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Dharma
Lessons of
The Exile of Sita
Introduction
Two Boons
The Exile of Sita
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Lessons of Dharma

Lessons of Dharma

Introduction

Two Boons

The Exile of Sita

Sitemap

The Exile of Sita

I am glad that you are back for another lesson in Dharma...remember, staying true to Dharma will bring you
happiness. This second story I am going to share with you is about Rama's crime against Dharma.

Many years ago, when Rama returned from exile in the forest with his wife, Sita, and brother, Lakshmana, there was
much celebration and the kingdom was harmonious. But these happy and harmonious days were not meant to stay
with Rama and Sita. You see, while they were in exile, Ravana, a raskshasa king, had become so enamored with Sita's
beauty, as none surpassed it on earth...that he abducted her and held her against her will. Although Ravana abducted
Sita, he never touched her, as he was under a curse that forbade him to ever touch a woman against her will. Even
though Sita refused Ravana's advances time and again, he never set her free, instead keeping her hostage in hopes of
wooing her for himself.

Rama, along with a great army, rescued Sita and destroyed the rakshasa king. There was jubilation and celebration
after the death of Ravana, the world was a safe and happier place, and Sita and Rama were reunited.

I had attended such a celebration in honor of Rama and Sita, as Rama's mother, Kausalya, invited me.

"Queen Kaikeyi," spoke Kausalya.

I had been walking through the gardens when she approached me.

"I have wonderful news," she said excitedly. "Rama has come home, he has Sita with him, and he has destroyed the
demon king of Lanka," she continued. "I could not be happier. You must attend and honor Rama and Sita. This is a
great day," exclaimed Kausalya.
 I was truly happy. Maybe now Rama and Sita could forgive me for their exile. I spent hours preparing for their
celebration and had even rehearsed a greeting for my son, Rama. However, when I stood next to Kausalya, at my
rightful place at court, Rama would not even look at me and passed right over me when greeting the other two mothers.
I felt tears well up, but I knew that this was my Karma and decided to bask in the happiness and love that surrounded
Sita and Rama. I was truly happy they were home. For a while the lives of Sita and Rama were perfect...but this was not
to last. Many people in the kingdom were not happy that Rama kept Sita as queen. You see, they questioned her purity
after her long time in abduction. Because they doubted Sita's loyalty, they also doubted Rama's judgment. The people
in the kingdom did not understand how a king could keep a queen who had been harbored by another man. Rama, of
course, had a very keen sense about him and knew that something was amiss in his kingdom. He noticed that his
subjects averted their eyes when he greeted them and would look down. This made Rama furious and he demanded to
know why his people would disrespect him in this way. Rama knew that his messengers of court would report to him all
that transpired in the kingdom.

Rama sought out a court messenger and demanded an explanation. "What act could have been committed against
my people for them to be so unhappy with me?" he asked.

"My great king, how could you think that you committed such an act? It is not you that your kingdom is unhappy with,
but the queen, Your Highness," stated his messenger. "There is much talk that she has no rightful place on the throne
and the people question her purity and innocence while in abduction for so long."

Rama gave this much thought. In fact, he could not sleep at night, as these rumors and troubles of his kingdom now
became his own. "Maybe Sita is no longer pure after such an ordeal," he thought to himself. Rama decided to visit his
mother, who gave him no help, other than defending Sita's purity. Rama went to bed that night with a troubled heart.

While I had heard of the commotion that was transpiring in the royal court, I could not go to Rama. I had to respect
his disownment of me and only hear of such things from his mother, Kausalya, who Rama confided in. Kausalya,
outraged with the gossip of Sita, had vented her troubles to me. My heart was heavy, as I knew that somehow I had
played a part in this...and now I could only look on at what was to happen next.

The next day, after much thought on the matter, Rama summoned his brother, Lakshmana.

"What is the urgent matter you wish to speak to me about?" asked Lakshmana.

"My loyal and beloved brother...I must ask something of you and you must promise to fulfill my wish," stated Rama.

"You know that I could never deny you, my king," replied Lakshmana. "What is it that troubles your heart so?"

"There is much doubt about Sita residing in the kingdom. My subjects are questioning her purity and loyalty to me,
while being held by Ravana," said Rama. "There is much talk and the people of the kingdom are no longer happy and
doubt my judgment as their king. I must make this right with them and with myself," he softly added.

"What madness are you saying, brother?" yelled Lakshmana. "This is Sita you are talking about...there is no one as
pure or innocent in the whole kingdom as she," he yelled angrily. "She has already proved her innocence once by
walking into fire unscathed for you."

Rama ignored Lakshmana's reasoning. "My dear brother, I need you to take Sita deep into the forest and leave her
there to live," said Rama. "Her presence is bringing too much doubt into our kingdom and into my heart."

Lakshmana was horrified, but he knew that he could never disobey his brother's orders. "Do you forget that she is
with child, my king?" asked Lakshmana.
 Again, Rama ignored Lakshmana's words. "Take her into the forest by chariot and tell her she is going to pick the
flowers there that she loves so much," Rama added this last part so softly that Lakshmana could barely hear the words.

"I will do what you ask, my brother," said Lakshmana. "But realize I commit this act against Sita with a heavy heart."

After hearing the news of Rama's decision to exile Sita, I was heartbroken. I knew that I could not approach Rama and
even if I could there would be no persuading him otherwise. If Lakshmana could not get through to Rama, it was
hopeless to change his mind. I wanted to run to Rama and tell him to stop this madness! Stop this crime against Sita,
who had done nothing to deserve such cruel treatment. I wanted to remind him of my harsh decision to have him exiled
because of false rumors that blackened my heart and clouded my mind. Knowing that I could not do anything, I wept. I
went to bed and hoped that Rama would not be able to send Sita and his unborn child away. When I awoke the next
morning, Sita was already gone.

Lakshmana did what was requested of him and took Sita for a ride to a thick forest near the Ganga river. There she
was to spend the day and pick flowers. However, when they arrived, Lakshmana could not withhold Rama's decision to
have her banished and relayed to Sita what her fate was to be. Although Sita was devastated and distraught, Lakshmana
was equally as distraught at leaving her.

"What crime has Sita commited that I must perpetrate this act of cruelty?" Lakshmana cried out.

Suddenly, an unseen voice resonated around Lakshmana. "Leave Sita here in exile and return to Rama. She will be
safe." With this, Lakshmana bid a tearful Sita farewell and left her alone by the Ganga river.

Although Sita was left in the forest without food or shelter, a hermit, Valmiki, who had been summoned awake by the
gods came and took her in. It was in his hermitage that she raised her two sons and lived out the rest of her days on
earth.

Author's note: I wrote this trying to stay as true to the original story as possible, but adding my own version of what
transpired in Rama's head. While I told this story with Kaikeyi as the storyteller, I did not touch on the trials and
tribulations of Sita before Valmiki found her, as I was telling this as a crime committed by Rama. Nor did I touch on the
events of what transpired when her sons where older as this story is focused on the single event of Rama banishing her
to the forest. I also decided to omit how after many years, Rama once again requested Sita to do the trial by fire to
prove her innocence. Again, I did this to mainly focus on Rama and this lone event. I also wanted to touch on
Lakshmana's character a bit, as he was a major player in the banishment of Sita. While Rama did, in fact, abide by
Dharma with his kingdom and with his brother, Lakshmana, he did not abide by Dharma in abandoning his wife and
unborn sons. I also wanted to briefly touch on the event that took place when Ravana abducted Sita so that the reader
would understand why Rama was committing such an act. Lastly, I decided to let the reader know that Sita was safe and
rescued by a hermit named Valmiki. Although I did not write this from Sita's perspective, I felt that I needed to explain
what happened after Lakshmana left her.

Bibliography

Buck, William. Ramayana. London, England: University California Press. 1976.

Image Information: Sita and Her Two Sons

Web Source: nparadoxa

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Fifteen years had passed since Rama, king of Kosala, had exiled his wife and queen Sita to the forest, to the sage
Valmiki’s ashram.

Fifteen years had passed too since, unknown to Rama, his twin sons had been born to Sita in the forest. The elder
twin had been named Kush, after the kusha grass with which Valmiki blessed him on his birth. The younger twin was
called Lav, which means ‘bit’ or ‘piece’, after the bits of grass stems which Valmiki had used to bless him.

Rama had grieved for Sita, but putting duty and the good of his kingdom before personal sorrow, he had
concentrated on ruling Kosala as well as he could. Rama had proved a wise and able ruler. Under his rule, Kosala
had become a strong and prosperous kingdom.  Bharata and Lakshmana had remained by Rama’s side in Ayodhya,
the capital of Kosala, as his counselors and advisers. Shatrughna had been sent by Rama to rule a kingdom on the
borders of Kosala.

Now, fifteen long years after Sita had been banished, Rama felt that his kingdom of Kosala, had become supreme in
all the world. He felt the time had come to consolidate his sovereignty over the surrounding lands. So he decided to
hold the Ashwamedha yajna, the horse sacrifice held periodically by all the great kings of ancient India.

Rama made Lakshman in charge of the festival. The site for the sacrifice was chosen by Rama: it was to be the
Naimisha forest on the banks of the river Gomati. All the great sages were invited – Vashishtha, Jabali, Kashyapa,
Vamadeva. So were Ram’s friends and allies in the war against Ravana. Sugriva and the monkeys, Jambavana and
the bears, Vibhishana and his rakshasa ministers from Lanka, Hanuman, Rama’s especial friend and follower…all
Rama’s closest friends and allies had gathered there with him. Only Sita was missing, his wife and queen. Rama
ordered a statue of Sita to be made, cast in pure gold. He commanded that the statue be placed by his side during
the sacrifice in place of his banished queen.

When the time was right, the sacrificial horse was led forward. With pomp and ceremony it was taken to the borders
of Kosala and let loose, to wander at will across the land for an entire year. Lakshmana, together with a small band
of priests and warriors, followed the horse around, watching for any challenge to Rama’s sovereignty. If the horse
remained unchallenged, it would be brought back to Kosala after a year. But if someone were to stop the horse and
capture it, it would mean a challenge to Rama’s authority and Lakshmana and his warriors would have to answer
that challenge.

The horse wandered freely over the land. No one stopped it, or came in its way. In fact, wherever the horse went
through a village or a town, the people came out in crowds to welcome it, and acknowledged the authority of Rama
freely and gladly.

Till one day the horse wandered into a quiet forest by the banks of the Ganga. Lakshmana and his warriors followed,
quite certain that neither they nor the horse would meet any challenge. Suddenly ‘Stop!’ commanded a voice.
Lakshmana and his warriors stopped in surprise to see who had challenged them. A boy was standing in their path,
while another the same age, was holding the sacred horse.

‘Who are you?’ demanded Lakshmana. ‘How dare you stop the sacrificial horse from proceeding on its way? Don’t
you know the penalty for challenging my king’s authority? You will die for this!’

‘We acknowledge no man’s sovereignty except that of our father Rama’s,’ said the boys with equal pride and anger.

Lakshmana’s face changed. He dropped his weapons. ‘Did you say your father Rama’s?’ he asked in surprise.

‘Yes,’ answered the boy holding the horse. ‘We are his sons. I am Kush, and this is my brother Lav.’

‘Where do you live?’ asked Lakshmana, trying to find out all he could about the boys without telling them who he
was.

‘We live with our mother Sita, here in the forest,’ said Lav.

‘And our guardian Valmiki,’ added Kush.

Lakshman was now convinced that he was speaking to his brother’s sons, the sons of Rama, king of Kosala.
The twins led Lakshmana to Valmiki. Lakshmana explained how the boys had stopped the sacred horse in its
progress around the land. He asked Valmiki’s permission to present the boys to the king. Valmiki gave them his
blessing. ‘Go with the prince my sons,’ he said. ‘Sing of the glory of Rama your father. Let all the world know his
story.’

The boys Lav and Kush went with Lakshmana, quite unaware of who he was and who the king they were going to
meet.

In Ayodhya, Lakshmana led the boys to the royal palace, where Rama was holding court, surrounded by his
ministers, advisers and friends. There, in front of the entire assembly, the two young boys began to sing.

They sang of Rama, the prince of Kosala, and his brothers. They sang of the princess Sita, born of the earth and
brought up by King Janaka. They told how Rama had won her hand in marriage by stringing the great bow of Shiva.
They sang of old King Dasaratha’s favourite queen Kaikeyi and her evil counselor Manthara. They told of the old
king’s sorrow as his favourite son Rama was banished into the forest, together with his lovely wife Sita and loyal
brother Lakshmana. The twins then sang of the treachery of Marichi and the wickedness of Ravana, of Sita’s long
and lonely imprisonment on the golden island of Lanka. They sang of Ram’s grief, and his anger. They sang of
Hanuman the monkey and Jambavan the bear, and of the valiant army who set out to rescue Sita. They told of the
battle between Rama and Ravana that raged for ten long furious days. They told of Rama’s return to Ayodhya with
Sita, and of his coronation as king. They told also of Rama’s decree that Sita be banished to the forest, for pure and
blameless though she was, the people of Ayodhya were not willing to accept her as such after her long stay in
Ravana’s prison. They told of Sita alone in the forest, till rescued by the ascetics of Valmiki’s ashram.

Rama listened, spellbound. He realised that the two young boys could be no other than his own sons. He was
overjoyed, and overwhelmed with sorrow at the same time. He held the boys close, and asked them about their
mother Sita.

Lav and Kush were almost too amazed to answer. They couldn’t believe that they had found their father, that the
king whose horse they had stopped was Rama himself!

‘I need to find your mother now,’ he told his sons. ‘Both she and I have done penance enough, and it is time she
came back to Ayodhya and took her rightful place by my side.’

Lav and Kush returned with Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and the royal entourage to Valmiki’s ashram. There Valmiki
waited for them. He had known, through his powers, that Rama would come with his sons. Sita waited too, to see
her sons safe with their father.

‘Come back to Ayodhya with me, Sita, and take your rightful place as my wife and queen,’ said Ram.

But Sita refused. ‘My only wish was to see my sons safe with their father,’ she said. ‘I have now seen that happen. All
that I now desire is to return to my mother, the Earth.’ So saying, Sita folded her hands, and called upon her mother
to take her within her. All at once the earth opened beneath Sita’s feet, and before the astonished gaze of the King of
Kosala and his court, Sita vanished from this world forever.

Rama was heartbroken. But he returned to Ayodhya with his sons Lav and Kush. Rama ruled Kosala for many years
more, with Sita’s golden image forever by his side. Lav and Kush were taught all the arts of kingship, and when they
were old enough, Rama built two capital cities, the city of Shravasti for Lav and that of Kushavati for Kush. Ram then
left his throne and his kingdom in the joint care of his twin sons. His days on earth were over, and it is said that very
soon after he walked into the river Sarayu, to be welcomed by Brahma and to be absorbed into his being as Vishnu.