Five People Who Should Not Suffer By Rama Leaving Ayodhya

“O chastiser of the enemies, along with you I wish to distribute my wealth to the brahmanas practicing austerities – to the many excellent brahmanas who live here, with firm devotion toward their gurus, and furthermore to all of those who depend upon me.” (Shri Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 31.33-34)

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अहं प्रदातुमिच्छामि यदिदं मामकं धनम्
ब्राह्मणेभ्यस्तपस्विभ्यस्त्वया सह परन्तप

वसन्तीह दृढं भक्त्या गुरुषु द्विजसत्तमाः
तेषामपि च मे भूयस्सर्वेषाञ्चोपजीविनाम्

ahaṃ pradātumicchāmi yadidaṃ māmakaṃ dhanam
brāhmaṇebhyastapasvibhyastvayā saha parantapa

vasantīha dṛḍhaṃ bhaktyā guruṣu dvijasattamāḥ
teṣāmapi ca me bhūyassarveṣāñcopajīvinām

1. The parents

In the ancient sanatana-dharma tradition, which is actually eternally relevant, the parents are the first guru. The guru in this case refers to someone who is important, who carries weight, in the sense of their impact. The more traditional understanding of guru is as the spiritual guide. They provide the second and more important birth. The guru usually belongs to a class known as dvija, which means “twice-born.” Through the second birth they entered the eternal tradition of living up to the ideals of sanatana-dharma, and they have the power to offer the same to others, provided there is appropriate qualification.

तद् विद्धि प्रणिपातेन
परिप्रश्नेन सेवया
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं
ज्ञानिनस् तत्त्व-दर्शिनः

tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ

“Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 4.34)

The parents are there from the beginning. For someone like Shri Rama, the prince of Ayodhya, the parents provide the most love. The father, King Dasharatha, had long awaited a son, for an heir to the throne. For someone in such an important position, personal safety and comfort are at the lowest priority of interest. Keeping the family line going, maintaining a tradition of duty, honor, and integrity – these were the objectives to fulfill prior to the end of life. Rama appeared from the womb of Queen Kausalya, and there was love from the very beginning.

In the episode at hand, Rama has to leave the kingdom. The move was abrupt. It was sudden and unexpected, but with an identifiable cause. One of the other queens in the kingdom became envious and wanted a change in plans. Rama had no issue, but He was concerned more about others. The parents should not suffer in Rama’s absence, which was to last fourteen years.

2. The wife

The stipulation from Queen Kaikeyi was that Rama live like a renounced mendicant. No fixed place of residence. No access to the royal army. No comfort. As if Rama were wandering from place to place, to intentionally keep possessions and attachments at a healthy distance, this was akin to a prison sentence. Rama decided that His wife should not suffer because of this decision. Rama wanted Sita Devi to stay back, to live in the kind of surroundings she was accustomed to since birth, where she was found in the ground as a baby by the esteemed King Janaka of Mithila.

तस्य लाङ्गलहस्तन्य कर्षतः क्षेत्रमण्डलम्
अहं किलोत्थिता भित्वा जगतीं नृपतेस्सुता

tasya lāṅgalahastanya karṣataḥ kṣetramaṇḍalam
ahaṃ kilotthitā bhitvā jagatīṃ nṛpatessutā

“While he was tilling a field with a plow in his hand, it is said that I, the daughter of that king, arose from underneath the earth’s surface.” (Sita Devi speaking to Anasuya, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 118.28)

3. The younger brother

There is the saying that when it rains it pours, and so after Dasharatha desperately wanted a son, he happened to be blessed with four at once. Rama was the eldest of the four brothers, and from the time of birth there was a kind of pairing off. Rama and Lakshmana were like best friends. Bharata and Shatrughna were close. It is said that Lakshmana would synchronize his eating and sleeping habits to the movements of Rama. This is a sign of great respect.

न च तेन विना निद्रां लभते पुरुषोत्तम
मृष्टमन्नमुपानीतमश्नाति न हि तं विना

na ca tena vinā nidrāṃ labhate puruṣottama
mṛṣṭamannamupānītamaśnāti na hi taṃ vinā

“That best among men would not go to sleep without Him, nor would he eat without Him, even if the food brought was very palatable.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Bala Kand, 18.30)

Leaving for the forest exile would cause physical separation from Lakshmana. There would be distance between the two brothers. Rama did not want Lakshmana to suffer because of the change in plans. Rama wanted Lakshmana to be the careful guardian to the elders in Ayodhya, in Rama’s absence.

4. The brahmanas

It is said that Rama is an avatara of Vishnu, who is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That God is a person might be a difficult concept to grasp. We know all sorts of people. Some are good. Some are bad. Some are nice. Some are mean and vindictive. One thing to know about Vishnu is that those who voluntarily practice austerity for His benefit are very dear to Him. There were visible examples in the kingdom of Ayodhya, in the brahmana community. Rama also appreciated the brahmanas who had respect for their own teachers. This is similar to the children showing respect to their parents. Rama did not want such people to suffer on account of His abrupt departure.

5. The people who depend upon Him

In truth, any person who depends on Rama is dear to Him. In that moment of distress, Rama took interest in distributing charity. He was not going to be a miser. He was going to take the most valuable items and give them away, to the brahmanas and those dependent on Him in a financial sense. This offers a glimpse into the unlimited kindness and mercy of the Supreme Lord. If we depend on Him, He will always be there for us. Even if we feel that we are far away, that we cannot approach Him, He will establish means by which we can continue on. Sita and Lakshmana had such strong devotion that they refused to stay at home. They are always with the Supreme Lord, even if He insists on another path.

In Closing:

Even if one way to insist,
That separation to resist.

Sita and Lakshmana to go,
Rama their only home to know.

Brahmanas valuable gifts receiving,
Prior to the prince’s leaving.

Dependents too kindly accepting,
As if every possession rejecting.