
How were Dasaratha's wives blessed with sons?
They drank the divine payasam sent by the gods.
What did Vasishtha say to Viswamitra after his fight?
You have achieved the fruit of your great austerities. Indeed you are a Brahma Rishi, my brother.
Where did Viswamitra seek solitude after the incident with Rambha?
In the east.
Who was prevailed upon to stop the creation of new constellations?
Viswamitra.
What was the source of unfailing plenty in Vasishtha's ashrama?
His cow Sabala.
Why did King Viswamitra want Vasishtha's cow Sabala?
He believed that such things of power and wealth by right belong to the King.
What did Viswamitra do when Vasishtha refused to give him the cow?
He ordered his men to seize the cow by force.
How did Rama finally defeat Tataka?
He pierced her chest with a deadly arrow.
What was the purpose of Rama's birth according to Sage Viswamitra?
The prince's marriage with Sita.
What did Lord Siva grant Viswamitra after being pleased with his tapas?
All the weapons available to the Devas, Gandharvas, Rishis, Yakshas, and the Demons.
What was the most powerful weapon in Viswamitra's armory?
The Brahmastra.
What happened when Viswamitra hurled the Brahmastra against Vasishtha?
The world became wrapped in gloom, and the very immortals trembled with fear.
What was the meaning of the name Ayodhya?
That which cannot be subdued by war.
What did Viswamitra resolve to do after being addressed as Maharishi by Brahma?
Entered on another thousand years of even harder tapas.
What did Viswamitra request from Dasaratha?
To send Rama, the eldest of his warlike sons, to defeat the powerful Rakshasas Maricha and Subahu.
What did Brahma reveal about Ravana's invulnerability?
Ravana was invulnerable and invincible against Devas, Asuras, Gandharvas, and other such beings, but not against mankind.
Why did the Devas surrender themselves to Hari?
To request him to be born as a man and put an end to Ravana and his atrocities.
How did Hari assure the Devas of his birth?
He assured them that he would be born as four sons of King Dasaratha who was then performing a sacrifice for progeny.
What did the figure emerging from the flames hold?
A bowl of gold.
Where did the princes cross the river?
On a raft provided by the rishis.
Where did Viswamitra and the two princes spend the night before proceeding on their journey?
On the bank of the river Sarayu.
Why did the Devas bring waters from sacred rivers to bathe Indra?
To cleanse Indra from sin after he killed Vritra.
Where was the great kingdom Kosala located?
To the north of the Ganga, made fertile by the river Sarayu.
What was the source of Tataka's strength according to Viswamitra?
A boon granted by Brahma to her father, Suketu.
Who did Indra call upon to divert Viswamitra from his purpose?
The celestial damsel Rambha.
How did Dasaratha respond to Viswamitra's request?
He initially refused, expressing fear and anxiety, and offered to go with his army instead.
What did Vamana measure with his steps?
The earth and the entire heavens.
What happened when there was no room left for the third step granted to Vamana?
He set his foot on Mahabali's devoted head.
Why did Mahabali become one of the seven immortals of the world?
Because his head was blessed by the touch of Narayana's foot.
Where did Narayana and later Kashyapa perform tapas, resulting in the incarnation of God as Vamana?
In the holy place where Viswamitra lived.
What did the figure say to King Dasaratha?
The Devas are pleased with you and are answering your prayer. Here is payasam sent by the gods for your wives. You will be blessed with sons if they drink this divine beverage.
What did Viswamitra offer to teach Rama in return for his help?
The use of all the astras (divine weapons).
What is the significance of mythology in religion and national culture?
It is as necessary as the skin and the skeleton that preserve a fruit with its juice and its taste.
How many sons were born to Dasaratha's wives?
Rama of Kausalya, Bharata of Kaikeyi, and twins Lakshmana and Satrughna of Sumitra.
Where did the rishis intend to proceed?
To the kingdom of Videha.
What binds vast numbers of people together as one, despite apparent divisions?
The Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
Who ruled the kingdom of Kosala from the capital city of Ayodhya?
King Dasaratha.
What did the princes pay silent homage to after crossing the river?
The confluence of the Ganga and the Sarayu.
Where did Rama and Lakshmana proceed after spending the night in the forest?
To Viswamitra's ashrama.
What is the significance of Kamashrama?
It is the place where the Lord Siva was long engaged in austerities and where the god of love Manmatha aimed his arrow at Siva and was turned to ashes by his wrath.
According to Viswamitra, what can raise one to contemplation of the Supreme Being?
Any object of beauty, such as a river, hill, tree, or cloud.
What did Viswamitra teach Rama during their journey?
The use, control, and recall of the various divine weapons.
What happened when Viswamitra attacked Vasishtha with divine weapons?
They were quenched as they approached the rishi's staff and were absorbed by it.
What is the significance of Siddhashrama?
It is the place where Lord Narayana performed tapas and was born as Vamana.
How did Vasishtha nullify the Brahmastra?
The terrible astra itself was merged in the rishi's staff, making both it and the holy man glow with the glory they had absorbed.
Who prayed to Vishnu to be born as their son and protect Indra and the Devas from Mahabali?
Kashyapa and his spouse Aditi.
What did Viswamitra realize after Vasishtha nullified all his weapons?
That the Kshatriya's might in arms was of no use against Vasishtha.
What did Viswamitra decide to do after openly accepting defeat?
To become a Brahma Rishi like Vasishtha.
Why did the sons of Vasishtha decline the invitation to the yaga?
Because the officiating priest was a once upon-a-time Kshatriya and the yajaman a stinking chandala.
What curse did Viswamitra explode into after the sons of Vasishtha declined the invitation?
That Vasishtha's sons do die and be reborn for seven generations in a tribe given to eating dog's flesh.
What did King Dasaratha decide to perform in order to have a son?
A horse sacrifice for progeny.
What happened when King Trisanku approached Vasishtha for help in realizing his wish?
Vasishtha advised him to give up attempting the impossible.
Why did the gods not come when they were invoked during Viswamitra's yaga?
It was clear that Viswamitra's yaga was a failure.
How did Viswamitra respond to King Trisanku's plight?
He took pity on the King converted by a curse into a chandala and offered him refuge.
What did Indra do when Trisanku reached Swarga with a chandala body?
Indra pushed him down, saying, 'Who are you, entering heaven with a chandala body?'
What did the Devas do after Viswamitra's stupendous activities had consumed the whole of the power he had acquired by his austerities?
They came to terms and humbly entreated Viswamitra to desist.
What special attachment arose between Rama and Lakshmana, and Bharata and Satrughna?
It arose out of the way the divine payasam was divided among the King's wives.
What transformed dead things like rotting corpses into things of beauty?
When returned to the earth, they are transformed by the alchemy of Mother Earth into fruits, flowers, and wholesome things.
Who arrived unexpectedly to see King Dasaratha?
The great Sage Viswamitra.
Why did Viswamitra bring the princes to the Dandaka forest?
To rid the forest of the great enemy, Tataka, who had turned it into a dreadful wilderness.
What did Viswamitra arrange for?
A great and unprecedented yaga.
Why did King Dasaratha have one regret despite the prosperity of his kingdom?
He had no son.
What was King Trisanku's desire?
To ascend to heaven in his very body.
What was the nature of yagas in ancient times?
Similar to present-day State-sponsored big scale conferences and exhibitions.
How did Viswamitra react when Trisanku fell from heaven and screamed for help?
He shouted to Trisanku to stop there, and Trisanku's earthward descent came to an abrupt stop.
Why did Rama agree to kill Tataka despite her being a woman?
To punish the wicked, whether male or female, is the duty of kings for the sake of human safety.
What did Viswamitra seek the help of the other rishis for during the yaga?
Effecting the bodily translation of Trisanku to heaven.
What happened to King Trisanku after being cursed by Vasishtha's sons?
He woke up a different person, an untouchable, ugly of form, attired in dirty clothes.
What did Viswamitra do after being advised by Brahma that he had risen to the position of a rishi among kings?
He subjected himself to still more rigorous austerities in order to be acknowledged as an equal of Vasishtha.
Who did King Dasaratha consult to perform the Yaga for progeny?
Sage Rishyasringa.
What happened when Viswamitra held the ladle of ghee over the flames and transferred all the merit he had earned to Trisanku?
Trisanku in his chandala body rose heavenward.
What did Viswamitra proceed to create after Trisanku's earthward descent stopped?
A new starry horizon to the south as well as a new Indra and new Devas.