| Chapter 4 : Wood -Apple Episode | ||
WOOD-APPLE TREE : The magnificent tree gently smiled and said: Oh! daughter of Mother Earth,A Woman is the embodiment of motherhood She showers love from her soul,Like a tree she is indeed ,Offering affection to one and all. Sita: I stored this message of wisdom in my heart and attempted to reach the fruits. But those tasty fruits were much beyond my reach. I remembered my Lord Rama in my heart and prayed to Him to let me get some of the fruits for Him. As if my Lord heard my prayers, a bough of the tree bent down towards me, by itself. I quickly plucked the wood-apple fruits from it to my hearts content and tied them up in my garment. I felt as if I was really blessed to have received the fruits. But just then, I felt I saw a looming vision of the same stranger - the stranger I had encountered in the morning fog, the stranger who had unknowingly cleared the forest path for me-- sitting on the bough of the tree and bending it down helpfully towards me. But I had no time to verify the illusion. Turning on my heels, I started rapidly descending the mountain. I was worried now that my Lord Rama must be awake and he must be getting anxious about me.Very soon,I reach our hermitage... Lord Rama was already seated outside the hermitage expectantly waiting for me. I immediately bent to touch His feet. The moment I did so, an element of doubt rose in my heart. Many questions rose in front of me: Why are Lord’s feet smeared with wet mud? Why are they cut and bruised all over? I removed the wood-apple fruits from my garments and tried to hand them over to my Lord. Immediately he hid his hands behind his back. I started understanding the matter dimly. My eyes moistened. Forcefully, I brought my Lord’s hands in front of me and examined them thoroughly. Yes! I had guessed right. His hands too were badly cut and bruised by thorns and stones. The whole puzzle fell into place. Who was the stranger in the distant fog? His image now became clear to me. Who cleared the forest path of thorns and stones and spread on it leaves and flowers, so that I could walk safely over the path? Who placed the stepping stones across the ferocious stream to help me cross? Who bent the bough helpfully towards me? Indeed it was my own husband Lord Rama!! I was emotionally overcome now and fell at His feet sobbing.“My Lord! , what have you done to yourself. Why did you take all this trouble for me? “, I asked. The Lord gently held my shoulders and lifting me up made me sit by His side. In a very soft understanding tone, He said: RAMA: My dearest of dear SITA,It is the highest form of duty for the wife to be unified with her husband and fulfill his wish. Do keep this in mind.But I too have not done anything extraordinary. I have only co-operated with your mission. Both of us have heard the thoughts in each other’s heart . The immense effort you made to fulfill your husband’s wish is indeed a striking example of Infinite love . But then there is an equally important responsibility of a husband to his wife. He must closely understand the aspirations of his wife and help her fulfill them. Also, he must be always by her side throughout life, in times of happiness and sorrow. For indeed, a husband and wife are like the two wheels of the same chariot ; they should traverse life together in a harmonious manner. |
