Why Does Dasharath Die? The Symbolic End of the Pure Mind in Ramayana
Question
Although you’ve explained it before, I still want to ask again — you said that Dasharath represents the pure mind, and Ram represents Self-knowledge or awareness of the soul.
So does Ram’s exile mean the journey of inner growth — spiritual development?
Answer
No, Ram’s exile doesn’t mean spiritual progress itself.
“Van-gaman” (going to the forest) literally means movement toward the forest — so first we must understand what van (forest) really means.
In contrast to a town or village — which everyone can see and live in — a forest is that place where no one lives, where trees, fruits, and natural life grow quietly.
Spiritually, the same distinction exists within us:
Our outer physical being — our body, behavior, and worldly life — is visible, like a town.
But our inner mind, especially the subconscious mind, is hidden — like a forest.
You can’t see what’s happening inside my mind, and I can’t easily see what’s buried in my own subconscious. To see that, we have to look inward with effort and deep awareness.
So when it’s said “Ram went to the forest,” it means Ram — the Self, the light of awareness — began to look within, into the inner forest of the mind.
That is van-gaman: turning inward to explore the depths of one’s own mind.
The Inner Meaning of the Journey
So yes, you can say it is the journey of Self-realization, but more precisely, it means looking deeply into one’s own mind — observing how it creates thoughts:
Are those thoughts pure or impure? Loving or hateful? Rooted in devotion or in aversion?
The “forest” here represents the subconscious mind, where hidden tendencies and impurities (the Ravanas within) lie buried.
The journey of Ram — Self-knowledge — into the forest is the journey of awareness into the depths of the mind to destroy those inner Ravanas.
Question
You also said earlier that Dasharath means pure mind, Ram means Self-knowledge, and Kaikeyi means willpower.
So Kaikeyi (willpower) sends Ram (Self-knowledge) into exile — how should we understand that?
Answer
Yes — Dasharath represents the pure mind.
Only when the mind becomes pure does it begin to turn toward the soul.
If the mind is impure — absorbed in body and senses — then such a person has no interest in the soul at all.
So when the mind turns inward, toward the Self, that shows purity.
A pure mind naturally seeks truth.
Now, Dasharath has three shaktis — three inner powers:
Kaikeyi – Iccha Shakti, the power of desire or will.
Kaushalya – Jnana Shakti, the power of knowledge.
Sumitra – Kriya Shakti, the power of action.
These three powers exist in everyone, but they become active only when the mind is purified.
When the mind is impure, our willpower runs toward sense pleasures.
When the mind becomes pure, that same willpower turns toward truth.
So in Dasharath (the pure mind), Kaikeyi — willpower — becomes active and sends Ram — Self-knowledge — into the inner forest.
It means: pure will directs awareness toward inner exploration.
The Symbolism of Sita
Now, you said our pure thought or pious thinking is like Sita.
Yes — Sita represents purity of thought.
When Self-knowledge (Ram) is present, pure thinking always accompanies it.
Purity and awareness can never be separated.
Where there is Self-knowledge, every thought and every action remains pure.
Being “Ram” isn’t ordinary — it means living in the realization of one’s true Self.
And once you are established there, impurity simply cannot arise.
Even if someone insults you, you’ll still think of their welfare.
In worldly terms, people often say, “Behind every successful man is his wife.”
In the same way, behind every progress of the soul stands pure thought — Sita.
It’s the constant presence of purity that allows spiritual growth to happen.
That’s why, in the Ramayana, though exile is given to Ram alone, Sita and Lakshman both accompany him — because:
Sita represents pure thought,
Lakshman represents mind-power,
and these always travel with Self-knowledge.
Where there is awareness, mind and pure thought always move together.