Raja Dashrath was pretty old when Ram and three other sons of his were born. Naturally, he was aged when his offspring got married and attained manhood. The raja became anxious, as we say in sports, to hang his boots. Ram was his obvious choice of a successor. The prince was the oldest of his brothers and the Raghus’ tradition demanded that the throne should go to him. Besides, Ram assisted him in discharge of his regal duties; Bharat, his second son, being away to his maternal grandfather’s kingdom. Ram had thus acquired on-hand experience of kingship. Sant Tulsidas tells us what might have been going on in Dashrath’s mind during that time –
Shravan smip bhaye sit kesa/Manhun jarathpanu as updesa//
Nrip jubraju Ram kahun dehu/ Jivan janam lahu kin lehu//
(He saw that) the hair near his ears has grown white, as though old age is sermonising to him, “O Raja! Bestow on Ram the title of crown-prince and take advantage of your life.”
– Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Kand, 1(iv)
Being the eldest son of the reigning monarch and having sound knowledge of running the administration were not the only qualifications Prince Ram possessed; his superb qualities of mind and body, as also his general conduct and bearing made him an ideal choice to succeed his father.
Raja Dashrath’s only choice: Ram
In looks he was more pleasing than Kamdev – the god of love – and in physical prowess, no one could outmatch him. People adored him at the first sight. That exquisite body of his enshrined a person approaching perfection. He had complete mastery over himself. By nature, he was calm and composed. Neither pleasure, nor pain ruffled him. Though born to a royal house, he lived the disciplined life of a hermit. Truth, faith, the traditions of the Raghus and the norms of society were his guiding principles. He took pains not to violate the legal or moral bounds, nor did he allow anyone else to do that. He abhorred lowly thoughts and conduct.
Ram was highly talented and an outstanding scholar. He had mastered the Vedas and other scriptures. He was soft-spoken and a skilled orator. His ability to read the minds of others made him a competent statesman. The singular quality of putting others before self won him the loyalty of the elite as well as the commoners. If he was pleased with someone, that person’s life was made; and if anyone had the temerity to displease him, that one would rue the day he was born. Ram’s pleasure and displeasure never went fruitless.
As a warrior he was outstanding. His self-confidence, indomitable courage, and an unparalleled skill of archery, supplemented by an inherent knowledge of battle strategy, guaranteed him a conquest whenever he chose to go on a war.
The Raja was wary of opposition
Cognizant of the superb qualities of Ram, Raja Dashrath could not have thought of appointing any other of his sons as his crown-prince. Yet, he did not want to be branded an autocrat. Sant Tulsidas says that Dashrath sought the blessings of his raj-purohit, Muni Vashisht, before going public with his intention (see Ramcharitmanas, Ayodhya Kand, 2-4). But Adi-kavi Balmiki dwells on Dashrath’s move to seek approval of his peers and the local gentry before making his intention public. He sent invitations to all the friendly rajas for an urgent visit to Ayodhya. While all other rulers were invited, Dashrath chose to omit both his own father-in-law – the Raja of Kaikeya – as well as Ram’s father-in-law, Raja Janak of Mithila. That was a clever diplomatic move on his part. Should the Kaikeya ruler resent being ignored by him on that politically significant event, he could take a plea that it was all done in a hurry – he had forgotten to invite even Ram’s father-in-law!
Raja Dashrath put his proposal before the assembled guests and received their unanimous support. It was decided that Ram would be installed as the crown prince of Ayodhya the following morning itself. He then directed his trusted minister, Sumantra, discreetly to prepare for Ram’s anointment. Ram was invited to the assembly and informed of the decision. The glad tidings spread all over the capital. The citizens were happy that someone as perfect as Ram was going to be their ruler. Yet, the reaction of Ram himself to this development was astonishing –
Janme ek sang sab bhai/bhojan sayan keli larikai//
Karanbedh upbit biaha/Sang sang sab bhaye uchhaha//
Bimal bans yahu anuchit eku/Bandhu bihai badehi abhisheku//
Prabhu saprem pachhitani suhai/Harau bhagat man kai kutilai//
All of us brothers were born together; eating, sleeping, boyhood gambolling, performing the rites of passage – piercing of earlobes, the sacred thread consecration and marriage – we went through all the ceremonies together;
Yet, in this blameless clan of ours the only wrong being committed is that leaving aside all other brothers, only the eldest one is being anointed. (Tulsidas says that) this remorse of Prabhu (Lord Ram) may take away cunning from the hearts of His devotees’ hearts.
– Ibid, 9(iii-iv)
Nonetheless, going by Rishi Balmiki, Raja Dashrath didn’t subscribe much to selflessness which Ram had. When the raja had obtained universal approval for Ram’s anointment, he invited the prince to his palace to have a one-to-one talk with him. He told Ram of the uncertainty of his advanced age and his intense desire to see him on the throne. Then he went on to reveal his worldly perspective to Ram. Bharat was away with his maternal grandfather. The young prince was noble at heart, yet even noble persons sometimes proved fickle at heart. That was why he, Dashrath, was keen to declare Ram as the crown-prince and entrust to him all the sovereign rights the following day itself. Dashrath ended the private audience cautioning Ram to be careful because there was always a possibility of hurdles arising in such matters.
As to Ram, he continued to show exemplary evenness of temper on that sudden turn of his fate. Says Tulsidas –
Prasanntam ya na gatabhishekatastatha na mamle vanvasdukhtah/
Mukhambujshri Raghunandanasya me sadastu sa manjulmangalprada//
On the lotus face (of Ram), the Bestower of Joy to the Clan of the Raghus, neither the (news of) His anointment as a ruler brought a glow of happiness, nor did His banishment to the forests brought gloom – may that radiance (of Ram’s face) be a bestower of happiness to me.
– Ibid, shlok 2
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