hildren born of the same parents, instead of living amicably, often indulge in quarrels and fights. We see little brothers playinghappilyandinacarefreemannerfallingoutandfightingwith each other over trivial things such as toy cars. It is true, the brothers, in their child-like innocence no doubt fight but the displeasure or animosity between them is extremely short-lived. They forget their differences presently and turn affectionate to each other again. When together, they break into quarrels, but they cannot part from each other even for a short while. Such is the beauty of childhood innocence.
As they grow up and enter the adult world, they learn many things. They become crafty and adopt double standards. The sense of ‘mine’ and ‘thine’ overtakes them.Theybecome increasinglyselfishand selfcentered. In addition, they go on weaving worldly cobwebs around them. It is easy to build these cobwebs but it is often impossible to free oneself from them.
During childhood, the siblings would have fought over toy cars. But as they grew up they quarrel over material things such as cars which are no more than adult toys. As children the brothers had fought but in no time they forgot their bone of contention and became friends again. It is the Godly quality of childhood innocence. But, all thatisgonenow.Theadultbrothersbecomebitterenemiesovertrifles. They soon reach the point of no return. Animosities and rivalries keep growing. They can only sadly remember the affectionate bondage that existed between them in their childhood days. There are scores of instances of battles and wars that brothers have fought on these lines. Is there any single instance of a war fought by two brothers, the other way round? It is difficult to find, but there is one – the Dharma Yuddha that took place between Rama and Bharata in the Ramayana. Such a war, had perhaps never been there nor never will there one ever be
Complying with his father’s instruction Rama, accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana left for the forest to live for fourteen years. Bharata who was not at home when these strange developments took place came to know about them only after his return to the palace. Any ordinary young man in his place would have felt elated at the unexpected tilt of fortune in his favour. But Bharata felt it gross injustice. When it was the right of his eldest brother Rama to occupy the throne, how could he think of denying him his right and take his place? He raised hell with his mother Kaikeyi for what all she had done and left to the forest to meet Rama in a bid to restore him what exactly belonged to him. In order to gain moral support and bring pressure on Rama, he took along with him a large retinue of all the members of his family, Gurus and ministers and advisers.
The scene of Bharata’s meeting Rama, Sita and Lakshmana in the forest is one of the most heart warming literary creations ever composed. It was here that a real Dharma Yuddha took place between Rama and Bharatha. Bharatha’s plea was that being the eldest brother Rama had to become the king of Ayodhya. Rama insisted that he was bound by his father’s instruction and under no circumstances kingship was acceptable to him until he completed his term of fourteen years in the forest. Both Rama and Bharatha held fast to their arguments. Thus there was a unique tussle between the brothers.
If only people and nations set aside their narrow selfish interests and struggled hard to uphold the rights of their fellow beings before claiming theirs, how happy and peaceful the entire world would be !