Ramakatha Rasavahini, Chapter 6 (a) - The Call and the first Victory

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Chapter 6 (a)The Call and the first Victory

 

During those days in the region east of Ayodhya, the royal city, the sage

Viswamitra was engaged in rigorous asceticism. He resolved upon a holy rite,

known as Yajna. But, however often he inaugurated it, the demons desecrated the

rite and fouled its sanctity. They showered pieces of flesh on the sacred area

and made it unfit for such Vedic ceremonies. In many other ways, too, they cast

obstacles and halted the holy mission. Viswamitra was at his wits' end; he went

to the capital city of the empire, Ayodhya, to meet the Ruler himself.

When reports arrived of the coming of the sage, the King sent his ministers to

bring him with due honours into the Palace. They welcomed him at the City Gate

and accompanied him right up to the Palace door. At the Palace Brahmins recited

Vedic hymns, while Dasaratha washed his feet and, as laid down in the sacred

texts and as is customary in receptions of sages, he sprinkled upon his own

head drops of the water so sanctified. Viswamitra was led into the inner

apartments and seated on a high chair, with the members of the royal court

standing reverentially around him. "This is indeed a great day!" exclaimed

Dasaratha. He expressed his joy at the unexpected arrival of the holy personage

and the opportunity he gained to serve and honour him. Viswamitra directed the

King and the ministers to sit and they obeyed.

The sage graciously enquired about the health and welfare of the King and royal

family, and about the peace and prosperity of the kingdom. He asked him whether

his reign was marked by strength and security and whether his government was

ensuring the continued progress of his subjects. Dasaratha replied that, as a

result of the Grace of God and the blessings of saints and sages, his subjects

were dutifully and gladly engaged in their several tasks without fear of

failure and that the administration had before it the steady promotion of the

welfare of the people. He said that his government was serving the people in

many ways to promote and preserve their happiness and security. Dasaratha

yearned to know the reason for the sage's arrival. He assured him that he was

ever ready to fulfill his least desire. He declared with great devotion that he

will discharge earnestly any duty that the sage may cast on him. He was only

waiting to know what he could do for him.

Viswamitra nodded his head in approval.

He turned towards Dasaratha and said, "I shall not declare now, before you, that

you are a very righteous ruler, that you revere guests and supplicants, and that

you are the embodiment of faith and devotion; the fact that the empire is happy

under your rule is enough evidence of this. The welfare of the subjects depends

on the character of the rulers. People will have peace or will suffer anxiety,

when the rulers are either good or bad. Wherever I have enquired, I am told it

is only in Ayodhya that we have a people full of love and loyalty to the

sovereign and a sovereign full of affection and regard to his people. In every

nook and corner of your kingdom, I hear this heartening news! Therefore, I know

that your words come straight from the heart. I have not the least doubt; you

will not deviate from your promise. You will adhere to the word once given".

These words of the sage moved Dasaratha deeply. "Great men will engage

themselves only in activities that help the world. And, whatever they do, they

will not stray from the injunctions of the scriptures. There must be a good

reason for whatever they contemplate, they are prompted by the Divine will in

every act of theirs. So, I am ever willing, with all the resources at my

command, to serve you and fulfill your slightest wish", he replied. Dasaratha

vowed again and again that he would carry out the sage's command.

This made the sage very glad. "Yes! As you said, we do not emerge from our

hermitages without reason. I have come to you on a high purpose! Listening to

your enthusiastic response, I am doubly happy! I am filled with joy that my

errand has borne fruit". "You will stand by your promise, will you not," asked

Viswamitra! Dasaratha replied without delay, "Master! You should, perhaps, ask

others such a question; but, Dasaratha is not the person to break the pledged

word! He will give up his life rather than bring dishonour on himself, going

back on his promise. What greater treasure can a monarch have than morality and

integrity? They alone stand by him as sources of strength while discharging his

manifold responsibilities. If these two are lost, the kingdom becomes a mansion

without light, a wilderness beset with apish vagaries and factional fights. It

will be torn by anarchy and terror. In the end, the king will meet with

disaster. I am certain that such a calamity

can never overwhelm my dynasty for ages to come. Therefore, without entertaining

any shadow of doubt, tell me the mission that brought you to Ayodhya, and accept

the service that this devoted servant is ready to offer".

Viswamitra said, "No, no! I had no doubt in my mind. I simply uttered those

words in order to hear this assertion of your steady adherence to truth! I know

that the Ikshvaku rulers are intensely wedded to the duty of fulfilling the

spoken word. Well! I require from you only one thing now. It is neither wealth

nor vehicles, neither cows nor gold, nor regiments nor attendants. I need only

two of your sons, Rama and Lakshmana, to accompany me. What do you say to

this", the sage asked?

At this, Dasaratha lost balance; he fell back and could not recover soon.

Regaining his composure after some time, he gasped for courage to utter a few

words. He said, "Master! Of what use will those boys be for you? The mission on

which you intend to take those boys can be better fulfilled by me, don't you

think so? Give me the chance. Let me make my life worth while. Tell me what it

is; I shall derive joy there from". The sage replied, "My firm belief is that

the task which these boys can fulfill can be undertaken by no one else. They

alone can accomplish this task; neither your millions nor even you can carry it

out! Boys such as these have not been born before! Nor will such be born again!

This is my conviction.

"Listen! I resolved upon the performance of a celebrated Yajna (sacrificial

rite). But as soon as I enter upon its preliminaries evil spirits and demons

assemble from nowhere and cause sacrilegious obstruction. They cause

interruptions and pile hindrances. I want these boys to ward off those demons

and save the Yajna from these abominations, so that I can bring it to a

successful conclusion. This is my purpose, my desire. What do you say now?"

asked Viswamitra, in a serious stentorian voice.

The King replied, "Master! These tender little boys, how can they perform such a

tremendous task? I am here, most willing and most ready. I shall come with my

chariotry, infantry, cavalry and elephantry and guard the area of the sacrifice

and your hermitage; I shall see that the Yajna is conducted with full success

without the least interruption. I have some experience in fighting against

these demoniac forces, since, as you know, I fought for the Gods against them

and brought them victory. I can do it quite easily. I shall make arrangements

to accompany you even now. Permit me to do so", he appealed.

Hearing these words, the sage said, "0 King! I am not satisfied in spite of all

that you say. I assert once again, you cannot accomplish this assignment. Can

you not realize that it is beyond even me who is acclaimed as well-nigh

omnipotent and omniscient? How then can you take up this task and succeed? You

consider these boys just ordinary children; this is a mistake resulting from

the affection you have as the father. I know full well that they are the Divine

Might itself in human Form. Do not hesitate. Keep your word so solemnly given

and send them this very moment with me. Or else, accept that you are not true

to your word; I shall depart. Do either of these, quick! This is no occasion

for wavering and delay!" The King was frightened by the sharpness of the sage's

voice. He was overwhelmed by fear. In despair, Dasaratha wanted that his

preceptor be invited to court. Vasishta came in and on seeing Viswamitra, they

exchanged smiles and words of mutual respect.

Vasishta heard from the King an account of all that had happened. Of course,

Vasishta knew quite well the Divine Reality of the boys; so, he decided to

advise the King not to have the least worry, but entrust the boys gladly to the

loving custody of the sage.

Dasaratha pleaded that the boys were not keeping good health for some months and

that they did not have even the physical stamina to engage in battle with the

demons. "We are concerned since long about their health and now this demand for

them has come like a jab on a painful sore. My mind does not agree in the least

to send them forth to encounter the demons. I shall guard my children even at

the risk of my own life", lamented the King.

Viswamitra intervened and said. "King! Why do you foolishly lament in this

manner? You should have desisted from making promises which you could not

fulfill. It is an act of dark sin when a ruler makes a promise without

considering the pros and cons and then, when he is asked to execute it, to

delay, retract and even to go counter to the promise. This is most unworthy of

kings like you. I spurn the help you offer, sorrowfully. Help rendered, however

small, if it comes from the deeper urges of service welling in the heart is as

good as the offer of life itself. Half-hearted and hesitating help, however

great, is deplorable. I have no desire to cause pain and extract help from you.

Well! Be happy with yourself and your sin, I am leaving." Viswamitra rose and

attempted to move off. The King fell at his feet and prayed for more light and

more time. He asked that he may be taught his duty. He pleaded with the sage to

convince him of the fairness of his demand, so

that he could fulfill his plan.

At this, Vasishta called Dasaratha to his side and counseled him. He said,

"King! You are coming in the way of an imminent cosmic revelation, a mighty

fulfillment. Since your heart is affected by parental affection, the truth is

veiled before you. Your sons will come to no harm. No, never. There is no

height of heroism that is beyond them. Formidable Divine Forces have taken

these human forms for the very purpose of destroying demons and demoniac

powers. So, without further delay, send for the boys. You should not calculate

now their physical strength or the measure of their intelligence. Calculate

rather the Divine that is bubbling up from them every minute of their lives.

There is no strength which can stand up to that, remember!" After some more

advice on these lines, Vasishta sent for the Princes, Rama and Lakshmana. As

soon as they heard that the sages Viswamitra and Vasishta wanted them, both of

them rushed along and entering the hall, bowed in reverence.

First, they fell at the feet of the father, then at the feet of Vasishta, the

family Preceptor, and next, at the feet of Viswamitra. With a smile playing on

his lips, Viswamitra addressed the boys when they rose and stood reverentially

on one side. He said, "Boys! Will you come with me?" The boys were elated at

the prospect.

On hearing this, Dasaratha was further disheartened; his face turned pale. Rama

saw his father sorrowing over his approval; he approached him softly and said,

"Father! Why are you sad when I am going with the great Sage? Is there any

better way of utilizing this body than putting it at the service of others?

This body has been given to us for that very purpose. And, to share in the holy

tasks of ascetics and to be able to grant them some relief from harassment, is

this not high use? There is nothing impossible for us, is there? We will

destroy the demons (the Raakshasas), however fierce they may be and bring peace

to the sages. If permitted, we are ready to start off this very minute". These

words charged with courage served to reduce to some extent the anxiety of

Dasaratha.

But, the King was still struggling; he could not decide what to say. He drew

Rama to himself and told him, "Son! The Raakhasas are no ordinary foes! Reports

say that among them are Sunda, Upasunda, Maricha, Subahu etc. These are

atrociously cruel. Their physical appearance is indescribably horrid; you have

had no occasion yet to look upon such terrifying forms. I cannot contemplate

the moment when you come face to face with them. How can you battle with those

tricksters who are adepts at camouflage and physical transformations? You have

not so far heard even the word 'battle'! Nor have you seen actual combat on the

field. And you are now suddenly called to fight such formidable foes! Alas!

Destiny is indeed very cruel! Alas! Have my sons to face on the very threshold

of their lives this monstrous ordeal?"

With these thoughts revolving in his mind, Dasaratha shed profuse tears out of

the anguish of his heart. Lakshmana noticed his father's mental weakness. He

said, "Father! Why these tears! We are not timid girls! The battlefield is our

legitimate arena; war is our rightful duty, the safeguarding of righteousness

is our genuine responsibility. The service of sages and the maintenance of

moral codes are our very breath. I am surprised you are sad that we go on such

a glorious errand! The world will laugh at you for this display of weakness.

Send us with your love and blessings. I too will accompany my brother and

return with the glory of Victory."

Rama saw his father overpowered by affection for him; he moved towards the

throne and held his hand lovingly. He said, "Father! It appears you have

forgotten who you are. Bring into your memory who you are, in which royal

family immortalized by which forefathers you were born, and how much fame they

had attained. Then, you will not weep as you are doing now. You took birth in

the Ikshvaku dynasty. Till this day, you have spent your years, as the very

embodiment of Dharma. The three worlds have acclaimed you as the dutiful

observer of vows, as the guardian and practitioner of Dharma, and as the most

redoubtable hero on the battlefield, as well as elsewhere. You are aware that

there is no greater sin than retracting the word once given. Going back on the

word you have given to the sage will tarnish your fair fame. Your sons cannot

tolerate this ill-fame. When

you cannot act according to your word, you can have no share in the merit of the

sacrifices performed by you or even of the beneficial acts done by you like

digging wells, and planting trees. Why dilate? We, your sons feel that it is a

mark of disgrace, for which we have to bend our heads, even to listen to the

talk that Dasaratha broke his plighted word. This is an indelible blot on the

reputation of the dynasty itself. Your affection for your sons is blind; it is

not based on discrimination. It will bring on us punishment, not protection. If

really you are moved by affection towards us, you should pay attention to the

promotion of our fame, shouldn't you? Of course, we are in no position to

advise you. You know all this. Your affection has drawn you into this miasma of

ignorance; it has made it difficult for you to recognize your duty. As for us,

we have not the slightest shred of fear. The Bride of Victory will certainly

espouse us. Do not hesitate; bless us and entrust us to the

sage." Rama pleaded thus, and bending his head low, he touched the feet of his father.

Dasaratha drew Rama to himself and fondled his head; he said, "Son! All you have

said is true. They are gems of great worth. I am not a fool to deny them. I

shall proceed this moment with my four-winged army and protect the sacrificial

ceremony of this sage at the cost of all that I possess. But, my mind does not

accept the proposal to send you, just now being trained in the arts of war and

weaponry, into the arms of those demoniac Raakshasas. No father will knowingly

offer into the tiger's paw the sons he has borne. And, is it right for you too

to plunge us into the flames of grief? We gained you through austerity, and

fostered you as the very breath of our lives? Alas! What can any one do when

destiny itself is against us? I shall not blame you or any one else; it is the

consequence of the sins I have myself committed".

Dasaratha bewailed thus, with his hand upon his head. At this, Rama broke into a

smile. He said, "Father! What is this weakness? You speak of thrusting us into

the tiger's mouth! Haven't you realized yet that we are not goats to be so

offered? Believe us to be lion cubs, send us on this sacred task with your

blessings. Kings must not delay sacred tasks!" Hearing these rather sharp

remarks of Rama. Vasishta rose, saying, "Excellent! Dasaratha! Did you hear the

lion's roar? Why the jackal howl hereafter? Arise! Send the message to the

mothers and fetch them; place your sons at the service of Viswamitra." Hearing

these words, Dasaratha felt he could not do anything else than obey; he sent

word that the Queens come into the presence.

The Queens put in their appearance with veils over their heads; they touched the

feet of the sages and of Dasaratha and afterwards, they moved towards the

children and stood by their side, fondling with loving fingers the crown of

their heads. Vasishta spoke to them first. He said, "Mother! Our Rama and

Lakshmana are ready to leave with Viswamitra in order to guard his Yajna rite

from interference and obstruction by demoniac hordes; bless them before they

leave." As soon as she heard this, Kausalya raised her head in surprise saying:

"What is this I hear? Are these saplings to guard and protect the Yajna which

the great Sage is celebrating? I have heard that the Mantras themselves with

their Divine potency will be the best armour; how can mere man dare take upon

himself the burden of saving the Yajna from harm. The responsibility for the

successful conclusion of the Yajna lies on the recitude of the

participating priesthood".

This appeared to Vasishta as correct; but yet, he thought it best to shed a

little more light on the situation. "Kausalya! Mother! The Yajna of Viswamitra

is no ordinary rite! Many obstacles are affecting it and creating anxiety".

Vasishta was continuing with his explanation when Kausalya intervened and said,

"I am really amazed to hear that anxiety overshadows the Yajnas performed by

sages and rishis. I believe that no power can stand against any sacred resolve.

The sage is nursing this desire and craving for its fulfillment in order to

manifest the Supreme Light and Peace; that is my surmise. He might have put

forward this request in order to test the King's attachment to his children. Or

else, how can we believe that these tiny sprouts of tenderness will guard from

harm the Yajna that this sage, endowed with all mystic and mysterious powers,

is proposing to celebrate?"

While Kausalya was saying this, her hand caressing the head of Rama, Dasaratha

who was listening to her talk, suddenly realized the truth in a flash and

arrived at a bold decision. He said, "Yes! the words of Kausalya convey

authentic truth. This is but a plan to test me; I am certain about it. Master!

How can I, a weakling, encounter your test? I shall abide by your wish,

whatever it is!" With these words, Dasaratha fell at the feet of Vasishta.

Vasishta looked at him and said, "Maharaja! You have proven yourself worthy.

These boys are not of common stamp. Their skills and capacities are limitless.

We know this. Others do not know. This occasion is but the in-auguration of

their triumphal march; it is the prologue to the history or their victorious

career. It is the taking on by them of the vow or Dharma-rakshana, the

Guardianship of Righteousness. They will return soon with the Bride of Victory.

Therefore, without further thought, hand them over gladly

to Viswamitra."

Vasishta called the boys to his side, and placing his auspicious palm on their

heads, he recited some hymns pronouncing his Blessings on them. The boys fell

at the feet of the mothers and received their blessings. They stood ready to

depart.

Dasaratha noticed the glow of joy and courage on their faces; he suppressed the

grief that was surging within him; he placed his hands on the shoulders of the

boys and came near Viswamitra; he fell at his feet and said, "These two, 0

Master, are from this day your sons; their health and happiness are dependent

on you; if you order that a few personal guards may be sent with them, I shall

gladly comply".

At this, Viswamitra burst into laughter. "0! King, You are really insane! Is

there any one who can guard them, these heroes who are coming to free the Yajna

from obstruction? Do they need any? They are out to guard the Yajna which we

cannot guard; do such mighty heroes need some one to protect them? Of course,

your affection has blinded you. King! I shall bring them with me to you when

the task for which I am taking them is accomplished. Do not worry. Rule over

the kingdom without injustice or interruption."

Viswamitra rose from the seat; every one offered reverential obeisance to the

great sage. He walked out of the hall first, and the two princes followed him.

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/chapter6.htmlVahini.org: 'Vahini' Books

written by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

 

 

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