(E) Shravana Kumar (devotion to parents)
Once upon a time, there was a couple who yearned for a child and prayed to God to send them a son. Since they were both very pious, God listened to them and soon they were blessed with a baby boy. They were full of joy and named him Shravan Kumar. The boy grew up to be a very dutiful son, and fulfilled all the hopes and aspirations of his parents. The parents gradually grew old and feeble, and both lost their eyesight. One day, they realised that they had not undertaken any pilgrimage, and asked their son, who was by now a sturdy young man, to take them to a holy place where the Ganga flowed. They wished to take a dip on its cool waters to wash away their sins. Ganga is so pure and pure-hearted that she takes away the sins of mortals who come to bathe in her. The son wanted to fulfil his parents’ last wish but they were so feeble that they could not walk far. He therefore built a baingi (a long pole with one basket hanging on each end, one for carrying his father and the other for his mother). So it came about that Shravan carried his parents on his shoulders all the way. Soon it was time to rest and the parents, feeling thirsty, asked their son for water. Shravan could hear a stream running nearby, so he took a small pitcher, leaving his parents under a tree.
At this very moment, King Dasharath was out hunting. At that time he had no children, although he had three beautiful wives and he was most despondent, concerned that he beget an heir to the throne. The king was near the stream when Shravan went to fetch water. Dasharath heard rustling in the bushes and thought it to be a deer come there to drink. Dasharath had the ability to hit a target simply using his ears. Using this skill, he released an arrow into the thicket. The arrow pierced poor Shravan in the chest. Shravan cried out in pain, and King Dasharath realised that he had shot a man. He quickly ran to the youth and saw him near death, with a lota (water pot) lying nearby. Slowly and gently, he lifted Shravan and rested the boy’s head on his knee. Shravan could hardly speak, but managed to tell the king about his blind parents waiting for him to give them water to quench their thirst. The kind offered to take the water to them, but Shravan was apprehensive as once they knew it was not their son, they would not drink the water. So he told the king not to speak to them but to give them the water first, and only then to tell them of their son’s death. Shravan Kumar died on the lap of the king.
The king took the lota and filled it with water, and made his way towards the tree where the blind couple were sitting in their baskets. As the king approached them, they asked if it was Shravan who had come to give them water, and why was he so late? The king did not reply but they still persisted. The king handed them the pitcher filled with water, but they would not take it and insisted on knowing whom it was, for they knew that it was not their son. King Dasharath slowly told them what had happened. On hearing the terrible news, they pushed the pitcher from the hands of the king and cursed him thus: “May your death also be due to the agony of separation from your son, so that one day you may know the pain that you have brought upon us.” Saying this they both fell down dead. King Dasharath was very sad, and concerned for his future for he knew that the words from the pure hearted always come true. On returning home, he lay down on his bed, constantly thinking of the curse that the couple had cast on him. His wives came running to him on hearing that he was in such anguish. They called the royal astrologers and wise men, and the king told them the full story. All of them shared the king’s sorrow over the tragic incident that had taken place, but smiled when they were told about the curse, for it would surely bring children to the king and this was the greatest wish of the citizens. The king was now happy and relieved, and did not mind the prospect of personal pain at the last moment of his life. So it happened that Rama, Lakshman, Bharata, and Shatrugna were soon born as sons of Dasharath.
Later, Rama and Lakshman were sent into exile for fourteen years, and days later Dasharath died of a broken heart.