Rama! Move on!

“Caraiveti, Rama!”

“Rama! Just get going!”

Muni Vasishtha, who was a spiritual Guru of Rama, the crown prince of Ayodhya Puri, the torch-bearer of Raghu Kula, said this short line to Rama at the end of a very prolonged and analytical speech covering a large number of dimensions of life (vide. Yoga Vasishtha, a vast compendium spread over fifty thousand Shlokas). Rama was the best disciple of Muni Vasishtha.

The Mantra of life is encapsulated in this terse yet simple message. ‘cara eva iti’—just keep going!

This certainly is not a magic solution. It is also not a high-sounding philosophical jargon, which is generally quite challenging to grasp by anybody.     

Vasishtha had no answer. He was unable to solve the cause-and-effect relationship particularly to the life of Rama which was replete with pain and agony at every moment.  Life of Rama was not a cake-walk at all.  It was full of suffering, uncertainty, uphill challenges and vicissitudes on day-to-day basis.  There was not a bit of respite.  Not a moment of comfort. Not at all a smooth sail. Turbulence was the only company. 

Just on the previous day of his coronation, Rama was ordered to leave for an exile to the forest for fourteen long years. This was engineered by none other than his foster mother who has an evil and unjustified design to dethrone Rama. His father Dasharatha to did not take side with Rama since there was emotional blackmailing topped up with bickering.  Rama did not complain. No grudge. No whining.  No grumbling. Rama did not fight for his legitimate and justful right.

Why? Just to keep people happy! 

It was not at all expected that a demon king would snatch away his wife in the forest! This was not called for. What wrong did he do to invite this? Nothing!

He had a choice. He could have married another prince. That would have been quite easier to do. A painful and lengthy battle could have been averted. Thousands of lives could have been saved. But he liked to tread the thorny path.

Why? Just because he loved his wife.    

Rama did not even know that his sons were born. He was not lucky enough to cuddle his newborn kids. He was not fortunate to see his sons growing under the loving and caring shadow of the royal comfort.  

Rama gave up everything that the people wanted him to. Even his beloved wife was taken away from him at public demand. Yet, the subject of the kingdom was not happy.  It was the public demand that his wife Sita must go through an Agni Pariskhsa to prove her chastity. As a king, for Rama this was most insinuating and demeaning. Yet, he liked to relent to the whims of his subject.

Why? Just to make sure that people are happy.

“My Dear Rama! I have a humble advice. Just take the life as it unfolds. Keep going!”

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