Lessons from the Ramayana - 1

A fundamental lesson that the Ramayana teaches us is the power, (rather the evil) of the tongue. Since it is such an important value to be learned and assimilated, it is depicted in the life of none other than Mother Sita herself.

Rama and Sita return to Ayodhya after Rama's triumph over Ravana. They have a brief happy interlude when Rama comes to hear that some of his subjects are questioning the chastity of his wife,Sita, the queen of the kingdom. As a king, he believes that it is his duty to set an example to his subjects and ward off anything that might cause unpleasantness to them. He sends Sita off to live in the forest, even though she was then pregnant.

Sage Valmiki finds Sita unconscious in the forest and gives her refuge. Sita laments to him.."O Acharya, what sin have I done to see this day today?" to which Valmiki says - "Sita, let us get back in time. When Rama went after the golden deer and you heard Rama's agonizing calls for you and Lakshmana, you asked Lakshmana to go seek Rama. Lakshmana refused to do it because he believed that there was some evil around and it was not safe for you to stay alone. He assured you lovingly that his brother is a mighty warrior and no harm can befall him. Did you give him a benefit of doubt then? Instead what did you do? You UNLEASHED YOUR LOOSE TONGUE on him. You said ..."O Lakshmana, I know you and your plans. You just ACT as though you have respect for your brother. All the while, your motive was to abduct me and take me for your own. I have now come to know of your true intentions. You are ready to let your brother die for your carnal pleasures. You are such a disgusting lustful person. Your poor brother trusts you so much and never imagined that you could eye on me. You liar ! You pretender ! You cheat !"..... O Mother Sita, you did not give Lakshmana a chance to explain himself.. that Lakshmana, who left his mother, wife, kingdom, wealth and comfort and joined you and Rama in exile. That Lakshmana, who stood guard while you and Rama slept peacefully in the forest. That Lakshmana who felt happy when you and Rama were happy. You insulted him, hurt him, wounded him. Because you were elder and you thought you had the right, you screamed all sorts at him. You made him shed tears. That is why, O Sita, today, your Karma of that day, drove you to this state. Someone else brandished their tongue against you and you have come to be in exile, for the rest of your life. Karma is powerful. Nobody can escape it. Even the people of Ayodhya, who , in their ignorance were instrumental in defaming you, calling you unchaste are now in grief. After you left, Ayodhya has become barren. No tree has borne fruit since. No crop was harvested since. People are dying of hunger. Hence, Mother Sita, whoever fails to give the benefit of doubt to someone else and uses the power of words against him/her, would meet with similar fate."

Sita realises what she has done and repents severely. Taking Sage Valmiki's advice, she starts penance on Mother Durga (the destroyer of all evils) and meditates to cleanse herself of the Karma she had accumulated. She then gives birth to two chivalrous sons, entrusts them under Rama's care and retires to where she originally came from - the earth.