Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

"""OThe Last Daysof Ramabut thou shalt be with her in Heaven. Hearken now tothe ending of Valmiki s story, and thou shalt know thyfuture history and therewith Brahma with the ; godsreturned to his own place,and Rama appointed themorrow for the hearing of the Uttara Kanda.The Last Days of RamaBut now Rama was heavy-hearted, and the whole worldseemed empty without Slta, and he knew no peace. Hegave the monkeys and the kings and hermits gifts, andsent them back to their own homes, and he made a goldenimage of Slta to share with him in the performance ofsacred rites, and a thousand years passed, while all thingsprospered in the kingdom of Ayodhya. Then Kaushalyaand Kaikeyl died, and were united with King Dasharathain Heaven. Bharata reigned in Kekaya, and Satrughnawas king of Madhu, while the sons of Lakshman foundedkingdomsof their own.At length there came to Rama s palace the mighty yogiTime, and Rama honoured him. He named himselfTime, begotten by Narayana on Maya, and he remindedRama of his godlyself and all that he had achieved inHeaven and on earth. Lord of the World," he said,thou wast born on earth for the destruction of the Tenneckedrakshasa, and thou didst undertake to dwell onearth for eleven thousand years. Now that time is ripeand the grandsire sendeth me to tell thee : now wilt thoureign yet longer over men, or wilt thou return to the lordship of the gods?"Then Rama praised the yogi andsaid he had spoken truth, and for himself he wouldreturn to his own place.But already Lakshman had left his home and gone to thebanks of Sarayu to practise great austerities, and thereMS