Ramakatha Rasavahini, Chapter 2 - The Imperial Line

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Chapter 2The Imperial Line

 

In the Immaculate pure Solar Dynasty was born the highly mighty, the far famed,

the strong armed, the Intensely loved and revered ruler, Khatvanga. His rule

showered supreme bliss on the immense populations under his throne and

persuaded them to pay homage to him, as if he were himself God. He had a

'one-and-only' son, named Dileepa. He grew up, shining in the glory of

knowledge and virtue; he shared with his father the joy and privilege of

guarding and guiding the people. He moved among his subjects, eager to know

their joys and sorrows, anxious to discover how best to relieve pain and

distress, intent on their welfare and prosperity. The father watched his son

grow straight and strong, virtuous and wise. He sought a bride for him so that

after the marriage, he could place on his shoulders part of the

burden of the sceptre. He sought her in royal houses far and wide, for she must

be a worthy companion for the prince. At last, the choice fell on the Magadhan

princess, Sudakshina. The wedding was celebrated with unsurpassed pomp and

exultation by the people and the court.

Sudakshina was endowed with all womanly virtues in ample measure. She was

saintly and simple and a sincere votary of her husband; she served her lord and

poured love on him, as if he were her very breath. She walked in the footsteps

of her husband and never deviated from the path of righteousness.

Dileepa, too, was the very embodiment of righteousness, and, as a consequence,

he saw that neither want nor disappointment affected him in the least. He held

fast to the ideals and practices of his father so far as the administration of

the empire was concerned, and so he could slowly and without any dislocation,

take upon himself the full responsibility of administration. Thus, he was able

to give his father rest in his old age. Khatvanga rejoiced within himself,

contemplating the great qualities of his son and observing his skill,

efficiency and practical wisdom. Some years passed thus. Then, Khatvanga

directed the court astrologers to select an auspicious day and hour for the

Coronation of Dileepa and on the day fixed by them he installed Dileepa as the

Monarch of the realm.

>From that day Dileepa shone forth as the Lord and Sovereign of the Empire, which

stretched from sea to sea, with the seven islands of the Ocean. His rule was so

just and compassionate, so much in conformity with the injunctions laid down in

the scriptures, that rains came as plentifully as needed and the harvest was

rich and profuse. The entire empire was green and glorious, festive and full.

The land was resonant with the sacred sound of the Vedas recited in every

village, the purifying rythm of the manthras chanted in the Vedic sacrifices

performed throughout the land; every community lived in concord with all the

rest.

Nevertheless, the Maharaja was apparently overcome by some mysterious anxiety;

his face was losing effulgence. The lapse of a few years did not improve

matters. Despair wrote its deep lines firmer on his brow. One day, he revealed

the cause of his gloom to his queen, Sudakshina: "Darling! We have no children,

and sadness is overpowering me as a consequence. I am even more affected when I

realise that this Ikshvaku dynasty will terminate with me. Some sin which I

committed must have brought about this calamity. I am unable to decide the

process by which I can counter this malign destiny. I am eager to learn from

our family preceptor, the sage Vasishta, the means by which I can win the Grace

of God and make amends for the sin. I am very much agitated by grief. What do

you suggest as the best means to win Grace?"

Sudakshina did not take time even to think out the answer. "Lord! This same fear

had entered my mind too, and caused me much grief. I had not given expression to

it. I smothered it in the mind for I cannot, I know, reveal my fears, without

being prompted by you, my Lord. I am ever willing and eager to support and

follow implicitly what appeals to you as the best means of overcoming our

sorrow. Why should there be any delay? Let us hasten to consult revered

Vasishta", she said. Dileepa ordered the chariot to be brought for the

pilgrimage to the hermitage of the Preceptor. He directed that no escort or

courtier need accompany him that day. In fact, he drove the vehicle himself and

reached the simple cottage of his Gurudev.

At the sound of the chariot, the hermits on the out-skirts of the Asram went

into the cottage and made known to their Master the arrival of the Ruler of the

Empire. Vasishta showered his blessing on him as soon as he saw him near the

door and lovingly inquired about his health and the welfare of his subjects and

his kith and kin.

Sudakshina fell at the feet of the sage's consort, the famed Arundhathi,

embodiment of all the virtues which adorn the noblest of women. Arundhathi

lifted her into her arms and fondly embraced her prodding her with questions

about her welfare. She led her into the inner part of the hermitage.

As befitted the monarch of the realm, Dileepa acquired from Vasishta whether the

Yajnas and Yagas the ascetics had to perform as part of the cultural tradition

were being carried out without any handicap, whether the anchorites were

experiencing any difficulty in acquiring food and carrying on their studies and

spiritual practices, and whether their sylvan campuses were terrorised by wild

beasts. He was yearning, he said, to make their studies and spiritual

excercises progress well without any distraction due to adverse environment or

counter-influences.

When the king and queen entered the cottage and sat in their places, with the

assembled sages and seekers, Vasishta suggested to the latter to move into

their own hermitages, and asked the king the reason for his coming to his place

accompanied by the queen and none else. The king communicated to his preceptor

the nature and depth of his grief, and prayed for the only remedy that could

remove it, namely, his Grace.

Listening to that prayer, Vasishta was lost in deep meditation. Perfect silence

prevailed. The king too sat in the lotus posture on the bare floor and merged

his mind in God; the queen attuned her mind with the Divine.

At last, Vasistha opened his eyes and said, "King! The will of God can be

thwarted by no man, whatever his might or authority. I have no power to

override the decree of the Divine. I cannot manifest enough Grace to confer,

through my blessings, the son you desire. You have drawn on yourself a curse.

On one occasion, when you were approaching the Capital, during your journey

home, the Divine Cow, Kamadhenu, was reclining in the cool shade of the Divine

Tree, the Kalpatharu! Your eye fell on her, but caught up in the tangle of

worldly pleasures, you ignored her and passed on, in pride, to the palace.

Kamadhenu was pained at the neglect, she was hurt that you had failed to honour

her; she felt that your people will start dishonouring the cow, since the king

himself had failed in his duty. When rulers, who do not revere the Vedas or

adore Brahmins who learn and practise the Vedas or neglect the cow which

sustains man, continue to rule without restraint, she argued,

there will be no Dharma in the land.

"Kamadhenu cursed you that day that you should have no son to succeed to your

throne; she declared, however, that when you take the advice of the Guru and

start in humility and reverence to serve the cow and worship her in gratitude,

the curse will be rendered infructuous and you will be rewarded with a son and

heir.

"Therefore, worship the cow from this moment, with your queen, as laid down in

the sacred texts and you are certain to have a son. The hour is near when cows

start returning home from the pasture. My treasure, the divine cow, Nandini, is

fast approaching the hermitage. Go, serve her with devotion and steady faith.

Give her food and drink at appropriate hours. Wash the cow and take her out to

the pastures and see that no harm comes to her while she grazes."

Vasishta then initiated the King and Queen in the rituallistic vow of 'Cow

Worship' (Dhenuvratha); he sent them into the cow-shed with holy water and

offerings for the worship and himself walked towards the river for ablutions

and evening prayers.

One day, while Nandini was grazing happily in the jungle, a lion espied her and

followed her in order to allay his hunger. Dileepa observed this; he used all

his skill and might to foil the lion from pouncing on her; he resolved to offer

his own body in exchange. That lion, though feline and ferocious, was a strict

follower of Dharma. Moved by compassion at the sacrifice that the king was

willing to make to save the cow that he worshipped, it released the cow and the

king from its clutches, and left the place.

Nandini was filled with an inexpressible sense of gratitude and joy at the

self-sacrificing gesture of Dileepa. She said, "King! This moment, the curse

that afflicts you is lifted! You will have a son who will subdue the whole

world, support the principles and practice of Dharma, earn renown on earth and

in heaven, enhance the fame of the dynasty, and, more than all, continue the

Ikshvaku line, wherein, the Lord Himself, Narayana, will one day take birth!

May this son be born soon". Nandini blessed the King. Attended by the King, the

sacred cow returned to the asram of Vasishta.

Vasishta had no need to be told! He knew all; as soon as he saw the face of the

King and Queen, he surmised that their wish was fulfilled; so, he blessed them

and permitted them to leave for the City. Then, Dileepa and Queen Sudakshina

prostrated before the Sage and reached the Palace, full of joy at the happy

turn of events.

The child grew in the womb as the blessing guaranteed. When the months ran their

full course, at an auspicious moment, the son was born. When the happy tidings

spread over the city and kingdom, thousands assembled before and around the

palace in great joy; the streets were festooned with flags and green leaves;

groups of people danced in glee calling on all to share in the thrill; they

waved camphor flames to mark the occasion. Huge crowds exclaimed 'Jai' 'Jai'

and moved on towards the Palace grounds.

Dileepa ordered that the birth of the heir to the empire be announced to the

multitude gathered in the vast grounds of the Palace, by the Minister himself,

and when he did so, the joyous acclamation of the throng hit the sky. The

applause was loud and long; the jais echoed and re-echoed from one street to

another. It took many hours for the gathering to disperse and reach home.

On the tenth day, the King invited the Guru and celebrated the rite of Naming

the New-born (Namakaranam). The name Raghu was selected, on the basis of the

asterism under which he was born. The child gave delight to all by its prattle

and play; he was liked by all as a bright and charming youngster; he crossed

his teens and became a brave, resolute, efficient helpmate of his father!

One night - no one could guess why the king felt so - while conversing with the

Queen he said, "Sudakshina! I have achieved many a grand victory! I have

succeeded in celebrating many a great ritual sacrifice. I have fought many a

grim battle with mighty invaders and triumphed over them all, including even

ogres and sub-human Titans! We are blessed with a son who is a precious gem! We

have nothing more to gain.

"Let us spend the remainder of our lives in the adoration of God. Raghu is the

repository of all virtues; he is fit in all respects to take up the burden of

ruling over the Empire. Let us entrust the realm to him; we shall retire into

the silence of the forest, live on roots and fruits, serve the sages who lead

austere lives filled with godly thoughts and godward aspiration, and sanctify

every moment with Sravana (Listening to the sacred teachings), Manana

(Meditating on their inner meaning) and Nididhyasana (Practising the path laid

down) We shall not yield for a minute to sloth based on Thamasic qualities."

So saying, he called the Minister to his presence as soon as it was dawn: he

directed that arrangements be made for the Coronation and marriage of the

Prince. Full of the spirit of renunciation, he asked the Queen what her plans

were. She shed tears of joy and gratitude and said, "What greater good fortune

can I gain? I am bound by your order; proceed with your plans". Her enthusiasm

and willing acceptance strengthened the resolution of the Emperor.

Dileepa called together his ministers, scholars, and sages and communicated to

them his intention to celebrate the Coronation and marriage of his son; they

wholeheartedly agreed and the two functions were held in great pomp. The father

then gave the Prince, valuable advice on administration emphasising the need to

promote the study of the Vedas and the fostering of scholars learned in Vedic

lore, and lay down laws that will promote popular well-being. After this, he

moved into the forest, with the queen, bent on acquiring the Grace of God.

Emperor Raghu ruled the kingdom from that day in accordance with the directives

given by the pundits and with the twin objectives: the happiness of his

subjects and the promotion of righteous living. He believed that these two are

as vital as breath, and he spared no pains in pursuing these ideals, and making

his ministers too adhere to the path. Though young, he was rich in virtue.

However tough a problem happened to be, he grasped it quick and discovered the

means of solving it; he made his subjects happy and contented. Wicked kings

were taught severe lessons by him. He won them over by peaceful approach and

clever diplomatic tactics, or by fielding a little army in order to win them

over, or openly breaking with them and defeating them on the field of battle.

He was engaged in activities that ensured the welfare of the people and promoted

the culture enshrined in the Vedas. All classes of people extolled his rule,

irrespective of age, economic status, or attainments. They said he was proving

himself superior to his father in physical prowess, courage, righteous conduct

and compassion. Eyeryone said that he brought lasting significance to the name

he bore.

Raghu paid special attention to the care and comfort of the hermits engaged in

asceticism in the forests; he saw to it that they were saved from harassment

and himself supervised the arrangements for assuring them protection and

encouragement. So, he received their blessings and grace in ample measure.

One day, the student-hermit, Kautsu, disciple of Varathanthu, came to the Court

after finishing his studies. He prayed to the King to help him in securing the

Thanks Offering which he had to submit to his preceptor. Raghu gave him the

money that he wanted. Kautsu was happy that the gift he received was pure,

collected from the people without causing them any distress, and paid by them

gladly and gratefully, for Raghu did not collect even a paisa more than was

absolutely needed, as he was ever afraid of the anger of God. The money was

also handed over with great love and consideration, and so, Kautsu was

overwhelmed by joy and gratefulness. His heart was full and he spoke lovingly

to the King, "May you be blessed soon with a son Who will achieve world-wide

fame". With this, he left the presence of the ruler.

True to his words, ten months later, Raghu was blessed with a son, dazzling like

a diamond! The rites of baptism and naming were performed by the palace priests;

he was named 'Aja'. [compare with Chapter 7d] He was a very charming babe. He

grew into a sprightly boy, eager to learn all the arts and sciences. He became

an adept in each of them. His fame as a great scholar and a very accomplished

lad spread throughout the land.

In course of time, Raghu also felt his father's urge to place on the prince's

head the burden of the sceptre and himself retire into the forest for the

contemplation of God. He too called on the ministers to arrange for the

transfer of authority by means of the rite of Coronation and to synchronise

that rite with the marriage of Aja with a suitable bride. Indumathi, the sister

of Bhojaraja, the ruler of Magadha, was the bride chosen to be the life partner

of Aja. After the installation of Aja on the throne, the royal parents left for

their forest hermitage.

Aja, with the queen as his loving partner, won the loyalty of the subjects by

his wisdom and sympathy: they scrupulously followed the advice given by Raghu

on the ways and means of administration. Aja loved and revered the world and

its inhabitants as the reflections and images of the Indumathi he loved so

deeply; so, he was full of happiness and exaltation. They used to spend days

and weeks in beautiful sylvan retreats, admiring the glory and grandeur of

Nature.

Meanwhile, the queen gave birth to a son. The parents were overjoyed at this

happy event; they had the news communicated to their revered preceptor,

Vasishta. They wanted ceremonial rites to be done for the newborn baby. He was

named Dasaratha.

Dasaratha was, indeed, the pet of every one who saw him and who had the

privilege of fondling him. The child waved and tossed its limbs about as if he

was all vitality and joy. It appeared as if it was fed on Ananda and it lived

only for imparting Ananda to all.

One day, Aja and Indumathi betook themselves into the forest, as was their wont,

for recreation in the lap of nature. The silence and the sublimity of that day

were even more appealing than on other days. They sat in the shade of a tree

and conversed endearingly, when a wind rose heavy and strong. It brought a

fragrance, sweet beyond description. And, they could hear the captivating

strains of divine music! They rose and searched all around them for the cause

of these mysterious gifts. They found high above their heads, between the

clouds in the sky, Narada, the "mental son" (Maanasa Putra) of Brahma, moving

fast somewhere. Even as they were watching him, a flower from the wreath he was

wearing on his tuft, unloosened itself and wafted by the wind, it fell right on

top of the head of Indumathi. Aja was amazed at this incident; but, he was

shocked to find that the queen fell instantly on the ground in a faint and

closed her eyes for ever!

The death of the woman he loved as intimately as his own breath caused desperate

grief to the ruler; his lamentation shook the forest from end to end. The earth

quaked in sympathy; the trees stood still, rooted in wonder at the sorrow that

filled the royal heart and overflowed it.

 

(See also Srîmad Bhâgavatam Canto 1, Chapter 6: Conversation between Nârada and Vyâsadeva)

Narada heard the wail of the king - his sobs and groans - as he wept over the

corpse of his beloved. He came down to console his agony. "Raja!", he said,

"sorrow is of no avail when death strikes; the body is prone to birth and

death; what brings about birth brings about death too; to seek to know why they

happen is an exercise in insanity. The acts of God are beyond the

cause-and-effect chain. Ordinary intellects cannot unravel them; they can at

best guess the reason, as far as their faculties can reach. How can the

intellect grasp something out of its domain?

"Death is inevitable for each embodied being. However, since the death of

Indumathi is resonant with strangeness, I have to tell you its reason", Narada

said. He drew Aja near and said, "Listen! In former days, the sage Thrnabindu

was engaged in extreme asceticism, and Indra resolved to test his attainments

and the depth of his equanimity. He despatched a Divine Enchantress, named

Harini, to attract him into the world of sensualism. But, the sage was immune

to her wiles and remained unaffected. He opened his eyes and said, 'You do not

seem to be an ordinary woman! You are perhaps a godly damsel. Well, whoever you

are, you must suffer the penalty for resolving to execute a foul deed, a

nefarious plan! Be born as a human being, fallen from heaven; learn what it is

to be a mortal human'. Cursing her thus, the sage closed his eyes and plunged

into meditation again.

"Harini shook with fear and shed profuse tears of repentance; she prayed for

pardon and for cancellation of her exile from heaven, she pleaded pathetically

for the removal of the curse. At this, the sage melted a little and said, 'O

weak one! It is not possible for me to retake my words. But I shall indicate an

occasion when you will be released. Listen! The moment a flower from heaven

drops on your head, your human frame will fall and you can return to Heaven.

Indumathi is that divine damsel and she has found her release this day. When a

flower I wore fell on her, she rid herself of the curse. Why grieve over this?

It is of no avail." Narada spoke of the duties of a monarch and his

responsibility and the example he must set before all; he spoke of the

evanescent nature of life and the mystery of death, the ultimate fate of all

beings that are born. After this, Narada wended his way across the sky.

Unable to save his beloved, Aja performed the obsequies and reached the capital

city. He was heavy with grief; only Prince Dasaratha could give him some

consolation and renew his will to live; he spent his days in morose dreariness.

Since Dasaratha was now a full-grown youth, Aja made over the kingdom to him and

sat on the bank of the Sarayu river, bent on fulfilling the vow of

"non-acceptance of food", (Anasana). Denying himself the sustenance to

continue, he caused his life to ebb away.

As soon as Dasaratha heard the news, he hastened quickly to the Sarayu bank, and

bewailed the loss of his dear father. He arranged for the funeral without delay

and felt some relief that his father had given up life through a ritualistic

vow. He drew some strength from this fact and resumed his duties as the Ruler,

with full mastery of all his varied faculties.

Within a short time, the fame of Dasaratha illumined all quarters, like the rays

of the rising Sun. He had the intrepidity and skill of ten charioteers rolled

into one and so, the name Dasaratha (The-ten-chariot hero) was found

appropriate. No one could stand up against the onrush of his mighty chariot!

Every contemporary ruler, mortally afraid of his prowess, paid homage to his

throne. The world extolled him as a hero without equal, a paragon of virtue, a

statesman of highest stature.

Bhajan: Nârada Muni (in Bengali)Bhajan: Nârada Muni (in het Nederlands)

Ramakatha RasavahiniThe Sweet Story of Rama's GloryOriginal in Telegu written by

Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai BabaRendered into English by Professor N. Kasturi

Source: http://www.vahini.org/ramakatha/chapter2.htmlVahini.org: 'Vahini' Books

written by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

 

 

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