टोमॅटोचे भरीत

It was the time when the one year Yagna that King Dashratha was conducting for the birth of son, was in its final phase. It was the last day when the Putra-Kaama-ishti Yagna was being performed. Towards the end of the Yagna, an Agni Purush (Messenger from God for the Yagna) emerged from the Yagna Fire. He possessed a Golden Vessel with Silver Lid containing the divine dessert which had to be consumed by King Dashratha’s wives. King Dashratha had to distribute the divine dessert between three of his main consorts Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra.

But, Dashratha didn’t divide the divine dessert into three equal parts. He first divided the dessert into two parts. The first part was given to Kausalya and she consumed it. The remaining 50 % was again divided into two. One part of this 50% was given to Sumitra first. The remaining 25% of the divine dessert was again divided into two by Dashratha. The first 12.5% of the dessert was given to Kausalya and she consumed it.

Still, there remained final 12.5% of the dessert. While Dashratha was pondering upon on whom to give the remaining potion of the dessert, he noticed something. Both Kaikeyi and Kausalya, had consumed their portion once they were given. But, Sumitra waited for both of them to consume their part and then she consumed her portion. She did this because, she wanted her son to be younger than that of Kausalya’s and Kaikeyi’s son so that he could be serving and guarding them. Dashratha noticed this and understood her thoughts. He immediately realized that Sumitra was the most deserving wife of the last part of the divine dessert and gave her the last part to consume.

Thus Sumitra begot two sons one of them being devout to Kausalya’s Son Rama (Lakshmana) and the other son being devout to and serving Kaikeyi’s son Bharatha (Shatrugna).