The Story of Ramayana : 8. Sri Swami Premananda

07/01/2017.

8.1
When the king discovered the kind of courage and determination displayed by her, he was very pleased and offered to grant her two boons.

It is also said in some Ramayanas that the king of Caucasus had agreed to marry his daughter on the condition that the son born of her would be the crown-prince.

Years rolled on and one day when Dasaratha discovered that his hair was turning grey, he decided to enthrone his eldest son, Rama, as the king.

Rama was very obedient, loyal and handsome, dear to all the three mothers and the public of Ayodhya.

The declaration was greeted with joy, but Manthara, the maidservant of Kaikeyi, became a fly in the ointment and she reminded the queen, of the king’s promise that her son would be enthroned as king.

Kaikeyi became wild with rage and dismissed her insinuations with contempt, but persistent persuasion of the cunning Manthara had the desired effect.

8.2
When the king visited her in the evening, she expressed her desire to reclaim the boons to which the king agreed.

The first boon Kaikeyi asked for was that Bharata and not Rama, should be made the king.

Secondly, she asked for the banishment of Rama from the kingdom for 14 years.

The king, after painful reluctance, agreed to grant the first boon but could not bear the separation of Rama for such a long period.

The queen, however stuck to her stand and Dasaratha kept his word.

When Rama left for the forest, his wife Sita and brother Lakshmana also insisted upon accompanying him.

 After their separation the king died of a broken heart.

8.3
When Bharata who had been sent away to his maternal uncle, returned to Ayodhya and became aware of the developments.

He reprimanded his mother.

He went to Chitrakuta, where Rama with Sita and Lakshmana was staying, in order to bring back Lord Rama and enthrone him as king.

After great persuasion by Rama, taking it as a command of the Lord, he agreed to rule the kingdom only as a representative of Lord Rama, his elder brother.



Next : Part-II : Cosmic Drama
To be continued ...