Bengali Ramayana - Raghu

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After Soudasa, his son Sudasa became the king.

Sudasa was succeeded by Dilip. Dilip had a son called

Raghu. Raghu was a brave boy, fearless from a young age.

Once when Dilip decided to perform the Ashwamedha

Yagna, young Raghu decided to follow the horse and

protect it. Indra being afraid that Dilip would take over

heaven, stole the horse. Raghu thought, Indra is known to

steal horses. It must be his work. So saying, climbing

into a chariot driven by a 1000 horses, Raghu marched

towards heaven.<br>Reaching heaven, Raghu started looking

around for Indra. Coming face to face, Raghu decided to

fight the God. Indra was amused to see a young man

challenging him. While Indra was looking at Raghu, Raghu shot

three arrows at Indra. Indra fell down from Airavata's

back. Rising up, Indra shot 10 arrows towards Raghu,

but Raghu cutoff those 10 arrows by shooting 10

arrows.Thus the battle of arrows continued. Now, Raghu knew

about the Pashupatiastra, the terrible weapon. He aimed

that towards Indra; bound by its power, Indra became

Raghu's captive.<br>With a bound Indra and the horse,

Raghu returned to Ayodhya. <br>All the Gods were amazed

at Raghu's skill. Brahma blessed Raghu saying your

dynasty will be known by your name "Raghuvamsha". Raghu

released Indra, after Indra promised that never would

Ayodhya face famine or drought. Indra left for the

heavens.<br>After Dilip's death, Raghu became the king of Ayodhya.

He led a very simple life, eating from earthenware

vessels and sleeping on grass. <br>In Rishi Kashyapa's

ashrama, there was a brahmin boy called Varadutta.

Varadutta had finished his studies. When he askied his

guru, what he(the guru) would like for GuruDakshina,

the sage demanded an imense amount of Gold. He

thought of Raghu, the great King. It was said, no one

came emptyhanded from Raghu's house. He asked for 7

days from his Guru and approached Raghu. Raghu was

drinking water at that time form an earthenware bowl. The

brahmin thought, "Oh! this king is poor. He cannot afford

a glass; how can he help me". Raghu, seeing the

Brahmin, told him to sit asked him how he (the king) could

help. On learning of his demand, Raghu told the brahmin

to rest, saying that the gold would be available the

next day.<br>On checking his coffers, Raghu saw there

wasn't enough wealth. While Raghu was thinking waht to

do, Narada arrived there. Narada told him get the

gold from Kubera, the god of wealth.<br>Raghu told his

army to get ready to march towards Kailasha, where

Kubera stayed. <br>Narada went to see Kubera and told

him about Raghu's plan. Kubera got scared and

instantly Raghu's treasury was full of Gold. He appeared

before Raghu and said "I have filled your coffers. Leave

me alone".<br>With the gold, the Brahmana reached

his guru. The guru had thought of an impossible task;

now he was scared. If thieves and robbers got to

know, he would be killed. He told the Brahmin to leave

the gold with Indra. Indra learning that the gold was

Raghu was scared. He refused to touch that gold,

fearing that Raghu would march back into his kingdom. The

brahmin returned to his guru, who then told him to take

the wealth to Kubera. Kubra got his wealth back and

all were happy.