In the last post, we came to know that Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana is prepared to go into exile. This book presents the story surrounding the exile in great detail as well as all the important events after he begins the journey away from kingdom. These details are captured in many chapters and let us navigate through them all in the same way it is being done till now. Let us continue to look at how Rama prepares for this banishment, gives away gifts, belongings to brahmins and others, arrives at his father’s place to take leave from him in the next few chapters. The great misfortune of a newlywed Rama, Sita being deported to an uninhabitable forest pierced the heart and soul of one and all. This sudden change in destiny of the Kingdom's royal prince casts a pall of gloom across the land. Let us look at the next many chapters at how the bad news has been handled by one and all.
In chapter 32, Rama bestows parting gifts to Vedic scholars and their wives. Thereafter he also accords charities to Brahmins, young scholars, servants, and others. Rama accords an unusual gift, of cows filling a space of miles and miles, to a poor Brahmin named Trijata. Then Rama is blessed for a bon voyage by all of the eminent Vedic scholars.
Beholding Lakshmana returning with Suyajna, the Brahmin, whose effulgence was like that of fire, Rama and Sita went forth to greet him. Rama gave him many gifts and also wanted the holy one to accept a thousand elephants along with the elephant named Satrumjaya, gifted to him by his uncle. He also urged that he take with him, the bracelets, rings, anklets and girdle that Sita wanted Suyajna's wife to have. Gracefully accepting them, Suyajna showered the royal couple with his blessings. Lakshmana, according to the wishes of his brother also honored the great sages Agastya and Visvamitra bestowing on them many gifts. To the priest who conducted the prayers and rituals for Kausalya, was given chariot, attendants and fine clothes. Chitraratha, Rama's charioteer merited a thousand cows and wealth in the form of jewels and gems. Forgetting none that deserved his magnanimity Rama said, "May mother Kausalya be happy by witnessing all the Brahmins thus honored."
Rama consoled his faithful attendants, whose tears he tried to check and whose desolation at his departure, he could not stem. It was then that Trijata came accompanied by his wife, who suffered along with him and their children in utter poverty. He requested Rama to have pity on him, who through all his poverty glowed like a Bhrigu or Angiras. To him, Rama gave a thousand cows. With all his wealth distributed, no Brahmin friend, servant, pauper or beggar was left, who was not loaded with affection, attention and wealth, from the great lord Rama.
In chapter 33, Rama while going to his father at Queen Kaikeyi's palace listens the people's voice of sorrow for his exile. They sadly express their heartfelt feelings. On reaching the palace, Rama bids Sumantra to inform Dasharatha about his arrival for paying respects at the time of departure.
All the wealth given away, Rama, Lakshmana and Sita set out to the palace of Dasaratha, to take leave of him. None in the city of Ayodhya were indoors, streets thronged with people who are still decked in their festive finery.Some climbed trees, terraces and seven storied buildings to catch a last glimpse of their adored prince. Rama came down the royal avenue neither crowned nor riding an elephant as he should have been, but walking barefoot. He was followed by Sita and Lakshmana without even a canopy to protect them from the heat of the sun. The desolate scene sent waves of shock and dismay, among those who looked in disbelief while gloom and anger reigned, at the unexpected turn of events. People aired their ire saying "Look at the princess so delicate and shielded until now, who even the celestials had not been able to fleetingly glance at. This embodiment of beauty and grace will soon be in the forest, where the rays of the Sun will scorch her, where rains will drench her and the unrelenting elements will rob her of her wondrous glow. "Rama who always rode splendid chariots of gold, drawn by the best of horses, accompanied by the four divisions of the army, now walks barefoot on the streets of Ayodhya. This deplorable depiction of injustice is the result of a folly committed by the king rendered witless by his evil queen. How can otherwise a son so blameless be banished? The root of the tree of humanity is Rama, and Dasaratha has severed that root without mercy." So venting their anger, the citizens of Ayodhya decided to move out of their city. "Let Lakshmana be our ideal, let us also follow Rama. May Kaikeyi rule a ghost city where abandoned homes will no longer contain wealth, where fields will be barren and where mice will run rampant. A pall of gloom will descend on the kingdom gained by Kaikeyi through her diabolic plotting. Emptied of its populace, a profound silence will reign. No Brahmin will remain, and no chants, prayers, or invocations will relieve that silence. Unkempt, unswept and inauspicious Ayodhya will fall to ruin. Let us make Rama's forest our city and this city the forest. Let vultures, beasts and serpents of the jungles, fleeing in terror from us, make Kaikeyi's capital their home."
Ayodhya wept for the misfortune that had befallen their master, but little was Rama's concern for it. He strode forth majestically and purposefully, a picture of serenity and did not stop once until he reached his father's doorstep guarded by Sumantra. Bowing to him Rama respectfully requested his arrival be made known to the king, his father.
In chapter 34, Rama comes to see his father Dasharatha and Dasharatha summons Sumantra to fetch all his wives to hither, and asks Rama to stay with him at least for a night. But Rama resolved in his vow, persuades his father to be peaceful. Dasharatha's anguish intensifies and he swoons at the departure of Rama.
Sumantra hurrying in, found the king shrouded in misery. Devastated at the thought of being separated from his son, Dasaratha's sorrow had robbed him of his brilliance, rendering him like the sun under eclipse. "My Lord", said Sumantra, "Rama is here. He wishes to bid you farewell". Dasaratha rousing himself from the depths of desolation asked Sumantra to bring all his wives so as to receive Rama. Red eyed with weeping, arrived his three hundred and fifty wives with Kausalya in their midst.
When Rama entered with palms held together in reverence followed by Lakshmana and Sita, Dasaratha rushed to embrace his son but fell unconscious even before reaching him. Lakshmana lifted him tenderly and laid him on a couch. To Dasaratha still in a daze, Rama said, "I seek your permission to leave for Dandakaranya. May you permit Sita and Lakshmana to accompany me." In a voice full of remorse Dasaratha said, "By granting boons to Kaikeyi, I have been deceived. Challenge me Rama. Usurp the throne of Ayodhya and be its ruler.” But, Rama, the very essence of dharma, convinced his father otherwise "Father for many long years, you have been the magnanimous and mighty lord of this earth. I will not render your promises false. At the end of the fourteen-year exile I will come back to pay you my obeisance".
Grieving for Rama, bound by his code of honor, constrained by Kaikeyi's demands, Dasaratha resigned himself to what was to happen. "Go in peace my son" he said, “my feeble mind cannot fight your fearless resolve. It was I who was deceived by a woman who hid her wickedness, as fire hides in the guise of ashes and it is you, who suffer the consequences of my imprudence.” Rama ever protective of his father whom he revered above all said, "Father, I renounce this kingdom, its inhabitants and its wealth. Let it be Bharata's. The promise you made on the battlefield to mother Kaikeyi must be fully honored. It does not befit a mighty Ikshvaku to grieve. A father is divine and in obeying you I obey God. Let Bharata guard the rich frontiers of this land and let your vows be implicitly fulfilled and I shall enjoy the sylvan forest where I will find happiness under the green canopies."
Rama's decision was Dasaratha's final blow. With all his defenses down, he mercifully lost consciousness and his body fell in a heap. Unable to endure his master's suffering any more Sumantra too fell unconscious and witnessing it, the entire universe wept. But away from it all stood Kaikeyi silent, unconcerned and uncaring.
In chapter 35, Minister Sumantra requests and reproaches Queen Kaikeyi and asks her to take back her impositions. But she is adamant to all holy advices and wants Rama to go to forests.
Dasaratha came out of his stupor like one emerging from dementia. His face distorted with grief, eyes red with weeping and arms flailing restlessly, he was an epitome of sorrow. Sumantra, beholding his noble master writhing in such agony, became furious. Hurling words meant to pierce Kaikeyi’s soul, he said, "Dasaratha the Lord of all beings is also your consort and you have abandoned him? Is there no crime, which you are not capable of Kaikeyi? You will destroy Dasaratha and the great Ikshvaku dynasty. Why do you torment the noble king who is invincible like Indra, steadfast as the mountains and indomitable as the ocean? It is the tradition of this race for the first-born son to ascend the throne. How can you revoke that decree? Do not hold in contempt, that magnanimous soul, who bears you, grants you boons and is consort to you. Bharata may be crowned king, but we go where Rama goes. Why does not the earth rive open, Kaikeyi, in the face of your atrocities?
"Just as the saying, 'as the seed, so the fruit', you inherit the qualities of your mother, who was born under an inauspicious sign. The world is aware, that a neem tree produces no honey. Your mother did not care if it cost her consort his life, in fulfilling her wishes, realizing which your father banished her from his kingdom. You are sinfully following the same path, which brought ruin upon your mother. In your arrogance you compel the king, who is so blameless, to commit a grave injustice. If Rama, enters the forest a terrible curse shall befall you". Neither Sumantra's pleas nor his incisive condemnations moved Kaikeyi. She did not display the slightest trace of fear, pity or remorse.
In chapter 36, Dasharatha orders to send army and treasury with Rama to forests. Kaikeyi objects to such a lavish exile and she retorts the same legend of Sagara who exiled his son, Asamanja, without riches. Minister Siddhartha still tries to persuade her. Then vexed King Dasharatha also tries to embark on the exile along with Rama.
Dasaratha reconciling himself to the situation asked Sumantra to ready the four divisions of the army laden with wealth, to escort Rama. He also wanted chariots and hunters who knew the intricacies of the intractable forest to accompany the prince. "Let all the grain and treasures in my possession be at the disposal of Rama. Come bless him." said Dasaratha. His instructions shook Kaikeyi and her voice trembled, but the arrogance in it still dominated her tone as she thundered, "Bharata will not accept a kingdom denuded of its wealth".
Her utter disregard for decorum shocked those who heard her. Shamed and disgusted, Dasartha said, "By granting you boons I have earned the infamy of exiling Rama and of crowning Bharata. What other evils do you have in store to further your cause?" This enraged Kaikeyi even more, who denouncing the entire Ikshvaku race said, "An ancestor of yours, Sagara, banished his first-born son, Asamanjasa. Rama too departs in the same way, history repeats itself, my Lord!"
Dasaratha was aghast and the people were outraged at Kaikeyi's insolence. A minister of the state, Siddhartha, stepped in to clear Kaikeyi's insinuations as he revealed what had perpetuated that exile, "Asamanjasa had amused himself by drowning children as they played on the streets of Ayodhya by mercilessly throwing them into the river Sarayu. When Sagara asked the citizens the cause for their fear they had said, that the deranged mind of Asamanjasa had exulted in the death of their children. That struck terror in them. A just and noble ruler Sagara assured his subjects to rid them of their suffering, by banishing the guilty prince. What wrong has Rama committed, to warrant his banishment? If you know of a vice that vilifies Rama speak now Kaikeyi and he too shall face the same justice. Stop trying to mar his purity, rather seek your own redemption from universal condemnation."
Dasaratha in a voice that sounded dispirited and almost extinguishing said "Bogged down in evil if you still disregard counsel of my minister, you will bring upon you, your own destruction. Your deplorable conduct is divorced from all the righteousness. Rule Ayodhya, as you will, along with Bharata. As for me, abandoning my kingdom, my comforts and my wealth, I shall follow Rama."
This concludes chapters 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen the plot taking its full course and slowly rendering Rama into exile. The entire universe wept as the saga unfolds turning a most noble man to coronate as a king into an unassuming forest dweller. Dasaratha was the epitome of this misery and as can be seen he become feeble, lay unconscious several times due to the overpowering sorrow. Let us see further at how the world reacts to the departure in subsequent posts.
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