Seeing that Kaikeyi stuck to her guns in her resolve to get Rama sent to the forest, Dasharatha resigned to the fact that squeezed by his own promise in the matter of sending Rama to exile, was thinking very hard to do something in the matter. Ah! He got that something. Sighing heavily with tears he told Sumantra with a weak smile "Oh, Sumantra! Let a military body consisting of (all) the four limbs of the arms, filled with the best of its kind, be arranged immediately. Let courtesans well versed in speaking and merchants with great riches having exposure for extension of sales bestow elegance to the forces of the Prince. Appoint in this contingent those too, by giving abundant money to them, who were dependent on Rama and on whom he took delight in gallantry. Let important weapons, chiefs of police and vehicles, hunters knowing the secrets of forest accompany Rama. Killing deer and elephants, drinking forest-honey, seeing various rivers, he would not remember of sovereignty. Let the granary and the treasury belonging to me be sent to Rama residing in the uninhabited forest. He can spend his exile happily, by performing sacrificial rites in holy places and disbursing appropriate gifts, along with sages living in the forest. The mighty armed Bharata may rule Ayodhya. Let Rama be sent along with all objects of enjoyment."
Kaikeyi was horrified, stunned, appalled, astonished and startled to hear what Dasharatha was saying. She was thinking very hard some way to stop this. "How my dear Manthara would counter this?" she was thinking. Ah! Something flashed in her mind. She thought she was advised by telepathy by her dear hunch-back Manthara. "Stop this rigmarole!" she boomed. Then she looked around triumphantly and continued with a wry smile "Bharata will not and cannot accept the kingdom, which will become uninhabited, hollow and which will be absolutely unenjoyable like wine, shorn of its spirituous part, Oh! noble soul!"
While Kaikeyi was brazenly uttering the most brutal, shameless, ruthless, callous, sadistic, inhumane etc. words, King Dasharatha stared at her and mildly told her "I have granted the boons you demanded. I am just carrying out the same, now. You had not stipulated any condition as to how Rama should be sent to the forest. While asking the boons you did not specify that Rama should not be allowed to take anything with him or troupes etc. should not be sent with him."
Doubly enraged on hearing this clever, smart, sensible and rational retort by Dasharatha, Kaikeyi countered "In your dynasty itself, Sagara just cast away his eldest son Asamanja without any paraphernalia, whatsoever. Likewise, Rama, too should go without anything to bank upon." Hearing that, king Dasharatha uttered only one word "Shame!". The entire people there nodded in complete agreement. But Kaikeyi, being shameless, did not perceive it, or pretended.
There, the aged and the upright chief minister Siddhartha by name who was highly esteemed by all, explained to Kaikeyi "Asamanja, an hardcore sadist with an evil-mind, was catching hold of children playing in the street and throwing them in the waters of the Saryu river, just to satisfy his sadistic pleasure. By watching him, all the citizens were horrified and highly enraged and represented to the king 'choose either to keep yourself Asamanja alone or to preserve us'. Thereupon the king asked them the reason and the people told him 'He obtains incomparable delight by throwing our playing children in the Sarayu river in a whirled state of mind.' This made the king abandon the son repugnant to his subjects, in a bid to do good to them. Arranging immediately to place him along with his wife together with the paraphernalia (like utensils, implements etc) in a vehicle, the king exiled him for life. Roaming in all directions, he ransacked mountain passes, by taking a basket and a shovel. The highly righteous King Sagara abandoned Asamanja for the perpetration of sinful deeds as explained above. But, what sin Rama has done, for which he is to be debarred in this way? We do not indeed perceive any fault in Rama. It is as difficult to find a taint in him as in a new moon. Or if you see any fault in Rama, Oh Kaikeyi please tell us about it now. Then, Rama will be exiled. As it is contradictory to righteousness to abandon one who is guilty and who is devoted only to a good path, it would consume the splendour of even Indra (the ruler of gods). Hence, there is no need of impeding the royal fortune of Rama. Oh, lady with a charming face! Even blame from the public should be taken care of by you."
Seeing the supercilious look on the face of Kaykeyi, Dasharatha said "Oh, the sinful being! You do not seem to agree with the learned Siddhartha. By resorting to the path of the deplorable persons, you are not fit to be my wife. I am, therefore accompanying Rama now, by abandoning my kingdom, happiness and wealth. You enjoy the kingdom for a long time, happily together with Bharata as the King."
Rama who was a silent onlooker until now, decided to break his silence and told Dasharatha "Sir, I am to live in the forest for fourteen years. I, therefore, have decided to live as a pious and holy person viz. like an ascetic and an hermit; I am taking all my personal weapons and my dear brother Lakshmana comes with me, with all his personal weapons, for support. We have decided to enjoy the forest life for the fourteen years and also help and protect the other holy men there doing yagnas, penance etc. As such I do not require army accompanying me. Who, after giving away a first-class elephant, will fancy the rope with which it is tied? What use is there for him through attachment to the rope after abandoning the excellent elephant? So also, what use is there for me by the army, Sir, when I am giving away absolutely all. Let the dresses of a holy man be brought to me."
Thereupon, Kaikeyi said to Rama "Well said! Rama! That is my son. I have brought these specially for all the three of you. Put them on" Taking a few pieces of bark (as loin cloth and cover) from kaikeyi and discarding his clothing of fine yarn, Rama put on the garb of ascetics. Lakshmana too there itself before his father put on the clothing of ascetics, by discarding his beautiful raiment. Then, Seetha who wore silken clothing, by seeing the piece of bark intended to be worn by her, felt alarming as a deer would on seeing a snare(set for entrapping). Feeling abashed while taking the apparel made of Kusa grass and greatly troubled in mind, Seetha who bore auspicious marks knew what is righteousness and who was an illustration of righteousness, asked her husband who looked like Chitraratha(the king of Gandharvas), with her eyes filled with tears "How ascetics residing in the forest wear these pieces of bark?" Seetha who was not adept in wearing the bark of trees, erred again and again(in her attempt to wear it). Keeping one piece of bark on her neck as well as holding it with her hand, Seetha stood abashed, not adept as she was in wearing it. Rama, the foremost of those upholding virtue, quickly came and personally fastened that bark over the sliding garment of Seetha. Seeing Rama fastening the bark to Seetha in that manner, all the wives of Dasharatha (save Kaikeyi, of course) present there became highly distressed and shed tears. They entreated Rama " Dear child! Seetha is not fit to reside in the forest. Please leave her with us and we will take utmost care of her. Oh Rama! let her sight be a reward to us till your return. You go to the forest along with Lakshmana as your companion, Seetha the beautiful girl is not fit to reside in a forest like an ascetic. Accept our prayer, Oh son! Let Seetha the most beautiful young lady stay here."
Rama heard their kind entreaty and he simply smiled and continued to fasten that piece of bark to Seetha. Seeing Seetha accepting the piece of bark, Vasistha the king's preceptor said to Kaikeyi "Oh the evil minded Kaikeyi, You have exceeded your limits, and have brought disgrace to your family! You are not establishing justifiable standard and you misled the king. Seetha, the princess shall not proceed to the forest. She will occupy the throne, which was awarded to Rama. A wife is very self to one, who constantly cares for his wife. As Seetha is Rama's self, she can rule the earth. Or rather, if Seetha goes to the forest together with Rama, we also will follow suit. This city too will go. The frontier guards and the State including its patrons, as well as this city with its goods and chattels will go wherever Rama and his wife are. Wearing pieces of bark, Bharata along with Shatrughna will also go to Rama, their brother residing in the forest and moving in the forest. Thereafter, singly you alone with bad conduct, rule this earth which is bereft of people and desolate, with its trees alone remaining. Where Rama is not a king, that place will not indeed become a kingdom. That forest, where Rama will be living, can become a kingdom. Though Bharata is one of the dear sons of the king Dasharatha, he is not fit to rule the earth that is not being offered by his father nor to live as a son in your case. Even if you can jump from the surface of the earth to the sky, Bharata who knows the record of his father's dynasty will not do as you wish him to do. Therefore, an unfriendly act(alone) has been done by you, even though you are covetous towards his well-being. There is none indeed in this world who is not devoted to Rama.
"Oh, Kaikeyi! You will see now itself that beasts, elephants, deer and birds going with Rama and trees also turning their faces towards Rama. Moreover, putting aside the bark of trees, give excellent jewellery to your daughter-in-law, the bark of trees is not ordained for her. It was solicited by you, the dwelling in the forest of Rama only. Let Seetha, to be decorated daily, be adorned with ornaments and live in the forest along with Rama. Let Seetha go with excellent conveyances, well accompanied by attendants, with all costumes and useful accessories. Her exile was not indeed solicited by you, while asking for boons".
Kaikeyi did not deign to reply despite the fact that Vasishta, the preceptor of the king, had an influence beyond compare and the best of Brahmans and merely wore a glum face. Seetha did not change her resolution to follow the ways of her beloved husband.
Seeing Seetha wearing bark of trees like a beggar, even though protected by her very powerful husband, all the people there loudly cried out "Fie upon you, Dasharatha!" Pained by that loud cry there, King Dasharatha lost interest in his life, religious merit and esteem. Dasharatha with a long sigh, spoke to Kaikeyi "Oh, Kaikeyi! Seetha does not deserve to go with a robe made of Kusa grass. My preceptor truly says that Seetha, who is delicate, young and ever habituated to comforts, is not fit for forest-life. Has this pitiable daughter of Janaka, done any harm to any one because of which she, having obtained a bark of trees is standing like a hermit and dumbfounded in the midst of men? Seetha, the daughter of Janaka need not wear these barks of trees. No such pledge was given by me. Hence, let this princess go to the forest happily fully provided with all the valuable possessions. A cruel pledge has been made on oath by me, who does not deserve to survive. This (providing robes of hermits to Seetha initiated by you) is immature, silly, foolish, trifling, frivolous, infantile and puerile. That will consume me, as by its own flower a bamboo. Even supposing a little offence was done by Rama to you, what harm was displayed to you by Seetha? Oh, mean woman! What harm on earth can be done to you by Seetha, who has blooming eyes like those of a female deer, soft in disposition? Sending Rama to exile thus indeed is enough for you. What use is there for you in further doing these wretched, sinful acts, too. Hearing the speech you gave to Rama who came here for coronation, only that much was acceded by me. Transgressing all that, you somehow or other wish to go to hell, by perceiving Seetha also clad in bark of trees."
The highly grieved king thus lamenting, did not see any ending to that sorrow. Drenched as he was in excessive devotion to his son and having been hurt very much, he sagged into his chair. Rama, who was setting out to the forest, told his father "Oh, Sir, My mother Kausalya, here is aged. She is not of base nature and will not accuse you. You are worthy of amply respecting her, who is deprived of me, and who is immersed in an ocean of sorrow and who has not seen such an affliction earlier. Having been honoured by you, the venerable man, she the pitiable woman will not get such a grief for her son, and thinking of me alone she will draw consolation from you. You must see that my mother, who has high affection for me, will not depart to the house of Yama the God of Death, by abandoning her life by getting emaciated by grief after my departure to the forest."
Kaikeyi was horrified, stunned, appalled, astonished and startled to hear what Dasharatha was saying. She was thinking very hard some way to stop this. "How my dear Manthara would counter this?" she was thinking. Ah! Something flashed in her mind. She thought she was advised by telepathy by her dear hunch-back Manthara. "Stop this rigmarole!" she boomed. Then she looked around triumphantly and continued with a wry smile "Bharata will not and cannot accept the kingdom, which will become uninhabited, hollow and which will be absolutely unenjoyable like wine, shorn of its spirituous part, Oh! noble soul!"
While Kaikeyi was brazenly uttering the most brutal, shameless, ruthless, callous, sadistic, inhumane etc. words, King Dasharatha stared at her and mildly told her "I have granted the boons you demanded. I am just carrying out the same, now. You had not stipulated any condition as to how Rama should be sent to the forest. While asking the boons you did not specify that Rama should not be allowed to take anything with him or troupes etc. should not be sent with him."
Doubly enraged on hearing this clever, smart, sensible and rational retort by Dasharatha, Kaikeyi countered "In your dynasty itself, Sagara just cast away his eldest son Asamanja without any paraphernalia, whatsoever. Likewise, Rama, too should go without anything to bank upon." Hearing that, king Dasharatha uttered only one word "Shame!". The entire people there nodded in complete agreement. But Kaikeyi, being shameless, did not perceive it, or pretended.
There, the aged and the upright chief minister Siddhartha by name who was highly esteemed by all, explained to Kaikeyi "Asamanja, an hardcore sadist with an evil-mind, was catching hold of children playing in the street and throwing them in the waters of the Saryu river, just to satisfy his sadistic pleasure. By watching him, all the citizens were horrified and highly enraged and represented to the king 'choose either to keep yourself Asamanja alone or to preserve us'. Thereupon the king asked them the reason and the people told him 'He obtains incomparable delight by throwing our playing children in the Sarayu river in a whirled state of mind.' This made the king abandon the son repugnant to his subjects, in a bid to do good to them. Arranging immediately to place him along with his wife together with the paraphernalia (like utensils, implements etc) in a vehicle, the king exiled him for life. Roaming in all directions, he ransacked mountain passes, by taking a basket and a shovel. The highly righteous King Sagara abandoned Asamanja for the perpetration of sinful deeds as explained above. But, what sin Rama has done, for which he is to be debarred in this way? We do not indeed perceive any fault in Rama. It is as difficult to find a taint in him as in a new moon. Or if you see any fault in Rama, Oh Kaikeyi please tell us about it now. Then, Rama will be exiled. As it is contradictory to righteousness to abandon one who is guilty and who is devoted only to a good path, it would consume the splendour of even Indra (the ruler of gods). Hence, there is no need of impeding the royal fortune of Rama. Oh, lady with a charming face! Even blame from the public should be taken care of by you."
Seeing the supercilious look on the face of Kaykeyi, Dasharatha said "Oh, the sinful being! You do not seem to agree with the learned Siddhartha. By resorting to the path of the deplorable persons, you are not fit to be my wife. I am, therefore accompanying Rama now, by abandoning my kingdom, happiness and wealth. You enjoy the kingdom for a long time, happily together with Bharata as the King."
Rama who was a silent onlooker until now, decided to break his silence and told Dasharatha "Sir, I am to live in the forest for fourteen years. I, therefore, have decided to live as a pious and holy person viz. like an ascetic and an hermit; I am taking all my personal weapons and my dear brother Lakshmana comes with me, with all his personal weapons, for support. We have decided to enjoy the forest life for the fourteen years and also help and protect the other holy men there doing yagnas, penance etc. As such I do not require army accompanying me. Who, after giving away a first-class elephant, will fancy the rope with which it is tied? What use is there for him through attachment to the rope after abandoning the excellent elephant? So also, what use is there for me by the army, Sir, when I am giving away absolutely all. Let the dresses of a holy man be brought to me."
Thereupon, Kaikeyi said to Rama "Well said! Rama! That is my son. I have brought these specially for all the three of you. Put them on" Taking a few pieces of bark (as loin cloth and cover) from kaikeyi and discarding his clothing of fine yarn, Rama put on the garb of ascetics. Lakshmana too there itself before his father put on the clothing of ascetics, by discarding his beautiful raiment. Then, Seetha who wore silken clothing, by seeing the piece of bark intended to be worn by her, felt alarming as a deer would on seeing a snare(set for entrapping). Feeling abashed while taking the apparel made of Kusa grass and greatly troubled in mind, Seetha who bore auspicious marks knew what is righteousness and who was an illustration of righteousness, asked her husband who looked like Chitraratha(the king of Gandharvas), with her eyes filled with tears "How ascetics residing in the forest wear these pieces of bark?" Seetha who was not adept in wearing the bark of trees, erred again and again(in her attempt to wear it). Keeping one piece of bark on her neck as well as holding it with her hand, Seetha stood abashed, not adept as she was in wearing it. Rama, the foremost of those upholding virtue, quickly came and personally fastened that bark over the sliding garment of Seetha. Seeing Rama fastening the bark to Seetha in that manner, all the wives of Dasharatha (save Kaikeyi, of course) present there became highly distressed and shed tears. They entreated Rama " Dear child! Seetha is not fit to reside in the forest. Please leave her with us and we will take utmost care of her. Oh Rama! let her sight be a reward to us till your return. You go to the forest along with Lakshmana as your companion, Seetha the beautiful girl is not fit to reside in a forest like an ascetic. Accept our prayer, Oh son! Let Seetha the most beautiful young lady stay here."
Rama heard their kind entreaty and he simply smiled and continued to fasten that piece of bark to Seetha. Seeing Seetha accepting the piece of bark, Vasistha the king's preceptor said to Kaikeyi "Oh the evil minded Kaikeyi, You have exceeded your limits, and have brought disgrace to your family! You are not establishing justifiable standard and you misled the king. Seetha, the princess shall not proceed to the forest. She will occupy the throne, which was awarded to Rama. A wife is very self to one, who constantly cares for his wife. As Seetha is Rama's self, she can rule the earth. Or rather, if Seetha goes to the forest together with Rama, we also will follow suit. This city too will go. The frontier guards and the State including its patrons, as well as this city with its goods and chattels will go wherever Rama and his wife are. Wearing pieces of bark, Bharata along with Shatrughna will also go to Rama, their brother residing in the forest and moving in the forest. Thereafter, singly you alone with bad conduct, rule this earth which is bereft of people and desolate, with its trees alone remaining. Where Rama is not a king, that place will not indeed become a kingdom. That forest, where Rama will be living, can become a kingdom. Though Bharata is one of the dear sons of the king Dasharatha, he is not fit to rule the earth that is not being offered by his father nor to live as a son in your case. Even if you can jump from the surface of the earth to the sky, Bharata who knows the record of his father's dynasty will not do as you wish him to do. Therefore, an unfriendly act(alone) has been done by you, even though you are covetous towards his well-being. There is none indeed in this world who is not devoted to Rama.
"Oh, Kaikeyi! You will see now itself that beasts, elephants, deer and birds going with Rama and trees also turning their faces towards Rama. Moreover, putting aside the bark of trees, give excellent jewellery to your daughter-in-law, the bark of trees is not ordained for her. It was solicited by you, the dwelling in the forest of Rama only. Let Seetha, to be decorated daily, be adorned with ornaments and live in the forest along with Rama. Let Seetha go with excellent conveyances, well accompanied by attendants, with all costumes and useful accessories. Her exile was not indeed solicited by you, while asking for boons".
Kaikeyi did not deign to reply despite the fact that Vasishta, the preceptor of the king, had an influence beyond compare and the best of Brahmans and merely wore a glum face. Seetha did not change her resolution to follow the ways of her beloved husband.
Seeing Seetha wearing bark of trees like a beggar, even though protected by her very powerful husband, all the people there loudly cried out "Fie upon you, Dasharatha!" Pained by that loud cry there, King Dasharatha lost interest in his life, religious merit and esteem. Dasharatha with a long sigh, spoke to Kaikeyi "Oh, Kaikeyi! Seetha does not deserve to go with a robe made of Kusa grass. My preceptor truly says that Seetha, who is delicate, young and ever habituated to comforts, is not fit for forest-life. Has this pitiable daughter of Janaka, done any harm to any one because of which she, having obtained a bark of trees is standing like a hermit and dumbfounded in the midst of men? Seetha, the daughter of Janaka need not wear these barks of trees. No such pledge was given by me. Hence, let this princess go to the forest happily fully provided with all the valuable possessions. A cruel pledge has been made on oath by me, who does not deserve to survive. This (providing robes of hermits to Seetha initiated by you) is immature, silly, foolish, trifling, frivolous, infantile and puerile. That will consume me, as by its own flower a bamboo. Even supposing a little offence was done by Rama to you, what harm was displayed to you by Seetha? Oh, mean woman! What harm on earth can be done to you by Seetha, who has blooming eyes like those of a female deer, soft in disposition? Sending Rama to exile thus indeed is enough for you. What use is there for you in further doing these wretched, sinful acts, too. Hearing the speech you gave to Rama who came here for coronation, only that much was acceded by me. Transgressing all that, you somehow or other wish to go to hell, by perceiving Seetha also clad in bark of trees."
The highly grieved king thus lamenting, did not see any ending to that sorrow. Drenched as he was in excessive devotion to his son and having been hurt very much, he sagged into his chair. Rama, who was setting out to the forest, told his father "Oh, Sir, My mother Kausalya, here is aged. She is not of base nature and will not accuse you. You are worthy of amply respecting her, who is deprived of me, and who is immersed in an ocean of sorrow and who has not seen such an affliction earlier. Having been honoured by you, the venerable man, she the pitiable woman will not get such a grief for her son, and thinking of me alone she will draw consolation from you. You must see that my mother, who has high affection for me, will not depart to the house of Yama the God of Death, by abandoning her life by getting emaciated by grief after my departure to the forest."
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Very interesting to follow the good advices given by Siddhartha, Vasishta and others and the description of Kaikeyi and Seetha's respective reactions. I am learning many new details of Ramayana as well as many English words!
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