Dasaratha Wives Three, 350, Or 60,000

We are aware that King Dasaratha, father of Lord Rama, had three wives,Kausalya, Kaikeyi and Sumitra.

There are versions which state that he had 60, 000 wives.

It is also stated that he married them because of Paraashram’s vow to kill the Kshatriyas as a revenge for his father’s death.

however the was one exception, that he will not kill a Kshatriya, who had Marriage Kangan on his wrist.

This Kangan, yellow band of Thread was used to be worn for one year from the date of marriage.

Convinced that he could not beat Parashurama, Dasaratha married ne woman a Year to escape the wrath of Parashurama.

What does Valimiki Ramayana say on this?

(i) Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter 34, Verses 10 to 13:
‘Dasharatha summons Sumantra to fetch all his wives when Rama was ready to to go to forest. Sumantra, after entering the gynaecium, spoke these words to those women as follows: “Oh, the venerable ladies! The king is calling you. Go there without delay. All those women, asked thus by Sumantra as per the king’s orders, went to his palace, after knowing the instructions of their husband.’
Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter 34, Verse 10
Dasaratha said to Sumantra,
“Oh, Sumantra! being all my wives, who are here. Surrounded by all of them, I want to see the virtuous Rama.”
(‘who are here’ means available at the capital city then)
Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter 34, Verse 13:
अर्ध सप्त शताः ताः तु प्रमदाः ताम्र लोचनाः |
कौसल्याम् परिवार्य अथ शनैः जग्मुर् धृत व्रताः || २-३४-१३
“ardha sapta shataah taah tu pramadaah taamra locanaah |
kausalyaam parivaarya atha shanaih jagmur dhrita vrataah ||” 2-34-13
atha= thereafter; taah= those; ardha sapta shataah= THREE
HUNDRED AND FIFTY pramadaah= women; dhritavrataah= steadfast in their vow (of devotion to their husband); taamra lochanaah= having red eyes; parivaarya= encircling; kausalyaam= Kausaly; jagmuh= went; shanaih= slowly.
‘Encircling Kausalya, three hundred fifty women, steadfast in their vow (of devotion to their husband), with their eyes reddened, went there slowly.’
(ii) Valmiki Ramayana, Book II : Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter (Sarga) 39, Verse 34 & 35:
Rama said to Queen Kausalya, His mother,
“Oh, mother! You do not grieve. You look after my father. The end of exile will come rather soon.”
“Fourteen years will elapse, while you are asleep. you as such, will see me, duly arrived here in my entire being, surrounded by my well-wishers.”
(iii) Valmiki Ramayana, Book II : Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter (Sarga) 39, Verse 36:
एतावद् अभिनीत अर्थम् उक्त्वा स जननीम् वचः |
त्रयः शत शत अर्धा हि ददर्श अवेक्ष्य मातरः || २-३९-३६
etaavad abhiniita artham uktvaa sa jananiim vacah |
trayah shata shata ardhaa hi dadarsha avekshya maatarah || 2-39-36
36. uktvaa = uttering; vachah = words; etaavat = of such quality; abhiniitaartham = end appropriate meaning; aavekshhya = refelected again; dadarsha = (and) gazed at; trayah shata shataardhaah = his three hundred fifty; maatarah cha = mothers also.
Uttering the aforesaid words of such quality and appropriate meaning to his mother, Rama thought once again and gazed at his three hundred and fifty step-mothers.
(iv) Valmiki Ramayana, Book II : Ayodhya Kanda, Chapter (Sarga) 39, Verses 37 to 40:
Rama joined his palms and saluted those step mothers also, who were too distressed in the same way and spoke these words which were in consonance with the spirit of righteousness.
“Please excuse me, if I have done any mistake either becuase of our living together or due to ignorance on my part. I now take leave of you all.”
All those women, whose mind was overpowered with grief, heard the aforesaid cool submission of Rama, which was in consonance with righteousness.
While Rama was speaking thus, an outery, resembling the wail of female cranes arose from those wives of Dasaratha.
2) Kambha Ramayanam:
(i) Ayodhya Kandam, V – Thailamattupatalam, Verse 74:
அயோத்யா காண்டம், 5- தைலமாட்டுப் படலம், பாடல் 74:
“மாதரார்கள் அறுபதினாயிரரும் உள்ளம் வலித்து இருப்ப
கோது இல் குணத்துக் கோசலையும் இளைய மாதும் குழைந்து ஏங்க
சோதிமணித்தேர் சுமந்திரன் சென்று அரசன் தன்மை சொலவந்த
வேத முனிவன் விதி சொன்ன வினையை நோக்கி விம்முவான்”
60,000 wives, Queens Kausalya and Sumitra were very sad. The minister Sumantrar informed the death of King Dasarata to sage Vasishta. Vasishta came there and wept. (வை. மு. கோ. உரை)
(ii) பால காண்டம், 13- எழுச்சிப் படலம், பாடல் 70:
“துப்பினன் மணியின் பொன்னின் சுடர் மரகதத்தின் முத்தின்
ஒப்பு அற அமைத்த வையம் ஓவியம் போல ஏறி
முப்பத்திற்றுஇரட்டி கொண்ட ஆயிரம் முகிழ் மென் கொங்கை
செப்ப அருந் திருவின் நல்லார் தெரிவையர் சூழப் போனார்”
60000 ladies along with Queen Kausalya went to Mithila in carts (for Lord Rama’s marriage).

Source:

http://www.giirvaani.net/giirvaani/vr/ay…
http://www.giirvaani.net/giirvaani/vr/ay…
http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind…
http://rathnesh.blogspot.com/2008/09/blo…