March 11 - Sargas 42 and 43 of Uttara Kanda.
Sri Rama sports with Devi Sita in their heavenly Ashoka garden full of trees with fragrant flowers, fanned by the cool breeze. Their happiness knows no bounds. Devi Sita is pregnant. Sri Rama asks her whatever is her desire, and says that he shall surely fulfill it. She says she wants to go and pay her respects to the great rishis in hermitages on the banks of Ganga.
Later Sri Rama is surrounded by his confidants who bring him news of whatever the people of Ayodhya are talking about everyone in the royal family. Bhadra, a trusted confidant, reports what the citizenry is speaking - all the best of sentiments about Sri Rama's victory and return. When pressed by Sri Rama, he reluctantly discloses that people are surprised and unhappy that Sri Rama has so readily accepted Sita back even after she has been in the physical captivity of Ravana and thus become tarnished. This would set a bad precedent for ordinary people. Other confidants confirm this report. Sri Rama is pensive as he adjourns to his inner quarters.
***
After sending away the Pushpaka, Sri Rama entered his enchanting Ashokavana adjoining the palace. It had wonderful trees of several types listed by Valmiki including sandalwood, agaru, champaka, jackfruit, ashoka, punnaga, sesham, parijata, lodhra, matti, nagakesara, kadamba, nipa, palm, banana, kovidara, pomegranate, jamoon, vakula, .....
The trees had tender leaves, lovely flowers, and exuded a fragrance. The creepers were expertly tended by gardeners and were full of blooms. Many cuckoos and bees and butterflies thronged the mango and other trees. Many trees had a golden hue in the sun. Many were dark like collyrium. Many lakes invited one with their placidity. There were rocks and ideal picnic spots too.
Many canopies and pleasure halls had been constructed in ideal spots in that garden.
Sri Rama led Sita by hand and seated her and gave her a celestial wine called Myreya. They both ate the daintiest of royal dishes of various types. Many women came and performed dance and music to their delight. Sri Rama invariably gave the performers generous gifts of appreciation.
***
Sri Rama and Sita had been enjoying themselves in that Ashokavana for many days when the cold winter passed. Sita had a routine. She would finish her ablutions and prayers and go and serve her three mothers-in-law, all with equal affection. Later she would dress herself up in royal splendour and looking every bit the incomparable goddess she was in beauty, she would go to Sri Rama, who would by then have completed his day full of royal duties. The rest of the day would be spent by them in utter happiness.
Sri Rama saw his beloved Devi Sita, in her finery, and observed she was now looking quite pregnant. He spoke words of ready gladness and complimented her on her looks.
Sri Rama asked Devi Sita, "Dearest, please tell me what you desire, I shall be extremely happy to fulfill it."
Devi Sita replied.
तपोवनानि पुणयानि द्रष्टुमिच्छामि राघव ।
गङ्गातीरोपविष्टानामृषीणामुग्रतेजसाम् ॥
फलमूलाशिनां देव पादमूलेषु वर्तितुम् ।
एष मे परमः कामो यन्मूलफलभौजिनाम् ।
अप्येकरात्रिं काकुत्स्थ निवसेयं तपोवने ॥
"Dearest Sri Rama, I wish to visit the hermitages situated on the banks of the holy Ganga, belonging to ascetics of great spiritual radiance. I wish to sit at the feet of those who subsist on fruits and roots, alone. This is my foremost desire! Indeed I wish to spend a night there and enjoy the atmosphere of that tapovana."
विस्रब्धा भव वैदेहि श्वो गमिष्यस्यसंशयम् ।
"Devi Sita, of course! Don't worry, it shall be arranged tomorrow itself for you to fulfill this desire and go there!"
(The words Sita and Sri Rama speak indicate she goes alone.)
***
Sri Rama usually sat in one of his chambers in the palace, where he would be surrounded by close confidants who regaled him with funny stories, tales, and news from all over. Valmiki mentions many names of these close aides.
Bhadra, one of them, is pointedly asked by Sri Rama on one occasion to tell him what the people of Ayodhya, the Aam Aadmis, are saying about him, Sita, Bharata, Lakshmana, Shatrughna, and Kaikeyi.
Sri Rama adds that a king who is derelict in his duties and up to no good will be spoken of in candid terms in the cities as well as the hermitages of the forest. Indeed he should heed those words spoken by the populace and take them as a barometer of his kingly conduct.
Sri Rama interjects that whatever positive words people speak will guide him further in his endeavours and equally, he will take any negative comments and words as sacrosanct for course corrections. So he eggs Bhadra on repeatedly to spare no detail, especially if people are criticizing Sri Rama on any account.
दुष्करं कृतवान्रामः समुद्रे सेतुबन्धनम् ।
अश्रुतं पूर्वकैः कैश्चिद्देवैरपि सदानवैः॥
रावणश्च दुराधर्षो हतः सबलवाहनः।
वानराश्च वशं नीता ऋक्षाश्च सह राक्षसैः॥
हत्वा च रावणं सङ्ख्ये सीतामाहृत्य राघवः।
अमर्षं पृष्ठतः कृत्वा स्ववेश्म पुनरानयत् ॥
Bhadra narrates the words of the people: "Sri Rama has done an impossible task of building a bridge over the ocean, unprecedented, and something even gods and demons have not done. He killed the invincible Ravana with all his forces. He took control of all vanaras, bears, and even rakshasas. After winning the battle and killing Ravana, Sri Rama accepted Sita back and brought her into his palace, seating her in his lap.
कीदृशं हृदये तस्य सीतासम्भोगजं सुखम् ।
अङ्कमारोप्य तु पुरा रावणेन बलाद्धृताम् ॥
लङ्कामपि पुरानीतां अशोकवनिकां गताम् ।
रक्षसां वशमापन्नां कथं रामो न कुत्स्यति ॥
अस्माकमपि दारेषु सहनीयं भविष्यति ।
यथा हि कुरुते राजा प्रजास्तमनुवर्तते ॥
"We have only one question. How could Sri Rama cohabit again with Sita after she had been abducted, forced onto his own lap by Ravana, and carried away? She was also housed in Ravana's palace and pleasure garden afterward. It is surprising that Sri Rama does not show anger or repulsion towards Sita after she has lived in captivity amidst rakshasas! Our problem is that even our wives will demand now the same extremely lenient treatment in such eventualities. After all, whatever a king does is simply emulated and followed by his citizens."
There is a look of consternation and unhappiness in Sri Rama the instant he hears these words. He turns to his other close aides present and asks in a sombre voice, "What? Have you heard this too?" All of them, filled with fear and sadness, prostrate themselves and do obeisance to Sri Rama, and quietly corroborate Bhadra's words, saying that indeed, this is what they too have heard from everyone.
Sri Rama sends away everyone. He silently enters his inner chamber.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
