Wednesday 5 June 2013

54. Rama goes to see his father (for the last time).

                  Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana, after disbursing all their movable properties, decided to see and get the blessings of the king Dasharatha before leaving for the forest.  The weapons held by Rama and Lakshmana were tied on with garlands very elegantly by Seetha.  The weapons thus decorated were shining brilliantly and were fearsome to look at.  To get a good look at the triple before they go away for fourteen long years, people ascended the lofty palatial mansions, large buildings and tops of palaces of even seven stories high and saw them spiritlessly and sadly.  The streets became difficult to walk due to the congestion created by the people, who were very eager to have a look at Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha before they go away.  That apart, they were very much in distress at the very thought that they would not be seeing them for fourteen long years.  In order to have a good look at Rama, they braved themselves by ascending lofty palatial buildings, mindless of the risk of falling and getting hurt or even killed.  
      Then, by seeing Rama as a pedestrian without even an umbrella, the people with their hearts struck by grief and their eyes brimming with tears, were thinking aloud.  Their thoughts were something like the following.
       "The same Sri Rama who was followed by a strong four wings of army(comprising elephants, chariots, cavalry and infantry), is now walking lonely with Seetha, followed by Lakshmana."
        "Rama knew the taste of sovereignty.  He can grant desires to the desirous.  Even then, because of his respect for virtue, he is careful not to belie his father's words.  Even commoners like me, walking on the road are able to see Seetha, who could not earlier be seen by any commoner, even by going through the air.  Rain, heat and cold will quickly wane pallor to Seetha, who is fond of applying suitable cosmetics and red sandal her body.  Today, certainly Dasharatha is talking due to being possessed by some evil spirit.  The king is certainly not entitled to send his affectionate son to exile.  Which father will have the heart to banish even a son who is absolutely devoid of any virtue?Why to tell further of whom, this world is conquered merely by his mode of conduct?"       
       "Harmlessness, compassion, learning, good nature, self-control and tranquility - on date all these six virtues are adorn only by Rama making him the best of men.  Therefore, it is no wonder that the other people like me, are extremely painful for the injury done to him, as aquatic beings in summer are afflicted because of depletion of water."
       "The entire world felt afflicted by the hardship inflicted on this protector of the world, as a tree that is always giving plenty of flowers and fruits is damaged by the injury caused to its root.  This Rama, the essence of virtue possessing great lustre, is indeed the root of the tree of humanity.  All other men are his flowers, fruits and branches.  We, along with our wives and relatives at once will follow Rama in the same way as Lakshmana is going with the departing Rama.        Abandoning gardens, fields and houses, we shall follow Rama the righteous man, and share his joys and sorrows.  Let Kaikeyi have the houses deserted with their treasures unearthed by us, their court-yards in ruined state, their wealth and food grains removed, their best parts robbed off from all sides, covered by dust, deserted by the deities(presiding them), overrun by mice, coming out of their holes and turning around here and there, without water and smoke, unswept, the rites of offering oblations to all creatures as well as the sacred fire, worship of gods, the chanting of sacred texts and muttering of prayers having altogether ceased, as though dilapidated by adverse times and scattered with broken vessels.   As Rama is going away to the forest, that forest will become a city and this city deserted by us will become a forest.  Scared of us, all the snakes in the forest will abandon their holes.  Elephants and the lions will leave the forest itself.   They will leave the region going to be inhabited by us and reach the city of Ayodhya.   Let Kaikeyi with her son along with her relatives inhabit the region where ferocious animals and vultures live with grass, meat and fruits.  Let us all (on the other hand) live happily in the forest along with Rama."
       Rama heard the various kinds of loud thoughts made on the lines indicated above by the people.  But  Rama's face did not show any emotion.  He was just  walking with the strides of an elephant, approached his father's palace, which from a distance glowed like a peak of the Kailasa mountain.  After entering the royal palace, he noticed that the people were highly disturbed.  However, he appeared unmoved and smiling, intending to fulfill his father's behest and went on to see his father.  He saw, among others, Sumantra standing dejected not far from the palace and told him "Inform my arrival to the king."
      The charioteer did not seem to have heard Rama.  He was just staring stupidly at Rama, Seetha and Lakshmana.  Thereafter, the lotus-eyes Rama, who was dark-brown in complexion and great beyond compare, went near to him and tapped on his back and spoke loudly to him, "Please go and tell my father that I am here to see him."   Sumantra then seemed to have woken up from a reverie and nodded and then quickly entering inside saw the sighing king, whose senses were disturbed by grief.  He saw the king resembling an eclipsed sun, like fire covered by ash, as a lake without water. The charioteer saw Dasharatha repenting with his mind greatly agitated,  He approached the king hesitatingly with joined palms.  The charioteer, first tried to inspire the king with blessings of triumph, and then in a slow and sweet voice, overcome with fear, told him "Your Majesty!  Your son, Rama, having given away all his wealth to brahmanas and dependents, is waiting at the gate.   May auspiciousness betide you!  Let that Rama, who is unfailingly brave, see you.  After bidding farewell to all his friends, he wants to see you now  to take leave of you before setting out to the forest.  See him who is resembling a sun with rays of light, displaying all the royal qualities."
       On hearing Sumantra the king Dasharatha smiled weakly and told the charioteer in a barely audible voice "Oh, Sumantra! bring all my wives, who are here.  Surrounded by all of them, I want to see my most dear son, the virtuous Rama."   Sumantra, after entering the gynaeceum, told the ladies "Oh, venerable ladies! The king is calling you, all.  Go there immediately."  All those women, informed thus by Sumantra of the king's orders, started for his palace.   Encircling Kausalya, three hundred fifty women, steadfast in their vow(of devotion to their husband), with their eyes reddened, went there slowly.  After seeing his wives, king Dasharatha  told Sumantra "Oh, Sumantra! Bring my son here."  The charioteer promptly executed the command of his master.
           King Dasharatha surrounded by his women, saw from a distance his son coming with folded hands.  So distressed as he was, the king rose swiftly from his seat and ran towards his sons and daughter-in-law.  But before reaching them, he fell flat on the floor senseless, afflicted as he was with a very deep sorrow.  Then, Rama and Lakshmana quickly approached  the unconscious king.  Sounds of thousands of crying "Alas! Alas! Oh Rama!", mixed with the sound of tinkling ornaments generated all at once from the royal palace.  Holding Dasharatha in their arms and crying, both Rama and Lakshmana along with Seetha laid him on a couch.  Then, Rama with folded hands spoke to the king who became  conscious by that time but was inundated in a sea of sorrow, "Oh, Sir! I take leave of you, who are the lord of all of us.  See auspiciously towards me, who is about to leave for the Dandaka forest.  Permit Lakshmana and Seetha too, who are accompanying me to the forest.   I tried to persuade them against it on many true reasons, but they are very adamant in not agreeing to stay behind.
      "Give up your grief, Sir, and grant leave to all of us, as Brahma(the lord of creation) did to his sons (sanaka and his three brothers who intended to go to the forest for practising austerities)."
       Gazing at Rama who was standing there unruffled, awaiting permission of the king for proceeding to the forest, the king Dasharatha spoke "Oh, Rama!  I was stupefied by Kaikeyi through a boon.  Now, by confining me, you take-over the kingdom of Kosala."  Rama replied "Oh, Sir! You be the ruler of the earth for thousand more years.  But, I for my part, will stay in the forest.  For my sake, do not generate untruth about you.  Having strolled in the forest for fourteen years, I shall clasp your feet once more after fulfilling my promise."   Prompted secretly by Kaikeyi, the distressed king, tied up by fetters of truth, said weeping to that beloved son, "Proceed for welfare, for advancement and for coming again.  Let your path of travel be auspicious, undistracted and fearless from any quarter.  Truthful as you are by nature and your mind being given to righteousness, your decision cannot be reversed.  Do not leave in any case today, now at night time.  Even by seeing you for one day, I may live happily.  Looking at your mother and myself, stay at least for this night today.   Satiated by all the desired objects, you may leave tomorrow at dawn.  An incorrigible thing is being done by you since for my pleasure you are going to the forest, leaving beloved ones.  Your exile is not agreeable to me.  I was cheated by Kaikeyi who had concealed intentions and resembled fire concealed with ashes.  Incited by Kaikeyi who has destroyed established customs, you wish to redeem my deceit, derived by me from her.  It is not a great surprise, my son, that you my eldest son should seek to make your father as one who does not have false promises."
            Rama and Lakshmana were very much upset to hear their father's words.  Then Rama consoled his father by saying "Even if these worldly pleasures are obtained today, who will offer those things to me tomorrow?  Therefore I desire only to get away in lieu of all these enjoyments.  This earth being relinquished by me, which included various provinces, filled with people, imbued with riches and food grains, may be given to Bharata.   I cannot budge now from my decision made about my stay in the forest.  You were pleased to give a boon to Kaikeyi and let it be fulfilled completely.   You should remain to be a truthful man.  I, as promised, fulfilling your command, shall live in the forest along with forest-dwellers for fourteen years.  Do not have any hesitation in offering the kingdom to Bharata.  I am not enamoured of this kingdom or any earthly happiness.  What is dear to me is only to execute your command as directed.  Let your sorrow disappear!  Do not be overwhelmed with tears. The ocean, the lord of rivers who is difficult to be assailed, indeed does not get agitated.  I do not crave for kingdom or happiness nor again for Seetha nor even all these enjoyments nor for heaven nor even for life.  I wish you to be a truthful man, not a fallacious man.  I swear to you in your presence by truth and by virtue.  It is not possible for me, Oh! father, to stay on even for a moment.  Therefore, contain this grief, Oh! Lord, for there is no going back upon my word.  I was indeed asked by Kaikeyi to go to the forest today itself.  It was also promised by me that I would do so.  I shall redeem that pledge.  Do not feel anxious.  We shall sport in the forest, flocked with peaceful deer and rendered noisy by birds of various types.  It was indeed said that even for celestials, father is the god.  Therefore, I shall carry out the father's word, considering it as divine.  You will see me, when I come back after fourteen years.  Let this grief be given up.  It is you who is to console all these people bathed in tears.  If you are perturbed, then who will console these people?  Let this city, province and the whole of this earth left by me, be given to Bharata.  I for one following your instructions, shall proceed to the forest to dwell in it for the stipulated period.  Oh, king! Let this earth with multitude of mountains, comprising of cities with their gardens relinquished by me, be ruled over, within the bounds of righteousness by Bharata.  Let the word of honour given by you(to Kaikeyi) come true.  My mind is not directed on haughty physical enjoyments or sensuous pleasures as to carrying out your command which is approved by the wise.  Let your agony for my sake disappear.  Therefore, now associating you with untruth,  I just do not desire for the kingdom, nor all the sensual enjoyments, nor happiness nor existence nor even Seetha.  Let your pledge(given to Kaikeyi) prove true.  I shall be happy, entering the forest filled with wonderful trees, eating fruits and tubers as well as seeing mountains, rivers and lakes in the forest.  Let there be satisfaction for you."
      Embracing his son, Dasharatha, who had thus fallen on evil days, was tormented with grief and distress, fainted, fully losing his consciousness and not moving even a little. Then, all the queens assembled there except Kaikeyi began to cry.  Sumantra also fell into a swoon, while weeping.  Everything there became loud lamenting.
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