Dasharatha Asks What Wrong Ram Has Ever Done
Ayodhya Kanda, Chaupai 32
Doha 32 · Movement 1 of 2
Keep this contemplation
Preserve, print, or share
Dasharatha swears that Kausalya never urged the coronation. He acted without consulting Kaikeyi and will accept the failure of his wish. Let anger end, and Bharata can be crowned within days.
Only the second boon burns him. Was the demand for exile spoken in anger, jest, or true intention? What wrong has Ram done when the whole world knows him as supremely virtuous?
Kaikeyi herself always praised and loved Ram. He is gracious even to enemies, so how could he harm his own mother? The king searches their shared past for one fact capable of supporting the demand and finds only affection, virtue, and the unbearable mystery of her changed sight.
Dasharatha searches all of Ram's life for an offence and finds only the virtues Kaikeyi once loved.
Read the passage from the Manas
राम सपथ सत कहुउँ सुभाऊ। राममातु कछु कहेउ न काऊ।। मैं सबु कीन्ह तोहि बिनु पूँछें। तेहि तें परेउ मनोरथु छूछें।। रिस परिहरू अब मंगल साजू। कछु दिन गएँ भरत जुबराजू।। एकहि बात मोहि दुखु लागा। बर दूसर असमंजस मागा।। अजहुँ हृदय जरत तेहि आँचा। रिस परिहास कि साँचेहुँ साँचा।। कहु तजि रोषु राम अपराधू। सबु कोउ कहइ रामु सुठि साधू।। तुहूँ सराहसि करसि सनेहू। अब सुनि मोहि भयउ संदेहू।। जासु सुभाउ अरिहि अनुकूला। सो किमि करिहि मातु प्रतिकूला।।
I swear by Rama and speak the truth of my nature. Rama's mother never said a word to me. I did everything without consulting you, and so my heart's desire came to nothing. Let go of your anger now and prepare for celebration. In a few days Bharat will be crowned prince. Only one thing pains me: that second boon I asked for in confusion. Even now my heart burns with that fire. Was it anger, was it jest, or was it truly real? Tell me plainly, setting aside your fury: what wrong has Rama done? The whole world says Rama is supremely virtuous. You too have always praised him and shown him love. Yet hearing all this, doubt has taken hold of me. One whose very nature is gracious even to his enemies: how could he ever act against his own mother?