Ramayan - Ramcharitramanas - Purushotam Charitramanas

Overview 2. Ayodhya Kand

Adjusting his crown one day clearly,

Dasharath noticed gray hair worriedly,

He decided it but time to relegate be,

To his eldest son Ram all duties stately,

Sri Ram, queen Kaushalya’s son, who be

The crowned Kosala prince undisputedly,

He sought Vashishtha’s opinion promptly,

As Ram was capable - he agreed willingly.

A formal declaration was made clearly,

To people of Ayodhya who were happily,

While everyone rejoiced open-heartedly,

Maid Manthara said to third queen Kaikeyi,

As Bharat, her son, was left out, clearly,

After Ram’s coronation she at risk be,

She should oppose decision promptly,

Ask for Bharat's coronation staunchly.

She worried if Ram the King be,

She Kaushalya’s maid would be,

Kaikeyi fell in her trap, believed truly

Her words to be consideration worthy,

She reminded Kaikeyi of two boons be,

From Dasharath – so seize the opportunity;

The King in battle had given previously,

When she protected him from enemies.

When Dasharath came to her,

for two boons’ fulfilment pleaded Kaikeyi,

Her son Bharat should to be crowned

as Prince of Ayodhya immediately,

And Ram be sent to forest for 14 years

to live in exile as a hermit undeniably,

Now it was Dasharath’s turn to honor

the promise he had given previously.

What followed was Ram agreed to exile

to fulfill his father’s promise readily,

His wife Sita joint him though forwarned

about hardships of forest life lucidly,

His younger brother Laxman, refused clearly,

to part from Ram, joint him readily.

For Ayodhya citizens it was unbearable

and the palace took deserted sadly.

Instead of pomp of coronation,

doom persisted everywhere wretchedly,

Ram, Sita and Laxman left in hermit's guise

with charioteer Sumant quietly,

Ayodhya’s people followed them

so in the evening when all rested glumly,

Ram ordered Sumant to sneak out of sight

of people of Ayodhya stealthily.

They reached the banks of Ganges

where Nishadraj greeted them openly,

Ram directed the reluctant charioteer Sumant

back to Ayodhya forcibly,

Ram let Boatman Kevat wash his feet

and take them across Ganga reverently,

Their trip continued till Prayag –

meet at Chitrakoot, Bhardwaj and Valmiki.

Sumant returned empty-handed

and King Dasharath's last hope died entirely,

He lost conscious recalling curse

by blind parents of Shravan in melancholy,

When he killed Shravan mistakenly,

his parents cursed him in their misery,

Longing for his son Ram, Dasharath left

in a similar state for abode heavenly.

Bharat called from his maternal place

for instating as Ayodhya’s King finally,

Bharat rejected the offer and decided

to convince Ram to return hopefully,

The Queens and people of Ayodhya went

along to request Ram pleadingly,

And Sage Vashishtha informed Ram

about King Dasharath’s death solemnly.

Ram performed the final rituals

for Dasharath after his demise with dignity,

Bharat repented on Kaikeyi’s deed

proposed he and Shatrughna exile be,

And Ram is crowned King but

Ram remained adamant on his decision firmly,

King Janak, Mithila ruler and Sita's father

tried to sway Ram but firm was he.

Ram gave his sandals to Bharat,

ordered to serve until he returned finally,

Bharat returned, ruled Ayodhya

with Ram’s sandals on throne symbolically,

Sri Ram, Sita and Laxman continued their exile

as hermits with all simplicity,

Upholding instructions given by their father,

after his demise unflinchingly.