In this section of the Ramayana, Dasaratha has just died due
to his foolish decision in fulfilling Kaikeyi’s request to exile Rama for
fourteen years. Bharata hears this news through messengers sent from Ayodhya.
He cannot believe what his mother has done so he ventures into the forest with
a massive crew to find Rama and tell him of the bad news. They run into Guha,
who directs them to the sage Bharadwaja, who then directs Bharatha and his
crew, including the queens, to Chitrakuta. Once Bharatha find Rama there, he
tells Rama about the death of their father and insists that Rama come back to
be King. Still, Rama refuses to return until the end of his fourteen year exile
and insists that Bharatha rule as King in his stead until he returns from
exile. Bharata reluctantly agrees to rule in Rama’s stead and takes his sandals
as a memento of Rama’s return.
I found this whole section to be very interesting because
Bharatha clearly does not want to be the King of Ayodhya. In my opinion, if I
was in Bharatha’s place, I would be sad to know that Rama was exiled, but at
the same time, I would be somewhat ecstatic that I was going to be the new
King! I don’t really understand why the sage Bharadwaja blesses Kaikeyi because
she is the sole reason why this mess happened in the first place. She should
feel guilty for ultimately causing the death of Dasaratha instead of receiving blessings
for her deed.
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| Rama leaves in exile for 14 years; Wikimedia |
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