Performing in the Storm - 2. Swami Chinmayananda

King Dasharatha, bound by a commitment to one of his queens, Kaikeyi, became utterly ineffectual. Rama had to go into exile for fourteen years, relinquishing the throne in favour of Kaikeyi’s son Bharat.

While Rama’s wife Sita and his brother Lakshman took it upon themselves to go with him, the city’s people, aghast at their king’s indiscretion, became totally disillusioned.

Dasharatha, the pride of the Solar dynasty, was defeated and distraught. Conflict abounded.
1.Should the citizens maintain allegiance to King Dasharatha or rally around his son Rama?
2.Should the younger prince Bharat be made sovereign?
3.If Bharat ascends the throne without the people’s mandate, would he still be a legitimate ruler?
4.Worse yet, might he become a tyrant?

Rama, Sita and Lakshman, who had always enjoyed the security and comforts of a privileged existence, now faced fourteen long years of exile and hermitic wandering in the forest.

Beset by such difficulties they upheld their core values and sworn duty.
Not once did they falter in their commitment to do what was right.
They continued to shine as portraits of human excellence despite their harsh conditions.
Sri Chinmaya mission.

Swami Swaroopananda