Valmiki Ramayana - June 9

June 9 - Sargas 23 and 24 of Ayodhya Kanda. 

Valmiki describes the rage of Lakshmana and his exhortation for a military takeover. There is an ironic humour in the way Sri Rama simply lovingly responds to this - with the modern-day typical "I hear you" response, knowing well that Lakshmana's allegiance has taken precedence over any larger considerations for Ayodhya. He also convinces his mother Kausalya what is the right course of action for her.

***

लोकविद्विष्टमारब्धं त्वदन्यस्याभिषेचनम्          ।

नोत्सहे सहितुं वीर तत्र मे क्षन्तुमर्हसि              ॥

कथं त्वं कर्मणा श्क्तः कैकेयीवशवर्तिनः         ।

करिष्यसि पितुर्वाक्यमधर्मिष्ठं विगर्हितुम्         ॥

विक्लवो वीर्यहीनो यः स दैवमनुवर्तते             ।

वीराः सम्भावितात्मानो न दैवं पर्युपासते          ॥  

अद्य मेऽस्त्रप्रभावस्य प्रभावः प्रभविष्यति          ।

राज्ञश्चाप्रभुतां कर्तुं प्रभुत्वं च तव प्रभो              ॥

The irrepressible Lakshmana breaks out: " Oh brave Rama, I beg your pardon, but I cannot brook even one bit this machination of the king and Kaikeyi, which is patently against the wishes of the entire kingdom, and their plan to snatch away the coronation from you and to install someone else. 

"You are fully capable of asserting your rights. You also see that this design of Kaikeyi  is against Dharma and against the welfare of Ayodhya. Then how come you do not wish to act against the word of our father, who is under the thumb of Kaikeyi, who is doing wrong?

"Only timid and powerless people speak of following fate. Those who are brave and capable and have self-esteem overcome fate by their decisive actions.

"My lord, today itself, you shall see how the supreme capabilities of my weapons under my masterly control will be deployed to to put an end to the ineffectual king's plans and establish you as the king."

***

Lakshmana visualises  and describes in gory detail how he will massacre all opposition and tear into every sort of obstacle with his sword and arrow and obliterate the enemies. He will not spare any effort to make Rama the king. In fact Rama need not worry about further consequences. Lakshmana will guard him and his kingship in every way. 

***

Sri Rama sees the extreme anguish in Lakshmana's voice even as he charts out these actions. He sees him shedding tears.

विमृज्य बाष्पं परिसान्त्व्य चासकृत्

                   स लक्ष्मणं राघववंशवर्धनः          । 

उवाच पित्रोर्वचने व्यवस्थितं 

                   निबोध मामेष हि सौम्य सत्पथः   ॥

Sri Rama repeatedly wiped away Lakshmana's tears and consoled him. He had uppermost in his mind the long-term welfare of the Raghu dynasty. So he spoke, "dearest Lakshmana, I have known you always as one of great softness of heart and therefore I understand your feelings now. Please understand that the right course of action for me now is to simply follow the king's orders. That is for everyone's welfare."

***

Now Kausalya begins to press her case. She says that she can see clearly that Rama is not going to change his mind, Therefore it is a simple matter for him to take her along to the forest. She cannot for a moment bear to imagine her son, the prince of Ayodhya, beloved of all, whose servants and staff too enjoy such luxury under his magnanimity,  living alone in the forest on roots and shoots. After he leaves for the forest, her sorrow will burn her down like a forest fire. Like any cow would simply follow her calf when he goes grazing, she will also go along with Rama to Dandaka.

***

कैकेय्या वञ्चितो राजा मयि चारण्यमाश्रिते           ।

भवत्या च परित्यक्तो न नूनं वर्तयिष्यति              ॥

यावज्जीवति काकुत्स्थः पिता मे जगतीपतिः        ।

शुश्रूषा क्रियतां तावत् स हि धर्मः सनातनः           ॥

न ह्यनाथा वयं राज्ञा लोकनाथेन धीमता              ।

भरतश्चापि धर्मात्मा सर्वभूतप्रियंवदः                   ॥   

Sri Rama advises his mother: " Dear mother, you know that the king has been badly tricked by Kaikeyi. You can imagine his condition. After I also go away to the forest, don't you think he badly needs to be taken care of? If you also abandon him and follow me to the forest, how will he survive?

"As long as the king of Kakutsthas is alive, i.e. my father Dasharatha who rules over the earth, serving him dutifully is the only righteous thing for you to do.

"And don't think we are without a lord and master here to take care of us! After all the glorious king Dasharatha is still our ruler. And Bharata is a very righteous man and has a kind word for everyone. "

Rama also tells Kausalya how she should spend these years- serving Dasharatha, doing penance and worship under the guidance of able teachers. The time will pass quickly and he will be back. Her prayers will not go in vain and they can look forward to good times.

Kausalya is now reconciled to the situation. She speaks with affection the following words of benediction::

गच्छ पुत्र त्वमेकाग्रौ भद्रं तेऽस्तु सदा विभो                ।

पुनस्त्वयि निवृत्ते तु भविष्यामि गतव्यथा                   ॥

"Dearest Rama, fine, please proceed to the forest with single-mindedness. May all good come to you always, may God take care of you. When you return, surely my anxiety and grief will be erased."

***

॥                     श्रीरामजयम्                     ॥ 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - June 8

June 8 - Sargas 21 and 22 of Ayodhya Kanda. 

These and a few more sargas deal with the way Sri Rama reacts to the situation, and how the seeds are sown for the future events of Ramayana. They should be read carefully because we  get to know here how Sri Rama's mind worked and how he presented his decisions and choices to those around him. The very qualities that make him the ideal of Indian culture.

***

Lakshmana is very upset and makes his stand clear.

***

न रोचते ममाप्येतादार्ये यद्राघवो वनम्                  ।

त्यक्त्वा राज्यश्रियं गच्छेत् स्त्रिया वाक्यवशंगतः     ॥   

हनिष्ये पितरं वृद्धं कैकेय्यासक्तमानासम्               ।

कृपणम च स्थुतं बाल्ये वृद्धभावेन गर्हितम्              ॥

"Dear noble lady, Kausalya,  to me also it does not appeal that Rama should go to the forest, abandoning his kingdom and prosperity that is his due, just bound by the words of a woman, Kaikeyi.

" I propose that I dispose of king Dasharatha who has yielded to the lures of a woman, Kaikeyi. It seems he has grown senile and is acting childishly, which is despicable."

Lakshmana also speaks glowingly of Sri Rama's virtues and the utter unfairness of the proposal. He says even Rama's enemies regard Rama and Rama is the most exalted choice to rule Ayodhya. Therefore they should waste no time, before word spreads of the king's new thinking, and take over the kingdom. If anyone takes Bharata's side and wants to fight, Lakshmana will eliminate all such enemies and leave Ayodhya clear for Rama's rule. He says he shall take full responsibility to protect Rama and will even enter a raging fire if it were come to pass that Rama has to enter it.

Kausalya does not directly support this line of thought. But she says Rama should consider what Lakshmana has spoken, and also his duty to her which is as important as honouring the king's wishes. Rama cannot hope to uphold Dharma if he goes away to the forest abandoning his dependent mother to her fate of suffering in the most uncongenial circumstances in Ayodhya. In fact she will fast unto death if he goes away. 

Sri Rama addresses Lakshmana and Kausalya, his closest well-wishers.. He chooses his words carefully.

***

मम मातुर्महद् दुःखमतुलं शुभलक्षण                ।

अभिप्रायं न विज्ञाय सत्यस्य च शमस्य च          ॥

धर्मो हि परमो लोके धर्मे स्तयं प्रतिष्ठतम्           ।

धर्मसंश्रितमप्येतत्   पितुर्वचनमुत्तमम्               ॥

न कर्तव्यं वृथा वीर धर्ममाश्रित्य तिष्ठता             ।

शोकः संधार्यतां मातर्हृदये साधु मा शुचः           ।

वनवासादिहैष्यामि पुनः कृत्वा पितुर्वचः            ॥

त्वया मया च वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणेन सुमित्रया            ।

पितुर्नियोगे स्थातव्यमेष धर्मः सनातनः              ॥   

"Dear Lakshmana, full of virtues, you are swept away by the extreme sorrow of my mother. So you speak thus, not realising what is the role of righteousness and self-control in this situation.

"The greatest virtue in this world is righteousness. Pursuit of Truth (the ultimate goal of human life) lies in righteousness. After all what our father has directed, and what we should follow, is also based in righteousness (his duty to uphold his promises to Kaikeyi).  Therefore nothing should be done by you, with your great valour, in a wrong manner disregarding righteousness.

"Oh dearest mother, kindly pull yourself together and control your grief. This extreme grief does not suit you. I will simply honour father's word and after completing my stay in the forest, return here. The eternal values of righteousness dictate that father's order is abided by you, me, Sita, Lakshmana and Sumitra."

Rama also tells Kausalya that she cannot follow him into the forest when her good husband and king is still alive and in Ayodhya.  He quotes instances of how sons had to carry out extremely unpleasant tasks as ordered by their fathers and they did so purely with a sense of duty. He shall come back very soon from the forest. He is definitely not interested in compromising his values and in forcibly taking over the kingdom, knowing well that life is short and all such endeavours are futile.

Sri Rama then adds that the strange turn of events, and the change of heart in Kaikeyi who had always been affectionate, but had suddenly turned so hostile to him, cannot be explained except as an act of destiny. Man has to respect destiny in all circumstances. 

कैकेय्याः प्रतिपत्तिर्हि कथं स्यान्मम वेदने              ।

यदि तस्या न भावोऽयं कृतान्तविहितो भवेत्         ॥ 

सुखदुःखे भयक्रोधौ लाभालाभौ भवाभवौ             ।

यस्य किञ्चित् तथाभूतं ननु दैवस्य कर्म तत्             ॥  

"Otherwise how do you understand this sudden change of heart in Kaikeyi to inflict such pain on me? The only reason is that destiny or Providence compelled her to behave in this way.

" Indeed, if you examine carefully, all that befalls someone - happiness and sorrow, fear and anger, gain and loss, even birth and death - whatever a person experiences in life is but the work of Providence. "

***

॥                    श्रीरामजयम्                    ॥ 

 

 

Valmiki Ramayana - June 7

June 7 - Sargas 19 and 20 of Ayodhya Kanda. 

Two wrenching scenes. First, how Kaikeyi wants Rama to waste no time in going away to the forest so that when everything is done and dusted, the king will reconcile to it. The second scene of how Kausalya takes the news.

***

एवमस्तु गमिष्यामि वनं वत्सुमहं त्वितः            ।

जटाजूटधरो राज्ञः प्रतिज्ञामनुपालयन्              ॥

अलीकं मानसं त्वेकं हृदयं दहते मम                ।

स्वयं यन्नाह मां राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम्          ॥  

Sri Rama displays unbelievable composure as he replies to Kaikeyi: "Let it be so, I shall proceed to live in the forest in matted locks to uphold the promise of my father.  What anguishes my heart is just this - that the king himself did not ever tell me directly that he wants to have Bharata installed as Yuvaraja. "

Kaikeyi does not want to prolong the conversation. She is in a hurry to send away Rama. When Rama says that they should at once send speedy messengers to bring Bharata immediately for the coronation, she says, of course, that is all being arranged, but Rama should not bother with these details and instead hurry to the forest today itself. 

यावत्त्वं न वनं यातः पुरादस्मादतित्वरम्               ।

पिता तावन्न ते राम स्नास्यते भोक्ष्यतेऽपि वा       ॥ 

तदप्रियमनार्याया वचनं दारुणोदयम्                  ।

श्रत्वा गतव्यथो रामः कैकेयीं वाक्यमब्रवीत्          ॥

नाहमर्थपरो देवि लोकमावस्तुमुत्सहे                   ।

विद्धि मामृषिभिस्तुल्यं विमलं धर्ममास्थितम्         ॥

Kaikeyi is in a hurry. " Oh Rama, as long as you do not depart at once from this city, your father won't either bathe or eat. So would you go away right now?"

Hearing these highly unpleasant and wrenching words of an uncultured Kaikeyi,  Rama is yet very equanimous and not distressed. He replies, " You don't know me at all, lady. You could very well have spoken directly to me instead of bothering the king. I would have readily ceded the throne to dear Bharata. I am not after material gains at all, nor a kingdom of riches. Know me to be centred in Dharma and righteousness, blemish-less and comparable to rishis."  

In the meanwhile, with every word spoken by Kaikeyi, Dasharatha is collapsing further and further. He is briefly revived by Rama. Rama then takes his leave after paying respects to the parents.

As he proceeds to his mother Kausalya's palace, he waves away all the regal paraphernalia. He sees the golden vessels of holy water ready for the coronation so far intended for him and says a silent prayer. Rama pays due respects to all the guards and priests en route, who shower as usual their affection. None is aware of the turn of events. 

But inside the Antahpura, all the ladies are bemoaning this terrible turn of events. They have great pity for themselves, knowing how Sri Rama was always taking care of them even better than the king, and their future as he is being sent away to the forest.

Lakshmana has been a silent and smouldering volcano of anger witnessing the proceedings. He is distressed beyond description, unlike his cool brother. He goes along with Rama to Kausalya.

When Sri Rama enters Kausalya's palace, he sees her engaged in Homa offering to her deity Vishnu, with many priests officiating and with elaborate arrangements. She is all dressed up for his coronation, and has been in prayer through the night. She rushes to Rama and embraces him. She offers him a royal seat and invites him to partake of dainty refreshments. Sri Rama perfunctorily acknowledges them, and begins to tell her what's up.

देवि नूनं न जानीषे महद्भयमुपास्थितम्              ।

इदं च तव दःखाय वैदेह्या लक्ष्मणस्य च           ॥

गमिष्ये दण्डकारण्यं किमनेनासनेन मे               ।

चतुर्दश हि वर्षाणि वत्स्यामि विजने वने           ॥

भरताय महाराजो यौवराज्यं प्रयच्छति               ।

मां पुनर्दण्धकाराण्यं विवासयति तापसम्         ॥

"Dearest mother, you do not know the new situation - one of utter calamity. It portends great sorrow for you, Sita and Lakshmana.

"I am now going away to the Dandakaranya forest. Therefore what is the attraction of this royal seat you offer to me!? I shall live in the dense uninhabited forest for fourteen years. I shall subsist on roots and shoots and wear barks of leaves for clothing. 

" The king will install Bharata as the heir apparent - Yuvaraja. He is sending me away to Dandakaranya for doing tapas."

Kausalya grasps the situation in a flash. She swoons. Sri Rama revives her. As she comes to, she speaks words that would move even a stone.

She bemoans her destiny. Would it not have been better for her to have remained barren? At least she would have been saved from this calamity. She has always been ill-treated by Kaikeyi and Dasharatha's other women, despite being the eldest queen. She has enjoyed no great confidence or company with the king. And now this. She will be a mere servant and Kaikeyi will hurt her again and again with cruel words.

Rama is now nearing 28 years of age. Kausalya has been praying and fasting all these years to see the day when he would be king and she would gain some dignity and status. But that is not to be! How cruel is destiny! How come death does not strike her at once? At least the female deer is struck and dragged away by the lion in one swell swoop. But she thinks her heart is like a stone and she is not dying yet! 

अथापि किं जीवितमद्य मे वृथा 

           त्वया विना चन्द्रनिभाननप्रभ          ।

अनुव्रजिष्यामि वनं त्वयैव गौः 

           सदुर्बला वत्समिवाभिकाङ्क्षया      ॥

"Dear son, (who always bring delight to me with your face that shines like the moon),  indeed, my life henceforth makes no sense without you. I shall follow you to the forest, albeit enfeebled with grief and age, much like a cow follows her calf gone grazing."

***

॥                   श्रीरामजयम्                   ॥ 

 

  

  

Valmiki Ramayana - June 6

June 6 - Sargas 17 and 18 of Ayodhya Kanda.

Sri Rama proceeds to the Antahpura of the palace to meet king Dasharatha, after witnessing the great pomp and festivities on the highway. What awaits him there is compared by Valmiki to someone's stepping on a king cobra.

***

ददर्श तं राजपथं दिवि देवपतिर्यथा                ।

दध्यक्षतहविर्लाजधूपैरगुरुचन्दनैः                   ॥

यश्च रामं न पश्येत्तु यं च रामो न पश्यति           ।

निन्दितः सर्वलोकेषु स्वात्माप्येनं विगर्हते           ॥

सर्वेषु स हि धर्मात्मा वर्णानां कुरुते दयाम्          ।

चतुर्णां हि वयःस्थानां तेन ते तमनुव्रताः             ॥ 

चतुष्पथान् देवपथांश्चैत्यांश्चायतनानि च             ।

प्रदक्षिणं परिहरज्जगाम नृपतेः सुतः                  ॥ 

Just like Indra in a procession in heaven, Sri Rama witnessed the royal highway filled with people carrying oblatory materials like curd, sanctified rice grains, benedictory grains for sprinkling, homa offerings, incense, sandal wood and perfumes. 

Anyone who missed seeing Sri Rama thus, or missed getting his gracious glance, was indeed unfortunate and reproachable in all the worlds for having insulted his own soul.

Sri Rama showed cordiality and grace in the way he acknowledged people of all four castes and all four age-groups, and they also showered their love on him.

Sri Rama circumambulated important road crossings, temples, places sacred to local tutelary deities, and schools, showing reverence.

***

By the way this puts paid to the opinions voiced by neo-scholars that India had no temples before the advent of Buddha. This is not the first time we have encountered temples in Valmiki Ramayana which is thousands of years old!

***

स ददर्शासने रामो विषण्णं पितरं शुभे        ।

कैकेय्या सहितं दीनं मुखेन परिशुष्यता        ॥

Sri Rama entered the antahpura and saw his father seated on a royal couch along with Kaikeyi. He was looking absolutely wretched and miserable and life seemed to have drained off his face.

***

Sri Rama was alarmed to see his father barely utter the his name when he bowed to him and Kaikeyi. Valmiki compares Dasharatha's appearance to a sea turbulent with waves, an eclipsed sun, and a sage with the look of someone who has uttered a lie. It was as if Rama had stepped on a serpent. Rama wondered how his father displayed no effusive affection and greeting like he had always done on seeing him. Sri Rama displayed his concern and distress when he addressed Kaikeyi:

***

कच्चिन्मया नापराद्धमज्ञानाद् येन मे पिता     ।

कुपितस्तन्ममाचक्ष्व त्वमेवैनं प्रदासय           ॥ 

कच्चिन्न किन्चिद् भरते कुमारे प्रियदर्शने        ।

शत्रुघ्ने वा महासत्त्वे मातृृणां वा ममाशुभम्।    ॥

"Oh mother, tell me if I have caused any inadvertent offence to my father that has made him angry. Please tell me and seek pardon from him on my behalf. Have I done any harm to his dear son Bharata, or the valiant Shatrughna, or to any of my mothers to occasion this mood in my father?"

***

Sri Rama says if this is so, he will not survive for even an hour. "I consider my father as my living god." He adds, "Or, perhaps, mother Kaikeyi, has the king been offended by you in anger or haste? Please tell me at once."

The hard-hearted Kaikeyi speaks. Just to quote a couple of shlokas to lay bare her scheme.

***

न राजा कुपितो राम व्यसनं नास्य किञ्चन          ।

किञ्चिन्मनोगतं त्वस्य त्वद्भयान्नानुभाषते           ॥

धर्ममूलमिदं राम विदितं च सतामपि                ।

तत् सत्यं न त्यजेद् राजा कुपितस्त्वत्कृते यथा     ॥

"Oh Rama, the king is neither angry or in any trouble. He has something in his mind which he is not telling you out of fear for you. After all, this is a matter of righteousness which is well known to good people and upheld as paramount. That should not be betrayed by the king just because he is upset on your behalf." 

Sri Rama is now in utter dismay. He says,

अहो धिङ् नार्हसे देवि वक्तुं ममीदृशं वचः         ।

अहं हि वचनाद् राज्ञः पतेयमपि पावके            ॥  

"Fie, oh lady, don't insinuate this. To uphold my father's word, I shall readily leap into the fire."

Sri Rama speaks a few more lines like this, showing that she dare not suggest that either the king or he were likely to betray truth and righteousness. Then Kaikeyi says:

***

पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे पित्रा ते मम राघव                ।

रक्षितेन वरौ दत्तौ सशल्येन महारणे                ॥

तत्र मे याचितो राजा भरतस्याभिषेचनम्            ।

गमनं दण्डकारण्ये तव चाद्यैव राघव               ॥

यदि सत्यप्रतिज्ञं त्वं पितरं कर्तुमर्हसि               ।

आत्मानं च नरश्रेष्ठ मम वाक्यमिदं श्रृणु            ॥

भरतश्चाभिषिज्येत यदेतदभिषेचनम्                  ।

त्वदर्थे विहितं राज्ञा तेन सर्वेण राघव               ॥

सप्त सप्त च वर्षाणि दण्डकार्ण्यमाश्रितः          ।

अभिषेकमिदं त्यक्त्वा जटाचीरधरो भव             ॥

"Oh Raghava, long ago, during the war between gods and demons, two boons were granted to me by the king after I had saved him from death. I have now invoked those two boons - the first being that Bharata should be crowned and the second that you should go away to Dandakaranya today itself, without any delay whatsoever. 

"If you really desire to uphold truth and save the king, then hear these words of mine carefully. I want Bharata to be ceremoniously installed as the Yuvaraja, heir apparent. Bharata should be crowned instead of you, with all the grand paraphernalia that has been got up by the king for the ceremony. You shall spend fourteen years inside the Dandakaranya forest, after abandoning this coronation, and sporting matted locks and barks of trees for clothes."

इतीव तस्यां परुषं वदन्त्यां

         न चैव रामः प्रविवेश शोकम्               ।

प्रविव्यथे चापि महानुभावो 

         राजा च पुत्रव्यसनाभितप्तः                 ॥

Hearing these extremely harsh words from Kaikeyi, Sri Rama actually did not enter grief. But the noble king, with all his glorious reputation, was plunged into burning sorrow on account of the impending banishment of Rama and the consequent separation from him.

***

॥                श्रीरामजयम्                 ॥  

  

Valmiki Ramayana - June 5

June 5 - Sargas 15 and 16 of Ayodhya Kanda.

Sage Valmiki is not in a hurry. He describes with great enthusiasm all the preparations and decorations done for the coronation. Teams of priests are assembled and ready for the ceremonies at the palace entrance. Citizens, merchants, administrators are all ready. Kings invited for the occasion haवe already arrived for the function and somewhat perplexed that it is well into the morning and yet the king has not made his appearance.

They stop Sumantra who is exiting the palace and ask what is the hold up. He replies, getting into the mood for the celebration like everyone else, that the king is about to come out and start the proceedings. In fact he has been asked to go and bring Sri Rama.

But now that Sumantra has seen the royal dignitaries from other kingdoms assembled here, and since he knows that Dasharatha wants to extend the best of reception to them, he wants to go back and update the king on their arrival.

We see this as an excuse for Sumantra to go back and check on the king. He goes into the Antahpura of Kaikeyi and approaches the king with the customary recitation of royal praises and incantations. Dasharatha stops him and says there is no need to wake him up as he is already wide awake. Why has Sumantra not gone and brought Sri Rama here yet as he was instructed earlier?

Sumantra murmurs that all the kings and priests and everyone else has arrived for the ceremonies. He shall hasten to bring Sri Rama.

Valmiki describes the gorgeous palace of Sri Rama which has been got up for the big day. 

Sumantra beheld Rama's palace with two heavy-panelled doors. Adorned with hundreds of galleries, it had a peak mounted with golden idols. The arches were studded with different gems and corals.  It looked like the Mount Meru. It was ornamented with excellent garlands, pearls and diamonds. It was filled with the captivating fragrance of sandalwood and aloe. Sarasa cranes and peacocks were singing sweetly. It attracted the minds and the eyes of all living beings with brilliant splendour and resembled Kubera's abode and Indra's celestial mansion.

Sumantra is ushered in when he informs that the king has sent him to Sri Rama.

Sri Rama is seated on his golden couch with Sita looking like Kubera himself.

***

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पिता त्वां द्रष्टुमिच्छति         ।

महिष्यापि च कैकेय्या गम्यतां तत्र मा चिरम्          ॥

Sumantra tells Rama, " Oh Rama, by bearing you the queen Kausalya has been blessed! Your father wants to see you. Along with the queen Kaikeyi,  he is waiting. Please proceed without delay."

Sri Rama is gladdened to hear this. He says queen Kaikeyi has always been very fond of him and must be busy assisting the king in preparing for Rama's coronation. He says to Sita:

ध्रुवमद्यैव मां राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति               ।

सह त्वं परिवारेण सुमुखास्स्व रमस्व च                  ॥

"Oh dear Sita, surely the king is going to make me Yuvaraja today itself. That is the reason for the summon, I shall proceed now. You please remain here very happily with your attendants and well-wishers". 

पतिसम्मानिता सीता भर्तारमसितेक्षणा                  ।

आ द्वारमनुवव्राज मङ्गलान्यभिदध्युषी                    ॥

राज्यं द्विजातिभर्जुष्टं राजसूयाभिषेचनम्                   ।

कर्तुमर्हति ते राजा वासवस्यैव लोककृत्                  ॥

Sita, greatly acclaimed and loved by her husband Sri Rama, with her large black eyes, walked with him up to the main door, entertaining very auspicious thoughts of the occasion.  She said, " May the king anoint you as his successor with the benedictions of Brahmanas, and may we together celebrate the great Rajasuya Yajna ( the merit earned by a king unchallenged by anyone else and therefore the supreme emperor). His anointing you today is like Brahma's anointing Indra."

***

The poet narrates how all along the royal highway, people had assembled and were cheering and singing praises of Sri Rama, He proceeded in a fabulous chariot got up for the occasion. The ever-faithful brother Lakshmana rode with him standing guard. 

स घोषवद्भिश्च हयैः सनागैः 

        पुरःसरैः स्वस्तिकसूतमागधैः                           ।

महीयमानः प्रवरैश्च वादकैः

        अभिष्टुतो वैश्रवणो यथा   ययौ                       ॥

Thus proceeded Rama (escorted by Sumantra and accompanied by prince Lakshmana) in his chariot to the king's palace on the royal highway, hearing incantations and proclamations of praise, with royal horses and elephants in the lead, with auspicious benedictions being said by Sutas and Magadhas (royal eulogisers), and delighted by live performances of excellent musicians, and receiving honour like god Kubera.

***

॥                श्रीरामजयम्               ॥  

  

Valmiki Ramayana - June 4

June 4 - Sargas 13 and 14 of Ayodhya Kanda. 

The inevitable unravels. Dasharatha makes one last feeble attempt to change Kaikeyi's mind and when he fails, he lies on the floor, listening to her lecture on Dharma.

Vasishtha and Sumantra arrive at day break all ready for the coronation. Kaikeyi sends for Rama.

***

साधुवृत्तस्य दीनस्य त्वद्गतस्य गतायुषः        । 

प्रसादः  क्रियतां देवि भद्रे राज्ञो विशेषतः       ॥

" Oh noble queen Kaikeyi, I have been known all my life for righteousness. I now lie wretched at your feet, an old man waiting for his end.

Have mercy on me, especially as I am the king around here and have to think of larger considerations as my duty. Please relent from your stubborn stand on the two boons".

Dasharatha again enumerates Rama's multifarious virtues, and how the king would have no face to show to the gods in his after-life if he were to banish the blemishless Rama to the forest. He also taunts Kaikeyi, saying she is as an evil woman of great miscalculation who would indeed gain nothing from Rama's banishment and his own demise.

But again, Dasharatha starts extolling Kaikeyi's physical charm and how she should accept his loving request to reconsider her wishes.

Kaikeyi, her eyes flashing with all sentiments except kindness, now lectures Dasharatha on the importance of upholding his promise. She quotes earlier famous kings of Ikshwakus who gave up their life to uphold their word. Is Dasharatha foolish enough to blot that reputation?

धर्मस्यैहाभिकामार्थं मम चैवाभिचोदनात्        ।

प्रव्राजाय सुतं रामं त्रिः खलु त्वां  ब्रवीम्यहम्।  ॥

"Oh king, it is your duty to uphold your righteous promise. I am only urging you to do that, nothing more. Send Rama to the forest. This is my final word and I say it thrice to you (which means it is irrevocable)." 

***

The sun rises. The whole of Ayodhya has been got up in celestial splendour. The citizens, chiefs, rishis and everyone else is eagerly awaiting the coronation. Sage Vasishtha comes into the palace and informs Sumantra to inform the king that the auspicious muhurta for the coronation is fast approaching, everything including holy waters in golden vessels is ready and the king should send for Sri Rama and hold the coronation.

Minister Sumantra enters the inner chambers. He begins to recite the customary royal chants of praise to the king, and says the day is beautifully laid out for the coronation. If he sees the king in a terrible state, he does not reveal his surprise.

***

पौरजनपदाश्चापि नैगमश्च कृतान्जलिः        ।

स्वयं वसिष्ठो भगवान् ब्राह्मणैः सह तिष्ठति   ॥

क्षिप्रमाज्ञाप्यन्तां राजन् राघवस्याभिषेचनम्   ।

"Your majesty, the citizens of Ayodhya,  all the merchants, await you with folded hands. The great sage Vasishtha himself, along with all the priests, is waiting with everything needed for the rituals and festivities.

"Please quickly give your sanction for the commencement of the coronation ceremony."

अभ्यकीर्यत शोकेन भूय एव महीपतिः  ।

ततस्तु राजा तं सूतं सन्नहर्षः सुतं प्रति   ॥

शोकरक्तेक्षणः श्रीमानुद्वीक्ष्योवाच धार्मिकः ।

वाक्यैस्तु खलु मर्माणि मम भूयो निकृन्तसि   ॥

The king, overcome with extreme grief, looked up at Sumantra with cheerlessness. 

With his eyes bloodshot in distress, the righteous king looked at Sumantra and said, "with your words, you are piercing my entrails indeed!"

Sumantra is alarmed and withdraws a few steps. He looks at the king with anxious puzzlement. Kaikeyi, ever astute in her ways, says:

सुमन्त्र राजा रजनीं रामहर्षसमुत्सकः     ।

प्रजागर परिश्रान्तो निद्रावशमुपागतः     ॥

तद्गच्छ त्वरितं सूत राजपुत्रं यशस्विनम्    ।

राममानय भद्रं ते नात्र कार्या विचारणा    ॥

अश्रुत्वा राजवचनं कथं गच्छामि भामिनि   ।

तच्छ्रुत्वा मन्त्रिणो वाक्यं राजा मन्त्रिणमब्रवीत्  ॥

सुमन्त्र रामं द्रक्ष्यामि शीघ्रमानय सुन्दरम्      ।

स मन्यमानः कल्याणं हृदयेन ननन्द च        ॥

Kaikeyi speaks: " Oh Sumantra, the king has spent the night in utter excitement about Rama. He therefore didn't sleep a wink and is as a result very tired.

"Therefore lose no time, go and fetch the renowned prince Rama. Please escort Rama here, there is no need for any conversation now".

Sumantra is a good minister. He says he couldn't go to bring Rama without the king's own order.  Hearing this, a wretched Dasharatha looks up and says, " Yes, Sumantra, please go and bring the handsome prince Rama here. I want to see him. "  

Hearing this, Sumantra is greatly relieved and feels all is well after all.  As he passes the courtiers, merchants, and others, he gets back into his mood of celebration.

***

॥      श्रीरामजयम्      ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - June 3

June 3 - Sargas 11 and 12 of Ayodhya Kanda.

If you want to witness the extreme swing of a person's mood from happiness and desire to a sense of utter grief and calamity, nothing can come close to these two sargas.

To the king who was besotted with desire for the pleasures of her company, Kaikeyi began her reply.

No she had not been insulted or hurt by anyone or in anyway. However she did want something which desire the king alone could fulfill. Would he promise to do so?

Dasharatha mollycuddles his darling Kaikeyi, assuring her that he would do anything she asked.

तेनाज्जयेन मुख्येन राघवेण महात्मना    ।

शपे ते जीवनार्हेण ब्रूहि यन्मनसेप्सितम्   ॥

"Oh Kaikeyi, I swear on Sri Rama, most precious to me, unconquered by anyone,  high-souled, in fact my very life, that I  shall fulfill your desire. Please state what you want".

There are a few more shlokas escalating this sentiment, that Dasharatha swears on Rama, other than whom nothing is important to him, to satisfy Kaikeyi's demand.

Kaikeyi is emboldened by the king. She is ready to strike. She says, 

यथा क्रमेण शपसे वरं भम ददासि च         । 

तच्छ्रुण्वन्तु त्रयस्त्रिंशद् देवाः सेन्द्रपुरोगमाः  ॥

"My lord,l, to witness this grave promise and swearing of yours,  I call upon all the thirtythree crore gods led by Indra. I call on all the other gods, presiding deities, the five elements, day and night, and whatever else we know, to witness your promise. Oh gods, hear hear! "

Then she presents her wish.

स्मर राजन् पुरा वृत्तं तस्मिन् देवासुरे रणे।

तत्र त्वां च्यावयच्छत्रुस्तव जीवितमन्तरा ॥

तत्र चापि मया देव यत् त्वं समभिरक्षितः ।

जाग्रत्या दत्तौ च वरौ देव निक्षेपौ मृगयाम्यहम् ॥

" Oh king, please recall that war of long ago between gods and demons. You were severely wounded by the enemy and barely came out alive. I protected you well and kept awake right through and brought you to safety.  Highly pleased with my service, you gave me two boons I could encash any time in future. That is what I wish to ask now. "

तौ तावदहमद्यैव वक्ष्यामि श्रुणु मे वचः। 

अभिषेकसमारम्भो राघवस्योपकल्पितः ॥

अनेनाभिषेकेण भरतो मेऽभिषिच्यताम् । 

यो द्वितीयो  वरो देव दत्तः प्रीतेन मे त्वया ॥

नव पञ्च च वर्षाणि दण्डकारण्यमाश्रितः। 

चीराजिनधरो धीरो रामो भवतु तापसः   ॥

" Oh king, those two boons you gave me then, I am now spelling out what I want. 

" With all the preparations made already for the coronation of Rama, let my son Bharata  be crowned instead. 

"And for the second boon you had given me so kindly, I ask that Rama should go and live in Dandakaranya forest (the densest forest in the subcontinent) wearing barks of trees. Let the brave warrior Rama survive there for fourteen years doing penance." 

"By carrying out your promise to fulfill the two boons you gave me as per my wishes, you as the great king Dasharatha shall be earning merit according to enlightened sages who say upholding truth is paramount for any man. It will protect the dynasty and character of your lineage and make your life as a king worthwhile. "

***

Dasharatha rolls on the ground in grief and disbelief. Is this some nightmare? Has he taken ill? Is he hearing right? 

He thinks Kaikeyi has been possessed by some evil spirit. He speaks rapidly in a distraught voice.

जीवलोको यदा सर्वो रामस्याह गुणस्तवम् । 

अपराधं कमुद्दिश्य त्यक्ष्यामीष्टमहं सुतम्   ॥

ननु ते राघवस्तुल्यो भरतेन महात्मना       । 

कथं रोचयसे वासमरण्ये भृशदारुणे        ॥

"The whole world sings constant praise of Sri Rama. For what wrong-doing of my son Rama should I banish him to the forest? 

" How often have you said that Rama ia far superior to Bharata in every way! And now how do you suddenly wish to cast him to live in the terrible conditions  that he will face in the forest? "

Dasharatha swings from desperate plea catching her feet, to saying she is possessed by the devil and he hardly has understood in all these years what an evil woman she is. 

He says the family will be ruined and he will surely die of grief if Rama goes out of his life. What will be left of Ayodhya after this? 

He lists the many many virtues of Rama and what makes him his ideal successor. He offers Kaikeyi the riches of his entire kingdom and everything else on earth, but let Kaikeyi please please relent. 

Kaikeyi flashes her eyes in extreme rage at a Dasharatha wallowing on the ground at her feet. Bah! So this was the sanctity of his promise? How will he face the royal sages after breaking his word of honour? What will the whole world say of him, one so untruthful? What would be the reputation of Ikshwakus after his failure to uphold his promise? 

Enough said. Dasharatha is a messy mass of tragedy and grief and regret. He has nowhere to turn. He says what will become of Kausalya, Sumitra, and what about Vaidehi Sita? 

***

मया च रामेण सलक्ष्मणेन प्रशास्तु हीनो भरतस्त्वया सह। 

पुरं च राष्ट्रं च निहत्य बान्धवान् ममाहितानं च भवाभिहर्षिणी  ॥

"Oh Kaikeyi, after losing me (to death by this grief) and Rama and Lakshmana in their banishment, let Bharata rule this kingdom with you alone, having destroyed Ayodhya, the kingdom, all our wellwishers and relatives - an outcome of your doing alone. That will surely give the greatest joy to our enemies! "

***

The sargas 11 and 12 have altogether 131 shlokas. I have been hard put to choose a few. But you should read the original to understand the ocean of grief and dismay that Dasharatha has been plunged into by Kaikeyi. 

***

॥    श्रीरामजयम्     ॥

Valmiki Ramayana - June 2

June 2 - Sargas 9 and 10 of Ayodhya Kanda.

In these sargas, Valmiki describes 

- the depravity of Mathara's machinations, the ready complicity of a Kaikeyi who has lost her moorings in righteousness and any long-term consideration.

-how they go about the implementation of their evil plans together for Bharata's and Rama's future. 

-  then how an aged Dasharatha, besotted and entirely at the mercy of his young queen, shows his willingness to please her at any cost. 

The pathos of the situation will not escape even a casual reader. This offers a lesson that can be learnt in every home and community as we reflect on any act of selfishness and the harm that it can do to the community at large. 

***

एवमुक्ता तु कैकेयी क्रोधेन ज्वलितानना    ।

दीर्घमुष्णं विनिश्श्वस्य मन्थरामिदमब्रवीत्    ॥

कथयस्व ममोपायं केनोपायेन मन्थरे          ।

भरतः प्राप्नुयाद्राज्यं न तु रामः कथञ्चन       ॥ 

एवमुक्ता तदा देव्या मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी       ।

रामार्थमुपहिंसन्ती कैकेयीमिदमब्रवीत्         ॥

पुरा देवासुरे युद्धे सह राजर्षिभिः पतिः          ।

अगच्छत् त्वामुपादाय देवराजस्य साह्यकृत्   ॥

अपवाह्य त्वया देवि संग्रामान्नष्टचेतनः        ।

तत्रापि विक्षतः शस्त्रैः पतिस्ते रक्षितस्त्वया   ॥

तुष्टेन तेन दत्तौ ते द्वौ वरौ शुभदर्शने              ।

स त्वयोक्तः पतिर्देवि यदेच्छेयं तदा वरम्      ॥

अनभिज्ञा ह्यहं  देवि त्वयैव कथितं पुरा         ।

तौ त याचस्व भर्तारं भरतस्याभिषेचनम्          ।

प्रव्राजनं व रामस्य वर्षाणि च चतुर्दश           ॥ 

Thus advised by Manthara, Kaikeyi displayed a fiery rage in her face. She exhaled the hot air of intense anger and asked Manthara:

“Manthara, tell me what should be my tactic to make sure by all means that Bharata is crowned and never Rama. “

The evil and ugly Manthara replied, harbouring the greatest malice towards Rama:

“Kaikeyi, long ago, your husband along with other able kings had gone to take part in a battle on behalf of Indra against demons. He had taken you along. The battle was fierce and raged long and the gods led by Indra were able to win only with his assistance. But your husband was hurt badly by the enemy weapons, became unconscious and had to be saved. You managed to protect him and ensured that he was able to leave the battle alive. 

"The king was immensely grateful to you and gave you two boons that you could ask him any time. 

"This was unknown to me until you narrated the events to me long ago, which I recall how.

"Now is the time for you to ask those two boons of your husband. The first boon you should ask is that Bharata should be crowned immediately. And the second is that Rama should be banished to go and live in the forest for fourteen years."

***

The die is cast. Manthara explains to Kaikeyi that her ageing husband is entirely at her mercy and will even immolate himself to please her. She should enter the Chamber of Anger (by resorting to that chamber the queens would silently convey their anger and achieve their ends with their pliable husbands). 

There should be an immediate roll-back of all preparations for Rama's coronation. Once he is sent to the forest and languishes there for fourteen years, the citizens of Ayodhya will cease to love him. Bharata will establish his able administration and readily win the trust and love of all Ayodhya. Thus Rama's return after fourteen years will be a non-event and he will be a no-body.

Manthara rubs it in. The time to ask for those boons is now. If Rama is crowned, then it is like building a bridge after all the water has flowed away.

Kaikeyi now waxes in admiration for Manthara's sagacity and genius in achieving something that looked impossible. She heaps praise on her in every way, even going so far as to admire her hunchback beauty and how she will shower Manthara with the choicest of gifts and make her the queen of the hunchback women! She compares her to Shambarasura, the demon that Dasharatha had fought and when he had to be saved by her. She says Manthara is a thousand times more dangerous than that demon in her evil designs! What a compliment paid by a totally misled and indiscriminate woman to her most evil servant bent on ruining the royal family! Shakuni is nothing compared to Manthara. Manthara did not even need to play the game of dice and cheat there.

Kaikeyi properly enters the Chamber of Anger and becomes a picture shorn of all adornment and grace, guaranteed to excite the uttermost concern in Dasharatha.

***

King Dasharatha wants to enjoy the company of his beautiful and young wife Kaikeyi on this special night. He comes to her Antahpura, which is extremely well decorated and surrounded by gardens full of wonderful plants, birds and animals and fountains. He finds she is not there. He is eager to tell her personally about Rama's coronation tomorrow.  More than that he is full of desire for her marital company. But he is informed on enquiry that she has gone into the Chamber of Anger.

Finding her there, the way king Dasharatha tries to appease her is simply scandalous. He offers her everything on earth for her cheering up. Who might have made Kaikeyi angry? He has not seen her in this mood ever before! He shall spare no one who has hurt her. 

Should he get her the best of doctors to treat any illness? Should he pronounce a death sentence on anyone even if he is not guilty? Should he spare anyone accused and condemned to the gallows? The large kingdom of Ayodhya  (several regions from north to south, east to west are listed here as belonging to Dasharatha's dominion) is full of the rarest of treasures. Does she want him to get any such fantastic gift?

***

अहं च हि मदीयाश्च सर्वे तव वशानुगाः         ।

न ते किञ्चिदभिप्रायं व्याहर्तुमहमुत्सहे           ॥

"My dearest Queen Kaikeyi, I and everyone in my circle are subservient to your every wish. There is therefore no thought or opinion or desire of yours that I shall not comply with. Please tell me what I should do."

***

॥       श्रीरामजयम्       ॥ 

Valmiki Ramayana - June 1

June 1 - Sargas 7 and 8 of Ayodhya Kanda.

Enter Manthara with her process of poisoning the mind of Kaikeyi. 

I remember how on one Sri Ramanavami we went and heard the address of Sri Satya Sai Baba in Brindavan. He spoke as usual with an eloquence and grace hard to forget. 

Baba began by asking why we were celebrating the birth of Rama. What makes a person so dear? You find almost everyone name their son Rama. Has anyone named their daughter Kaikeyi or Manthara? Why not? Because unlike Rama who did good to even his detractors, these two women did the greatest injustice to Sri Rama although he had done no harm them.

Anyway according to Puranas, Manthara and Kaikeyi came to earth with a specific mission - to send Sri Rama to the forest. That was the only way he would come into direct contact with the evil called Ravana and discharge the mission of his own incarnation.

***

प्रहृष्टमुदितैः पौरैरुच्छ्रितध्वजमालिनीम्        ।

अयोध्यां मन्थरा दृष्ट्वा परं विस्मयमागता        ॥

श्वः पुष्येण जितक्रोधं यौवराज्येन राघवम्       ।

राजा दशरथो राममभिषेचयितानघम्             ॥

सा दह्यमाना कोपेन मन्थरा पापदर्शिनी          ।

शयानामेत्य कैकेयीमिदं वचनमब्रवीत्            ॥

Manthara ascended to the grand terrace that night and beheld unprecedented celebrations and decorations all over Ayodhya. She saw how extremely happy citizens had decorated every place with strings of flags and festoons. Unable to satisfy her curiosity, she accosted a handmaiden of Kausalya who was dressed for the occasion and was distributing gifts to all. She asked what was the occasion, what great good fortune had come to Ayodhya? The handmaiden replied that on the auspicious morrow king Dasharatha was going to make Sri Rama, one full of virtues and who had conquered anger ( the ultimate test for any human), the Yuvaraja - heir apparent. 

Manthara was the maid who had come to Ayodhya along with Kaikeyi. She knew her mistress from her birth and enjoyed her unquestioning confidence. Her reaction to this news was one of uncontrolled rage. Burning with evil thoughts, she rushed to the sleeping chamber of Kaikeyi and spoke thus:

अक्ष्य्यं सुमहद्देवि प्रवृत्तं त्वद्विनाशनम्              ।

रामं दशरथो राजा यौवराज्येऽभिषेक्ष्यति          ॥

"Kaikeyi, oh most unfortunate one, an unmitigable calamity is going to befall you.  Dasharatha is going to make Rama Yuvaraja!!!"

***

Kaikeyi reacts at once with extreme joy. Even as Manthara is trying to explain what is the calamity, Kaikeyi gives her a precious necklace and says that she would give her even more gifts for this excellent news, for Rama and Bharata are equally dear to her. Meanwhile Manthara is describing to her how the old king is full of cunning and deceit and is doing this to blight Kaikeyi and her son forever.

Why can't Kaikeyi see the truth? She is like someone who ignores a snake in the grass or the enemy coming to attack! Manthara throws away the necklace and changes gear.

अनर्थदर्शिनी मौर्ख्यान्नात्मानमवबुध्यसे            ।

शोकव्यसनविस्तीर्णे मजजन्ती दुःखसागरे       ॥

"Kaikeyi, Oh you fool, even as I see you drowning in the ocean of sorrow, you are unable to see your own situation and what is and is not your welfare।"

दर्पान्निराकृता पूर्वं त्वया सौभाग्यवत्तया          ।

राममाता सपत्नी ते कथं वैरं न यातयेत्           ॥ 

यदा हि रामः पृथिवीमवाप्स्यति              

          ध्रुवं प्रणष्टो भरतो भविष्यति                 ।

अतो हि संचिन्तय राज्यमात्मजे  

          परस्य चैवाद्य विवासकारणम्              ॥ 

"Oh Kaikeyi, in the past, confident of your youthful beauty and privilege with the king, you have ill-treated Kausalya, Rama's mother. Do you not understand the situation of what will now happen? How she will take revenge and destroy you once her son becomes the king?

"Be certain that once Rama becomes the king, unchallenged in the world, your son Bharata will be ruined forever. (He will have to wander in the forest and suvive the most inhospitable life there). Therefore, come to your senses and find a way to ensure today itself how Bharata should earn the kingship, and how Rama should be banished by the king from the kingdom."

***

॥        श्रीरामयजम्         ॥ 

Shiva: The joke is on us, of course!

These thoughts came to me when we were watching Devon ka Dev and also discussing some Shiva stories.

Shiva is one of the Trinity. He is the Great Destroyer who brings creation to a close.

Shiva is the chosen deity for millions in India. In fact Osho says that the largest number of temples in India are dedicated to Shiva. The reason? Osho says it is because we are all afraid of death and we think praying to Shiva will avert death. Shiva is called Mrutyunjaya as he saved the young Markandeya from the noose of death.

The other day someone was asking Sri Sri Ravishankar why do we worship Shiva who drinks bhang (made of opium), an intoxicant. Guruji replied that for Shiva, it means nothing. In fact he drank even poison. So we should go deeper into these stories before we judge anything.

I have been reading Puranas and scriptures for long and a lot more recently. Let me share my thoughts here on Shiva.

If we joke about Shiva as Bholenath (simpleton) or Nanga Baba (naked) or one who drinks Bhang (mast) or running away from Bhasmasura in fear after giving him a boon hastily, we think we are joking about Shiva. But the joke is actually on us!

In all our scriptures, we see constant interactions between God, gods, demons and humans. These stories show many situations and difficulties and troubles very much like our lives. That is because these stories are supposed to make us understand life better and find our way to God. The six enemies - lust, anger, greed, infatuation, arrogance and jealousy - they can trap and pull anyone down. Even a god. Or a saint or a great meditator.

But not God! 

God is called Ishwara in Hinduism. He is the Creator Protector and Destroyer of all creation. For Him creation is just a play. All creation is intrinsically within Ishwara and our sense of individuality and the six enemies I mentioned give us a sense of separation. The path back to our becoming one with Ishwara is to lose this false sense of I-ness and get free from the six enemies.

The path therefore consists of

1. Becoming aware of the six enemies.

2. Fixing a goal beyond immediate material enjoyment and wanting to go back to Ishwara. 

3. Seeking the company of people who are on the right path and getting guidance from an advanced soul.

4. Making it life's top most priority to merge into Ishwara. This is called Moksha or Mukti. 

This ends the repeated cycles of birth and death we experience due to our karmas. 

Karmas are nothing but our thoughts and actions based on our likes and dislikes and prompted by the six enemies. 

By the way the essence of Ishwara in each of us is called Atma. This Atma is falsely identified with body and mind and experiences the six enemies. Once Atma realises his original nature is to be a part of Ishwara, his journey begins.

Ishwara takes the form of Vishnu or Narayana, Shiva, or Devi in the various stories. This is what we call God (not any god). This God is all-knowing, all-powerful and all-loving. He or She is FREE FROM THE SIX ENEMIES. So there is no question of Vishnu doing something cheap or Shiva running away in fear. Let us be VERY CLEAR!

So when Vishnu or Shiva appears helpless, scared, or foolish, remember that He is playing the fool with us. Ultimately the play is for us to realise the path we should get back on.

When we pray to Vishnu, Shiva, or Devi, what is the best prayer?

Oh God, please please help me to get back to you by the best means... Keep me on my guard against the six enemies. Against false identities and baseless fears.

If you believe in yourself, that is enough. You're immortal and eternally blissful within yourself. You can experience it when you lose your false identity with body and mind. God or Ishwara or Shiva or Vishnu or Devi is only for you to reach to your higher self - the Ishwara which encompasses your Atma.

हरिः ॐ तत् सत्

(I pray to Hari who takes me back to my infinite eternal identity. That is not my limited sense of this I-ness).

Valmiki Ramayana - May 31

May 31 - Sargas 5 and 6 of Ayodhya Kanda.

These two sargas describe the fervent anticipation by every single citizen of Ayodhya of the coronation. And also Rama's and Sita's own austerities in preparation for the ceremony on the morrow.

The master story-teller leads us up the garden path and what comes later plunges us into a different sea of sentiment.

***

Once Sir Rama has taken his leave, king Dasharatha, in a display of nervousness, again sends sage Vasishtha to Rama to make sure he spends the night in ritualistic preparation. Sage Vasishtha proceeds in his chariot to Sri Rama's palace, and sees it shining like a white cloud. Valmiki narrates how Rama hastens to receive his preceptor:

***

अभ्येत्य त्वरमाणश्च रथाभ्याशं मनीषिणः।

ततोऽवतरयामास परिगृह्य रथात् स्वयम्  ॥

Sri Rama goes with quick strides to sage Vasishtha's chariot, and respectfully holds the sage's hand and helps him alight from the chariot.

Sage Vasishtha lovingly comes into the palace and instructs Rama on how to do the upavasa (austere ritual) along with Sita through the night preparatory to the coronation. Afterwards, as he proceeds back to the king's palace, he witnesses the upsurge of excitement and joy all around in the city. 

जनवृन्दोर्मि संघर्ष हर्षस्वनवृतस्तदा  ।

बभूव राजमार्गस्य सागरस्यैव निस्वनः ॥

तदा ह्ययोध्यानिलयः सस्त्रीबालाकुलो जनः। 

रामाभिषेकमाकाङ्क्षन्नाकाङ्क्षन्नुदयं रवेः  ॥

The sea of people in a jostle of excitement and joy all through the royal highway resembled a sea with its high noisy waves. 

Every citizen of Ayodhya, child woman and man, moved around in groups. They were full of excited anticipation of Sri Rama's coronation and equally impatient for the sun to rise quickly. 

***

Sage Vasishtha reports to the king that he has given detailed instructions and Rama and Sita will do the needful. King Dasharatha retires to his inner chambers. 

***

Here Sri Rama is in prayer. 

शेषं च हविषस्तस्य प्राश्याशास्यात्मनः प्रियम् । 

ध्यायन्नारायणं देवं स्वास्तीर्णे कुशसंकुरे         ॥

वाग्यतः सह वैदेह्या भूत्वा नियतमानसः       । 

श्रीमत्यायतने विष्णोः शिश्ये नरवरात्मजः     ॥

Sri Rama, son of the king Dasharatha, completed the homa and partook of its prasada along with Sita, praying for their welfare. He proceeded to pray to Lord Narayana in his shrine. Withholding speech, with controlled mind, he lay down along with Sita on the well-spread kusha grass on the floor of Vishnu's shrine and they both slept. 

***

How was the scene in the streets? There was a huge excitement as they got updates that Rama had done his prayers and had now gone to sleep. They were restless in anticipation of the morning. 

सभासु चैव सर्वासु वृक्षेष्वालक्षितेषु च। 

ध्वजाः समुच्छ्रिताश्चित्राः पताकाश्चाभवंस्तदा  ॥

नटनर्तकसंघानां गायकानां च गायताम् ।

मनःकर्णसुखा वाचः शुश्राव जनता ततः   ॥

Every house and building, shops, markets, street squares, every tree and structure seen on every side, was festooned with flags, banners, and buntings. 

Dancers danced in groups, musicians sang and played instruments, people were simply thrilled, listening and watching and taking part in these impromptu celebrations. 

***

The city of Ayodhya resembled Indra's Amaravati. The entire city was in an upsurge. Valmiki compares it an ocean in high tide full of all kinds of aquatic creatures. 

Anyone who has seen dolphins, and even whales, dancing around in the sea, can relate to the imagery. 

I see the whole narrative as about a true democracy where citizens are celebrating their favourite, great, leader's impending coronation. This is how Ayodhya was 5000 years ago on that night! 

***

॥      श्रीरामजयम्       ॥

Valmiki Ramayana - May 30

May 30 - Sargas 3 and 4 of Ayodhya Kanda.

Trust Adi-kavi Valmiki to flood us with imagery and emotions on a scale no modern-day Baahubali type VFX can match, just by his quill. My hair stands on end whenever I think of what a culture I belong to. Remember this was all written five thousand years ago and even the most sceptical estimates place the currently available text several hundred years before CE.

As soon. as Dasharatha announces his plans, Valmiki says the assembled citizens folded their hands like lotuses in delighted reverential acceptance.  

Dasharatha proceeds to request sages Vasishtha and Vamadeva to get everything ready by the next morning, in the auspicious season of spring (Chaitra) that sees all nature resplendent, for the ceremonies.

An elaborate description of the arrangements made by sage Vasishtha follows. We can see an unbroken tradition in our culture of such auspicious festivities full of ritual, prayer and celebration.

The hall of yajnas and such festivities was got up with precious metals -gold and silver, gems, pooja accessories, herbs, garlands of white flowers, freshly washed exquisite white cloth, chariots, horses, elephants, bulls with gold-covered horns, special fans, umbrellas, a hundred golden vessels of holy water glittering like fire, tiger skin for the seat and so on. The entire city with all important gates and doorways had garlands, incense and perfume. The best of sweet rice pudding and curd rice was prepared for the feast for a hundred thousand brahmins.  They would start reciting benedictory verses early morning, being specially seated. Dancers, musicians, and courtesans in all their finery would take their respective places and perform. There would be elaborate prayers and ceremonies of worship in all temples.

The army in their best outfits with long shining weapons would assemble in the fore-yard.

Kings and chiefs from several parts including from outside India were sent for to be present for the occasion.

Satisfied with all the arrangements being made, king Dasharatha sends Sumantra to bring Sri Rama. Sri Rama arrives.

***

गन्धर्वराजप्रतिमं लोके विख्यातपौरुषम्   ।

दीर्घबाहुं महासत्त्वं मत्तमातङ्गगामिनम्      ॥

चन्द्रकान्ताननं राममतीव प्रियदर्शनम्     ।

रूपैरार्यगुणैः पुंसां दृष्टिचित्तापहारिणम्   ॥

धर्माभितप्ताः पर्जन्यं ह्लादयन्तमिव प्रजाः   ।

न ततर्प समायन्तं पश्यमानो नराधिपः       ॥

Beholding Sri Rama arrive, resembling the king of celestials known for their beauty, with his world - renowned valour, long-armed, displaying grand dignity, with the gait of a tusker in musth (a favourite simile among sanskrit poets);

his face radiant like the moon, Sri Rama with his most bewitching form, one to steal the minds and sights of men by his good looks and great virtues - beholding him thus, all those fortunate to see this were like people who had been in the  scorching sun now delighting in cool showers. 

But king Dasharatha!? However much he feasted on the sight of Sri Rama, he was not satisfied!

***

Valmiki delights in describing how Sri Rama ascended the stairs, reached his father who embraced him in utter joy, and made him take his seat among all the courtiers and kings, Sri Rama looked like Mount Meru illumined by sun's golden rays. He looked like the full moon surrounded by a galaxy of stars.

King Dasharatha now spoke to him:

***

ज्येष्ठायामसि मे पत्न्यां सदृश्यां सदृशस्सुतः    ।

उत्पन्नस्त्वं गुणश्रेष्ठो मम रामात्मजः प्रियः      ॥

यतस्त्वया प्रजाश्चेमा स्वगुणैरनुरञ्जिताः     ।

तस्मात्वं पुष्ययोगेन यौवराज्यमवाप्नुहि       ॥

कामतस्त्वं प्रकृत्यैव विनीतो गुणवानासि     ।

गुणवत्यपि तु स्नेहात्पुत्र वक्ष्यामि ते हितम्   ॥

" Oh Rama, you are my son born to my eldest queen, and have taken after her in all qualities. You have been endowed from birth with so many virtues and you are very dear to me.

"The way all people have developed affection for you by your great qualities, you deserve to be my heir. Therefore you shall be anointed the Yuvaraja (heir apparent) in Pushya yoga tomorrow. 

" By your propensities and inborn qualities you are full of humility in addition to all your great merits. Although you are already so virtuous, yet out of my affection and concern for your glory, let me offer you my best advice."

***

King Dasharatha then succinctly instructs Sri Rama in the art of rulership. This is important but I am omitting the details for brevity's sake. Suffice it to say it covers all aspects of economic well-being and military preparedness as well as social concerns.

Sri Rama leaves the king's presence and the people assembled also disperse, feeling as happy as a crowd exiting a stadium after seeing their favourite team win.

The news reaches in no time Kausalya through Rama's well-wishers. She begins in great excitement to prepare gifts of cows and gold and precious gems to be given to all the people tomorrow. 

***

The next sarga begins with a change in background score hinting at some not so joyful developments. 

King Dasharatha once again sends for Sri Rama. Sri Rama is perplexed and disturbed but comes to the king's private chamber quickly. 

Dasharatha tells him, " Oh Rama, you know I have grown old after ruling Ayodhya for a long period of time. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time in every way,  have done my duty by our ancestors and gods, and now am happy that I have you as a worthy successor. By everyone's concurrence you will be made  my heir apparent tomorrow.

"But Rama, there are also ominous portents. Sun, Mars and Rahu are in my birth star and this seems to portend either the king's death or a great calamity. That is why I intend to lose no time in making you Yuvaraja. They say tomorrow is auspicious.

"So Rama, tonight you and Sita should fast and sleep on a bed of darbha grass. Be self-retrained. Make sure you are protected by your well-wishers as many impediments may occur in such situations. Even though Bharata is away, I am going ahead with your consecration. Bharata is very virtuous but even such people may yield to fickleness (stake a claim for the post!?)  So anyway please go and do as I say tonight."

Sri Rama then goes to Kausalya.  She is praying in her private shrine to Narayana and doing Pranayama. Sita too has been called in and also Lakshmana.  Sri Rama tells them of the king's instructions and how he and Sita should prepare for the ceremony.

***

अमोघं बत मे क्षान्तं पुरुषे पुष्करेक्षणे             ।

येयमिक्ष्वाकुराज्यश्रीः पुत्र त्वां संश्रयिष्यति     ॥

Queen Kausalya tells Rama, "my prayers to Lord Vishnu with the lotus eyes have not been in vain. For this goddess of the kingdom of Ikshwakus will be coming to you and gracing you tomorrow. "

Sri Rama turns to Lakshmana and says, 

इत्येवमुक्तो मात्रेदं रामो भ्रातरमब्रवीत्       । 

प्रान्जलिं प्रह्वमासीनमभिवीक्ष्य स्मयन्निव    ॥

लक्ष्मणेमां मया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम्    ।

द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वमियं श्रीरुपस्थिता    ॥ 

After he is thus spoken to by Kausalya, Sri Rama turns to Lakshmana, seated most deferentially, and speaks with a smile on his face: "dear Lakshmana, you shall rule along with me this earth. You are my second soul and you shall enjoy this prosperity and kingship as much as me."

***

॥     श्रीरामजयम्      ॥