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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Uphold righteousness at all costs

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 28. The test of a person's fidelity to

righteousness is when he is on the horns of a dilemma. Situations

will arise in life when he has to choose between the pull of his

emotion and what his conscience dictates. Right counsel or timely

providential intervention can prevail in the case of one who has

upheld Dharma faithfully and thus enable him to uphold the value

he cherishes.

 

The manner in which Dasaratha retracted his promise thereby

provoking the wrath of Sage Viswamitra illustrates this very

well. When the sage arrived at his palace without any notice the

king accorded him a very warm welcome and expressing happiness

that a sage of his merit had deigned to visit him he promised,

``You need not entertain any doubt about the success of your

mission. I shall fully accomplish your object, for being an

honoured guest, you are a veritable god to me.''

 

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said that the

sage who had come with the object of securing Rama for protecting

his sacrifice which was being desecrated by the ogres was

naturally elated that his wish would be granted without any

difficulty. So, one can imagine his rage, as he was well known

for his temper, when the king on hearing the purpose of his

mission refused to part with Rama.

 

Viswamitra had even while voicing his request told Dasaratha that

only Rama was capable of killing the ogres and that He would not

come to any harm. He promised that Rama would attain fame by His

deeds for accomplishing which he was going to teach Rama certain

mantras. The sage had even hinted that he was aware of Rama's

divine nature, ``I know the high-souled Rama as possessed of true

prowess. The highly glorious sage Vasishta and those who stand

vowed to asceticism also know Him as such... Be pleased to hand

over Rama to me for ten days in the interests of my sacrifice.''

 

Dasaratha swooned on hearing this request and when he regained

consciousness he pleaded with the sage to spare Rama promising to

send his army and eventually offered to accompany him himself.

Parental affection blinded the king to the extent that he forgot

that it was he who had given his word unsolicited in the first

place and also the fact that the sage would protect Rama with his

power.

 

Vasishta intervened before things got out of hand and reasoned

with the king that as a scion of the Raghu lineage he should not

commit a misdeed by way of breach of promise and pointed out that

Viswamitra who was capable of punishing the ogres himself had

sought his help only for doing good to Rama.

 

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