Ramayana_VOLUME V with index

Sumantra
into the chariot and take us in it, right into the forest, as far as it
could negotiate, was your Master, the Emperor. He, who now
follows this chariot, weeping and pleading with you to stop, is
Dasaratha. You have to listen to and obey the command of the
Emperor, not the orders of Dasaratha. You are the Minister of the
country, of its Ruler; not, of an individual named Dasaratha. As
individuals, between us, there is the body of affection that ties
the son to his father. But as Emperor, he has imperial authority
over you and me, equally. Your loyalty and my loyalty towards
him are the same. You have to carry out your Duty. When
Dasaratha chastises you for not giving ear to the request he is
now making, tell him that you did not hear him. It is not wrong
to say so. 151 ” And Rama asked him to drive faster, without caring
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hear him." Sumantra was in a fix. How could He say something not true
But, Rama explained, "This order to stop the chariot comes from a griefstricken
father, whereas the order to take Me to the forest came from the
King, whose minister you are. You should not hear the ravings of a man
who has lost his reason through sorrow; you must listen only to the
commands of the King." (SSS Vol.3 p.4) In such matters of principle
and discipline, both Rama and Lakshmana were very strict. They are the
ideals to be emulated when it comes to attaining victory and obeying
one’s parents’ commands.(SSB 2002 p.64)
Sumantra turned to Ramachandra and asked the question, “It would have
been very good if I, too, had to stay with you for years together in the
forest. But I will have to go back to the city and then Dasaratha will ask
me, ‘Why did you not stop the chariot when I asked you to stop the
chariot’ What kind of answer shall I give to Dasaratha” Ramachandra
said, “Oh, say that you could not hear his words.” Is that not an untruth
No, there is no untruth in these words. There are many reasons for this.
Ramachandra has to go to the forest and the quicker he goes the better. If
He delays going to the forest, He would be causing great sorrow and
pain to His parents. There is another reason for this. In the battle
between the devas and the rakshasas, Dasaratha gave a boon to Kaikeyi
and he wanted her to have that boon granted. He gave that boon to
Kaikeyi in his capacity as a king. In order to satisfy and fulfil the boon
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