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30. TEN YEARS PASS
Now begins the Aranya Kanda. The
poet begins with an episode that prepares
us for the misfortunes of Sita. A new
responsibility has been cast on the prince.
He is to destroy rakshasas who molest the
rishis in the Dandaka forest. A fear arose
in Sita's heart like a shadow cast by events
to come.
"Why should you and Lakshmana who
are properly to be merely ascetics in the
forest" asked Sita of her beloved husband,
"take
on
yourselves
this
task
of
protection? You have come here to fulfil a
promise of the late King. The duty of
protecting the rishis belongs to the ruler
who is actually reigning. It is not for you,
engaged in penance, to protect rishis. To
kill anyone, except in self-defence, is
opposed to the vow of ascetic life. But
you have rashly promised protection to
the rishis. I wonder where this will lead
us?"
Thus
Sita
argued
in
soft
and
affectionate words while they were going
from Sage Sutikshna's ashrama towards
some other ashrama in the Dandaka forest.
"Bear with me, my Lord,"
she said,
"for seeming to counsel you. I speak but
as a weak woman out of my infinite love
for you. You know what dharma is. But,
men, it is said, are driven by desire into
three kinds of sin: falsehood, lust and
violence. Falsehood is unthinkable in one
who for truth's sake has renounced a
kingdom and is here in the forest. And as
for lust do I know that you will not allow
even the thought of another woman to
enter your mind. But I am afraid of the
third kind of sin. Should we kill one who
does not attack us? Whether it is a
rakshasa or anyone else, why should we
kill anyone who leaves us alone? You
were in a hurry, I feel, to give your word
to the rishis. To destroy the wicked is no
doubt the duty of a kshatriya but can that
duty still cling to you when you have
renounced the privileges that go with it,
and elected the life of a recluse in the
forest? The duties of kingship go with
actual status. Dressed in garments of bark
and with hair matted, you are now an
ascetic, pure and simple. Of course, you
know best. I am only asking you to think
well before undertaking anything."
Rama's love and admiration of Sita
rose all the more for her is misgivings.
"Indeed, my love," he said, "you speak
like a true daughter of Janaka. But, Sita,
did you not once say yourself that the
weapons borne by kshatriyas are for
protecting others? When helpless people
suffer persecution, how could a kshatriya
sit still? When we came here the sages
complained
of
their
sufferings
and
entreated our protection. They could not
endure the cruelties of the Rakshasas who
looked on them as so much meat and
made shambles of the hermitages. Did
they not show us a great heap of bones to
show what had been done? 'You are the
king's son,' they said. 'Our troubles will
now end as darkness before the rising sun.
You are our only refuge.' Could we
princes hear their piteous appeal and
refrain
from
helping
them?
Every
kshatriya, everyone has to do his duty, not
the king alone. You are, of course,
solicitous for my safety. Even granting
that what you say is right, I have given my