As the Princes Ram, Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughn grew up;
the Ayodhya King Dasharath decided to send them to the Guru Vashishth’s Ashram
for all-round education befitting for the Princes.
There they were to live as continents (brahmacharis) till
the age of 25 years and attain knowledge at the feet of the great guru.
The Princes were soon informed that they were to go to the
hermitage of the royal priest. So, they prepared themselves for that.
Soon, they got their hair shorn and dressed up as continents in coarse clothes
of saffron colour.
Then the Princes, led by Ram; went to their mothers (Kaushalya,
Kaikeyi and Sumitra) to seek their permission to leave the palace. The mothers
felt shocked at the very idea of separation from their sons. But the family
tradition was to be followed.
So, they had to send them off but with heavy hearts and
tears in their eyes.
At Sage Vashishth’s hermitage, the Princes started learning
various disciplines at the feet of the great guru. The Sage imparted them
knowledge of Astra-Shatra Vidya-अस्त्र-शस्त्र चलानेकी विद्या-(Bow & Arrow) befitting the Princes of a great kingdom.
The Princes devoted themselves to studies and served the Sage
as humbly as they could. Sage Vashishth imparted them to the knowledge of the
three aspects of God’s Power – Creation, Preservation and Destruction.
Also, he told them that the life-span of a man has four
parts:-
(1) From birth to the age of 25 years Brahmacharya
(continence)
(2) From the age of 25 years to the age of 50 Girhasth
(house-holder)
(3) From the age of 50 years to the age of 75 Vanaprartha
(detachment)
(4) From the age of 75 years to death Sanyas (renunciation)
Guru Vashishth imparted instruction on state matters too to
the four Princes. Apart from it, he guided them in day-to-day worldly
dealing as well. He explained to them the use of Saam (allurement), Daam
(greed), Dand (punishment) and Bhed (division).
As for the spiritual teaching, the great guru said, “Three
qualities are found in human-beings.”
(1) The Satva (higher values, i.e. virtues)
(2) The Rajas (worldly values, i.e. luxuries)
(3) The Tamas (baser values, i.e. vices)
“Every person has one type of the above mentioned qualities
in himself/herself prominently. Whereas virtues lead a man to piety and
goodness, vices lead him to impiety and evil.”
Sage Vashishth explained to the Princes that human body is
made up of five elements – Air (वायु), Water (जल), Sky/Space (आकाश), Earth (पृथ्वी) and Fire (अग्नि). Also, that man is the supreme creature among all
living-beings.
The Sage said. “One must hold his parents and gurus in high
esteem. They must be loved, served and respected.”
“Moreover, truth is the greatest power and it always
conquers in the end. Untruth or falsehood leads to sins.”
“Love of creatures is love of God whereas hatred earns his
wrath.”
The Princes took an oath to follow the instructions of the
great guru to the letter. They were now well-informed to step into the life of
house-holders.
The Princes were just nearing the end of Brahmacharya
period. So, Sage Vashishth decided to teach them the duties of a good ruler and
the art of state-craft.
The Sage said, “A ruler must know that the crown he wears is
not a sign of greatness. It is a basket of duties towards his subjects. If a
ruler performs his duties well, he is certainly great. But if he ignores them,
he is sure to have a fall. Protection of the people is the first and foremost
duty of a ruler.”
“Secondly, he must be just and impartial in every matter.”
“Thirdly, he must try to make his people happy and
prosperous.”
“In short, if a king is greater than his people, his duties
are far heavier and harder too,” said the great guru.
The education of the Princes having been complete, Sage
Vashishth sent message to King Dasharath. The King at once followed that the
Sage wanted the Princes to return to Ayodhya.
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