66697602-The-Ramayana-R-K-Narayan

and hearing his stentorian challenges, people withdrew from
his proximity. “If all the gods in heaven, all the demons, all the
good people of the earth, and bad—if the whole world
oppose me, I’ll not relent or yield to the desire of a mere
female… .”
His challenges and the rattling of his arms and the
twanging of his bow-string reached the ears of Rama, who
was just on his way to take leave of his stepmother Sumithra,
Lakshmana’s mother, and he immediately turned back and
confronted Lakshmana. “What makes you wear all this
battle-dress, and against whom are you uttering your
challenges? And why are you so wild and angry?”
Lakshmana said, “If this is not the occasion for anger,
when else is it? After having promised you your rightful place
—to deny it now! I can’t tolerate it. The vicious dreams of that
black-hearted woman shall not be fulfilled. I’ll not let my
senses watch this injustice passively. I’ll resist it till I perish.”
“It was my mistake,” said Rama. “I have only myself to
blame for accepting my father’s offer of the throne so readily
without thinking of the consequences. Your tongue, learned
in the recital of Vedas and all the truths of godly life, should
not be allowed to utter whatever it likes so irresponsibly.
Your charges will not stand the scrutiny of judicious and
serene temperaments. You must not utter such bitter
remarks about people who after all are none other than your
father and mother.” (Rama makes no distinction between