Ayodhyakand - 1999

BY
Ms. Jayshree Vaitheeswaran
Mr. Suresh


The "Ayodhya Kanda" which I will be talking about is a very important chapter as its the turning point or the knot of the Ramayana Epic.

Everything is going fine. All four sons are very well educated, thanks to the two great rishis. Dasaratha, having a great feeling of pride and happiness in seeing that all his four sons are like four arms and he was more happy because all these children were born to him when he was no longer young. Among all the four sons the eldest son Rama was his favorite.

Rama, the great Rama, Oh! Can we describe his qualities in words, and that too within this ten minutes. Ramachandra moorthi - Aajanu Baahum, Aravinda dalayata aksham…long and beautiful arms, handsome, very pleasing, with the face of the charming moon. " Raakaa chandra samanana Ram" Sri Rama has learnt from their Kula Guru Vashishta and Viswamitra all the arts like archery, using weapons etc., In addition, they taught him all the Vedas and Dharmas. Not only that…Both the Brahma Rishis taught him the Brahma Vidya - so Sri Ramachandra moorthi is a realized person - a Brahma vith. He is the one who talks the first - Talk softly - With a pleasing voice and having never felt the pride of a successful warrior - would never tell a lie- Help any one who is in need - never felt jealous - never selfish. Spend his time with learned people and wise elders . Plays Veena - "Akanitha gunaghana bhooshitha Ram" IN SHORT - A PERSON OF ALL GOOD QUALITIES AND ONLY GOOD OF EVERYTHING… A character who is welcomed everywhere.

King Dasaratha, who knows all these qualities (kalyana guna ganangal) thought that Sri Rama is the best fit to rule the kingdom which was unanimously decided by all his fellow country men and wise men. Dasaratha thought about an auspicious day, and the very next day was Pushya. He calls Rama & tells him,” Bharata is away to KaiKeya and this is the right time for your coronation. I know he loves you & is dedicated to you but

"Even the minds of those who follow no other path but that of Dharma, who have been taught all the rules of conduct; even they, I say, are very rarely happy at the sight of the good fortune which has befallen to others. The mind of the man is unsteady and so I have decided to hold the coronation tomorrow".

Rama spoke no words, but, stood still. He prostrated once again to his father and left the court. All are happy and there are joys in every ones heart in Ayodya… Every ONE … No! Except ONE.. and that is the maid Manthara. Being a truthful servant of Kaikeyie She says that only Kaikeye 's son Bharatha is to be crowned as yuvaraja and to keep complications away Rama has to be exiled to forest. She poisons the mind of Kaikeye & Kaikeye acts exactly as told by manthara.

Kaikeyee reminded Dasaratha of the two boons - which she has earned for doing the service to Dasaratha - when he fought against Sambara asura - on the request of Indra.

Dasaratha becomes helpless and bounded by his promise. Rama, who does "pithurvakya paripalana says" I have made up my mind to obey my father, since, to me, it is the ultimate Dharma".

Unperturbed as he always by pleasure or pain, happiness or sorrow, by the sway of the opposites, Rama stood calm. There was not even a trace of disappointment or anger in his face. Infact, Kambar in his Ramayana describe the face of sri Rama as "andralanrnda Thamraiyai Vendrathamma", meaning that Sri Rama's face was beautiful, much beautiful than a fresh lotus flower which was blossomed on that day.

It was decided after great debate, Lakshmana and Sita devi would accompany him to the forest. It was Sita who convinced Rama that she should accompany him. "A Pativratha, if she is separated from her husband, is not fit to be alive".

In the case of Lakshmana Mentally Rama had already decided to take Lakshmana with him as both of them were inseperable from childhood.

In this important Kanda, we learn many things.

Firstly the picture of a perfect person

Sri Rama, having born as a human being, has lived an example life by demonstrating the way to live - as it was mentioned in Sri Bagwad Gita, where God says " that " Naran" who treats the honor and dishonour, cold and heat, pleasure and pain and who is free from attachments, is very dearer to me" (tulya ninda stutor mouni, santhushto yena kena chit!! Aniketha Siramathi Bhaktimanyo Prio Naraha!!).
In the present world we only come across JACK OF ALL TRADES BUT …,

Secondly moha is the cause of all grief

King Dasaratha, loved his youngest queen Kaikeyee, until the time she was doing things which were pleasing to him. But, once she mentioned something against him, then, he started hating her totally. This mind of Dasaratha reflects that even though he has learnt Dharma and others, he is not able to practice, when it comes to his own actions. Love - Too much love on everything-causes great grief --. (Aasaithaan Azivirku Kaaranam.....?)

Thirdly about Prarabhda.

Prarabdha meaning - the fruits of the actions of the past. King Dasratha had a curse that he has to suffer the separation of his son, since, he by mistake killed the one & only son of an aged and disabled parents. So, it is evident that the past actions will have some effect in the current birth, and one must have to undergo the results of the past actions.

Fourthly the lesson from Sumithra , Lakshmana's mother.

Sumithra blesses Lakshmana and asks him to always serve his elder brother. This reminds us of the ancient rule: Serving those who are elders is the surest path to heaven.

Fifthly the lesson of Universal brotherhood and acceptability of individual human

Rama always considered all his four brothers to be equal. He had a very broad minded outlook that gained him very good friends. No. More than friends.. Good brothers… When he met Guhan who helps him crossing the Ganga river Kambar mentions that "Guganodu Aivaranoom" meaning, with the introduction of Guha, the four brothers became five brothers. This is a good example of how successful a person can become if he accepts his brothers and united they be, unlike Mahabaratha where king Duriodana loses all his brothers since he fought against his own cousin brothers.

Finally we learn that never a person should never act against his or her true nature.

If only Kaikeye never got influenced by the wrong preaching of manthara, if she had acted as per her inner self she would have never become a sinner.

I end my speech here and suresh will tell us about the other chapters of Ayodhya kanta.

Sri Rama Jayam

Mr.Suresh

Rama is extremely grieved at the calamities that have struck in short period of time. “I feel that Kama is more powerful than Dharma, Artha and Moksha. Otherwise how could the king have banished me to the forest. Rama expresses fear that the king who has sacrificed his Dharma and Artha because of his Kama may leave them soon. Rama expresses that it may be due to the karma of Kausalya in her previous births that she is suffering separation from his son at her old age. Rama was shedding tears at the thought of his father and mother and the happenings in Ayodhya. He also suggests Lakshmana that he should return back to Ayodhya and take care of the mothers and the king from any more evil that may be caused by kaikeyi. Lakshmana declares that he cannot live without Rama for a single amount and says he doesn’t even wish that heaven which doesn’t have Rama there. Rama is pleased and he says that Lakshmana I need you by my side in the same way as you need me. Thus they spend the night.

In the morning they continue their journey into the Dandaka Forest and reach the Ashrama of sage Bharadwaja. Sage Bharadwaja is able to recognise with his inner eye who Rama actually is. Rama briefly narrates to the sage about the incidents that had happened and the need for his Vanavasa. The sage is pleased with Rama’s visit. He offers to Rama to spend his Vanavasa in the Sages Ashrama itself. Rama humbly denies stating that since the Ashrama is very near to the city lot of people from the city may come to see them which would disturb the serenity and peace of the Ashrama. Bharadwaja realises this and directs Rama to a hill called Chitrakuta to spend his Vanavasa.

Rama starts on his trip to Chitrakuta. The forest is extremely beautiful with variety of flowers, the fragrances generated by them, pleasant sounds from the running of the river and the noises made by various birds and animals. They reach Chitrakuta and Rama locates a place in the hill for them to build their hermitage. Lakshmana builds a beautiful hut for them and Rama performs the Vastu Shanti rites for entering into a new house by offering the flesh of deer to the god of Fire. The place had abundant food, the river Malyavati was flowing near their Ashrama the natural beauty wad heart rending and they were enjoying their time in the forest not even a trace of sorrow in them of sacrificing the pleasures in the city. Such was the beauty of Chitrakuta.

Sumantra returns back to Ayodhya to see the city in a sorrow struck state. He rushes to see the King who is waiting for Sumantra to return. Sumantra explains to the King in detail about the incidents till he left Rama. Dasarata faints in between and asks Sumantra various questions about How Rama walked on the hard ground , What did he tell me before he left and a series of questions. He asks to Sumantra to talk about Rama which could only bring a semblance of peace to him. The King is broken and his queen Kausalya tries to console him. There is no enemy worse than sorrow since it has the power to completely destroy all the good qualities in a man. When your enemies hurt you can show your valour by fighting back with them. But when the gods will that certain events should take place one cannot alter the course of fate. Saying thus Kausalya tries to console the King.

The king now tells the queen of an incident where by he unknowingly killed an young ascetic boy whose parents were blind. Then the parents curse the king that his death would come as a result of separation from his son. That night Dasaratha dies in his sleep. The king lived for five nights after Rama left and when he learnt that Rama would now return only after a long span of fourteen years his heart cracked and unknowingly he died.

The ministers and the Guru Vasishta decide upon the next course of action, which is to bring Bharata and Shatrughna from their vacation to their Grandfather’s home in the country Kekaya. Vashishta advises the messengers that they should not utter anything regarding the happenings in the country, since the death of the King was not officially declared then. Hence they go along with the routine gifts that are take to greet a king by another. The messengers go and submit to Bharata about the summon from the Guru Vashishta. Bharata who is scared of the bad dreams that he had , enquires about the welfare of each and every one of his kins in Ayodhya to which the messengers tactfully answer without disclosing anything. Bharata starts to Ayodhya and is deeply concerned of the bad omens that he comes across during his trip.

As soon as he reaches Ayodhya he runs to the Kings palace to meet his father. The king is absent in his palace. He immediately thinks that the king must be in the palace of Kaikeyi. Such was the love the king had for Kaikeyi. Without a second thought he rushes to Kaikeyis palace. He is even more concerned there by noticing his mothers palace which is without its usual decorations. He enquires his mother about the whereabouts of his father. Kaikeyi declares to Bharata that the king has attained that state which all living beings should attain one day. Bharata is shocked by the suddenness with which it was told and he recovers after a while and starts grieving about his misfortune to have missed his father during his end. He says Rama is the most fortunate one who must have stayed near the king at the time of his death. Now he asks what did my father spoke before he died what was he thinking. Kaiakeyi replies that the king spoke three names Rama Lakshmana and Sita. He uttered only one sentence. Fortunate will be the people who will see Rama that Handsome son of mine with Sita and Lakshmana returning to Ayodhya. Bharata is surprised to see that Rama was not there when the king died. Also he feels strange about the absence of Sita even if Lakshmana had gone along with Rama. He is asking Kaikeyi about this, when Kaikeyi without realising the misfortune that had fallen on her explains to him in detail about what happened in his absence that lead to the death of the King.

Bharata is not able to grasp the what Kaikeyi had told him. He is not able to withstand the shock and faints. It is said here that the Nature which is ever kind allowed him a respite of few moments by letting him faint. When he recovers he is so angry and the hatred he has towards Kaikeyi is explained by the way he addresses her. He addresses her as woman instead of calling her mother. I will willingly kill you myself and the reason why I am not doing it is because then Rama will not look at me and would attribute to me the sin of killing ones mother. He asks Kaikeyi what wrong did I do to you for you to have brought such an infamy to you. How could you do this to Rama who loved you so much Mother Kausalya was treating you as her loving sister. How could you do this to her. How could you think even for a moment that I would accept the kingdom, with my father dead and brother banished to forest did you think I would dare to sit on the throne that was graced by my father. I would rather die than contemplate such s sinful act. Your father is such a noble man. Flawless is your ancestry ? How could such a daughter be born to that Great man. I will this very moment go to the forest and bring back my beloved brother and make him the king and serve him for my rest of the life.

Bharata then goes to see the ministers and the queens explains and pleads them of his innocence. He declares to them his intentions of going into the forest to bring back Rama and asks the necessary arrangements to be made. He performs the last rites for his father and he broke down while performing the rituals. Guru Vasishta now explains to Bharata about the nature of this life. Three pairs visit every man they are hunger and thirst, sorrow and delusion, birth and death. A man cannot escape unless he realises that these are transient and inevitable. If a man is prepared for them and tackle them properly then they will fail to take firm hold of his power of thinking. Man should realise that the world is characteristic of these and similar opposites and life is an eternal warfare between these and intelligence which should be prepared to subdue whenever they threaten to gain ascendancy. A man who is born has to die and that is the law of nature. It is true that the king died under tragic circumstances but no one can alter the course of fate. Then Bharata performs the last rites for the father.

Bharata and Shatrughna come across Manthra and she is pointed out to the princes as the root cause of all the calamities. Shatrughna decides to treat her royally. However Bharata intervenes and saves Mantara by saying that we should what Rama would have done now.

Now all the ministers gather and they explain to Bharata the dangers for a kingdom without the King and since Bharata is the heir apparent now he has to take up the kingdom. Bharata firmly refuses I do not approve of this sinful act of my mother and states his decision to go into the forest and try to bring Rama if possible otherwise I will replace Rama in the forest instead and Rama will comeback to rule the country. Vashishta admires his young pupil who seemed as great as if not greater than Rama in adhering to Dharma.

Bharata with all his mothers and the entire army proceed to the forest. They meet Guha on the Way. Guha is concerned about the intentions of Bharata only to know the greatness of Bharata and helps him to cross the river Ganges. Bharata now reaches the Ashrama of Bharadwaja. The sage is delighted by the Dharma these noble men are following. He the directs Bharata to Chitrakuta as he did for Rama.

Rama and his team is having a pleasant stay in Chitrakuta. Suddenly they are amused by the panic created among the animals and the shock felt in the ground. Rama thinks that some prince is coming into the forest for hunting. He asks Lakshmana to find out what is happening. Lakshmana is angry at seeing the army that is coming under the flag of Ayodhya. He thinks that Bharata is coming to destroy them. Hearing this Rama becomes extremely happy and explains Lakshmana about the greatness of Bharata.

Bharata finally reaches the residence of Rama in Chitrakuta. He is not able to express his feelings and falls in the feet of Rama. Rama is also taken aback by the sight of Bharata dressed in treebark with matted hair and had grown thin beyond recognition. Bharata tells Rama about the happenings after he left. Rama is sorrow struck knowing the death of Dasaratha. Rama performs the final rituals for the deceased king.

Bharata appeals to Rama to come back to the country. You have always granted the wishes of every one. It is up to you keep up your reputation. Rama says fathers have every right to command their sons to act according to their wish and this applies to their wives also. Bharatha now recasts his words and ofofers the kingdom at the feet of Rama and pleads him to take it. Rama is unmoved and he has no intentions of returning back. Barata reminds of the duty of Kshatriya to protect his subjects.

He gives a lenghty talk to Bharata about the impermanence of life limitied by space and time.

Man delights at the sight of sun rise and again when the sun sets Seldom he realises that it has eaten away a day of his life. There are various seasons in a year, which frequently change. Each season has its own speciality. Whilst these seasons are enjoyable in a variety of ways one has to realise that these take away large slices of one's life. The night which passes will never come back.

Men become old, their skin gets wrinkled and they lose their power of thinking and death claims them. Death walks with us in the longest journey of life which we undertake. Your life and mine are eaten away by time. So do not waste your time by contemplating on anothers life. Think of the Lord. Our father has shed his old and serene body and is now in the Brahmaloka. It is not correct for us to grieve over his death. It is our duty to fulfill his last words and save him from not becoming an Adharmi. Saying thus Rama tries to console Bharata and also firmly reiterates his stand that he will not return before the end of his vanavasa.

The ministers and the Guru try to persuade Rama and they all realise that it is impossible to do that. They also convince Bharata. Bharata then says " you have commandned me. You are my father now and I should do what you ask me to do. But one thing is certain I will not accept the kingdom for myself. Then Bharata takes Rama's Sandals and says, "These sandals will take the burden of ruling the world. They will rule the kingdom as your symbols and I will by your representative. Till you come back I will live thus wearing tree bark and deer skin living outside Ayodhya eating fruits and roots. Then after the vanavasa is over if I don't see you then I will ennter the fire and end my life"

Then they all return back to Ayodhya and Bharata starts residing in a place outside Ayodhya called Nandhigrama and starts ruling as a representative of Rama.

Here ends Ayodhya Kanda.

JAI SHRI RAM
...Read more!

Ayodhyakand - 1998

Talk By: Pramod Shringarpure

Rama was the very life of the men of Ayodhya. He was unparalleled in the qualities which makes a man great. He was a very brave young man and yet his bravery was combined with mercy. Even if someone spoke harshly to him, he would never reply in the same tone. If anyone did him any favor, even if it were a small task, he would always remember it with gratitude while his own good acts would be forgotten by him even if they were hundreds in number. Each man loved him as his own son.

Words can not describe the wealth of goodness that is Rama. He was well versed in the arts which a Kshatriya had to master and he was also very proficient in the knowledge of Vedas and all its Angas. In short, Rama was the home of all the virtuous qualities that can be enumerated and he was the beloved prince of the citizens of Ayodhya.

King Dasaratha had in his heart the great desire to make Rama the Yuvaraj. In prowess Rama was like Yama and Indra and in wisdom he was like the divine Guru Brihaspati . He was the best among men , a rare soul and he was the best suited to rule the kingdom. The People of Ayodhya approved the suggestion that Rama should be crowned as the heir . They were eager to see Rama, drenched with the waters of the abhisheka, with his face sheltered by the white umbrella, riding on the elephant.

He was the personification of all that is good and great. He would never swerve from the path of truth and dharma. The earth was eager to have Rama as her lord , endowed as he was with all the qualities needed for a ruler. When he heard the commands of his father, Rama spoke not a word but stood still. He prostrated once again before his father and ascended the chariot which had brought him to the court. The crowd also dispersed slowly, each man thinking only of the glad event which was to happen soon.

When the crowd had dispersed and when the king was alone in his chambers he thought of arranging the coronation of Rama the next day since it was the auspicious Pushya nashktra. Accordingly Ram was informed and he was asked to observe all the necessary rituals, guided by VasishTha Rishi.

After Rama had gone away, Dasaratha sent for VasishTha and spoke to him about the coronation which had to take place in the morning. The people were delirious with happiness and there was joy and nothing but joy in the hearts of everyone in Ayodhya.

On the same evening Manthara, the servant maid of Kaikeyi rushed to Kaikeyi and informed her of Ram’s coronation and warned her that it was a great danger for her. Kaikeyi paid no attention to the words of Manthara. Manthara stood fuming with anger. After a while composing herself, she said, "Madam, the king is contemplating your destruction. He is planning to crown Rama as Yuvaraj tomorrow .You will be destroyed, my queen, and I have come to you hoping to find a way to save you. Look he is now granting all good fortune to Kausalya and not to you. You do not know it but the king is really your enemy."

Some how Kaikeyi was convinced by Manthara and was poisoned to such an extent that she decides to go to Dasaratha for her two boons. Kaikeyi approached King Dasaratha and requested the King to sanction her two boons at any cost. She said, "You have made all preparations for Rama to be crowned as the Yuvaraj. Let the preparations remain as they are. Only, I want Bharata to be crowned instead of Rama. As for the other boon, wearing deerskin and tree -bark, Rama should spend fourteen years in the Dandaka forest."

King Dasaratha said, "I can live without Kausalya or Sumitra. I am prepared to give up even my kingdom . But I can never give up Rama. When my eyes light on Ram’s face, my heart becomes full of Joy, and when he is not with me I am the most unhappy of all beings. The world may live without the sun but I will not be able to live once I am parted from Rama. Kaikeyi , tell me ,how did this sinful thought come to your mind? You have been born just for the purpose of destruction. When I tell Rama to go to the forest, he will not speak a word in protest! How can I bear to see his face after I tell him this? You are a cruel woman and your mind thinks up only sinful thoughts. I must have sinned in my previous birth and that is the reason why I have to listen to you and your sinful wishes. The elders in the court will now approach me with the desire to take me to the hall where the coronation is to be performed. With the waters collected for the abhisheka let Rama perform the funeral rites for me who will die very soon."

Sumantara was asked to bring Rama again. Rama came with Laxmana to Kaikeyi’s quarters. Rama looked at his father. An unnatural silence pervaded the place. Rama stood for a long time looking at his father. Rama could not understand king Dasaratha’s silence. Kaikeyi explained everything to Rama, including the two boons sanctioned to her by king Dasaratha.

Rama looked at Kaikeyi and said, "But certainly, my mother, I will go at once to the forest dressed as you say. I will not let my father break his words. I am unhappy only about one fact: why does the king refuse to look at me with love as he always does ? Why has the king not told me this good news?"

Rama then said, "Devi, Kaikeyi, you did not credit me one thing. I would have obeyed you if you had asked me to do this. Because of your lack of faith in me and in my love for you, you have approached the king." Rama looked like a great Sannyaasi who had renounced the world.

Rama then went to mother Kausalya and said, "Mother, a great misfortune has befallen you, my Sita and my beloved brother Laxmana. It happened just now and you do not know about it yet. What I need is an asana made of darbha grass. The time has come when I should abandon all this and go to the Dandaka forest and remain there. I must withdraw my mind from all thoughts of kingly comforts and live in the forest for fourteen years."

Rama then said, "I am the last person to question my father’s action and the motives behind them. My father has never spoken an untruth and this incident should not prevent him from gaining a place in heaven."

Rama looked at mother Kausalya, whose face was bathed in tears and said, "Mother, my father has been deceived by Kaikeyi. Mother ,I do not have to tell you about the dharma of a Pativrata. Rama continued, "Bharatha is a righteous man and a very noble youth. He will walk only in the path of dharma."

Kausalya said, "Since fate has conspired against me , I am not able to change your mind. May that dharma protect you which you have been following so assiduously with a firm mind and with religious dedication."

Rama, Laxmana and Sita decided to go to the Dandaka forest without any further delay. Before that, Rama wished to give away all his belongings to brahmins and to the dependents in the palace. For Rama following the path of dharma was the only purpose in life and there was no disturbance in his mind since he knew that he was doing the right thing.

King Dasaratha tells Sumantara to take Rama, the noblest of men and leave him in the forest which is uninhabited by men. He realizes that even when a man follows the path of dharma, the acts he had performed in his previous birth will not leave him alone.

Sumantara took his seat and the chariot began to move. Rama heard the wail of the king’s wives in the harem and the faint voice of his father. It came to the mind of the king finally that Rama had really left him and gone away.

Dasaratha looked at Kaikeyi with burning eyes and said, "Kaikeyi you sinned against me and you have wished me ill. I do not consider you my wife any longer. I renounce you. Noble minded Bharatha has ever been devoted to his elders, and he has never swerved from the path of righteousness. If however, he should perchance be influenced by you ,and accept the throne won for him by you, he shall not perform the funeral rites for me. I will disown him too.

King Dashratha was carried to Kausalya’s palace and was placed on a couch covered with silk.

Rama then visited Bharadvaj Rishi’ ashram. When Rama was ready to leave that ashram the Rishi blessed them by reciting special verses meant for those going on a journey and he went with them as a father will. They reached the beautiful mountain Chitrakuta. It was full of birds, flowers, fruits and waterfalls.

They came across the ashrama of Valmiki and they visited him. He welcomed them and said, "Rama I know why you have come to the forest. I am glad that you have decided to live here where the Rishis have made their homes"

Sumantara came back to Ayodhya. It took him three days to reach city. King Dasaratha looked at him and his eyes were questioning. Sumantara recounted to him everything about Rama in detail.

It was the sixth night after Rama had departed. Half the night had passed and the king was now wide awake. He was telling to Kausalya, "My queen, when a man does something, whether it is good or bad , he is sure to reap the harvest of his act."

Dasharatha had learned the art of archery. He could, by listening to the sound made by an animal, kill it with an arrow aimed from a distance. This is called ‘Shabdavedi’. King Dasharatha remembered the GHOR APRADH that he had committed - incident of killing Shravan Bal, an innocent son of blind parents, and their curse. Shravan’s father had cursed him saying," your death will also be similar to mine. you will die as a result of separation from your son.

For five nights the king had lived after Rama had left Ayodhya. On the sixth night he could not bear the pain any longer and died quietly.

Guru Vashishta sent a messenger to fetch Bharatha from Kekaya. On the night when the messenger reached the Rajgriha, the prince had a bad dream. Bharatha asked various questions to the messenger regarding the welfare of his father, mothers and brothers but the messenger were extremely careful in answering them.

Bharatha entered Ayodhya but was nonplused by its unusual appearance. he looked around and said, "Bad omens greet me when I enter the city".

Kaikeyi heard him coming and rushed to meet him and welcome him. Bharatha asked his mother, "where is my father ? I want to see his face which I have been missing all these days. Kaikeyi could not grasp the extent of the misfortune which had befallen her. She spoke in a flat and unemotional voice, "Your father, the righteous Dasaratha, the refuge and solace of everyone who was in trouble, the father of this country, has attained that state which all living beings should attain one day.

Bharatha was surprised at the news that Rama was not in Ayodhya, when his father died. Kaikeyi said, "Bharatha my child, Rama has left for the forest Dandaka dressed in tree bark and with him have gone Lakshmana and Sita." His mind was sorely troubled. He asked his mother, "Why ? Why Mother ?Why was he sent to the forest by my father ?"

Kaikeyi spoke, "No Bharatha ,Ram did not commit any sin. I did not like nor want Rama to be crowned as the yuvaraj. I made the king grant me that Rama should be banished and you should be crowned as Yuvaraj."

Bharatha was very angry with his mother Kaikeyi and said, "You banished Rama to the forest and you have been the death of your husband and to my lasting shame, I have to remember that I am your son, born of you. I will willingly kill you myself. I would have done so too, but then my revered brother Ram will not look at the me since he will attribute the sin of matricide to me. That is the only reason why I hesitate to draw my sword and kill you. Did you think, even for a moment, that I would accept the kingdom ? I would rather die than contemplate such a sinful act. I refuse to recognize you as my mother any more."

He further said, "I can not rest until I bring Rama back from the forest and make him accept the throne which is his"

Vasishsta Rishi then came to Bharatha and said, "Shed this grief, my son and perform the last rites for your father .

Manthara was entering the palace of Queen Kaikeyi. Shatrughna saw her, he was very angry and he wanted to beat her and punish her for her crooked plan. But Bharatha told him, "My dear brother, women should not be punished even if they deserve to be. They should be forgiven. I have not killed this Kaikeyi yet is because I am afraid of Rama. He is noble and will be displeased with me if he knows that I have killed a women and a mother at that. He will never talk to me or even look at me."

Vasishsta then said, "Bharatha , your father the king ,has left this land for you to rule .He was a righteous man and he acted thus because he did not want to be called an Adharmi. As for the reason your brother Rama left for the Dandaka forest with his wife and Lakshmana, it was the same. Ram did not want his father to be called untruthful.

The kingdom as well as myself are Rama’s to do what he will. Please do not ask me to remind you of the rule of the line of the Ishvakus, that the eldest son has the right to the throne and none other. I will go to the forest and bring Rama back , if I do not succeed , I will remain with him and serve him like my brother Lakshmana is doing.

Bharatha called for his chariot and it was at the doorway in no time. He told Sumantara to take them to the forest with his retinue. The queens also went with him . Many of the people of Ayodhya also went with Bharatha. Bharatha came to Bharadvaj Rishi"s ashram. The Rishi welcomed all the guests and inquired after their welfare.

Bharatha then said, "I have come to the forest in search of Rama, to fall at his feet, to offer the kingdom to him and to take him back to Ayodhya where he should be crowned as emperor. Can you help me by telling me where the king of Kosala is?"

Rishi Bharadvaj entertained all the guests and the army accompanied by Bharatha. In the process of talking to the Rishi Bharatha condemned his mother Kaikeyi.

The Rishi said, " Do not condemn your mother, Bharatha . I can look in to the future and I can see that this exile of Rama is for the good of the world . It is going to benefit the rishis of the forest, the devas and all the divine hosts. Forbear from your censure of this women."

Bharatha took leave of the rishi and after collecting his army around him left for the ashram of Rama.

Rama ,Lakshmana and Sita were very happy in the ashraam on Mount Chitrakuta. Mother Nature was lavish in her bounty here, and Sita , who had always been fond of flowers and birds and deer, was very happy here. Every day ,something new would be discovered by them and they would talk about it and they succeeded in forgetting the fact that they were exiles and that they were denied the comforts of the city.

On that particular day when they were seated, they found a herd of elephants running around as though in panic. Rama looked at this strange scene and heard an unusual noise. He said, "Lakshmana , some king or prince has entered the forest. Lakshmana was disturbed and angry.

Rama was greatly distressed by the violent anger of Lakshmana. He tried to pacify him with his soft and gentle words. He said, "Lakshmana, if Bharatha is coming here, where is the need for us to take up arms against him?

Rama said, "I will tell you why Bharatha has come. Bharatha is very fond of his brothers . He must have heard about us living in the forest dressed in tree-bark . With pain in his heart with affection for us he has come to the forest to see us.

BHARATHA MEETS RAMA

Bharatha stood still for along moment. His limbs refused to bear him. He then rushed towards Rama . He could not see properly since tears were clouding his eyes. His sorrow was like the sea which had burst its boundary. My brother who should be seated in the court served by his myriad attendants and courtiers is now seated on the floor covered by darbha grass and attended by animals of the forest as his subjects.

Bharatha with his face drenched in tears, advanced towards Rama but fell down even before reaching his feet. Shatrughna who was with Bharatha all the while fell along with Bharatha at the feet of Rama. Ram raised them up and embracing them, shed tears.

Rama inquired about his father King Dasaratha When he heard from Bharatha that his father was no more in this world he fell down senseless..

Bharatha said, "Rama, I appeal to you to absolve me of this sin. Please be gracious enough to come back to Ayodhya and accept the kingdom which is yours by right."

Ram replied, "Righteous men should respect their mothers just as much as they do their fathers. When such is the case, when both my father and my mother told me to go to the forest, how could I act otherwise? YOU have been commanded to rule the kingdom and I have been commanded to live in the Dandaka forest for fourteen years. Walk in the path of DHARMA which you have been following all these years and do what our father asked us to do. I will do the same. You can make my father truthful only if you go back to Ayodhya and rule the country. The debt I owe to my parents is infinite. It is not possible to return the love of one’s parents. Such a great man was Dasaratha, my father, and I will not disobey him. Your duty is to obey the command of our father and rule the kingdom."

Bharatha prostrated before Rama’s sandals and said, "My beloved brother ,remember I will live wearing these coarse tree -bark and deerskin for the next fourteen years and will retain these matted locks until you remove yours. I will wait for you to come back and I will live outside the city of Ayodhya. My food will be fruits and roots. I will enthrone these sandals and they will rule the kingdom as your symbols. I will rule the kingdom as your representative." ...Read more!