“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)

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कामार्तस्तु महातेजाः पिता दशरथस्स्वयम्
कैकेय्याः प्रियकामार्थं तं रामं नाभ्यषेचयत्

kāmārtastu mahātejāḥ pitā daśarathassvayam
kaikeyyāḥ priyakāmārthaṃ taṃ rāmaṃ nābhyaṣecayat

In this hypothetical situation, life is going along just fine. Things have been more or less the same for a while. If attempting to trace out the history, the steadiness dates back for at least two years. No major life events. Nothing too disturbing to deal with. No real pressures other than the regular obligations that must be met, pertaining to home, spouse, family, and the like.

In this predictable, reliable, and peaceful condition you decide to make some plans. You will invest in some home renovations. You can afford them because of the dual income stream. Money is coming in from two different sources. There is accompanying work that leads to the income. The work is being performed to above the standard required. In other words, you are performing well.

The investment is about to take place. It is a day away. Suddenly, out of the blue, you get a phone call. The one income stream is no more. The company is looking to cut costs, and your allotment is one of the first to go. They will continue to pay you for another two months, but the separation is otherwise immediate. You barely have five minutes to notify your colleagues, to exchange pleasantries, and to leave some parting words, kind thoughts, and well-wishes.

This sudden turnabout is completely out of your control. It was not due to your negligence or poor performance. There was nothing you could have done to change the situation. The delivery of the message was almost cruel in its untimeliness. This is the way the business world operates, after all. If there is too much compassion shown, the other side will take advantage.

Your plans for an investment are out the window. Everything that you had planned for no longer exists. How will you react? What will you do? How do you overcome the sadness? How do you deal with the sudden separation?

समो ऽहं सर्व-भूतेषु
न मे द्वेष्यो ऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या
मयि ते तेषु चाप्य् अहम्

samo ‘haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu
na me dveṣyo ‘sti na priyaḥ
ye bhajanti tu māṁ bhaktyā
mayi te teṣu cāpy aham

“I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. I am equal to all. But whoever renders service unto Me in devotion is a friend, is in Me, and I am also a friend to him.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.29)

In Bhagavad-gita we find a section where Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, describes a series of traits and characteristics which are dear to Him. If He finds others to exhibit these qualities, He becomes fond of those people. He is already a great well-wisher, but within the material world it is like a neutral juxtaposition. Krishna is not necessarily for or against any of our decisions which relate to karma or sense gratification.

यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च य:
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो य: स च मे प्रिय:

yasmān nodvijate loko
lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ
harṣāmarṣa-bhayodvegair
mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ

“He for whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anxiety, who is steady in happiness and distress, is very dear to Me.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 12.15)

One of the described conditions is steadiness in happiness and distress. Not only do devotees become dear when they are of an equal disposition, but God Himself exhibits these characteristics during His manifest lila. In the avatara of Shri Rama, the same Krishna has to deal with a sudden change of plans. In that case, Rama is about to be made the next king of Ayodhya. Everyone is ready. Everyone is happy.

Everyone, that is, except for the youngest queen to King Dasharatha. Due to instigation from her servant, Kaikeyi decides to interfere. She knows just how to get what she wants. She will remind Dasharatha of two boons that he owes her. She will ask for Bharata, her son, to be made king instead. She will also ask that Rama be banished from Ayodhya for fourteen years.

Through her actions, Kaikeyi essentially takes away tomorrow. The event everyone was anticipating. The passing of the torch that would bring so much joy to the residents. Rama taking His rightful place, which was known from the time of birth. None of that would happen. Kaikeyi got in the way and on purpose.

In the same manner recommended to devotees, Rama was steady in that adversity abruptly delivered. It was as if nothing had gone wrong. Rama was ready to accept the shift to the forest without resistance. Sita Devi, Rama’s wife, insisted on accompanying Rama. She later described how Dasharatha had banished her husband in pursuit of meeting the cherished desire of Kaikeyi. This wording indicates a lingering resentment that people felt towards the injustice delivered to that beloved eldest son of the king.

It is not easy to deal with change. We count on various fixtures of nature for a reason. We use intelligence in assessing the landscape, in making short-term plans. But the reality is that anything can change, at any time. Someone may tap us on the shoulder and inform us that our time is up, that we have to leave everything behind. If we can always remember the beloved Shri Rama, who one day took His rightful place on the throne, then we can also be steady in gain and loss, not bringing difficulty to anyone.

In Closing:

Her wish coming at a cost,
That instantly everything lost.

For Rama the beloved son,
But now with possessions none.

As a pauper forced to live,
Away His wealth to give.

But without hesitation accepting,
From Supreme this example expecting.

Categories: cherished desire of kaikeyi

Tags: dailyprompt, envy, greed, life, poem, poems, poetry