Venerated Rama, the embodiment of righteousness, listened as Bharatha spoke earnestly on behalf of kinsmen, friends, citizens, scholars, teachers, and sages. With sincerity and candor, Bharatha reasoned:
“You, O Bharatha!the most virtuous, are born to King Dasaratha, the sovereign among men, and to his beloved queen, Kaikeyi. Recall now the ancient promise, once made and nearly forgotten. Before marrying Kaikeyi, King Dasaratha vowed to her father, King Aswapathi, to grant the kingdom to her future son. In the great war between the gods and demons, when Kaikeyi rendered noble service to our father, he bestowed upon her two boons in gratitude. Bound by this sacred word, Kaikeyi claimed her right—installing you as the ruler of Ayodhya and sending me, noble brother, to the forest for fourteen years.
“O Rama, steadfast in dharma, you have honored our father’s decree, retreating to this desolate forest with Sita and Lakshmana. But now, as the eldest and most righteous of Dasaratha’s sons, I entreat you to return. Relieve our father’s spirit of debt, fulfill your duty, and ascend the throne. For it is decreed that a son is the medium through which forefathers are redeemed from hell. As King Gaya of old performed great yajnas in the sacred land of Gaya, so must we uphold our lineage’s honor. You, O Rama, must reign in Ayodhya, while I remain your loyal servant.”
Rama, with the grace of a sage, replied, “O Bharatha, valiant and virtuous! Our father’s word is inviolable. Dasaratha’s promise to Kaikeyi is a binding dharma, and I shall not deviate from it. The path of righteousness, once chosen, must not waver. Dharma, like the sun, shines eternally, unblemished by time or circumstance. You, dear brother, must honor our father’s decree and rule Ayodhya, while I, bound by my duty, dwell in this forest. The forest provides solace, as the royal umbrella shelters you from the blazing sun. Let us, the four sons of Dasaratha, uphold his pledge and secure his place in the heavens.”
As Rama extolled the sacred duty of keeping promises and honoring tradition, the assembly marveled at his elevated ideals. Yet, amidst the reverence, the scholar Jabali interjected, professing his atheistic philosophy:
“O Rama, noble yet misguided! Why do you cling to futile beliefs and traditions? All beings are born alone, live alone, and die alone. The relationships of father, mother, and kin are but transient illusions. Like travelers camping for a night, mortals are bound to no one and nothing. To sacrifice the pleasures of a royal life for an uncertain ascetic existence is folly. Life is meant for joy and fulfillment, not for chasing hollow ideals.
“Rituals for the deceased are but a waste of resources. No food offered here nourishes the departed. To believe otherwise is absurd. Live for the present, O Rama! Rule Ayodhya like Indra rules the heavens, and abandons the barren forests.”
The assembly trembled at Jabali’s words, a stark challenge to faith, tradition, and dharma. Yet Rama, unwavering, listened with calm amusement. In his heart, he understood that such philosophies, though veiled in reason, sought to erode the foundation of culture and sanctity. Allowing Jabali the freedom to speak before the multitude, Rama resolved to respond with wisdom and grace, crafting a reply that would illuminate the eternal truths for all generations to come. Thus, the stage was set for Rama’s discourse, destined to resound through the ages as a beacon of righteousness and divine order.
