Adherence!

Rām further said to Sitā-Our elders have said that a woman should never be left to herself, so you may abide wherever you like, with those who are your children-with Laxman, Bharat, Shatrughna, Sugriva Vibhishana & the like

By divine providence, Sitā beheld Raghava who was dearer to her than her own life. She was away from him for 10 long months & she was expecting that Rām would bless her with his presence & love after a long dark spell of despair. She fondly looked forward to ending her grief & expected that his words, sweet & charming as always would soothe her as they did in the past. But like a bolt from the blue, the cruel words fell on her ears, deadly as they were against any wild surmise. They forced torrent of tears & she was crushed under those words like a young plantain is crushed by a mad elephant

Hearing the harsh words with indignation spoken by Rām, which caused her hair to stand at end, Sitā became very much perturbed. Listen to the words of Rām, which she had never heard before & that too in front of large gathering of people around, Sitā stood low with her face bent in shame

Her limbs were pierced with those words which were like sharp arrows with pointed splinters. She then wiped her tears & slowly spoke following words in a stammering voice to her husband-O valiant Rām! Why are you speaking such harsh words, which are violent to hear? It is like a common man speaking to a common woman. I’m not the one in a way you understand me. I swear to you by my own character. By the conduct of a vulgar woman, you distrust the entire race of women. Give up this doubt if I’ve been actually & found trustworthy by you

O Lord! It was not my willingness, when I encountered that person Rāvan. I was helpless & my adverse fate is to be blamed on that score. My heart was subservient to you. What could I do, helpless as I was, with regard to my limbs which had fallen under the sway of another? If I could not be fully known to you, despite our love, having simultaneously grown & lived together, I am ruined permanently by such ignorance

When we face such adverse situation especially with someone whom we deeply trust, the catastrophic effect is but obvious. In such circumstances we are crestfallen & agony overpowers us

In this pastime, whereas Rām exemplifies the virtue of sacrifice no matter what it costs him (even separation from his beloved wife), Sitā also makes an anguishing sacrifice for a higher cause. Setting Dharmic precedence takes lot of contribution from all

Huge learnings for us! We too may question adverse situations as per our own convenience and understanding but if we could adhere to the principles even in dire situations, then it sets a role model for others to follow. Sacrifice is easily said than done

Thoughts? #gameoflife