[Advaita-l] saMkShepa rAmAyaNa 4 - AraNyakANDam part 1

[jaldhar at braincells.com]

॥ आरण्यकाण्डम् ॥

पौरैरनुगतो दूरं पित्रा दशरथेन च ॥२८॥
शृङ्गवेरपुरे सूतं  गंगाकूले व्यसर्जयत् ।
गुहमासाद्य धर्मात्मा निषादाधिपतिं प्रियम् ॥२९॥
गुहेन सहितो रामो लक्श्मणेन च सीतया ।
ते वनेन वनं गत्वा नदीस्तीर्त्वा बहूदकाः ॥३०॥

“The citizens of ayodhya and dasharatha followed rAma for a long distance. 
He left them and his charioteer[1] at shr~Ngaverapura on the banks of the 
gangA. rAma the dharmAtmA having approached guha the king of the 
niShAdas[2] who had become his friend. together with guha and sItA and 
lakShmaNa crossed the river and went deeper from forest to forest.” 
(28b-30)

[1] His charioteers name is sumantra.  The implication is that from that 
point on, they walked on foot.

[2] naiShada is the name of an adivasi tribe of ancient India.  It is not 
clear if they are related to any peoples of today.  Although they are 
described as wild and primitive, they were also considered friends of the 
Aryas and often admired.  (For example nala the hero of the nala-damayanti 
story is also a naiShAda.)  This story gives the lie to scurrilous 
politicians who claim that shrI rAma is a symbol of oppression or similar 
nonsense.

चित्रकूटमनुप्राप्य भरद्वाजस्य शासनात् ।
रम्यमावसथं कृत्वा रममाणा वने त्रयः ॥३१॥
देवगन्धर्वसंकाशास्तत्र ते न्यवसन्सुखम् ।

“Having reached the chitrakuTa mountain by the command of R^iShi 
bharadwAja, the three[1] raised a delightful hut made of leaves in the 
forest there. and dwelt there happily resembling devas and 
gandharvas.[2]”(31-32a)

[1] guha has returned to his home by this point. rAma, sItA and lakShmaNa 
continue on, stopping to visit the Ashramas of various R^iShis along the 
way.  One of them, bharadvAja advises them to make their home on Mount 
ChitrakuTa.
[2] In other words it was like a heaven on earth.

चित्रकूटं गते रामे पुत्रशोकातुरस्तथा ॥३२॥
राजा दशरथः स्वर्गं जगाम विलपन्सुतम् ।

“On learning that rAma had gone to chitrakuTa, king dasharatha, stricken 
by grief over the separation from his son and lamenting over him, departed 
to heaven.[1]”(32b-33a)

[1] i.e. died.

गते तु तस्मिन्भरतो वसिष्ठप्रमुखैर्द्विजैः ॥३३॥
नियुज्यमानो राज्याय नैच्छद्राज्यं महाबलः ।
स जगाम वनं वीरो रामपादप्रसादकः ॥३४॥

“After he had gone, mighty bharata did not desire to rule the kingdom 
despite the urging of the brAhmaNas led by vasishTha.  That hero went to 
the forest in order to worship Rama's feet.”(33b-34)

गत्वा तु स महात्मानं रामं सत्य पराक्रमम् ।
अयाचद्भ्रातरं राममार्यभावपुरस्कृतः ॥३५॥
त्वमेव राजा धर्मज्ञ इति रामं वचोऽब्रवीत् ।

“When that great soul had reached rAma of great valour, he implored his 
brother with all the respect due to a noble person saying to rAma these 
words, ‘You alone, knower of dharma, should be the king.[1]’”(35-36a)

[1] Because according to dharma, when the elder brother is alive, the 
younger brother is prohibited from ruling the kingdom.

रामोऽपि परमोदारः सुमुखः सुमहायशाः ॥३६॥
न चैच्छत् पितुरादेशाद्राज्यं रामो महाबलः ।

“Even though the mighty rAma delights in satisfying the wishes of all, 
even though he always  presents a cheerful face[1], is greatly 
reknowned[2] and highly capable[3], rAma refused to accept the kingdom in 
accordance with the command of his father.”(36b-37a)

[1] to those who come to him seeking help.
[2] for his charity.
[3] of fulfilling all wishes.

पादुके चास्य राज्याय न्यासं दत्त्वा पुनःपुनः ॥३७॥
निवर्तयामास ततो भरतं भरताग्रजः ।


“Giving his sandals to bharata as symbol of authority for ruling the 
kingdom, bharatas' elder brother persuaded him again and again to go 
back.” (37b-38a)

स काममनवाप्यैव रामपादावुपस्पृशन् ॥३८॥
नन्दिग्रामेऽकरोद्राज्यं रामागमनकांक्षया ।


“Not having fulfilled his desire, he touched the sandals of rAma with 
reverence[1] and ruled ruled the kingdom from nandigrAma[2], eagerly 
awaiting his return.”(38b-39a)

[1] and took them back to ayodhya to be placed upon the throne as a symbol 
of the absent king.
[2] nandigrAma was a small village near ayodhya.  bharata dwelt there in 
simplicity without any of the trappings of royalty, doing the minimum to 
administer the kingdom until rAma should return.

गते तु भरते श्रीमान्सत्यसंधो जितेन्द्रियः ॥३९॥
रामस्तु पुनरालक्ष्य नागरस्य जनस्य च ।
तत्रागमनमेकाग्रो दण्डकान्प्रविवेश ह ॥४०॥

“When Bharata had departed, rAma the fortunate, steadfast in his vows and 
master of his senses, perceived that the citizens of ayodhya would 
constantly come to there[1] so single-mindedly focused on his vow, he 
moved to the daNDaka forest.” (39b-40)

[1] there being chitrakuTa.  The dividing line between “civilization” and 
“wilderness” was not necessarily a solid one.  The people of the towns and 
villages would often go into the forest and visit the Ashramas of the 
ascetics who dwelt there to take part in their religious activities and 
provide them support and they in turn would visit the cities to advise 
kings or give discourses to the public etc.  shrI rAma sees that 
chitrakuTa is accessible enough to ayodhya that there would be a constant 
stream of visitors.  While he would still be observing the letter of his 
vow of exile, he would be violating its spirit so he resolves to go even 
further away to where no one could follow.

-- 
Jaldhar H. Vyas <jaldhar at braincells.com>