May 2k5.pmd - Sri Sathya Sai Books & Publication Trust

AVATAR VANIthe same. In due course, Kausalya gave birthto Rama, Kaikeyi to Bharata, and Sumitra toLakshmana and Satrughna. The sons ofKausalya and Kaikeyi were happily playingin their cradles whereas Sumitra’s sons werecrying all the time, and were not taking milk.Sumitra went to Sage Vasishtha and told himabout her predicament. Sage Vasishthaclosed his eyes. His yogic vision enabled himto know the truth. He said to Sumitra, “Asyou partook of the sacred pudding given byKausalya, you gave birth to Lakshmana whois an Amsa (part) of Rama. Similarly,Satrughna is born out of the share ofpudding given to you by Kaikeyi. So, he is apart of Bharata. Put Lakshmana by the sideof Rama and Satrughna by the side ofBharata. Then they will rest peacefully.”Sumitra did as instructed by Vasishtha. BothLakshmana and Satrughna stopped cryingand started playing blissfully in their cradles.This was the basis of the intimate relationshipbetween Rama and Lakshmana, Bharataand Satrughna.Sumitra experienced great bliss to seeher two sons Lakshmana and Satrughnaalways in the company of Rama andBharata. No one can know why and howGod ordains certain events to happen. Asthe four sons of King Dasaratha grewup, Lakshmana always followed Ramaand Satrughna followed Bharata. BothLakshmana and Satrughna were very braveand valorous. Without them, there could beno Ramayana. Lakshmana loved to be inthe company of Rama. Similarly,Satrughna followed Bharata. Thus,the four brothers Rama, Lakshmana,Bharata and Satrughna grew uptogether in an environment of love, unity andamity. The four brothers were virtuallyinseparable and manifested their divinity inequal measure. There was no discordbetween them. The unity between the fourbrothers is, in fact, the sum and substanceof the story of Ramayana. Similarly, theirblessed mothers Kausalya, Sumitra andKaikeyi were the models of unity and amity.None can describe in full the glory of theRamayana. Many writers have describedthe glory of the Ramayana in their ownunique style. Thus, there are numerousbooks which describe the story of theRamayana. But it is not possible for anyoneto fathom the mysteries of the Ramayana.Once when Kausalya was engaged insome work, Bharata came running, sat onher lap and started crying. Kausalya was abit surprised and enquired as to what madehim cry. Bharata replied, “We were playinga ball game and each time Rama wasdeliberately losing the game so that I couldwin.” The bond of unity and love betweenthe brothers was such that they always triedto please each other. They experiencedsupreme bliss in the company of each other.The eternal Rama principle is transcendentaland beyond all description. It was onlyLakshmana who could understand Rama.Similarly, it was Satrughna who could fullyunderstand the nature of Bharata.When Rama was going to the forest tofulfil the command of his father, KingDasaratha, Lakshmana followed Him. Heexperienced great joy in accompanying hiselder brother Rama to the forest. Similarly,Satrughna also experienced great joyin the company of Bharata andaccompanied him wherever he went.129 May 2005