Thorny path of truth

It takes a lot of courage and determination to tread on the path of Truth because it entails excruciating emotional travails and tribulations. Rama and Lakshmana, the heroes of the Ramayana, emerge as shining examples of fraternal bonding coupled with their fortitude to stick to the path of Truth come what may.

Once, Death personified himself as Kala Purusha and sought private conference with Rama. As the king of Ayodhya led him to a private chamber, his guest stipulated that their meeting should be confidential and uninterrupted. Accordingly, Rama instructed Lakshmana to guard the door and that anyone who to interrupt the duo dared would land capital punishment.

A little while later, sage Durvasa arrived. He sought an urgent interview with the Ikshavaku king. Lakshmana gently outlined the delicate nature of his brother’s meeting. Sage Durvasa was not the one to be placated. He drew himself to doom Ayodhya into annihilation. Lakshmana was grappled with the gravity of the situation. He was aware of the great sacrifices that his illustrious brother had made for the welfare of the kingdom.

Rama had been exiled, fought a war with Ravana to redeem his wife Sita and later even gave up Sita for the sake of his subjects. Though Lakshmana was aware of the capital punishment that awaited him, he consciously chose to put his life in the backburner and interrupted the meeting.

Lakshmana let himself through the closed doors to communicate the arrival of Durvasa. Kala Purusha who was leaving the room at that very moment glanced at Rama meaningfully as he exited from the room. Rama was flabbergasted.

He never thought that his commitment to Truth would be tested in this way. He was expected to send the very sibling who stuck by him through thick and thin to his Death. Even as Rama struggled to articulate, he remembered that the Shastras equated banishment to death and ordered the expulsion of Lakshmana.

Rama’s heart broke when he saw Lakshmana embrace death by water. Once Rama passed the ultimate test of his integrity he followed the footsteps of his beloved Lakshmana by wading into the Sarayu, followed by his subjects.