Dasharatha's Anguish at Rama's Departure
Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 34
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Ayodhyakanda - Sarga 34
Rama, bound by duty, refuses King Dasharatha's pleas to stay. Despite anguish, he resolves to honor Kaikeyi's boon, choosing exile over kingdom. A tale of sacrifice and dharma unfolds.
Rama, with lotus-like eyes and dark complexion, approached the charioteer and said, "Inform my father of my arrival." (2.34.1)
The charioteer, overwhelmed with grief, quickly entered King Dasharatha's chambers. He found the king sighing heavily, appearing like: (2.34.2-3)
An eclipsed sun
A fire covered with ashes
A dried-up lake
Seeing the king's extremely agitated state, the wise charioteer approached him with folded hands. He first greeted the king, saying "Victory to you," then spoke gently in a trembling voice. (2.34.4-5)
The charioteer announced, "Your son Rama, best among men, waits at the entrance. He has given away all his wealth to Brahmins (priests and scholars) and dependents." (2.34.6-7)
He continued, "O lord of the world, look upon Rama, who possesses true valor. He has bid farewell to all his friends and now wishes to see you before departing for the great forest." (2.34.8)
King Dasharatha, known for his truthfulness and virtue, replied to the charioteer. His depth was like the ocean, and his purity like the sky. (2.34.9)
The king said, "Sumantra, bring all my wives who are here. I wish to see the virtuous Rama in their company." (2.34.10)
Sumantra went to the inner chambers and addressed the queens, "Venerable ones, the king summons you. Go there without delay." (2.34.11-12)
Three hundred and fifty women, faithful to their vows, slowly approached, surrounding Queen Kausalya (Rama's mother). (2.34.13)
Upon seeing his wives arrive, King Dasharatha told Sumantra, "Bring my son Rama here." (2.34.14)
The charioteer brought Rama, along with Lakshmana (Rama's brother) and Sita (Rama's wife), to the king's presence. (2.34.15)
When the king saw his son approaching with folded hands, he suddenly stood up from his throne, surrounded by grieving women. (2.34.16)
The lord of men ran towards Rama but, overcome with sorrow, fell unconscious on the floor before reaching him. (2.34.17)
Rama and the mighty warrior Lakshmana quickly reached their father, who lay as if he had lost his senses due to grief. (2.34.18)
Suddenly, cries of "Alas, alas, Rama!" arose from a thousand women in the palace, mingled with the tinkling of their ornaments. (2.34.19)
Rama and Lakshmana, assisted by Sita, lifted the king in their arms, wailing, and laid him on a couch. (2.34.20)
After the king regained consciousness, Rama addressed him with folded hands, saying: (2.34.21)
"O great king, I seek your leave, for you are lord of us all. See me off cheerfully as I depart for the Dandaka forest (a forested region in ancient India). Allow Lakshmana and Sita to follow me into the forest. I tried to dissuade them, but they did not agree. Discard your grief and permit us all, like Brahma (the creator) allows his subjects." (2.34.22-24)
Seeing Rama calmly waiting for permission to leave, King Dasharatha said: (2.34.25)
"O son of the Raghu dynasty, I have been deluded by Kaikeyi (Dasharatha's wife and Bharata's mother) into granting boons. Imprison me and become the king of Ayodhya now." (2.34.26)
Rama, skilled in speech and a upholder of righteousness, replied with folded hands: (2.34.27)
"You will remain the lord of this earth for a thousand years to come, O king. As for me, I will dwell in the forest. Do not deviate from truth on my account. After fulfilling the vow of fourteen years of wandering in the forest, I shall return to touch your feet, O lord of men." (2.34.28-29)
The king, bound by the cord of truth and instigated by Kaikeyi, said while wailing in distress: (2.34.30)
"Go, my dear child. May your path be auspicious, free from obstacles and fear. Come back after fulfilling the pledge. O my beloved son, O delight of the Raghus, you are devoted to truth and duty. It is difficult to dissuade you from your resolve." (2.34.31)
King Dasharatha, addressing Rama, said, "My dear child, O delight of the Raghus (descendants of King Raghu), you are devoted to truth and duty. It is difficult to dissuade you from your resolve." (2.34.32)
The king continued, pleading, "O son, do not leave today, this night. Stay at least one more day so I can see you to my satisfaction. Spend tonight in the company of your mother and me. With all our desires satisfied, you can set out tomorrow at the appropriate time." (2.34.33-34)
Dasharatha lamented, "O my son, O descendant of the Raghus, you are called upon to accomplish a very difficult task. For the sake of my pleasure, you are forsaking your dear ones and going to the desolate forest." (2.34.35)
The king swore, "I swear by truth, O my beloved son, that your departure to the forest is in no way a pleasure to me. With a hidden motive, this woman (referring to Kaikeyi) who is like fire concealed by ashes has duped me." (2.34.36)
Dasharatha continued, "Instigated by this Kaikeyi, the destroyer of traditions, I have been deceived, for which you wish to pay." (2.34.37)
The king marveled, "It is not a great surprise that you, O my son, being the eldest, want to make your father free from a false promise." (2.34.38)
Rama and Lakshmana were saddened to hear their anguished father's words. Rama replied: (2.34.39)
"Who will give me the merit I earn today? Therefore, I want to depart now, discarding all my desires." (2.34.40)
Rama continued, "The kingdom I have abdicated, with all its people, wealth, and foodgrains, may be bestowed on Bharata (Rama's half-brother and son of Kaikeyi)." (2.34.41)
He affirmed, "My decision to go to the forest remains unchanged. O bestower of boons, O king, honor to the last word the boons you had granted Kaikeyi. And adhere to truth." (2.34.42-43)
Rama declared, "As already said, I shall dwell in the forest for fourteen years with forest rangers, in obedience to your commands." (2.34.43-44)
He urged his father, "Do not brood. Bestow the kingdom on Bharata. I do not have any desire for the kingdom or pleasure. Nothing is dearer to me than compliance with your order, O Delight of the Raghu race." (2.34.44-45)
Rama consoled his father, "Let your grief go. Do not shed tears. The indomitable ocean, Lord of rivers, is never perturbed." (2.34.46)
He emphasized, "I desire no kingdom, no comfort, not this earth nor any pleasure, nor heaven, nor even life." (2.34.47)
Rama swore, "I wish you, O best of men, to uphold truth and not falsehood. I swear this in your presence in the name of truth and on my merits acquired." (2.34.48)
He insisted, "It is not possible for me, O father, to stay here for a moment any longer. Restrain your grief. There can be no change in my resolve, O king." (2.34.49)
Rama explained, "Kaikeyi had said, 'O Rama, go to the forest,' and I have given her my word that I would go. I must fulfill my promise." (2.34.50)
He reassured his father, "Do not worry, O Lord. We will enjoy our stay in the peaceful forest full of deer and resounding with the chirpings of various birds." (2.34.51)
Rama continued, "Father is divine even for the gods, as cited in scriptures. Therefore, looking upon father as my god, I will carry out his words, O father." (2.34.52)
He promised, "I shall return after fourteen years have passed, O best among men. You will see me back. Give up this grief." (2.34.53)
Rama questioned, "When you, O tiger among men, are required as king to pacify those whose throats are choked with tears, why this change in you?" (2.34.54)
He declared, "I am renouncing this city, kingdom, and this entire earth, and let all this be conferred on Bharata. In obedience to your order, I shall go and live in the forest for a long time." (2.34.55)
Rama urged, "Let Bharata rule this auspicious land with its well-laid boundaries, mountain ranges, cities, and forests, which I am leaving behind. Let it happen the way you have said, O king." (2.34.56)
He assured his father, "O sinless king, my mind derives no happiness from great enjoyment or personal comfort as it does from carrying out your order. This is corroborated by the wise. Your grief relating to fulfillment of the vow on my account will be dispelled, O sinless one." (2.34.57)
Rama vowed, "O sinless one, by associating you with falsehood, I will neither seek this eternal kingdom nor objects of desires nor objects of happiness nor Maithili (Sita, Rama's wife) nor even my life. I only wish that your vow comes true." (2.34.58)
He said confidently, "Entering the forest full of various kinds of trees, I shall be happy to view the mountains, rivers, and lakes and to eat fruits and roots. Hence, do not grieve." (2.34.59)
The narrative then describes King Dasharatha's reaction: The king, immersed in anguish and distressed with tears of grief, embraced his son and then fell unconscious on the floor and lay motionless. (2.34.60)
The scene concludes: Thereupon, all the queens except Kaikeyi wailed loudly. Sumantra (the charioteer) too cried and fell unconscious. The entire palace cried 'Alas, Alas'. (2.34.61)
This concludes the thirty fourth chapter (sarga) of Ayodhyakanda, the second book of the Ramayana, the great epic composed by the sage Valmiki.