Chapter
2
The Imperial Line
In
the Immaculate pure Solar Dynasty was born the highly
mighty, the far famed, the strong armed, the Intensely
loved and revered ruler, Khatvanga. His rule showered
supreme bliss on the immense populations under his throne
and persuaded them to pay homage to him, as if he were
himself God. He had a 'one-and-only' son, named
Dileepa. He grew up, shining in the glory of knowledge
and virtue; he shared with his father the joy and
privilege of guarding and guiding the people. He moved
among his subjects, eager to know their joys and sorrows,
anxious to discover how best to relieve pain and
distress, intent on their welfare and prosperity. The
father watched his son grow straight and strong, virtuous
and wise. He sought a bride for him so that after the
marriage, he could place on his shoulders part of the
burden of the sceptre. He sought her in royal houses far
and wide, for she must be a worthy companion for the
prince. At last, the choice fell on the Magadhan
princess, Sudakshina. The wedding was celebrated with
unsurpassed pomp and exultation by the people and the
court.
Sudakshina was endowed
with all womanly virtues in ample measure. She was
saintly and simple and a sincere votary of her husband;
she served her lord and poured love on him, as if he were
her very breath. She walked in the footsteps of her
husband and never deviated from the path of
righteousness.
Dileepa, too, was the
very embodiment of righteousness, and, as a consequence,
he saw that neither want nor disappointment affected him
in the least. He held fast to the ideals and practices of
his father so far as the administration of the empire was
concerned, and so he could slowly and without any
dislocation, take upon himself the full responsibility of
administration. Thus, he was able to give his father rest
in his old age. Khatvanga rejoiced within himself,
contemplating the great qualities of his son and
observing his skill, efficiency and practical wisdom.
Some years passed thus. Then, Khatvanga directed the
court astrologers to select an auspicious day and hour
for the Coronation of Dileepa and on the day fixed by
them he installed Dileepa as the Monarch of the
realm.
From that day Dileepa
shone forth as the Lord and Sovereign of the Empire,
which stretched from sea to sea, with the seven islands
of the Ocean. His rule was so just and compassionate, so
much in conformity with the injunctions laid down in the
scriptures, that rains came as plentifully as needed and
the harvest was rich and profuse. The entire empire was
green and glorious, festive and full. The land was
resonant with the sacred sound of the Vedas recited in
every village, the purifying rythm of the manthras
chanted in the Vedic sacrifices performed throughout the
land; every community lived in concord with all the
rest.
Nevertheless, the
Maharaja was apparently overcome by some mysterious
anxiety; his face was losing effulgence. The lapse of a
few years did not improve matters. Despair wrote its deep
lines firmer on his brow. One day, he revealed the cause
of his gloom to his queen, Sudakshina: "Darling! We have
no children, and sadness is overpowering me as a
consequence. I am even more affected when I realise that
this Ikshvaku dynasty will terminate with me. Some sin
which I committed must have brought about this calamity.
I am unable to decide the process by which I can counter
this malign destiny. I am eager to learn from our family
preceptor, the sage Vasishta, the means by which I can
win the Grace of God and make amends for the sin. I am
very much agitated by grief. What do you suggest as the
best means to win Grace?"
Sudakshina did not take
time even to think out the answer. "Lord! This same fear
had entered my mind too, and caused me much grief. I had
not given expression to it. I smothered it in the mind
for I cannot, I know, reveal my fears, without being
prompted by you, my Lord. I am ever willing and eager to
support and follow implicitly what appeals to you as the
best means of overcoming our sorrow. Why should there be
any delay? Let us hasten to consult revered Vasishta",
she said. Dileepa ordered the chariot to be brought for
the pilgrimage to the hermitage of the Preceptor. He
directed that no escort or courtier need accompany him
that day. In fact, he drove the vehicle himself and
reached the simple cottage of his Gurudev.
At the sound of the
chariot, the hermits on the out-skirts of the Asram went
into the cottage and made known to their Master the
arrival of the Ruler of the Empire. Vasishta showered his
blessing on him as soon as he saw him near the door and
lovingly inquired about his health and the welfare of his
subjects and his kith and kin.
Sudakshina fell at the
feet of the sage's consort, the famed Arundhathi,
embodiment of all the virtues which adorn the noblest of
women. Arundhathi lifted her into her arms and fondly
embraced her prodding her with questions about her
welfare. She led her into the inner part of the
hermitage.
As befitted the monarch
of the realm, Dileepa acquired from Vasishta whether the
Yajnas and Yagas the ascetics had to perform as part of
the cultural tradition were being carried out without any
handicap, whether the anchorites were experiencing any
difficulty in acquiring food and carrying on their
studies and spiritual practices, and whether their sylvan
campuses were terrorised by wild beasts. He was yearning,
he said, to make their studies and spiritual excercises
progress well without any distraction due to adverse
environment or counter-influences.
When the king and queen
entered the cottage and sat in their places, with the
assembled sages and seekers, Vasishta suggested to the
latter to move into their own hermitages, and asked the
king the reason for his coming to his place accompanied
by the queen and none else. The king communicated to his
preceptor the nature and depth of his grief, and prayed
for the only remedy that could remove it, namely, his
Grace.
Listening to that
prayer, Vasishta was lost in deep meditation. Perfect
silence prevailed. The king too sat in the lotus posture
on the bare floor and merged his mind in God; the queen
attuned her mind with the Divine.
At last, Vasistha
opened his eyes and said, "King! The will of God can be
thwarted by no man, whatever his might or authority. I
have no power to override the decree of the Divine. I
cannot manifest enough Grace to confer, through my
blessings, the son you desire. You have drawn on yourself
a curse. On one occasion, when you were approaching the
Capital, during your journey home, the Divine Cow,
Kamadhenu, was reclining in the cool shade of the Divine
Tree, the Kalpatharu! Your eye fell on her, but caught up
in the tangle of worldly pleasures, you ignored her and
passed on, in pride, to the palace. Kamadhenu was pained
at the neglect, she was hurt that you had failed to
honour her; she felt that your people will start
dishonouring the cow, since the king himself had failed
in his duty. When rulers, who do not revere the Vedas or
adore Brahmins who learn and practise the Vedas or
neglect the cow which sustains man, continue to rule
without restraint, she argued, there will be no Dharma in
the land.
"Kamadhenu cursed you
that day that you should have no son to succeed to your
throne; she declared, however, that when you take the
advice of the Guru and start in humility and reverence to
serve the cow and worship her in gratitude, the curse
will be rendered infructuous and you will be rewarded
with a son and heir.
"Therefore, worship the
cow from this moment, with your queen, as laid down in
the sacred texts and you are certain to have a son. The
hour is near when cows start returning home from the
pasture. My treasure, the divine cow, Nandini, is fast
approaching the hermitage. Go, serve her with devotion
and steady faith. Give her food and drink at appropriate
hours. Wash the cow and take her out to the pastures and
see that no harm comes to her while she
grazes."
Vasishta then initiated
the King and Queen in the rituallistic vow of 'Cow
Worship' (Dhenuvratha); he sent them into the cow-shed
with holy water and offerings for the worship and himself
walked towards the river for ablutions and evening
prayers.
One day, while Nandini
was grazing happily in the jungle, a lion espied her and
followed her in order to allay his hunger. Dileepa
observed this; he used all his skill and might to foil
the lion from pouncing on her; he resolved to offer his
own body in exchange. That lion, though feline and
ferocious, was a strict follower of Dharma. Moved by
compassion at the sacrifice that the king was willing to
make to save the cow that he worshipped, it released the
cow and the king from its clutches, and left the
place.
Nandini was filled with
an inexpressible sense of gratitude and joy at the
self-sacrificing gesture of Dileepa. She said, "King!
This moment, the curse that afflicts you is lifted! You
will have a son who will subdue the whole world, support
the principles and practice of Dharma, earn renown on
earth and in heaven, enhance the fame of the dynasty,
and, more than all, continue the Ikshvaku line, wherein,
the Lord Himself, Narayana, will one day take birth! May
this son be born soon". Nandini blessed the King.
Attended by the King, the sacred cow returned to the
asram of Vasishta.
Vasishta had no need to
be told! He knew all; as soon as he saw the face of the
King and Queen, he surmised that their wish was
fulfilled; so, he blessed them and permitted them to
leave for the City. Then, Dileepa and Queen Sudakshina
prostrated before the Sage and reached the Palace, full
of joy at the happy turn of events.
The child grew in the
womb as the blessing guaranteed. When the months ran
their full course, at an auspicious moment, the son was
born. When the happy tidings spread over the city and
kingdom, thousands assembled before and around the palace
in great joy; the streets were festooned with flags and
green leaves; groups of people danced in glee calling on
all to share in the thrill; they waved camphor flames to
mark the occasion. Huge crowds exclaimed 'Jai' 'Jai' and
moved on towards the Palace grounds.
Dileepa ordered that
the birth of the heir to the empire be announced to the
multitude gathered in the vast grounds of the Palace, by
the Minister himself, and when he did so, the joyous
acclamation of the throng hit the sky. The applause was
loud and long; the jais echoed and re-echoed from one
street to another. It took many hours for the gathering
to disperse and reach home.
On the tenth day, the
King invited the Guru and celebrated the rite of Naming
the New-born (Namakaranam). The name Raghu was selected,
on the basis of the asterism under which he was born. The
child gave delight to all by its prattle and play; he was
liked by all as a bright and charming youngster; he
crossed his teens and became a brave, resolute, efficient
helpmate of his father!
One night - no one
could guess why the king felt so - while conversing with
the Queen he said, "Sudakshina! I have achieved many a
grand victory! I have succeeded in celebrating many a
great ritual sacrifice. I have fought many a grim battle
with mighty invaders and triumphed over them all,
including even ogres and sub-human Titans! We are blessed
with a son who is a precious gem! We have nothing more to
gain.
"Let us spend the
remainder of our lives in the adoration of God. Raghu is
the repository of all virtues; he is fit in all respects
to take up the burden of ruling over the Empire. Let us
entrust the realm to him; we shall retire into the
silence of the forest, live on roots and fruits, serve
the sages who lead austere lives filled with godly
thoughts and godward aspiration, and sanctify every
moment with Sravana (Listening to the sacred teachings),
Manana (Meditating on their inner meaning) and
Nididhyasana (Practising the path laid down) We shall not
yield for a minute to sloth based on Thamasic
qualities."
So saying, he called
the Minister to his presence as soon as it was dawn: he
directed that arrangements be made for the Coronation and
marriage of the Prince. Full of the spirit of
renunciation, he asked the Queen what her plans were. She
shed tears of joy and gratitude and said, "What greater
good fortune can I gain? I am bound by your order;
proceed with your plans". Her enthusiasm and willing
acceptance strengthened the resolution of the
Emperor.
Dileepa called together
his ministers, scholars, and sages and communicated to
them his intention to celebrate the Coronation and
marriage of his son; they wholeheartedly agreed and the
two functions were held in great pomp. The father then
gave the Prince, valuable advice on administration
emphasising the need to promote the study of the Vedas
and the fostering of scholars learned in Vedic lore, and
lay down laws that will promote popular well-being. After
this, he moved into the forest, with the queen, bent on
acquiring the Grace of God.
Emperor Raghu ruled the
kingdom from that day in accordance with the directives
given by the pundits and with the twin objectives: the
happiness of his subjects and the promotion of righteous
living. He believed that these two are as vital as
breath, and he spared no pains in pursuing these ideals,
and making his ministers too adhere to the path. Though
young, he was rich in virtue. However tough a problem
happened to be, he grasped it quick and discovered the
means of solving it; he made his subjects happy and
contented. Wicked kings were taught severe lessons by
him. He won them over by peaceful approach and clever
diplomatic tactics, or by fielding a little army in order
to win them over, or openly breaking with them and
defeating them on the field of battle.
He was engaged in
activities that ensured the welfare of the people and
promoted the culture enshrined in the Vedas. All classes
of people extolled his rule, irrespective of age,
economic status, or attainments. They said he was proving
himself superior to his father in physical prowess,
courage, righteous conduct and compassion. Eyeryone said
that he brought lasting significance to the name he
bore.
Raghu paid special
attention to the care and comfort of the hermits engaged
in asceticism in the forests; he saw to it that they were
saved from harassment and himself supervised the
arrangements for assuring them protection and
encouragement. So, he received their blessings and grace
in ample measure.
One day, the
student-hermit, Kautsu, disciple of Varathanthu, came to
the Court after finishing his studies. He prayed to the
King to help him in securing the Thanks Offering which he
had to submit to his preceptor. Raghu gave him the money
that he wanted. Kautsu was happy that the gift he
received was pure, collected from the people without
causing them any distress, and paid by them gladly and
gratefully, for Raghu did not collect even a paisa more
than was absolutely needed, as he was ever afraid of the
anger of God. The money was also handed over with great
love and consideration, and so, Kautsu was overwhelmed by
joy and gratefulness. His heart was full and he spoke
lovingly to the King, "May you be blessed soon with a son
Who will achieve world-wide fame". With this, he left the
presence of the ruler.
True to his words, ten
months later, Raghu was blessed with a son, dazzling like
a diamond! The rites of baptism and naming were performed
by the palace priests; he was named 'Aja'. [compare
with Chapter
7d] He was
a very charming babe. He grew into a sprightly boy, eager
to learn all the arts and sciences. He became an adept in
each of them. His fame as a great scholar and a very
accomplished lad spread throughout the land.
In course of time,
Raghu also felt his father's urge to place on the
prince's head the burden of the sceptre and himself
retire into the forest for the contemplation of God. He
too called on the ministers to arrange for the transfer
of authority by means of the rite of Coronation and to
synchronise that rite with the marriage of Aja with a
suitable bride. Indumathi, the sister of Bhojaraja, the
ruler of Magadha, was the bride chosen to be the life
partner of Aja. After the installation of Aja on the
throne, the royal parents left for their forest
hermitage.
Aja, with the queen as
his loving partner, won the loyalty of the subjects by
his wisdom and sympathy: they scrupulously followed the
advice given by Raghu on the ways and means of
administration. Aja loved and revered the world and its
inhabitants as the reflections and images of the
Indumathi he loved so deeply; so, he was full of
happiness and exaltation. They used to spend days and
weeks in beautiful sylvan retreats, admiring the glory
and grandeur of Nature.
Meanwhile, the queen
gave birth to a son. The parents were overjoyed at this
happy event; they had the news communicated to their
revered preceptor, Vasishta. They wanted ceremonial rites
to be done for the newborn baby. He was named
Dasaratha.
Dasaratha was, indeed,
the pet of every one who saw him and who had the
privilege of fondling him. The child waved and tossed its
limbs about as if he was all vitality and joy. It
appeared as if it was fed on Ananda and it lived only for
imparting Ananda to all.
One day, Aja and
Indumathi betook themselves into the forest, as was their
wont, for recreation in the lap of nature. The silence
and the sublimity of that day were even more appealing
than on other days. They sat in the shade of a tree and
conversed endearingly, when a wind rose heavy and strong.
It brought a fragrance, sweet beyond description. And,
they could hear the captivating strains of divine music!
They rose and searched all around them for the cause of
these mysterious gifts. They found high above their
heads, between the clouds in the sky, Narada, the "mental
son" (Maanasa Putra) of Brahma, moving fast somewhere.
Even as they were watching him, a flower from the wreath
he was wearing on his tuft, unloosened itself and wafted
by the wind, it fell right on top of the head of
Indumathi. Aja was amazed at this incident; but, he was
shocked to find that the queen fell instantly on the
ground in a faint and closed her eyes for
ever!
The death of the woman
he loved as intimately as his own breath caused desperate
grief to the ruler; his lamentation shook the forest from
end to end. The earth quaked in sympathy; the trees stood
still, rooted in wonder at the sorrow that filled the
royal heart and overflowed
it.
(See
also S.B. 6.1).
Narada heard the wail
of the king - his sobs and groans - as he wept over the
corpse of his beloved. He came down to console his agony.
"Raja!", he said, "sorrow is of no avail when death
strikes; the body is prone to birth and death; what
brings about birth brings about death too; to seek to
know why they happen is an exercise in insanity. The acts
of God are beyond the cause-and-effect chain. Ordinary
intellects cannot unravel them; they can at best guess
the reason, as far as their faculties can reach. How can
the intellect grasp something out of its
domain?
"Death is inevitable
for each embodied being. However, since the death of
Indumathi is resonant with strangeness, I have to tell
you its reason", Narada said. He drew Aja near and said,
"Listen! In former days, the sage Thrnabindu was engaged
in extreme asceticism, and Indra resolved to test his
attainments and the depth of his equanimity. He
despatched a Divine Enchantress, named Harini, to attract
him into the world of sensualism. But, the sage was
immune to her wiles and remained unaffected. He opened
his eyes and said, 'You do not seem to be an ordinary
woman! You are perhaps a godly damsel. Well, whoever you
are, you must suffer the penalty for resolving to execute
a foul deed, a nefarious plan! Be born as a human being,
fallen from heaven; learn what it is to be a mortal
human'. Cursing her thus, the sage closed his eyes and
plunged into meditation again.
"Harini shook with fear
and shed profuse tears of repentance; she prayed for
pardon and for cancellation of her exile from heaven, she
pleaded pathetically for the removal of the curse. At
this, the sage melted a little and said, 'O weak one! It
is not possible for me to retake my words. But I shall
indicate an occasion when you will be released. Listen!
The moment a flower from heaven drops on your head, your
human frame will fall and you can return to Heaven.
Indumathi is that divine damsel and she has found her
release this day. When a flower I wore fell on her, she
rid herself of the curse. Why grieve over this? It is of
no avail." Narada spoke of the duties of a monarch and
his responsibility and the example he must set before
all; he spoke of the evanescent nature of life and the
mystery of death, the ultimate fate of all beings that
are born. After this, Narada wended his way across the
sky.
Unable to save his
beloved, Aja performed the obsequies and reached the
capital city. He was heavy with grief; only Prince
Dasaratha could give him some consolation and renew his
will to live; he spent his days in morose dreariness.
Since Dasaratha was now a full-grown youth, Aja made over
the kingdom to him and sat on the bank of the Sarayu
river, bent on fulfilling the vow of "non-acceptance of
food", (Anasana). Denying himself the sustenance to
continue, he caused his life to ebb away.
As soon as Dasaratha
heard the news, he hastened quickly to the Sarayu bank,
and bewailed the loss of his dear father. He arranged for
the funeral without delay and felt some relief that his
father had given up life through a ritualistic vow. He
drew some strength from this fact and resumed his duties
as the Ruler, with full mastery of all his varied
faculties.
Within a short time,
the fame of Dasaratha illumined all quarters, like the
rays of the rising Sun. He had the intrepidity and skill
of ten charioteers rolled into one and so, the name
Dasaratha (The-ten-chariot hero) was found appropriate.
No one could stand up against the onrush of his mighty
chariot! Every contemporary ruler, mortally afraid of his
prowess, paid homage to his throne. The world extolled
him as a hero without equal, a paragon of virtue, a
statesman of highest stature.
contents
of this Vahini
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