Sri Rama-Kaushalya Debate
When Rama came out of Kaykyei’s room , the ladies, there weeping in sorrow. Rama always had done what ever was needed to be done to Mother Kaykyie’s Palace despite Dsaratha not having told him. Rama was a torch bearer as well as the implementor of all the requirement of all his citizens, that Rama is going to be driven to the Forest. Right from his brith the Affection & respect he showed his mother Kaushalya was given to other women as well. He never got antognised if some one spoke to him harshly. He does not do any action which creates anger in others. He pacifies even those Who get angry; with his pleasant words and demanour, unfortunate that this noble Rama is being driven to the Forest today. Our King does not have the slightest Brain. Rama who is dear to all the Living beings is being sent to Forest, by that he is bringing in destruction to the entire humanity. All the Ladies in the harem/ Queens Chambers cried aloud ridiculing the king ,like the the Cow who have lost their Calf. The wailing noise emanating from the harem fell on Dasartha’s ears, who was himself feeling the separation of his son, with shame and grief fell unconscious in the same place.
Rama who was going away from there heard it too, and he felt he should not go back again as he had no solution to stop the same and it will only increase the intensity of their grief.Thus he controlled his Dhukkam (Grief, Pain, Anguish,sorrow, suffering,worry, unhappiness, ) breathed like the Elephant heavily, went with Lakshman to his Mother Kaushalya’s abode keeping himself stable. Amongst the security gaurds there was an old man was seated while others were praising him on impending ceremony(unaware of the developments) and blessed “May Victory be yours”. As Rama crossed these 1st tier and entered 2nd tier were seated Brahmins learned in Vedas who had earlier been facilitated by the King, he bowed to those Seniors. He crossed them and saw in the 3rd tier Ladies young and Old were guarding Kaushalya. They happily blessed Rama and went and informed Kaushalya.
Queen Kaushalya prayed through out the night for the well being of Rama with disciplined procedures, and had been worshipping Maha Vishnu when since dawn. She who had always observed Fasting, with white dress, was doing homam(obeiscance to Fire Hot in the Fire pit with Bramins reciting Vedic Verses). For Puja (Prayers) to celestails materials such as Curd, Termeric applied raw rice grains, Melted Butter(Ghee), Cooked rice mixed with Til, Samith(Holy tree sticks), Vessels with Coconut on top, filled with water with sprinkiling of ingredinets such as cordomom etc, She pleased the Celstial angels with water and recicitng verses, . Since she frequently fasted, her body was lean , it permeated radiance and had an aura of Celestials. She was ecstatic to see her Son coming to her chambers as he was not seen for a long time, she jumped like the Female Horse which jumps and runs to it’s calf Kid, and ran to Rama. Rama did Pradhakshinam(Going around in clockwise direction) circumbulated his Mother and paid respects. Kaushalya with affection hugged her son Rama and kissed his forehead. She started telling her aspirations “ May you attain the Fame like those Elderly forefathers of yours Who had followed Dharma (Righteous conduct, Duty, Pious, humble,Charity ,being Noble, all this done beyond expectation and without anticipation) and became Kings but lived like Saints, May You Live long like them with umeasurable Fame and keep up your Family Name. Your father always keep his word, he will crown you as assured to you today itself. He knows the Dharma (Righteous conduct, Duty, Pious, humble,Charity ,being Noble, all this done beyond expectation and without anticipation). Saying this she made Rama sit in a Sofa. “You should eat food here itself”.
Even by behavoiur Rama is very humble and respectful. His respect for Kaushalya is Limitless.He did not sit in the sofa she had asked him, and with little shyness spoke to her “Amma(Mother), an incident had happened which will make you, Sita and Lakshamana unhappy. King has stopped the Coronation ceremony. He is going to Crown Bharatha. He has ordered I should live in Dandakaaranya for Forest for 14 years. Now itself I am leaving for the same, from here. I have come here to take your permission for the same. Iam going to become a Vegetarian, eating frutis , roots of the trees. Like a Saint I will live in the unihabitatted forest of Dandakaaranya. What is the use of this Sofa embedded with special rare Gems, as I have to hereafter use the Kushal Grass seat only for my living.
When Kaushalya heard this she fell unconscious on the ground like the branch of a Tree which has been felled by an Axe, this was similar to Lady falling from heaven once her Punyam(Good deeds) are over.His mother who had never experienced sufferings fell like the Banyan Tree without any base , Rama ran to her and lifted her. He caressed her body, which was dirtied when she fell Like the Female Horse unable to bear the heavy burden and rolled on the ground in agony. Then Kaushalya regained her composure who had till then had never faced sufferings in her Life told Rama in presence of Lakshamana“ Hey Child! I would not have faced this sort of agony had you not been born as my Son, It would have been just a slur that I was childless. Where as I got a son and I have to bear the experience of separation whom I have nurtured so far also the agony of Rama not being near me .and as a child less Lady it would have been limited to Body only. Whereas the pain I am now experiencing is total including my Mind, body and all senses.
I am the Queen of the Emperor of this earth. But I do not have the requisite Power, Wealth, Ornaments of the ruling Queen. My husband also did not show adequeate Love towards me. After you were born and due to the high patronizing Love & affection he has for you, I was looking forward to the double joy of his as well as your Love simultaneously and have been living in that Hope thus far. Whereas I have to now face much more agony. I did not get the natural Sukham(Comfort, Luxury, Joy, Fun,Cheer, Love, Affection and fulfilled her Desires) which I should have enjoyed. Forget that those Queens will get a chance to speak ill of me with cruel words to the King thus reducing his affection for me. If you ask, where they not saying so far, yes they were saying so but only tacitly deriding me , but hereafter they will openly in front of my husband tell me ‘go away’. They will make me butt of the joke and openly ask me “ Why function and festivity to this Barren childless woman?” When Emperor comes to my Chambers out of jealousy, they will ask him “What work you have here? let us go to our room” and drag him. Will they dare to say this to me if I pointed out their family they have been born, positions, or for that matter the Right they possess or status, (Yoghyatha), ? Now because of the belittlement of me and besmirching of my status, They will get the courage to speak. Can there be any more troubles for ladies than these? There is no boundary to my sorrow and my crying hereafter,Nor is it describable.You have PARAKRAM (Achievement, Might, Puissance,Exploits,Valor, Heroism, Gallantry,Prowess,Ability,Valour)and you are the Eldest Son. You should be the next King. When you are very much present here ,, these things have happened. When you go away from here should I explain my plight? It is better that, I forsake my Life instead. Already Everyday my husband is ignoring me. Iam forced to be in a pitiable state than other wives. Iam being treated equal to Queen Kaykeyi’s servants. If I properly assess I am even lower than them .why because they are atleast close to Kaykeyie, whereas I am not so.
Even the person who has been taking care of me will not be speaking to me. If he serves me dearingly, he will also wonder what Kayikeyie’s son will do to him?,so will he be scared. Hereafter harsh words only will emanate from Kayikeyie and nothing else. Now that such travails have befallen me ,can it be any better? How can I see her Face? In these 17 years you have been born, innumerable Kasht(Agony,purgatory, discomfort, trouble,hardhip, suffering, harassment, annoyance, travail) I have undergone with patience . You will be Crowned soon as Prince and at least then I will get Sukham(Comfort, Luxury, Joy, Fun,Cheer, Love, Affection and fulfilled her Desires) was my longing. Now even that Hope has been cut off . I have to now hear the cruel words of Kayikeyi, lose my health ,can I bear these insults for long? That Dhukkam(Grief, Pain, Anguish,sorrow, suffering,worry, unhappiness, )is endless as well.
My Youth, beauty, strength have vanished. Hence there is no reason King will have affection towards me. I cannot live without seeing your face which is akin to the full Moon.
There is no other surprise. I have fasted countless times, worshipped the Devathas (Celestials), fasted, I have had plenty of Kasht (Agony,purgatory, discomfort, trouble,hardhip, suffering, harassment, annoyance, travail),bore you and nurtured you. All that have gone waste? That is my fate.
Just like in Monsson season, if there is sudden flood the banks of the river breaks. Whereas my heart has not broken despite this calamity is it not a shame? i am compelled to think ;Is my body made of Iron bearing and enduring all these Dhukkam (Grief, Pain, Anguish,sorrow, suffering, worry, unhappiness)? It is said Human’s death does not come before the appointed time, that seems to be the truth .will I not get Death at all? Is there no place for me in Yama Lok(Place where all dead people are taken)? Just as the Lion grabs by the neck the crying Female Deer and usurp her away, will not Yama(God of Death) take me this very moment? if only I am allowed to Die before the permitted time, I would rather Die now and go to Yama’s place than being alive without you; instead of having pangs of agony like the Mother Cow which has lost it’s Calf.
“Oh My ! the fasts, prayers Charity, Meditations, Pujas, for the well being of my Child have they all been like Snowing in Barren Land and have become waste?” this is causing more Dhukkam (Grief, Pain, Anguish,sorrow, suffering,worry, unhappiness) than anything else.
After you go to Forest what will I do? , I will also come with you to the forest. Likethe aged Mother Cow which has lost it’s strength it will follow the Calf on which it has affection, will it remain separated than being with it?. Queen Kaushalya was like the Kinnara Bird which is caught in the web net of Hunter, she was crying as she has to part from Rama and she has to bear the of insults/ taunts/ derition from other Queens and further thought of the oncoming Kasht (Agony,purgatory, discomfort, trouble,hardhip, suffering, harassment, annoyance, travails) also Rama’s plight of being bound by Dharma and hence Helpless.Cried loud. (Slokas55)
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