Five Reasons To Sleep Outside

“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)

Download as podcast episode (right click and save)

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

1. Concert tickets

“Come on, it will be fun. A once in a lifetime experience. It will be something to look back fondly upon, when we are old and gray. The tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at ten. That is for the general public, but there is a special presale for people who want the best seats. Those tickets are not available online or by phone. You have to show up at the box office. People are already lined up. We plan to do the same. The time will pass more quickly if you are with us. It is not that great a sacrifice, if you think about it. It will be like a party that extends into the morning.”

2. Camping

“Come on, it will be fun. Society has grown too attached to their devices. With the advent of AI chatbots and these mindless short-form videos that play on repeat, you could easily pass an entire day completely spaced out. Isn’t there that teaching from Bhagavad-gita about happiness and peace? You are telling me you are happy after a day of doom-scrolling? I think not. We will go out into the wild. We will take only the bare essentials with us. Don’t worry, it will be safe. It will only be for a few days. There are places to shower in the morning. This is not entirely roughing it. Give it some thought; I know you will like it.”

नास्ति बुद्धिर् अयुक्तस्य
न चायुक्तस्य भावना
न चाभावयतः शान्तिर्
अशान्तस्य कुतः सुखम्

nāsti buddhir ayuktasya
na cāyuktasya bhāvanā
na cābhāvayataḥ śāntir
aśāntasya kutaḥ sukham

“One who is not in transcendental consciousness can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.66)

3. Fight with the spouse

“You say I look terrible. Thanks, but you are not so beautiful yourself. Sorry, I didn’t mean that. I am pretty cranky, but wouldn’t you be? I had to sleep outside. For the entire night. She wasn’t kind enough to toss me a blanket, either. I don’t know what she is so upset about. I forgot a special occasion, or something. There are so many days in the year, how am I supposed to remember everyone’s birthday? She is always yapping, so how do I even keep track of everything that is going on? Sure, I could have called someone, but it was the middle of the night. I didn’t want to make a scene. I figured she would calm down by the time the morning hit.”

4. Locked out

“That was the absolute worst. On one of the coldest nights of the year, no less. I am lucky to be alive this morning. This is one of the negatives to living out in the country. It is not like you can just go to the neighbor’s house and knock on the door. The neighbors live miles away. That is the entire point. You want peace and quiet. Okay, that is great until you reach an emergency situation. I could not find my keys. All of the doors were locked. Forced entry would trip the alarm. I figured it would be easier waiting until the morning, to call the local locksmith after they open up for the day.”

5. To follow Rama

This was no accident. This was not a premeditated act, either. It was as spontaneous as you can get. After all, the person at the center of the attention had the shortest notice for his own abrupt dismissal. You see, the prince of Ayodhya was mere moments away from taking the helm. He was set to become the next king. It was a big deal. This was the Raghu dynasty, after all. Dasharatha did not take the decision lightly. Though his heart told him that Rama was ready, that esteemed leader still took an informal poll. Judging based on the results, there was no need for a formal vote. If comparing to a legislative body, the decision would pass on a declaration of unanimous consent.

Then, as quickly as the decision was reached, everything changed. That prince, who was named Rama, now had to leave. Not for good, but for the distressed citizens it may as well have been a permanent ban. Rama had to leave Ayodhya and not return for fourteen years. There was an additional stipulation. He had to live like a mendicant. Rama would be like a beggar. He could not take His royal opulence with Him, packed in suitcases and hauled around by trusted servants.

Those were the rules, but the people of Ayodhya were not going to be tied down by them. There was nothing that said they could not follow Rama. They would recreate Ayodhya wherever that beloved prince went. Rama’s dutiful wife, Sita Devi, was already going with Him. So was Lakshmana, who was one of the three younger brothers. Just how dedicated were the people to the decision? They decided to stay with Rama anywhere and everywhere. Soon after the departure, on one morning Rama saw those people sleeping near the roots of trees.

It is not like the people had time to prepare for the decision to abruptly leave home. There was not much to cushion the blow, so to speak. The love for Rama was so strong that they could not be dissuaded with words. That beloved prince settled upon a tough decision. He would have to trick the people. He would have to act quickly, while they were still sleeping. With the trusted chariot driver, Sumantra, making a fake set of tracks, Rama and His group could escape without being detected. The people would have no choice but to return home, back to where they could sleep with a roof over their heads. Such is the kindness of the Supreme Lord that He never intends for His devotees to suffer for His sake, even if their decision is like an unbreaking vow, fulfilled with strong determination.

In Closing:

That vow personally to break,
With move of deception to take.

That chariot false tracks showing,
So citizens back to Ayodhya going.

While Rama in exile term,
In fourteen years to return.

Such kindness in that prince to know,
Such that anywhere for Him to go.