RAMAKATHA RASAVAHINI - PART 13 - [Concluding Part of Part - I]

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Om Sri Sai Ram

RAMAKATHA RASAVAHINI – PART – I 13 - [Concluding Part of Part - I]

 

The Rama Story, Stream of Sacred Sweetness

As told by the Divine Lord Himself in the present Avatar as Bhagawan

Sri Sathya Sai Baba

Chapter 18

Sandals Enthroned

 

On the sixth day of their stay, Bharatha called together, after the

morning rites, bath and devotional ceremonies like the worship of the

Dawn, his brother Satrughna and his own aides and followers. He

watched for a favourable moment to accost Rama and when he found one,

he rose suddenly from his seat and mustered sufficient courage to lay

himself prostrate at his feet. Standing in front of him with his

palms folded, Bharatha prayed thus: " O, Mark of Auspiciousness on the

brow of the Royal Ikshwaku line! You have fulfilled my desires in

every way. On my account, you have determined to suffer miseries of

all kinds. You are undergoing all types of troubles for my sake.

Lord! I am awaiting your commands. For fourteen years, I shall be

awaiting your return and serving you in the kingdom. Show me the path

by which I can feast my eyes on your Lotus Feet when the period of

exile ends. Teach me the courage I need to survive these fourteen

years of separation. Rama! Your subjects, their families, the people

residing in the vast Empire, the Brahmins, and the Pundits -- all are

spiritually earnest; they are bound to you by feelings of reverential

devotion. They are bearing the pangs of misery buoyed up by the love

you bear unto them. I care not even for the attainment of self-

realization if, to attain it, I am separated from you. You are aware

of the inner feelings of your servants; you know their deepest

desires. You can guide me and lead me to the goal, here and

hereafter. This conviction is the sustenance and strength on which I

exist. On account of this conviction, I treat all this agony as just

shriveled blades of grass. Till now I elaborated before you my sorrow

as if they were burdening my head. That was a failing on my part; do

not hesitate to reprimand me for this fault. "

 

Hearing this, the gathering hailed his statements and expressed their

appreciation. As the Hamsa, Celestial Swan, is able to separate the

milk from the water, which is mixed with it, and drink just the milk,

so, they said, Bharatha had separated the Truth from untruth and

given expression to the Truth alone.

 

Rama, compassionate towards the distressed, listened to those words

poured from the pure heart of his brother. Rama replied thus, in

conformity with the place, the time and the circumstance: " Brother!

For you who reside at home, and for us who reside in the forest,

there is the One, who fosters all, to foster and fend. You have in a

worldly practical sense, the Preceptor Vasishtha and the Emperor

Janaka as guardians and guides. No trouble can bother either you or

me, even in our dreams; no, it can never happen. The highest duty for

us is to carry out strictly the commands of our father; that alone

can confer on us all the good we long for; that alone can enable us

to earn lasting renown. That path is the one approved by the Vedas.

The Vedas declare that whoever reveres the commands of the preceptor,

the father and the mother and walks on the right path, is the noble

example for all.

 

" Be ever aware of this truth; throw away the shroud of grief; take up

the burden of Empire; rule over it for 14 years with justice and

rectitude as your ideals. The King is the face of the State. For, the

face eats and drinks and thus strengthens and activates all the limbs

of the body. The King feeds and sustains every section of his people.

The mind encloses within itself all likes and dislikes; so too, the

King is the repository of all moves and movements in the political

field " . Rama expounded many a useful doctrine of political ethics to

Bharatha. But, Bharatha was too agitated to earn mental peace as a

result of Rama's advice. The mothers, teachers, and ministers stood

benumbed, for they too were overcome by the imminence of the moment

of parting. Suddenly, Rama in his infinite Graciousness loosened his

sandals and gave them to Bharatha. And, Bharatha reverentially

accepted them in his palms and placed them in his head. Tears

streamed from his eyes, like the Twin Rivers, the Ganga and the

Yamuna.

 

Bharatha could not express his joy in words. " These are not

the 'sandals' worn by the Ocean of Mercy! These are the guardians of

the lives and prosperity of all mankind. These are the chests

enclosing the precious treasure of Rama's brotherly love. They are

the protecting doors of the fort, which enshrines the royal fame of

the Raghu clan. These are two hands that are ever engaged in good

deeds. These are the veritable eyes of the Universe. These are the

symbols of Sita and Rama who are coming with us as these two " .

 

Bharatha extolled the 'sandals' thus wise and danced around them in

sheer joy and thankfulness. All present fell at the feet of Rama and

acknowledged the sublimity of Rama's Grace.

 

Bharatha prostrated before Rama and prayed that he might grant him

permission to leave. Rama appreciated the spirit of contentment with

which he welcomed the 'sandals'; he drew Bharatha near and embraced

him fast and firm with great affection and delight. Satrughna also

fell at Rama's feet; Rama embraced him with great affection and he

communicated to him also many a directive for ruling the kingdom and

carrying out the duties devolving on him. Consider Bharatha as Rama

himself, he told him. " Be his support and counsel and help him to

establish peace and prosperity in the Empire " .

 

Then, Bharatha and Satrughna embraced Lakshmana in fraternal love,

saying, " Brother! Your luck is indeed great. Yours is the best of

luck. In all worlds there is none so fortunate as you. " They praised

Lakshmana to their hearts' content and took permission to depart.

Lakshmana too called them near and told them that the 'sandals' of

Rama are the springs of all varieties of auspiciousness and so, they,

who have won that gift, were indeed more fortunate than any. He

advised them to act worthy of the gift and earn the Grace of Rama

forever. " That is your duty now " , he reminded them.

 

Later the brothers proceeded to where Sita was and fell at her feet.

On seeing her, they could not contain their grief; they burst into

sobs. She consoled them softly and sweetly in various ways. " Is there

naught else than the armour of Rama that can protect any one in the

world? You are indeed blessed. The fourteen years will roll by as

swift as fourteen seconds, and the Empire will smile in plenty and

peace with the return of Rama. Carry on the administration with

patience and devotion; don't deviate a little from the guidelines he

has marked out. By this rigorous obedience you will be able to secure

the fruits of your desires. "

 

Then the brothers, Bharatha and Satrughna, went straight to Emperor

Janaka and fell at his feet in exemplary reverence and said, " Lord!

You have such compassion on us that you came to Ayodhya when you

heard about the death of our father and of the exile of Rama in the

forest. You observed our plight with your own eyes and comforted us

during those critical days. You gave us appropriate advice to

resuscitate ourselves. In order to fulfill your inner desire, you

subjected yourself to all this strain and trouble, coming over here

into this jungle. You have shared with us our grief and contributed

your valuable part in the pleading we made to Rama to persuade him to

return. When those pleadings failed, you consoled us and taught us to

bear the disappointment and distress, and enriched us with your

blessings. We offer our reverential gratitude. What more can we say

or do? Your blessings are the most effective reinforcements we

require " . Janaka listened to these words uttered so sincerely and so

thankfully by the two brothers. He appreciated their reactions and

feelings, their character and conduct; he drew them near himself and

he lovingly caressed them and stroked their heads.

 

He said, " Sons! May you walk along the path laid down by Rama and may

you thereby win his Grace. I am proceeding to Mithila straight from

here " . The ministers, feudatory rulers, Brahmins, sages, ascetics,

and others who had come with the brothers, went one after another

towards Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, and falling at their feet, they

took leave of them and turned their faces homeward, their hearts

heavy with a sense of gloom. Sita, Rama and Lakshmana went to where

the mothers were and prostrated before them. They consoled them,

saying, " Do not worry in the least. Be engaged in the correct

performance of your duties and responsibilities. Have before you ever

the wishes and ideals that father has laid before us " . As for

themselves, they said they would be spending happily and peacefully

the period of fourteen years as a quick span of fourteen seconds, and

returning joyfully to Ayodhya. These words restored the spirits of

the queens.

 

They fell at the feet of Kaikeyi and told her that she had not an

iota of responsibility for the exile of Rama into the forest and that

she was ever worthy of their reverence and worship. She had never

intended any harm, they said. They assured her that they would ever

pray for her; they pleaded with her that she should not have the

least worry over them in the forest. They gave her a great deal of

courage to bear her burden of repentance. " Bharatha had spoken rashly

and impertinently, in a fit of senseless fury, when he was suddenly

confronted with the two calamities: the death of his father and exile

of his brother. He flew into a passion, for his blood boiled at the

person he imagined was responsible for these events. He did not even

care for the fact that you were his mother! " Rama, Sita and Lakshmana

prayed that she should not blame Bharatha for that incident; they

begged her to pardon Bharatha for the indiscretion.

 

While Rama was speaking thus, Kaikeyi was downcast with shame at the

memory of her iniquity. She could not look Rama in the face. She felt

within herself, " Alas, that I should be the cause of inflicting so

much misery and suffering on this son endowed with a heart of

compassion and a mind full of virtues, a son who is unalloyed gold,

nothing less. Am I not the reason for him to spend his years in this

terrifying jungle? O, what a devilish deed did I perpetrate? But, did

I do it on my own? Or, was it Rama that willed the turn of events

through my instrumentality? Whatever the truth, I cannot escape; I

have committed the gravest sin " .

 

Kaikeyi was overcome with sorrow over the irrevocable past; she held

both hands of Sita in her grasp and petitioned for pardon. Soon, she

added, " No. No. It is not just that you pardon a sinner who brought

about such unbearable travail on such a pure and tender woman. " She

continued to lament her misfortune for long. Every one who had come

from Ayodhya took leave of Sita, Rama and Lakshmana as and when they

could get the chance. Afterwards, they ascended their chariots in due

order.

 

Sita, Rama and Lakshmana approached each chariot before it left and

consoled and comforted each occupant and persuaded them to leave.

Sita, Rama and Lakshmana fell at the feet of the Preceptor, and

apologized to him, saying that they had caused him and his consort a

lot of trouble; they expressed sorrow that they could not serve them

as well as they wished to, and as their duty demanded. Then they

asked permission to stay back.

 

Vasishtha was of course a Brahmajnani and a Maharshi; so he could

know the inner feelings of Sita and others. He appreciated the

devotion and humility of the brothers and Sita and their strict

adherence to the path of Dharma. Vasishtha and his consort could not

leave the presence of Rama, for they were so attached to the virtues

he embodied. The picture of those three standing by the side of the

jungle track with folded palms, bidding adieu to each passing chariot

and the people inside, melted the most adamantine heart. Vasishta and

his consort, Arundhati, were very much moved at the sight of their

large hearted sympathy.

 

Then, Rama saw the chieftain of the Nishadas standing before him,

amidst his followers. He went forward to him and extending his arms,

he embraced him, more warmly than when he clasped to his bosom his

own brother. He consoled Guha, with affectionate appeals to calm

himself and persuaded him to accept the separation wisely. Guha could

not do anything to change the turn of events; so he fell at the feet

of Rama, and rose with a heavy heart, and walked off, with his eyes

fixed on Rama for as long as he could catch sight of that picture of

charm.

 

Sita, Rama and Lakshmana stood under a spreading tree, until the last

of them left. Meanwhile, Emperor Janaka also prepared to leave, at

the head of his party, for Mithila. Rama and Lakshmana prostrated

before their father-in-law and mother-in-law; Sita fell at the feet

of her parents. The parents embraced her and stroked her head in fond

tenderness. They said, " Daughter! Your courageous determination and

your devotion towards your husband will bring us great renown.

Through you, our family and clan have been rendered holy. We must

have accomplished some great vow and fulfilled some great austerity

or else you would not have been born in lour line " . They extolled her

in profuse terms and expressed their joy and exultation. They assured

her, " Sita! You can suffer no want; Rama is the breath of your

existence. We know that since you live in his shade, no harm can

touch you. However, as a result of you two being different entities,

problems and perplexities might now and then confront you. Those are

but the play of destiny, just passing clouds " . Janaka presented

before them many Vedanthic truths to bring them comfort and

contentment. Then, he too left the hermitage and took the track that

led him out of the forest.

 

Sita, Rama and Lakshmana stood in the shade of that tree, until the

people from both Ayodhya and Mithila went beyond the range of their

eyes. Then, they returned to their thatched cottage, and there, while

Rama was describing with appreciative ardour, the devotion and faith

of Bharatha and Satrughna, their exemplary love and loyalty, and the

affectionate attachment of the subjects of the Empire, Sita and

Lakshmana listened attentively and echoed the same sentiments. Their

hearts felt sore at their departure; they would fain have liked their

presence longer. Often during the talk, they remembered the death of

Dasaratha and tears rolled down their cheeks as they recalled the

Emperor's affection towards them. Seeing their plight Rama's face was

lit up with a smile; he expatiated on the mystery of life and the key

to its unraveling. Thus, they spent that eventful day, in the silence

of that sylvan retreat.

 

Meanwhile, the stream of people emerging from the edge of the forest

towards the populated areas near Ayodhya -- the ascetics, the sages,

the Brahmins, the brothers Bharatha and Satrughna, the queens

Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra, the ministers and the vast mass of

citizens -- could not contain the burden of sorrow, which became

heavier the farther they went, and the nearer they approached the

City. They spent the time describing to each other the events of the

five days they had spent in Rama's presence, and admiring the ideals

that Rama had embodied and exemplified and his love, compassion and

affection. They did not halt anywhere for food or even for sleep,

since they felt neither hunger nor the prompting of sleep. Sorrow at

the separation had overwhelmed and put to flight all minor

insufficiencies.

 

The second day, they encountered the mighty Ganga River; the

Chieftain of the Nishadas arranged boats to row them across and also

prepared plentiful repast for the tired populace and for the

distinguished persons from the Court. But, no one partook of the

hospitality he provided, for their grief at having come away from

Sita, Rama and Lakshmana lay too heavy on their hearts. Unable to

displease Guha and unwilling to wound him, they just sat before the

plates, fingered the items and getting up soon, threw the contents

away. Why? Even the horses had no wish to feed. They just refused.

Vasishtha, the Royal Preceptor noticed this, and he said, " See! Rama

is the inner Resident, the Atma that is in all; He is the

Intelligence, the Awareness that marks out each Being " .

 

They had no inclination to turn aside in order to snatch a few hours

of rest. Bharatha had resolved to travel straight to Ayodhya and not

delay on the way. He was anxious to present before the citizens

pining in Ayodhya the holy sandals of Rama, and bring them some

little comfort and courage. So the party forded the Gomati and the

Sarayu rivers and reached the outskirts of Ayodhya, on the fourth day

of their journey.

 

The aged, the children and the women of Ayodhya who could not join

the vast assembly that marched to the place where Rama had fixed his

camp, were watching for the signs of their happy return, after

accomplishing their mission, namely, persuading Rama to take up the

reins of rulership. Their eyes had well nigh gone blind, with

exhaustion and extreme anxiety. When they heard the distant whirr of

chariot wheels, they ran out into the streets and peered into the

passing vehicles, asking " Where is our Lord? " But, since dusk soon

thickened into darkness, they went back into their homes, and spent

the night in joyous hope that they could see their beloved Prince,

with the first rays of the rising sun. Vast disappointment not

unmixed with a little satisfaction awaited them next morning, for,

they learnt that Rama did not return to the Capital from the forest,

but had sent instead, the Sandals he wore, as his representative.

 

Meanwhile, Bharatha called together the Royal Preceptor and the

Ministers of the Court and assigned to them the various duties of

administration. He entrusted them with the authority to perform their

duties. He then called Satrughna near and allotted to him the task of

fostering and consoling the queen-mothers. He arranged a gathering of

Brahmins and Pundits, and standing before them with folded palms, he

told them that he would fulfill their wishes, whether great or small,

for he knew they would only promote the best interests of himself and

the people. He wanted that they should place their demands before him

without hesitation.

 

He also called for a gathering of the citizens of Ayodhya and the

leaders of the people from all parts of the Empire and he described

before them all that had happened in the Capital and at the place

where Rama was living in exile. He gave them a summary of the

conversations he had with Rama, and appealed to them to adore and

revere the Sandals of Rama for the period of fourteen years when Rama

would be away, as the authentic Presence of Rama himself. " They will

guard us all, they are our refuge and resource " , he said. " In the

full confidence that the sandals are ruling over us, let us " , he

said, " live with Rama installed in our hearts; after his return, Rama

will rule over us directly, granting us the joy of his physical

presence and direction. Our duty from this moment is to wait for that

happy day, with prayer in our hearts " .

 

Then, Bharatha decided on an auspicious hour, when the Sacred Sandals

could be installed on the throne, for, he had the joy of all classes

of the population in view, the Royal Preceptor, the Pundits, the

ascetics, the priests, the ministers and others of the Court, the

leaders of the people and the common ranks of citizens. He saw to it

that arrangements were made on a grand scale to celebrate the event.

 

That day, he prostrated before the mothers, Kausalya, Sumitra and

Kaikeyi and then proceeded tot he Throne with the Sandals borne on

his head. Praying for the blessings of Vasishtha and permission from

him and all those assembled, he placed them on the throne, offering

them reverential loyalty. He placed all his responsibilities safely

in their custody.

 

Later, that steadfast adherent of Dharma, that incomparable hero,

Bharatha walked towards the village of Nandigrama, where he had a

thatched hut made ready for his residence. He wore his hair braided

into a knot, as Rama and Lakshmana had done; his apparel was made of

the bark of trees, as theirs was; he lived in a cave specially dug

into the earth. His food and dress were the same as those of the

ascetics of the forest; his acts, thoughts and words too were austere

and spiritually oriented.

 

Bharatha renounced the luxurious life of Ayodhya which Indra, the

Ruler of Heaven praised, as unattainable by Him; he gave up the rich

life of the Royal Palace, which even Kubera, the God of Riches

envied. He was happy in that tiny village, living unseen by others,

inside the 'grass-thatched' hut! He vowed that he would not look at

the face of any one until Rama returned from exile. His mind was

fixed on Rama and on the day of his return from the forest into which

He had gone. His body became weaker with every passing day. But, the

spiritual splendor on his face brightened more and more with the

passage of time. His devotion to Rama grew to vaster and vaster

proportions. He was transformed into a pure soul that has achieved

fulfillment. In the firmament of his heart, the stars shone in

glorious galaxies; below them, his feelings and emotions shone like

the Ocean of Milk, calm, deep and pure.

 

PART – I CONCLUDED

 

PART – II TO BE CON