“When the lord of munis told the king the reason for his visit, the king became caught between love and truth and thus couldn’t come up with a response.” (Janaki Mangala, 24)

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जबहिं मुनीस महीसहि काजु सुनायौ
भयौ सनेह सत्य बस उतरू न आयौ

jabahiṃ munīsa mahīsahi kāju sunāyau
bhayau saneha satya basa utarū na āyau

1. Their arrival was anticipated for a long time

“Are you kidding me? I am not giving up my son. Do you have any idea how long I waited for them? It was like I was living a lie. My entire experience lacked meaning. I had no idea because there was nothing positive to compare against. It seemed like I would never have any offspring. Things were going wrong for me, and I fell into depression.

“My son is everything to me. It is like I am finally alive. I know what it is to have purpose. It is absolutely a miracle from above. It must be the result of past karma. I must have accumulated some sukriti along the way. The debt to my ancestors has now been paid. They must have blessed me in this regard, and I will never take those blessings for granted.”

2. Their mere presence brings so much joy in life

“All it takes is seeing my son in the morning. My troubles immediately vanish. It is as if I finally see the life experience for what it is: fleeting. The temporary changes. The people coming and going. The guaranteed nature of loss. The pettiness to disputes. The trivial nature of our disagreements.

“My son has shown all that to me, without ever speaking a word. Without giving a lecture, without referencing books of high repute, without specifically highlighting the common errors to the life experience, I have learned so much through their presence. They bring a kind of joy I never before thought possible.”

3. They are your best friend

“I won’t lie to you. My son is my best friend. He probably doesn’t want to hear that. It would embarrass him. What would his friends say? I am sure he wants more instruction from me, more guidance. You know, be more like a dad.

“What can I say? It is like all of my other friends want something out of me. The relationships are based on conditions. Once those conditions change, the friendship ends. My son is not like that. He will always stay with me. He is never looking to take. I am ready to offer everything for him.”

4. They are innocent to the ways of the world

“You are asking my son to go where? Are you out of your mind? Do you not understand how dangerous that is? They are too innocent to the workings of this world. They will get taken advantage of. People will exploit them. Despite your greatest attention and care, in trying to protect, I have a gut feeling that something will go wrong. That is not a risk I am willing to take.”

5. They are too young

“You want to take my son for how long? He is merely a boy. Do you not see that there are barely signs of manhood on his face? And you want to throw him right into the firing line, into the most dangerous situation? Okay, he is great at offering protection. He is well on his way towards living up to the family name, which is synonymous with chivalry, honor, and bravery. But at least wait until he is an adult. Your idea is preposterous.”

…

In the retrospective analysis of the historical figure known as King Dasharatha of Ayodhya, as described in the Ramayana poem, there is a lot to criticize. There is much over which that ruler can be blamed. He had to twice break the constant association with his beloved eldest son, Shri Rama. The second time was technically Dasharatha’s fault, and that blemish cost the king his life. The collateral damage, the people punished due to their closeness to Rama, sometimes spoke negatively of the king.

कामार्तस्तु महातेजाः पिता दशरथस्स्वयम्
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्

kāmārtastu mahātejāḥ pitā daśarathassvayam
kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ nābhyaṣecayat

“Being under the control of passion and lust, Rama’s father, Maharaja Dasharatha, wanted to fulfill Kaikeyi’s cherished desire, thus he did not go through with Rama’s installation ceremony.” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.12)

Sita Devi described the punishment against Rama as being due to Dasharatha wanting to fulfill the cherished desire of Kaikeyi, who was the youngest queen in the kingdom. It was as if the king were overcome by lust, kama. This is not a flattering description.

The first known instance of extended departure speaks more favorably on the king. He voluntarily sacrificed Shri Rama for the highest cause. Though only a child at the time, Rama was the one person capable of defending the munis living in the forests of austerity and penance, tapovana. This was the opinion of Vishvamitra Muni, who was not shy in asking Dasharatha for this kind of assistance.

The muni wanted Rama to serve as a bodyguard, to fight against the dreaded night-rangers. These were powerful demons who could change their shapes at will. Rama would have to essentially fight in the dark. He would aim His arrows based on sound. He would remove the terrible threat known as Tataka while relying on instinct.

बधी ताड़का राम जानि सब लायक
बिद्या मंत्र रहस्य दिए मुनिनायक

badhī tāṛakā rāma jāni saba lāyaka
bidyā mantra rahasya di’e munināyaka

“Rama showed His tremendous knowledge of fighting by killing the demon Tataka. The muni then gave to Him knowledge of secret mantras to be used in fighting.” (Janaki Mangala, 36)

Despite so many reasons to keep Rama, to refuse the request of Vishvamitra, Dasharatha relented. He sacrificed his most beloved son. Lakshmana also went with the group. He was a younger brother to Rama and thus also a son to Dasharatha.

This one incident gives shape to the theoretical concept of vairagya. This tendency is meant especially for the human being. To voluntarily impose renunciation is to purify the consciousness, to clear the way, so to speak, for further transcendental realization. Vairagya is not easy to implement due specifically to the many attachments that form during the life experience.

The recommendation for vairagya also does not mean that a person artificially suppresses emotion or somehow turns into a lifeless creature, devoid of feeling. Rather, the spirit of the renunciation is such that attachments will not interfere with duty. A respected leader such as Dasharatha should always be favorable towards doing the right thing, even if the decisions sometimes cost him the direct association of the person he loves the most.

In Closing:

Sacrificing what he loves the most,
When behaving as responsible host.

To the muni visiting best,
And directly with request.

That Rama with him to come,
For threat against demons won.

Despite to son attachment strong,
Dasharatha going along.

Categories: the five

Tags: fatherhood, god, hare krishna, hinduism, parenting, poem, poems, poetry, religion