The wonder and mystery of Sanskrit

Namaste 🙏

I am studying many Sanskrit courses under Dr. Sowmya Krishnapur of Vyoma Labs. I am constantly savouring the marvel of the most evolved language on earth. You can also join different courses and improve your Sanskrit at Vyoma Labs.

Here is a famous shloka from Valmiki Ramayana. 

कौसल्या सुप्रजा राम पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते ।

उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल कर्तव्यं दैवमाह्निकम् ॥१-२३-२॥

This also happens to be the first shloka of the famous Sri Venkateshvara Suprabhatam. 

Now, using this, let me share here some insights into the structure of the Sanskrit language!

 In this shloka, Sage Vishwamitra is waking up Sri Rama and Lakshmana at dawn. They are on their way with the sage to protect his Yajna and defeat the demons who are giving the sage trouble. Indeed, Sage Vishwamitra is highly advanced in all aspects of knowledge including spiritual wisdom and use of divine weapons in warfare. He teaches and gives Sri Rama many divine weapons which Sri Rama uses later in his battles. But as is his wont, the sage does not resort to violence or anger during his Yajnas. So he requests Emperor Dasharatha to send Sri Rama (and Lakshmana) to go defend the Yajna against attacks, assuring him that the young Sri Rama is perfectly capable of doing the job. Sage Vasishtha, the Kulaguru of the Emperor, assures Dasharatha that this trip with Sage Vaishwamitra will prove most educative and beneficial to Sri Rama (and Lakshmana). 

You can read my detailed blog on Valmiki Ramayana here. I have read and written a detailed narrative based on the original test in Sanskrit over an entire year.

1. What is the basic meaning of this shloka?

Sage Vishwamitra wakes up Sri Rama with these words, " Queen Kausalya is indeed blessed to have you as her son, Sri Rama! Please note that the eastern sky is red with the rising sun. It is time, so wake up, oh lion among men! You have to perform your morning Sandhyavandanam, i.e. worship of the gods now."

2 The shloka structure

कौसल्या सुप्रजा - "Queen Kausalya is a mother blessed with a son such as you!"

राम - "Oh Rama!"

 पूर्वा संध्या प्रवर्तते । - "The eastern/morning twilight i.e. dawn is now."

उत्तिष्ठ नरशार्दूल - "Rise, oh lion among men!"

कर्तव्यं दैवम् आह्निकम् - " It's your duty to perform the morning worship." 

3 The types of words used here

Verbs -

अस्ति  = is, which is not stated but implied (Kausalya is blessed), 

प्रवर्तते = is happening,

उत्तिष्ठ  = Arise!

Verbal Noun -

कर्तव्यम् - what must be done, i.e. duty.

Nouns -

कौसल्या - Kausalya, a name. This is in feminine gender, singular, nominative.

सुप्रजा - a blessed mother, this is an adjectival noun called विशेषण in Sanskrit, and qualifies Kausalya.

सन्ध्या - Twilight. 

पूर्वा - Eastern, an adjectival noun such that पूर्वा सन्ध्या = Dawn. 

राम! नरशार्दूल! = Rama! Lion among men! These are vocatives addressed to Rama. So they are call-out words.

कर्तव्यम् = Must be done.

दैवम् = Addressed to the gods.

आह्निकम् = The daily prayer.  (Done 3/4 times a day, at dawn, noon, dusk; and midnight sometimes.)

So stringing them together,

"Kausalya (is) a blessed mother, oh Rama! It is dawn. Arise, oh lion among men, for it is your duty now to perform the morning prayer."

The lyrical beauty of the shloka

By beginning his line with the name of Sri Rama's mother, Kausalya, the sage is instantly attracting the full attention of the young Sri Rama. By saying she is blessed to have him as her son, the sage is filling the prince with great positivity. This is a must when we wake up someone!

"Rama! It is dawn. Arise! You have to perform your morning prayer now." This is coming from the sage as an instruction, as he is now the Guru guiding Sri Rama. 

We can be sure Sri Rama responds well to this word from his Guru!

The shloka is set in a metre of 4 parts of eight syllables each. This is called Anushtup Chandas (अनुष्टुप् छन्दः).

Valmiki was the world's first poet, his Ramayana was the first poem, and this metre is the earliest metre in Sanskrit literature, and also the most pervasive. Both Ramayana and Mahabharata are mostly in Anushtup Chandas.

Rangoli

Living with a Violinist Robot

There is an invigorating debate among my IIT friends about this robot playing the violin. The summary of the majority view is

1. AI and LLM will overtake humans. 

2. Man took 2 billion years to be here but AI will do it in say a decade. 

3. Man is just some carbon stuff. This is silicon stuff. No need to discard its excellence. 

4. Music can be coded and robotic music be as great as what we like among human musicians, if not better. 

My own view:

1. A robot has no soul. Music comes from the soul although it is processed and presented by the mind-body complex. 

2. A robot can not enjoy music. So even if he produces music, he will be a fake! 

3. We are underestimating the human faculties of love, bliss and aesthetic creativity. To think man can put it into code and make a Deep Learning Robot a better version of himself is highly underestimating man. In other words, it is underestimating Bhagavan, in whose image man has been created. 

If man can create a machine better than himself, he is actually destroying Bhagavan. Will that day come? 

शारदे करुणानिधे

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEu8hyT64tg

शारदे करुणानिधे Oh Devi Sharada, Treasure-house of Grace

सकलान् अव अम्ब सदा जनान्, Mother, protect all people always

चारणादि महित – You are praised by all panegyrists

वैभव पूरित अखिल दिक्तटे Your fame fills the world in all the directions

 

भर्म भूषण भूषिते – You are adorned with gold ornaments

वर रत्न मौलि विराजिते – You are resplendent with a bejewelled crown

शर्म दायिनि – Giver of prosperity and wellbeing!

कर्म मोचनि – Remover of past karmas!

निर्मलम् कुरु मानसम् – Please purify our minds!

 

हस्त सन्धृत पुस्तक अक्षपटि सुधाघट मुद्रिते - In your four hands, you beautifully hold Pustaka (vedas), Japamala, pot of Amrita, and gesture of grace

कः तव अस्ति हि वर्णने चतुरो नर, खेचरो अथवा – Who among men or gods is there who can indeed describe your glory?

 

***

Raghuvamsha - 12th Sarga in English (Free Verse)

The divine sounds of the Veena

 

Thanks to a talk I heard on Youtube by Dr. H. V. Nagaraja Rao on Bhāsa's 3c. BCE play Pratijñā Yaugandharāyaṇa, I came across this wonderful shloka on the divine sounds of the Veena.

The hero of the play, King Udayana, is a master at capturing wild elephants by simply playing his special Veena. The name of the Veena is Ghoṣavatī. When Udayana is tricked by his rival king and captured, his Veena is also captured*. When the Veena is brought into his presence, the rival king describes it in this verse.

इयं सा घोषवती नाम! Oh, here is the Veena called Ghoṣavatī! 

यैषा She is indeed the one described thus:

श्रुतिसुखमधुरा By her sonorous tuning, she is so sweet 

स्वभावरक्ता by her nature, she is alluring 

करज-मुख-उल्लिखित-अग्र-घृष्ट-तन्त्री By the nails of one's fingers are stroked at the right place her strings

ऋषिवचनगतेव Like the words of great sages 

मन्त्रविद्या endowed with mystical powers 

गजहृदयानि  the hearts of elephants 

बलात् forcefully

वशीकरोति she captures! 

By her nature is the Veena tuneful, sweet and alluring. 

Her strings are played by one's nails delicately. 

Endowed with mystical powers like a Rishi's words, 

She entices elephants irresistibly! 

We have been fortunate to listen to vainikas who can captivate us like this. Imagine someone who can capture elephants by such divine Veena music! 

जय भारती! 

* This play describes how Udayana's minister Yaugandharāyaṇa  vows and succeeds in releasing him from captivity! 

 

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 104

 जय श्रीराम!

रघुपतिरपि जातवेदोविशुद्धां प्रगृह्य प्रियां

प्रियसुहृदि विभीषणे संगमय्य श्रियं वैरिणः । 

रविसुतसहितेन तेनानुयातः ससौमित्रिणा भुजविजितविमानरत्नाधिरूढः प्रतस्थे पुरीम् ॥१२.१०४॥  

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Śrīrāma too started back after accepting and embracing his dear wife Sītā pure as the blazing sacred fire. He first handed over to the good Vibhīṣaṇa the kingdom he had won from Rāvaṇa. Then he boarded the sacred Puṣpakavimāna he had rightfully won in battle, and, accompanied by Sītā, Lakṣmaṇa, Vibhīṣaṇa, Sugrīva, and others (Hanumān, of course), Śrīrāma flew to his capital, Ayodhyā."

Interestingly, the Puṣpakavimāna was the official vehicle given to the good Kubera by Brahmā. This was violently seized by Rāvaṇa. While Śrīrāma travelled to Ayodhyā in it, he duly returned it to Kubera. Kubera sent it back to Śrīrāma, saying as Dharma incarnate, Śrīrāma deserved to keep it and use it as the king of Ayodhyā. All this is described in great detail by Vālmīki.

***

जय श्रीराम!

॥ इति रघुवंशे रावणवधो नाम द्वादशस्सर्गः समाप्तः ॥

*** The End ***

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 103

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 जय श्रीराम!

Sorry, I cannot find a good enough image to fit Kālidāsa's description.

यन्ता हरेः सपदि संहृतकार्मुकज्याम् 

आपृच्छ्य राघवमनुष्ठितदेवकार्यम् । 

नामाङ्करावणशराङ्कितकेतुयष्टिम्

 ऊर्ध्वं रथं हरिसहस्रयुजं निनाय ॥१२.१०३॥

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "The charioteer of Hari now sought leave of the hero who had accomplished the mission for the gods (of killing Rāvaṇa), seeing upon that Śrīrāma now loosened the bowstring signalling the end of the battle. Thus, the chariot, pecked in its flagstaff by mighty arrows marked with Rāvaṇa̍s glorious name, was flown to heavens drawn by a thousand horses."

Hari = Mahāviṣṇu now incarnate as Śrīrāma. Also Indra. In the second line, Hari = horses! The power of Sanskrit, my friend!

***

जय श्रीराम!

t

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 102

 जय श्रीराम!

Sorry, I cannot find a good enough image to fit Kālidāsa's description.

अथ मदगुरुपक्षैर्लोकपालद्विपानाम्

अनुगतमलिवृन्दैर्गण्डभित्तीर्विहाय । 

उपनतमणिबन्धे मूर्ध्नि पौलस्त्यशत्रोः 

सुरभि सुरविमुक्तं पुष्पवर्षं पपात ॥१२.१०२॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "The gods who had assembled in the skies were seated on the eight guardian elephants of the quarters. Each of these mighty elephants was in musth oozing the fragrant juice on the cheeks attracting bees. This huge swarm of bees were drinking the nectarine juice but could hardly fly as their wings became heavy as they also soaked up the juice. The bees forsook the elephants the moment the gods started showering heavenly flowers on the victorious Śrīrāma who had killed Rāvaṇa. The bees were drawn to the fragrant flowers and joined them in their descent as they came and virtually crowned the hero, mimicking the soon-to-be coronation of Śrīrāma."

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 101

 1

 जय श्रीराम!

मरुतां पश्यतां तस्य शिरांसि पतितान्यपि । 

मनो नातिविशश्वास पुनः सन्धानशङ्किनाम् ॥१२.१०१॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Even after beholding the row of Rāvaṇaa's heads being cut off and dropping to the ground, the minds of the deities called Maruts were still sceptical, fearing that as before, the heads might rise and rejoin, bringing Rāvaṇa back to life".

***

जय श्रीराम!

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Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 100

 जय श्रीराम!

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बालार्कप्रतिमेवाप्सु वीचिभिन्ना पतिष्यतः । 

रराज रक्षःकायस्य कण्ठच्छेदपरम्परा ॥१२.१००॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Once Rāvaṇa was decapitated, the row of his necks once attached but now separated from his body,  looked, as his body dropped off,  like red discs at the neck, similar to the multitude of reflections in the water of the red rising sun, the reflections being separated by the lapping waves."

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 98 & 99

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 जय श्रीराम!

1

तद्व्योमि शतधा भिन्नं ददृशे दीप्तिमन्मुखम् । 

वपुर्महोरगस्येव करालफणमण्डलम् ॥१२.९८॥ 

तेन मन्त्रप्रयुक्तेन निमेषार्धादपातयत् । 

स रावणशिरःपङ्क्तिमज्ञातव्रणवेदनाम् ॥१२.९९॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "That Brahmāstra sped in the sky, with its arrow tip splitting into a hundred fiery heads, the Astra appearing like the great serpent Ādiśeṣa himself with his fearsome array of glowing heads."

"By that sacred arrow, invoked with incantations, in a split-second,  Śrīrāma cut down surgically and felled the entire row of Rāvaṇa's ten heads, with the Rākṣasa's heads not displaying any signs of feeling the pain of decapitation!"

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 97

 जय श्रीराम!

1

अमोघं संदधे चास्मै धनुष्येकधनुर्धरः ।

 ब्राह्ममस्त्रं प्रियाशोकशल्यनिष्कर्षणौषधम् ॥१२.९७॥  

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Now Śrīrāma, that archer non-pareil, set to his bow the ultimate weapon, Brahmāstra, which was infallible in its mission always, pointing it at Rāvaṇa. It was also aimed to relieve the grief that Devī Sītā was suffering from, a constant and unbearable pain akin to that of a torturous arrow-fragment embedded in one's flesh., This Brahmāstra would pluck out that source of pain and be the healing balm to Sītā."

***

जय श्रीराम!

विश्व-संस्कृतदिनम् World Sanskrit Day

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 96

 जय श्रीराम!

1

राघवो रथमप्राप्तां तामाशां च सुरद्विषाम् ।

अर्धचन्द्रमुखैर्बाणैश्चिच्छेद कदलीसुखम् ॥१२.९६॥     

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Even before that deadly spiked Śataghnī reached Śrīrāma's chariot, Śrīrāma used a crescent-moon shape-tipped arrow and cut it down. Indeed, he destroyed that deadly weapon as easily as cutting down a banana plant! Simultaneously, he cut down any hopes of victory among the Rākṣasas, as they witnessed their hero's inability to deal with Śrīrāma!"

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 95

 जय श्रीराम!

 अयश्शङ्कुचितां रक्षः शतघ्नीमथ शत्रवे ।

हृतां वैवस्वतस्यैव कूटशाल्मलिमक्षिपत् ॥१२.९५॥  

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Now Rāvaṇa hurled at Śrīrāma a mace studded with iron nails as fearsome as the proverbial weapon of thorns used by Yama in hell to torture the sinful, and it seemed as if Rāvaṇa had snatched it from him!".

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 94

 जय श्रीराम!

कृतप्रतिकृतप्रीतैस्तयोर्मुक्तां सुरासुरैः । 

परस्परशरव्रातः पुष्पवृष्टिं न सेहिरे ॥१२.९४॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Just as the two adversaries were fighting fiercely, i.e. Śrīrāma and Rāvaṇa, they also had their partisan cheerleaders among gods and demons in competition. The gods were showering flowers on their hero Śrīrāma for his prowess, but the flowers were intercepted by the flying missiles from Rāvaṇa. Similarly, the flowers being showered on Rāvaṇa by the demons were dispelled by the arrows filling the air as they emanated from Śrīrāma̍s bow". It was a melee of flying objects indeed! 

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 93

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 जय श्रीराम!

विक्रमव्यतिहारेण सामान्याभूद्द्वयोरपि । 

जयश्रीरन्तरा वेदिर्मत्तवारणयोरिव ॥१२.९३॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "The Goddess of Victory seemed to be oscillating between the heroes Śrīrāma and Rāvaṇa such that she became as it were the common ground for their fight, much like the mound of earth is claimed by warring tuskers in musth as they fight thereon." 

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 92

 जय श्रीराम!

वचसैव तयोर्वाक्यम् अस्त्रमस्त्रेण निघ्नतोः ।

अन्योन्यजयसंर्म्भो ववृधे वादिनोरिव ॥१२.९२॥ 

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "The battle continued between these two equally formidable combatants who were destroying each other's weapons with their own in a way like a debate would simply keep escalating  between two disputants endlessly by their matched abilities."

So even after piercing his heart with his arrow, Śrīrāma found that Rāvaṇa was not terminated and continued to fight with undiminished vigour.

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 91

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 जय श्रीराम!

रावणस्यापि रामास्तो भित्वा हृदयमाशुगः । 

विवेश भुवमाख्यातुमुरगेभ्य इव प्रियम् ॥१२.९१॥   

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "And then, even Śrīrāma's swift arrow pierced through Rāvaṇa's heart and sped into the nether world to spread among the serpents there the good news of Rāvaṇa's end."

***

जय श्रीराम!

Kālidāsa's Raghuvaṃśa 12th Sarga - 90

 जय श्रीराम!

तस्य स्फुरति पौलस्त्यः सीतासङ्गमशंसिनि । 

निचखानाधिकक्रोधः शरं स्व्येतरे भुजे ॥१२.९०॥  

Notes: Kālidāsa says, "Rāvaṇa, on beholding the massive right shoulder and upper arm of Śrīrāma which throbbed and as such suggested how much it would receive the affectionate embrace of Sītā, was provoked into even greater rage of jealousy and dug up from his quiver his arrows  and fired at it."

***

जय श्रीराम!

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.

***

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."

***

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!