ततः प्रभाते विमले कृत्वाह्निकं अरिंदमौ ।
विश्वामितं पुरस्कृत्य नद्यास्तीरमुपागतौ ॥

Then Rama and Lakshmana who are capable crushing all enmies then completed their daily rituals in the peaceful early morning hours. Thereafter following Viswamitra reached the banks of the river Ganga.

बालकांड
चतुर्विंश स्सर्गः

Balakanda
Twenty fourth Sarga

Then Rama and Lakshmana who are capable crushing all enmies then completed their daily rituals in the peaceful early morning hours. Thereafter following Viswamitra reached the banks of the river Ganga.

The venerable sages who are followers of strict practices then got one boat for crossing the river and spoke to Viswamitra.' Oh Venereable sage ! please get into this boat alog with the princes. Without losing time have a safe fruitful journey '. Then Viswamitra too saying 'so be it' and having honored the sages crossed that river Ganges which ultimately merges with the ocean.

When the river reached the mid point of the river, Rama and Lakshmana could hear the roar of the tumultous waves. Then SriRama asked the sage,' What is the reason for the roar of the tumultous waves in the middle of this river '. Then hearing those words of Rama marked with curiosity , Viswamitra the follower of Dharma started to elaborate the reasons.

'O Rama Lord Barhma created a lake as he wished in his mind or 'manas'. Hence it came to be known as lake Manas. The river sarayu flows out of this lake. Beacuse it is flowing out of a lake or Saras , the river came to be known as Sarayu. When the river Sarayu mingles with river Ganges, the clashing of the fast flowing waters generates the sound of the tumultous waves. O Rama ! Pay obeisance to these two rivers respectfully'.

Reaching the southern bank of the river , Rama and Lakshmana the followers of righteous path paid obeisance to the two rivers and started walking forward quickly. Seeing the dense forest with no movement of human beings , the scion of Ikshwakus spoke to the venerable sage as follows.

'Oh venerable Sir ! This forest is difficult to enter. It is resounding with the sounds of groups of birds. It is full of fearsome animals. It is filled with vultures that give out fearsoms sounds. Lions, tigers and elephants are moving about freely. It is filled with a wide variety of trees . Oh Sir! What is the name of ths forest?'

Sage Viswamitra who radiates power then spoke to Rama with the following words.'O Best of men ! I will tell you about this forest . Please listen. In the olden days there were two lands by name 'Malada' and 'Karusa' which were built by Devas. They were very wealthy , prosperous and full of riches of grains'.

Oh Rama ! in the olden days having killed Vrittasura , Indra was afflicted by the sin of killing a Brahmana. Thus he acquired the impurity. He started to be afflicted by hunger and thirst. The Devas and others rich with fruits of penance bathed him with the waters of ganges chanting sacred hymns. Hence the impurities as well as his hunger and thirst were removed. The Devas and the Rishis were delighted with this place since his impurity and the hunger were thus removed'.

'Indra too was happy that his impurity and the hunger were removed and he attained the purity. So he gave the best of the boons pronouncing that these two lands will be well known by the name of 'Malada' and 'Karusa' and will always be prosperous being full of riches of wealth and grains'. Hearing the boon given by that powerful Indra all the Devas too indicated their happy pronouncing 'well said ', 'well said' . Oh Rama the the two lands of Malada and Karusa shone for a long time with riches'.

'After some time , a Yakshini who was born with the strength of thousand elephants lived here. She became the wife of one powerful 'Sunda'. Oh Rama! she bore a Rakshasa son by name Maricha. He is as powerful as Indra. His shoulders are powerful and has a big face. He was always troubling the people'.

Oh Rama! The wicked Tataki is destroying the two lands of Malada and Karusa . About one and half Yojanas from here , Tataki has occupied the path and is living here. So we are going to go thorugh the path occupied by Tataki. Hence Oh Rama ! using your strength you must kills this wicked Yakshni . Please follow my words and make these lands free of impediments like before.'

'Oh Rama ! no body is able to come to these lands being destroyed by the fearsome hateful Yakshini'.

' I have elaborated on how Tataka destroyed these lands and how these lands became lnads with no people. This Tataki has not left this forest even now'.

Thus ends sarga twenty four of Balakanda in Srimadvalmiki Ramayana.
|| om tat sat ||

एतत् ते सर्वमाख्यातुं यथैतद्दारुणं वनम् ।
यक्ष्या चोत्सादितं सर्वं अद्यापि न निवर्तते ॥

' I have elaborated on how Tataka destroyed these lands and how these lands became lnads with no people. This Tataki has not left this forest even now'.

|| om tat sat ||

|| om tat sat ||