Rama’s Attitude to Kaikeyi

Question: Swami, Kaikeyi had sent Rama to the wilderness on the eve of his installation as the crown prince. What was Rama’s attitude to her? Generally, it would be one of hostility, wouldn’t it?

Bhagavan: Rama is the embodiment of dharma the embodiment of tranquility. Under no circumstance did He hate Kaikeyi. It was only after bowing down at her feet that He left for the forest accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana. Longing for Rama’s darshan [sight of a holy man], Bharata too proceeded to the forest, accompanied by feudatory kings, the army, citizens of Ayodhya [capital city], and the sages. Falling at Rama’s feet, he sought to be pardoned, and prayed to Rama to return to Ayodhya and rule the Kingdom. Kaikeyi stood pitiably to one side.

Rama surveyed the gathering. Right away Rama addressed Bharata with these words, “Bharata! Has mother Kaikeyi arrived? Where is she?” Turning to her, Rama bowed at her feet. Her words, like the prelude to a great drama, had inaugurated the mission of the incarnation. Had she not expressed her desire as she did, the events of the Ramayana would not have taken place. She auspiciously initiated the work of the Divine Master plan. Rama, indeed, knew this, what scope would there then be for hostility and hatred?

Moreover, in this context, Rama had to uphold another dharma as well. At the time of Kaikeyi’s wedding with Dasharatha, her father, the king of Kekaya, had made known his desire, “O King Dasharatha! You have contemplated marriage with my daughter, Kaikeyi, in order to have progeny. Then, it is her son who should become king, your successor, shouldn’t he? Is this acceptable to you? If your queens Kaushalya or Sumitra give birth to sons, Kaikeyi’s son would lose the right to kingship, wouldn’t he?”

King Dasharatha listened to this wish, consulted Kaushalya and Sumitra in the matter, apprised them of the implications, and won their approval. Then Kaushalya remarked, “Swami! After you had promised that Kaikeyi’s son alone would become king of Ayodhya, even if we were to conceive and give birth to sons, they would never act contrary to their father’s word of honor. None assuredly would be born in our dynasty but those who accept respectfully the fulfillment of their father’s wishes.” Accordingly, for Sri Ramachandra the practice of dharma and the fulfillment of his father’s wishes were supreme. Therefore, Kaikeyi’s wish was lawful and righteous, and this was not unknown to Rama.

Question: Swami, Ravana was the grandson of Pulastyabrahma. He was an ardent devotee of Shiva. He was a great scholar in all the Shastras and the Vedas. Above all, he was a valorous warrior and an expert in archery. Such a person was reduced to total ruin. What could be the secret behind his fall?

Bhagavan: Viewed spiritually, Ravana’s destruction at Rama’s hands teaches you that in spite of your physical strength, the strength of your intelligence, the strength of a large army, the strength of your wealth, and the strength of your deep penance, if you become a victim of desire of a low order or lust, you will ruin yourself totally….

Ravana’s acts should be viewed in this context. If he entertained any bad motives in abducting Sita, how is it that he did not touch her all through the period of her stay in Lanka? Unless he abducted Sita, Rama wouldn’t fight with him. So to fight Rama in open battle was the only way for Ravana to die at his hands. The climax of the Ramayana, the victory of Rama and the death of Ravana, indicates how Ravana’s heart pined for his lord, Rama.

Source: Satyopanisad, Vol. 2