Why did Kaikeyi demand exile for Ram?

Kaikeyi's maid Manthara poisoned her mind by saying that if Ram became king, Kausalya would become the queen mother and Kaikeyi and Bharat would be reduced to servant-like status. Kaikeyi then used two boons Dasharatha had given her long ago to demand Bharat's coronation and Ram's 14-year exile.

How did Ram react when told about the exile?

Ram showed no signs of grief or anger. He calmly accepted the exile saying that obeying one's father is a son's highest duty. He removed his royal attire, wore bark garments, and cheerfully departed for the forest.

What did Bharat do with Ram's sandals?

When Ram refused to return to Ayodhya, Bharat took Ram's sandals (paduka) and placed them on the throne of Ayodhya. He ruled as a caretaker in Ram's name from Nandigram, living an ascetic life for 14 years while waiting for Ram's return.

How did King Dasharatha die?

King Dasharatha could not bear the separation from his beloved son Ram. Consumed by grief and heartbreak, he passed away calling out "Ram, Ram" — dying of the unbearable pain of his son's departure to the forest.

Why did Sita and Laxman accompany Ram to the forest?

Sita declared that a wife's place is beside her husband — a palace without him is a wilderness, while a forest with him is paradise. Laxman vowed never to leave his elder brother's side. Both chose love and duty over royal comfort.

RamayanaValmiki Ramayana, Ayodhyakanda

वनवास कथा

The Exile (Vanvas)

RamSitaLaxmanKaikeyiDasharathaBharat

Vivah ke pashchat Ayodhya mein sukh aur shanti ka vatavaran tha. Ram praja ke atyant priya the — ve sabke dukh-sukh mein sahbhagi hote, nyay karte, aur praja unhe apne putra saman maanti. Raja Dasharatha ne vriddhaavastha mein Ram ka rajyabhishek karne ka nirnay liya. Sampoorn Ayodhya aanand se bhar gayi aur rajyabhishek ki taiyariyan aarambh huin.

Parantu vidhi ka vidhan kuch aur hi tha. Rani Kaikeyi ki dasi Manthara ne Kaikeyi ke kaan bhare. Usne kaha ki yadi Ram raja ban gaye to Kausalya rajmata hongi aur Kaikeyi aur unke putra Bharat ki sthiti daason jaisi ho jaayegi. Manthara ke vishale shabdon ne Kaikeyi ke mann mein avishwas aur bhay ke beej bo diye.

Kaikeyi ne kopbhavan mein jakar baith gayin aur Raja Dasharatha se un do varon ki maang ki jo unhone Devasur Sangram mein Kaikeyi ki sahayata ke badle diye the. Pehla var — Bharat ko Ayodhya ka rajya, aur doosra var — Ram ko chaudah varsh ka vanvas. Raja Dasharatha yeh sunkar moorchhit ho gaye. Unhone Kaikeyi se bahut vinti ki, parantu Kaikeyi apni maang par adig rahin.

Jab Ram ko yeh samachar mila, to unke mukh par koi dukh ya krodh ka bhav nahi tha. Unhone kaha — "Pita ki aagya ka palan karna putra ka sarvochch dharma hai. Main prasanntapoorvak van ko jaunga." Ram ne rajvastra tyagkar valkal vastra dharan kiye. Sita ne bhi apne pati ke saath van jaane ka dridh nischay kiya. Unhone kaha — "Pati ke bina rajmahal bhi van hai, aur pati ke saath van bhi swarg hai." Laxman ne bhi apne jyeshth bhrata ka saath na chodne ka sankalp liya.

Ram, Sita aur Laxman ke van gaman ka drishya atyant karun tha. Sampoorn Ayodhya ro rahi thi. Praja vilaap kar rahi thi. Raja Dasharatha ka hriday toot gaya. Sumantra sarathi ne unhe rath se Ganga tat tak pahunchaya. Nishadraj Guh ne unki seva ki aur unhe Ganga paar karai.

Ram, Sita aur Laxman ne Chitrakoot parvat par apni kutiya banaai. Wahan ve rishi-muniyon ke saath sada jeevan vyatit karne lage. Isi beech Ayodhya mein Raja Dasharatha putra viyog sahan na kar sake aur "Ram, Ram" kahte hue praan tyag diye. Yeh samachar pakar Ram ko atyant dukh hua parantu unhone dhairya nahi chhoda.

Bharat jab apne nanihal se laute to unhe sampoorn sthiti gyaat hui. Unhone apni mata Kaikeyi ki kadi bhartsana ki aur Ram ko wapas lane ke liye sena aur praja ke saath Chitrakoot gaye. Bharat ne Ram se anunay-vinay ki ki ve Ayodhya lautkar rajya sambhalen, parantu Ram ne pita ki pratigya ka palan karne ka apna nirnay atal rakha.

Antatah Bharat ne Ram ki charan padukaon ko lekar Ayodhya lautne ka nirnay kiya. Unhone kaha — "Main raja nahi hoon, main keval Ram ki padukaon ka sevak hoon." Bharat ne Ram ki padukaon ko singhasan par rakhkar Nandigram mein rahkar rajya ka sanchalan kiya aur chaudah varsh tak Ram ki pratiksha ki. Bharat ne swayam bhi sannyasi ka jeevan vyatit kiya.

Iske baad Ram, Sita aur Laxman ne Dandakaranya van mein pravesh kiya. Wahan unhone anek rishi-muniyon ki rakshasson se raksha ki. Panchvati mein unhone apna niwas banaya, jahan se Ramayana ke aage ke anek mahatvapurna prasang aarambh hue.

॥ इति ॥

Significance

Vanvas ki katha manav jeevan ke sabse gahre mulyon ki shiksha deti hai. Shri Ram ne dikhaya ki satya aur dharma ka marg sadaiv kathin hota hai, parantu use chunne wala hi sachcha veer hai. Rajya tyagkar van jaana — yeh sabse bada tyag hai, aur Ram ne ise bina kisi shikayat ke, muskurate hue sweekar kiya.

Sita ka pati ke saath van jaane ka nirnay aadarsh patni dharma ka pratik hai. Unke shabd — "Pati ke bina rajmahal bhi van hai" — shashwat satya hain. Laxman ka bhai ke liye sab kuch tyagna bhratri prem ka sarvochch udaharan hai.

Bharat ka aacharan sansar ke liye sabse badi prerna hai. Unhone rajya ka lobh tyagkar, Ram ki padukaon ko singhasan par rakhkar, swayam sannyasi jeevan jeeya — yeh nihswarth bhakti aur bhai ke prati samarpan ka adwitiya udaharan hai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source

Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhyakanda

Key Characters

Ram, Sita, Laxman, Kaikeyi, Dasharatha, Bharat

Tradition

This story is part of the Ramayana tradition, one of the pillars of Hindu history and spiritual wisdom.