Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 89

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 जय श्रीराम!

जेतारं लोकपालानां स्वमुखैरर्चितेश्वरम्। 

रामस्तुलितकैलासमरातिं बह्वमन्यत ॥१२.८९॥   

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma held Rāvaṇa, who had defeated the gods, worshipped Śiva by cutting off his own heads for offering, had lifted even the Kailāsa mountain at one time, in high esteem."

Statutory Warning: Śrīrāma held Rāvaṇa also in utter contempt for his cowardice, offences against righteous people, tormenting the sages and ascetics all over the world, and finally, for shamefully abducting Śītā. Śrīrāma had a great deal of information from both Hanūmān and Vibhīṣaṇa on Rāvaṇa.

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जय श्रीराम!

Maha Rudra Homa - Challakere Trayee Veda Vidyashala - My reflections

Yesterday was very eventful. I attended the all-day Maha Rudra Homa with my better half, conducted by my teacher institution, Challakere Brothers' Trayee Veda Vidya Gurukula. 

I am attending online chanting classes conducted by Vid. Jayasimha of the institution for nearly 6 months now. 

 The speciality of the Challakere system is its emphasis on the perfect pronunciation of mantras with no shortcuts. Even for someone quite familiar with Sanskrit, this level of perfection is difficult to attain.

It was astonishing to witness 850 attendees participate with such zeal in this Maha Rudra Homa event. The event was also streamed live, and the videos can be watched here:

27th July : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3gTIhOvuow

28th July : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6Obhn82rxU

I have articulated my thoughts after attending the Homa in this audio clip uploaded on my YouTube channel:

 

Bottomline: If you get a chance to learn the Veda Mantras from a special guru like Sri. Challakere Srinivasan or any teacher in his institution, do not miss it! 

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 88

 जय श्रीराम!

   भुजमूर्धोरुबाहुल्यादेकोऽपि धनदानुजः । 

ददृशे ह्ययथापूर्वो मातृवंश इव स्थितः ॥१२.८८॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "In the final battle, Rāvaṇa appeared in his full form with so many heads, shoulders and hands, that in an unprecedented spectacle, despite standing alone, Rāvaṇa appeared to be surrounded by the entire clan of Rākṣasas from his mother's side."

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 87

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 जय श्रीराम!

 अन्योन्यदर्शनप्राप्तविक्रमावसरं चिरात् । 

रामरावणयोर्युद्धं चरितार्थमिवाभवत् ॥१२.८७॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, " At last coming face to face, with a great opportunity to display one's military prowess, Śrīrāma and Rāvaṇa fought their decisive battle, renowned in all history."

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 86

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 जय श्रीराम!

मातुलिस्तस्य माहेन्द्रमामुमोच तनुच्छदम् । 

यत्रोत्पलदलक्लैब्यम् अस्त्राण्यापुः सुरद्विषाम् ॥१२.८६॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Indra's charioteer Matali respectfully compelled Śrīrāma to wear the divine armour that rendered all weapons hurled with striking force by the demons at Śrīrāma ineffectual like soft lotus flower petals."

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 85

 जय श्रीराम!

तमाधूतध्वजपटं व्योमगङ्गोर्मिवायुभिः । 

देवसूतभुजालम्बी जैत्रमध्यस्त राघवः ॥१२.८५॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, Śrīrāma leant on the shoulder of the divine charioteer who had brought that exquisite chariot, with the flag fluttering in the breeze stirred up in the skies by the holy river Gaṅgā ( who had come down to earth too, long ago, by the efforts of another Ikśvāku king, Bhagīratha), as Śrīrāma climbed on to the chariot and took his seat.  

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 84

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 जय श्रीराम!

रामं पदातिमालोक्य लङ्केशं च वरूथिनम् । 

हरियुग्यं रथं तस्मै प्रजिघाय पुरन्दरः ॥१२.८४॥  

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Noticing that Śrīrāma was fighting while standing on the ground whereas the King of Laṅkā was seated in a chariot, Indra, the lord of gods, sent to Śrīrāma his divine chariot, drawn by tawny-coloured horses." 

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 83

 जय श्रीराम!

निर्ययावथ पौलस्त्यः पुनर्युद्धाय मन्दिरात् । 

अरावणमरामं वा जगदद्येति निश्चितः ॥१२.८३॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Then Rāvaṇa started again from his palace for that final battle to decide whether the world would soon be one without Rāvaṇa or one without Rāma. One of them was going to be eliminated. This was his final battle." 

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 82

 जय श्रीराम!

 इतराण्यपि रक्षांसि पेतुर्वानरकोटिषु । 

रजांसि समरोऽत्थानि तच्छोणितनदीष्विव ॥१२.८२॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “There descended into battle hordes of other Rākṣasas too, amidst the multitudes of Vānaras, only to drop dead just as the dust raised in battle descended into the river of blood." 

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जय श्रीराम!

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Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 81

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 जय श्रीराम!

 अकाले बोधितो भ्रात्रा प्रियस्वप्नो वृथा भवान् । 

रामेषुभिरितीवासौ दीर्घनिद्रां प्रवेशितः ॥१२.८१॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Oh, dear Kumbhakarṇa, you, who love your sleep, were woken up unnecessarily at the wrong time (as this was your sleep cycle!) by your brother Rāvaṇa, and forced into the battle with Śrīrāma, whose arrows now sent you into eternal sleep!" 

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 80

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 जय श्रीराम!

 कुम्भकर्णः कपीन्द्रेण तुल्यावस्थः स्वसुः कृतः । 

रुरोध रामं शृङ्गीव टङ्कच्छिन्नमनश्शिलः ॥१२.८०॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Then came Kumbhakarṇa into battle, and was mutilated by the king of Vānaras, Sugrīva, to look like his sister Śūrpaṇakha with nose and ears lopped off. He then resembled a mountain of blood-red rocks split open by sharp weapons as he confronted Śrīrāma." 

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 79

 जय श्रीराम!

 स नादं मेघनादस्य धनुश्चेन्द्रायुधप्रभम् । 

मेघस्येव शरत्कालो न किञ्चित्पर्यशेषयत् ॥१२.७९॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Then, Lakṣmaṇa struck down and eliminated both the dazzling bow of Meghanāda that resembled Indra's Vajra, and his war-cry that was heart-rending like thunder, very much like the Śaratkāla or winter removes all traces of clouds and thunder." 

Kālidāsa gives a double simile, not missing the chance to leverage the word Meghanāda or the roar of thunder. This Rākṣasa had struck terror in the hearts of all his adversaries with his thunderous roar, accompanied by the onslaught of his bow that was like Indra's Vajra, a divine weapon that brooked no resistance. But when Meghanāda's nemesis, Lakṣmaṇa, countered him, it was such a consummate response that neither the war cry nor the weapon remained to be seen. Just as winter completely obliterates the monsoon clouds, thunder and lightning from the sky. This was the end of Indrajit!

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जय श्रीराम!

Life Divine - Swami Sivananda

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 78

 जय श्रीराम!

 स मारुतिसमानीतमहौषधिहतव्यथः । 

लङ्कास्त्रीणां पुनश्चक्रे विलापाचार्यकं शरैः ॥१२.७८॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Then, Lakṣmaṇa, revived and completely restored by the divine medicinal herbs that were brought well by Māruti, resumed his war with arrows that in a way taught  the women folk of Laṅkā  how to cry in mourning the death of their misdirected husbands and sons." In other words, another divine act was enacted to restore the righteous warrior, and the battle against the evil Rākṣasas was resumed.

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 76

 जय श्रीराम!

 गरुडापातविक्लिष्टमेघनदास्त्रबन्धनः । 

दाशरथ्योः क्षणक्लेशः स्वप्नवृत्त इवाभवत् ॥१२.७६॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Meghanāda's Nāgapāśa was released by Garuḍa, and so Śrīrāma and Lakṣmaṇa's momentary binds were soon gone, in an episode which appeared to be a mere dream!"

Meghanāada, who had earned the title of Indrajit after conquering Indra and the Devas, was the pride of Rāvaṇa, his father, and the prime mover in all acts of violence from Laṅkā. he was a master of illusion and deceit against the laws of righteous warfare. Becoming invisible, he released the Nāgapāśa, the binds of the deadliest serpents in the universe spewing poison, which engulfed Śrīrāma and Lakṣmaṇa. No one had been known to survive the Nāgapāśa, so the whole of Laṅkā celebrated the death of Śrīrāma and Lakṣmaṇa. But Garuḍa, the vehicle of Mahā Viṣṇu, wanted to do his bit in this Śrīrāma Avatāra to eradicate the menace of these Rākṣasas. So he arrived, and that was enough to scatter away the serpents in a hurry. Thus the whole episode transpired as if it all happened in a dream!

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 77

 जय श्रीराम!

 ततो बिभेद पौलस्त्यः शक्त्या वक्षसि लक्ष्मणम् ।

रामस्त्वनाहतोऽप्यासीद्विदीर्णहृदयः शुचा ॥१२.७७॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, “Then, entering the battlefield to offset the benediction of Garuḍa, Rāvaṇa launched the divine weapon Śakti at Lakṣmaṇa, who then swooned and appeared lifeless. Śrīrāma, who had in fact not been hurt by that weapon, was so deeppy distressed that his heart was as good as rent by that Śakti." 

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 75

 जय श्रीराम!

 कामं जीवति मे नाथ इति सा विजहौ शुचम् । 

प्राङ्मत्वा सत्यमस्यान्तं जीवितास्मीति लज्जिता ॥१२.७५॥ 

Notes:  Kālidāsa paints a bitter-sweet picture of Sītā's thoughts:

" "Oh, how fortunate that my beloved lord, Śrīrāma, lives!" So saying, Sītā overcame her distress triggered by the sight of that fake head. But the next moment, she was filled with deep shame: "Oh, how unworthy am I, that my life breath did not ebb away that very instant when I beheld that head, apparently that of my lord killed in battle!" "

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 74

 जय श्रीराम!

 अथ रामशिरश्छेददर्शनोद्भ्रान्तचेतनाम् । 

सीतां मायेति शंसन्ती त्रिजटा समजीवयत् ॥१२.७४॥

Notes: The battle progressed adversely for Rāvaṇa who had trivialised the enemy.  He then came up with a typical cowardly act. He managed to create a fake head of Śrīrāma, and presented it to Sītā, saying, " Look, the one whom you are waiting for to rescue you is dead! Now you had better come to me!"

Kālidāsa says, "Then, beholding the decapitated head of Śrīrāma, Sītā was crazily distressed. She had to be repeatedly assured by the Rākṣasī Trijaṭā to be convinced that it was all a fakery and Rāvaṇa's despicable attempt at illusion and that Sītā's beloved Śrīrāma was well and winning the battle."

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 73

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 जय श्रीराम!

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 पादपाविद्धपरिघः शिलानिष्पिष्टमुद्गरः ।

 अतिशस्त्रनखन्यासः शैलरुग्णमतङ्गजः ॥१२.७३॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "The battle was extraordinary. The deadly nail-studded maces of the Rākṣasās were smashed by huge trees uprooted and weaponised by the Vānaras. The Vānaras used boulders to pulverise the Rākṣasās' heavy maces swung at them. The Vānaras also had such sharp and strong nails that they were able to destroy other weapons wielded by the Rākṣasās by tearing them down. What was more, even the elephants advancing from the Rākṣasās' side were crushed under mountainous rocks launched by the Vānaras."

When we read of Tsunamis that destroy whole towns and bring down huge, man-made structures, uprooting trees and blowing away settlements, we can see the power that Nature can unleash on man. This battle was exactly that - Nature teaching Rākṣasās a lesson.

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 72

 जय श्रीराम!

 रणः प्रववृते तत्र भीमः प्लवगरक्षसाम् । दिग्विजृम्भितकाकुत्स्थपौलस्त्यजयघोषणः ॥१२.७२॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Then there came about a terrific battle between the Vānaras and the Rākṣasās that rent the air with their fierce cries of "Victory to Śrīrāma"  and "Victory to Rāvaṇa" respectively." 

I feel that in a way,  this battle symbolises the war between contrasts in our world. Good and Evil. Nature and Man. Wild vs. Sophisticated. Missionary Zeal vs. Self-Importance and Arrogance. Police and Crime. And so on.

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 71

 जय श्रीराम!

 तेनोत्तीर्य पथा लङ्कां रोधयामास पिङ्गलैः । 

द्वितीयं हेमप्राकारं कुर्वद्भिरिव वानरैः ॥१२.७१॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma then used that bridge to cross the ocean and reach Laṅkā, and besieged it with a ring of tawny-coloured Vānarās, so numerous that their siege looked like another rampart fort around the golden fortress walls of Laṅkā."

Throughout the Yuddha Kāṇḍa, Vālmīki describes how the citizens of Laṅkā were terrified beyond their wits to see these giant apes lay siege so fiercely that they all realised that the end was near for the race of Rākṣasās.

Throughout the narrative, the citizens of Laṅkā curse their despotic and evil king Rāvaṇa whose excesses had brought upon them this annihilation. Even the most trustworthy loyalists in his court advise Rāvaṇa to abandon his wicked ways, surrender to Śrīrāma, and return Sītā to him with sincere apologies. Such advice falls on deaf ears when one's fateful end is near.

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 70

 जय श्रीराम!

Google Maps Image.

 स सेतुं बन्धयामास प्लवगैर्लवणाम्भसि । 

रसातलादिवोन्मग्नं शेषं स्वप्नाय शार्ङ्गिणः ॥१२.७०॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma then had a mighty bridge constructed by the army of Vānaras (habituated to travelling aerially in leaps and bounds) over that salty ocean, such that the bridge looked like the great serpent Ādiśeṣa arisen from the netherworld, stretching himself for Lord Mahāviṣṇu, wielding the divine bow Śārṅga, to rest upon."

Kālidāsa's magic with words is to paint a consummate picture with so many dimensions with such frugality of syllables. Do you see the insurmountable ocean of salt water, most inhospitable for men? So what does Śrīrāma do? Choose the creatures who can travel aerially and avoid drowning to be the workers to build a mighty bridge. And when completed, how does that bridge look? Like Ādiśeṣa himself, a divine serpent that stretches almost endlesslessly in the ocean,  who can support the entire globe on his hood! And why does the great serpent come and stretch himself? To provide the couch for the Supreme Person Mahāviṣṇu.  

Kālidāsa conveys that here was Śrīrāma walking over that bridge which was like Ādiśeṣa.  The simile is complete - Mahāviṣṇu wields a bow too, that is the divine bow Śārṅga, while  Śrīrāma, his incarnation, wields the infallible Kodaṅḍa!

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Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 69

 जय श्रीराम!

 तस्मै निशाचरैश्वर्यं प्रतिशुश्राव राघवः । 

काले खलु समारब्धाः फलं बध्नन्ति नीतयः ॥१२.६९॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma gave his word to make Vibhīṣaṇa the king of Rākṣasas. Such an assurance was bound to bear fruit in time just like righteous deeds bring their reward in time."

Kālidāsa says that Vibhīṣaṇa's act of coming to Śrīrāma was an act done in the spirit of Dharma. When someone conducts himself according to Dharma and morality, people may ask why such fruitless sacrifices must be made. The moral law of this world is such that virtue never goes unrewarded, and Providence chooses the time and place to reward good people just as a good tree bears fruit eventually. In this case, Providence, in the form of Śrīrāma, gave that assurance to Vibhīṣaṇa. 

Vālmīki makes that point beautifully. Everyone except Hanūmān is wary of entertaining Vibhīṣaṇa, coming straight from the enemy camp.  Śrīrāma listens to everyone. Of course, he does not ask Lakṣmaṇa because he knows Lakṣmaṇa would follow his decision implicitly. After hearing everyone, he gives more importance to the words of Hanūmān who describes how Vibhīṣaṇa had fearlessly upheld Dharma even when Hanūmān as the ambassador of Śrīrāma was being mistreated by Rāvaṇa after his capture.  Then  Śrīrāma gives out his own avowed principle, a stand only a Divine Person can afford to espouse:

सकृदेव प्रपन्नाय तवाऽस्मीति च याचते । अभयं सर्वभूतेभ्यः ददाम्येतद्व्रतं मम ॥

"Lo, hear now my eternal vow. Whoever comes to me, surrendering even once, and asks for protection, to him, here is my word: I shall protect him from all dangers from all existence." That's it. No If's and But's. 

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 68

 जय श्रीराम!

 निविष्टमुदधेः कूले तं प्रपेदे विभीषणः । 

स्नेहाद्राक्षसलक्ष्म्येव बुद्धिमाविश्य चोदितः ॥१२.६८॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "While Śrīrāma was at the seashore, he was approached in surrender by Vibhīṣaṇa, (brother of Rāvaṇa), evidently befriended by the Goddess of Fortune wishing to redeem the Rākṣasas, who therefore gave him the good sense to surrender to Śrīrāma." 

Kālidāsa says so much in such few words. He implies that Providence wished to save the Rākṣasas from total annihilation. She had, therefore, brought good sense to Vibhīṣaṇa to dissociate himself from the evil deeds of Rāvaṇa, despite Rāvaṇa being powerful and dangerous. Vibhīṣaṇa had, after due consideration, sought refuge in Śrīrāma, whom he knew to be immensely powerful and righteous, a better choice for a leader any day compared to the evil Rāvaṇa. We should recognise that, just now, Śrīrāma was in exile, and had only monkeys in his army, whereas, Rāvaṇa ruled from the impregnable golden Laṅkā.   

At the same time, Kālidāsa emphasizes that Vibhīṣaṇa was not being selfish, but had the welfare of all Rākṣasas at heart. We should note that just being a Rākṣasa, a species after all, does not mean one is evil, although the dangers of falling into bad company are great. Therefore, one should always be mindful, and make wise choices!

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जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 67

 जय श्रीराम!

स प्रतस्थेऽरिनाशाय हरिसैन्यैरनुद्रुतः । 

न केवलं भुवः पृष्ठे व्योम्नि सम्बाधवर्तिभिः ॥१२.६७॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma then commenced his march to vanquish the enemy followed by the teeming army of Vānaras who jostled together not only while stomping the earth but also while travelling in leaps across the sky."

This is described in considerable detail by Vālmīki. They travelled from Kiśkindha to the seashore of Rāmeśvaram, several hundred miles away. Their travel was organised by Sugrīva and Lakṣmaṇa as best as they could. Still, the march of the teeming army of several crores of powerful, huge, and wild denizens of the forest was bound to be chaotic as they travelled through the dense forests and water bodies. 

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जय श्रीराम!