One's word must be kept at all costs

CHENNAI, JUNE 16. The importance of keeping one's word has been underscored in the scriptures and men of character try to adhere to their promise at all costs. It becomes apparent that it is essential to deliberate on the consequences of one's speech before speaking without giving room to retract it later. Hence, hasty utterance for the sake of pleasing someone can land one in trouble. The Ramayana illustrates this in the context of Sage Viswamitra's visit to Dasaratha's court with the intention of asking Rama to accompany him.

Without any inkling of the reason of the sage's arrival in Ayodhya, the king made haste to welcome him and extend him hospitality as befitting an emperor of his stature. Dasaratha offered even before he expressed his mind, ``I consider your advent precisely as welcome as securing nectar in one's own hands... You need not entertain any doubt about the success of your mission. I shall fully accomplish your object, for being an honoured guest, you are a veritable god to me.''

In his Harikatha, Kalyanapuram Sri R. Aravamudan said that the king fainted on hearing the purpose of Viswamitra's visit. The sage had asked him to send Rama with him to protect his sacrifice from being desecrated by the ogres, Subahu and Maricha. He trembled even at the very thought of parting with Rama and when he came to know that it was to fight with two fierce demons, his concern for Rama's safety became paramount as his parental love made him blind to the fact that Rama was God-incarnate. When he regained consciousness, Dasaratha tried coaxing the sage, ``Rama is less than sixteen years old. I do not perceive his capacity to contend with the Rakshasas. I shall myself guard your sacrifice and shall contend with the Rakshasas...'' He refused to hand over Rama which infuriated the sage.

Alleging his retraction to be a breach of his promise which was unworthy of a scion of the lineage of Raghu, Viswamitra, who was known for his temper, retorted that he would return without Rama. Vasishta who was observing this exchange intervened to prevent a calamity and convinced Dasaratha that in Viswamitra's care, Rama would not come to any harm and that he should not go back on his word by letting his affection for his son blind him. He convinced him saying, ``Though capable of punishing the Rakshasas himself, it is for the sake of doing good to your son Rama that the sage, Viswamitra, has sought you and solicited Him as a loan.'' His preceptor's words had the desired effect and Dasaratha immediately summoned Rama and instructed Him to accompany the sage and Lakshmana followed Him like a shadow.

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