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Sarg 60-Sumantra Tells More About Raam and Seetaa

Kaushalyaa said to Sumantra - "Take me to Raam, Lakshman and Seetaa wherever they are. I cannot live without them. Take me to Dandak Van because if I will not go to them I will die." Sumantra joining his palms consoled Kaushalyaa - "Leave this grief, and delusion for Raam because He can live in forest. Lakshman and Seetaa have also adjusted there. Nobody is depressed and Seetaa seems to be so much accustomed to forest as if She had been to many exiles. Seetaa's heart is with Raam so She is enjoying forest as She used to enjoy royal gardens. I am remembering only these incidents of Seetaa, but She said something about Kaikeyee also, which I don't remember." In fact his last statement was just like that, so he changed it and he said only sweet words to Kaushalyaa.

He further said - "Seetaa's beauty has not faded due to weather effects. Her face is the same, Her feet, though not painted with Aalataa (of red color, to paint the feet in India), still look red. She still walks playfully wearing Her tinkling anklets. There is no need to pity them for us or the king." Even after hearing such description of Raam and Seetaa Kaushalyaa couldn't stop crying for her son.

Sarg 61-Kaushalyaa Rebukes Dasharath

Weeping Kaushalyaa said to Dasharath - "Although your glory is spread all over the world but your to loving sons are wandering in forests. Seetaa is so tender, can She tolerate forest's heat and cold? How will She who has been eating all kinds of delicious foods, eat wild rice? How will She, who has been hearing sweet musical sounds, hear the sounds of wild animals? Will my Raam be sleeping with His arm as the pillow? When will I see my Raam's face? My heart is made up of the core of diamond that is why it doesn't shatter even after not seeing Raam.

Even if Raam comes back in His fifteenth year, it is not certain that Bharat will hand over Him kingdom and the treasury. In Shraaddh days people feed first to their relatives then invite the twice-born (who have  had their Upanayan Sanskaar), and learned Braahman do not accept the food after that, even if it is like Amrit. Besides the best Braahman do not accept the remaining food, then why not Raam can refuse to take kingdom already enjoyed by His younger brother? Therefore Raam cannot accept the kingdom taken away by other.

A son who is so righteous, you have sent Him to forest. O Raajan, Husband is the chief refuge for a woman, son is the second, and a near-relative is the third one. There is no fourth one. Among these three refuges you don't really exist, Raam has gone to forest and I do not want to go there, thus you have ruined me in every way. Even this kingdom has been ruined by you. Every thing is ruined, only your son Bharat and wife Kaikeyee are happy." Hearing these cruel words of Kaushalyaa king got very sad and tried to recollect his past evil acts.

Sarg 62-Dasharath Consoles Kaushalyaa

Hearing Kaushalyaa's harsh words Dasharath got very sad. He recalled an incident, by shooting a Shabdvedhee Vaan, done in innocence long tome ago. Recalling that sinful deed he became more sad and his agony got double with the agony of Raam's separation. He sat down trembling and said to Kaushalyaa - " O Kaushalyaa, I seek your grace. You have always been kind to me, even to others. For women their husband is visible God whether he is righteous or not. You should not have such harsh words to me who is already in so much distress."

Kaushalyaa got scared hearing these words. She said - "I bow you, I lie prostrate before you, I am ruined, I am not worthy of your forgiveness. I spoke all that in the grief of my son. Grief ruins courage, grief ruins sacred learning, in fact it ruins everything. There is no enemy like grief. An enemy's strong hitting can be tolerated but when grief strikes even lightly, it is not tolerable. Grief can send even great people astray. Today five days have passed since Raam has gone, but it seems as if five years have passed." Night started falling and Dasharath consoled Kaushalyaa.

Sarg 63-Dasharath Tells the Story of Tapaswee

After some sleep, Dasharath woke up and said to Kaushalyaa - "A human being does whatever good or bad Karm, and he bears the results according to that. But who does not give a thought to its result before taking any action, he is considered A-Gyaanee. There are many people who water Palaash tree and wish to cut mango trees. They are attracted to beautiful Palaash flowers and expect sweet fruits from them, but they get disappointed at the time of fruits [because Palaash tree doesn't give mango fruits]. So the people who act without any thinking, they get disappointed at the time of fruits. For the same reason, Kaushalyaa, I am suffering. I exiled my princes out of my foolishness. This is the result of the same. Today I am remembering that Shaap which I got for an action done unknowingly.

I was not married to you then. One day, in Vasant Ritu (Spring season) I went towards Sarayoo River to practice archery. Evening fell, the sun set, it rained. At that time he-buffalos, elephants, deer used to come to drink water at Sarayoo River. I sat there to prey on anyone. I heard a sound of filling a pitcher at Sarayoo but I could not see anything. I though it was elephant's sound, so to kill an elephant, I shot a Shabd-Vedhee poisonous arrow and the I heard a voice of a Tapaswee and the the sound of his falling on the ground.

I got sure that it was a human being. He said - "I  came here to fill water on the river and somebody shot an arrow at me without any fault of mine. I have never troubled anyone. My living is only the things from forest, because I am a Tapaswee. What one will get by killing me? I have never done any bad to anybody, then why somebody shot at me? Therefore he will be at loss. As nobody likes the people who go to other women, the same would happen to the killer of a Rishi. I am not worried about my death, but my parents will be very sad. How they will be alive without me? Who will feed them? They are old. I served them for long time then who took my life?"

Hey Kaushalyaa, I heard these pitiful words, and my bow fell down from my hands. Then I went to that place where Rishi was lying. His Jataa was open and the pitcher was lying on one side. Seeing him I got frightened. Rishi said - "Raajaa, What bad I did to you so you shot me? I came to take water for my old parents. Not only you killed me but also my blind parents. They are blind and weak. They might be waiting for me to bring water because they are thirsty. They are not Tapaswee or Gyaanee that is why they couldn't know that I am lying here. 

And what they can do  even if they know it, because they are not able to walk. They cannot even protect me. I am also unable to protect them. Please tell them as strong winds burn large woods, they should not burn you. This way goes to them. Therefore you go and please them so that they don't give you any Shaap. And take out this arrow from my body so that my pain goes away."

Hey Kaushalyaa, I thought at that time that if I take out that arrow from his body, he will die; and if I don't take it out then he is in great pain. I could not decide anything, so that Rishi said - "Now I am at peace so don't worry about Brahm Hatyaa (killing of Braahman) because I am born to a Shoodra woman from a Vaishya father." He was in great pain so I took out the arrow and that Rishi died immediately. I was very sad at that time."

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