The stoSita: (The Divine conversations)
Sita is the embodiment of all Dharmas that are found in the world. The main
characteristic of Sita is chastity, patience and virtue. When necessity arises,
she is also able to teach Rama the path of Dharma. As an illustration of this,
we may consider the situation when Rama said to Sita:
“You are very delicate and cannot face the trying conditions in the forest. I
shall return soon and I request you to stay in Ayodhya and take care of you
mother-in-law and father-in-law.”
Prior to that, Rama went to His mother, told her that He was going to the
forest for fourteen years to fulfil the promise of His father, and asked her to
give Him her blessings.
The mother then said that she could not leave Him even for a moment and she
too would follow Him to the forest. Rama taught the sane principles of Dharma
even to His mother saying, “Mother! Father is old. Stay and serve him. I am
going o the forest for his sake and will back after fourteen years. Serve y
father who is like a God to us. To you, your husband is greater than anyone
else and must be looked after. While I am away look after his health”.
Recalling this, Sita said, “You have taught some principles of Dharma to you
mother and you have asked her to stay and look after her husband. Does not the
same apply to me, your wife? Should I not follow you and serve you? Looking
after one’s husband is as important to Kausalya as it is to me. For a wife, her
husband is verily God. I consider you as God and I must follow you to the
forest.”
Rama then tried to pacify her in another way. He said. “ You may able to bear
all the conditions in the forest but if you come with us, you will be a great
responsibility on our shoulders. The forest is full of wild animals and we
will have to protect you as well as ourselves. Stay at home and do not cause
trouble.” Sita replied, “You say that there are many cruel animals in the
forest and the most cruel animal among them is the lion, the king of beast.
When the lion- husband- is with me, how can other animals harm me”. He said,
“Even if there are no animals that may harm you, I will have to leave you at
times to go and get something to eat. If at that time, some harm comes to you,
it will be very difficult for me or my brother to protect you”. At once Sita
replied, ”Rama, you are a great warrior, a great hero and a very capable
person. This fact was proved when you broke the bow of Lord Siva. I know
your abilities full. The words that you just told me are not befitting your
dignity. If Rama is not able to protect one person, how will He protect the
whole world? I should follow you into the forest just to protect you from such
infamy.”
Rama could not say much. He quietly said to her, “My mother will be stricken
with grief at My going away. It would be better if you stay and console her.”
Sita then said,” You are Rama and I am Sita. You are the moon and I am the
moonlight. If the moon is in the forest, how can the moonlight be in Ayodhya?
Where there is moon, moonlight will always be there”. Rama tried to tell her to
stay in Ayodhya but Sita did not listen to those words. She said pitiably,
“Rama, I am very young. You will be away for fourteen years while your brothers
will enjoy the company of their wives and even maids of the palace enjoy the
company of their husbands. Seeing this, I will get jealous and bad ideas will
form in my mind. To rid of me such thoughts, take me with you.”
There was no possibility of such bad thoughts ever entering Sita’s mind. Rama
said, “Your heart is pure, you character is perfect and I know that such bad
ideas will never enter your heart.” She then fell at His feet and said, “You
are going into the forest, there will be many thorns on the way. Because my
mother is the goddess of the earth, she will be very kind to me. I can request
her to let you go happily on your way. At least for this sake take me with
you.”
These incidents leading to Sita falling at the feet of Rama illustrates that
Rama’s heart melted only when she fell at His feet.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to
saimsg+unsubscribegooglegroups.com or reply to this email with the words
"REMOVE ME" as the subject.
