Ramayana of Valmiki and Kamban

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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.