The Infallible Medicine

 

Swami Premananda ji Maharaj of Brindavan Bhajan Marg quoted this verse from Sei am Charit Manas Uttar Kanda:

The ultimate medicine for removing the three terrible ills of this world is the Lord's name! May the Lord be compassionate and grant me this medicine always!

Ravana in Shiva Purana

Asutosh Rana as Ravana in Hamare Ram theatrical play

Was Ravana the supreme devotee of Shiva? Read Shiva Purana (Motilal Banarasidass)

Corrections:

Talk on Mahaveera Hanuman

Did Ravana act as a Priest for Rama at Rameshwaram?

There is a story being circulated, based on a video of Sri Sri Ravishankar, that

1. Rama wanted to worship Shiva at Rameshwaram before building the bridge. 

2. He invited the maha brahmana Ravana to be the priest.

3. Ravana came and told Rama he needed his wife alongside to do the pooja.

4. Rama offered to have a sand image of Sita. 

5. Ravana said he will bring Sita herself and brought her over in Pushpaka vimana.

6. Rama and Sita worshipped Shiva with Ravana acting as the priest. 

7. When Rama bowed down to Ravana, he blessed him. "Vijayi Bhava."

8. Sita was taken back to Ashoka Vana, and the rest is history. 

I do not buy this story.

Ravana was a despicable character and there is no way Rama would have requested him to be the priest. In fact Shiva has never said Ravana is his great devotee anywhere. He in fact congratulated Rama after killing Ravana, according to Valmiki. 

Somebody says it is in Adhyatma Ramayana. I have taken the trouble to source a translation of it as below. No such story there.

Postscript: I have scanned Adhyatma Ramayana portion from Gita Press in Kannada below. It says exactly the same as the English one. 

The pinnacle of Indian dance - Odissi by Sujata Mohapatra

Vid. Sujata Mohapatra is the daughter-in-law and disciple of Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She is the goddess of Indian dance as far as I know. Watch her here in a very recent performance, depicting prayers to Sri Rama, Krishna and so on. I give below a shloka she dances to extolling Sri Rama and its meaning. 

 केकीक्ण्ठाभनिइलम् 

सुरवरविलसद्- 

विप्रपादाब्जचिह्नम् 

 शोभाढ्यं पीतवस्त्रं 

सरसिजनयनं 

सर्वदा सुप्रसन्नम् । 

 पाणौ नाराचचापं 

 कपिनिकरयुतं 

बन्धुना सेव्यमानम् 

 नौमीड्यं  जानकीशं 

 रघुवरमनिशं 

पुष्पकारूढरामम् ॥ 

With his mien of a colour like that of the neck of a peacock, 

The supreme among gods bearing the mark of sage Bhrigu's lotus feet on his chest, 

Resplendent, Wearing a golden yellow garment, 

With lotus-like eyes, 

Forever smiling cheerfully! 

Holding a sharp arrow and bow in his hands, 

Surrounded by an army of monkeys, 

Served by his brother Lakshmana always, 

 I bow down to Him, worshippable, the husband of Janaki/Sita, 

The supreme one of Raghu clan, lord of all, 

Enthroned on the Pushpaka, Sri Rama!

संक्षिप्तरामायणम्

यज्ञरक्षण-धनुर्भञ्जन-जनकजारमणम्। 

वचनपालन-भरतमेलन-मुनिजनादरणम् ॥

खलनिषूदन-हृतप्रिया-घन-वनविपर्यटनम्

हनुमदर्शन-सिन्धुतारण-दुष्टनिग्रहणम् ॥

सुजनपालन-धर्मस्थापन-लोकसंभरणम्।

इति निरूपित अति मुदार्पित राम-अवतरणम् ॥

November 5, 2017 : Rama's Joy and Gratitude

|| śrīmadvālmīkirāmāyaṇam - pañcavatī kuṭīraḥ || ... contd.

sa taṃ dṛṣṭvā kṛtaṃ saumyaṃ āśramaṃ saha sītayā

rāghavaḥ parṇaśālāyāṃ harṣam āhārayat param ||3.15.26 ||

susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ tadā

ati snigdhaṃ ca gāḍhaṃ ca vacanaṃ ca idam abravīt || 3.15.27 ||

prīto'smi te mahat karma tvayā kṛtaṃ idaṃ prabho

pradeyo yannimittaṃ te pariṣvaṅgo mayā kṛtaḥ ||3.15.28 ||

bhāvajñena kṛtajñena dharmajñena ca lakṣmaṇa 

tvayā putreṇa dharmātmā na samvṛttaḥ pitā mama ||3.15.29 ||

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

saḥ rāghavaḥ saha sītayā - He, Rama, along with Sita,

dṛṣṭvā taṃ saumyaṃ  kṛtaṃ āśramaṃ parṇaśālāyāṃ - on seeing that elegantly built cottage of leaves, straw and bamboo,

āhārayat param harṣam - wore a look of extreme joy.

tadā  susaṃhṛṣṭaḥ pariṣvajya bāhubhyāṃ lakṣmaṇaṃ - Then, filled with abundant joy, embracing with his arms, Lakshmana, 

ati snigdhaṃ ca gāḍhaṃ ca - endearingly and tightly, 

abravīt idam vacanaṃ - Uttered these words:

prabho idaṃ mahat karma tvayā kṛtaṃ prīto'smi te - Dear Sir, by this mighty accomplishment (=cottage construction from scratch in the forest) of yours, I feel so pleased by you.

pariṣvaṅgo mayā kṛtaḥ te yannimittaṃ pradeyaḥ- this embrace of mine is indeed a mere token of my gratitude given to you.

lakṣmaṇa tvayā putreṇa bhāvajñena kṛtajñena dharmajñena  ca - Oh Lakshmana, by virtue of your being the son, so full of affection, competency, and your righteous sense of duty, 

pitā mama dharmātmā na samvṛttaḥ - it is as if my departed father, a noble soul, very much lives on! (he is not dead but lives through your glorious action!)

In these verses, a number of lofty ideals espoused by Ramayana are depicted. Love, duty, competency, gratitude, respectful memory of the departed father, and how the good deeds of the sons are reflected upon as the glory of their parents. 

November 4, 2017 : Lakshmana's Engineering Skills

|| śrīmadvālmīkirāmāyaṇam - pañcavatī kuṭīraḥ ||

parṇaśālāṃ suvipulāṃ tatra saṅghātamṛttikām |

sustaṃbhāṃ maskarairdīrghaiḥ kṛtavaṃśāṃ suśobhanām || 3.15.21 ||

śamīśākhābhiḥ āstīrya dhṛḍhapāśāvapāśitām 

kuśakāśaśaraiḥ parṇaiḥ suparicchāditāṃ tathā ||3.15.22 ||

samīkṛtatalāṃ ramyāṃ cakāra sumahābalaḥ

nivāsaṃ rāghavasya arthe prekṣaṇīyām anuttamām | 3.15.23 ||

Re-ordered Word-by-word meaning

sumahābalaḥ cakāra - The mighty armed one (Lakshmana) constructed

suvipulāṃ  parṇaśālāṃ saṅghātamṛttikām tatra - a large cottage made of leaves etc. on a mound of mud gathered on that spot;

sustaṃbhāṃ maskarairdīrghaiḥ kṛtavaṃśāṃ suśobhanām -erected on strong pillar-posts made up of long bamboo poles looking beautiful, 

śamīśākhābhiḥ āstīrya dhṛḍhapāśāvapāśitām - canopied with the branches of Shami tree bound strong with ropes, 

tathā samīkṛtatalāṃ  kuśakāśaśaraiḥ parṇaiḥ suparicchāditāṃ - and then evenly carpeted with the gathered Kusha grass shoots and leaves spread beautifully, 

ramyāṃ nivāsaṃ rāghavasya arthe prekṣaṇīyām anuttamām -

a beautiful residence for Rama's sake, which was worth gazing at and incomparable in form.

Valmiki spares no effort in commending the ability and dedication of Prince Lakshmana who had accompanied Rama and Sita to the forest voluntarily, to be of constant service to them. His engineering skills find mention here.

We shall next cover Rama's reaction on seeing the cottage.

October 28, 2017 : The Heroic Jatayu

                           ||    śrīmadvālmīkirāmāyaṇam   ||

 sā hṛtā rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā

māyām āsthāya vipulāṃ vātadurdinasaṅkulām        || 3.68.9 ||

pariklāntasya me tāta pakṣau chittvā niśācaraḥ

sītām ādāya vaidehīṃ prayāto dakṣiṇā mukhaḥ     || 3.68.10 ||

uparudhyanti me prāṇā dṛṣṭir bhramati rāghava

paśyāmi vṛkṣān sauvarṇan uśīrakṛtamūrdhajān    || 3.68.11 ||

yena yāti muhūrtena sītām ādāya rāvaṇaḥ

vipranaṣṭaṃ dhanaṃ kṣipraṃ tat svāmi pratipadyate ||3.68.12||

vindo nāma muhūrto asau sa ca kākutstha na abudhat 

tvat priyām jānakīṃ hṛtvā rāvaṇo rākṣaseśvara 

jhaṣavat baḍiṣāṃ gṛhya kṣipraṃ eva vinaśyati                     ||3.68.13 ||

na ca tvayā vyathā kāryā janakasya sutāṃ prati

vaidehyā ramsase kṣipraṃ hatvā taṃ raṇamurdhani             ||3.68.14 ||

Re-ordered word by word meaning

Jatayu spoke thus to Rama:

sā hṛtā rākṣasendreṇa rāvaṇena durātmanā
āsthāya māyām  vipulāṃ vātadurdinasaṅkulām    - She was abducted by the king of demons, Ravana, the evil-souled one, by resorting to magic and creating the illusion of heavy, dark, stormy, and cloudy skies (thereby disrupting the powers of the eagle king Jatayu).
 tāta niśācaraḥ chittvā me pakṣau pariklāntasya 
sītām ādāya vaidehīṃ prayāto dakṣiṇā mukhaḥ   - Oh Rama, that demon, after cutting off my wings as I was exhausted, taking Sita, flew towards the southern direction.
rāghava me prāṇāḥ uparudhyanti dṛṣṭir bhramati 
paśyāmi sauvarṇan uśīrakṛtamūrdhajānvṛkṣān  - Oh Raghava, my airs (=breath) are stifled and dying, my eyes are disoriented, I see (hallucinations of) trees which are golden and topped with Usheera fragrant grass !
yena muhūrtena rāvaṇaḥ yāti ādāya sītām  - by virtue of the time=muhurta when Ravana went, taking Sita, 
vipranaṣṭaṃ dhanaṃ kṣipraṃ tat svāmi pratipadyate    - (it is so destined that) any good man who has utterly and totally suffered a loss of fortunem even he, will quickly regain it!    
kākutstha muhūrto  vindaḥ nāma ca sa  na abudhat asau  - Oh Scion of the Kakutstha dynasty, this muhurta is called Vinda, and he, Ravana, did not comprehend it.
hṛtvā tvat priyām jānakīṃ rāvaṇaḥ rākṣaseśvaraḥ - Having abducted your wife/consort Janaki, Ravana, that king of demons, 
eva jhaṣavat gṛhya baḍiṣāṃ kṣipraṃ vinaśyati - like a fish that has swallowed the bait, shall soon perish.                   
ca tvayā na vyathā kāryā janakasya sutāṃ prati - Therefore there need be by you no lamentation or sorrow towards Janaka's daughter.

kṣipraṃ hatvā taṃ raṇamurdhani - soon, after killing him in a prime battle,       
vaidehyā ramsase - you shall be united in joy with your beloved, Vaidehi.

Jatayu is the epitome of righteousness and civic duty. He dies giving hope and solace to Rama, and assuring him that he will be soon reunited with Sita. 

And the poet shows how Jatayu was more enlightened than Ravana, also a scholar in many ways.

The story of Ramayana is replete with epic moments, and even more so, epic characters. How blessed are we!

October 26, 2017: Mother and Motherland

śrīmad vālmīki rāmāyaṇam - yuddhakāṇḍam 

paṅkadigdhastu bharato jatilastvāṃ pratīkṣate   |

pāduke te puraskṛtya sarvaṃ ca kuśalaṃ gṛhe   ||  7.124.4  ||

mitrāṇi dhanadhānyāni prajānāṃ sammatānīha   |

jananī janmabhūmiśca svargādapi garīyasi ||  6.124.17 ||

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

tu - However,

bharataḥ - (That) Bharata,

paṅkadigdhaḥ - covered all over with mud slush (as he lived in a hole in the ground as a penance during Rama's banishment)

 jatilaḥ - with matted locks, 

puraskṛtya te pāduke - worshipping on the throne your padukas (wooden sandals as a symbol of your gracious presence),

pratīkṣate tvāṃ  - eagerly awaits you.

sarvaṃ ca kuśalaṃ gṛhe - And all is well at your home.

iha - In this world, 

sammatāni - are valued

prajānāṃ - by the people (these things):

mitrāṇi - friends and kinsfolk,

dhanadhānyāni - wealth and material abundance.

jananī ca - After all, one's mother, and

janmabhūmiḥ - one's motherland,

garīyasi svargādapi -  excels in greatness even Heaven.

These famous shlokas are uttered by the great sage Bharadwaja whom Rama meets enroute from Lanka in Pushpaka Vimana for blessings. Bharadwaja says how by his mystic power he was aware of all the happenings in Rama's forest exile including Sita's abduction, the alliance with the monkey-chief, the building of the bridge over the sea by Nala, the great battle and the slaying of Ravana with his entire clan.

Then he states these words, in the context of the imminent return of Rama to his kingdom.

The concept of patriotism is intrinsic to our culture, and explained so well in the original epic, Ramayana. 

September 29, 2017: Happy Vijaya Greetings!

|| śrīmad vālmīkirāmāyanam ||

rāmo vigrahavān dharmaḥ sādhuḥ satyaparākramaḥ |

rājā sarvasya lokasya devānāṃ iva vāsavahaḥ   || 3-37-13

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

rāmaḥ vigrahavān dharmaḥ - Rama is the personification of righteousness.

sādhuḥ satyaparākramaḥ - He is virtuous, and by upholding Truth is supremely valorous,

rājā sarvasya lokasya - such that he is naturally the supreme king of all mankind, 

devānāṃ iva vāsavahaḥ -just as Indra is indubitably the lord of all the gods.  

While extending everyone the Vijayadashami greetings, I am quoting this shloka. The words Ramo Vigrahavan Dharmah are very often heard in every discussion of Rama's pesonality. Do you know who said these words in the Valmiki Ramayana? 

Be surprised: it is Mareecha! Yes, the same Mareecha driven away by a young Rama during the Vishwamitra sacrifice, and who is compelled by his nephew Ravana at "gun point" to take the form of a golden deer to lure Sita and Rama. Mareecha tells Ravana that it is extremely foolhardy to try and trick Rama, for he is righteous and powerful, and the natural lord of all. 

I am taking a sabbatical for 7 days, see you soon!

PS: The picture is of the latest postage stamp collection released by PM Sri Narendra Modi recently in Varanasi.

September 27, 2017: Tulasi Ramayana

|| śrī tulasīdāsa viracita rāmacaritamānasa nāndīślokaḥ ||

yanmāyāvaśavarti viśvamakhilaṃ brahmādidevāsurā

yatsattvādamṛṣaiva bhāti sakalaṃ rajjau yathāhebhramaḥ |

yatpādaplavamekameva hi bhavāmbodhestitīrṣāvatāṃ

vande'haṃ tamaśeṣakāraṇaparaṃ rāmākhyamīśaṃ harim    ||

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

ahaṃ vande harim īśaṃ  - I bow down to Hari, Narayana, the Supreme God,

tam aśeṣakāraṇaparaṃ - Him, who is above and beyond all causes ( as the Primal Cause),

rāmākhyam - and goes by the name of Rama! And who is that One

yanmāyāvaśavarti viśvam akhilaṃ - by whose Maya, this entire creation is possessed, 

brahmādidevāsurāḥ - which includes Brahma and other gods as well as demons;

yatsattvāt sakalaṃ bhāti amṛṣā eva  - by whose essence, everything appears to be indeed real (in the sense of permanent),

yathā hebhramaḥ rajjau  - just like a serpent is seen by illusion in a mere rope,

yatpāda plavam ekam eva hi - and whose holy feet are like the only boat for

titīrṣāvatāṃ bhavāmbodheḥ  -those desirous of crossing the ocean of worldliness.

Glory to Goswami Tulsidas, who retold the Ramayana in that exquisite poetry overflowing with devotion and wisdom!

Glory to Gita Press for spreading our scriptures through their books.

Happy Navaratri!

September 26, 2017: Navarasa Ramayana

svāmī bodhendra viracita navarasaślokam

śṛṅgāraṃ kṣitinandinīviharaṇe

vīraṃ dhanurbhanjane

kāruṇyaṃ balibhojane

adbutarasaṃ sindhau giristhāpane

hāsyaṃ śūrpanakāmukhe

bhayamaghe 

bhībhatsaṃ anyāmukhe

raudraṃ rāvaṇamardane

munijane śāntaṃ vapuḥ pātu naḥ

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

pātu naḥ vapuḥ - May (that Rama) protect us, who is the emobodiment (of the following moods/emotions/rasas in respective contexts):

śṛṅgāraṃ kṣitinandinīviharaṇe - of romantic love during his happy roamings with Sita, the daughter of Earth, 

vīraṃ dhanurbhanjane - of valour during His breaking Shiva's bow in Janaka's court (leading to his marriage with Sita),

kāruṇyaṃ balibhojane - of compassion whilst partaking of the offering from Shabari,

adbutarasaṃ sindhau giristhāpane - of astonishment during the wonderful construction of the bridge across the sea, 

hāsyaṃ śūrpanakāmukhe - of humour in the face of Shurpanakha's unceasing and importunate overtures (leading to her defacement by Lakshmana)

bhayamaghe - of fear of unrighteousness (which prevented Him from killing Shurpanakha)

bhībhatsaṃ anyāmukhe - of disgust shown by others= Sita and Lakshmana during Shurpanakha's episode, 

raudraṃ rāvaṇamardane -of terrifying anger whilst killing Ravana, 

śāntaṃ munijane  - of peace and quietude in the presence of sages.

This shloka extracts the nava rasas (nine moods- romantic love, valour, compassion, wonderment, humour, fear, disgust, anger and peace) tabulated by Bharatamuni in Natyashastra.

It is a favourite of musicians and dancers. It is part of a work called Sri Rama Karnamritam by Swami Bodhendra of the Shankara tradition.

September 20, 2017: Bhavayami concluded

bhāvayāmi raghurāmam - concluded

vānarottamasahitavāyusūnukarārpita-

bhānuśatabhāsvarabhavyaratnāṅgulīyam

tena punarānīta nyūnacūḍāmaṇīdarśanaṃ

shrīnidhiṃ udadhitīrāshritavibhīṣaṇamilitam || 

kalitavarasetubhandhaṃ khalanissīmapiṣitāśana-

dalanaṃ urudaśakaṇṭhavidaraṇaṃ atidhīraṃ

jvalanapūtajanakasutāsahitaṃ yātasāketaṃ

vilasitapaṭṭābhiṣekaṃ  viśvapālaṃ  padmanābham ||

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

vānarottamasahita - (I bow down to Rama, who), accompanied by Sugriva, 
vāyusūnukarārpita- handed over to Hanuman
bhavya ratnāṅgulīyam bhānuśata bhāsvara - His glorious gem-studded ring, effulgent like a hundred suns;
tena punarānīta nyūnacūḍāmaṇī darśanaṃ - by him(Hanuman) was brought back the little head-ornament of Sita (worn in her parted hair), which He beheld (with much feeling),
śrīnidhiṃ - the ocean of true prosperity ( who alone, stranded in the forest, was kingly enough to do this:)
udadhitīrāśritavibhīṣaṇa militam - by the sea, gave protection to Vibhishana, when he came after being estranged from his brother Ravana,
kalitavarasetubhandhaṃ -together built that wonderful bridge on the sea, 
khala nissīma piṣitāśanadalanaṃ - killed the wicked cannibalistic asuras, 
urudaśakaṇṭhavidaraṇaṃ - destroyed Ravana, with ten mighty heads. 
atidhīraṃ - ultimate warrior, Rama, 
jvalana pūta janakasutā sahitaṃ - (there upon), accompanied by Sita, cleansed by the fire she had entered,
yātasāketaṃ - travelled to Ayodhya, 
vilasitapaṭṭābhiṣekaṃ  viśvapālaṃ  padmanābham - joyful during the coronation ceremony, protector of the whole world, our Padmanabhaswamy of Tiruvanantapuram Himself!


Today is the first day of Navaratri, a big music festival is on in Tiruvanantapuram!

September 19, 2017: Bhavayami Raghuramam- continued

bhāvayāmi raghurāmam - continued

vitatadaṇḍakāraṇyagatavirādhadaḽanam

sucaritaghaṭajadattānupamitavaiṣṇavāstram

patagavarajaṭāyunutaṃ pañcavaṭīvihitāvāsaṁ

atighoraśūrpaṇakhāvacanāgatakharādiharam ||

kanakamṛgarūpadharakhalamārīcaharam iha

sujanavimatadaśāsyahṛtajanakajānvĕṣaṇam

anaghapaṃpātīrasaṅgatāñjaneyanabhomaṇi-

tanujasakhyakaraṃ vālitanudaḽanam īsham      ||

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

gata vitata daṇḍakāraṇya  - (I bow down to Rama, who), having gone to the expansive and dense Dandakaranya forest,

virādhadaḽanam - killed Viradha,

datta anupamita vaiṣṇavāstram sucarita ghaṭaja  - was given the incomparable divine weapon Vashinavastra, by the famous Rishi, Agastya (called here as one born in a mud pot),

nutaṃ pataga vara jaṭāyu  - bowed down to (Dasharatha's old friend) the noble bird=skytraveller Jatayu, 

vihita āvāsaṁ pañcavaṭī - settled down to live in a lovely hermitage (built by Lakshmana) in Panchavati grove,

haram kharādi āgata vacana atighora śūrpaṇakhā   - killed the demons Khara and others, who were wickedly counselled into battle by the extremely ugly Shurpanakha (after she failed to entice Rama and Lakshmana), 

haram khalamārīca rūpadhara kanaka mṛga    - killed the villainous Mareecha, who came assuming the form of a golden deer (to tempt Sita)

iha - whereas at this juncture, 

janakajā hṛta daśāsya sujana vimata - Sita, abducted by the ten-headed Ravana, disregarding wise counsel, 

anveṣaṇam - (as a result of which Rama) went searching desperately for her;

anagha paṃpātīra saṅgata āñjaneya - at the pristine river Pampa's banks, came into contact with Anjaneya=Hanuman, (and)

sakhyakaraṃ  tanuja nabhomaṇi - made a friendly alliance with Sugreeva, son of Surya =sun=gem in the sky,

vālitanudaḽanam     - laid low the body of Vali

īsham - ( I meditate on) the Divinity called Rama.

continues.... tomorrow is the first day of Navaratri!

(photo taken in Prambanan temple, Java, 2005)

September 18, 2017: Bhavayami Raghuramam

|| svātitirunāḷviracita bhāvayāmi raghurāmam ||

bhāvayāmi raghurāmaṃ bhavyasuguṇārāmam ||

bhāvuka vitaraṇaparāpāṅga līlālasitam ||

 dinakarānvayatilakaṃ divyagādhisutasavanā-

vanaracitasubāhumukhavadhaṃ ahalyāpāvanam ||

anaghamīshacāpabhaṅgaṃ janakasutāprāṇesham

ghanakupitabhṛgurāmagarvaharamitasāketam ||

vihitābhiṣekamathavipinagatamāryavācā

sahitasītāsaumitriṃ shāntatamashīlam            ||

guhanilayagataṃ citrakūṭāgatabharatadatta-

mahitaratnamayapādukaṃ madanasundarāṅgam ||

Re-ordered word-by-word meaning

bhāvayāmi raghurāmaṃ bhavyasuguṇārāmam - I meditate upon the scion of Raghu dynasty, Rama, who is the repository of glorious virtues,

bhāvuka vitaraṇaparāpāṅga līlālasitam -who by his very side-glance gives great happiness, and who enacted the epic sport of Ramayana.

dinakara anvaya tilakaṃ - the toast(epitome) of the solar lineage,

divya gādhisuta savana avanaracita subāhumukha vadhaṃ 

-who slew the demons led by Subahu while protecting the fire sacrifice of the great Vishwamitra, son of Gadhi,

ahalyāpāvanam - who sanctified and liberated Ahalya,

anagham īshacāpa bhaṅgaṃ - the blemishless one who broke Shiva's bow,

janakasutā prāṇesham - the beloved of Sita, Janaka's daughter,

ghana kupita bhṛgurāma garva haram - who removed the pride of the very angry Parashurama, of Bhrigu lineage,

itasāketam - and then returned to Ayodhya.

vihita abhiṣekam atha āryavācā vipinagatam - who was chosen to be crowned as the prince, but then per his father's directive, went to the forest,

sahita sītā saumitriṃ  - accompanied by Sita and Lakshmana, and 

shāntatamashīlam  -who was the personification of composure and grace, 

guhanilayagataṃ - who visited Guha's abode, 

citrakūṭāgata bharata datta -

mahita ratnamaya pādukaṃ -who handed over, to Bharata (when he came to Chitrakuta requesting Rama to return), his sandals (to be placed as Rama's representative on the throne instead, to placate Bharata), made glorious (by his gift) and full of gems,

madana sundarāṅgam- charming in appearance like Manmatha.

This composition, tuned by Sri Semmangudi in several ragas, is an eternal favourite, especially around Ramanavami and Navaratri. It tells the story of Ramayana in the lyrical style typical of Swati Tirunal.

This song was sung gloriously by Smt. MSS, MDR, and many others, most recently by Vid. Amrutha Venkatesh.

We continue the song in the next posts.