3. Dasratha Informs Rama of his decision
Rama was coming to see Dasaratha who saw him from his court-hall
balcony. (It must be the balcony because Rama is mentioned s later
as ascending the steps and Dasaratha could b not have seen him
coming to the palace otherwise. Valmiki describes Rama coming on
the chariot seen by Dasaratha.
gandharvarAjaprathimam loke vikhyAtha pourusham
dheerghabAhum maha satthvam matthamAthangagAminam
chandrakAnthAnanam rAmam atheeva priyadharSanam
roopoudhAryagunaiH pumsAm dhrdhtichittApahAriNam
Rama was handsome as the king of gandharvas and known for his
valour, says valmiki, to denote that he was not only handsome to
look at but was also valiant, which was already well known from the
Tataka episode and his protection of the yajna of Visvamithra by
killing the demons and none the less from his breaking the bow of
Siva and subduing Prasurama. Gandharvas are renowned for their
beauty but not valour. Hence the clubbing of the two epithets.
Valmiki describes Rama as dheerghabahu, having long arms and walks
like an elephant ,matthamAthangagAmi , which shows his prowess and
masculine stature. But at the same time he was as attractive to look
at as the Moon, chandrakAnthAnana. Govindaraja in his commentary
explains this word as chandrAth kAnha Ananam yasya, meaning that his
face was even more delightful than the Moon. The name Rama itself
denotes this as it means ramayathi ithi rAmaH, one who delights.
Thus he was atheevapriyadharSana, extremely dear to look at. He was
giving joy to the eyes by his appearance and to the mind with his
loveable qualities and Dasaratha, says Valmiki never had his fill
looking at Rama, especially perceiving him as his dear son as well.
When Ram approached his father and saluted him in the traditional
manner â??nAma svam srAvayan rAmah,â?? uttering his own name and bowing
down (abhivAdhaye etc.) Dasaratha started talking. Valmiki calls
Dasaratha as puthravathAm varah, because he is exalted as a father
because of being chosen by the Lord Himself to be His father.
Dasaratha asked Rama to accept the coronation and the Rama of
Valmiki simply bowed down again to his father and left for his
palace. But Kamban describes this as
thAdhai apparisu urai sei , than maraikkaNNan
kAdhal uttRilan; igazhndhilan, â??kadan idhuâ?? enrRu uNarndhum
â??yAdhu kottRavan Eviyadhu adhu seyal anRO
needhi eRkuâ?? ena ninaindhum appaNi talai ninRAn.
When Dasaratha told Rama that he will be made the king, Rama
neither loved nor hated it but accepted it as the command of the
king and father whose words must be obeyed. This aspect of the
character or Rama, Kamban explains further when Kaikeyi tells him to
go to forest. We shall enjoy the nectar of the words of Kamban when
we come to it.
On hearing the news of the coronation of Rama, his friend hastened
to tell Kouslya about it .Rama also took leave of his father and
returned to his own palace. Then Dasaratha consulted the experts and
decided to perform the coronation the next day when the reigning
star would be Pushya. Then he again sent word to Rama and when he
came , told him that he was seeing some ill omens to indicate that
his end was near and hence he wanted to crown Rama the very next
day. He said that the mind is fickle and Rama should be coronated
before his mind changes without any further delay as there would be
normally be many obstacles before any good action.
Dasaratha further told Rama that he wanted to crown Rama while
Bharatha was away because even though Bharatha knew dharma and
would wish only Rama to become the king, still human mind is not
steady . What Dasaratha referred to here is that he has promised
the father of Kaikeyi that her son will succeed him as the king and
even though Bharatha may not accept it superceding the right of
Rama, the eldest son, to be the crown prince as per the custom of
Ikshvaku race, someone might try to change his mind if her were
present . Then he sent Rama back ttelling him to follow the
austerities necessary for the coronation the next day. Rama went to
see his mother and Kousalya was in meditation on Lord Narayana as
she already heard the news and Sumithra with Lakshman and Sita were
also there.
Valmiki says Kousalya was eagerly expecting this to happen,
(probably knowing the promise of Dasratha to the father of Kaikeyi
she had trepidations that it might not happen,) and expressed her
joy. Rama told Lakshmana that he was going to rule the kingdom along
with Lakshmana because they were inseparable. Then Rama returned to
his palace with Sita.
Vasishta then went to the abode of Rama and instructed him about the
austerities to be performed. The whole city of Ayodhya went into a
festive mood and people started celebrating the forthcoming
coronation , decorating their places eagerly awaiting for the
coronation of Ram which was not destined to take place the next
day. Why? We shall see presently.
Oppiliappan Koil Varadachari Sadagopan
http://www.sadagopan.org
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Oppiliappan/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:Oppiliappan-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
mailto:Oppiliappan-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
Oppiliappan-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
|
Home Page
http://www.ibiblio.org/sripedia |
oppiliappan-subscribe@yahoogroups.com To subscribe to the list |