Hari Om.
Let us begin the one hundred seventh sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Prince bharata began his mission of ensuring rAma’s return to ayOdhyA. He had no doubt that it was a lapse of dharma on part of his father to have banished rAma without due diligence and discussion and based on the words of the vile woman! Following the laid down principle that the deceased should not be talked ill of, he desisted from criticizing king daSaratha. Left to him, he would have severely punished his mother for this crooked and unrighteous act but dharma prevented him from doing so. So, the only way of redemption now was to request rAma to return and assume the kingdom of ayOdhyA as per the hallowed traditions of the ikshvAkus and right the wrong that father committed. He convincingly argued that, after all a son has the duty to right the wrong of his father. The citizens and the council that accompanied bharata hailed his submission and in one voice pleaded with rAma. The righteous rAma was however immovable like the mountain. He was steadfast about his dharma. The citizens were thrilled and devastated at the same time – thrilled at the commitment of rAma to dharma and devastated on his refusal to return! Onwards…
As the articulate bharata along with the well wishers repeatedly beseeched rAma, he responded – “O bharata, born of the noble daSaratha and kaikEyI, befitting words have been spoken by you. When our honorable father wedded your mother, he had given word to the king of kEkaya that he would confer a flourishing kingdom to the heir born of your mother. Further, pleased with the immense service your mother did to our father during the war between the gods and demons (in which daSaratha fought on behalf of the gods), he had offered her two boons. As per those two boons your illustrious mother asked him to confer the kingdom on you and my banishment into the forests. Our father was bound by the boons he had conferred and therefore I have been ordered to live in the forest for fourteen years. Therefore I have come to the lonely forests in order to honor the words of our father and ensure that his words stand true.
Therefore, O great king (bharata), go and crown yourself the king of ayOdhyA and thereby ensure our father’s words turn true. Thus you felicitate our father by making him free of untruth for my sake and make your mother happy.
O learned one, remember the instructions laid down in the scriptures – A son is the one who delivers his parents from the hell called puth and hence the son is known as putra. This has been recorded in the place called gaya which is celebrated for offering oblations to the departed.
पुन्नाम्नो नरकाद् यस्मात् पितरं त्रायते सुतः।
तस्मात् पुत्र इति प्रोक्तः पितॄन् यः पाति सर्वतः।।2.107.12।।
Offering oblations at gaya pleases the departed forefathers and therefore it is ruled that one should desire many learned and virtuous sons so that at least one of them goes to gaya and offers oblations to his deceased parents.
एष्टव्या बहवः पुत्रा गुणवन्तो बहुश्रुताः।
तेषां वै समवेतानामपि कश्चिद्गयां व्रजेत्।।2.107.13।।
This has been the tradition and established practice. Therefore, O lord bharata, return to ayOdhyA along with Satrughna, crown yourself as the king, honoring the word of our father and protect him from going to a certain hell (due to his word not being honored). Rule over the kingdom in a manner that pleases everyone. I shall soon enter the dense forests of danDaka along with lakshmaNa and sItA.
O bharata, therefore go ahead and enter ayOdhyA in procession and crown yourself the king and rule over the people well. I shall enter the dense danDaka forests and rule over the wild beasts. Let the royal parasol protect you from the heat of the Sun while the wooded forests shall bring me respite and confer comfort upon me. Let Satrughna be your companion while ruling over ayOdhyA while lakshmaNa shall be my best friend in these forests. O bharata, let the four of us that ensure our father is established in truth, don’t be dejected.
Here we conclude the one hundred seventh sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 2.108. What you see is what you get, says sage jAbAli
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 