Rama's Great Grandfather, the pious Dilip of the Ikshvaku race was renowned for his virtue. His wife Sudakshina was devoted to him and his subjects loved him. Yet he was sad-He had no children. One day Dilipa had an idea. 'I shall consult sage Vashishta. He may be able to help us.' he told his wife who said, 'I am sure he will'. A few days later the king said to his wife, 'I have entrusted the kingdom to our loyal ministers. I am now free to meet the sage'. At the hermitage of the sage, Vashista said, 'I trust all is well with you and your kingdom.' The king said, 'By your grace, my kingdom could not be more prosperous or my subjects happier. Yet my queen and I are very unhappy. We yearn for a son. Why are we deprived thus?' Vashishtha closed his eyes for a moment. Then he said, 'Long, long ago, when Ganga flowed in heaven, and you were a young prince, you had gone to Indra with Sudakshina, your cherished bride. While returning home you passed by Surabhi, the divine cow.' Surabhi thought,' Ah! here comes the crown prince of Ayodhya with his wife to pay me homage. I shall bless them with many valiant sons.'Vashishtha continued, 'You were so engrossed in your young bride however that you hardly noticed Surabhi. She felt slightand her intended blessing came forth as a curse.' 'Vain prince, may you and your bride never have any children till you atone for neglecting me by serving my offspring.' But the din of the ganga was so loud that you did not hear the curse, and drove on'. said Vashishtha. He continued,'As the wise will tell you, those who slight the worthy, are themselves the losers.' The king asked, 'O venerable one, it was an unintended slight. How can I atone for it?' The sage said,' Listen. Along with your wife, wait for Surabhi's daughter Nandini, with love and devotion. Pleased, Nandini will be bestow on you the priceless boon you seek.' At that time Nandini came by and stood near the sage. The sage said, 'At dawn, Sulakshina must escort her to the forest and in the evening, wait to welcome her. You, king, must attend upon her during the day. Thus may you win Nandini's grace and become the proud father of mighty sons.'

 

During dawn each day, Sudakshina worshiped Nandini and led her towards the edge of the forest. From Dawn to dusk, Dilip waited upon Nandini. As she walked, he followed her. When she stopped, he stopped. When she rested, he too relaxed. At dusk each day Sudakshini the beloved queen waiting patiently each day to welcome Nandini and take her home. And so twenty-one days rolled on. On the twenty-second day, Nandini wandered out of the forest. She said to herself,' The king is patient and attentive. Now I must test his valour.' You the green slopes of the Himalaya's she ventured...into Shiva's own grove. The king thought, 'Let her wander. Her innate sanctity will protect her from harm'. And Dilipa turned to gaze at the natural splendor of the surroundings. Suddenly he heard a cry. He ran into the grove to find Nandini at the mercy of a lion. 'I'll shoot the lion and rescue you in a moment, gentle one.' said the king. But to his surprise his arm got paralyzed. Even greater was his amazement, when the lion spoke to him. 'O king, I have cast a spell a on you. Shiva has posted me here to protect this tree, which both Shiva and Parvati love as a son. The cow has trespassed and so must die.' The king said, 'No! I cannot let you kill my guru's cow. Kill me instead.' The Lion said, 'How can I? It is the cow that has trespassed. You only followed her like a devoted son'. 'And like a devoted son I am willing to give up my like for hers.' said the king. The lion said,' By dying you would be saving only one life. But by living you could protect millions. Besides your dependents would be lost without you. So preserve your valuable life and return home.' The king asked, 'Would you be able to face Shiva if his tree were destroyed. How then can I betray the faith of the venerable sage?' The lion said, 'Do not fear the sage. You can appease him with gifts.' The king replied, ' But what about my honour? I value my reputation, which will live after me. So please accept my offer and let my charge go unharmed. The lion said, 'Then so be it'. As soon as the lion agreed, the spell was broken and Dilipa could move'. Throwing his weapons aside he fell before the lion expecting death from its paws.' Instead, a sweet voice sounded in his ears. 'Rise o my son.' As Dilipa slowly rose, he was astonished to see Nandini where the lion should have been. Nandini said, 'Do not be amazed, O valiant king. I created this illusion to test you. Vashishtha's spiritual power guards me so well that Yama himself cannot touch me. Your loyalty and devotion have pleased me. You deserve a boon.' 'Then give me a noble son O mother,' said Dilipa'. Nandini granted the boon. A few days later, the royal couple returned to their palace in a swift chariot'. Then, in due time, Sudakshina bore Dilipa a son. They said,' Our son shall be an Indra on earth. His chariot shall range over her remotest boundaries. Let us name him Raghu'. Soon Raghu was old enough to begin his education. 'To you, the wisest in the land, I entrust the spiritual training of my son', said the king to sage Vashishtha. Dilip himself instructed Raghu the in art of war. Raghu grew up to be a Generous, Noble prince. 'Ah! My son, the hope of the kingdom! I must now get you married and install you as the Heir-Apparent, thought Dilipa. A few years after Raghu was installed, the king said, 'My son! I plan to perform my hundredth sacrifice, the ashwamedha and earn the title-Lord of a hundredth sacrifices which Indra alone now enjoys. You shall protect the sacrificial horse as it roams through the kingdoms of friend and foe.' As Raghu and his comrades followed the horse, they defeated and subdued many kings. 'You have defeated me now but I shall have my revenge,' said the defeated kings. 'Some day I shall make you suffer the same humiliation.' Meanwhile, Indra, the king of devas, was perturbed. 'If Dilipa performs the Ashwamedha, I will no longer have sole claim over the title-lord of a hundred sacrifices.' he thought. So making himself invisible, Indra drove off the horse. The guards informed this to their king. 'But I do not see any body!', said Raghu. Indra, however, had not reckoned with Nandini's affection for Raghu. As the prince and and his friends stood perplexed, she blessed him with supernatural vision. 'Ah!' said the king, 'I have received the grace to see things not visible to the human eye.' And he saw that the thief was Indra, king of the Devas. Raghu said,'Let the horse go, O great one. You may smite our foes-not steal the horse. You know you will enjoy the major share of the sacrifice. Then why do you hinder us?' Indra was amazed by Raghu's brave works. He stopped his carriot 'Noble prince, you speak well. But by doing the Ashwamedha your father plans to rob me of my title. I mean to keep it. In return Raghu raised his bow and took aim. 'You will have to kill me first', he said. The arrow found its mark. Indra was furious. He placed a deadly arrow and took aim. But Raghu was too quick for him. And before Indra could recover from the shock, Raghu shot down his flag. His third arrow cut Indra's bowstring in two. Enraged, Indra flung his bow away and seizing his lethal weapon Vajra Hurled it at Raghu. The soldiers thought there king is dead. But Lo! The next moment Raghu was on this feet again. Indra was amazed.' You have with stood my weapon, which even mountains cannot face. I will give you whatever you ask for, except the horse' he said. 'Then let my father be given the full merits of all the sacrifices, even though he may not complete the hundredth. And...Let my father know this before I reach Ayodhya. said Raghu. Indra said,' Soshall it be. And Indra's chariot soared haven wards. Indra kept his promise. A proud Dilipa stood waiting to welcome the hero, as he entered Ayodhya in Thrump. Dilipa said to Raghu, 'Dear son, Indra's messenger spoke of your valor too But the sacrred hands are more eloquent. Later Dilipa said to Raghu,' I now wish to entrust the kingdom to lead an ascetic life with your mother. So Raghu became king and Dilipa along with Sudakshina, retired to the forest.

 

Meanwhile, the Vassal king, whom Raghu subdued, now rose in revolt. They told Raghu's messenger, 'If your king wants his tribute let him come and get it.' Raghu made a decision. 'We shall leave on a campaign of universal conquest. We will not return till we have conquered the earth.' He set out on the campaign at the head of a huge army. A few years later, his mighty mission accomplished, a triumphant Raghu marched homewards to Ayodhya. A herald announced his arrival, 'Our king returns with untold wealth.' His power established, Raghu now decided to give awayall his wealth. He said, 'Enough wealth should first be given to all those kings whom I have conquered. The rest should be distributed among my subject.' As the last lot of treasueres was given away, A young sage stood before Raghu'. 'Alas! there is nothing left.' thought the sage. Raghu said,' Welcome O sage! How is your guru? What can I do for you. The sage said,' All is well with us, o King'. I have come for the fee which I have to give to my guru. But I see that I have come too late. I will have to go and try elsewhere.. As the sage turned to go, Raghu said,' Wait, o virtuous one I cannot let you do that. What is your guru's demand.' The sage mentioned the amount. Raghu thought, 'Kubera alone now possesses such wealth. I will have to take it from him.' He said to the sage,' You shall have the amount you can need. Be my guest for a few days, while I return it. That night Raghu got the chariot and weapons ready. He thought to himself, 'I shall invade Alakapuri at dawn and challenge Kubera. When Kubera divined his intensions however, he said to himself,' I am no match for Raghu'. I had better give him the wealth he needs before he attacks,' And Kubera rained a shower of gold coins into Raghu's coffers. At dawn as Raghu was about to set out, a guard said,' Lord! Wait!, while you slept the lard of wealth has filled your coffers. When Raghu told the sage about it, he was amazed. He thought, 'To all great kings earth gladly yields her wealth. How great must he be when heaven it self showers its wealth'. The sage blessed the king , 'O king let your son be as great as you. And so the promised son was born. He shall be called Aja, the unborn one-Arisen from the supreme soul. Aja grew up to be an virtuous and valiant son as Raghu was to his parents. Meanwhile at Vidarbha, the sister of king Bhoja, had come of age. Bhoja thought, ' Indumati must soon be married. I shall hold a swayamwar for her to which I shall invite many a king and chief. The invitation reached the court of Raghu. Raghu said to Aja, 'Indumati would make a peerless bride.Go to Vidarbha and win her, my son'. So Aja set out with a vast retinue. Towards the end of their journey, they set up a camp on the banks of Narmada, An angry rogue elephant attached them. Aja raised his spear and hurled at the animal. The moment the spear pierced the animal, It turned into a Gandharva, who sais. 'You have redeemed me from a curse. As a reward please except this magic spear. It can put whole armies to sleep. The next morning, Aja and his retinue resumed their journey. Aja thought, 'The meeting with the gangharva tells me that I have been favored. Perhaps I am fated to win the fair bride.' At Vidarbha Bhoja himself came out to receive Aja with the words, 'Welcome, O son of Raghu. You may rest tonight at the special palace I have build for you. My men will guide you to the thrown the swayamvar tomorrow. The next morning as Ajaentered the hall, the other kings began to whisper amongst themselves. 'The son of Raghu', 'Oh! that he were not here', 'What hope do we have now of winning the fair bride.' The air was tense as the mighty kings awaited her entry with hope that he would be the chosen lord. Soon the Palanquin bearing Indumati was brought in. All eyes turned to gaze at her. SunandaA royal matron, let her to the king. 'The valiant and Pious lord of Maghada' told the maid of Indumati. But Indumati went ahead. Thus Indumati passed each hopeful king by. At last, she stood before Aja. The maid said, 'Aja the crown prince of Ayodya, mighty Raghu's son.' Indumati made no comment but only blushed in confusion. The maid asked, 'Shall we pass by o princess?' Indumati hardly heard her. With her grazed still locked in his, she placed the garland around Aja's neck. There was a roar of approval from the assembly. While the rival suitors looked with hostility at the pair, king Bhoja led Indumati and Aja through the festive city. One king said,' Raghu once mercilessly humbledus and now and now his son walks off with our prize.' 'We must avenge the insult, 'Let us waylay them as they return to Ayodhya. Three days later, Aja and his bride set out to Ayodhya. The disappointed suitors hurled a spear at them. Indumati was afraid but Aja calmed her by the words, 'Take courage timid one. Aja shall not lose you, his very life'. He turned to an experienced minister. 'I trust my bride to you. Guard her while we mount the counter attack. His bride in safe hands, Aja turned on his foes. 'CHARGE'. For a while he let the battle rage on. Then, weary of blood shed and slaughter, Aja made a decision. I shall use my magic spear. At once the bewildered kings and their armies were charmed into sleep, the noise and confusion of  battled was stilled. Aja blew his conch to announced his victory. Then he went to Indumati, 'Come. Behold our foes. Could such as they ever hope to rob me of you. And they resumed their journey to Ayodhya. 'The mighty king, my father will rejoice when he hears of our victory over his most powerfull vassals. When they reached Ayodhya, 'News of your valour has travelled home before you come, my children, the royal household wants to honour you. Later Raghu said to Aja, 'My son, I am old now and would like to renounce the world. Become the sovereign and rule the country in the tradition of your ancestors.' And Raghu took to a lifeof austerity and Meditation. Aja was a just, wise and strong king and earned the same love and respect from his subjects that his father had enjoyed. Said his subjects, 'All that Ayodhya now needs is an heir as pious and valiant as our king. And that hope too was soon fulfilled when a son was born to Indumati- The son who became known as Dasharatha the father of Rama.