June 26 - Sargas 57 and 58 of Ayodhya Kanda.
Two short sargas, two unhappy narratives.
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Seeing Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Sita disembark from the boat that Guha's man had taken them in across the Ganga, and watching them move away into the forest, both Guha and Sumantra heaved sighs of deep anguish.
***
Guha's messengers track Sri Rama and company as they visit Bharadwaja's Ashram, cross the Yamuna, and make their way towards Chitrakuta. This information reaches Guha and Sumantra. They both feel a little less concerned about Sri Rama's whereabouts.
Soon Sumantra makes his way back. He drives a wonderful chariot drawn by swift horses. The countryside he passes through is very beautiful. But nothing seems important. He enters a mournful looking Ayodhya full of apprehensions for the future.
Six nights have passed since Rama left Ayodhya. The citizens are still wishful that they will see them all return with Sumantra. But when Sumantra enters the city without the three, a pall of gloom covers everyone. Sumantra tells them that the last he saw of Sri Rama was when he had crossed the Ganga.
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शुश्राव च वचस्तेषां वृन्दं वृन्दं च तिष्ठताम् ।
हताः स्म खलु ये नेह पश्याम इति राघवम् ॥
दानयज्ञविवाहेषु समाजेषु महत्सु च ।
न द्रक्ष्यामः पुनर्जातु धार्मिकं राममन्तरा ॥
Those who heard the words of Sumantra, gathered in groups and said repeatedly, "we are all ruined. We shall see Sri Rama no more!"
"In all our activities, be they of giving donations to others, or performing yajnas and prayers, or conducting weddings, or even in large gatherings for special occasions, we shall never again see that most righteous man, Sri Rama!"
Sumantra could not take all such conversations. Women at their windows and people at street corners and market places were saying the same thing. Sri Rama was a father figure to all, a dear ruler, and Ayodhya felt bereaved, Sumantra covered his face and hurried to the Palace.
***
Scenes of wailing in the palace brought him no relief. On seeing him return without Rama, Dasharatha first collapsed and when revived, sat mutely and heard Sumantra describe the travelogue of Sri Rama till he waved goodbye from across the Ganga to him.
Kausalya could not contain herself. She needled Dasharatha,
अद्येममनयं कृत्वा व्यपत्रपसि राघव ।
उत्तिष्ठ सुकृतं तेऽस्तु शोके न स्यात् सहायता ॥
देव यस्या भयाद् रामं नानुपृच्छसि सारथिम् ।
नेह तिष्ठति कैकेयी विश्रब्धं प्रतिभाषताम्। ॥
"Oh king of Raghus, are you feeling ashamed by your unrighteous deed of sending Rama into exile? Get up. You may feel blessed that you fulfilled your promise. But nobody will come and commiserate in your present grief.
"Why are you not asking Sumantra to narrate in detail the travails of Rama? Kaikeyi, fearing whom you dare not ask questions, is not here. So you may speak without fear."
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When Dasharatha comes to his senses, he speaks with Sumantra, expressing his dismay that the two princes and Sita have been forced into a most inhospitable environment without any of the luxuries and royal paraphernalia they deserved to enjoy. The dangers of the forest do not escape him.
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Pressed to tell the message he had brought from the three of them, Sumantra bows deeply to Dasharatha and says that Rama has conveyed his most sincere respects to the king. He has also sent words of love and consolation to Kausalya. His words to her are to be with dignity but without ego, with concern but without anxiety towards all especially Kaikeyi and Bharata.
कुमारे भरते वृत्तिर्वर्तितव्या च राजवत् ।
अर्थज्येष्ठा हि राजानो राजधर्ममनुस्मर ॥
"Dear mother Kausalya, please conduct yourself towards Bharata as you should towards the king, even though he is young (i.e. he wasn't the senior most to deserve the throne). After all a king is a king and deserves to be respected and followed as such. "
Rama adds that Bharata should also take good care of all his mothers without difference and respect the elderly king's wishes and rule well. When Rama speaks to Bharata about taking care of Kausalya who is missing her own son, he breaks down in sorrow.
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But Lakshmana was irrepressible in his outburst. He spared no words. For what offence was Rama banished? The king may decide whether his actions at the behest of Kaikeyi were warranted or not but let him look at the fate of them three - Sri Rama Sita and Lakshmana now! Maybe the king thought he could do anything he pleased. Or perhaps he had some fear of God. But the action itself was unjust. This foolish and unjust act was bound to bring sorrow to all.
अहं तावन्महाराजे पितृत्वं नोपलक्षये ।
भ्राता भर्ता च बन्धुश्च पिता च मम राघवः ॥
"Therefore I do not regard king Dasharatha any more as my father. My brother, my protector and lord, and always my own by filial bond, as well as my father, is Rama and Rama alone." Lakshmana adds that the king by his act has forfeited his right to rule over the people.
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What about Sita? She was bewildered, sorrowful and unable to say anything as she mutely watched her husband's condition. All she could do was shed copious tears.
तथैव रामोऽश्रुमुखः कृताञ्जलिः
स्थितोब्रवील्लक्ष्मणबाहुपालितः ।
तथैव सीता रुदती तपस्विनी
निरीक्षते राजरथं तथैव माम् ॥
"Leaning on Lakshmana's arms, Rama stood, his face streaming down with tears, and palms folded, while Sita glared at me and the royal chariot, weeping."
Thus ends Sumantra's account.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
