Rama is extolled as the ideal son, who acted according to his father s wish, regardless of his own happiness. But, Bhishma is a better example in this respect. He acceded to a whim of his father and in so doing made even a greater sacrifice than Rama. Dasharatha made Rama an exile in the forest for fourteen years to satisfy the claims of Truth while Santhanu made his son give up the throne as: well as a wedded life to satisfy a sensual desire of his senile body. As a matter of fact, it is not the obedience to the father s whim; that is important; it is the adherence to satya and Dharma, which is Rama s forte. (SSS Vol.4, p.23)

Rama took a vow and gave His word to the rishis that from that time, He would undertake the task of exterminating the Rakshasas. In this vow of Rama’s Sita noticed what is usually referred to as the vow of Bhishma. Sita came and cautioned Rama that He was taking a vow, which was very difficult to fulfil. Then Rama answered by saying that the Himalayas can give up the ice on them, that the moon can give up its brightness and the oceans may flow beyond their boundaries, but Rama will never give up His vow unfulfilled.

From that day onwards, Rama saw to it that the Rakshasas in the Dandakaranya were removed from their positions of strength, and He has been protecting the rishis from the hands of those Rakshasas. He spent ten years in the forest fulfilling His vow and the task He took upon Himself. (SSB 1977, p.13)