A 19th century British Sanskritist, Prof M. Monier Williams, defines ‘Kal’ (to rhyme with ‘all’) as “black, of a dark colour…name of Siva, of Rudra…” et cetera (see, A Sanskrit English Dictionary, p.277). The Oxford Hindi English Dictionary, however, brings the term closer to what we generally mean by it. Kal has been defined thus: “1.time.…4.suitable occasion, 4.eventual destiny, fate, (time of) death; a title of Yama, the king of the dead, the messenger of death…” (p.193).
Kal had come to Raja Ram. Time and age wise, we have Maharishi Balmiki’s word that “dashvarshsahasranivajimedhanthakorat…” – (Raja Ram) had performed yagyas for ten thousand years. (Balmiki Ramayan/Uttar Kand/ 99 (ix). By that time, the Vishnu-incarnate Ram had completed His task of ridding the world of Ravan and other fearsome rakshasas who had been making life difficult on earth. Under his dispensation of Ram Rajya, everyone lived a healthy, pleasant and productive life. His brothers, Bharat and Shatrughan had made their own names as warriors. Bharat had subdued the Gandharvs and Gandhars and founded the famed cities of Takshila and Pushkalavati- both now in Pakistan(ibid/Canto 101).Ram had already enthroned Shatrughan in Madhupuri (the present-day Mathura), Lavanasur’s vanquished city that was located on the banks of Yamuna (ibid/Canto 63). Lakshaman’s sons Angad (not to be confused with Bali’s son of the same name) and Chandraketu ruled the countries in Karupath (present-day Basti and Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh).
Raja Ram’s mothers had passed on. But his greatest loss was Sita’s immersion into earth. Balmiki describes him leaning on a goolar (wild-fig) staff, shedding tears on Sita’s voluntary submersion into the earth (ibid/Canto 98(ii). Even Lord Brahma could not assuage his pain. Ram did not marry any other woman after his parting with Sita. If the wife’s presence was required during the performance of a yagya, he made do with a gold effigy of hers. He seemed a broken man now.
Yet destiny had in store for him an equally strong, if not severer, blow that shattered him completely. It was the loss of Lakshman, his inseparable brother, his alter ego.
One day, an ascetic descended on the Raja Ram’s palace. Lakshman, as usual, was present at the door to the royal chamber. The man told him that he carried a message from the Most Glorious Maharishi,Atibal, for Ram’s ears. Lakshman sought Ram’s permission and let him enter into the chamber.Ram received the visitor courteously, agreeing even to his seemingly odd demands. “There should be no one else in this chamber except you and me,” the visitor said, “and should anyone overhear the talk between us, or see us talking to each other, he would have to die at your hands!” Ram asked Lakshman to send away the doorman and himself stand guard there.
Having assured Himself of complete privacy, Ram returned to the stranger to inquire who he was and what message he had to deliver. It was then that the visitor disclosed his identity to the Vishnu-Incarnate Ram:
Tvahmpurvkebhaveputrahparpunjay/
Mayasambhavitovir Kalah sarvsmahara//
“O Foe-Vanquishing Warrior!” (He said,)”In the primal stage (of life), that is to say, at the time of Hrinyagargh’s birth (Hrinyagarbh is another name of Lord Brahma, the Creator of Universe), I was born to You through Maya, therefore I am Your son. I am called the All-Devouring Kal.
– Ibid/Canto104(ii)
Kal went on to deliver Lord Brahma’s message to Ram, reminding Him that the period He had set for Himself to be in the mortal world had come to an end and it was the time for Him to return to His Eternal Abode. Ram acknowledged the divine message heartily – “…Maya hi sarvkritveshudevanamvashvartina/Sthatavymsarvsanharayathahyahpitamaha” – O All-Devouring Kal! In all my deeds I should always remain subservient to gods, as enjoins the Pitamaha (Literally, ‘grandfather’ – another epithet for Lord Brahma) – ibid/104(xix).
All this while, Lakshman had been guarding the door in obedience of Raja Ram’s command. It so happened that Rishi Durvasa, as famous for his rage as for his austerities, appeared before him at that very time. The rishi asked him to forthwith apprise Ram of his arrival. When Lakshman, mindful of Ram’s strict instructions, demurred to abide by Durvasa’s instruction, the latter threatened to put an end not only on poor Lakshman, but to annihilate the entire kingdom, including Ram, Bharat and all their progeny. Lakshman was in a dilemma. Yet, he did not take long come to a firm resolve –
Ekasyamarnm me-astu ma bhootsarvnashnm/
Iti buddhyavinishchityaRaghvayanyvedyat//
“If death comes solely to me, that’d be better; but all shouldn’t be destroyed,” wisely arriving at the fateful decision, Lakshman (went into the chamber and) delivered to Ram the news of Durvasa’s arrival.
– Ibid/Canto 105(ix)
Ram parted with Kal and came out instantly to greet Durvasa. It transpired that the rishi had been fasting ‘for a thousand years’ and now wanted Raja Ram to provide food to break his fast. Ram fed Durvasa and was happy that the difficult-to-please ascetic was contented.
But then he recalled the vow he had taken before Kal. Was he to break the vow or kill his blameless sibling whom he loved more than anyone else? Ram was in a dire quandary. His guru, Muni Vashisht opined, “Kal is most powerful! You must abandon Lakshman. Let not your vow turn false, because violating your vow would violate dharma.”
Thus, in his court before his assembled ministers, purohits and courtiers, fate compelled Raja Ram to utter the dire words to Lakshman – “VisarjayetvamSaumitre…” – O Son of Sumitra! I abandon you!To Ram it was like a tearing away a part of himself.
On being abandoned by Ram, Lakshman went straight to the banks of the Saryu. He gargled to refresh his mouth, sat down calmly on the ground and stopped breathing in the yogic manner.
In Lakshman’s ascendance to swarga, the Kal had taken away with him Ram’s chief support in the mortal world. The Vishnu-incarnate was now all set to proceed to His lasting abode.
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