July 21- Sargas 107 and 108 of Ayodhya Kanda.
We are drawing to a close of Ayodhya Kanda. Building up to the grand finale, these are two short chapters.
Sri Rama motivates Bharata to rule Ayodhya as a dutiful son.
There is a Brahmin sage Jabali who tries to shake Sri Rama from his resolve with some devil's advocate arguments!
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Sri Rama speaks to Bharata:
उपपन्नमिदं वाक्यं यस्त्वमेवमभाषथाः ।
जातः पुत्रो दशरथात् कैकेय्यां राजसत्तमात् ॥
"Dear Bharata, the words you have just spoken are truly a reflection of who you are. You are the worthy son of the supreme king Dasharatha, born to the noble Kaikeyi."
Now Sri Rama bowls a googly.
पुरा भ्रातः पिता नः स मातरं ते समुद्वहन् ।
मातामहे समाश्रौषीद् राज्यशुल्कमनुत्तमम् ॥
" Dear brother, long ago, our father, at the time of wedding your mother princess Kaikeyi, had committed as dowry (given by the groom to the bride) the supreme gift of the kingdom of Ayodhya to his would-be father-in-law. This meant that her would-be-born son would be the next king of Ayodhya.
"In addition, during the war between gods and demons, our father had given two boons in gratitude to mother Kaikeyi. She was fully within her right to use the boons as she did, to make you the king, and send me into exile."
"I am duly honouring father's bounden promise about my exile by spending fourteen years in the uninhabited Dandaka in the company of Sita and Lakshmana. It is your duty therefore to take charge as the king of Ayodhya and fulfil our father's other promise."
Sri Rama then tells Bharata that a "putra" in Sanskrit doesn't mean just a biological son but an heir born who will ensure that the father does not land in hell. That is why men have many sons so that at least one will go to Gaya and perform the Shraddha (obligatory rites for the departed) and save the deceased father from going to hell. More meaningfully, sons should discharge the promises of their departed fathers.
Sri Rama praises the current arrangement. Bharata should happily rule Ayodhya. Sri Rama will gladly rule over the forest full of fauna and flora.
शत्रुघ्नस्त्वतुलमतिस्तु ते सहायः
सौमित्रिर्मम विदितः प्रधानमित्रम् ।
चत्वारस्तनयवरा वयं नरेन्द्रं
सत्यस्थं भरत चराम मा विषीद ॥
"Dear Bharata! Dear Shatrughna here is of incomparable sagacity. He will aid you in your ruling over Ayodhya. It is well known that dear Lakshmana is my chief support and aide. Therefore, the four of us, as worthy sons of Dasharatha, will conduct ourselves well and uphold his honour as a man true to his word and thereby ensure his welfare in the next world. Thus, dear Bharata, you should not grieve any more. "
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Now, Valmiki, the master story-teller, brings in a devil's advocate. Sage Jabali now speaks to Sri Rama.
साधु राघव मा भूत् ते बुद्धिरेवं निरर्थिका ।
प्राकृतस्य नरस्येव ह्यार्यबुद्धेर्मनस्विनः ॥
" Oh Rama, you are a good man, with a noble mindset, and a man of wisdom. Let this foolish line of thought, typical of an ignorant fool, not come to you."
Jabali debunks all this talk of filial duty. It is nonsense, as we all are born alone and die alone. Here is a kingdom on a silver platter and Sri Rama is a fool to forego the privilege.
राजभोगाननुभवन् महार्हान् पार्थिवात्मज ।
विहर त्वमयोध्यायां यथा शक्रस्त्रिविष्टपे ॥
न ते कश्चिद्दशरथस्त्वं च तस्य च कश्चन ।
अन्यो राजा त्वमन्यस्तु तस्मात् कुरु यदुच्यते ॥
"As the incumbent to the throne, thoroughly enjoy the supreme pleasures and comforts as the king. Enjoy Ayodhya like Indra enjoys himself as the lord of heaven.
"And what is this talk? Dasharatha is nobody to you and you're nobody to him. What he said and did doesn't touch you as you're two different people. Therefore do as I tell you."
Jabali says that all this talk of duty to one's parents is a stupid idea. A man impregnates a woman and a biological child is born. What is the higher meaning in that? All the rules and scriptures have been created by self-seeking priests and no good comes from wasting so much food in rituals and funeral ceremonies. How can offerings in this world reach someone who is no longer here?
Jabali says he has only extreme pity mixed with contempt for those who spend all their lives working hard to fulfill duties and practise Dharma. They suffer here and equally, will suffer surely in the next world.
सतां बुद्धिं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वलोकनिदर्शिनीम् ।
राज्यं त्वं प्रतिगृह्णीष्व भरतेन प्रसादितः ॥
"Therefore respect the advice of the wise ones. Set an example to the whole world. Gladly accept the kingdom being offered to you by Bharata."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
