The Childhood of Rama
Once upon a time, in the serene kingdom of Ayodhya, ruled by the fair and mighty King Dasaratha, was born a child, destined to be the upholder of righteousness - Prince Rama.
The childhood of Rama was not just an ordinary span of years. It was the moulding time of a hero, who would later hold the beacon of righteousness, reimposing the moral axis of the world.
King Dasaratha had three wives - Queen Kausalya, Queen Kaikeyi, and Queen Sumitra. Prince Rama was the son of Queen Kausalya. He had three brothers - Lakshmana and Shatrughna, the sons of Queen Sumitra, and Bharata, the son of Queen Kaikeyi. Though Rama was the eldest, all four were born at the same time, and they grew up as four bodies with one soul.
As children, these four princes were inseparable. Brotherly love knit their hearts together tightly. Rama, being the eldest was naturally looked up to by his brothers. He was endowed with superior physical strength, intelligence, and kind-heartedness. They had the absolute faith that Rama would always lead them on the right path.
Rama’s early years in Ayodhya were filled with jewels of wisdom and innocence. He never failed to charm everyone at the palace with his quick-footed intelligence. Many a time, his observations and decision-making abilities astonished the sages and scholars at the court of Ayodhya.
As they grew, Rama and his brothers were instructed under the tutelage of Sage Vashistha. Their learning included administration, warfare, scriptures, morality, and spirituality. Rama, with his immense intelligence, absorbed everything like a sponge.
In religious debates, Rama showcased acute wisdom that belied his youth. His spiritual insight into the scriptures surprised even veteran scholars. His virtuous nature was evident in his behavior. He treated everyone with respect and humility, the elders with deference and his younger brothers with compassion and affection.
Rama’s relationship with his brother Lakshmana was special. They shared an undeniable bond. Lakshmana was always protective and partial to Rama. He looked up to his elder brother and admired him enormously. Rama, in return, never treated him as a younger brother but as an equal.
Rama also had a great bond with his youngest brother, Shatrughna. They shared many adventures together, playfully wrestling, hunting, and exploring the surroundings of Ayodhya.
Bharata, another brother of Rama, shared a distinctive sense of understanding with him. Despite being the son of Kaikeyi, who was later responsible for Rama’s exile, Bharata adored Rama more than anything.
Rama’s reverence for his father, King Dasaratha, was unparalleled. He admired and loved his father so much that Rama willingly accepted 14 years of exile when his father could be spared from the guilt of forswearing an oath to Queen Kaikeyi.
These myriad of bonds, love, respect and camaraderie of Rama’s early years, crafted a virtuous, intelligent, and steadfast hero who not only from Ayodhya but of the entire world. Thus, Rama’s childhood in Ayodhya served as a melting pot of all the virtues which were necessary for the challenges he faced later in life.
And so, Prince Rama grew into a paragon of virtue, a symbol of righteousness and a beloved prince. The hum of happiness and peace swayed across Ayodhya during these years. For they all knew that their Prince Rama was not just another prince; he was the embodiment of all the virtues a king ought to possess, a protector, a hero and one who was destined to become one of the greatest kings Ayodhya had ever seen.