Rama makes Kausalya understand righteousness alone wins 2.24.1-9
It is only righteousness that wins – never unrighteousness:First, Kausalya felt sad that Rama should live in the forest on roots and fruits, while ministers and servants partook excellent food living in the palace.
She says the fire of grief is burning up her emaciated body, the fire fanned by the wind of Rama’s impending absence and fed by the fuel of anguish, nourished by tears, covered with the smoke of sighs.
Rama exhorts Kausalya on the duties of a devoted wife 2.24.10-17
“I consider it a cruelty on the part of a wife to desert her husband, especially in his old age. If you desert your husband, you will not be happy either here or hereafter. You should serve him by all means until he is alive. He is the king for us, to you the husband and an eminent model of truthfulness to the world. Hence, both you and I should obey his words. I have served my father well. After my return from the forest, I will serve you also with devotion.
“With Bharata attending on you, Kaikeyi’s anger will not be effective. I pray, look after my father tenderly in my absence. He is old and he cannot bear this terrible agony of my separation brought on him.
“By serving one’s husband, a wife secures the highest heaven. Just as Gayatri is most sacred to a man, service to husband is most sacred to a woman. A wife may forget to meditate on God or worship the family god but, if she forgets to serve her husband, there is no heaven for her. This is righteousness in the case of a married woman.
Rama makes Kausalya understand righteousness alone wins 2.24.1-9
It is only righteousness that wins – never unrighteousness:First, Kausalya felt sad that Rama should live in the forest on roots and fruits, while ministers and servants partook excellent food living in the palace.
She says the fire of grief is burning up her emaciated body, the fire fanned by the wind of Rama’s impending absence and fed by the fuel of anguish, nourished by tears, covered with the smoke of sighs.
Rama exhorts Kausalya on the duties of a devoted wife 2.24.10-17
“I consider it a cruelty on the part of a wife to desert her husband, especially in his old age. If you desert your husband, you will not be happy either here or hereafter. You should serve him by all means until he is alive. He is the king for us, to you the husband and an eminent model of truthfulness to the world. Hence, both you and I should obey his words. I have served my father well. After my return from the forest, I will serve you also with devotion.
“With Bharata attending on you, Kaikeyi’s anger will not be effective. I pray, look after my father tenderly in my absence. He is old and he cannot bear this terrible agony of my separation brought on him.
“By serving one’s husband, a wife secures the highest heaven. Just as Gayatri is most sacred to a man, service to husband is most sacred to a woman. A wife may forget to meditate on God or worship the family god but, if she forgets to serve her husband, there is no heaven for her. This is righteousness in the case of a married woman.