Duty, Devotion, and Departure: The End of Ram's Earthly Reign

Lakshman had always been relentless in his obedience to Ram, never defying his brother's orders, not even in his dreams. He did not seek forgiveness for any misstep in carrying out Ram's commands. Lakshman could have even barred a rishi from entering the building in order to uphold the dignity of the Raghu clan. Meanwhile, Ram was caught in a painful dilemma—upholding the traditions of the Raghu clan by keeping his word or preserving his deep bond of brotherly love. Torn between duty and affection, Ram sought guidance from the clan’s guru, Maharshi Vashishth.

The Maharshi was well aware of Ram's inner conflict. He knew that while Ram could control his emotions, he would never compromise on maintaining decorum. The Maharshi pointed out that if Ram disowned Lakshman, it would be as devastating as death for him. Hanuman also intervened, remarking that Lakshman did not need to be sentenced to death; he would leave for Vaikunth on his own.

The next day, Lakshman entered the waters of the Sarayu River and relinquished his breath. Indra, the king of the gods, seated Lakshman on a chariot he had prepared for him and took him to heaven. The people of Ayodhya who witnessed this miraculous event lauded Lakshman’s ultimate sacrifice. When news of Lakshman’s passing reached Ram, he was deeply shaken and resolved to leave the world himself. He then crowned his sons, Kush and Lav, as rulers of the southern and northern parts of Kosal, respectively.

Bharat and Shatrughna expressed their desire to accompany Ram to Vaikunth. Maharshi Vashishth counseled Ram that it was his dharma, as a king, to honor his loved ones’ wishes. Ram, having taken a human form for the welfare of the world, remained steadfast in his duty until the very end. He commanded Hanuman to bring Vibheeshan from Lanka, requesting that Vibheeshan oversee Ayodhya after his departure. Vibheeshan, with unwavering loyalty, promised Ram that he would fulfill this duty and abide by his instructions.

Ram then turned to his staunchest devotee, Hanuman, who was heartbroken at the thought of his Lord leaving the mortal world. Ram gently said, "Hanuman, you must remain on earth forever and spread devotion to me. This will serve the greatest good." Hanuman, deeply honored, accepted the task, feeling that his devotion to Ram would only deepen in Ram’s absence. The mere thought of chanting Ram's name filled him with transcendent joy.

Having fulfilled his earthly duties, Ram set out for the banks of the Sarayu River, accompanied by his brothers and the citizens of Ayodhya. All the gods, including Lord Brahma, gathered to witness this divine event. Brahma, proud that an incarnation like Lord Ram had graced the earth, praised Ram for turning the world into a heaven through his righteous rule. He requested Ram to return to his original form as Lord Vishnu before ascending to Vaikunth. Ram acceded and, along with Bharat and Shatrughna, entered the waters of the Sarayu.