Ramayana of valmiki and Kamban-Ayodhya kanda

[Guest guest]

3. Dasratha Informs Rama of his decision

 

Rama was coming to see Dasaratha who saw him from his court-hall balcony. (It must be the balcony because Rama is mentioned s later as ascending the steps and Dasaratha could b not have seen him coming to the palace otherwise. Valmiki describes Rama coming on the chariot seen by Dasaratha.

gandharvarAjaprathimam loke vikhyAtha pourusham

dheerghabAhum maha satthvam matthamAthangagAminam

chandrakAnthAnanam rAmam atheeva priyadharSanam

roopoudhAryagunaiH pumsAm dhrdhtichittApahAriNam

 

Rama was handsome as the king of gandharvas and known for his valour, says valmiki, to denote that he was not only handsome to look at but was also valiant, which was already well known from the Tataka episode and his protection of the yajna of Visvamithra by killing the demons and none the less from his breaking the bow of Siva and subduing Prasurama. Gandharvas are renowned for their beauty but not valour. Hence the clubbing of the two epithets.

 

Valmiki describes Rama as dheerghabahu, having long arms and walks like an elephant ,matthamAthangagAmi , which shows his prowess and masculine stature. But at the same time he was as attractive to look at as the Moon, chandrakAnthAnana. Govindaraja in his commentary explains this word as chandrAth kAnha Ananam yasya, meaning that his face was even more delightful than the Moon. The name Rama itself denotes this as it means ramayathi ithi rAmaH, one who delights. Thus he was atheevapriyadharSana, extremely dear to look at. He was giving joy to the eyes by his appearance and to the mind with his loveable qualities and Dasaratha, says Valmiki never had his fill looking at Rama, especially perceiving him as his dear son as well. When Ram approached his father and saluted him in the traditional manner ‘nAma svam srAvayan rAmah,’ uttering his own name and bowing down (abhivAdhaye etc.) Dasaratha started talking. Valmiki calls Dasaratha as puthravathAm varah, because he is exalted as a father because of being chosen by the Lord Himself to be His father.

 

Dasaratha asked Rama to accept the coronation and the Rama of Valmiki simply bowed down again to his father and left for his palace. But Kamban describes this as

 

thAdhai apparisu urai sei , than maraikkaNNan

kAdhal uttRilan; igazhndhilan, ‘kadan idhu’ enrRu uNarndhum

‘yAdhu kottRavan Eviyadhu adhu seyal anRO

needhi eRku’ ena ninaindhum appaNi talai ninRAn.

 

When Dasaratha told Rama that he will be made the king, Rama neither loved nor hated it but accepted it as the command of the king and father whose words must be obeyed. This aspect of the character or Rama, Kamban explains further when Kaikeyi tells him to go to forest. We shall enjoy the nectar of the words of Kamban when we come to it.

 

On hearing the news of the coronation of Rama, his friend hastened to tell Kouslya about it .Rama also took leave of his father and returned to his own palace. Then Dasaratha consulted the experts and decided to perform the coronation the next day when the reigning star would be Pushya. Then he again sent word to Rama and when he came , told him that he was seeing some ill omens to indicate that his end was near and hence he wanted to crown Rama the very next day. He said that the mind is fickle and Rama should be coronated before his mind changes without any further delay as there would be normally be many obstacles before any good action.

 

Dasaratha further told Rama that he wanted to crown Rama while Bharatha was away because even though Bharatha knew dharma and would wish only Rama to become the king, still human mind is not steady . What Dasaratha referred to here is that he has promised the father of Kaikeyi that her son will succeed him as the king and even though Bharatha may not accept it superceding the right of Rama, the eldest son, to be the crown prince as per the custom of Ikshvaku race, someone might try to change his mind if her were present . Then he sent Rama back ttelling him to follow the austerities necessary for the coronation the next day. Rama went to see his mother and Kousalya was in meditation on Lord Narayana as she already heard the news and Sumithra with Lakshman and Sita were also there.

 

Valmiki says Kousalya was eagerly expecting this to happen, (probably knowing the promise of Dasratha to the father of Kaikeyi she had trepidations that it might not happen,) and expressed her joy. Rama told Lakshmana that he was going to rule the kingdom along with Lakshmana because they were inseparable. Then Rama returned to his palace with Sita.

 

Vasishta then went to the abode of Rama and instructed him about the austerities to be performed. The whole city of Ayodhya went into a festive mood and people started celebrating the forthcoming coronation , decorating their places eagerly awaiting for the coronation of Ram which was not destined to take place the next day. Why? We shall see presently.