In the last post we had seen Bharata finally giving in to Rama’s stand that he should remain in aranya and Bharata should preside over Ayodhya. All possible persuasions didn’t stand ground in the most accurate position took by Rama. Finally, Bharata accepts to rule the kingdom and asks for the sandals of Rama as a token of his presence, carries them on his head and returns. This is a symbol of renunciation from Bharata who decides to rule on behalf of Rama and also gives away all royal luxuries. This is also a symbol of respect, admiration for the noble soul as his presence elicits acts of virtue, righteousness and dharma. Thus, Bharata travels back to capital with renewed energy to rule in His absence and the next few chapters will also tell us about Rama’s journey from here. This post shall also mark the end of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen everything happening in the kingdom which will be followed by the next phase in the journey of Rama in deep forests. Let us see the last few chapters unfolding in the second book.
In chapter 114, Bharata enters Ayodhya city, which appears to him gloomy and asks his charioteer why the city is looking luster-less. Thus speaking in many ways, Bharata enters his father's house which exhibits a vacant look and feels distressed.
In that city of Ayodhya, which had grown dark and gloomy only bats seemed to fly in freedom and no elephants roamed, no chariots thundered down its streets. The sharp rays of the sun had deprived the rivers and lakes of much of their waters. The city of the Ikshvaku's which had once competed with the Amaravathi of Indra was now desolate. Like the golden flames of a sacrificial fire momentarily lose their brilliance so too had Ayodhya.
Silent like a waveless sea, Ayodhya lay drab and dim like a meteor spent. The scent of flowers, sandalwood and the burning of incense no longer pervaded the air. Bereft of any kind of ornament, Ayodhya was reminiscent of a body neglected and ravaged by grief. Passing through this somber silence, Bharata asked Sumantra, "Where is the fragrance of unguents and flowers that had filled the very air of the city Sumantra? Where are the clangorous noises of racing chariots, drumming hooves and trumpeting elephants? The youth no longer wear their finery and revel. The absence of Rama's presence has robbed Ayodhya of its entire splendor and gaiety. His welcome from exile will cause a glorious celebration by the ecstatic populace of Ayodhya. He will be welcomed like the rain bearing clouds on a hot summer day." Bharata entered the palace, which reminded him of the empty den of a lion.
In chapter 115, after returning to Ayodhya, Bharata expresses his desire to proceed to Nandigrama village. Vasishta and the other elders agree to his proposal. Bharata along with Shatrughna ascend the chariot and proceed towards Nandigram. The ministers, family-priest, the army and the citizens of Ayodhya followed Bharata in his journey. Installing the wooden sandals of Rama on the royal throne, Bharata puts on the garb of an ascetic and carries on the rule under orders of the sandals, holding the royal canopy over them.
Bharata installed the queens in the palace and informed his Gurus that he would live in Nandigrama. "There shall I deal with the grief of Rama's exile that ever haunts me. I shall await his return." Vasishta praised Bharata for his veneration of Rama, his love for his kinsmen and his adherence to dharma. Bharata then took leave of the queens, his Gurus and ministers and rode away in his chariot accompanied by Satrughna preceeded by Vasishta and the Brahmins. As they traveled towards the east, without invitation, even the inhabitants and armies of Ayodhya followed him to Nandigrama.
Bharata installed Rama's sandals ceremoniously on the throne of Kosala and coronated them as he would the person of Rama. "As custodian of the kingdom I shall protect and safeguard it and I will serve him with the same veneration as I would serve Dasaratha."True to his word, Bharata lived the life of an ascetic. Robed in bark, with his hair matted, he lived humbly and ate frugally. Bharata ruled Kosala from Nandigrama with his ministers and counselors. All authority and power rested with the sandals, symbol of Rama's rule. Any event small or big had to be graced by them and any article of value gifted or brought, was to be first presented to the throne. Rama's royal presence was felt at all times.
In chapter 116, Rama notices anxiety and perturbation among the sages who live in the vicinity. When an elderly sage among them is asked by Rama about the reason for their anguish, the said sage informs that some demons under the leadership of Khara are molesting the sages and hence the sages wished to leave the place. Rama gives his consent for their leaving. Bidding farewell to them with great respect, Rama retires to his own hermitage.
In the meantime, at Chirtrakuta, as Rama prepared for his departure to Dandakaranya he noticed that the sages too were preparing to leave their hermitage. They kept looking at Rama, their faces full of animation as they talked in low tones among themselves. Beholding their restlessness, Rama reverentially asked their leader "Have I transgressed in anyway? Why do these holy men want to leave? Has Lakshmana harmed them at any time? Has Sita, engrossed in my service, ever overlooked anything to cause you displeasure?"
The chief of the ascetics said, "How can Sita, the most virtuous among the women of this world, ever steeped in dharma, commit a sacrilege especially against the sages? Your presence here endangers these men and they are discussing their peril. In this forest lives Khara, the Rakshasa brother of Ravana who destroys all that comes his way. His brutal strength renders him victorious in all his ventures and he feasts on the flesh of men whom he ruthlessly massacres. Many are the marauders who descend on the hermitages repeatedly with their abominable forms, which are unseen and unheard of on this earth. When these wretches with twisted limbs and blood-shot eyes go on rampage they leave behind the dead, the mutilated, and the tortured. They disrupt sacrifices and create fear in this region infested by them; their carnage is beyond human endurance. We are moving back to our lush and peaceful hermitage, which we had inhabited earlier. Though you are mighty and invincible, life here will always be imperiled. Come travel with us."
Rama tried to persuade the sages to stay back but in vain. The hermits embarked on their journey and Rama walked with them for a while, before bidding them farewell. He remained for some more time at Chutrakuta before moving away.
In chapter 117, Rama, after due reflection, decides to leave Chitrakuta mountain because of many handicaps. Setting out his journey from Chitrakuta mountain, he reaches the hermitage of Sage Atri and offers his salutation to him. Introducing his wife Anansuya as a great female ascetic to Rama, Atri urges Rama to send his concert Seetha to Anasuya. Anasuya receives Seetha, who greeted her and gives her instructions on the role and responsibilities of a devoted wife.
Sometime after the exodus of the sages, Rama too moved away from Chitrakuta as memories of Bharata's visit of the places where he had seen his mother and met with his people kept coming back to him. Their journey soon brought them to the Ashram of sage Atri who, along with his wife Anasuya, gave them a warm and fatherly welcome. He told them that for a period of ten years, while the world went through a great famine,Anasuya had not only kept producing roots and fruit but had also kept the Ganga flowing. A lady of relentless discipline, she had spent ten thousand years in penance. "Anasuya who is steeped in dharma and endowed with many a virtue is like a mother to you, pay her obeisance," said Atri. Sita did so, to that sagacious lady, devoid of anger and jealousy, who was true to her name and worshipped the world over.
Anasuya, old, wrinkled and fragile, looked at Sita with great affection and said, "Sita, you are so fortunate and your duty to dharma is commendable. Leaving behind your parents, relatives and position, you follow Rama during his years of exile. Those noble women, who love and serve their husbands regardless of their being sinful or righteous, will ascend to the land of gods. There is no kinsman closer than a husband but women without character disregard these norms and fall prey to their passions. Abandoning dharma, they become women of ill repute. Walk the path of dharma with your Lord."
In chapter 118, Seetha agrees to the instructions given by Anasuya on the duties of a devoted wife. At the end of the conversation with Seetha, Anasuya requests her to ask for a boon, and highly pleased with her, Anasuya bestows heavenly flowers and ornaments on her. Anasuya then requests Seetha to relate to her the story of her marriage with Rama. Then Seetha relates that story to Anasuya in detail.
Sita agreed with Anasuya, that the husband was indeed a god to his wife. "Regardless of the virtues or lack of them in my husband I was prepared to serve him. How much more should be my love and veneration for him who is another name for truth and compassion. He roams this world with all his senses under subjugation and is an embodiment of dharma. Rama's affection for me competes with that of my mother and father. He treats all the queens with equal love and every woman is treated like a mother. Your advice is what my mother and mother-in-law too had offered me. Savitri attained the land of the celestials by tirelessly serving her husband and so will you, by your unfailing service to sage Atri. Just as Rohini is never seen without the moon, so are you ever in the presence of your revered master. You are a noble and worshipful mother," said Sita.
Pleased with Sita's sweet words Anasuya said, "My Tapas empowers me to bestow boons. What wish of yours should I gratify?" Amazed at the tenderness with which she was handled, Sita gently murmured that Anasuya's loving words would more than suffice and that she had no other wish. The humility with which Sita conducted herself endeared her even more to Anasuya, who tended her with a mother's love. She gave Sita a divine garland, fine clothes and exquisite jewelry. "Here are the priceless unguents that will lend your body an eternal luster, the glow of which will enhance your brilliance and will render Rama's effulgence like that of Visnu in the graceful presence of Goddess Lakshmi."
At the request of Anasuya, Sita narrated the story of her marriage to Rama. "Janaka the king of Mithila who ruled his kingdom righteously was a noble king. One day in the furrows of his field that he tilled, he found me. Born of the earth I was named Sita and came to be his cherished daughter. My father grieved like him who had lost all his wealth when the time came for me to be given away in marriage. He pondered long and deep, but could not think of one who would befit me as my consort. It was then that the idea of a Swayamvar occurred to him. In the palace of Mithila rested the mighty bow of Siva. Immovable like a mountain and incomparable in weight, it was beyond human strength. No man could even dream of moving it and no king was considered capable of bending it. Janaka invited kings, monarchs and emperors of many lands to Mithila proclaiming that he who bent and strung the bow of Siva would be given Sita his daughter, princess of Mithila.
Most kings deeming it an impossible task, awe-struck at its magnificence and power, bowed to it with reverence and left without even touching it. Some tried in vain. Then came Rama accompanied by Viswamitra. The formidable bow was brought into his presence. The weight of the bow was no match for the might of Rama who bent it, strung it and broke it. The fearful noise that emanated was thunderous and shook the very world even as mountains shuddered and trees trembled.
My father offered my hand in marriage to Rama as promised. Rama waited for the consent of his father Dasaratha after which was consecrated my marriage to the most divine Rama, a god incarnate. Urmila, my sister was given in marriage to Lakshmana. Foremost among the valorous is Rama and I am his wife. We are here as my lord lost the throne of Kosala to Kaikeyi's mandate." Anasuya heard the story as words of joy and sorrow fell softly from Sita's lips.
In chapter 119, as the evening twilight approaches, Anasuya sends Seetha to Rama's presence. Seetha approaches Rama and shows him the apparel, jewels and garlands gifted by Anasuya and duly adorned by her, Rama spends the night there along with Seetha, Lakshmana. At the onset of dawn, they take leave of the ascetics and advance further into the great forest in the route suggested by the ascetics.
At the end of the narration, Sita found herself in Anasuya's warm embrace, who kissed her tenderly and said "Sita, your story narrated so gracefully and sweetly gladdens my heart. The mantle of darkness has descended upon the earth, birds have reached their nests and sages, their clothes dripping wet with their evening ablutions, return home. The marauders of the night prowl and deer sleep. Go to Rama, adorn yourself with the silks and jewels, so that I can feast my eyes on you". Sita, robed in all finery and bejeweled, looked like a goddess.
Happy at all the attention and affection showered on Sita, Rama spent that night in the sacred hermitage of sage Atri. On the morrow, their ritual worship done, they bade farewell to the holy men, who warned them of Rakshasas that infested the forests. "Beware of man eating demons and blood drinking beasts who, with their hideous forms, terrorize all and any that cross their path. Travel the way frequented by the Rishis". Blessed and honored by the Rishis, Rama entered the Dandakaranya.
This concludes the chapters 114, 115, 116, 117, 118 and 119 of Ayodhya Kanda where we had seen Bharata returning to the desolate capital and ruling Kosala from Nandigrama by installing Rama’s sandals on the throne, living the life of an ascetic. After staying for some time, Rama travels further from Chitrakuta and reaches the place of sage Atri, his elderly wife Anasuya. Anasuya, who is a symbol of love, severe penance and bereft of any jealousy is an ideal wife and woman. She converses with another virtuous women of same rank, Sita regarding duties of a wife and hears the story of Rama’s marriage to her. She blesses Sita and presents her with many gifts after getting greatly impressed by her. Rama bids farewell to Atri and travels further to the deeper forests or dandakaranya where the second book or Ayodhya Kanda ends. The third book or Aranya Kanda about the forest dwelling of Rama begins now which takes us to the next part of the story.
The second book of Ayodhya Kanda gives us many valuable words and the path of dharma as taken, upheld by Rama. It reminds us of this dharma which we should follow in our own lives at all times. It portrays the duties of a good son, a brother, a wife, a father, a king through the story imbibed in the many chapters. Reading this kanda will fulfill all our desires and make us follow the righteous path even when there are hardships in it. With that, let us recollect the great path shown by Rama in this second book of Ayodhya Kanda and move onto the next book – Aranya Kanda from next post.
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