Ramyana Chapter 26. Forward to Coronation

Ramayana

Chapter 26

Forward to Coronation

Dashratha was suddenly weary. Weariness was all over the body, soul and the mind. The wedding festivities were over long since, but his nightmare which had been chasing him all along ever since their return from Mithila would still wake him up any time of the night. That sudden attack on their caravan by the ancient Brahmin sage Parashurama in the wilderness of the forest, the dust storm, Parashurama’s unconcealed hatred for the warrior race which was reflected in the ferocity of the attack as well as in his vitriolic language when he addressed Rama—everything would flash before his mind’s eye vividly. The fact of Rama’s controlled retaliation in the face of the vicious provocation was worthy of a great warrior. But Rama was still his darling son whom he would like to shield from all possible dangers of life.

Circumstances were changing rapidly. Vishwamitra had warned him and Vasishtha in several ways and sometimes in no uncertain terms. But the statesman and the king in him had grown weary. He remembered how he had deprived Rama of love and the attention that was his due in childhood and the father in him would be distressed long over those days for which there was no compensation. He would gladly give anything to have those days back again and recompense what he had held back, mostly out of his excessive fear of Kaikeyi.

Now the festivities and the religious ceremonies being over, the political pressures were assuming overriding proportions and his ministers were constantly reminding him of the need to evaluate those concerns which he had been refusing to look at. The bottomline of all the suggestions and counsel was that the king should entrust the princes with greater responsibilities in administration. Distribution of power was a complex issue. Dashratha was suddenly awakened to a new thought in one of his ruminations with the ministers. Why not give a thought to handing over the kingdom completely to Rama? He must do it now while he is still competent to guide the affairs of the state from the rear, thought he. That way he would be able to control any possible feuds that may arise as a result of Rama’s coronation and he would be able to achieve a peaceful transition of power. All this had to take place in his lifetime. He realized that there was little time on hand to waste or spare.

He expressed his desires and thoughts to Sumanta when they were alone by themselves. Both of them had been thinking along the same lines, though Sumanta had not articulated his thoughts till then. There was no doubt about Rama’s capability. Dashratha remembered the prediction of the royal astrologers that Rama was the incarnation of God Vishnu and that he had a mission. Dashratha knew, or rather apprehended what the mission was. Wars and conquests, subjugation of enemies! What else were warriors born for? But was this young ascetic really born for this path? Dashratha’s heart would sink in apprehension, under the weight of the thought of the fateful prospect of the deep inner rift that was going  to cast a shadow over the life of his wise young son.

But there was no time to waste on introspection of this kind. Dashratha knew that Rama was trained in body and soul by two great masters like Vasishtha and Vishvamitra. Vasishtha had disciplined Rama’s mind while Vishvamitra had taught him the skills of war. Sumanta assuaged his fears and tried to remove his misgivings. “Rama would be a grand charioteer”, he said, “able to control the white and the dark horses with poise and grace through peace as well as war”

Dashratha’s mind was somewhat restored to peace and both he and Sumanta set about the business of convening that crucial meeting with the ministers to discuss the new plan of action.

Ramayana Chapter 25. Departure of Bharat and Shatrughna

Ramayana

Chapter 25

Bharat and Shatrughna Leave Ayodhya

Prince Bharata had left for the kingdom of Kaikeya in the Northwest, escorted by his ever-vigilant maternal uncle Yudhajit who had camped in Ayodhya for a sufficiently long time with the explicit intention of overseeing the political interest of Bharata, Kaikeyi and his own kingdom on the Northwest of the continent. Bharat’s bonding with Shatrughna being strong and natural; the two brothers were seen as a distinctive and inseparable unit among the four sons of Dashratha.

Kaikeyi had always identified Bharat’s welfare and political future as closely tied up with the fortunes of her father’s state. She saw the two brothers off with a heart rather heavy and full of forebodings at this time in the course of the events. Bharata who had attained a mature understanding of the complex realities of his relationships and the political undercurrents defining them, watched his mother’s silence as she placed her hands on the heads of both the brothers simultaneously. He was trying to read her mind and as usual she was careful not to betray any sign of what she was contemplating at the back of her mind.

The days when he could chide her playfully for her unjustifiable fits of willfulness were over now. He had begun to see an inscrutable pattern of reason behind her behaviour; but he could not yet read it clearly. As always, she refused to divulge what was going on in her mind. While in her presence, he was able to feel something hardening inside her. When he had entered her chamber along with Shatrughna, he could not fail to notice the absence of smile on her face, though she observed all the courtesies and the protocol correctly.

At the time of farewell she had looked at him steadily for some time, as if she was trying to gauge his inner strength. Bharat had met her gaze with a stubborn note of circumspection and she had tried to veil her feelings as she asked them if they were happy while they were here, during this very significant period of their life. Then she had said to Bharat, “God speed my son; I need you very much.” Bharat had watched the hardening, and the struggle of her veiled feelings, trying to break through the wall.

“Mother, take care”, he had said briefly before taking leave.

Bharat had been to take leave of his father before coming to see his mother. Normally both of them would be together at the time of saying adieu to him, on all previous occasions. This time he noticed the tacit estrangement between the two. He had felt sad that over the period of time his parents were not able to achieve harmony and peace in their relationship. The distance between them seemed to have widened and it seemed as if his father was growing tired of his mother’s inscrutable behavior and was developing a kind of indifference or some sort of belated defiance towards her. He also noticed that his father tended to be a little secretive about the political realities facing the kingdom of Ayodhya. He was warm as he showered his benediction but there was no word of advice for his two sons regarding their conduct of life in the near future, although the time pointed to the need of it. He had a feeling that for some unknown reason, his father was eager to see him out of Ayodhya as soon as possible.

Both brothers had received a whole lot of worldly advice from Kausalya and Sumitra on how to keep their young brides happy without letting them interfere too much in their own princely responsibilities. The two couples had hardly got to know each other during those days of hectic ceremonies and festivities. The counseling was artless and answering to the necessity of the time.   

Rama was warm and Laxman sedate at the time of leave-taking. But Bharat’s mind was perplexed by the thought of something  going amiss.