073 Mother- I shall satisfy myself with roots and fruits

PART 2, CHAPTER 20, VERSE 31, SANSKRIT:
Sa shht`achaaashht`au cha varshhaan`i
vatsyaami vijanee vanee
aasevamaano vanyaani
phalamuulaishcha cartayan.

CONTEXT
Before leaving Ayodhya to forests, Rama promised his mother, to live like a sage.


ENGLISH:
"Satisfying myself with the roots and the fruits of the forest, I shall spend fourteen years in the uninhabited forest".

CRITICAL REMARKS:
*As there is nothing wrong for a person of warrior/king caste to eat non-vegetarian food, Rama ought to have remained silent. Unnecessarily he made a declaration and broke it.
*The very next day of entering the forest, Sita, Rama and Lakshmana three people jointly finished four deer in one evening. Pl. see post No 005.

2-52-102 Sanskrit Verse
Tau tatra hatvaa caturaha mahaa mruigaan
Varaaham Rishyam Prushatam Mahaa rurum
aadaaya mEdhyam tvaritam bubhukshitau
vAsaaya kaale yayatur vanaha patim.

003 Guha- Know me as an ascetic wearing deer skin and eating fruits and roots

2-50-44, Sanskrit verse
Ayodhya Kanda
Chapter 50
Kus`a ciira ajina dharam
phala muula as`anam ca maam
viddhi pran`ihitam dharmee
taapasam vana gocaram.

CONTEXT
Rama was on the way to forests. Shri Rama was the guest of Guha, the King of Nishadas. Guha in reverence to Rama, arranged food and bed for Rama, Lakshmana and Sita.

2-50-39
Bhakshyam bhoojyam ca peyam ca
leehyam ca idam upasthitam
shayanaani ca mukhyaani
vaajinaam khaadanam ca tee.

He told Rama that he had brought different types of succulent food and requests Rama to take it.

ENGLISH (RAMA'S REPLY)
Know me (mam viddhi) as an ascetic living in forests, wearing deer skin and having fruits and roots as food.

BLOGGER'S VIEW
Next day they crossed river Ganga with the help of Guha. The three (Rama, Lakshmana and Sita) were very hungry. They hunted four deer and took them as dinner. (2-52-102) you can see in another post below). Breaking the vow just in one day!

Lesson: Promise today and break it tomorrow.