Sage Vasishtha
That morning sage Vasishtha received the royal emissary at
his hermitage. Dasharatha had sent a special chariot to bring him to the
palace. Vasishtha was an ancient soul. He had blessed, and guided many
generations of the Ishwaku dynasty to their path of destiny. Dasharatha had
trusted his four vivacious sons to the mentorship of Vasishtha.
On reaching the palace, he was shown into the private
conference room of the king by the attendant. Dasharatha received him and
venerated him according to the protocol. Then without standing on ceremony, he
began to speak anxiously about Rama.
“Revered Guru, I am worried about Rama,” he said.
Vasishtha noticed his agitation as he spoke those words.
Vasishtha closed his eyes to feel Dasharatha’s state of mind. He opened his
eyes ,looked at Dasharatha and addressed the problem directly.
“Rama has lost interest in life as you understand it and
want him to follow. Mind you, you cannot entice him with any vain temptations
that lure the princes of his age. Women cannot lure him, because no woman can
fathom the depth of his heart; no woman can scale the height he can reach with
his knowledge of life.”
Dasharatha listened carefully. Vasishtha continued, “Never
make the mistake of trying to hold him down to the princely life by exposing
him to the lure of women. That way you will hasten him on the path of asceticism.”
Dasharatha remained quiet for some time. His heart was
filled with tenderness and anxiety for his son. He would gladly have let Rama
follow the path of asceticism even as he understood what it meant for the
kingdom. The concerns of the future of his kingdom and of his old age weighed
less upon him than the concern for Rama’s happiness.
He trusted Vasishtha to find an answer. He said to the sage,
“Rama’s unrest is causing him to turn away from everything that interests a man
of his age. But what worries me is his state of health. He is going to seeds. I
cannot bear to see him live like an ascetic,” Dasharatha pleaded.
Vasishtha looked grave. He said, “It’s true that there is
something that is causing despondency.”
“What is it?” asked Dasharatha impatiently.
Vasishtha said, “The cause lies deeper than our
understanding. But is not something that you should worry about. At the same
time be ready to withdraw your shield of protection. Rama and his brothers are
ready to face life with all its uncertainties. What you see in Rama is
despondency, not despair. “
Dasharatha was calmed down by Vasishtha’s perception of the
problem. He said, “If so, please talk to him and try to remove that
despondency. I am sure your guidance will give him a sound foothold and
inspiration to seek out what is best for him in life”
Vasishtha promised to meet Rama soon.
……………….
Rama and Laxman
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