Sri Rama seeks Approval
Rama who has beautiful eyes like the Lotus leaves and complexion of Rain bearing dark clouds, with small Hip sent message through Minsiter Sumanthara of his arrival to King Dasaratha. Sumanthara went inside the room and saw Dasaratha. Emperor Dasaratha was like the Sun under eclipse, Like the Ash covered Agni(Fire ember) having lost his Lusture,Looked like the beautiful Pond without water had lost all the aura and without any Charisma under anguish was breathing heavily and in a Confused state of mind, was constantly thinking of Rama. Sumanthara is a very intelligent Minister, but due to the Kasht (Agony,purgatory, discomfort, trouble, hardhip, suffering, harassment, annoyance, travail) Rama was undergoing, minister himself had lost his balance, with folded hands he greeted the King ‘ May Victory be yours’ and was sacred, the person who is under such grief what would he say?. hence in a stammered pained voice “ Lord ! your dear son, is waiting in the door step and waiting for your audience. He wants permission to come and see you. Like the Sun is surrounded by the rays, he who is adorned by the Noble Virtues that great Valorous Person is going to Forest. You should see him now.” Thus he conveyed.
Dasratha by nature is Dharmathma; his heart is as strong as the Ocean. Like the Akash(Space) which is spread be it in Clean or Dirty place, it will not be touched by the Dosh(Fallacy, deficiency, defect,flaw, offence, weakness, fault, imperfection, shortcoming, blame, catch, mistake, guilt, reflection, accused, culprit,delinquent, culpable,convice, blameworthy)and impervious of it’s surrounding, like wise though he was involved in mundane worldly matters was detached from everything. At that juncture he felt he should not falter on the promise he had made to Kayikeyie, he addressed his confidente “ Sumanthara ! Please call my wives who are present here, My son Rama who is always devoted to Dharma (Righteous conduct, Duty, Pious, humble,Charity ,being Noble, all this done beyond expectation and without anticipation), I would like to see him amidst them.
Immediately Suamnthara went to the harem and saw the Queens and said “King has commanded you to come, please come fast” thus he announced.
Accordingly Dasarathas 350 Wifes lead by Kaushalya ,overcome by the sorrow of Rama’s imminent departure for the Forest with tears swelled in their Eyes came to where Dasratha was. Dasaratha having seen all his wives being present said “ Sumnathara !Please bring the Child”. Immediately went outside and brought Rama, Sita & Lakshmana to the King’s presence. He saw from distance his son coming with folded hands with respect and could not contain himself and jumped to go and receive him to hug him, His wives with pale faces with sorrow followed him. His eyes sight was hidden due to the tears, unable to reach upto Rama he fell down unconscious. Immediately Rama and Lakshmana jumped and held him.Seeing their King unconscious the wives wailed “Haa Rama “;their loud crying mixed with the tinkling sounds of their ornaments spread throughout the hall(Harem)..Rama Lakshamana and Sita with their hands caressed the King and slowly made him sit in the Bed.
Then in 1 ½ hours Dasratha regained consciousness. Rama who saw Dasratha wincing in agony in the sea of sorrow like the drowning person with folded hands and respectfully “ Maharaja( Great King) ! you are my God.I am ready for going to Dandakaarnya (Forest).Please bless me and grant me permission. I tried to stop Lakshmana and Sita citing genuine reason. They are adamant to come with me.You not be remorseful that you have to part from us. please grant permission and send us.”prayed Rama.
Then Dasaratha saw Ramachandramurthy (Rama) who did not exhibit even an iota of remorse,inspite of his going to the Dense Forest seeking permission told “Rama! I gave Boons to Kayikeyie and I am deceived by her. Hence what I am doing is not just. My mind/intellect is not under my control. Now remove/brush me aside and be a King of this Ayodhya”. said the King.
The great intelligent Dasaratha had many things in his mind and spoke thus.Rama knows the secrecy and intricacies of Dharma (Righteous conduct, Duty, Pious, humble,Charity ,being Noble, all this done beyond expectation and without anticipation)and implents them with great elan, hence will he falter?,he will not err,With great humility “ Lord ! You have to rule this country for many thousand years this earth ( Dasaratha was 60,00 years old then){in Threthayuga ie 2 million years ago approx. Humans Lived longer, currently in Kali yuga max human life is 120 years } ). I am going to Live in Forest. I should not be the reason for you to falter on Sathyam (Truth) ie promise. First 9 years and then 5 years will go in a playful manner. Once the Promised time is over, I will return and have the good fortune of touching your feet and take your blessings.” spoke Rama.
On the one hand Dasaratah was bound by the rope of his Promise; on another side Kaikeyie secretly coerced him ‘Rama should go to the Forest today itself. Don’t allow him to stay here’; one side he was unable to bear the pangs of separation of his child, who was more dearer to him than his own Life. With Tears pouring , his words stuttering said ”Rama! Go and return; by doing this May you get the Noblest Heavenly Salvation both in this world and next world ie after Death. May the path you undertake be auspicious with goodness and splendor interwoven with blessings.May you not have fear due to any of the Living beings,So go carefully and return. You are by nature adhere to Sathyam(Truth); focused on Dharma implementation always, once you have decided can any one change it? But I have no desire in your leaving tonight; you should not go at all. You should stay today and see your Mother and myself enjoy all the comfort, leave as per your desire tomorrow morning.I will have the opportunity of seeing you throughout night eh?. Child ! the task you are undertaking, in which ever manner I see it is hair raising. In order that I get place in Heaven after my death, you are foregoing all the Sukham (Comfort, Luxury, Joy, Fun,Cheer, Love, Affection and fulfilled Desires) in this world currently, and you have dared going to the unihabittedplace.You should not think that this has been done with my liking, I am telling and vouching in the Name of Sathyam(Truth). Are you seeing the Ash covered Fire Kayikeyie here?Because I am easily acecceible to her having wicked thoughts in her mind , she has deceived me. She has come to destroy our Dynastic Family treditions.She has deceived me and with those Boons ,it has happened that Bharatha should be crowned and you should go to Forest. You would like to implement this command of Kayikeyie as your duty. Do I have the merit to appreciate your Noble Virtues? It is not justified to say like that. You are my eldest son;and Iam trusting you to achieve my salvation.That responsibility is yours. It is no surprise that your father’s promise should not falter and he should not tell Lie is your concern. No one has more right than you to do that” said the King.
Thus due to overpowering Sorrow and confused mind “ can you not stay atleast for a single night?”Rama Lakshmana heard the heart rending words of their father and felt bad “ My God! We do not have the good fortune of pleasing our Father by staying at least for one night”. The Rama addressed Dasaratha“ Lord ! If I enjoy all the Luxuries and comforts today here, then who will give me that in Forest tomorrow? I feel instead of enjoying the comfort, it is better to go to the Forest.i hereby forego This country containing Nations and it’s subjects , wealth and granary. Please give them to Bharatha.i have decided to be in Forest.; my decision will not change; you have a habit of giving whatever is asked for. You were happy with Kayikeyie for justifiable reasons and you gave her 2 Boons.Please do fultill them without shortcomings.May your fame of keeping up your words last for ever. I will fulfill your words and live in the Forest for 14 Years with Aessthetics..”
‘ Briush me aside and you becomes the King of Ayodhya‘ How could you say such a thing ? What Sin have I done? At this very moment , without any hesitation ,please give the entire Kingdom to Bharatha.You should not even remotely think that I aspired for the Kingdom, just to enjoy the pleasures. Will that confer me the happiness or benefits and the punya which will gets acrued by implementing your orders, can such benifits be ever obtained? Why should you feel sorrow at all? Your shedding tears in not good for all of us. Has anyone of you ever heard of the Samudhra Raja ( King of Oceans ) who is also the owner of all Rivers getting stirred up?I do not want Country or Luxuires or comforts or Sita or Bogha etc , nor Heaven or Life ; only thing I want is that the word you have given should not become a Lie.
You are my God in physical Presence. Iam telling vowing on my Punyam earned so far and the Sathyam (Truth) I speak . I cannot stay here even for a second. You should not repent on this. The decision that I have made to go to forest will never change.
I am not going just for implementing your orders alone. I have promised to Mother Kayikeyie that I will go to Forest. I have to implement that. You need not feel worried on what troubles we are going to encounter in the Forest. We will happily spend our time in the forest enjoying the company of Unique Birds and animals.Hence I would like to worship you as God and implement your orders. You will see me again after 14 years, hence you being remorseful is not appropriate. You instead of shedding tears stop others from shedding tears and give them courage.If you, yourself are distressed then what will be the state of others? I have foregone this city, please give it to Bharatha. I have foresaken this Country, please give it to Bharatha. Iam leaving this Soil, please give this to Bharatha. As per your order I have decided to live in forest for many years and I am just leaving for the Forest. i will not return till the completion of my vow. May Bharatha rule this earth filled with mountians, Rivers, cities, wealth, granary, and subjects in auspiciousness, safety and happiness. I donot have the least bit of desire for them.Your promise should be fulfilled without fail.i have never thought of comfort, luxuries ever for myself. Only think I have desire or thought it is to fulfill my Father’s promise; which is the Dharma appreciated by the elders.So do not feel remorse for me.What use is this Kingdom or Luxuries if I can not fulfill my Father’s words? Your word should not falter.Please do no think even in your dream that we will suffer in the Forest. I will eat Fruits, roots and stems of plants etc; I will enjoy the rivers, mountains, lakes; will loiter around in unique forest and enjoy the same and spend time.
Dasaratha hugged his dear child Rama and fell unconscious due to sorrow and remained on the floor.Th Queens also cried aloud hoarsely overcome by the anguish.Even Minster Sumantahra could not stand this and fell unconscious. Entire palace was filled with sound’ oh my why such thing should happen?’but the stone hearted Kaykeyi did not feel bad. Her face was filled with happiness.(Slokas 61)
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