June 16 - Sargas 37 and 38 of Ayodhya Kanda.
The scene of Kaikeyi's thrusting the garments of forest-dwellers on Sita and her distress, and the way Vasishtha raises his voice are covered in these two sargas.
First of all Rama wants to end any discussion about troops and facilities being sent along for his comfortable stay in the forest. He will go and spend the fourteen years as a tapasvi living like anyone else would in the forest.
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यो हि दत्त्वा द्विपाश्रेष्ठं कक्ष्यायां कुरुते मनः ।
रज्जुस्नेहेन किं तस्य त्यजतः कुञ्जरोत्तमम् ॥
Rama spoke to Dasharatha, " Oh king, I will take nothing of the royal life along. It is similar to someone who has gifted away a prize elephant. What attachment will he have for the rope tied to that elephant's girth?"
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Kaikeyi hastens to bring valkala-garments, made of barks, grass and bamboo fibre, to be worn by the three. Rama and Lakshmana wear them silently, giving up their royal silks. When she thrusts it on Sita also, Sita is most bewildered and distressed. She has no idea how to wear them. Rama goes to help her and ties those grass and bamboo garments over her silk dress. In Sanskrit the silk robes were called चीर - that is the origin of the word Saree in English.
Sage Vasishtha is highly provoked. He speaks his mind to Kaikeyi:
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न गन्तव्या वनं देव्या सीतया शीलवर्जिते ।
अनुष्ठास्यति रामस्य सीता प्रकृतमासनम् ॥
आत्मा हि दाराः सर्वेषां दारसङ्ग्रहवर्तिनाम् ।
आत्मेयमिति रामस्य पालयिष्यति मेदिनीम् ॥
भरतश्च सशत्रुघ्नश्चीरावासा वनेचरः ।
वने वसन्तं काकुत्स्थमनुवत्सयति पूर्वजम् ॥
ततः शून्यां गतजनां वसुधां पादपैः सह ।
त्वमेका शाधि दुर्वृत्ता प्रजानामहिते स्थिता ॥
यद्यपि त्वं क्षितितलाद् गगनं चोत्पतिष्यसि ।
पितृवंशचरित्रज्ञः सोऽन्यथा न करिष्यति ॥
Vasishtha spoke sternly to Kaikeyi : " Oh lady who has given up good conduct, please know that Sita need not go to the forest. In fact she should take her place on the throne left vacant by Rama. After all the wife is the soul of every husband, especially those who take good care of their wives. Therefore this Sita is the soul of Rama and shall rule Ayodhya in his place.
"And don't even imagine that Bharata will relish rulership. He will go along with Shatrughna, wearing the same forest clothes, and follow his elder brother Rama and live in the forest.
"Therefore what will be left for you, Kaikeyi, to lord over, will be this land without any people, empty in every way, except for trees. You will rule over this land with your bad attitude which is totally against the welfare of the people.
"Kaikeyi, even if you jump from earth to heaven and back, know that Bharata will not follow your plan, as he is fully cognisant of the reputation of this dynasty and what is the right course for him."
More tears, more regret for Dasharatha. More misery for all around. Dasharatha orders that Sita will go only in her royal clothes, with all jewels and ornaments befitting her as the daughter of Janaka, and welcomed by Dasharatha at the time of marriage with the promise that she will be treated with honour due in every way.
Before going away, Rama makes a request to Dasharatha:
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इमां महेनद्रोपम जातगर्धिनीं
तथा विधातुं जननीं ममार्हसि ।
यथा वनस्थे मयि शोककर्षिता
न जीवतं न्यस्य यमक्षयं व्रजेत् ॥
"Dear king, you are like Devendra himself in position, prestige and reputation. My mother here, Kausalya, has extreme attachment to you and me. Kindly take care of her well. After I go away to the forest, she will be so distressed. Please make sure she will not give up her life and go to Yama's world. "
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
