by Vanamali
Then turning to his brother he said, “O Lakshmana, I am well aware of your great love for me as well as your valor, but remember that I have pledged my word to do my father’s bidding and in so doing, I am also redeeming the pledge he made to Kaikeyi, which must be honored by me. O gallant Lakshmana, I have taken my stand in righteousness and it is your duty to help me carry out the royal command. This is not the time for violence, my dear brother. It is not worthy of you to sink into unrighteousness.”
Once again he turned to his mother, saying, “Grant me leave, O mother, to carry out the behest of my father. After fourteen years in the forest, I shall return.” It is your duty as well as Sita’s and mother Sumitra’s to abide by the commands of my father. Such is the eternal law of dharma.”
Even after he said this, Kausalya wept and begged him not to go, but time was running out and Rama was impatient to leave before anyone else tried to dissuade him.
Once again he turned to Lakshmana and said, “O Lakshmana! I know of your everlasting devotion to me but both you and my mother have failed to understand me fully and are beleaguering me most painfully. Dharma, artha, and kama are the three goals of human life but all these will lead to moksha, or liberation, only if a person follows the path of righteousness. Which is the man of righteousness who would fail to perform, as a sacred obligation, a command given by his aged father? My mother is his wife, and so long as her husband is alive, she cannot follow me to the forest like a widow. It is her duty to remain here and pray for my successful return. Therefore, I beg of you to give me leave to depart to the forest. Life is of short duration and I will certainly not accept the trivial sovereignty of the Earth, if I have to resort to unrighteousness in order to get it.”
Thus saying he circumambulated his mother and said to his brother, “Curb your anger against my father and Kaikeyi and be joyful that you have helped your father to keep his word. The only way you can help me is to see that all the materials that have been brought for the coronation ceremony are sent back. Without wasting any more time, see that everything is made ready for my departure to the forest. See to it that Kaikeyi’s mind is not in the least agitated by fear that I shall back out of my promise. I hold nothing against her. It is fate alone that has decreed that I should go to the forest and that sovereignty should have been snatched from me at the last moment. Kaikeyi and Manthara are only instruments in the hand of providence. How else could my gentle mother Kaikeyi ever have conceived of such an idea? To the best of my knowledge, I have never offended her at any time, and I have never made any distinction between my three mothers. A decree of providence cannot be set aside by anyone. Joy and sorrow, fear and anger, gain and loss, birth and death will all come, according to the time. An individual who comes under the sway of these pairs of opposites will always be unhappy. Only he who can surmount the pain and pleasure caused by these can be called a man of enlightenment. Despite the shock that I received this morning, I feel no agony and no anger. Therefore, O Lakshmana, take my advice and do not give way to remorse over my loss of fortune. To me it makes no difference if kingship or exile falls to my lot. In fact, the latter is more favorable, for it gives me an opportunity to redeem my father’s pledge.”
All these words failed to convince Lakshmana, for he was of a fiery temperament, but Kausalya, realizing that Rama was firm in his resolve, said, “I see that you will not be shaken from your high resolve and therefore I give you my blessings. Let good betide you at all times, my beloved son. Destiny is all powerful and cannot be averted. As for me, I shall have no peace of mind until I see you return, safe and sound. How can I sleep on my silken bed when you are sleeping on rocks and stones? How can I eat palace fare when you are living on roots and fruits? How can I wear satin clothes when you are clad in bark? I can sleep soundly only after you return to my arms once again, my darling son. May that dharma, which you follow so scrupulously, protect you. May your path be smooth and may your every undertaking meet with success. Depart happily, my beloved son, and return safely, protected as you are on all sides by my constant prayers.” So saying, Kausalya controlled her grief and blessed Rama, who fell at her feet. Rama now proceeded to his own palace to convey the unwelcome news to his wife.
Sita was waiting joyfully for the arrival of her husband, accompanied by bards and waving of ceremonial fans. She was shocked to see him come alone, looking pale, for he was not sure how to break the news to his dearest wife.
“What is troubling you, my noble lord?” she asked. “How is it that you have come alone and unaccompanied by minstrels? The auspicious time has come and yet you have not gone to the hall. Tell me what is the cause of this change of plans?”
Rama briefly narrated to her the story of his father’s promise to Kaikeyi and her demand that her son Bharata be instated as prince regent, and of Rama’s banishment to the forest.
“It is your duty, my dearest wife, to stay with my aged mother and look after her and your father-in-law, and pass your time in prayer and penance until my return. Do not displease Bharata in any way for he will be king in the future, and be sure to treat all three mothers equally.”
Hearing these words of Rama, Sita, though a docile and meek wife, could not bear the thought of separation from her beloved husband and spoke out forcefully.
“What you have just said is unworthy of you, O scion of the race of Raghu! Fathers and mothers all reap the consequences of their own destiny. It is only the wife who actually shares the fortunes of her husband. For a wife her husband alone is her refuge. Therefore, I shall follow you wherever you go, my darling husband. I shall go before you and crush the thorns in your path. Accompanied by you the forest will be as secure for me as my parental home. Without you this palace will be a forest for me. I, too, long to see the mountains and lakes and flowers of the forest, my darling one. I can spend hundreds of years with you in this fashion without any sorrow. Heaven itself has no charms for me without you. I assure you that I shall not be a burden on you. I shall serve you as I have served you here, and we shall delight in each other’s company and rejoice in the beauty of nature.”
Hearing these words of his wife, Rama said to her, “My dearest wife, you have painted a rosy picture of life in the forest, but believe me, this is far from being the case. You are a tender and frail princess, totally unfit for life in the harsh forest, filled with wild beasts, rakshasas, and other poisonous creatures. There will be none of the delicacies that you have been accustomed to and no one to wait upon you. You cannot imagine such an existence, and that is why you are speaking like this. But please heed my words and desist from this idea. I say this for your benefit and not because I think you will be a burden to me.”
None of this could deter Sita from her firm resolve. “My lord,” she said, “how many times have I begged you to take me for a trip to the forest, and now when the opportunity has come, why are you denying me? I have been told by Brahmin soothsayers that I was fated to go to the forest one day. The time has now come for the prophecy to come true. In fact, I feel quite delighted at the prospect of a prolonged sojourn in the forest in your enchanting company. I cannot live even for a minute without you, my dearest love. If you refuse to take me, I will take poison and give up my life here and now in front of your eyes. Nothing can deter me from my resolve to follow you, so please do not waste your time trying to convince me of the rigors of forest life.”
Rama was actually delighted to hear her words. He had been dreading the thought of parting from her and had tried to deter her only from a stern sense of duty, but now that she was so adamant in her resolve to accompany him, he gave in gladly.
Folding his agitated wife in his arms, Rama spoke soothingly to her and kissed away her tears. “Not knowing the strength of your purpose, O Janaki (daughter of King Janaka), I tried to deter you, not because I wanted to leave you but only because it was my duty to point out to you the dangers of forest life. You know that I cannot bear to cause distress to you, my lovely princess. O beloved Sita, even heaven ha
s no charms for me without your bewitching presence. I, too, would love to sport with you in the woods and glades of the forest and on the mountaintops, so make haste and give away all your jewels and costly clothes and prepare yourself for a prolonged sojourn in the forest with me.”
Hearing these delightful words of her husband, Sita hurried to do his bidding.
Lakshmana, who had been listening to this dialogue between Rama and Sita, could not bear the thought of being separated from him and said to Rama, “O brother, I cannot remain in Ayodhya without you. I will go with you and clear the path for both of you so that you can blissfully enjoy the beauties of the forest.”
Rama tried to deter him, saying, “Who will look after our aged mothers and father if you come with us, O Lakshmana? I know of your great love for me but it is your duty to stay here and be a support to our aged parents.”
“How can you doubt, O brother, that Bharata will look after both our mothers as if they were his own? Shatrugna will be here to help him so have no fears in that regard. Kindly condescend to take me as your attendant. I will bring a sword and spade and my bow and arrows and cut the creepers and trees that stand in your path. I will stand guard over you and Sita day and night so that you can sport with her on the mountaintops, unmolested by any evil forces. Please do not stop me from coming with you, my dear brother, for my mind is clear.”
Rama knew it was useless to try to dissuade Lakshmana, so he agreed to take him and told him to go and take leave of his dear ones, and to collect his two heavenly bows and quiver of inexhaustible arrows and his two invincible swords and return immediately. As soon as Lakshmana returned with the weapons, Rama instructed him to call Suyajna, the son of his preceptor Vasishta, so that he could worship him and give away all his wealth and thus receive his blessing before departing to the forest.
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Satyavrathaya Namaha!
CANTO III
The Banishment
Puthram Dasarathasyapi
Puthrim Janakabhupathe
Vasishtanumathacharam
Shathanandamathanugam.
(Rama) was the son of Dasaratha,
(Sita), the daughter of Janaka,
Rama followed the advice of Vasishta,
And Sita of Shathananda.
Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana all gave worthy presents to the Brahmins and their servants, as well as to the afflicted, the destitute, and the impoverished. After this they proceeded to their father’s palace to take leave of him. As the three walked through the streets without a chariot and attendants, people offered their condolences.
“What dreadful misfortune has befallen our noble prince that he should walk unescorted through the streets. Look at the princess of Videha, whose face has never been seen by anyone, walking like an ordinary woman! How could the king banish such a son, whose character has been acclaimed by all? Strange are the ways of destiny.” Thus spoke the citizens of Ayodhya, who were heartbroken to see the condition of their beloved prince. “Let us also follow him into the forest,” they said, “and let Kaikeyi and her son rule over a deserted land. Let rats and mice play havoc, eating the grains and foodstuffs stored here. Let Ayodhya turn into a forest while we convert the forest into a city with Rama.”
Though he heard the laments of the citizens, Rama was unperturbed and continued his journey to Kaikeyi’s apartments to see his father. The king ordered his minister to fetch his other wives before Rama entered. Both Kausalya and Sumitra came, accompanied by their attendants. As Rama entered the king rose and went forward to meet him, but he was so overcome with weakness, that he collapsed. Rama and Lakshmana ran forward and helped him to his divan.
With folded palms Rama said, “Kindly grant me permission to leave for the forest, O king! And kindly allow Sita and Lakshmana to accompany me. They refuse to be left behind even though I have tried to dissuade them from coming.”
The wretched king now spoke with tortured words: “Because of the pledge I made to Kaikeyi, I have been forced to act in this senseless fashion. I beseech you to make me captive and ascend the throne yourself, this minute.”
Rama smiled and said, “I have no desire for sovereignty, sire. I will proceed to the forest and redeem your pledge. I shall clasp your feet once again upon my return.”
Urged by Kaikeyi the afflicted monarch answered in faltering speech interspersed with tears, “I give you leave to proceed to the forest, my dearest son, but remember, this promise has been extracted from me by Kaikeyi by a trick. I cannot bear to see you go. At least stay this night with me and your mother so that we may delight in your presence for a few more hours before you depart.”
Rama was pained to hear this request of his father and said, “Please do not try to deflect my intention, sire. Neither kingship nor comforts can give me the joy I gain by carrying out your wishes and thus ensuring that you keep your word. Do not worry about us, dear father. We shall sport with the deer in the forest and associate with sages and saints. I have promised Kaikeyi that I shall leave this very day and I must keep my word. Do not give way to grief, my lord. Let the land be given to Bharata; I bear him no ill will. Do not grieve on my account. I shall live in the forest as happily as I lived in the city.”
The bereft king now clasped his beloved son to his bosom and blessed him, crying all the while. As Rama backed out of the room followed by Sita and Lakshmana, Dasaratha told Sumantra, his minister and charioteer, to take a contingent of the army, together with all precious articles and provisions, and drive the three of them to the forest. Hearing this command of the king, Kaikeyi remonstrated and said that this was very unfair, since Bharata would inherit a barren land if the king insisted on sending all the precious articles in the treasury with Rama to the forest. The king was wounded to the quick by these words but Rama intervened and said in his gentle fashion, “Father, what is the use of burdening me with the wealth I have already forsaken? A forest dweller has no need of wealth or an army. It is the monarch who needs protection, so let Bharata enjoy all these luxuries. I want none of them.”
Kaikeyi now asked her maid to bring strips of bark—the correct apparel for forest dwellers—and very kindly presented a set to each of them. Rama immediately removed his silken apparel and donned the bark. Ill clad though he was, nothing could mar the nobility of his towering personality. Lakshmana followed suit. Sita looked dismayed at the strips of bark in her hands, not knowing what to do with them. She looked appealingly to her husband, who took the bark strips from her hands and tenderly fastened them over her clothes. All those present wept at this. The women begged Rama not to take Sita.
“Kaikeyi cannot demand Sita’s banishment. Let us at least rejoice in seeing her countenance even though we cannot see yours. If Sita goes, we also will come with you.” Turning to Kaikeyi they continued, “The whole state of Kosala will accompany Rama to the forest and you can rule over a barren land. Even your son for whose sake you are doing all this will curse you, for he is devoted to Rama. You should be giving Sita jewels, O queen, and not the bark of a tree. Are you not ashamed of yourself? Infamy will be your lot if you persist in this wickedness.”
Sita, who was listening to all this, was not in the least put out, for she was quite excited at the prospect of following her husband to the forest. However, Dasaratha also exhorted Kaikeyi not to insist that Sita wear the clothes of an ascetic.
“O wicked woman,” he said, “what do you gain by forcing the delicate princess of Videha to wear such clothes? Let her go, if she insists, but let her be allowed to wear clothes befitting a princess.”
He told his minister to get the costliest jewels from the treasury, and personally decked his daughter-in-law in finery. He then ordered Sumantra to fetch the chariot and take Rama to the forest. All the ladies started to wail. Kausalya clasped her daughter-in-law to her bosom and gave her words of advice. Rama requested his father to take special care of his mother, Kausalya, for he feared she would not be able to bear the parting. The three of them circumambulated th
eir father thrice and then turned to their respective mothers.
Sumitra was the bravest of them all. Clasping Lakshmana to her bosom she said, “You have my permission to accompany your brother to the forest, my son. May all go well with you. Look upon Rama as your father, Dasaratha; regard Sita as myself, your mother; and let the forest be your Ayodhya. Depart happily, my son. My prayers will always be with you.”
Luckily for Lakshmana, his wife, Urmila, did not resist his going, nor did she insist on accompanying him. No doubt, the thought of going into the forest for fourteen years was intimidating for a delicately nurtured princess of Videha. As for Sita she was obviously an extraordinary woman, as indeed Rama was an extraordinary man. Because an ordinary woman would never have had the courage to forego the comforts of palace life and embark on a life of rigorous discipline in the forest, all the sages extolled her extreme fidelity and love for her husband that enabled her to undertake anything for his sake. Lakshmana’s character, as indeed Bharata’s, too, is marked by total devotion to their brother. Nothing seemed to give them as much pleasure as service to Rama. Indeed, this is another point to be remembered when we analyze Rama’s character. His charisma was such that no one who came within his orbit could resist him. Everyone, including monkeys and bears, was drawn irresistibly to him. Such was the power of his commanding personality and such the power of his love, which he gave to all without discrimination—blood relations or adopted, he was the same to all.
As requested by Sumantra, the three entered the golden chariot that contained their weapons and the glorious raiment and jewels bestowed on Sita by her loving father-in-law. As the chariot started to move, the citizens clung to its sides, praising Rama and bewailing their lot. Rama ordered the charioteer to move faster. Looking back, he was most distressed to see that even the aged king and his mother were following the chariot along the dusty road. Though he was sorely distressed at the sight, he knew it would be fatal to turn back to comfort them. Even Rama’s strong mind wavered at the sight of his mother, bereft and weeping, running after the chariot. Sternly controlling his emotions, he ordered Sumantra to drive faster so that the painful scene would not be prolonged.