Ramayana
Chapter 2
Rama and Laxman
Laxman was aware of Rama’s listless condition of late. After their return back to the palace, having completed their princely education at the hermitage of sage Vasishtha, Rama had lost interest in the life of the palace.
On that morning, as Rama entered the inner courtyard of the palace, he was accosted by Laxman. The two brothers looked at each other—Laxman trying to probe into Rama’s mind. Rama looked at Laxman steadily, neither revealing nor trying to hide anything. He walked ahead, leaving Laxman trailing behind. It was not in Laxman’s nature to express indignation. However, not finding Rama forthcoming, he decided to confront him.
“Brother, is anything the matter? I have noticed that you are reluctant to talk these days.”
Rama nodded his head in reply, but did not say anything.
“Where do you disappear every morning?” Laxman asked persistently.
Rama turned back and smiled. “I am looking for answers,” he said.
“Answers to what?” Laxman asked.
Holding Laxman’s hand as they walked towards their room, Rama started to talk.
He appeared to be in good humor. Perhaps it was a deliberate act he had put on to assuage Laxman’s fears.
“Do you know Laxman, why I persuaded our father to give us permission to leave the palace to go on a pilgrimage? That was the only way to get to know life in the real sense.”
Laxman was happy to listen to him.
Rama said, “Life is crude; life is subtle. Those who can take it in its crudeness are fit to survive. Those who know its subtlety, retreat into solitude. A king and a prince are not supposed to delve deep into life’s subtlety.’
“Oh, is that the reason why you retreat to the woods these days: to delve deep into life’s subtlety?” Laxman asked.
Rama looked at Laxman steadily. There was no intention to evaluate or judge Laxman; but Laxman felt judged. He regretted the frivolity of what he said. In order to draw Rama out of the woods and to hide his own frivolity, he said cheerily, “Come on Rama, I’ve been waiting to meet you since yesterday. Our trainer has acquired a new pair of horses for us. They are being trained specially for us. Come let’s have a ride.”
Laxman dragged Rama to the stable yard where a majestic pair of horses was waiting for them, stamping and fuming furiously. One of them neighed in remonstrance. The other one was a little sober and responded gratefully to Rama as he patted him on the back. Laxman laughed.
“Hey, that one seems to prefer you. I’ll take this restive one.”
Rama laughed, “That one is a female. Be wary. She is not easy to master. Don’t be in haste, or she will throw you off balance before you know.”
“She can’t! I bet!” said Laxman.
In a moment Laxman untied the mare, and off they went riding into the woods. Rama watched them go and turned to the horse that stood patiently beside him. Rama patted him on the back and said, “We are in no hurry to fight battles, my friend, and I am sure that day is far away. Till then let’s explore the woods in peace.”
Later, as he was returning to the palace by himself, he happened to look up at the balcony and caught sight of Kaikeyi looking at him. For a moment their eyes met and unwarily, they regarded each other dumbly. Rama was unable to repel her gaze. He took his eyes off and walked silently in the direction of his own quarters. He could not get over the feeling that her eyes still followed him.
Memories flooded in….Rama was a toddler. It was a full moon night. The moon was resplendent like a jewel in the crown. But the day that had gone by was painful for Rama. He and Bharat, Kaikeyi’s son who was younger than Rama, had fought over a toy. Kausalya and their father had interceded on Bharat’s behalf and had coaxed Rama into giving up the toy for Bharat’s sake.
At night the enchanting sight of the full moon filled Rama with a longing. He wanted to clasp it, never to let it go. He cried bitterly. The attendants rallied around him and tried to divert him, but he would not be pacified. No one had seen him cry like that before. In spite of being surrounded by all the toys and fun brought to him by the palace-attendants, the child Rama was lonely. The news reached his father. Dasharatha was followed by Kaikeyi as he rushed hastily to the side of Rama and picked him up. Who else but Dasharatha would know what had gone wrong between him and his son?
As Rama was enveloped by the warmth of his father’s body, he felt a cold thing touch him on his arm. It was the feel of Kaikeyi’s hand as she tried to separate Dasharatha from Rama.
Dasharatha had put him down guiltily and had called for his wise minister, Sumanta.
Sumanta immediately asked the attendant to get him a tray filled with water. As everyone was wondering what it was all about, Sumanta caught the reflection of the moon in the crystal clear water in the tray.
“Here, this is your moon, Rama. It belongs to you. No one will take it away from you,” said Sumanta as he stole a glance at Dasharatha.
Kaikeyi looked angrily at both Sumanta and Dasharatha.
“Oh, how silly it is to cry over the moon! This child will never grow up,” she said and dragged her husband away disdainfully after her.
It was Sumanta who held Rama close to his bosom and walked away to take him to bed. That night Rama slept peacefully, but did not understand why his mother sobbed as she put him to sleep.
Rama wondered how the memory had got etched in his mind over all these years.
He sighed. The child, who had cried to own the moon, had grown up now.
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