Post # 200
The word 'integrity' means, in, common parlance, the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness. The statement here is that, "After all Dasaratha was not surrounded by anyone when he supposedly gave his 'word'! But even at the prospect of losing his son to 14 years in forest he could not bring himself to twist his own word he had given."
It is necessary to consider what the 'word' was and in what circumstances it was given. Kaikeyi was very much younger compared to Dasaratha (of his probable daughter's age, some accounts I have read say so) when the latter promised Aswapati, the king of Kekaya and father of Kaikeyi, that her son would be crowned king of Ayodhya. It was not a promise given by Dasaratha to the paramour in a secluded moment (as seems to be imagined by the above post) but a promise given in the open court of Aswapati, a strong political ally of Ayodhya; and his seven sons (brothers of Kaikeyi) must have been in the court when the alliance was finalized between the two kings who were political allies.
Kaikeyi's mother was banished from the kingdom by her husband. (This is a separate story.) She was raised by her wet nurse, Manthara, who accompanied Kaikeyi to Ayodhya as a trusted maid upon her marriage to Dasaratha. So, Manthara, an illiterate lady, had only Kaikeyi's welfare in her mind at all times.
Dasaratha one day announces his desire about coronation of Rama before the assembly of people. All people in the assembly unanimously and delightfully accept it while describing all of Rama's virtues. Dasaratha, glad after hearing the words of assembled people, requests Vasishta and Vamadeva to start arrangements for the anointing ceremony of Rama. Vasishta and Vamadeva order the officers present there to make all arrangements, describing them in detail. Dasaratha then orders Sumantra to bring Rama to the assembly. After letting Rama know of his desire, Dasaratha then advises Rama on how to rule the kingdom for the benefit of the people. Dasaratha decides to coronate Rama as the prince the next day. He asks Sumantra to bring Rama to his presence once again. After Rama arrives, Dasaratha expresses to Rama his desire to anoint Rama as a prince the very next day. He cites various bad dreams and inauspicious signs as the reason for his haste. Rama thus informed by his father, goes to his mother's house and informs her of the good news. Kausalya becomes delighted at the news and gives Rama her blessings. On the wish of King Dasaratha, Vasishta goes to Rama's palace and asks him to perform fast that night along with Seetha. Vasishta returns to Dasaratha's palace and informs him about this. On the way to the king's palace Vasishta observes the festive atmosphere in Ayodhya anticipating Rama's coronation the next day. People from different directions arrive in Ayodhya to be there on the grand occasion. Manthara feels very sad after hearing about anointment of Rama for the princely kingdom. She tells Kaikeyi about the coronation of Rama. Kaikeyi becomes delighted and gives Manthara one of her jewels. Manthara tries to convince Kaikeyi of the possible misfortune that could occur to Kaikeyi and her family if Sri Rama becomes the King. Although Kaikeyi's initial reaction is to praise Rama's qualities; her mind is slowly but surely poisoned by Manathara's sinful words.
It may be observed that Bharata had gone to his uncle's palace in Kekaya and Dasaratha did not even wait for Bharata's return for anointing Rama. But ,essengers were sent to Kekaya with great gifts :
अत्र विंशति कोट्यः तु नृपतेर् मातुलस्य ते ।
दश कोट्यः तु सम्पूर्णाः तथैव च नृप आत्मज ॥ २७०५
atra viṃśati koṭyaḥ tu nṛpater mātulasya te |
daśa koṭyaḥ tu sampūrṇāḥ tathaiva ca nṛpa ātmaja || 2-70-5
("O, prince! In these jewels and clothes, a worth of hundred crores is to be given to the king Kekeya and likewise a worth of ten crores in full to your maternal uncle.")
The messengers hurry Bharata to immediately return to Ayodhya and when Bharata takes leave of his maternal grandfather (the king of Kekaya) and Yudhaajit, his maternal uncle, he is gifted by them with 1600 horses and two thousand gold coins. It is probable that Aswapati suspected some succession row in Ayodhya and that was why he sent 1600 horses and also some of his trusted attendants with Bharata.
रुक्म निष्क सहस्रे द्वे षोडश अश्व शतानि च ।
सत्कृत्य कैकेयी पुत्रम् केकयो धनम् आदिशत् ॥ २७०२०
rukma niṣka sahasre dve ṣoḍaśa aśva śatāni ca |
satkṛtya kaikeyī putram kekayo dhanam ādiśat || 2-70-20
The king Kekaya generously gave as gifts to Bharata, two thousands coins of gold and sixteen hundred horses.
Bharata reaches Ayodhya after seven nights.
तथा अमात्यान् अभिप्रेतान् विश्वास्यामः च गुण अन्वितान् ।
ददाव् अश्व पतिः शीघ्रम् भरताय अनुयायिनः ॥ २७०२१
tathā amātyān abhipretān viśvāsyāmaḥ ca guṇa anvitān |
dadāv aśva patiḥ śīghram bharatāya anuyāyinaḥ || 2-70-21
Likewise, Aswapati sent some attendants, who were dear, reliable, endowed with virtues and inmates of his palace with Bharata (to accompany him on the return journey)
From the foregoing, it may be seen that Dasaratha did not either remember his promise of kanyāśulka given to his father-in-law, or else, he tried to hasten with the coronation of Rama when Bharata was not present. It is doubtful whether Dasaratha would have himself remembered about his promise if Kaikeyi, at the instigation of Manthara, had not compelled him through the boons granted to her.
I, therefore, feel that there was nothing to show any extra-ordinary integrity in the character of Dasaratha, as Valmiki Ramayana now stands. (Even any of us would have had to succumb to the wife's demands if not for anything else, to avoid displeasure and an armed invasion by Kekaya kingdom on Ayodhya.)
If we leave aside the subsequent deification of the character Rama, it should be clear to any one who reads Ramayana as a simple story told in poetry, that if Rama had insisted upon becoming heir to the throne as planned by Dasaratha, overriding Kaikeyi's demands, he would have had unstinted support only from Lakshmana and Shatrughna. Even if Bharata had allied with Rama, it is doubtful whether Kekaya king would have taken the treatment meted out to his daughter meekly. Even the people of Ayodhya might feel that the promise given to the Kekaya king as to kanyāśulka as also the boon to Kaikeyi were broken by Dasaratha. This could have lowered the dynasty in the eyes of the common people. Perhaps Rama as a simple human prince, did weigh all these factors in his mind and agreed to the exile as the politically most expedient course for him to follow.
. Such remarks may be avoided in future, to make your statements more effective and appealing, imho.
