In plain words
“All this time I have ruled the people as my own children. I have taken the people's wish to be my wish. Now the strength of my senses has declined. So I have resolved to crown my eldest son, Rāma,” he said. But the people and the ministers: “Mahārāja! You still have the strength to rule the kingdom. So it would be well if you yourself ruled a while longer,” they said. Hearing these words, Daśaratha wondered whether none of them wanted Rāma crowned, poor man! At once the ministers: “Mahārāja! Rāma is truly a man of great virtues. But he does not have the experience you have, does he! First make Rāma the crown prince and guide him in ruling the kingdom,” they said. Do you see! Daśaratha said that one whose senses had lost their vigour was not fit to rule a kingdom. But the leaders of today, though their eyes cannot see, though their ears cannot hear, though their hands can no longer sign their names, still hope to rule the kingdom.
Lava and Kuśa
In the days when Rāma was ruling Ayodhyā, Vālmīki composed the Rāmāyaṇa. He resolved to proclaim it to the world, plant it in the hearts of the people and make them holy. The story of Rāma draws the heart in every way, in verse, in prose and in song. The ślokas in it put an end to sorrow. As Vālmīki sat pondering how to spread so sacred a Rāmāyaṇa among the people, Kuśa and Lava, sweet singers in the dress of ṛṣis, came, bowed to him and stood before him. They were twin birds. Their strength and their ability are beyond describing. They fear no one, and they never hold back. Shyness is not in them at all. Vālmīki looked at the two of them: “Lava and Kuśa! With great labour, with a full heart and with a sacred feeling, I have written this Rāmāyaṇa. You must proclaim it to the world,” he commanded. Lava and Kuśa bowed with the utmost humility: “Gurujī! Give us leave. We will go from village to village and street to street and make it known,” they said. At one place, where the ṛṣis had all gathered, Lava and Kuśa went into their midst and sang the sacred story of Rāma in sweet voices, and the ṛṣis, enchanted, shed tears of joy. Blessing Lava and Kuśa with all their hearts, they asked them to spread the Rāmāyaṇa all over the world.
The story of Rāma sung before Rāma
When Lava and Kuśa entered Ayodhyā and sang the story of Rāma melodiously, the people in the bazaar stood still wherever they were. Their hearts were filled with Ānanda. They had no thought at all of where they were or what they were doing. That is bhāva-samādhi. At that time Rāma, who came that way mounted on His chariot, also heard Lava and Kuśa singing the story of Rāma and was enchanted. After He reached home, He sent ministers to tell Lava and Kuśa that He invited them to come to His palace and sing the story of Rāma.