SREE RAMACHANDRA AND HIS GREATEST ACT.

(By A. swaminatha ayyar.)

^Obeisance to the Lord of the daughter-of Janaka who being entrusted by the Gods to relieve the earth of her burden, was born on the earth disguised as man. Obeisance to the Lord, who after the in carnation as the Buddha, free from even a trace of violences would take the avatar of Kalki, to re-establish the reign of Dharma*

In Sree Ramachandra, we get a many-sided picture of a perfect and ideal life. Sri Ramachandra is brought face to face with a series of difficult, baffling, and tragic situations and he comes out triumphant without swerving in the least—from the highest principles of Dharma as conceived by our ancients. Of the many great deeds of the Lord in his avatar as Sree Ramachandra none stands out more prominently than the renunciation of his Kingdom and throne at a phychological moment. There is perhaps no parallel to this in the history of the human race. And. with this, I propose to deal in this article.

The story goes that once upon a time, Indra, the Lord of the Devas sought the help of King Dasaratha, the father of Sree Ramachandra, in his battle with an Asura. The King who was a mighty warrior gladly responded to the call, betook himself to where the Asura was, challenged him to mortal combat, and gave him a very, bad hour of it. As misfortune would have it, the axle of the King's car gave way in the thick of the fight, and the enemy taking advantage of the "King's plight rushed to make short work of him. Just then Queen Kaikeyi, the King's favourite wife who accompanied her husband, seeing the perilous condition in which her husband was, boldly took charge of the situation and removed the helpless King to a safe place. This happened twice in the course of the battle. The King who was of a strong emotional temperament, cried out *' Ask of me whatever you will and it is yours." The young queen who had evidently more foresight and prudence than the King, thanked him heartily for his generosity, made light of the service she had rendered him and replied. "' The favourite wife of King Dasaratha should and does lack nothing. Yet I keep it in mind and shall ask you to abide by your promise, should an opportunity offer itself later, near or distant." Years after, sons were born to King Dasaratha, Sree Ramachandra being the eldest, and the most beloved of them all. He was growing in wisdom and valour and was regarded by the people as the very embodiment of high principles and noble qualities, and of every social and domestic virtue. The King's subjects besought him with one voice to rest after his long and strenuous reign and instal in his stead Sri Ramachandra on the throne. The King acceded to the prayer of his subjects and had made all arrangements for the installation of Ramachandra, as Yuva/raja. Kaikeyi the King's favourite queen who came to know of the King's decision thought the installation of Rama was hostile to the interests of her own son Bharata, who would be kept out from the throne for ever. So she worked herself up into a rage, and the doting King Bought to appease her, promising to grant anythirg she wanted " I swear by Rama. Do thon tell me thy heart's desire," the King said least suspecting what was passing in the Queen's mind. Then reminding the King of the incidents in the war between the Devas and the Asuras and his promise of the grant of two boons to her, the Queen said " Do thou, with the preparations made-for installing Rama, instal Bharata on the throne, Let the gentle Rama, clad in deer skin, lead the life of a mendicant in the Dandaka forest for the space of nine and five years." Not all the pleadings of the King could soften the heart of Kaikey who was adamant, and as may be expected the King's heart bled itself to death at his helplessness and when Ramachandra, having completed the preliminary religious ceremonies prior to the installation sought the King to obtain his blessings, (he was mortified to notice that the King, simply uttering "Rama " Rama was in suspense and Kaikeyi quickly informed him of the -two boons granted to her. The story goes that Rama was not in the least upset by what was told him but, that with cheerful resignation he carried put that very moment the unspoken command of his father though conveyed through the Queen Kaikeyi.

The supreme sacrifice that Sree Ramachandra made out of a sense of filial duty, by renouncing the Kingdom and preferring the life of an exile in a forest, for fulfilling the father's promise, has a special appeal to the heart of millions of Hindus, It is only when people are placed in very trying situations, that their real character comes out, i e., their strength as well as their weakness

There is no more inspiring theme in the whole of the Rama-yana, than Rama's renunciation of his kingdom. It has been the theme of many a poet's song since the time of Valmiki and the the inspiration of many a hero in our sacred land. The illustrious example of Prince Siddhartha who later became the Lord Buddha is appropriately likened to that of Shree Ramachandra. His father would have been the first person to be overjoyed if only Rama had disobeyed him and he would have been enthusiastically backed by his subjects* The law of succession obtaining in kingly families was entirely in his favour. This act of .Ramachandra was a conscious and self-imposed discipline. What was his reply to the queen Kaikeyi when he was told of the boons granted to her,? He straightaway said that he never cared for material pleasure but that he was bent upon pursuing the path of dharma alone. The aim of, humanity should be the preservation of the fundamental values of life. Shree Rimachandara showed by his action that before one could be ruler of men he must first free himself from all imperfection by discipline. If the fundamental values of life are neglected, there can be no real progress. While we condemn? cruelty, and violence in the individual, we are prepared to condone them when nations perpetrate them. In the name of so-called civilisation, national animosities and racial extirpation are applauded and international morality is cast to the winds.

Describing the personality of Sree Ramachandra, Bhagwan Valmiki has said "'Rakhshita Swasya Vritta&ya Swazanasyacka rakshita, Eakhita jeevalokasya dhormasyapariruJchhsita. (Rama was the protector of his own conduct, then of the conduct of his kith and kin, then of the conduct of all living beings, and then of the universal principle and righteouness, Herein lies the secret of a true and abiding civilisation. Cannot men and women, and nations which are aggregates of men and women, live in peace and adjust their differences by negotiations, without resorting to wars' " with all their sorrow, desolation, and misery". The fact is that respect for the fundamental values of life has ceased to exist in the conduct of individuals, national and international affairs. We boast of being able to usher in a new world order with freedom for all while hiding from ourselves our real intention, namely, -freedom for ourselves to exploit our fellowmen which means perpetuation of wars. How can there be a new world order without a real change of outlook in this respect? This is the message to the modern world of the renunciation of Sree Ramachandra of his kingdom.