KAUSALYA'S ANGUISH

On listening to Rama’s   request to permit him to go to forest, Kausalya suffered as if hit by an arrow in her heart.  Her heart was disturbed like the deer that heard the roar of a lion. her body began shaking.

Owing to conflict between duty and love, she didn’t stop him. she could ask him neither  to go to forest nor  to stay back.  She said “  your father wanted to give you kingdom but gave forest life. I am not suffering a bit. Without you Bharat, king and people of Ayodhya   would suffer a lot. Dear! If this were merely your father’s order, don’t go to forest. Mother’s place is more than that of father. If both parents asked you to  go to forest, it is equal to a hundred Ayodhyas. But my heart is feeling sad on seeing your delicacy. The forest where you are going is fortunate whereas Ayodhya is unfortunate. If I asked you to take me with you, you would suspect that I am stopping you on this pretext.  I have become helpless I  won’t stop you by expressing my affection excessively  but don’t forget this mother and her affection.

 My dear ! Let gods and forefathers would protect you in the forest as eyelids save eyes. Your period of exile is like water in the lake. Your people are like fish. You are an ocean of kindness and form of Dharma. You come back after the period of exile to  and don’t forget your people, and family. They would keep their lives till you come back.”

While referring to Sita, She said, “ This beauty has been my daughter- in-law. I  have been looking after her like pupil of my eye and like a creeper nurtured by water called love.  The  delicate Sita wants  to follow you to forest. Can a chakori bird that absorbs the cool rays of the moon withstand the fierce rays of the Sun? Can the swan that moves amidst beautiful flowers of Manasarovar   live in stagnant pool ? let her stay at home to give me company.” But Sita was firm to follow  Rama to the forest.

Is there any comparison between  Kausalya’s love for Rama  and Sita and a woman’s cruelty to her own daughter  for the sake of her selfishness in Nellore as we found in  today’s newspaper?                

Tulsi das' s Sri    Ramacharit Manas is a wonderful poetic work that delights the hearts of the readers.