In this portion of the Ramayana, I
wanted to focus on Rama's exile. Dasharatha originally declared Rama as his
successor and Kaikeyi is ecstatic as first until her servant Manthara convinces
her that it’s a bad idea if Rama happens to end up being the King. Dasharatha
owes Kaikeyi two promises and she takes advantage of those two promises by
telling Dasharatha to make Bharata king and to send Rama into the forest in
exile for fourteen years. Dasharatha is helpless and has no choice but to honor
Kaikeyi’s requests. Rama obediently agrees without any hesitation. The citizens
of the Kingdom really don’t want Rama to leave and are adamant on following him
wherever he goes. Sumantra does all he can to try and persuade Dasharatha to
change his mind but his efforts go to waste as Rama and Sita still make the
trek into the forest. Before Rama leaves, he tells Dasharatha not to be mad at
Kaikeyi. Rama seems unusually understanding in this situation. I would’ve expected
him to at least question Dasharatha as to why exactly he is being exiled. Rama
is received in the forest by Guha. After Rama leaves, Dasharatha dies of guilt
at how easily he let his own son Rama go. He was supposed to be his successor
after all. He remembers something in his past that he can relate to now.
I feel like this is a huge moment
in the Ramayana because after Rama is exiled so much happens to him and Sita
and everyone else.
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| Rama leaving for 14 years of exile; Wikimedia |
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