March 19 - Sargas 63,64 and 65 of Uttara Kanda.
Shatrughna's coronation. He receives detailed instructions on military strategy against Lavana from Sri Rama. Sri Rama also bestows on him the divine weapon of Mahavishnu for his special mission.
Shartrughna's visit to Sage Valmiki's ashrama.
***
Shatrughna does not accept the idea of being crowned the (future) king of Madhu's kingdom.
कथं तिष्ठत्सु ज्येष्ठेषु कनीयानभिषिच्यते ?
"Oh, Sri Rama, how can a junior sibling be crowned when elder brothers are around, hale and hearty? At the same time, your order shall be followed, I know there is no way of dissent. But consider what you have yourself maintained all along, and also the import of scriptures. Maybe this has fallen on my head because I interjected when Bharata offered to own the problem of Lavana. I proclaimed that I shall go and deal with Lavana. That boast has landed me in this.
अधर्मं जहि काकुत्स्थ मत्कृते रघुनन्दन
"Sri Rama, you alone can absolve me of this adharmic act of accepting kingship out of turn."
Sri Rama said nothing in reply, but simply asked Bharata and Lakshmana to bring all the paraphernalia for the coronation. Shatrughna was crowned in a grand ceremony by the elders and ascetics present. There was rejoicing all around.
The womenfolk led by Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi took care of all the auspicious matters that needed attention. The rishis who had come from Madhu vana near Yamuna felt relieved that Lavana's end was now certain.
Sri Rama now called Shatrughna, and seating him in his lap, gave him a sacred, infallible weapon of Mahavishnu, which had been used by him to rid creation of the menace of two asuras, Madhu and Kaithabha (this Madhu was different from the good Madhu we read about yesterday.) At that time, Vishnu was under the ocean and invisible to all. He deployed this weapon/arrow to kill Madhu and Kaithabha.
***
Sri Rama says pointedly that he did not use this arrow so far, even against Ravana, explaining that it was too powerful and would do much collateral damage.
"Shatrughna, Lavana is arrogant because he has the Shula of Lord Shiva. If he has it in his hand, nobody can kill him. Lavana with his Shula is therefore most dangerous. But Lavana leaves his city without his Shula every morning to satisfy his craving to gorge on animals and rishis. You should bide your time at his eastern gate then. You should invite Lavana to battle before he enters the city to pick up his Shula, and kill him with the Vishnu arrow. I have thus told you how to accomplish your task. That way we are not challenging Lord Shiva's boon."
***
Sri Rama asks Shatrughna to take an immense army and lots of wealth with him. He should take very good care of his men as they will need motivation to fight and serve, away from their families. The role played by one's army in such circumstances is far more important than enjoying the luxuries in the capital.
Sri Rama says Shatrughna should send the army ahead and follow them after a month, alone. When he is in Lavana's territory, the army should not be seen, lest Lavana become battle-ready.
The time to attack Lavana, as Sri Rama says, would be ideally the beginning of summer. The army and rishis should meanwhile go and camp in advance on the bank of the Ganga. They should cross the Ganga after summer (i.e after Lavana's end).
***
Shatrughna followed Sri Rama's strategic instructions to the letter. He reverentially took leave of Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Bharata and started after the recommended wait of a month.
He arrived alone at Sage Valmiki's ashrama after 3 days of travel. He requested the sage that he be allowed to rest in his ashrama for the night and then proceed as ordered by Sri Rama.
Valmiki received Shatrughna with great warmth.
Shatrughna had noticed near the ashrama relics that showed that there had been a great yajna long ago there. He asked the sage to explain what he had seen.
Valmiki told the story of an ancient Ikshwaku king Sudasa. Sudasa had once hunted and killed a rakshasa, who was with a companion in the forest. That companion swore to take revenge, and managed after a long time, during that yajna whose relics Shatrughna had seen, to make Sudasa's son feed impure food made with meat and so on to Vasishtha. The sage was enraged and cursed the son to have the sin of offending his guru. But after coming to know that it was the mischef played by that vengeful rakshasa who had made the king feed the sage polluted food, Vasishtha mitigated the curse and said that the king would be absolved after 12 years.
***
॥ श्रीरामजयम् ॥
