Ramayana for Life Skills: A Worthy Son
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There are great contrasts in the characters of Kaikeyi and her son Bharat.
Kaikeyi’s mind was inconsistent, infirm. Anybody could easily tempt it, shake it. Such minds cannot think about the consequences and chances of success in their mission. Look, what was the total achievement of the young queen in her mission of crowning her son? Failure in getting accomplished her evil design. Sorrow. Shame. Bereavement . In the whole drama she lost her husband and became widow in young age. Her son turned against her and hated her. The very abusing words of her son in presence of all, itself is the gravest punishment one can anticipate!
Beware of your companions
As the most beloved and beautiful queen of the king she conquered the minds of the readers. With her love equal or more to Sri Ram than Bharat himself, she established her supreme position in the hearts of the readers. But when she fell prey to the connivances of Manthara, she forgot all ethics and her eventual fall was very pathetic. That is why they say: “A man is known for the company he keeps.”
As her mind became polluted and greedy, her balance of mind, logical thinking and sense of reasoning deprived off her.
Bharat’s character in the episode shines as melted gold. His sense of righteousness, justice, reason, his willingness to rectify a fault deliberately committed and his preparedness to repent and reverse wrongs deserve great appreciation.
Had Bharat succumbed to the witch hunting of his mother and accepted the kingdom without first offering to Sri Ram, all his subjects and readers must have abhorred him.
Now who won in the competition of upholding his duty towards his father? Sri Ram or Bharat? Bharat has a three or four fold victory here.
He proved a worthy son to Dasaratha. He proved a worthy brother to Sri Ram. He proved a worthy and just prince to all.
He corrected the wrong attitude of his mother.
A noble character and a great ideology will illumine the pages of a great work. Bharat is the example.
There is a fabulous virtue of a rare quality at display here. Sacrifice! From Sri Ram and from Bharat.
KK Shanmukhan (To be concluded)
