Ramakatha Rasavahini - Part 1

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Style'"> 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.

'Bookman Old Style'"> 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?

Style'"> "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. (Next: Chapter 3 - No Progeny from

his Loins) SaiRam.