Rama never swerved from path of virtue

CHENNAI, MARCH 29. Over-enthusiasm and deep attachment will at times make a person extend a promise that may later prove to be the very cause for his grief when he may find it impossible to fulfil it. Even the most sagacious persons, known for their capacity to anticipate the future, do sometimes yield to this weakness, not immediately realising that changed circumstances may result in giving up their plighted words. Hence one should be extremely judicious when granting a boon to someone. To discharge the obligation may be found impracticable and to carry it out may be against the code of conduct and thus even an astute man will remain caught in the horns of a dilemma.

Totally unaware about the consequences of his rash utterances, an emperor who saw his dear in the pensive mood, said: ``Whom would you like to please or who has displeased you? Whom do you desire to be made happy or see to his or her unhappiness? Do you want a guilty to be let off or punish a guiltless? Should a pauper be made rich or a wealthy reduced to penury? I would not baulk your slightest wish even to save my life''. These assurances, though made to express one's affection turned out to be the total dramatic change in the smooth flow of the divine poem, Ramayana. The promise so extended by Dasaratha in his weakness was taken full advantage by his queen who sought Rama's exile and Bharata's coronation. Lured by her verbal jugglery, the emperor thus allowed his head to be put into the noose for his own destruction.

In his discourse, Sri R. Kannan Swamigal presented the manner in which Rama conducted Himself on hearing that He has to spend 14 years in forest. ``I would jump into the fire if My father so commanded. I would swallow deadly poison or throw Myself into the sea if the Emperor wants it. I promise you, Rama does not speak with two voices.'' Making haste to leave the capital, Rama's categorical words to Kaikeyi reflect His eagerness to uphold the cause of virtue at all costs. ``I am not after the world's goods and do not live for them. I am like the sages in My total dedication to virtue, I will do anything to please My father, even if I have to give up My life''. On one occasion, Rama declared that should even Moon shed its lustre, earth its smell and water its natural quality, He would not swerve from the path of Righteousness. Thus He honoured His commitment and refused to transgress Dasaratha's command. Rama, who descended from heaven only to restore Moral Order and prove that its rules can certainly be adopted in one's life, also spoke about the power of Destiny and behaved as if He was baffled by the work of Providence.

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