The Story of Rama's Exile

Glossary

 Coronation: Ceremony of Crowning a King

 Mansion: Large and stately house

 Rage: Furious anger

 Oust: Push out

 Violate: Break

 Diverse: Different

 Invoke: Call upon for help

 Cling: Hold tight

 Primary: Most Important

 Decree: Order by the King

 Doctrine: Belief

 Embodiment: Solid form

 

Very objective type questions

 

Q 1) According to Rama, what was his primary duty?

Ans-To fulfill his father’s command.

Q2) Name the Queen of Dashrath who wanted to send Rama to the Forest?

Ans- Kaikeyi.

Q3) Who did the King wish to give the Crown?

Ans- Bharata.

Q4) Where was a specially Raised seat made for Rama?

Ans- In Queen Kausalya’s mansion.

Q5) How did Lakshman feel?

Ans-Very angry.

Q6) What calmed Lakshman?

Ans-The kind touch of Rama’s Hand.

 

OBJECTIVE TYPE QUESTIONS

Q1) What Kind of Seat was made for Rama in Kausalya’s Mansion?

Ans- A special raised seat was made for Rama.

Q2) Where did Rama think it proper to sit?

Ans- He thought that it was proper to sit on the grass spread on the floor.

Q3) Why was Rama shown to a specially raised seat?

Ans- Kausalya thought that his son was to become the Yuvraj so he was shown a specially raised seat.

Q4) What was absurd, according to Lakshmana, in King’s Order?

Ans- He thought that it was absurd to make the king to the younger brother and send the eldest one to the Forest.

Q5) Why did Seeta think she must go with Rama?

Ans- Seeta thought herself to be a part of Rama so she thought that she must go with Rama.

Q6) What dangers and troubles were there in the Forest?

Ans -There were dangers of wild animals and unkind weather.

Q7) Why did Lakshmana want to go with Rama?

Ans- He wanted to serve Rama in the forest.

 

Long Questions

Character Sketch of Rama

 

•Lord Rama is the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband and above all the ideal King. Rama is widely accepted to be an actual historical figure-whose deeds form the great Hindu epic of Ramayana.

•Rama was the eldest son of King Dashratha. He was an ideal son. He willingly obeyed the command of his father. On the very day when Rama was going to become the Yuvraj, he gave the crown to Bharata to fulfil his promise which was given to Rani Kaikeyi. But Rama was not angry at all. He blamed neither the King nor the Kaikeyi. It was his primary duty to obey his parents. He also calmed down Lakshmana and consoled his mother Kaushalya. He advised Sita to take care of the King and the Queens in his absence. But Sita said that she would die if she was left behind so Rama had to take her with him.

•Rama is the symbol of courtesy and virtue, a man of values and morals. He is known as Maryada Purushottam which means the perfect man.

 

Character Sketch of Lakshmana

 

Lakshmana was Rama’s younger brother. He was devoted to Rama very deeply. When he came to know that Rama was being sent to the forest, he flew into rage. He called it a grave injustice. Lakshmana became very angry with his father for sending Rama to the forest. He called the king a dotard. He said that it was unjust to make younger brother a king and send the elder one into exile. He spoke some bitter words against the king. He told Rama that they should oust such an unjust king. In fact it was his love for Rama that made him mad. He calmed down with the benign touch of Rama’s hand and words of wisdom but he decided to go with his brother to serve him in the forest. Lakshman was an example of selfless brotherly love.

SUMMARY OF THE LESSON

 

Dashratha was the king of Ayodhaya. He had four sons Rama, Lakshmana, Bharata and Shatrughan. Rama was the eldest son and Dashratha wanted him to be the king of Ayodhaya. Kaikeyi wanted that the crown should be given to Bharata and Rama would spend fourteen years in exile. Rama, after receiving the order of exile from his father, went to queen Kausalya’s mansion to seek her permission. Kausalya offered him a raised seat but Rama said that the seat was too high for him because he was a hermit and should sit on the grass spread on the floor. He told his mother about his father’s command. According to the command the throne was to be given to Bharata and he would spend fourteen years in the Dandaka forest.

When Kausalya heard all this, she fainted and fell on the ground. Rama and Lakshmana gently raised her. Lakshmana could not bear her grief. He lost his temper and spoke against the King. He said that it was unjust to make a younger brother the King and send the elder one to exile. He called the orders an absurdity. He said that he would oust the King and seize the throne for Rama. Rama pacified him by reminding of their duty towards their father. He said that their highest duty was to fulfil their father’s words. He said that they should not blame kaikeyi as it was the working of fate. He wiped with his hand the tears from Lakshmana’s eyes. At this act of Rama, Lakshmana grew calm. Rama then went to see his wife Sita to tell her about the command of his father. He told her that he would be away for fourteen years. But Sita said that it was a strange doctrine that a wife was diverse from her husband. She said that the command included Sita also as she was a part of Rama. She promised that she would not be a source of trouble for him and she would consider it as a holiday in forest. Ultimately, Rama agreed to take her along with him. Lakshmana also decided to go with Rama & Sita to serve them in the forest. They gave their belongings to the poor and prepared themselves for the life of forest.