June 24 - Sargas 53 and 54 of Ayodhya Kanda.
As they prepare to pass the night on their grass beds under the peepul tree, Sri Rama is in a dark mood and utters words of concern about Ayodhya, Dasharatha and their mothers. He bemoans the condition his old and incapable father must be in after yielding to the mean Kaikeyi's demands purely occasioned by his weakness for sexual pleasure.
इदं व्यसनमालोक्य राज्ञश्च मतिविभ्रमम् ।
काम एवार्थधर्माभ्यां गरीयानिति मे मतिः ॥
को ह्यविद्वानपि पुमान् प्रमदायाः कृते त्यजेत् ।
छन्दानुवर्तिनं पुत्रं तातो मामिव लक्ष्मण ॥
"Lakshmana, seeing this woeful condition the king has been reduced to, and his mental aberration, I have to say that I think passion (desire for pleasure) surpasses in its influence any considerations of one's material and righteous welfare.
"Otherwise, Lakshmana, how do you explain such an act? It is unlikely even in an uneducated person! That a man abandons his son for the sake of a woman, as my father did of me, a dutiful and obedient son!?"
Sri Rama goes on to paint a very grim prospect for Kausalya and others. Kaikeyi would rather that the king dies once Bharata is installed as heir apparent. Bharata will enjoy the kingdom all for himself. Sri Rama imagines the worst for Kausalya and Sumitra at the hands of Kaikeyi. He urges Lakshmana to go back at once to Ayodhya to take care of them.
अहमेको गमिष्यामि सीतया सह दण्डकान् ।
अनाथाया हि नाथस्त्वं कौसल्याया भविष्यसि ॥
मया हि चिरपुष्टेन दुःखसंवर्धतेन च ।
विप्रयुज्यत कौसल्या फलकाले धिगस्तु माम् ॥
एको ह्यहमयोध्यायां च पृथिवीं चापि लक्ष्मण ।
तरेयमिषुभिः क्रुद्धो ननु कार्यमकारणम् ॥
"Dear Lakshmana, I will go alone with Sita into the Dandaka forest. You please proceed at once and be her support and take care of the queen Kausalya who has no protector now.
"What an irony that Kausalya brought me up so well and with so much difficulty. Now she has been separated from me and I am not taking care of her when the time has come for it! How unworthy a son am I! Fie on me!
"Indeed, Lakshmana, it is not difficult for me to single-handedly take over Ayodhya and even the whole world with my arrows once provoked. But such aggression is unwise without any just cause."
And so on. As we read the shlokas we realise how utterly human albeit noble and scrupulous Sri Rama was. Valmiki has not tried to gold-plate the character into a deity who is beyond human emotions.
To all this Lakshmana has a very simple response.
नैतदौपयिकं राम यदिदं परितप्यते ।
विषादयसि सीतां च मां चैव पुरुषर्षभ ॥
न च सीता त्वया हीना न चाहमपि राघव ।
मुहूर्तमपि जीवावो जलान्मत्स्याविवोद्धतौ ॥
"Oh Rama, it behoves you not to lament like this as it is totally unproductive. You are through your tears and words causing great distress to Sita and me too, oh tiger among men!
"Neither Sita nor I will survive even for a moment separated from you. We will die like fish pulled out of water."
Lakshmana says neither Ayodhya nor Dasharatha, Sumitra, Shatrughna nor anyone else in Ayodhya has any attraction for him if it means he will leave the side of Rama. Not even heaven. So the discussion is closed.
Sri Rama realises Lakshmana's mindset and gladly agrees that he will stay on with them.
***
They rest well after that and next day proceed southward. They pass many beautiful forests and see many eye-catching sights. Proceeding further they come to the holy confluence of Ganga and Yamuna at Prayag. Sri Rama points Lakshmana to rising smoke in the yonder distance and says that this holy spot must be the home of a great muni. Soon they discover the Ashrama of sage Bharadwaja. The hermitage is surrounded by verdant nature full of birds and animals all living in harmony as it were. The place is abuzz with disciples performing many homas and austerities.
ततस्त्वाश्रममासाद्य मुनेर्दर्शनकाङ्क्षिणौ ।
सीतायानुगतौ वीरौ दूरादेवावतस्थतुः ॥
हुताग्निहोत्रं दृष्ट्वैव महाभागः कृताञ्जलिः ।
रामः सौमित्रिणा सार्धं सीतया चाभ्यवादयत् ॥
Then approaching the Ashrama of the sage, desirous of having his darshan, Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita waited at some distance to be received.
After they were cordially received and ushered into the presence of the sage, Sri Rama, the noble one, offered his obeisances as he beheld the sage performing homa with agnihotra. Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita all offered their deep respects.
***
Sri Rama introduces himself and Lakshmana to the rishi as the princes from Ayodhya and this Sita as the daughter of the great king Janaka and his wife. He has been sent to the forest by his father and Sita and Lakshmana have decided to come along.
Bharadwaja says he knows the unfortunate sequence of events. He offers the best of hospitality to them. He treats them to a dainty dinner made with fruits and roots and shoots of the forest. He makes them very comfortable for the night. He also regales Sri Rama and others with many stories through the night. What a wonderful time they should have had!
Next morning, Bharadwaja says that this ashrama is situated very well amidst bountiful nature at the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga and Yamuna. So Sri Rama may stay here for the entire duration of the exile with no difficulties at all.
Sri Rama replies,
भगवन्नित आसन्नः पौरजनपदो जनः ।
सुदर्शमिह मां प्रेक्ष्य मन्येऽहमिममाश्रमम् ॥
आगमिष्यति वैदेहीं मां चापि प्रेक्षको जनः ।
अनेन कारणेनाहमिह वासं न रोचये ॥
"Revered sage, there are many towns and villages in this vicinity. Many people will therefore easily spot me in the ashrama. They will start coming here desirous of seeing Sita and me. That will disturb the ashrama very much. Also that situation is unsuitable for my intended sojourn in the forest. I therefore respectfully decline your offer. Please suggest a secluded and somewhat inaccessible place."
Hearing these very sensible words of Sri Rama, Bharadwaja recommends a beautiful hill not very far away (around 35 km) called Chitrakuta.
वासमौपयिकं मन्ये तव राम महाबल ।
नानानगगणोपेतः किन्नरोरगसेवितः ॥
मयूरनादभरितो गजराजनिषेवितः ।
गम्यतां भवता शीलश्चित्रकूट: स विश्रुतः ॥
"In that case, dear Rama, oh mighty one, I consider a most suitable place for your stay to be the Chitrakuta hill. It is surrounded by many trees. It is home to a wide range of simians, deer, bears, other animals, birds like peacocks, elephants, snakes and even demi-celestials (Kinnaras). It is very beautiful. It has rivulets, waterfalls, lakes and caves. You will find your stay there with Sita to be most delightful."
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
