Message conveyed by Rama
After some time Dasaratha regained coniousness. Wanting to know about Rama, he called Sumanthara, He came and stood near him with respect. He looked very old and he was perturbed like the animal which has just been caught in the forest and caged, like the Elephant which has got disease, he was thinking about Rama and sighing heavily.Since seeing Sumanthra having travelled last 3 days very fast, his body was filled with dust and with tears welling up his eyes.In a feeble voice Dasaratha asked him “Sumnathara !my child dharmathama is staying under which tree? A child who has been brought up with a silver spoon , which item in Forest will be tasty? One who is not worthy of experiencing suffering and also the Lord of this world my son , how will he sleep under a tree like an orphan? When he used to go out the 4 divisions of Defence forces used to accompany him, how will he live in a forest where there are no human inhabitatnts? The forest filled with Phython, Black Cobras,Tigers and other animals both Rama Lakshaman how ill they be able to move about with Sita? With Sita who had been cuddled and brought up, my children after getting down from the Chariot, how did they walk down and travelled? Like the Ashwini Devas enter the Manthaara mountain; ‘You Saw my children entering Forest, you are blessed.What did Rama say? What did Lakshmana say? Please tell me everything without missing anything as to how Rama sat, ate, slept. Once upon a time when Emperor Yayathi was pushed from Heaven, he said ’I should go to the place where Pious Live’ he prayed; accordingly he fell in a place where Mahathma’s like Sibi were present and due to their greatness , his sins were finished,grievance was got over and again left for Heaven. Similarly I would like to hear the Virtues of Rama and his History and save my Life spoke Dasaratha.
Sumanthra was weeping and with his words being incoherent with folded hands “ King ! Rama who is focused on protecting the Dynastic Dharma with his folded hands prayed and wanted me to convey you the following ‘Hey Charioteer! The great Learned and the one who is worthy of being respected by all Living beings is my Father, I bow my head and prostrate before him’ please tell him this.
‘Those who are in Palace chambers convey my Namaskarams (Respects) appropriately and tell them I enquired there welfare.’ Tell them so.
‘My Mother Kaushalya I bow unto her and after enquiring her welfare “Amma ! You should remain focused in observing Dharma and ensure compliance on Agni matters (Homa etc viz performance of rituals sacrifices in Fire)withoutfail. Like you worship the celestials , you should serve King at his feet. Letting go of the Ego & Pride of ‘Born in a High Clan, Queen of the Throne’ You should move with other Queens with equanimity. You should conduct yourself with Kayikeyei like you conduct yourself with Dasaratha.You should think Bharatha as an Empeoror and do Upachaaram (Extend Courtsies-Civilities-vidhipadi –observe Portocol and in heart Pray for his welfare). You should remember the Ethics of Kingdom that ‘King is not Elder by age, but elder by the Wealth which he has rightfully earned over a period of time; though Bharatha is younger to you You should give total respect’ this he asked me to convey very politely.
He wanted me to enquire Bhratha’s welfare and conveyed ‘ to all Queens you should conduct your self with Empathy or Equanimity. After your Coronation, keep the Emperor in the Kingdom do all the Upachaaram(Extend Courtsies-Civilities-vidhipadi –Portocolbe offered to him with facilities and civilites accordable without any shortcomings). Since King is very very old, you should not say anything opposing it . Please conduct yourself as per his command and keep enjoying all the Luxuries, comforts to the optimum, this you convey to Bharatha’ said he . Later ‘ My Mother may be disturbed by others,and I did not get an opportunity to be near her to serve her and thus he felt and cried and said ‘ Bharatha , mother Kaushalya who has special affection unto me, please consider her as your own mother and extend Upacharam.’ Saying this his eye were shedding tears owing to sorrow and remained static without any thought.This is the message Rama has convyed.
Ulike Rama, Lakshmana cannot hide the thoughts in his mind;hence breathing heavily with extreme anger ‘what fault did Dasratha find in Rama and sent him to forest? He has done this gross injustice by listening to Kayikeyei who is mean minded and given weightage to her words of Command; thus he has bound us all to troubles not experienced thus far. If he desired that Bharatha should be given the kingdom or be it any other reason , what he did is injustice only. While grating boon long ago, it was not stipulated that Bharatha should be crowned or Rama should go to Forest..But ‘I will give you the Kingdom’ he pledged to Rama in presence of all People first.When Kayikeyei asked he should have said ‘I have given the Kingdom to Rama, I will not give it to your son Bharatha’ and could have stopped. ‘ It is unpardonable to send the 1st son to the Forest; one should not ban the first son;also the only son should not be brushed aside. ‘ thus say Smruthis( Doctrines for Noble Living). I also thought a lot , could not find one reason for sending Rama to Forest nor could I find a Dosh(Fallacy, deficiency, defect,flaw, offence, weakness, fault, imperfection, shortcoming, blame, catch, mistake, guilt, reflection, accused, culprit,delinquent, culpable,convice, blameworthy) were to be found in Rama, then he can be sent to Forest and it will be in accordance with Sashtras (Rules for self).There is none. Hence Dasratha has done as his Manam {Chitha(Memory)+Inner Conscience Mind +Intellect(Bhuddhi) +Ego}Wandered.Or it is a Divine ordain which is not in conformity to Sashtraas**(How true as the very purpose of Rama ‘s birth is to kill Ravana). If Dasaratha did as his Manam (Mind) wandered , then now why he should remorse? it is becaus his intellect went astray, did not think in depth of it’s consequences, due to his sending Rama to forest, he is now repenting. if you ask ‘Can any one talk ill of his own Father who gave birth to him‘, then ‘a person owing to arrogant pride,high headedly straying from the sacred path and immatured in not being able to assess Jusitce or injustice; whether he is a Father or Teacher, He should be shunned‘ says Sashtraas (Doctrines).Hence I do not consider King as my Father. Rama is my brother;Rama takes care of me;Rama is my relation;Rama is my Father. if you ask ‘You forsake a real Father by nature, you accept someone else as your father, is it justified? ’. Rama is dear to all Living beings; he strives for their well being; when that be the case,When he has sent Rama to Forest, Thus he is no more friendly to all Living beings, and seeks their destruction’ Wil anyone else except Kayikeyei and Bharatah will have affection for him?.Rama is a Dharmavan and he gives bliss to the citizens and he sends him to Forest, he has thus earned enmity from all.Thus How can he be a King? ‘The King is one who makes every one happy’, this he wanted me to convey to you.
Lakshmana poured out what was in his Heart unable to bear the grief caused to everyone. Sita did not do that. She is the King of Janaka; By Character and Conduct she is famed for her Virtues;She was carrying the sorrow in her Manam{ Chitha(Memory)+Inner Conscience Mind +Intellect(Bhuddhi) +Ego} and breathing heavily, since she has a Strong courageous Heart,she looked as though she was possessed by some Ghost and was stunned. She has never faced such troubles; hence seeing the agony Rama was undergoing, she only shed tears, she did not say anything to me. With paled face and with tears welling in her eyes, she saw Rama and me when I was Leaving for Ayodhya, she thought ‘ My God ! in this gory Forest how will Rama walk without Chariot? And cried. Rama with folded hands stood with tears. Lakshamana was serving him. Sita was crying feebly and saw me and the Chariot stood there. (SLOKAS 37).
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