In this post, let us dwell into the story leading to the birth of Rama. We looked at the Kingdom of Ayodhya and how well it is ruled by Dasaratha, the soon-to-be father of Rama. Let us look at some of the further qualities of Ayodhya, Dasaratha and the men presided in his kingdom. We will also touch upon the story of Sage Rishyasringa, who will be the chief-priest when the King Dasharatha performed a yajna to beget progeny, and Rama, Bharata, and the twins Lakshmana and Shatrughna were born. Dasaratha himself was hailed as a noble descendant of Ikshvakus and his rule, kingdom was near perfect except the discontent he had for a son to prolong his dynasty. Let us get there and know how the mighty king Dasaratha did many a rituals on a grandest scale for the birth of four brightest and radiating sons. This story of a great king giving birth to the noblest among men will give many a good omens to whomsoever came to know about it.
Eight ministers, of outstanding qualities aided Dasaratha. Incorruptible indomitable and stalwarts in their devotion to duty and to the affairs of the state they were Drishti, Jayantha, Vijaya, Siddhartha, Artha, Sadhaka, Asoka, Mantrapala and Sumantra. The foremost of seers, Vasishta and Vamadeva were family priests, besides other counselors. Never did any of them utter a falsehood, either for the sake of pleasure, profit or in anger.
Proficient in Shastras and sciences they had knowledge of every branch of study and shied away from all acts of injustice. Famed, eminent wealthy and with well-restrained senses, their deeds matched their words, their decisions were never made in haste, but after much contemplation. Peerless and forgiving, they always spoke with a smile. Nothing took place at home or abroad that they had no knowledge of. Secret agents kept them informed of events already accomplished, actually happening or merely contemplated. Adept at their duties, so loyal they were, that if an occasion demanded it, they would not spare even their own sons. Engaged in replenishing the royal coffers and maintaining an army, they would not harm even an enemy if he had done no wrong. Mighty and powerful they were exemplary statesmen and protectors of the realm and its people. While discharging their duties they did not cause injury to the Brahmins and Kshatriyas. Punishment was meted out only after considering the gravity of a man's offense. When those honest and illustrious men sat in judgment, there was not a single man in the kingdom who dared to bear false witness.
Ever vigilant and alert to the welfare of the king, the judicious and discerning ministers of exemplary statesmanship were of impeccable conduct.They wore fine garments and ornaments, known for their courtesy resoluteness boundless bravery and heroism, they made flawless and wise decisions, for which they were reputed, even outside the country. They always conversed kindly and pleasingly. Ever watchful through the secret agents, rewarding his subjects according to their virtues, Dasaratha, found no enemy to be his equal, much less, superior to him! Enemies were suppressed, the tributary kings were loyal, all was peaceful and Ayodhya basked in serenity. Blessed with many friends, surrounded by a host of supremely capable counselors Dasaratha, like the rising sun with its brilliant rays, ruled the earth gloriously like Indra ruled the heavens.
Dasaratha, though indomitable, sublime and fabled the world over as an embodiment of virtues, he had a lurking discontent. It was the discontent of having no progeny to carry on his dynasty. Heavy hearted and pining for sons, he questioned himself as to why he should not perform the Asvamedha yaga to beget sons. Having made up his mind, he sent for that most excellent of his ministers, Sumantra and asked him to fetch the entire spiritual preceptors and family priests. Thereupon Suyajna, Vamadeva, Jabali, Kasyapa and Vasishta along with other Brahmins arrived. Paying homage to the exalted assembly, venerable Dasaratha, addressed them with utmost grace saying "Pining for sons I am ever unhappy and restless, because I have no progeny. It is my desire now to perform the Asvamedha yaga and worship the gods. Also tell me how I can fulfill my wish".
Vasishta and the other Brahmins commended that decision and blessed him saying that his desire would soon come to pass. Their approval delighted Dasaratha, whose eyes gleamed with joy and excitement. He bade that articles required for the ritual be procured as directed by the spiritual masters and the sacrificial horse was to be released under the protection of warriors. On the left bank of the river Sarayu was to be erected the sacred pavilion in accordance with the scriptural norms. Auspicious rites were to be performed as ordained, for the uninterrupted completion of the sacrifice. He emphasized that Asvamedha was the best of yagas and if difficulties and obstacles did not arise, every king would like to accomplish it."Learned brahma rakshasas will always be on the prowl for faults in the sacrifice, so that they can strike into it and if such a thing happens, he who is conducting the sacrifice will be destroyed instantaneously!So flawless performance is imperative by strictly following the rules and taking care of every detail." The ministers assured Dasaratha that his orders would be implicitly carried out. The wise and enlightened Brahmins blessed the king for the speedy fulfillment of his desires and took leave. Dasaratha made his way to the palace when he told his dear wives of his plans. They were ecstatic and enthralled at the idea of the Asvamedha. Their beautiful faces glowed like the lotuses.
Later king Dasaratha in the privacy of his palace heard the story narrated to him by his charioteer Sumantra. An ancient story told by the holy Sanath Kumara in the presence of seers. Sumantra said that this story related to Dasaratha who now desired a progeny; "The eminent Kasyapa had a son named Vibhandaka who was ordained to have a son, the famed Rishyasringa. This lord among brahmins raised in the forest, had no other avocation except to minister to the needs of his father. He knew no life other than that of tending the sacred fire and knew no other human other than his father. He practiced the life of the two-fold celibacy honoured by the Brahmins as Vratitva and Prajapatya. Long years passed by, as he worshipped the fire god and served his venerable father andmany more passed, in his practice of Vratitiva, a way of celibate life.
At this time, Romapada ruled the kingdom of Angada. As a result of a lapse in the conduct of its king, the country was going through a spell of dreadful drought, threatening all life and its creatures. The despondent king summoned and spoke to the Brahmins, "all of you are experienced and wise to the ways of the world. Specify some penance by which I can find deliverance by absolving myself of my sins". The masters of the Vedas, then told Romapada, that he should, by some means or the other bring Rishyasringa into Angada, receive him with due honor and ceremoniously offer him, his daughter Shanta, in marriage. At that, Romapada wondered aloud as to how he could bring a man of such stupendous brilliance, a colossus among men, master of all his senses and a born celibate into the country. After much deliberation and consultation with his counselors, it was decided to dispatch the priests and ministers for the purpose of bringing Rishyasringa into the land of Romapada. This news terrified the priests and ministers, as they were mortally afraid of mighty Vibhandaka. Fearing that they may incur his wrath, they cringed at the idea and approached the king with crestfallen faces begging him to relieve them of that task. Once more the administrators got together, thought long and hard and concluded that they would achieve the purpose with the help of courtesans! The strategy succeeded. Rishyasringa arrived in Angada. Shanta was given in marriage and parjanya opened the sky to rain abundantly! Having heard and enjoyed Sumantra's narration, Dasaratha wished to know in detail, how exactly Rishyasringa was brought into the court of Romapada.
Sumanthra, in response to king Dasaratha's desire elaborated upon the event that led to the arrival of Rishyasringa in Angada. The ministers and priests informed king Romapada of the flawless strategy that they had come up with to bring that peerless Brahmin. They assured him that it posed no danger and could be successfully executed. Rishyasringa, the forest dweller and great Vedic scholar unacquainted with the pleasures of life and the pleasures of the senses, was to be lured out of the forest by gorgeous courtesans lavishly dressed, beautiful and bejewelled.
These charming persons whose sweet voices filled the forest with song, one day invaded the quiet forest glades as planned. From a distance they tried to catch a glimpse of Rishyasringa, the ascetic of celestial brilliance practicing austerities, living contentedly and following his father. Having never stepped out of the hermitage, and never seen any man or woman other than his father the tranquil spell of Rishyasringa's life, took a sudden turn, when he tumbled onto that bevy of beautiful woman, who had strayed into the forest with a purpose. Soon these women approached Rishyasringa and plied him with questions. "Brahmin! How do you survive here? Why do you roam these desolate and deserted forests?"Having never seen such loveliness, Rishyasringa felt a wave of friendship and an urge talk to them as he said. "My name is Rishyasringa and I am the son of Vibhandaka. What I do is known the world over by name and action."Rishyasringa invited the damsels to his hermitage and they agreed. On reaching the place he honored them as custom demanded and offered them water to wash their feet as also forest fruits and roots. The courtesans longed to linger but were afraid of sage Vibhandaka, and not wanting to invite his ire, decided to leave. Before they left they offered some food and sweet meat that they had brought, along with them the likes of which Rishyasringa had never set his eyes upon. It was time to go back and on the pretext that they had some religious rites to perform, the courtesans fled the place.
After the maidens left Rishyasringa became sick at heart and wandered around desolately. The next day when he came back to the place where he had met the lovely courtesans, they were delighted to see him and invited him to go back with them to their hermitage where he would be given a lavish welcome. Bewitched Rishyasringa, trapped by the charms of the human snares, allowed them to have their way and was thus lured away from the forest and from his innocence! Even as Rshyasringa set foot in Angada, parjanya sent torrents of rain on to the parched earth. Romapada went forth to receive Rishyasringa and prostrated to him for bringing rains to the country .He also asked for the favor of warding off Vibhandaka's wrath, for bringing away Rishyasringa. Shanta was given in marriage to Rishyasringa and Romapada attained great peace and happiness with his desires fulfilled.
Sumantra continued with Sanath Kumara's narration. "In the Ikshvaku dynasty, will be born a king, radiant, prosperous and devoted to truth. A man of his word and of many virtues, he will be known as Dasaratha who later will form a friendship with Romapada. The story goes on to say that the famed king Dasaratha, lord of the people, upholder of morality and truth would approach Romapada and request him to send Rishyasringa to conduct the religious sacrifice, for the invocation of progeny, so that the Ikshvaku dynasty may continue without interruption. When Romapada agreed, Dasaratha's tormented mind raced with joy. Free of all anxiety, he approached Rishyasringa, reverently with folded palms. He said that bereft of sons, he wished to perform suitable rituals to beget children and that Rishyasringa should preside over them and bless him with sons. His boons were granted. Four sons of great renown were born, bringing glory and fame to the Ikshvakus unequaled in all the three worlds. This was the story told by Sanath Kumara during the early period of Krita Yuga, who knew long back about the legend of Rishyasringa in the birth of four sons to Dasaratha.
But it still needs to take shape now. Sumantra then asked king Dasaratha to command the best of chariots and gather a resplendent retinue to honor and escort Rishyasringa back to Ayodhya.
This concludes chapters 7,8,9,10 and a part of 11 of Balakanda. We continued to learn about the able administration in Ayodhya, valor of eight ministers to the king, his discontent on not having a son, initiating Asvamedha Yaga for this purpose and the fable on the Lord of Brahmins, sage Rishyasringa who is born with the horns of a deer. Let us continue to learn more on this backdrop, leading to the moment of joy when Sri Rama, along with his three brothers were born.
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