Rama expresses his displeasure about Dasaratha and Kaikeyi

After reaching Chitrakoodam, Rama reflects on the turn of events and feels very dejected about his father's predicament. Looking at Dasaratha's state, he said 

People seem to be keen to pursue pleasures instead of following Dharma. Even a sane person will not do something like this to his obedient son to satisfy a lady. Those who relinquish Dharma and indulge in pleasures will face debacle like Dasaratha in the end.

Kaikeyi's sole purpose to enter Ayodhya seems to be to crown her son, send me to exile and end the life of Dasaratha!

I fear the position of my mother and her status as she wasn't treated well even when I was around

With my power, i can bring not only Ayodhya but the entire world under my command. But showing this kind of valour at this time is not my Dharma. My duty right now is to fulfil my father's words. 

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Related Verses.

"Assuredly the emperor is sleeping badly tonight, while Kaikeyi, having realized her ambitions, ought to feel satisfied."

"Seeing Bharata returned, queen Kaikeyi, I am afraid, may not expel the lives of the emperor for the sake of kingdom."

"Aged and (therefore) helpless, deprived of my presence, what will he do, dominated as he is by his passion for Kaikeyi and who has fallen into the clutches of Kaikeyi."

"Reflecting on this misfortune of the king and his mental derangement, I deem that passion alone is greater than early gain and religious merit."

"what man however deluded, what father on account of a woman, at his own will and pleasure, abandon a son like myself?

"Alas, Kaikeyi's son Bharata (alone) is happy along with his wife. Like an overlord, he is going to enjoy the prosperous kingdom of Kosala."

"Father is superannuated. I am staying in the forest. Bharata will become the prime head for the entire kingdom."

"He who pursues sensuous pleasures neglecting his real interests and discipline soon comes to distress; in the same way as king Dasaratha has."

"It seems that Kaikeyi came into our house, oh good brother, to bring about an end to Dasaratha, to send me into exile and to secure kingship for Bharata."

"Blinded by pride of good fortune, Kaikeyi may even now persecute Kausalya and Sumitra because of their relationship with me."

"Queen Sumitra is likely to suffer hardship because of her affinity to us. From this very place, you proceed to Ayodhya next morning, oh, Lakshmana!"

"Enraged, I can subdue with my arrows single handed not only Ayodhya but also the earth. But it is not a question of valor here."

Rama during the night in that lonely forest, wailed piteously thus and in so many other ways and sat quiet, his face full of tears.

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Surprising to see Rama talk like this about Dasaratha and Kaikeyi. Here is one instance he exhibited ordinary human tendency, but regained composure and followed Dharma.

Rama asks Sumanthirar to ignore Dasaratha's command

When Rama's chariot speeds away from Ayodhya, Dasaratha comes out of the palace and commands the chariot to return. But Rama, keen to uphold his father's word, asks Sumanthirar to steer the chariot away to the forest and pretend as if he didn't hear Dasaratha's command. He further adds that if the kings asks about this later, you can say that you didn't hear him!

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Dasaratha exclaimed saying "Stop!" while Rama called out "Go on, proceed!" (In that way) Sumantra's mind became confused, as in between two (opposing) whirl pools.

Rama said to him: "You can say to the king that you did not hear (his call), even when scolded (later). seeing their grief for a long time is quite unbearable."

The charioteer, doing as per Rama's words, took leave of those citizens and drive the horses more speedily even while they are going.

Sumanthirar speaks harsh words to Kaikeyi

The ever affable and loyal Sumanthirar speaks very harshly to Kaikeyi after Rama decides to go on exile. It's surprising to hear a minister talk like that to the queen. But then, Sumanthirar is overcome with anger and grief on seeing injustice being meted out to Rama. He then talks about Kaikeyi's mother and compares their character and finally advices Kaikeyi to regain her sense and pave way for the coronation of Rama.

Dasaratha's promise

There are suggestions that Dasaratha promised Ashwapathi( Kaikeyi's father) that he will crown Kaikeyi's son after his time. This would actually validate Kaikeyi's claim to the throne then.

Rama uses this line of argument to console Bharatha when they meet in the forest. Rama seems to have used this tactic to dissuade Bharata from feeling guilty.

There is no evidence of this in Valmiki's Ramayana even though Rama seems to have uttered it. 

Reasons being, 

• Kaikeyi would not have needed to use the couple of boons if she was sure of this word from Dasaratha to her father. Dasaratha was known anyway to keep his word and wouldn't have retracted if he had given that promise to her father.
• Manthirai, Kaikeyi's aide was not aware of this promise. She was someone who knew everything about Kaikeyi's life.
• Vasishta and Sumanthirar, both knew everything about Dasaratha never said anything regarding this promise.
• Even when Bharatha blasted Kaikeyi, she never said anything about this promise

Sita's Swayamwara

There is no mention of any Swayamwara for Sita! Rama and Lakshmana were led to Mithilai by Vishwamithra to worship the divine bow of Shiva. Janaka explains its sanctitiy and informs his decision of marrying off his daughter Sita to whoever that lifts the bow and strings it. Many have failed to even lift the bow in the past. Rama, Lakshmana were shown the bow and Rama enquires if he can lift it. After Vishwamithra and Janaka assents, he simply lifts and breaks the bow. Janaka then wants to marry off his daughter to Rama, but Rama says he can marry Sita only after obtaining the permission of Dasaratha.

There is no reference of any Swayamwara or Rama and Sita meeting each other before marriage.

Ahalyai commits adultery

In some explanations, it is said that Indra deceives her by appearing in the form of her husband Gauthama. In Valmiki Ramayana, it's stated that Ahalyai wasn't deceived but voluntarily commits adultery and hence receives punishment for her indiscretion.

Ahalyai, realising her mistake does severe penance to atone for her misdeed. Rama relieves Ahalyai from her long standing curse. There is no doubt that she erred ... but for the one who repents and atones for their sin, the grace of Rama is capable of salvaging them from abyss.

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"On knowing the meantime of Gautama's availability at hermitage, Indra, the husband of Shaci Devi and the Thousand-eyed god wearing the guise of sage Gautama and becoming such a sage, approached Ahalya and said this to her. [1-48-17]

" 'Oh, finely limbed lady, indulgers do not watch out for the time to conceive, as such oh, slender-waisted one, I desire copulation with you. [1-48-18]

"Oh, Rama, the legatee of Raghu, though knowing him as the Thousand-eyed Indra in the guise of her husband Gautama, she is inclined to have intercourse ill-advisedly, only to satisfy the impassion of the King of Gods. [1-48-19]

"She felt fulfilled in her heart of hearts and then she said this to that best god Indra, 'I am gratified in complying with your wish, oh, best of gods, get going oh, lord, from here quickly, oh, ruler of gods, always safeguard yourself and me from Sage Gautama.' Thus, Ahalya said to Indra. [1-48-20, 21a]

"Indra on his part smilingly said this word to Ahalya, 'oh, well-hipped lady, I am quite delighted, here I go as I have came.' [1-48-21b, 22a]

" 'Oh, dirty-minded Indra, taking hold of my form you have effectuated this unacceptable deed, whereby you shall become infecund.' Thus, Gautama cursed Indra. [1-48-27]

"On cursing Indra thus the sage cursed even his wife saying, 'you shall tarry here for many thousands of years to come without food and consuming air alone, and unseen by all beings you shall live on in this hermitage while contritely recumbent in dust. [1-48-29, 30]

" 'When that unassailable son of Dasharatha, namely Rama, arrives at this squalid forest, for it will be henceforth rendered so along with you, then you will be purified. [1-48-31]

When the mind appears every morning don't jump to the usual conclusion, ‘This is me; these thoughts are mine'. Instead, watch these thoughts come and go without identifying with them in any way. If you can resist the impulse to claim each and every thought as your own, you will come to a startling conclusion: you will discover that you are the consciousness in which the thoughts appear and disappear. You will discover that this thing called mind only exists when thoughts are allowed to run free. Like the snake which appears in the rope, you will discover that the mind is only an illusion which appears through ignorance or misperception.

You want some experience which will convince you that what I am saying is true. You can have that experience if you give up your life-long habit of inventing an 'I' which claims all thoughts as mine'. 

Be conscious of yourself as consciousness alone, watch all the thoughts come and go. Come to the conclusion, by direct experience, that you are really consciousness itself, not its ephemeral contents. 

Clouds come and go in the sky but the appearance and disappearance of the clouds doesn't affect the sky. Your real nature is like the sky, like space. Just remain like the sky and let thought-clouds come and go. If you cultivate this attitude of indifference towards the mind, gradually you will cease to identify yourself with it.