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Continued
from yesterday’s instalment
Rama received two pieces of the ascetic garb and donned them there itself. Lakshmana too had no difficulty in wearing them in the presence of his father. 'pitur agratah' says the Poet. Before his father. The piece of bark to be worn by her was handed over to Janaki. It was her turn to wear it. Being the princess that she was, who had never in her life worn anything other than silken garments, she did not know what to do with them.
Properly speaking the tree-bark is made of the Kusa grass. She was abashed. She was alarmed to see the
chIram that she was supposed to wear and felt like a deer on seeing the trap. "Gazing with reverence on the piece of bark intended to be donned by her, Sita, who was clad in silken robes, felt dismayed as a doe would on seeing a snare (set for entrapping it.)" (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto XXXVII, Sloka 9)
She did not feel alarmed or entrapped like a deer at the prospect of wearing them. A proper understanding would mean that she was too embarrassed to wear it when so many were around. Notice the Poet's emphasis on the words 'in the presence of his father' when Lakshmana changed to the hermit's weeds. She took it in her hands. And then not knowing what to do, she placed the piece around her neck and held it there with her hand. She did it again and again, taking it away for a while and then trying it again. 'siittaa saamumoha muhurmuhuh,' Not used to wearing it, she erred again and again.
 She then turned to Rama. 'katham nu ciiram badhnanti munayo vana vaasinah?' How do they wear it? How the ascetics who reside in the forests wear it?' she asked him with eyes full of tears. Once again, it has to be seen that the tears are not because of her - the princess of Mithila and the daughter-in-law of Ayodhya - having to wear the garment made of grass. She did not hesitate to wear them. On the other hand, she did not know how to do it and there were so many around that it is not easy for a woman to change her clothing.
Rama must have smiled at her plight. He quickly came to her rescue, took them from her hands and fastened them over her silken garments. "Quickly going near her, Sri Rama, the foremost of those upholding the cause of virtue, then personally fastened the bark over her silken garment." (Ibid, Sloka 14)
 A beautiful and moving portrayal. A timorous wife and a caring husband. Just half a line of a verse, speaking volumes of the love that prevailed between the two of them. But that loving act of Rama intensified the agony of the womenfolk around, who could not control their tears. 'No, she is not fit for the life in the jungles. Leave her with us here, child,' they said. 'She has not been exiled. Why take her with you? Let her remain here and let us be consoled by her presence, in your absence,' they pleaded. Obviously, they had no opportunity of knowing what actually took place and how this decision was arrived at.
It is not surprising that these simple women of the gynaecium were moved to tears, when even Vasistha, guru of the royalty, who is supposed to be above all emotions, was deeply moved and was affected by the sight.
More follows...
Published on 30th
January 2003
Hari Krishnan
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