Dasaratha‟s Agony at the sight of Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana:
The Minister went in and aroused the Emperor who had fallen unconscious on the floor. He made him sit up, and placed him in position. He communicated to him the news that Sita, Rama and Lakshmana had come to have audience with him. Rama had already stood near his father, speaking words of soothing love. When Dasaratha saw Sita and Lakshmana, his grief knew no bounds. He embraced Rama closely and fell on the floor. Anguish choked his throat. He pressed his hands on his chest and tried to suppress the agony. Sita and Lakshmana could not look on at the suffering Emperor. (RKRV Part I p.321)
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At that time, Kaikeyi said, ―Rama! You are plunging your father in deeper grief! The sooner you leave and reach the forest, the quicker will your father be relieved from anxiety. Do not delay any longer! Prostrate before your father, and go.‖ These words so devoid of elementary kindness seemed to split the heart of Dasaratha. Dasaratha suddenly shouted, ―Demoness! Evil spirit! How hard and adamantine are your words,‖ and fell in a faint. Just at that moment, Sita, Rama and Lakshmana fell at his feet. Rama said, ―Father! Bless us and permit us to leave. This is a time fit for rejoicing, not pining and grieving. Over-attachment brings infamy in its train.‖ Rama pleaded that he should be courageous and give up the delusion that makes him dote on him. Rama clasped his father‘s feet, and then knelt on his knees, caressing and consoling. (RKRV Part I p.322)
Dasaratha opened his eyes and looked full at his beloved son. He sat up with great difficulty and holding both hands of Rama in his, he said, ―Oh my darling Son! Listen to my words! You are possessed of self-control and discrimination. You know what is right. It is proper that you should do only the right thing. Now, it is not right when one person does wrong, for another to suffer from its consequences, isn‘t it? The play of Fate is unpredictable; it is a riddle beyond solution.‖ (RKRV Part I p.322)
The Emperor began to pile argument on argument in his innocence and love, to dissuade Rama from his resolve to proceed to the forest. (RKRV Part I p.322)
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Rama was known to Dasaratha, the father, as a Master of the Codes of Morality, and as a strict adherent of these Codes. He was skilled in justifying his acts. He was unafraid of the consequences of his resolve. Dasaratha read from the face of Rama who stood before him that he had come ready to take leave of him for the journey into exile.
Dasaratha describes to Sita the travails of forest life and asks her to stay back:
When he saw Sita too before him, he called her near and when she knelt by his side, he stroked her head softly, and described to her the travails of forest life. He told her that the best course for her would be to stay back, either with her parents-in-law, or with her own parents. His words came through groans of unbearable sorrow. He gnashed his teeth in rage, when his eyes fell upon Kaikeyi. All the while, he was fuming and fretting within himself, unable to contain his grief. (RKRV Part I p.323)
Sita fell at his feet and said, ―Revered Father-in-law! My mind longs only for the service of Rama. Confer on me your blessings and send me with Ramachandra.‖ Dasaratha could well understand and appreciate the yearning of Sita. He extolled her virtues with genuine enthusiasm, for the edification of Kaikeyi, standing before him. (RKRV Part I p.323-324)
Source of Painting:
185 The trio leave for the forest:
The three prostrated reverently before Dasaratha, who fainted away at the sight of his sons in their ascetic attire. They prostrated also before Kaikeyi who was standing nearby. They fell at the feet of sage Vashishta and of his Consort. And they started towards the forest. (RKRV Part I p.328)
Dasaratha asks Sumantra to take the chariot and drop Rama in the forest:
Meanwhile, Dasaratha recovered from his faint and became conscious of what had happened. He lamented, ―Rama! Rama!‖ and tried to raise himself up. But heavy with grief, he fell on the floor again. When he rose, he tried to walk, but could not. He moved falteringly around. At that moment, Sumantra entered the room, and endeavoured to hold him and console him. But with huge outbursts of anguish surging in him, how could he convey consolation to his master? However, he remembered Rama‘s order to that effect, and so he dutifully swallowed the sorrow that was overwhelming his heart and sat by the side of the Emperor with tears still flowing in streams. He could not utter any word for a long time. Dasaratha opened his eyes, he saw Sumantra by his side; exclaiming in uncontrollable grief, ―Rama!‖ he fell into the lap of the old minister and poured out his sobs. Then, he rose and groaned, ―Sumantra! Rama has gone into the forest; yet, my life has not gone out of this body! What can my life gain by sticking to this body?‖ Then, getting a little calmer, he said, ―Here! Hasten behind Rama! Take a fast chariot and go. My daughter-in-law can never bear the heat of the sun. She will soon have blisters
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on those lotus petal soles! Go! Go with the chariot! (RKRV Part I p.330)
―Sumantra,‖ Dasaratha said, ―My Ramachandra is an unshakeable hero; he will not turn back. His resolution cannot be shaken or suppressed by anyone. Efforts made for modifying it will be futile; and, we will only be causing him distress by our attempts. Besides, Rama is an unswerving adherent of Truth. Do not delay, for if even a little time is spent in getting the chariot ready, you may miss his trail. My subjects cannot bear the sight of Rama walking along the royal roads of Ayodhya. Go, go!‖
The Emperor hurried him out, with the words, ―Carry with you in that chariot, a few hampers of food and a few weapons and give them over. Sumantra! I forgot to tell you this. Plead as strongly as you can, mention also that I told you to pray that Sita be directed to return to Ayodhya. Take them into the chariot, and let them go with you some distance towards the forest. Go into the forest along with them; for, if Sita is frightened at the sight of the jungle, and you become aware of her fear, immediately ask Rama for orders, and pray Sita, the tender Princess of Mithila, to return to Ayodhya, bringing to her mind that it is also my wish. Tell her that, if she cannot agree to stay in Ayodhya, the Emperor will arrange to send her to her father, Janaka.‖ Dasaratha repeated these words often, and laden with grief at the pictures they evoked, he lost consciousness and rolled on the ground.
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Rising soon, he exclaimed, in great distress, ―Sumantra! Why waste words and time? Bring my Rama, Lakshmana and Sita before me now. Let me have a look at all three. Decide on doing that, and make me happy.‖ Then, he plaintively requested Sumantra, ―Go fast, don‘t delay, take the chariot to where they are and drive the vehicle as far as it is possible for it to proceed, to the spot beyond which it cannot go. Perhaps, it may be possible to journey in a chariot for three or four days. At the end of that period, let them alight. Stand there watching them, until they move beyond the reach of your eyes, before you turn back to bring me the news of their health and safety. Now go. Don‘t stay near me. Go.‖ Dasaratha asked the Minister to hasten.
Bowing his head in acceptance of the Emperor‘s order, Sumantra50 fell at his feet and got the chariot ready. He caught up with Sita, Rama and Lakshmana, who were going along the City roads on foot. He told them what the Emperor had spoken to him. He had them seated inside the chariot. Then, he drove off in the direction of the forest. (RKRV Part I p.332-334)
Dasaratha tries to follow and catch up with Rama‟s chariot:
Meanwhile, Dasaratha regained his consciousness and recalled everything. Utterly agitated, he rushed onto the street, shouting, ―Rama, are you going? No, no! Please wait!‖ (SSB 2002 p.63) Dasaratha had himself seated in a chariot! He shouted aloud,
50 See Chapter, Sumantra - Sumantra seats Sita, Rama and
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―Rama! Rama! Sumantra! Sumantra! Stop that chariot! I will look at the treasure of my Love, just once.‖ He quickened the pace of the horses and came faster and faster. (RKRV Part I p.334)
Dasaratha implored51, ―O Sumantra! Stop! Stay a moment! Let me have a glimpse of my Rama just once.‖ Rama told him to discharge his duty as per the command of Emperor Dasaratha and not to accede to the wailing pleas of his father Dasaratha52. (SSB 2002 p.63)
The mass of citizens following Rama were caught between his chariot and the chariot of the Emperor, and many of them were so exhausted that they fell on the ground. When they saw a chariot passing by with speed, they raised their heads to find out whether Rama was returning seated in it. They rose and tried to stop it, to have a glimpse of Rama, their beloved Prince. But when the groans of Dasaratha fell on their ears, they too broke into sobs. They allowed the chariot to pass, pleading pathetically, ―Oh King! Go soon, go and bring back our Ramachandra!‖ Dasaratha saw the chariot of Rama speeding along the sand dunes outside the City, and he cried out, ―Sumantra! Sumantra! Rein in. Stop,‖ and himself
51 See Chapter, Sumantra - Dasaratha asks Sumantra to Stop the
chariot carrying Rama:
52
See Chapter, Sumantra - Rama says to Sumantra to listen to the order of the Emperor and not to the pleas of an individual, a father:
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commanded his charioteer to speed up. (RKRV Part I p.334- 335)
When Dasaratha saw that Rama was driving on, he stopped his vehicle and turned back towards Ayodhya, moaning his lot, and wailing aloud. (RKRV Part I p.337)