In the last post, we had seen Rama ruling over for many years, discharging the duties in the most noble ways a king can rule after the departure of Sita. In due time, the elderly queens also passes away. Rama’s mother Kausalya, now advanced in years, peacefully departs this world. Soon after, Sumitra, mother of Lakshmana and Shatrughna and Kaikeyi, mother of Bharata who had both performed many acts of devotion and penance, also left their mortal bodies, joining Kausalya and Dasaratha in heaven. Thus ends the life of parents of Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughna; the four brothers of the epic and the queens of father Dasaratha. It can be noted King Dasaratha passes away due to heartbreak upon learning about Rama’s 14-year exile. The grief of sending his beloved son away—especially under the pressure of Kaikeyi’s demands—proves too much for him to bear. Rama since then lives with Kausalya, his mother until old age claims her as well. Though we don’t see much narrated in between Rama and Kausalya, there is an episode in Ayodhya Kanda we can remember. We can observe she is the silent force behind the making of the most noble character of ages. No one can be as ecstatic as mother Kausalya at overlooking Rama but there is a phase of sorrow as well during his exile.
One of the most poignant and beautiful moments between Rama and his mother Kaushalya unfolds just before Rama departs for his 14-year exile. When Rama learns of his banishment, he goes to Kaushalya’s chamber to inform her. She is unaware of the decision and initially believes he has come to share news of his coronation. But when Rama gently tells her about the exile, Kaushalya is devastated. She faints from grief, and upon recovering, she weeps bitterly. Yet, Rama remains calm, composed, and tender, without moving with the emotions of his mother. We already seen Dasaratha is crest fallen at learning about this as any parent would when a new married elderly son needs to rule over the inherited kingdom and not go on exile. The same happens to Kausalya as well but she regains her consciousness and composure. Despite her sorrow, Kaushalya embraces Rama with immense love and pride. She blesses him, places her hand on his head, and says: “May the forest be as kind to you as the palace has been. May the trees shade you like my arms once did.” Rama bows deeply, touches her feet, and says: “Mother, your blessings are my armor. Wherever I go, your love walks with me.” She then adorns him with simple ornaments and gives him food for the journey—not as a queen, but as a mother preparing her child for a long road ahead.
Kausalya was not just a queen—she was the embodiment of maternal virtue. She was the calm and silent voice in the epic, shaping the man Rama is becoming. Her gentle nature and spiritual depth shaped Rama’s character from childhood. She instilled in him the values of humility, service, and righteousness. Her love was not possessive; it was liberating. She raised him not to rule, but to serve. Even in exile, Rama carried the emotional imprint of his mother’s love. It gave him resilience in the forest, compassion in battle, and wisdom in leadership. Her love was his invisible armor—never loud, but always present. Rama’s success wasn’t just in defeating Ravana or reclaiming Ayodhya—it was in remaining true to his values through every trial. Kausalya’s quiet strength nurtured that constancy. As the prayer goes, he is Kausalya Sukha Vardhana Rama—“Rama, who increases the joy of Kausalya.” It’s a poetic acknowledgment that her happiness is not just in his achievements, but in the kind of person he becomes: noble, selfless, and beloved by all. As the Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar beautifully said: “A mother feels more ecstatic to hear her son being praised than when the son was born.” Kausalya lives this truth. Her joy is spiritual, transcending worldly pride. She rejoices not just in Rama’s success, but in his unwavering character through trials and triumphs. Kausalya Supraja Rama Purva Sandhya Pravartate – this is the opening line of the famous Sri Venkateswara Suprabhatham recited everyday at dawn across households in India which begins with the memory and name of queen Kausalya. This means - “O Rama, noble son of Kausalya, the early dawn is breaking. Arise, O tiger among men, it is time to perform your divine duties.” This was spoken by Rishi Vishwamitra in the Bala Kanda of the Ramayana which became a holy, popular hymn to this day and it beautifully highlights the reverence for Kausalya, Rama’s mother. This silent mother of Rama who is an important figure behind the becoming of Rama now calmy reunites with Dasaratha along with other two queens.
Coming back to the last post, during Rama’s prosperous reign, the sage Gargya, son of Angiras, arrived in Ayodhya bearing rich gifts and a message from King Yudhajita of Kaikeya, Rama’s maternal uncle. Yudhajita requested Rama’s aid in conquering a fertile Gandharva land along the Sindhu River, abundant and beautiful but held by valiant warriors. Honoring the request, Rama appointed his brother Bharata to lead the campaign, with his sons Taksha and Pushkala under him, and the sage Gargya accompanying them. At an auspicious hour, Bharata departed with a vast and radiant army—composed of men, celestial beings, and creatures of the wild—whose grandeur rivaled the splendor of the gods. Marching with perfect discipline and morale, the army journeyed for a month and a half before reaching Kaikeya, where Bharata prepared to fulfill Rama’s command: to conquer the Gandharvas and establish Taksha and Pushkala as rulers, extending the glory of the Raghu dynasty to the Sindhu’s banks.
In chapter 101, the slaying of Gandharvas and the conquest of their country can be seen.
During the reign of Rama, a great military campaign unfolded that extended the glory of the Ikshvaku and Raghu dynasties into the northwestern regions of Bharatavarsha. Having received Rama’s command, Bharata, accompanied by his two valiant sons, Taksha and Pushkala, and guided by the sage Gargya, journeyed from Ayodhya with a vast and splendid army to assist his maternal uncle, King Yudhajita of Kaikeya. Their purpose was to conquer the fertile and prosperous land of the Gandharvas, a celestial race of warriors who occupied the region along the Sindhu River — a territory famed for its beauty, abundance, and wealth.
When Yudhajita learned that Bharata had arrived with his mighty forces and the venerable Rishi Gargya, he was overjoyed. Without delay, he mustered his own armies and joined Bharata, marching with great enthusiasm and confidence toward the Gandharva dominion. The combined might of the Kaikeyas and the forces of Ayodhya created a vast sea of warriors, bristling with weapons and shining with banners. Their disciplined advance struck awe into the hearts of all who witnessed it.
Upon hearing of the approaching invasion, the Gandharvas, proud and valiant, assembled swiftly for battle. Their warriors, gleaming like stars in celestial armor, filled the air with shouts of defiance and war cries that echoed through the plains of the Sindhu. Both sides, eager and unyielding, clashed in a fierce and cataclysmic battle that raged for seven days.
The combat was of unimaginable ferocity — the earth trembled under the charge of elephants and chariots, the skies darkened with arrows, and rivers of blood flowed across the fields like crimson torrents. The slain warriors floated like fallen leaves upon the flood, and the battlefield itself became a dreadful ocean of destruction. Swords and spears gleamed like lightning, while broken chariots, mangled elephants, and the cries of the dying filled the air.
For seven days neither side could claim victory; the valor of the Gandharvas matched the might of the sons of Ayodhya. But on the eighth day, Bharata, the righteous and resolute younger brother of Rama, was seized with divine wrath. His heart ablaze with purpose, he invoked the mighty celestial weapon known as Samvarta Astra — the weapon of dissolution, by which Time itself destroys the worlds. Empowered by sacred mantras, Bharata released it upon the Gandharvas. In an instant, the heavens blazed, the earth shook, and destruction swept through the ranks of the Gandharvas like a storm of annihilation.
Three hundred thousand Gandharvas were slain in a single moment, their ranks consumed by the weapon’s radiance. The gods themselves, gazing from the celestial regions, marveled in awe and terror, for such devastation had not been witnessed since the dawn of ages. When the fury subsided, silence fell upon the field — the Gandharva army was utterly destroyed, and victory belonged to Bharata and the Kaikeyas.
Thereafter, Bharata entered the two principal cities of the conquered land, rich with treasure and adorned with palaces, gardens, and temples. There he established his sons as rulers: Taksha in Takshashila and Pushkala in Pushkalavati. These cities, splendid and prosperous, became jewels of the northern realm, filled with noble citizens, flourishing trade, and the beauty of nature. They were adorned with groves of Tala, Tamala, Tilaka, and Bakula trees, and resounded with the bustle of markets, chariots, and festivals.
For five years, Bharata remained in Gandhara, ensuring order and prosperity, nurturing his sons’ kingdoms, and honoring the bond between Ayodhya and Kaikeya. When his mission was complete, he returned to Ayodhya and presented himself before Rama. With humility, he bowed to his brother — the embodiment of Dharma — as Indra bows to Brahma. Rama listened with deep satisfaction as Bharata recounted the victory, the annihilation of the Gandharvas, and the establishment of the two radiant cities. Thus ended a glorious chapter of expansion, valor, and fulfillment under Rama’s reign — a testament to the might and righteousness of the sons of Kaikeyi and the enduring greatness of the House of Raghu.
This concludes chapter 101 of Uttara Kanda where we had seen Bharata and his two sons along with legions of Rama’s army conquered Gandharvas and their kingdom. The war lasted for eight days where on the last day, Bharata unleashed the celestial weapon Samvarta Astra to wipe out Gandharvas. Thereafter, he established his two sons as rulers in two principal cities and remained in Gandhara for five years. This also concludes the chapter of expansion, valor under Rama’s reign. We can see Rama bestowing kingdom to Lakshmana’s sons as well and death coming to seek out Rama in subsequent chapters.
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