Sumantra had failed his king and his compatriots. He could not convince anyone of the three royals to go back with him to Ayodhya. Ram refused him because of his vow to remain in the forest for fourteen years. Both Sita and Lakshman were steadfast in their resolve to stay with Ram wherever he might go. Driving alone, poor Sumantra waited till the nightfall to enter the capital so as to avoid facing the people who were hoping that Ram would come back with his consort,Sita and his brother, Lakshman.
Yet, there was his master, Raja Dashrath, he could not avoid. Ignoring the questioning glances of the ranis and everyone else in the palace, Sumantra headed straight for the chamber where the raja was present, groaning piteously for Ram’s return. Sumantra carefully briefed him about the journey:they had their first halt on the bank of the Tamsa river and the second one on the bank of Ganga near Shringverpur, where they spent the night. In the morning that followed, Ram asked for banyan-tree milk and both he and Lakshman set their hair with it in hermit-like braids.Then the three crossed the Ganga in a boat rowed by Kevat. Sumantra ended his briefing with messages from Ram to his father, his mothers and all others –
Tumrehn anugrah taat kaanan jaat sab sukhu paihaunn/
Pratipaali aayasu kusal dekhan pay puni phiri aaihaun//
Jananin sakal paritoshi pari pari paayn kari binti ghani/
Tulsi karahu soee jatanu jehin kusali rehahin Koshaldhani//
O Revered Father! With your grace I will have all sorts of comfort traversing the forest. After carrying out your command, I will safely return to your feet. Tulsidas says – touching the feet of all his mothers to mollify them, (Ram prays thus to them:) you go only for that endeavour which keeps my revered father, the Lord of Koshal, happy.
Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhyakand, chhand 150
Sumantra was still delivering Ram’s messages to Guru Vashisht, to his brother Bharat, to the kinsmen and all the people of Ayodhya when Raja Dashrath fell down with a terrible burning pain in his heart. The pain was so intense that he began to writhe violently. And while Rani Kaushalya and others wailed, he passed on –
Ram Ram kahi Ram kahi Ram Ram kahi Ram/
Tanu parihari Raghubar birhan rau gayau surdham//
Uttering “Ram-Ram”, and then again uttering “Ram-Ram”, the raja, having given up his body on separation from Ram, ascended to the abode of devas.
Ibid, doha 155
Raja Dashrath’s death had turned the Koshal kingdom into a headless state. Muni Vashishta took charge of the situation. The deceased raja’s body was preserved in oil because no prince was present to cremate him. The Council of Ministers was called to deliberate upon the future course of action. Messengers on speedy horses were sent to the Kekeya kingdom to call back Bharat and Shatrughan. Muni Vashisht gave strict instructions to the messengers: they were to tell Bharat that Raja Dashrath desired both of the princes to return forthwith to Ayodhya; but on no account they were to be told of their father’s demise while in transit.
Bharat arrived with Shatrughan after a long and difficult journey. The Ayodhaya that the brothers saw now wore a sad and desolate look. They hurried to the palace. There, bigger surprises awaited them. Not only was their father inaccessible, but Ram, Lakshman and Sita too were nowhere to be seen. To add to their bewilderment, Rani Kaikeyi and her maid, Manthara, were in a bubblymood,which seemed ill-suited to that sombre atmosphere in the entire capital.
After going through the normal courtesies of reunion after a long time, Bharat asked his mother about the missing members of his family. It was then that Kaikeyi told him of her role in Ram’s banishment, the insistence of Sita and Lakshman to accompany him, as also of the demise of his father, Raja Dashrath.She said with a tinge of gratification –
Tat bat men sakal sanvari/Bhai Manthara sahay bichari//
Kachhuk kaj bidhi bich bigareu/Bhupati surpati pur pagu dhareyu//
O, dear son! I had managed everything well. Poor Manthara proved helpful. But destiny spoilt the show a little. The raja has departed for the abode of the devas.
– Ibid, 159(i)
Bharat was normally a person of even temper like his older brother, Ram. But his wily mother’s words broke the barrage of his patience. He scolded her severely for what she had done, “Jo hasi so hasi muhn masi laee/Aankhi ot uthi baith-hi jaee” – What you are, you are; now blacken your face and sit away from my sight!Shatrughan too was outraged. He vented his anger on Manthara. Dragging her by hair, he gave a forceful kick at her hump and broke it. The uppish maid would have got it worse from the angry prince had not the merciful Bharat intervened and let her go.
Bharat had more important things to attend to. He went to Rani Kaushalya and tearfully expressed his dismay over Ram’s banishment, assuring her that he had no interest in usurping the throne. Ram, his elder brother,had the right over it and to Ram it would go. Kaushalya responded that he was as dear to him as Ram himself and she trusted his sincerity. If anything was to be blamed, it was fate that had brought misery to the Raghus. Having consoled Mother Kaushalya, Bharat performed the last rites of his father under the guidance of Guru Vashisht.
On the fourteenth day after Raja Dashrath’s cremation, the courtiers, ministers and other important functionaries of the kingdom approached Bharat in a body with the submission that they recognised him as their raja and he should agree to his coronation. Bharat listened to them patiently and then expressed his wish. He would follow the tradition of theRaghus which said that only the eldest son of the monarch inherited the throne. Ram, and not he, would rule the kingdom. That being so, he desired that all arrangements be made for the entire army, the royal household and all the important dignitaries to march to the forest with the sole purpose of persuading Ram to return to Ayodhya and occupy the throne. Bharat’s command was welcomed by everyone present in the assembly. After a while, they went back to report to him –
“O, Noblest of Men! In accordance with your wish, we have despatched artisans and sentries, who are devoted to the royal house, to set right the path for the journey.”
Balmiki Ramyan, Ayodhya Kand, Canto 79(xvi)
Bharat was satisfied at the affirmation, unaware yet of the obstacles in his path.
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