The Father's Command

Once, when the sons had all gone out to gather fruit, Reṇukā, who kept her vows, went to bathe. There she happened to see King Citraratha of Mārttikāvata playing in the water with his wife, wearing a garland of lotuses, and seeing him in his splendour she desired him. Because of that fault she came back to the hermitage trembling, confused, wet from the water, and her husband understood it. When he saw that she had lost her steadiness and the glory of a brahmin's wife, he reproached her: Shame on you.

Then his eldest son Rumaṇvat came, and Suṣeṇa, and Vasu, and Viśvāvasu, and one by one he ordered them to kill their mother. Bewildered, they said nothing, and in his anger he cursed them, and they lost their wits and became like beasts and birds. Then Rāma came last, and Jamadagni, in great anger, said to him: Kill this sinful mother of yours, and do not grieve, my son. Rāma took up his axe and cut off his mother's head.

At once Jamadagni's anger left him, and he was gracious, and said: My son, you have done a hard thing at my word. Choose whatever you wish, for you know your duty. Rāma asked that his mother should rise again and not remember being killed, that he himself should not be touched by that sin, that his brothers should be restored to their nature, and that he should be unmatched in battle and live long. And Jamadagni gave him all of it.