April 4 - Sarga 103 of Uttara Kanda.
Sri Rama receives a strange guest - Kala (Destiny) in the form of an ascetic who does not want anyone else to overhear their conversation.
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कस्यचित्वथ कालस्य रामे धर्मपरे स्थिते ।
कालस्तापसरूपेण राजद्वारमुपागमत् ॥
"After some years, during the time when Sri Rama was assiduously engaged in Dharmic activities, Destiny/Kala assumed the form of an ascetic and arrived at his royal entrance."
He informed Lakshmana that he was on an important Dharmic mission and demanded an immediate audience with Sri Rama. He announced himself as a messenger of "Atibala" Maharishi. Lakshmana lost no time in informing Sri Rama who gladly received the sage messenger. That ascetic exuded a strange radiance.
The ascetic greeted Sri Rama with a benediction, "Oh, Sri Rama, may auspiciousness come to you."
Sri Rama offered his reverent courtesies to the ascetic and seated him on a golden seat, making cordial enquiries.
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Sri Rama now asks for the message from the "Atibala" Maharishi.
"Oh Sri Rama, if you are concerned with our mutual welfare, this private conversation between us is to be kept totally confidential. Apart from the two of us, if anyone hears the message I have brought to you from the Maharishi or anything else that we speak, he shall be put to death. Do you agree to this condition?"
Sri Rama agrees. He orders Lakshmana,
द्वारि तिष्ठ महाबाहो प्रतिहारं विसर्जय ।
स मे वध्यः खलु भवेद्वाचं द्वन्द्वसमीरितम्।
ऋषेर्मम च सौमित्रे पश्येद्वा शृणयाच्च यः॥
"Dear Lakshmana, the mighty-armed one, please relieve the doorkeeper and take his place to guard our privacy. By my order, anyone who hears the conversation between this sage and me, or even sees us, shall be put to death."
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Lakshmana understood perfectly Sri Rama's order and carried it out by relieving the guard and taking his place himself. Sri Rama meanwhile urged the ascetic to satisfy his eagerness and deliver the Maharishi's message.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
