by Vanamali
Vasishta says:
“In ornaments I see only gold. In waves I see only water.
In air I see only movement.
In a mirage I see only heat waves
Similarly in the world I see only Brahman.”
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Paramatmane Namaha!
CANTO VIII
Trial by Fire
Apadamapahartharam!
Dhataram sarvasampadam!
Lokabhiramam Sri Ramam!
Bhuyho bhuyo namamyaham!
Again and again I bow to Sri Rama,
Delight of the world,
Savior of those in distress,
And bestower of all good fortune.
Turning to Hanuman, Rama told him to go to the grove of ashoka trees where Sita was sitting and give her the happy tidings. It is to be noted that despite his intense desire to see his wife, Rama did his duty to Ravana first. Before rushing to see her as he must have wanted to do, he performed obsequies for his enemy, anointed Vibhishana as king, and then and only then did he give in to his urgent wish to see his beloved.
When Hanuman entered the grove, he found Sita in the same sad pose as she had been when he first saw her—a picture of despair and sorrow, for no one had told her of the happenings on the battlefield.
He stood beside her with folded palms and said, “My lady, I have come with happy news. Rama has killed Ravana, and Vibhishana has been crowned king of Lanka. Rama asked me to bring these happy tidings to you.”
Sita was speechless with joy. Tears of happiness rolled from her eyes.
Hanuman spoke respectfully, “My lady, I have spent many sleepless nights thinking of your pathetic condition, and now it is my good fortune to have been chosen by our lord to bring you this joyous news. I ask your permission to do one more thing. Allow me to kill all these rakshasis who have been harassing you for so long.”
Sita smiled and said, “Dear Hanuman, they were only servants obeying their master. Why should you kill them? Everyone has to reap the fruits of past actions. I must have done something in my past life to deserve this punishment. My rule is to show compassion and mercy to all, even sinners. No one is infallible, to err is human. Go and tell my husband that I eagerly await his arrival.”
Hanuman bowed humbly and departed. He told Rama the whole story of his meeting with Sita, and that she was eagerly waiting for him. Rama’s eyes filled with tears when he heard this, but he remained deep in thought. At last he sighed and told Vibhishana to ask Sita to have an auspicious bath and clothe herself in beautiful apparel, and then come to him. Vibhishana conveyed his message but she said, “I want my lord to see me as I am now.”
Vibhishana replied that it was his duty to obey Rama’s commands implicitly and that he could not take her in that state. So Sita clad herself in silk and jewels and came to Rama on the palanquin that had been sent for her. He was lost in thought and sat with eyes fixed on the ground. The vanaras crowded around, eager to have a glimpse of the one for whose sake so much trouble had been taken and the whole race of demons annihilated. Vibhishana sent them away, knowing Rama would want to see Sita alone. It was not correct for the common populace to view someone of the royal household.
Rama chided him and said, “A woman’s protection should be her purity and chastity and not a wall or a curtain. Let them stay where they are and see her if they wish. Let them gaze as much as they want on the beauty of the princess of Videha. Moreover, it is only right that she should see me surrounded by those who fought for her.”
Lakshmana was puzzled by Rama’s strange behavior. He was sure that something was bothering him. Vibhishana brought Sita to where Rama was waiting. She felt as if her limbs would fail her and she shrank into herself. Covering her face with her upper garment, she came near Rama and whispered shyly, “My lord!” Tears choked her and she could not utter another word. Shyly she looked up at him and her thirsty eyes drank in his beauty.
Rama averted his face and spoke in an unusually harsh tone, saying, “I have accomplished what I set out to do. I have vindicated my honor and maintained the reputation of the fair house of the Ikshvaku clan. I have wiped out the insult that was given to me and killed the one who abducted you. Hanuman, who leaped across the ocean and destroyed Lanka, has been rewarded, as has Vibhishana, who left his brother and took refuge in me.”
Sita had been waiting for a year for this moment when her beloved husband would rescue her, take her in his arms and comfort her, and make her forget the trials she had suffered. She could not understand why Rama, who had never spoken harshly to her at any time, was now using this tone, or why he was narrating all these incidents. She looked at him with her fawnlike eyes, which were slowly filling with tears, and Rama’s heart was torn with sympathy and love, but he knew he had to vindicate her reputation.
“Do not think that I fought this war for your sake. I did it only to preserve my name and honor. Since you have lived for eleven months in the city of Ravana, there is a great stain on your character. That lecherous wretch feasted his eyes on you and carried you in his arms. Rumors are rife about you and I cannot take you back. You are now free to go where you wish, O Janaki. I can no longer bear to look at you. Your presence hurts my eyes like blinding light before sore eyes. Now that I have done my duty and rescued you, I owe you nothing more. I belong to a noble house and it does not befit me to take you back. Having lived for eleven months in the house of a notorious womanizer like Ravana, do you expect me to believe that he could refrain from ravishing you—you, who are so lovely and alluring?”
Hearing these cruel words from the mouth of her husband, from whom she had always heard nothing but love, Sita swayed like a vine separated from its pole. Tears streamed from her eyes, and she looked like a wilting flower. To make matters worse, there was an interested and sympathetic audience to witness this painful scene. She had thought her heart had broken when Ravana abducted her, but now she realized it was nothing compared to this ordeal.
At last she said in a faltering tone, “Why do you speak such harsh words to me? This is the talk of a common man to a woman of the streets, and you are not a common man, nor am I a woman of the streets. If you doubted me, why did you send Hanuman to search for me? Why did you not tell him that you had no further use for me? Why did you take the trouble to cross the sea and fight and kill Ravana? You risked your life and the lives of your friends by coming here. You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble and I could have given up my life then and there, and then I would not have had to hear these cruel words. If I was touched by that sinner once, it was because I was too weak and helpless to protect myself. How can you blame me for that? Even after living with me for so many years, it looks as if you do not really know me. My thoughts and love have never strayed from you, even for a moment. I might be called Janaki, daughter of Janaka, but I am really Sita, daughter of the Earth. Did you ever consider my exalted birth before passing judgment? Does my love and chastity mean nothing to you? If that were so, why did you come?”
Saying this she turned to Lakshmana and said, “Lakshmana, make a pyre for me. It is the only cure for the grief that is burning me more than flames. I have been falsely accused and I do not want to live any more. My husband has publicly repudiated me and asked me to go where I wish. There is only one place that I can go and that is the heart of a fire.”
Lakshmana looked angrily at Rama, who stood with his head cast down, still as a painted statue. Rama did not make any protest when Lakshmana went reluctantly to make the pyre. Sita circumambulated Rama and went toward the blazing fire. Standing with folded palms before it, she said, “If it is true that my thoughts have been set on Rama and never swerved from truth, then let this fire, which is the witness to all minds, protect me. My husband thinks I am tainted. If am totally innocent, so may the god of fire protect me. If I have never been unfaithful to Rama, in thought, word, or deed, let the god of fire protect me. If the Earth and sky, and the four quarters and the gods believe that I am sinless, let t
he god of fire protect me.”
So saying she went round the fire once and then flung herself into the heart of the conflagration. All the rakshasis who were gathered set up a loud wail of protest. Wearing gold ornaments and yellow silk, Sita glowed like molten gold in the midst of the fire. Rama stood as if carved from stone, with face fixed to the ground. Though his heart was breaking, he did not do anything to save her, who was dearer to him than his own life. At that moment the celestials came down and spoke to Rama: “How is it possible for you to watch Sita immolate herself in the fire? Don’t you know that you are Narayana, the primeval being, and Sita is Lakshmi, your eternal consort? You are Vishnu and you were born to destroy Ravana. Now your task is accomplished and dharma is saved.”
As soon as Brahma finished speaking, Agni, the god of fire, stepped forward from the blaze with Sita in his arms. She was dressed in red and even the flowers she wore in her lustrous tresses were unsinged. “Here is your wife Sita, who is totally without blemish. She was never unfaithful in thought, word, or glance. Believe me and accept this jewel among women.”
Tears flowed unchecked from Rama’s eyes and he said, “I know that my wife is as pure and chaste as unsullied snow. I never doubted her even for a moment, but if she had not undergone this ordeal of fire, people would have spoken ill of her and of me. They would have said that Dasaratha’s son, blinded by love for his wife, was willing to take her back even though she had lived so long in the house of another man. I knew full well that Sita would have been totally protected by her purity. Ravana could never have sullied her. Sita is to me what splendor is to the sun. As a good man cannot abandon a good name, so also I can never abandon Sita. If I spoke harshly to her and watched unmoved when she entered the fire, it was only to vindicate her name in the eyes of all.”
So saying he approached Sita and looked deep into her lovely eyes, as he had been longing to do. When Sita turned her reproachful, tear-filled lotus eyes to him, Rama chided her softly so that none could hear, “O daughter of the Earth! My beautiful Sita! How could you think even for a moment that I doubted you? Why do you think I trudged through the length and breadth of this country if I was not mad for a glimpse of your bewitching face? Why do you think I faced the wrath of the demon king and risked my life, if I did not yearn for you? My dearest love, I did it so that none could ever point an accusing finger at you.” Hearing this impassioned declaration, Sita was pacified and looked at him with all her love pouring forth from her eyes. Thus for a long moment they were lost to the world and gazed deep into each other’s eyes, to the joy of all assembled.
As they stood hand in hand, the gods brought Rama’s father, Dasaratha, so that Rama could see him, and there was a happy reunion among the three. The celestials told Rama to return immediately to Ayodhya, for the fourteen years were drawing to a close and Bharata was awaiting his arrival with great anxiety.
Vasishta says:
“The dreadful illness known as samsara is not cured by anything other than self-knowledge, It is a great pity to waste our time and await death.”
Hari Aum Tat Sat
Pattabhiramaya Namaha!
CANTO IX
Return to Ayodhya
Divyasimhasanasinam!
Divyasrugvastrabhushanam!
Anukshanam kadakshabhyam!
Anyonyekshanakankshinau.
Seated on the divine throne,
Wearing divine clothes and garlands,
With gracious glances,
They looked at each other.
Next morning Vibhishana came to Rama and said, “I have brought perfumed water for your coronation bath, and sandal paste and silken clothes. Please accept them and make me happy.”
Rama smiled and said, “You may offer all these precious things to Sugriva, for my thoughts are all with my dear brother, Bharata. The way back to Ayodhya is long and hard and the fourteen years are coming to a close. Bharata has sworn that he will take his life if I do not reach Ayodhya by the end of the stipulated time.”
Vibhishana said, “My lord, I’ll help you to reach Ayodhya in a single day. My brother Ravana took the aerial vehicle Pushpaka from his brother Kubera. It was his prized possession. Please accept my hospitality for a few more days, and then you can return to Ayodhya in this vehicle.”
Rama was touched by his devotion and said, “Vibhishana, I am well aware of your love for me but my heart yearns to return to Ayodhya and see my brothers and mothers and the people of Kosala, who must be anxiously awaiting my arrival. Please bring Pushpaka immediately so that we can leave at once.”
The fantastic, flower-bedecked chariot drawn by swans was brought in readiness for their departure, and Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana climbed aboard. Even though Pushpaka was as big as a palace, Rama sat with Sita on his lap, much to her delight, with Lakshmana beside him.
He looked at Vibhishana, Sugriva, and all the other vanaras and said, “You have been my true friends. I do not know in what way I can repay the love and devotion you have poured on me. Sugriva, please return to Kishkinda with your army; my blessings will always be with you. Angada, my dear child, I can never forget your prowess; and as for you, O Hanuman! We owe our lives to you. Now please give me leave to return to my own city. I have been in exile for so long that my heart yearns to return.”
Sugriva bowed low and said, “Lord, please give us leave to come with you to Ayodhya. We promise not to indulge in any act of destruction, as we monkeys are wont to do, and we promise to depart after we witness your coronation.” All the others expressed the same desire.
One of the most endearing things about Rama is his great love for all animals and birds. Monkeys, bears, and feathered friends wander in and out of the pages of the narrative, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Now he smiled at their eagerness to accompany him and their promise to behave themselves and said, “I am delighted at the thought that I will enter my ancestral city accompanied by those who have helped me most. Sugriva, ask your entourage to come aboard.”
Now Vibhishana also requested that he and his friends be allowed to accompany the returning regent. Rama gladly gave his consent and the whole party entered Pushpaka, and still there was enough space remaining for an army.
The divine chariot rose effortlessly into the air. Celestial flowers rained from the sky as it lifted. The vanaras shouted and whooped with joy, peering over the edge at the ground below, which seemed to fall at an alarming rate.
Sita’s face glowed with happiness and beauty as Rama pointed out sites through which they had wandered during their long and painful search. The vehicle landed on the other side of the bridge so that Rama could worship at the shrine of Shiva that he had consecrated before the battle. At that time he had made a vow to the three-eyed lord that he would return and pay his obeisance along with his wife, Sita. After praying Rama told Sita to look closely at the wondrous bridge.
“There is the spot where the bridge was constructed. Now we come to Kishkinda, Sugriva’s fortress.” Sita asked that the chariot be brought down so that they could take aboard Tara and Ruma, Sugriva’s wives, as well as the wives of the other monkey leaders.
So the chariot landed and the ladies joyfully joined the group. Later he pointed out Rishyamukha, the place where he had met Hanuman for the first time. “There is Lake Pampa, filled with lotuses, where I was reminded of you so painfully and where we met the old ascetic woman, Shabari.”
“O look, Sita,” he said, “There is our ashrama at Panchavati where you were so cruelly captured. We abandoned it soon after, for I could not bear to stay there without you.” He remained silent for a few minutes, reliving the painful scenes of that time, and Sita buried her face in his shoulder and wept.
Later they passed Chitrakoota, where they had spent so many happy days together, and at last came to Bharadvaja’s ashrama, where Pushpaka landed. The sage requested Rama to stay for the day and leave the next morning, so Rama told Hanuman, “I cannot refuse the request of the sage so please proceed to Nandigrama and
give Bharata all the news. If his face shows disappointment at my return and a desire to keep the kingdom, please return and tell me. I will not stand in his way. Even the best of men may be tempted by riches at some time.”
Hanuman flew to Nandigrama, assuming the guise of a human being. From above he saw Bharata, with matted locks and long beard, clad in bark and totally emaciated, for he had never paid any attention to his body for fourteen years. He had undertaken to guard the kingdom till his brother returned and he seemed to be staying alive only for that purpose. He looked like a brahmarishi, sitting with eyes half closed in deep meditation. Hanuman approached with all humility, for he realized that he was in the presence of a truly superior human being, one who had conquered his senses and who had no desire for worldly possessions.
He said, “O prince! I bring you tidings of your brother Rama, for whose sake you have donned this garb and for whose dear sake you have given up all thoughts of a happy, normal life. He has sent me in advance to tell you that he will be arriving here very soon, along with Lakshmana and Sita.”
For fourteen years Bharata had been waiting for this moment, and when he heard the news, he swooned with happiness for a few moments. He embraced Hanuman and said, “I do not know who you are, but you have brought me the happiest news I could ever hear and so you are my best friend. Many, many years ago my beloved brother went away to the forest, and all these years I have been waiting only for this moment. Tell me how I should reward you.”
Hanuman’s eyes filled with tears to see such devotion. He thought he was the one who loved Rama more than anyone else, but now it appeared that there were many who had the same adoration for his lord. Hanuman seated himself and gave Bharata all the details of Rama’s life since leaving him. At last he said, “He has come to the ashrama of sage Bharadwaja and will be arriving here tomorrow.”
Bharata and Shatrugna made haste to prepare for Rama’s arrival. The city of Ayodhya, which had been like a dead city all these years, suddenly blossomed to life. Once again banners and streamers flew from the battlements. Musicians restrung their silent veenas. The trees burst into bloom, and the streets were sprinkled with rose water and fried rice and decorated with auspicious signs. Once more the fountains started to play and the streams to run, and sounds of laughter and rejoicing floated in the air. Citizens donned their best clothes, which had been locked away in their chests for fourteen years, and the whole city waited in anticipation for the arrival of her rightful lord. The royal path leading from Nandigrama to the city was decorated with auspicious patterns, traced with colored powder, and sprinkled with rose water. Rama’s sandals were on top of a caparisoned white elephant, with the white umbrella of sovereignty held above it. Bharata and Shatrugna followed, accompanied by thousands of citizens. Just then Pushpaka reached the sacred village of Nandigrama. It hovered for some time in the air so that Rama could point out the various landmarks to the excited vanaras.