Kamba Ramayana A study 06

Going back to Valmiki Ramayana, the lament of the women in the palace and especially of Rama's mother Kausalya seemed timeless! "......women in the palace were weeping loudly, 'Rama, since he was born, was showing the same attention to us, as he was showing to his mother Kausalya. Our stupid king by abandoning Rama who was helpful to all beings, is offending all the beings'. Thus, all the king consorts while weeping loudly, as cows which lost their Calves, abused their husband."

Rama goes to his mother who obviously is very happy and breaks the news. The queen Kausalya fell on the floor all at once like the branch of a tree, cut down by an axe and as an angel dropping down from heaven.....Rama lifts her up and Kausalya cries: "Oh, son! There is no other grief to a barren woman except the only worry that 'I have no sons'. Oh, Rama! I have not seen any happiness or prosperity earlier, while my husband is in power. I believed that I could see them at last when my son comes to power. I have to hear so many disagreeable words from my fellow-wives who are inferior to me and who pierce my heart with their words though I am a better and virtuous wife among them.'......'Even when you are near by, I am being rejected. What to tell after you leave for exile? Death indeed is certain to me. My husband always held me down, without giving me any independence and treat me equal to or even lower than the servants of Kaikeyi'.

There is a lot more......"I feel bad since all my religious vows, charities, restraints have all gone waste. The austerity I performed for the sake of off-spring has gone in vain, as a seed sown in a saline soil."...."Moreover, what is the use of life? Oh, Rama! With your brilliant face shining like moon! My life is useless without you. I shall accompany you to the forest like a weak cow going behind it's calf" Anyway Rama consoles her and convinces her to accept that he in any case cannot go against the wish of his father.

Kamba ramayana continues with the story:

Rama, Sita and Lakshmana left the city and the forest-chief Guha ferried them across the river Ganga and the trio moved southwards. Back in Ayodhya a heart-broken Dasharatha died. Bharata and Shatrugna who had been away were summoned back to Ayodhya.

Bharata shocked at the turn of events, cursed his mother and cursed himself and the day he was born. Performed the necessary ceremonies for his father, wore coarse clothes and went looking for Rama. The people of the city followed him. Guha was at first suspicious, but as he looked at the distraught face of Bharata showed him the road that Rama had taken.

Bharata at last met Rama, fell at his feet and wept like a child, Rama lifted him up and embraced him like a tender father. But unable to convince Rama to return to Ayodhya, managed to get a promise that he would return to Ayodhya on the first day of the fifteenth year. Bharata also made a vow that he would not enter Ayodhya and rule the country from the outskirts. Also told Rama that he would light a fire and fall into it, if Rama did not return on the promised day!

Incidentally, I read  this part on a day when the electrician who promised to come and repair the geyser did not turn up! They expect you to follow up constantly, wait for them at home endlessly! I was looking out as I waited and saw this lady stopping Auto drivers and pleading with them, but they just shook their head ever so slightly and sped away! Wonder if the technique  Bharata or Kausalya applied would work.  I could threaten to immolate myself if the fellow did not turn up and the lady could go in front of the Auto, fall and roll and wail! May be not, it is Kaliyug now!