Balakanda: The Birth of Lord Vishnu's Avatar
Balakanda narrates King Dasarata of Ayodhya, who has three wives and four sons: Rama, Bharata, Laksamana, and Satrughna. Rama and Laksamana assist Sage Wiswamitra in fighting demons, then Rama wins Sita through a contest in Mithila, and defeats Parashurama on their journey back to Ayodhya.
This story begins with King Dasharatha, the ruler of Ayodhya, who was deeply distressed due to his lack of offspring despite having three wives: Kausalya, Kaikeyi, and Sumitra. This concern drove him to seek a spiritual solution by performing a grand yajna, the Ashvamedha (Horse Sacrifice), as well as the Putrakameshti Yajna, a ritual to beseech the gods for progeny. After the yajna was completed, Agni, the fire god, emerged from the sacred fire bearing a bowl of divine nectar. Agni instructed King Dasharatha to distribute the nectar among his three queens.
Blessing from Lord Agni (source: personal collection)
At the same time, in the heavenly realms, celestial beings, including sages (rishis), yakshas, and Gandharvas, felt oppressed by the power of the demon king Ravana. Ravana had received a boon from Brahma, which made him invulnerable to all beings except humans. Therefore, the gods appealed to Lord Vishnu to incarnate as a human to defeat Ravana. Lord Vishnu decided to be born as the son of King Dasharatha, taking the form of Rama, to free the world from the threat of Ravana.
Kausalya gave birth to Rama, the eldest son and heir to the throne of Ayodhya; Kaikeyi gave birth to Bharata; and Sumitra gave birth to the twin sons, Lakshmana and Shatrughna. As the eldest son, Rama was destined to inherit the Kingdom of Ayodhya. As time passed, Rama grew into an exceptional young man. He was renowned for his impressive physical strength, profound wisdom, and great courage.Along with his brothers, Rama received education under the guidance of Sage Vashishta, the royal family’s great sage. Under Sage Vashishta’s mentorship, they studied martial arts, religion, and virtue.
The Arrival of Sage Vishwamitra (source: personal collection)
One day, a great sage named Vishwamitra arrived at the palace of Ayodhya. He requested the help of King Dasharatha to send Rama to protect a sacred yajna he was performing from disturbances caused by demons. One of the primary enemies they faced was Tataka, a very powerful demoness. Initially, Dasharatha was reluctant to part with Rama, but after being persuaded by Vishwamitra, King Dasharatha eventually agreed. Rama, along with his brother Lakshmana, set out to accompany Vishwamitra.
During the journey, Rama and his companions passed through various forests inhabited by dangerous creatures. In one such forest, Rama encountered Tataka and defeated her with a single arrow shot. In recognition of his success, Sage Vishwamitra bestowed upon Rama various divine weapons, including arrows with extraordinary powers. These weapons would prove invaluable in Rama's future adventures.
After defeating Maricha and Subahu, two other demons who were disturbing the sacred yajna of Sage Vishwamitra, Rama and his companions decided to journey to the kingdom of Mithila. In Mithila, King Janaka was holding an archery contest to find a husband for his daughter, Sita. The condition of the contest was that the prospective groom had to lift and string the mighty bow of Lord Shiva, a task that had been attempted and failed by many princes from various kingdoms.
Rama's Success in the Contest (source: personal collection)
Rama and his entourage arrived in Mithila just as the archery contest was taking place. Although many princes had tried, none succeeded in stringing the bow. However, Rama, with his strength, easily lifted and strung the bow. In fact, the bow broke in his hands. Because of this success, Rama won the contest and married Sita, the daughter of King Janaka. Their marriage marked the beginning of the story that would become the core of the Ramayana.
Not only did Rama marry, but his brothers Bharata, Lakshmana, and Shatrughna also married the sisters and cousins of Sita, further strengthening the family bonds between the two kingdoms. A joyful atmosphere filled the kingdom of Mithila after these mass weddings.
The Encounter with Parashurama (source: personal collection)
After the wedding celebration, Rama and Sita, along with their entourage, returned to Ayodhya. On their way home, they encountered Parashurama, a powerful warrior who challenged Rama to a duel to prove who was superior by lifting another sacred bow. However, after Rama successfully lifted the other bow, Parashurama acknowledged his strength and withdrew respectfully.
Balakanda ends with Rama's return to Ayodhya along with Sita. They are joyfully welcomed by the people and the royal family. Rama's victory in the archery contest and his marriage to Sita bring happiness and celebration to Ayodhya, marking a new chapter in the prince's life and the beginning of the Ramayana story.
