The Ramayana, with its various themes, was a fascinating epic poem that I really enjoyed reading. Perhaps the most interesting theme of the text was that of dharma and its various meanings for each individual. At the beginning of the poem, Rama, who is supposed to become the crowned prince of Ayodhya, has no qualms with leaving for the forest and living there in exile for fourteen years when his mother (who is not biologically related to him) explains to him that his father, the king, commands it so. Rama says, “…I am devoted to the truth. Even if father had not commanded me, and you had asked me to go the forest I would have done so!” When his biological mother, Kausalya, commands him to stay in the city, Rama cites his unwavering devotion to dharma and says, “…I cannot swerve from the path of dharma which demands that I should implicitly obey our father.” Distressed by her son’s imminent, unplanned departure, Kausalya declares that she will accompany him during his exile. Rama, however, opposes this idea by citing his mother’s obligation to adhere to her own dharma. “It is not right for you, mother, to abandon father and follow me to the forest, as if you are a widow.”
When Sita, Rama’s wife, learns of his banishment, she pleads to come with him. Knowing of Rama’s dedication to dharma, she reminds him of her own duty as his wife. “…the wife alone shares the life of her husband … in fact you have often declared that a righteous wife will not be able to live separated from her husband.” As the story continues, Sita continues to prove her commitment to her own dharma by remaining virtuous and pious and then proving her purity to Rama before he will take her back to Ayodhya.
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