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

 

Rama never swerved from path of virtue

 

CHENNAI, MARCH 29. Over-enthusiasm and deep attachment will at

times make a person extend a promise that may later prove to be

the very cause for his grief when he may find it impossible to

fulfil it. Even the most sagacious persons, known for their

capacity to anticipate the future, do sometimes yield to this

weakness, not immediately realising that changed circumstances

may result in giving up their plighted words. Hence one should be

extremely judicious when granting a boon to someone. To

discharge the obligation may be found impracticable and to carry

it out may be against the code of conduct and thus even an astute

man will remain caught in the horns of a dilemma.

 

Totally unaware about the consequences of his rash utterances, an

emperor who saw his dear in the pensive mood, said: ``Whom would

you like to please or who has displeased you? Whom do you desire

to be made happy or see to his or her unhappiness? Do you want a

guilty to be let off or punish a guiltless? Should a pauper be

made rich or a wealthy reduced to penury? I would not baulk your

slightest wish even to save my life''. These assurances, though

made to express one's affection turned out to be the total

dramatic change in the smooth flow of the divine poem, Ramayana.

The promise so extended by Dasaratha in his weakness was taken

full advantage by his queen who sought Rama's exile and Bharata's

coronation. Lured by her verbal jugglery, the emperor thus

allowed his head to be put into the noose for his own

destruction.

 

In his discourse, Sri R. Kannan Swamigal presented the manner in

which Rama conducted Himself on hearing that He has to spend 14

years in forest. ``I would jump into the fire if My father so

commanded. I would swallow deadly poison or throw Myself into the

sea if the Emperor wants it. I promise you, Rama does not speak

with two voices.'' Making haste to leave the capital, Rama's

categorical words to Kaikeyi reflect His eagerness to uphold the

cause of virtue at all costs. ``I am not after the world's goods

and do not live for them. I am like the sages in My total

dedication to virtue, I will do anything to please My father,

even if I have to give up My life''. On one occasion, Rama

declared that should even Moon shed its lustre, earth its smell

and water its natural quality, He would not swerve from the path

of Righteousness. Thus He honoured His commitment and refused to

transgress Dasaratha's command. Rama, who descended from heaven

only to restore Moral Order and prove that its rules can

certainly be adopted in one's life, also spoke about the power of

Destiny and behaved as if He was baffled by the work of

Providence.

 

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