April 7 - Sarga 107 of Uttara Kanda.
विसृज्य लक्ष्मणं रामो दुःखशोकसमन्वितः ।
पुरोधसं मन्त्रिणश्च नैगमांश्चेदमब्रवीत् ॥
अद्य राज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यामि भरतं धर्मवत्सलम् ।
अयोध्यायाः पतिं वीरं ततो यास्यामहं वनम् ॥
"After relinquishing Lakshmana, Sri Rama was plunged in utter grief. He called all the priests led by Sage Vasishtha, all his ministers, and even the Ayodhya populace, to make an announcement.
"I hereby wish to anoint the great lover of Dharma, Bharata, as the King of Ayodhya, which he has in a way been for long in my absence. I shall immediately follow Lakshmana into the forest. Please bring all the materials at once for the coronation. I wish to carry out my plan today itself."
The citizens of Ayodhya had already been subjected to one shock after another, and this was too much. They all fell to the ground at this catastrophic announcement. Bharata lost consciousness. After some time he recovered, to utter some incoherent words.
"Oh, my lord! I swear that I have absolutely no interest in rulership or royal pleasures. I simply will follow you wherever you go. Indeed, you should do the following. Please coronate Kusha and Lava, your wonderful, valorous, sons, without delay. Make Kusha the ruler of Koshala (or Kosala), and Lava the ruler of the northern territories. Also, send swift messengers to Shatrughna to announce our final departure."
Sage Vasishtha now spoke.
वत्स राम इमाः पश्य मा चैषां विप्रियं कृथाः "My dear son, Sri Rama, look at these citizens. They are unable to come to terms with your decision to abdicate. You should ask them what they have in mind. Please do not do anything against their wishes."
Sri Rama looked at the citizens. You can imagine the anguish in his voice when he asked, "What shall I do!?"
So far we have seen that Ayodhya was a flourishing democracy with the rule of righteousness, fairness, and supreme sacrifice by the ruler on every occasion. The aberration of Dasharatha's sending Sri Rama, Devi Sita, and Lakshmana at the behest of Kaikeyi to the forest was something no one ever recovered from. That was an unilateral aberration. But on every other occasion, Sri Rama had calibrated all his actions in accordance with the sentiment of his people. So this was not surprising.
"Oh, Lord, Sri Rama, wherever you wish to go, know that we shall simply follow you."
"If, Sri Rama, you do really love us, please take us along with our wives and children with you. That is all."
"Where you go is your decision - to the forest, to the mountain, to the rivers, or to the ocean. You are our supreme lord. Please take us along. Simply put, that is the only thing we wish for and it will give us the greatest bliss."
Sri Rama was deeply moved.
He immediately arranged to make Kusha the King of Koshala, and Lava the king of the northern territories. He conducted their coronation at once. He gave them countless treasures, great wealth of all kinds, horses, elephants, soldiers, and even a start-up set of citizens to go and be with them and serve them. No start-up ecosystem could be that good.
After installing the two princes as rulers, and bidding them goodbye, Sri Rama also sent word to Shatrughna to come at once.
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
