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Upholding truth

CHENNAI: The Puranas and the Itihasas reinforce the significance of ethical living through the narratives of people who have upheld moral values in life at all costs. The Ramayana is believed to be the very incarnation of the Vedas and Lord Rama the very embodiment of Dharma.

In a lecture on the Ramayana, Sri B. Kesava Dikshitar pointed out that Sage Vishwamitra’s request to King Dasharatha to send Rama to protect the Vedic ritual that is being conducted by him from the demons that are constantly disrupting it, was only a pretext for a more valid reason, namely, to bring about the wedding of Lord Rama and Sita. This was because the sage, who had in an earlier era caused untold misery to one of Lord Rama’s ancestors, Harishchandra, and separated the royal couple, wanted to atone for the deed. Sage Vasishta had vouched for Harishchandra’s commitment to truth, and merely to prove this wrong, Vishwamitra strove hard to make Harishchandra utter a lie.

Having become an innocent victim in this quarrel, Harishchandra braved the sage’s onslaughts with perseverance and courage. He gave up his kingdom and all his wealth because he would never speak an untruth. Subsequently he had to sell his wife and son as well. He took up a job at the cremation ground in Kasi and faced the ordeal of demanding the cremation fee for his own son.

There was further embarrassment when he had to behead his own wife on the orders of the king. Harishchandra never swerved from truth during all these severe tests (even exaggerated and nightmarish at times), and the story continues to impress and inspire people towards upholding truth.

Dasaratha hesitated to send young Rama on this mission along with Sage Vishwamitra who tried to persuade the king by extolling Lord Rama’s capabilities. When Vishwamitra became angry, Sage Vasishta counselled Dasaratha to send Lord Rama and indicated the benefits such a sojourn would bring to the princes. Vishwamitra would instruct Lord Rama on the intricacies of archery. Incidentally, Sage Vishwamitra led them to Janaka’s palace and paved the way for Lord Rama’s marriage.

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