KARMSATHI

A Greater Dharma

Vishwamitra was on his annual visit to Tamilakam. He stood on a raised pavillion and observed the four princesses during their training sessions. Shrutkirti, the second daughter of King Kushadwaj, also Janak's younger brother was eight years old. She was reading a palm leaf booklet, seated on a marble seat in one corner of the training arena.  Mandvi, few months younger than sita found immense pleasure in continuously  distracting her little sister. She herself had just finished her first class in combat training. Urmila, now nine years of age was not old enough to begin learning the art of warfare. she chose to sit near the raised platform on which her akka was learning to use the sword and was intently watching her, with the usual admiration she had for her . It was eleven years since Sita was found by her parents. She had undergone training in the fields of art, science , commerce and philosophy along with her sisters and now started learning about warfare. She was being instructed on how to use the sword by marthanda, her father's personal guard and the commander of the army. Marthanda was like a brother to the king and like an uncle to the princesses. He was teaching her the important lesson of swordsmanship. He was in awe of his little girl who was quickly grasping the lessons he gave her.

Vishwamitra had a faint smile looking at these four girls break patriarchy silently, at such a tender age. He remembers how many ministers advised the king to adopt a son.

"who will be king?" they asked.

"what about the future of this great empire?" they questioned.

To all this Janakan simply smiled and answered," you will see."

Vishwamitra was a maharishi. The wisest of the wise. He wasn't from the south of india. He was situated near the Himalayas. He lived and taught in the city called mithila, the land of knowledge. The maharishi was a king once. He chose to live a life of knowledge and penance and gained the status of a rishi; the highest status attainable by a human being. Many years ago, when the maharishi was young, the possibility of changing one's caste based on their karma was prevalent. But as time passed, it became impossible. Only birth decided one's caste, which was highly detrimental to civilization. The little girl in front of him was one of the first people in many years to bring back the old role of karma in deciding one's course of life instead of birth. No one knew what class she was born into, but Vishwamitra was certain that she will grow to be one of the most important people in the history India. She will raise to the level of a goddess purely through her actions.

Vishwamitra was aware of Janak's intention to crown Sita as the queen of Tamilakam. This would mean that she will stay in the empire for the rest of her life. She will only be able to influence a small part of India. He had different ideas. He had selected her to be the torch bearer for change in the country; a country built on rules and dignity. She had a much larger purpose to fulfill. Her dharma was bigger than this.

"I will have to talk to the king about this". he said to himself.

He looked at Sita one last time before turning to leave.