Rama, your politeness will not work here. Let me use my strength to fight this injustice." Realizing that His brother's overprotectiveness had resulted in disrespect for his father and mother, Rama clarified His stance. He said: "My mind cannot deviate from the path of dharma or righteousness just like the honey bee cannot be deviated from its path to nectar. Lakshmana, you claim to be strong, but let Me tell you, I am not strong enough to go against the wishes of My father. For a son, going against his father does not depict strength but weakness of character. The highest dharma or duty of a son is to obediently follow his father's orders.
He continued to counsel Lakshmana, "My dear brother, don't you realize that Our father needs Us now more than any other time in the past? Instead of increasing his burden, We should plan to release him from the miserable state he is in. I cannot even imagine acting in a way that would be disagreeable to My father or mother. Our behavior should not add to the anxiety of our already anxious parents. Birds are born totally dependent on their parents, but once they develop wings, they should relieve them of the burden of their maintenance by taking care of themselves. Are we worse than birds that we cannot relieve our parents' burden? Right now Our father's anxiety is that I may not obey his words. And mother Keikeyi's anxiety is how soon I will leave so that she can focus on Bharata's coronation. The expected action from you as an obedient son is to immediately get tree barks for Me to wear and once I am gone you should focus on Bharat's coronation and use all those things that you accumulated for My coronation."
Still seeing lack of conviction and pain in Lakshmana's eyes, Rama took the philosophical approach. "My angry brother! Don't you see the hands of destiny working out a divine plan? If not, how can one explain the fact that Keikeyi who loved Me more than she did Bharata till the day before, change so drastically? When something is beyond Our reasoning, it is called divine ordinance or destiny. The kingdom that has been offered to me by destiny has been reclaimed by it, why should I argue against it? The king has never committed a mistake thus far nor has he committed one now, it is my destiny that has spoken through him."
"Sometimes the most meticulous of plans fail miserably, and at other times, things work out perfectly even though completely unplanned. How do We explain such occurrences unless destiny is at play? One must learn to develop a deeper philosophical outlook to events that happen in life keeping personal agendas aside and allowing divine will to prevail unobstructed. This is the only way to change Our sorrows into joys."
Lakshmana shrugged off Rama's hands and walked away from Him, seething. "To hell with destiny! I knew that You would sermonize this as the hand of fate. But not fighting fate is the philosophy of the weak. The mighty create their own destinies and carve their own futures. My arrows are not just ornaments to decorate my shoulders, they can sting my enemies to death." "Just stand by my side Rama, and I will take care of everything with these mighty arms. Let us act before everyone in Ayodhya becomes aware of Keikeyi's evil strategy. Even if it means making Ayodhya desolate, I will place you on the throne. If Bharata comes my way, he will learn a cruel lesson in warfare. Instigated by the witch, if Our father becomes a hurdle on my path, I will imprison him and if necessary kill him. Hear O world, for the sake of serving Rama, Lakshmana is willing to enter the fire smilingly."
Bade Achhe Lagte Hain
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