Vaalmeeki Raamaayan

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2 - Ayodhyaa Kaand
Sarg 39-40

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Sarg 39 - Dashrath Orders Sumantra to Take Raam to Van

Hearing Raam's words and seeing Him clad in Tapaswee's clothes Dashrath again got unconscious. When he gained consciousness, he thought himself, "I have separated many mothers from their sons, killed many people, I think I am bearing the result of the same Karm. Nobody dies without his Kaal. I have made so many people sad because of Kaikeyee alone, but Kaal doesn't want to make me his victim. I am seeing my princess in Tapaswee guise. Hey Raam." He couldn't say a word after this. After a few moments he told Sumantra to see them off up to the border of the city.

Sumantra immediately brought the chariot and informed Raam about its arrival. After this Dashrath asked his treasurer to bring enough clothes and jewelry for Seetaa for 14 years. He immediately brought all these things and gave them to Seetaa. Jaanakee wore Her royal clothes and jewelry. 

Ma Kaushalyaa embraced Her and blessed Her and said - "Women do not serve their husbands in their poverty, after having enjoyed pleasures in the past, such is the nature of bad women. Neither a noble descent, nor good deeds, nor learning, nor a gift, nor even entertainment can capture a woman's heart, their husband alone is the only sacred entity for her."

Seetaa said to her - "I know how to behave with my husband. I have also herd it earlier also. I will not fall from my virtue. Veenaa (an Indian musical instrument) cannot be played without chords, chariot cannot move without wheels, then how a wife can live without her husband. Even with a hundred children she cannot live happily. Mother, father and son  can give only limited happiness, but husband gives her unlimited happiness." Hearing this Kaushalyaa started weeping with happiness and agony.

Raam said to His mother - "You do not worry too much, just take care of my father. My exile period will end soon. Fourteen years will elapse only in sleeping. Then you will see me duly arrived here." and Looked at His 350 step-mothers too and said to them too - "please forgive me if i have offended you in any way. I now take leave from all of you." Dashrath all wives started weeping again.

Sarg 40 - Raam Leaves Ayodhyaa

Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa, stricken with grief, touched Dashrath's feet, circumambulanced him, took his permission and greeted Kaushalyaa. Lakshman greeted Sumitraa. Sumitraa blessed Him and said - "Your dear brother is going to forest. Seeing your love towards Him I permitted you to go with Him, but you must obey Him, because that is your duty to do that. Whether in adversity or in riches He is the only shelter for you. You should regard Raam as your father and Seetaa as your mother and forest as Ayodhyaa and go with Him happily."

Sumantra came and said - "Hey prince, Come and ride the chariot. May all be well with you, wherever you would like to go I will take you there. You have to live in forest for 14 years and they have already commenced." Raam kept their weapons in the chariot and all climbed in it. Sumantra started the chariot. Seeing Raam going to forest all people got unconscious, even the people, who came to see this Raajya Tilak, got unconscious.

People shouted from behind to "drive the chariot slowly so that they could see Raam for some more time." "Raam's mother's heart is made of iron which has not broken seeing her son to forest." "Seetaa has done whatever She had ought to do - going along with Raam like His shadow." "O Lakshman, You achieved the goal of your life [by serving Raam]."

Raajaa Dashrath also came out and started running after the chariot and said - "I will see my Raam." He had some women also who were crying in separation of Raam. Dashrath also heard their cry. Raam was telling Sumantra to drive chariot fast and public was requesting him to drive it slowly. In such situation Sumantra could neither drive it fast nor slowly.

When Dashrath saw everybody crying, he also fell down with sadness. Seeing this everybody cried more. Raam also saw His parents coming after Him so He again instructed Sumantra to drive the chariot fast. He couldn't see at His parents any more as they were not fit to walk on foot on roads. And Kaushalyaa was running after the chariot as cow runs after her calf.

Dashrath ordered Sumantra to stop the chariot but Raam said - "No, drive fast. This sad environment shouldn't last long. If Raajaa asks you "Why didn't you stop the chariot" tell him that you didn't hear the words." Sumantra obeyed Raam and drove the chariot fast. Raajaa fell down on the ground. He was constantly gazing towards the path on which Raam went just now. Ministers said to Dashrath - "We should not follow them for a long distance, whom we wish to see come back.

 

 
   

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 5/27/03
Contact: bhagvatjee@yahoo.com
Updated on
11/02/03
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