The image illustrates the scene, when Rama was getting ready to be sending to the forest for fourteen years to fulfill his father promise and the wish of his mother Kaikeyi. The composition of the picture is very interesting, since its not only echoes the text of Ramayana itself, but also adds additional layers of meaning. We observe a broad perspective, which shows the empty streets, where random people either run towards the group depicted in the center of the composition or hide behind the corners of the houses. This moment is also vividly conveyed in a text “ What a moment ago had been a world of festivities had become one of mourning. Crowds thronged hither and thither, stood in knots at the street corners, watched the portals of the palace..” (p. 50) In the center of the image we could see the royal family surrounded by slaves dressed in white clothes. The slaves intentionally depicts proportionally smaller to royal family in order to emphasize the caste system in ancient India. They lie on the ground, crying and grieving. In the middle of the royal family we could see Rama’s father. He is inconsolable, half-conscious; surrounded advisers supporting his arms, since he is unable to stand by himself, he is almost dying because of his grief. The most remarkable figure, depicted on this picture is Rama itself. He is blue skinned, (same as Krishna), with a slight smile on his lips, down on one knee in front of his father. His pose is humble and quiet, his hands is in Namaste position. Right behind Rama, we could see the figure of his brother, who has the same facial expression as Rama does, and also holding his hands in Namaste position. Another interesting moment about this image, that the author’s use of color in a visual composition is conflicting with depicted situation, since colors are bright and festive, which is contradict to traditional, even western representation of dramatic scenes. For instance, if we evoke the visual from biblical texts we could notice that the illustrators using very dark, intensive colors, and sometimes frightening symbols to exemplify sensitive and tragic moments like this. So, how could we decode this unusual pallet of color for depiction of such a wretched moment? Since this vedical text suggests many layers of understanding, maybe we should take a closer look at this picture. This unusual use of color and dissonance with overall visual composition of the picture could signalize to the change of the literal perception to symbolic one; which suggests that Rama’s acceptance of his fate, willingness to pay off his karmic debts, and recognizing of his purpose is the greatest spiritual lesson to humankind. This is teaching people patience, self-sacrifice and humility. Since people are accepting their karma and understand the unavoidability of certain events, dramatization in this case is meaningless. Therefore, on this illustration we could not see any dramatic effects: dark colors or symbols.
Therefore, one of the main lessons of the Ramayana is that one should keep one’s promise at any cost. As we can see from the text, when Rama was told of the wish of his mother Kaikeyi, the prince who ready to ascend the throne did not even flinch. To Rama both positions held the same importance. “I will carry out his wishes without question. Mother, be assured, that I will not shirk. I have no interest in kingship, and no attachments to such offices, and no aversion to a forest existence”. (p. 45) On a picture we also can see this motive through Rama’s body langrage. He humbly kneels before his father, his face does not express any negative emotions, neither despair nor anger, or fear. His folded hands,“ Namaste”, means “the divine in me welcomes the divine in you” and literally translates as “Nama” – “bow”, “ste”- “you”, or “I bow to the divine in you”, which in this particular moment shows Rama’s respect to his father and admiration as well as his dedication to him and his will, his believe in karma or self-purpose, karmic debt that he has to fulfill. “Sometimes a river runs dry, and then it cannot be said to be the fault of the river – its dry because the havens are dry. So, also, our father’s change of mind, or the apparent hardheartedness of Kaikeyi, who has been so loving and kind, or Bharathas’ chance of succession…. There are really not our own doing, but some higher powers have decreed them. Fate…” (p. 52)
Same facial expression and body language showing the man behind Rama, his brother Lakshamana who has decided to follow Rama on his journey and showed his determination to Rama. “I know no mother and no father, other then you”. (p. 52)
In a way Rama was thankful to Kaikeyi for being instrumental in bringing about the journey to the forest where the main purpose of his life laid. “…my privilege is renunciation and the association of enlightened hermits of the forest.”(p. 52) “Rama’s main aim was to get rid of the demons that had been harassing the sages and his beloved devotees for years.”
Therefore, the illustration not only echoed the actual text, but at the same time adding something else to the traditional understanding of this story. For instance, the use of color in this illustration, which may seems odd, since the scene, depicted by this visual is tragic, but instead of using dark colors, the author use bright, to shows Rama’s acceptance, unavoidability of events, karma, and purpose. This situation is not punishment; it is lesson, or result of Rama’s own choice that will lead him to a higher level of spiritual development.