||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 43– Ayodhya Kandam

 Devi Sita's meeting with her mothers-in-law

Guha prostrated before them and with folded hands spoke “ Oh! Swami, all the people of Ayodhya, your mothers, warriors, attendants are besieged with the sorrow of separation from you, they all are staying with Munishwara, Sage Vashishta.” Rama ordered Shathrughnato be seated with Devi Sita and rushed to invite preceptor Sage Vashishta. Rama, Lakshmana, and Bharatha prostrated before Sage Vashishta, who embraced them and asked them to be seated next to him. As usual, Guha stood away from preceptor Vashishta and offered his humble obeisance, Rishis Vashishta embraced Guha knowing his that he is one of the dearest companions of Rama in the woods. The deities showered flowers watching the luck of Guha who attained the highest status with his devotion to Rama, they spoke highly about Guha who was born in lowly clan achieved the compassionate embrace of illustrious Sage Vashishta.

 

The Supreme Lord who is the ocean of mercy saw the people of Ayodhya, his beloved mothers, attendants, and the army of warriors are emaciated in deep grief, Rama and Lakshman went closer to them, embraced and removed their grief with the pleasant words, like the reflection of sun seen in the water, it was not a difficult task for that Prabhu to console the people assembled before him. All those people praised Nishadharaja and his fortune to be within the association of Rama, Lakshman, Bharatha, Shathrughna. Rama saw his mothers were shrunken in deep grief like the creepers covered in the ice. Rama went to meet Devi Kaikeyi, instantly he elevated her soul with his pleasant talks, and made her calm and serene. He prostrated before her and pacified her it was Kala/time, Karma/deeds, and Vidhi/destiny that caused all that happened in Ayodhya. Raghuvara went to meet Devi Kausalya and Devi Sumithra and spoke “Oh! My beloved Mothers, the Universe is under the command of the Supreme Lord, therefore do not blame anyone.”, as usual with his pleasant speech Rama removed their grief as well. Rama and Lakshmana went to meet the wives of Guru, and wives of twice-born, prostrated before them, and venerated them as Ganga and Gauri and attained their blessings.

 

Rama and Lakshmana prostrated before Devi Sumithra like a beggar achieved the treasure. They immersed in a state of ecstasy, they embraced Mother Kausalya and prostrated before her, she embraced them and kissed on their forehead, a poet cannot describe the love and bliss they have shared, and it was like a dumb cannot explain the taste of a sumptuous meal. Rama and Lakshmana reverentially requested preceptors to visit their hermitage. Thus, Rama and Lakshman along with the twice-born, ministers, queens, and preceptors, proceeded to the hermitage.

 

Devi Sita prostrated before Sage Vashishta and Vamadeva, and received blessings from them. She reverentially greeted the wife of Sage Vashishta, and Vamadeva and Viprapathnis, she prostrated before them, when Sita saw her mothers-in-law, Alas! She lost all her courage to face them, she closed her eyes tightly, and her beautiful eyes shed tears in extreme agony and embraced them. She prostrated before them, and affectionately led them inside the hermitage; everyone assembled blessed Devi Sita ‘Long live Rama and Sita! Lead a happy and married life”. Sage Vashishta watching Devi Sita and her mothers-in-law in a miserable state, given marvelous lectures from scriptures to pacify them, taught the Paramarththa to regain their courage. He explained the Swargaprapthi of King Dhasharatha. Raghunatha who is most valorous, could not bear the grief, the thought of King’s death at the separation from him made him even worse. Lakshmana, Devi Sita and the queens wept bitterly, Sage Vashishta pacified Rama. They all had a dip in Devanadhi, Rama did not consume the meal or not even water that day, and everyone undertook strict fasting on that day.