King Dashrath agreed to make Bharat the king but he kept pleading Kaikayee that, “please let go off your condition to send Ram into exile.” The more he pleaded, the more did Kaikayee’s demand intensify! Not only was the demand to send Ram into exile but to send him into the fiercely dense forest of dandakaranya, which was to the far east of Ayodha and was under the siege of the demons. It did not stop there. As King Dashrath kept pleading, the conditions intensified. The conditions increased as –
Ram should abandon all royal pleasures; he should not be accompanied by any army and should lead a life like a forest dweller complete with its required attire. Here, King Dashrath had to stop because if Kaikayee would have further laid the condition of not taking weapons along, then it would become increasingly difficult for Ram. King Dashrath helplessly asked Kaikayee, “Why are you asking for such a difficult wish?” To which Kaikayee replied, “What did you expect? Did you expect that I would ask for peanuts with these wishes?” Now it was no use arguing with her further.
The king was very emotional. Though with some pain and efforts, he could have broken the promise he had given to Kaikayee and also the tradition of the Raghu dynasty, he however could not go back on his vow which he had sworn on Ram. And Kaikayee had very cleverly made Dashrath swear on Ram before she asked for her wishes.
And so, he called upon Ram. When Shriram arrived, Dashrath was seated with his head held low. Ram had come in from an environment which was full of joy and enthusiasm and here he felt a completely different atmosphere. “Mother, what has happened? What is the problem?” he asked Kaikayee. To which Kaikayee said, “Long ago Maharaj had granted me two wishes. He had sworn on the Raghu dynasty and you, that he would grant me anything I asked for with those wishes. And so I asked. But there is a problem in fulfilling the wishes. The problem is such that only you can resolve it.” “What are the wishes?” said Ram. Kaikayee reiterated the two wishes. ‘With the first wish Bharat would be coronetedas the king and with the second wish you would go into exile for fourteen years to the dandakaranya.’ One can imagine what would have happened on hearing this. But what actually happened when Ram heard the wishes was truly striking.
It so happened – When Ram heard that he had to go into exile instead of assuming the throne as the King of Ayodhya, suddenly ‘a smile drew up on Ram’s face’. From this one incident, we must say that he was indeed an incarnation God. No human can react to such a situation with a smile. Ram said to Kaikayee, “What’s difficult in that? I shall go into exile tomorrow.” Ram had concluded the topic with just two sentences. Although Kaikayee did expect this, she may not have expected Ram to agree so effortlessly without any discussion or argument. She was aware of Ram’s greatness but it was not known to her that Ram was truly ‘so’ great. In fact, she was not capable enough to handle and acknowledge his greatness. She could not believe that Ram had agreed to fulfill her wishes and go into exile. A smile erupted on Ram's face and Kaikayee could not fathom its reason.
The smile expressed appreciation of Goddess Maya who had encroached upon Kaikayee and how she had managed to perform her task through Kaikayee. Also Ram admired the wit of the Gods who had reminded him of the goal of his incarnation.
As was the human tradition, Ram who was an incarnation of God and an embodiment of knowledge had learnt and gained knowledge under the tutelage of Sage Vasishtha. This is in fact an example of one of the many signs of a wise man (dnyani purush) as mentioned in Ashtavakragita. It is –
“Swarajya Bhaikshyavruttau cha LabhaLabhe Janevane |
Nirvikalpa Swabhavasya Na Visheshostee Yoginaha ||”
A yogi is not impressed by being a king or being renounced. He is neither impacted by gain or loss, or being in a crowd or in isolation. Their mental equilibrium remains unaltered.
|| Shriram||
