Five Comforts Not Available In The Decision To Follow Rama

“Of what use are wealth, comforts and pleasures, home, wives, and sons if one is not able to see Shri Rama?” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 48.7)

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किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारै: किं धनेन वा
पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्

kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṃ kiṃ dārai: kiṃ dhanena vā
putrairvā kiṃ sukhairvāpi ye na paśyanti rāghavam

It was not found anywhere in shastra.  It was not recommended to them by an esteemed spiritual leader.  There was no personal benefit to be gained.  There were no long-term prospects of a better future, in the style of sacrificing a little today in order to reap a greater reward tomorrow.  There was no convenience associated with the decision.  There was barely any time to prepare.  No, these people decided on their own, based on their affection for a single man.  That decision remains praiseworthy throughout the time continuum, but in the modern day we might have a difficult time relating. Just why would they do it? Just what were they thinking?

To bridge the gap, to get an idea of what those people faced in that ancient period of time, we conduct the following review.  This is in the hypothetical case of someone abruptly leaving home today to follow someone else.  If the same beloved Shri Rama were the object of our affection and we felt like joining Him in an adventure, we might not be so concerned.  This is because of what we naturally expect to find along the way.

1. Airbnb

“Yes, we are following the beloved eldest prince named Rama.  He is leaving the community, departing imminently.  His beautiful and devoted wife named Sita is following Him.  Rama’s younger brother named Lakshmana is also joining the group.  We want to tag along, so to speak.  Oh, don’t worry about packing belongings.  I am sure we can find a rental home along the way.  Usually, we would look for a hotel, but this will be an extended stay.  It would be great if the home is all to ourselves, with a pool in the backyard and a fully stocked kitchen.”

2. Someone to watch the dogs

“Yes, we are following the beloved prince named Rama.  We have to move quick. Getting a jump bright and early in the morning.  Don’t worry about the dogs.  They are not coming with us.  We have found someone who will stay back and take care of them.  The dogs need to be fed.  They need to be let out at least once a day.  We should be alright.”

3. Someone to watch the plants

“Yes, we are following the beloved prince named Rama.  We are not taking anything with us except some clothes.  The plants need to be watered.  They require sufficient sunlight.  Someone has promised to manage that for us.  They are prompt.  They are dependable.  We trust that they can handle everything themselves. No supervision required.”

4. Someone to watch your stuff

“Yes, we are following the beloved prince named Rama.  We hardly have time to pack.  It is no big deal; we will just leave everything here.  We trust that the entire house will be safe.  It will be maintained by someone.  They know how to deal with emergencies.  If we ever have to return, we can pick back up where we left off.”

5. A permanent settlement

“Yes, we are following the beloved prince named Rama.  We have no problem moving.  We will find a place to live nearby.  It shouldn’t be that big of a deal.  People move all the time.  We will enjoy every comfort along with the person who means the most to us.  He can even come visit us whenever He wants.  It will be like He never left.”

…

The reality is that there were conditions.  The youngest queen in Ayodhya stipulated that the eldest son of her husband had to live like a mendicant.  He should not return to the town for at least fourteen years.  Let Him wander here and there, like a poor person, bereft of His kingdom that was otherwise His birthright.  This was a different period of time.  People lived up to a higher standard.  Honor and truthfulness meant something.  The king named Dasharatha had previously promised Kaikeyi any two boons of her choosing.  In response, this was her choice.  Rama, who was the victim directly affected by her desires, was not about to interfere and make His father look bad.

The people of Ayodhya were crestfallen, but they had an idea.  They would follow Rama into the forest.  Sure, it would be like assuming the same punishment for themselves.  There were no comforts to look forward to.  There was no enjoyment to seek, as the places Rama was going were known as tapo-vana.  These are areas conducive to austerity and penance, tapasya.  That is a standard typically reserved for the brahmana class.  Not everyone is qualified to be in the military.  In the same way, how can the average person abruptly give up everything they have at home? How can they part with enjoyments they have become accustomed to expect?

Except the wives were ready to go.  They admonished their own husbands for being too attached to home.  How were the husbands not as affected by Rama’s departure?  The beloved eldest son of Dasharatha was so compassionate that He refused to allow the people of Ayodhya to follow Him.  Rama set up a diversion using a fake set of tracks.  This made it impossible for the people to discover where He had gone.  They had no choice but to return home.

मोहनार्थं तु पौराणां सूतं रामोऽब्रवीद्वचः
उदङ्मुखः प्रयाहि त्वं रथमास्थाय सारथे
मुहूर्तं त्वरितं गत्वा निवर्तय रथं पुनः
यथा न विद्युः पौरा मां तथा कुरु समाहितः

mohanārthaṃ tu paurāṇāṃ sūtaṃ rāmoʼbravīdvacaḥ
udaṅmukhaḥ prayāhi tvaṃ rathamāsthāya sārathe
muhūrtaṃ tvaritaṃ gatvā nivartaya rathaṃ punaḥ
yathā na vidyuḥ paurā māṃ tathā kuru samāhitaḥ

“For the purpose of confusing the citizens, Rama spoke to the charioteer as follows: ‘Mounting the chariot alone, O Charioteer, beginning by facing north, go quickly for a while and then turn the chariot back again. Remaining careful, proceed in such a way that the citizens cannot find Me.'” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 46.30-31)

The sentiment expressed by the wives in Ayodhya is one indication of the presence of Divinity.  In other words, you know you have found God in truth, in a reality that clears up any confusion from the previously identified abstract, when you are ready to abruptly abandon everything in order to maintain a connection.  This connection is the greatest boon any person can receive, and the Ramayana history gives a glimpse into that life in liberation.

In Closing:

Glimpse into liberation giving,
From choice of forest living.

Movement swift and abrupt,
But people this way to conduct.

For allegiance to Rama to show,
Anywhere for His comfort to go.

Nothing to cushion the blow,
Real meaning of life to know.