June 13 - Sargas 31 and 32 of Ayodhya Kanda.
We see Lakshmana now convince Rama that he should also go along with Rama and Sita to the forest.
Then Valmiki elaborates how Sri Rama gave away all his wealth to people of all types in Ayodhya.
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एवं श्रुत्वा स संवादं लक्ष्मणः पूर्वमागतः ।
बाष्पपूर्णाकुलमुखः शोकं सौढुमशक्नुवन् ॥
स भ्रातुश्चरणौ गाढं निपीड्य रघुनन्दनः ।
सीतामुवाचातियशां राघवं च महाव्रतम् ॥
यदि गन्तुं कृता बुद्धिर्वनं मृगगजायुतम् ।
अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि वनमग्रे धनुर्धरः ॥
On hearing the conversation between Rama and Sita, Lakshmana who had arrived a bit earlier, was unable to bear his sorrow. His face was full of tears. He bowed down and clasped tightly the feet of Rama, one known for great resolve and execution, and Sita, that most noble lady. The prince of Raghus, Lakshmana, spoke thus:
"Dear brother, if you have made up your minds to proceed to live in the forest surrounded by wild animals like deer and elephants, I shall go with you, in fact ahead of you, holding my bow." Lakshmana assures Rama that he will take care that Sita and Rama will have an enjoyable experience of living in the forest. He is very clear that nothing - not heaven nor riches nor kingdoms - interests him in life at all if it happens to be without serving Rama.
Sri Rama now dissuades Lakshmana in many ways. Once he is gone, who will take care of Kausalya and Sumitra? Kaikeyi will not treat them well. Bharata will have to be under her authority and will be helpless. How can Lakshmana bear the thought of their utter distress that will ensue if Lakshmana also goes away to the forest?
Lakshmana has a ready answer. First of all Rama knows that Bharata is a very good man, and has been inspried by Rama's behaviour always.. Bharata therefore will not behave badly. And if at all he does, it will take no time for Lakshmana to destroy his evil self and ensure that the mothers are well looked after.
Lakshmana also reminds Rama that Kausalya has large tracts of villages and prosperous regions under her hold and in fact supports large numbers of priests and students studying the scriptures from her own resources. Even Sumitra is well provided for. So his presence is not needed in Ayodhya for providing them material needs. In fact even Dasharatha will not leave them destitute in any way.
Coming to his going with Rama, in fact the way Rama has spoken to Kausalya and others, it was already made clear that Lakshmana would go with him. Why this change of thought?
Lakshmana elaborates on how he will take care of them in the forest, by clearing the paths, taking care of difficulties and dangers, bringing the roots and fruits for their food, and so on. He concludes,
भवांस्तु सह वैदेह्या गिरिसानुषु रंस्यसे ।
अहं सर्वं करिष्यामि जाग्रतः श्वपतश्च ते ॥
"Dear brother, you will live happily with Sita, daughter of Videha, on mountain peaks (safest places from wild animals, but will need everything to be carried from the valley below!) I shall take care of everything, yes, everything, and will take care of you while you are awake and also asleep."
We will see later many descriptions how Lakshmana was exemplary in service and competence and did so many heroic things during those fourteen long years. Perhaps there is no other such character in literature.
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रामस्त्वनेन वाक्येन सुप्रीतः प्रत्युवाच तम् ।
व्रजापृच्छस्व सौमित्रे सर्वमेव सुहृज्जनम् ॥
ये च राज्ञे ददौ दिव्ये महात्मा वरुणः स्वयम् ।
जनकस्य महायज्ञे धनुषी रौद्रदर्शने ॥
अभेद्ये कवचे दिव्ये तूणी चाक्षय्यसायकौ ।
आदित्यविमलाभौ द्वौ खड्गौ हेमपरिष्कृतौ ॥
सत्कृत्य निहितं सर्वमेतदाचार्यसद्मनि ।
सर्वमायुधमादाय क्षिप्रमाव्रज लक्ष्मण ॥
Sri Rama was very pleased to hear Lakshmana speak thus. He replied indicating permission to Lakshmana, "well then, please proceed now to inform your friends and well-wishers of your impending journey and take their leave." This was a very diplomatic act I think, since someone responsible and close to him should break the news to the citizens of Ayodhya of the turn of events. So the very first task for Lakshmana was to be the lord's spokesperson.
The next was even more interesting. On the occasion of the breaking of the Shiva Dhanush and the marriage with Sita, king Janaka had gifted some divine weapons to Rama. These had been given to him during his Yajna by Varuna, the god of the seas. It consisted of two divine fierce-looking bows, inexhaustible quivers of arrows, bejewelled and goldplated divine swords that shone with sun's radiance (an apt description since that is one weapon that glitters by its shiny sides!), and impenetrable armours. Sri Rama had worshipped them and placed them in custody in the ashrama of great sage Vasishtha. Lakshmana should collect of all them and bring them for the journey. Rama asks Lakshmana to return quickly.
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Sri Rama also arranges for all their wealth - riches, clothes, jewels, grains, cows, bulls, in fact everything valuable that would have been in use for him as the Yuvaraja, to be given away. He makes an elaborate list and asks Lakshmana and Sita to start distributing them all. He invites the son of Vasishtha, himself a great sage by name Suyajna, and showers these gifts on him and says many gifts are also given by Sita for his wife.
I see here again great statesmanship. Rama is making it known to all that he was never after power and prosperity. By his deeds of such charity he has shown what stuff he is made of and when he does return, we can be sure of the kind of reception that will await him.
Rama makes sure nobody in want is left uncared for. Poor people, students, beggars, everyone is given gifts in plenty. There is a strange sage by name Trijata. He is aged but with a young wife and many children. He lives in the forest and somehow ekes out a living (Valmiki says he lives by digging for food!). His wife hears of Rama's munificence and makes him rush to Rama. Rama has in fact given away most of his wealth by then. But when Trijata comes asking, Sri Rama says, surely, he will give him cows that would cover the ground as much as he can throw his staff (stick he holds for walking) to cover. So some kind of a test. The old rishi takes a deep breath, practises his swing and throws the staff really far- so far that it goes to the other bank of Sarayu! Sri Rama smiles and gives him thousands of cows and all the land covered by that throw. He smiles and says the sage should not think he was making fun of him as Rama wanted everyone to see how strong the man was even in his advanced age.
स चापि रामः प्रतिपूर्णमानसो
महाधनं धर्मबलैरुपार्जितम् ।
नियोजयामास सुहृजजने चिराद्
यथार्हसम्मानवचः प्रचोदितः ॥
द्विजः सुहृद् भृत्यजनोऽथवा
दरिद्रभक्षाचरणाश्च यो भवेत् ।
न तत्र कश्चिन्न बभूव तर्पितो
यथार्हसम्मानदानसम्भ्रमैः ॥
Thus did Rama, who had over the years administered Ayodhya well and earned riches by righteous means, and with a reputation for his great valour and ability, distribute, with all generosity of heart, his wealth and provide for his well-wishers in plenty for the future, speaking words of due respect to them for receiving his gifts.
Brahmins and priests, relatives and servants, poor people who lived on alms, vagrants - whoever a person may be, received his gifts, There was no one left who had not received gifts from Rama. All was done with great decorum, respect and grace as well as in a mood of celebration.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
