Ramayana: Laksmana the King

    Like Rama, Laksmana is pure of heart and only wants to do what is best for others. He is strong, calm in threatening situations, and he is as loyal as a man can be, Laksmana will follow his brother into whatever depths of evil he must descend into. Although he is great, Laksmana is not perfect, he can sometimes be rash, such as when his brother Rama told him of his step mother Kaikeyi’s request for Rama to leave for the forest and denounce his kingship to Bharata. Laksmana immediately grew hot, and instructed Rama to pay her no heed, as Rama was the rightful king. Laksmana is a worthy king, and the only thing that stands in his way is his birth order. Were Laksmana born before Rama he would have been in Rama’s place when Kaikeyi told Rama of her boons that would instill her son Bharata as king. Laksmana’s rashness would have led him to dispose of Kaikeyi and claim the throne. Everyone's lives would be different. None of the events in the forest would have occurred. Laksmana would have been a worthy and noble king, he possesses all of the kingly traits, but instead he is described as a servant to Rama (who has become a measly hermit). Laksmana would be just like Rama, except for the fact that Rama relies on the divine will of dharma, and chose the route to the forest, rather than rising up and claiming what is rightfully his.