Hari Om.
Let us begin the thirty third sarga of the ayOdhyA kAnDam with offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
As sItA vociferously insisted and pleaded her case to accompany rAma to the forest and as lakshmaNa did so too rather briefly, rAma gave nod to both of them to accompany him to the forest. As the trio were set, the immediate thing to do was to dispose of all possessions. Brother lakshmaNa got the weapons and then they gave away all their wealth, jewelry and possessions to brAhmins, poor people, dependents, preceptors, vEdic scholars and celibates. He gave away all the cattle as well. To the grieving attendants, rAma provided livelihood and means and asked them to take care of the mansion when he is not around in ayOdhyA. Now the three are set. Onwards…
Having given away all their wealth and possessions to brAhmins, dependents and other worthies, rAma, sItA and lakshmaNa set out to see the king daSaratha. As they walked the streets, rAma and lakshmaNa wielding bows and sItA wearing a garland was a sight to behold! The rich and prosperous unable to get on to the crowded streets climbed the top of their multi-storeyed buildings to catch a glimpse of them. They were shocked to see rAma walking the street without any sign of royal insignia near by and gave expression to their feelings variously –
“Alas, whenever rAma came out he was accompanied by the royal pilot of armed men. But today he is walking the street by himself followed by sItA and lakshmaNa! He is not only a connoisseur of luxury but is the fulfiller of every one’s desires. And yet, due to his steadfast commitment to dharma, he doesn’t want to make his father’s words untrue. Alas, it wasn’t possible even for the high flying creature to catch a glimpse of sItA, but today she is walking on the street in full view of people! She is tender and applied sandal paste to her body. But alas, now she will be exposed to the elements and will be tanned. For sure, today king daSaratha was possessed by evil and spoke thus. Even a son bereft of virtues cannot be banished then what to say of rAma who by his virtue alone can conquer the world. Harmlessness, compassion, scholarship, good conduct, firmness and tranquility are the six qualities that are embodied in rAma. Hence people are distraught to watch him hurt. The people are sulking and suffering like aquatic creatures when water dried up, like a tree severed at the root, to see rAma harmed thus.
rAma is verily the effulgent embodiment of dharma and the root of humanity. Other people are like the fruits, flowers, leaves and branches of this tree.
मूलं ह्येष मनुष्याणां धर्मसारो महाद्युतिः।
पुष्पं फलं च पत्रं च शाखाश्चास्येतरे जनाः।।2.33.15।।
Come, let us all give up our homes and comforts and follow him like lakshmaNa and sItA wherever he goes. Let us share the delights and depressions of rAma wherever he is.
As we abandon our granary and homes, our abodes will look like ruins, grains scattered everywhere, infested with rats, dust settled everywhere, gods uncared for and unattended without the yajnas. Let kaikEyi take possession of those dilapidated and haunted houses. Let us make forest our dwelling place because that is where rAma is going. The wild beats of forest may flee in fear due to our presence. They can come and live here in ayOdhyA in our absence. Let kaikEyi and bharata rule this city that we deserted and is inhabited by the wild beats thriving on grass, fruits and flesh. We shall joyously live in the forest with rAma relieved of the misery here”.
Such were the expressions of love of people for rAma. As he walked by, these words fell in his ears but he had no second thoughts about going to the forest. Walking with gait of a mighty elephant, rAma entered the majestic mansion of his father, well guarded by trained men. He sighted sumantra, a very picture of misery at a distance. In spite of the gloom everywhere, rAma was undeterred and went in with a smile to see his father. He saw a dejected sumantra and asked the desolate minister to inform the king daSaratha about his arrival.
Here we conclude the thirty third 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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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 