QUEEN SUMITHRA - THE ENLIGHTENED
T. V. Balasubramanian
Among the three queens of Dasarata, Sumithra
stands apart. She is a contrast to Kaikeyee by her self-efacement; even to
Kousalya by her spirituality. Like a distance hidden star, she is of self-withdrawing
nature. Under a steady gaze, Sumithra emerges with a fascinating glow. Her
faith and adherence to Dharma were unflinching and unfaltering. Purity made her
heart crystal like. Her intuition, insight and vision were sharp and far
penetrating. She saw in Sri Rama divinity, and spiritual stature; exceeding
human measure. She perceived Sri Rama, as an embodiment of Dharma. Sumitra did
not discourage her son Lakshmana, when he proceeded to forest following Sri
Rama to share with him, the rigours of the life of fourteen years of exile. She
felt by her mother’s intuition that Lakshmana was born to her to serve Sri Rama
to share with him, be it adversity or prosperity. In bidding farewell to him,
she said
“Go forth Lakshmana
put-up with the discomforts.
Think the forest is Ayodhya;
revere Sri Rama as your father Dasaratha,
and regard Seetha as your own mother”.
Lakshmana inherited his adoration and devotion to Sri Rama, from his mother Sumithra. He lived as Sri Rama’s second outside-prana. Without Sri Rama, he would decline the Lordship of even the three Lokas or immortality. Lakshamana gave himself away to Rama, won over by his ‘Atma Gunas’ .
Sumithra believed at heart that Sri Rama was
Heaven-Born. She consoled and assuaged grief-stricken Kousalya and tried to
drive away from her, her illusion that her son Sri Rama was a mortal. She said
“Your son Sri Rama possessing heavenly
virtues, is a “purushottama”. Born to you after years of thapas, japa and
homams and after you took ‘payasannam’ brought from Devaloka by
the performance of “Puthrakama Yeshti” Yaga by Sage Rishya Sringa.
Viswamithra Brahmarishi has initiated Sri Rama into Astra and Sastra
Vidyas.
Before he was sixteen Sri Rama killed
‘THATAKA’ and freed Dhandakaranya from her menace. He killed the Asura
Subhahu and protected the Yaga performed by Viswamithra at Siddha
Ashrama. He broke the Siva Dhanus at the Janaka’s court and won
Seetha as “Veerya Sulka”. He established the supremacy of his powers
over Parasurama by wrenching from him the Vishnu Dhanus. Do you think,
Kousalya that any enemy can face the aim of Sri Rama’s arrow and escape?
He could have easily thwarted Kaikeyee’s evil
design; abstained from going to forest; continued in Ayodhya as prince - Elect; and ascended the throne after Dasaratha on his own right,
unquestioned. But he would not deviate from the path of Dharma. To
redeem Dasaratha, his father, from his promise to Kaikeyee though he made it
under her duress, was his supreme duty “pithru Vakya paripalanam” is his
life’s mission. When Sri Rama thought that Kaikeyee suspected him of lingering
on the pretext of Bharatha’s return from Kekaya kingdom, he made public his
firmness by a declaration that he was not hankering after worldly wealth or
enjoyment. His aspiration was not for the sovereignty.
He was a striving saint. He stands by the
support of Dharma only.
The fame of Sri Rama as satya-vrata has
spread landwide and the flag of his fame hoisted high, flutters over all the
three worlds. When Sri Rama, your son is treading such a path of the great, it
is really unbecoming of you to grieve for him. My son Lakshamana with the love
as that of a father and with the devotion of a faithfull servant is with him,
ever on vigil to guard him from any harm, with his terrible sword and infallible
arrow and bow. Seetha is with Sri Rama undeterred by forest life and with an
unshakable faith that under Sri Rama’s protection, Ayodhya and forest will make
for her no difference. They are with him as Mahavishnu is with Mahalakshmi
and Adhisesha, Sri Rama’s body shines with lustre
and heavenly glow by the Atmagunas housed in him. Sun will be deterred
from scorching Sri Rama with his hot rays in the forest. The forest wind will
always blow on him and dare not visit his face too roughly. The moon, with her
nectar oozing cool rays will hug him in the night and lull him asleep with a
mother’s love. By the departure of Sri Rama to forest, not only the people of
Ayodhya but the lakes and rivers and even the trees have become mute and
motionless in sorrow. All look as if they lost their life’s cheer.
Believe me, Kousalya, the atma -
jothis of the inner self of Sri Rama, permeates and
engulfs the entire cosmos. The source of effulgence of the sun is from him.
Moonlight cool and enjoyable rays of the moon are from him. Without Sri Rama,
Ayodhya is a forest, with Sri Rama, a forest is a Rashtra.
Leaving off your grief, you look forward to
the glorious days ahead. As sure as the day after the night, your son Sri Rama
Chandra with Seetha and Lakshamana will return on the expiry of fourteen years
of exile, shining with all his magnificience and glory, as the sun and moon, on
the passing away of the shadow of the chaya Grahas over them. Bathed
with the water of tears of joy flowing from your eyes, Sri Rama will soon ascend
the throne of Ayodhya and crowned by the sage Vasishta, along with Seetha ‘Rajya Shree’ and ‘Veerya
Shree’! This will happen for certain, not through human design, thwartable,
but by the plan and decree of God, UNTHWARTABLE, Rama Rajya will be established
on Earth to confer on people
ever-lasting peace and prosperity through un-surpassable benign rule of Sri
Ramachandra, your son of Godly incarnation. After these words, Sumithra spoke
no more and became silent.
Kousalya heard these astonishing assuaging words of Sumithra, wiped off the tears from her eyes and looked up her face beamed like a full moon on the rain-washed clear sky at the advent of the month Sarad.