Rama’s decision irreversible
Despite the explaining the Dynastic tradition of Kula Dharma, Rama maintained his stoic silence expressing clearly that ‘None is greater than his Father’s order’ .Sage Vasishta understood and said “ Rama ! each one has 3 Teachers in this world ie Mother, Father and Guru. Mother and Father give him the Body, Teacher gives him knowledge/ wisdom. Hence he is greater than Parents. I am your forefathers teacher/Guru as well ** ( Long long ago Brahma asked Vasishtaa to be born as Human- to be born as a Human was a curse. So Vasishta refused. God Brahma then told him he will have an opportunity to be with Maha Vishnu for some time in the Earth; since Maha Vishnu will be born as Rama. Sage Vasishtaa readily agreed to this rare God Given opportunity, hence he has been the Guru for Sun Dynasty). If you accept my advice and act accordingly then you would not have broken the tradition of our Dynasty ie Eldest son only ascends the Throne. It is said that the Mother is manifold greater than the Father, so your Mother who is very old and one who is Dharmathma and by not serving is not apt.If you obey her words, it is like you have tread the path of the Pious. Bharatha who is pleading incessantly is like your own Life. Can you brush aside his words? Is it not your trait in born as Dharma of not shunning those who seek your help? Like you have vowed not to abjure Sathyam(truth); have you not vowed not to let down those who seek refuge unto you?” thus in honey flowing words Sage Vasishtaa counseled Rama percepts of King’s Code of Conduct.
Rama the greatest-Noblest amongst men said“ Lord ! as long as the man implements/ follows the Dharma and his body remains,Dharma also Lives. The body is given to us to earn Dharma and after complete Gyanam (Wisdom of Knowing the difference Atma(eternal) and the body(perishes)- Atma(Life force ) is the reflection of Paramthma(God) like water in Ocean, river, pond, tank, vessel and cup Is same. Atma takes the birth in different bodies as per karma ) is obtained; if the Guru protects us by all means and helps us even then Father’s word is greater than Guru’s. Fulfilling it is mandatory. So the Veda Vakhya which said “Understand Mother is God” Guru is menioed after Parents. For them to beget children Parents do Vrat(Fasting) Upavasams, Pilgrimage,, Worshipping God, countless times. After the child is born to the extent possible they feed Milk, then Cooked Rice, food , bathe, dress adorn the child with ornaments and give it Joy with Toys, Speak endearingly, nurture cultivate good conduct with great care and worry, the Upakaram (Help, Service, care they have tended to us ) they have done to us it is not possible for the Son/Child to repay that debt immaterial of how many Birth he may take. Hence Parents are given the 1st Priority in terms of thanks giving.
When this be so Emperor is my Father; He gave me this Body;His order precedes all other things;The promise I gave him is upper most. My Mother’s ordain and Bharatha’s pleadings are only next to that. So would I allow my Father’s words become a Lie?” said Rama. Bharatha then thought, his earlier efforts to beg his Sinner Mother Kayikyei whose permission he took to give back the Kingdom to Rama has now gone waste. Bharatha called Sumanthara and said “Please spread the Dhrabai(Kushal grass) here. Till my brother blesses me I am going to fast. In the world if a person who had taken Loan does not repay , the Loan giving Brahmin covering his face Fasts, lies down in the door step of the Loan taker till the Loan taker returns the Loan; I am going to lay down in front of his Parnashala. Sumnathara was hesitating and looking at Rama ‘Shall I do so?’ , seeing this Bharatha was exteemly pained, he himself went and brought the Dharbai spread it and laid down on it.
Seeing that the great amongst Kingly Saints Rama said “ ChildBhratha ! What Aparadh (Unpardonable acts such as sin, infraction, delinquency, misdemanour, violation, crime, offence, guilt, lawbreaker, crime, outlaw, felony ) did I do for you to undergo such a fast and why are you coercing me . Brahmin may lie down on one side to compel the loan taker to return the Loan, his Dharma permits him that. But Kshatriya it is not prescribed so. Hey greatest amongst Men, please let go of this Severe Dharma, return to Ayodhya“ said Rama.
Then Bharatha squatting addressed the Citizens “ Why are you not pleading to Rama beseeching him?”he said. They replied “ We know Rama does not falter on Sathyam(Truth) and we know it thouroughly” It appears what he Is Saying is justified. He has decided to abide by his Father’s instruction and implement it. Hence making him return to Ayodhya is impossible. “ thus they spoke. Rama said “ Bharatha ! These people have the intellect of Dharma and what they are saying is in your interest, please do listen to them. Please also consider what I have told you and get up. Having started this Dharma which is not meant for Kshatriya please do Aachamanam and touch me as well as a Prayashchit (atonement, an act of seeking forgiveness in repentence). When we have great Sages like Vasishta why you should touch me is you should vow that hereafter you will not undertake such measures” said Rama.
Bharatha got up did Aachamana and said “ Hey Brahmins! Ministers! Leading Citizens !other People ! please listen to me carefully. I did not even in my dream aspired for this Kingdom. I have never told ‘Do Like This’ to Kayikyei. I have never said that the noblest Dharmic Rama worthy of worship should go to forest .If it has to be done as per Emperor’s words and Living in Forest is essential I will live in Forest in place of Rama.Let Rama rule the Kingdom in my place. By doing this both of us would have obeyed Father’s ordain.” Said Bharatha.
Taken by surprise Rama addressed the people “ If Empeoror had bought, sold or pledged a thing we cannot change the same. Dasaratha gave me tenure in Forest in exchange he had taken the Kingdom from me Can we Change it ? Searching for an alternate person to live in Forest will entail me an unerasable eternal Abhakeerthi( Infamy, Disgrace, Dishonour,Disrepute). Only those who do not have the energy to take bath in cold water,Bath reciting Manthra(Verse) has been prescribed. Like that only if , I do not have the enrgy should I search for an alternative person as replacement? If I do that when I have energy, it will tantamount to my breaking the Pledge of my Father and make my Father Liar, what Kayikeyei said is apt. What Emperor did also right..Bharatha is man of immense Patience and does service to Elders properly , this is well known to me. He is epitome of Sathyam(truth); he is greatest amongst mortal Souls. Whatever job he undertakes will only result in Managalam( Auspiciouswell being , accrue happier moments, shower in brighter times ahead ). Along with Dharmathma Lakshmana I will spend my tenure in Forest and then I will return and rule the country. Kayikyei got those Boons from Dasaratha after praying to him. I am acting as per her wishes. You also act as per my words and make our Father the epitome of Sathyam(truth)” said Rama.(Slokas32)
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