A
Father's Loss: Even Accidental Actions Cause Enormous Consequences!
DASARATHA EXILES RAMA, CITY IN TURMOIL!
Ayodhya-
The
city streets are quiet today and many cannot believe that King
Dasaratha exiled his son Rama, the supposed "soon to be King of
Ayodhya."
The youngest wife of the King, Kaikeyi, is said to have asked the King
for two favors: that Dasaratha appoint her son, Bharata, to be King and
that he exile his other son, Rama.
"I
owed my queen, for saving my life," King Dasaratha was reported
as
saying. "I did not want to do it, but I am a man of my word."
Queen Kausalya, Rama's mother, came forward about what had happened and
how this tragic event came about.
"When
I heard the news of my son's exile, I quickly ran to the King to
ask what he was thinking," the Queen reports. "This is when he told me
of a horrible story and how his actions on that day have caused this
horrible event."
"The King was destined for this, some actions in his past, has caused
him to lose his son."
"Long ago, the King went out hunting, he was gone quite a while,
desperate to catch something. The King heard a noise in the woods and
thought it might be an animal, so without giving it much thought, he
strung his bow and shot. Soon after, he heard a loud cry, not an animal
cry, but a human cry. He hurriedly ran towards the sound, only to find
that he had shot a young man."
"I was horrified," reports the King. "I did not realize what I had done
and how it was going to affect my life."
Kausalya was able to provide us with further details:
"The King ran to the boy, hoping to save his life, but he was dying,
having been wounded by the King's arrow. With a few last breaths, the
boy told the King that he was out getting water for his mother and
father. His parents had counted on him for their sustenance because
they
were unable to fetch food and water themselves. The King picked up the
boy and carried him back to his parents. When he arrived, the parents
were saddened,but they forgave the King for his mistake. Since they had
no one, they decided they wanted to be burned in a funeral pyre with
their son. The King did as they wished. He lit the flames and put them
into the fire as well as their son."
"It was a hard thing to do, to make a funeral pyre for someone's son
and have to put the parents in also," reported the King.
"When the King returned from his hunting trip, I knew something had
gone wrong. He was very
quiet and would not speak to anyone, not even me," reports the Queen.
"I thought he might have talked to Kaikeyi about what had happened, but
no luck. The King was silent about his hunting trip for a very long
time, he did not want to share his mistake with anyone."
"Although
I have never forgotten
about that dreadful day, I had tried to hide it away in the back of my
mind, until now," reports King Dasaratha.
"Rama was so special, he was a God in human form. I am appalled that
the King could do this," reported a citizen.
"Rama had the perfect life, with the perfect wife, Sita. They were
destined to be together and to be the King and Queen of Ayodhya,"
reports the Queen.
"When Kaikeyi asked me for her favors, I knew that because I had
accidentally
killed that boy, years ago, I was to lose my son today," reports the
King. "It is a horrible feeling to be losing my son, Rama. I must
face the consequences of my actions, however horrible they are."
Shortly after the interviewing for this story, King Dasaratha has
fallen very ill and there is no prognosis about his recovery.
Author's Note: The story of King Dasaratha and his actions is told in a
newspaper style. The newspaper style allows me to include perspectives
of
various characters, not just the King. It gives the readers a sense of
being in the King's shoes, and also in the shoes of the other
characters, too. The article focuses
mainly on Queen Kausalya's interview, but also includes statements from
the King and other citizens. In the original story, the King is
explaining to one of his wives a short version of the trip and the
consequences he is facing for his actions. I changed it to where he
kept quiet until Rama's exile and then he decided to tell Kausalya
about what happened. In turn she tells the newspaper reporter. This
story shows that Karma does not care about accidents, consequences must
be faced, whether or not we meant to do something. Throughout the
story, the King faces many choices and with every choice or action,
there is Karma. The King realized he had done something wrong, but he
did
not realize the consequences he would have to face later in life.
Therefore, for every action, good or bad, there will be consequences
that follow, either in this lifetime or in a future life - as you will
see
in the next story.
Bibliography:
Buck, William (1976). Ramayana: King Rama's Way.
Narayan, R.K. (1972) The Ramayana: A Shortened
Modern Prose version of the
Indian Epic
Picture of King Dasaratha. Web Source: Killing a Deer?
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