Rama's Wisdom in Facing Exile
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 22
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 22
Rama, facing exile, guides Lakshmana with wisdom. He accepts fate, honors Dasharatha and Kaikeyi, and shares profound insights on destiny's power in this Ramayana passage.
Rama, maintaining his composure, approached his beloved brother Lakshmana. Lakshmana was visibly distressed, his eyes wide with anger, hissing like a mighty serpent. Despite the turmoil, Rama spoke to him with fortitude.
Rama advised Lakshmana:
"Control your anger and sorrow. Dismiss this insult from your mind."
"Instead, find great joy through inner strength."
"Quickly remove all preparations made for my consecration (coronation ceremony)."
"Ensure there are no obstacles in this process."
Rama continued, "O Lakshmana, direct the same enthusiasm used for preparing my consecration towards stopping these arrangements. Act in a way that doesn't cause our mother Kaikeyi to doubt our intentions. I can't bear to see her suffer from uncertainty, even for a moment. I won't ignore the apprehension in her mind."
Rama stated, "I can't recall ever intentionally or unintentionally causing even the slightest displeasure to my mothers or father."
Rama expressed his worry for King Dasharatha:
"Let my father, who is always truthful, truly valiant, and striving for righteousness (dharma), be free from fear of the afterlife."
"If the preparations for my consecration aren't withdrawn, he might suffer mental agony, fearing his word hasn't been kept."
"His pain would torment me as well."
Rama declared his intention:
"Therefore, Lakshmana, after withdrawing the arrangements for the consecration, I wish to depart for the forest from here."
"Once I've left, Kaikeyi, having achieved her goal, will be able to crown her son Bharata without distraction."
"Kaikeyi will find peace of mind only after I've gone to the forest, wearing tattered clothes (valkala), animal skin, and with matted hair (jata)."
Rama expressed his acceptance of the situation:
"This decision has been made with a composed mind. I don't wish to cause pain to either Dasharatha or Kaikeyi."
"Therefore, I'll depart for the forest without delay."
"O Lakshmana, we must see destiny's hand in my exile and in the revocation of the kingdom once awarded to me."
"If this turn of events weren't caused by fate, how could Kaikeyi, who is naturally noble and virtuous, speak such hurtful words to me in front of her husband, like an ordinary woman would?"
Rama shared his thoughts on the power of destiny:
"The power of destiny is beyond comprehension. Its impact on all beings is unavoidable."
"It's clear that adversity has befallen both Kaikeyi and me."
"O Lakshmana, who can fight against destiny? Its grip can only be understood by observing its effects."
"Happiness, misery, fear, anger, gain, loss, birth, and death - all these are surely acts of destiny."
"Even great sages (rishis) practicing severe austerities (tapas) are sometimes tormented by destiny, abandoning their strict observances due to anger or passion."
"When an unexpected obstacle suddenly appears in the midst of an undertaking, it should be considered the work of destiny."
Rama concluded with advice for Lakshmana:
"With this understanding, I've controlled my mind, and I feel no sorrow even though my consecration has been prevented."
"Therefore, follow my example and be free from grief."
"Quickly withdraw all the arrangements made for the coronation ceremony."
"O Lakshmana, don't grieve over the loss of the kingdom. Living in exile (vanavasa) is more glorious than ruling a kingdom."
"In this matter of obstructing my coronation, our younger mother Kaikeyi shouldn't be blamed excessively."
"Overpowered by destiny, she speaks these unpleasant words. You know the powerful influence of destiny."
This concludes the twenty second chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.