February 8 - Sargas 117 and 118 of Yuddha Kanda.
All those readers very upset by sargas 115 and 116 richly deserve to read sargas 117 and 118 which establish, by divine intercession, the real nature of Sri Rama and also reveal the why's of the drama enacted by him as Maya Manushya (human covered with maya). Not only is Devi Sita fully absolved now but also Sri Rama accepts her, revealing his immense joy and love for her.
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Posting the picture above of the lamp is no accident. It symbolizes what we are about to discover, the true light behind the engrossing drama that meets our eyes here in Ramayana.
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Sri Rama, with eyes brimming with tears, keeps quiet, absorbing the uproar of dismay and disapproval from all those around occasioned by his words prompting Devi Sita to enter the fire. Just then something spectacular happens.
All the gods, prominently Kubera, Yama, Indra, Varuna, Mahadeva Shiva, and Brahma himself, arrive there from the heavens in a divine vehicle, glittering magnificently, with their many adornments, and alight near Sri Rama.
Lord Brahma addresses Sri Rama:
कर्ता सर्वस्य लोकस्य श्रेष्ठो ज्ञानवतां वरः ।
उपेक्षसे कथं सीतां पतन्तीं हव्यवाहने ।
कथं देवगणश्रेष्ठमात्मानं नावबुध्यसे ॥
"Being the creator of all the worlds, and the supreme one among those possessing innermost knowledge, the supreme God among all gods, how do you not recognize yourself as such; and allow Devi Sita here to submit to this ordeal of entering the fire!?
"Oh, Lord! You are the original Vasu and the creator of all. You are one among Rudras, one among Sadhyas; the Ashwanis are your ears, the Sun and the Moon your eyes. You are rejecting Sita, acting like a common, unevolved, human!"
Sri Rama looks totally perplexed. He replies,
आत्मानं मानुषं मन्ये रामं दशरथात्मजम् ।
सोऽहं यस्य यतश्चाहं भगवांस्तद्ब्रवीतु मे ॥
"Oh, Lord! I consider myself merely a human, Rama, born as the offspring of King Dasharatha. I need to know more from you, kindly elucidate who I truly am, whence I have come."
Lord Brahma replies,
भवान्नारायणो देवः श्रीमांश्चक्रायुधः प्रभुः
अक्षरं भ्रह्म सत्यं च मध्ये चान्ते च राघव!...
शार्ङ्गधन्वा पुरुषोत्तमः अजितः विष्णुः ...
बुद्धिः सत्त्वं क्षमा दमः उपेन्द्रो मधुसूदनः शरण्यं शरणं आहुः दिव्याः महर्षयः ...
वेदात्मा स्वयं प्रभुः ॐकारः परात्परः दृश्यसे सर्वभूतेषु श्रीवत्सलक्षणः ...
"Oh, Lord! You are Narayana, holding the Chakrayudha, lord of all, infinite Brahman, the truth eternal, the middle and end of all, oh Raghava! Holder of the Sharnga bow, the most supreme being, unconquered, Vishnu himself, you are the intellect, the essence, the quality of forgiveness and self-control in all. You are the one born as Vamana; Madhusudana Vishnu, the ultimate refuge of gods and rishis. You embody the Vedas, all truth, you are Om and beyond everything else. You are seen in all beings, but essentially you are the one bearing the Srivatsa sign on your breast ( an attribute of Mahavishnu)..."
Brahma also describes the glories of Sri Rama in his true nature which closely parallel the Vishwaroopa description of Bhagavan Krishna in Gita's 11th chapter.
Then he adds,
सीता लक्ष्मीर्भवान्विष्णुर्देवः कृष्णः वधार्थं रावणस्येह प्रविष्टो मानुषीं तनुम् ... (त्वां)
अमोघास्ते भविष्यन्ति भक्तिमन्तो नरा भुवि ये नराः कीर्तयिष्यन्ति नास्ति तेषां पराभवः
"Devi Sita is Goddess Lakshmi herself, your divine consort, you being the dark-coloured Mahavishnu. You assumed birth as a mere human only for the destruction of Ravana, as requested by us gods, which you have accomplished in the most incredible and unforgettable manner for the benefit of all. Anyone who has met you and worshipped you as Sri Rama will be blemishless, always successful, and purified. They will never be defeated."
Lord Brahma concludes his prayer to Sri Rama.
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Lord Agni has been waiting for Brahma to finish his prayer. Now he emerges from the blaze, carrying Devi Sita in his arms. Devi Sita's appearance is like molten gold, she is arraigned in a wonderful red silken garment, with fabulous ornaments. Wearing a divine flower garland, with her cascades of black hair, Devi Sita is the ultimate goddess whom Lord Agni presents to Sri Rama.
Agni (Fire-god) now speaks.
"Sri Rama, this is your Devi Sita, and there is no stigma or blemish at all in her. In her word, in her heart, in her mind, or in her vision, this paragon of purity has never lost her fidelity or dedication to you, her valorous man. She was helpless when abducted by the evil rakshasa Ravana in your absence. She was held captive by terrible rakshasis. She was tempted in a hundred ways and tormented in a hundred ways, but she was steadfast and resolute in her total dedication to you and in her rejection of that rakshasa. Accept her with all your heart."
न किञ्चिदभिधात्वया अहमाज्ञापयामि ते "Sri Rama, I am ordering you to ensure that Sita is never hurt by words in future."
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Sri Rama, excellent in speech, stood silently for a moment, his eyes filled with tears. He then spoke to Lord Agni:
अवश्यं चापि लोकेषु सीतापावनमर्हति । दीर्घकालोषिता हीयं रावणान्तःपुरे शुभा ॥
बालिशो बत कामात्मा रामो दशरथात्मजः । इति वक्षन्ति मां लोको जानकीमविशोध्य हि ॥
अनन्यहृदयां सीतां मच्चित्तपरिरक्षिणीम् । अहम्प्यवगच्छामि मैथिलीं जनकात्मजाम् ॥
इमामपि विशालाक्षीं रक्षितां स्वेन तेजसा । रावणो नातिवर्तेत वेलामिव महोदधिः ॥
"Oh, Lord Agni, it was needed for Sita to absolve herself in public view, having been in Ravana's inner palace for so long. If I had readily accepted her back, the people would have attributed it to a physical weakness in me for her. To test her like this, therefore, became essential in the presence of all. I know fully well that Sita has been singularly devoted to me and has cherished me in her heart constantly. Please know also that I understand and trust very well Sita, Maithili, daughter of King Janaka. I also know very well that by the sheer blaze of her purity, the large-eyed Sita was totally inaccessible to Ravana. Ravana was as helpless in accessing Sita as an ocean is helpless in being confined to its shores."
अनन्या हि मया सीता भास्करस्य प्रभा यथा
"Sita is singularly and forever inseparable from me, just as his radiance is always inseparable from the sun."
न विहातुं मया शक्या कीर्तिरात्मवता यथा
"Just as a wise man will never abandon his good reputation, I shall never abandon Sita."
"I thank all of you gods for having come here out of your concern for my welfare and your affection for me. I shall of course follow your words."
इत्येवमुक्त्वा विजयी महाबलः प्रशस्यमानः स्वकृतेन कर्मणा ।
समेत्य रामः प्रियया महायशाः सुखं सुखार्होऽनुबभूव राघवः ॥
"Saying these words, the victorious and greatly valorous Sri Rama, who deserved high praise for his accomplishment, was united with Sita. Sri Rama of great renown felt true happiness, as he fully deserved."
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॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
