Lessons from Ramayana

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Breaking forces

Manthara

She came as one of the associates (ज्ञाती दासी) along with Queen Kaikeyi. It’s a known fact that if you have a दायादी then what other fire you need ?

ज्ञाती दासी अननल कम

She was mean by nature. She had her own private residence. Shakuni and Manthara came from same region: Gandhar. Kanika, a consultant of the Kurus, also is from the same place. Manthara had inner insecurities and victimized herself. An unfortunate reality was that unlike Kubja from Mathura, Manthara chose not to be impacted by Sri Rama’s great qualities. Our background has an impact but it doesn’t bind. She “was” अबला but used that for her advantage and became सबला.

She could speak anything that she wanted to the Queen. She could reject and be rude to the Queen for her gift. She could completely brainwash the Queen after being so arrogant. She over stepped her boundaries so far that she even shared a strategy with the Queen on how to deal with her husband, King Dasarath.

Her propaganda / narratives to brainwash Kaikeyi :

"You have become enemy to your own son by allowing Rama’s coronation."

"Your husband only enjoyed you, used you, and fooled you."

"He has established Rama as the Crown Prince."

"He has killed you along with your relatives."

"Before its too late, save yourself, save your son and save ME !! "

"DO NOT remain stunned!! "

"You will be servant of Kausalya"

"You need to offer respect to her"

"Bharata has to be servant too"

"Rama’s women will rejoice (bad remarks)"

"Rama will certainly send him to Yama Puri"

"Rama’s spy may go and kill him in Gandhar"

"You have harassed Kauslaya, now she will not leave you."

She stayed 25 years in Ayodhya --did not see anything but ordinary selfishness. Manthara is not only historical figure, she continues to live.

जीवन द्रोह शक्ती

Many people justify that society was responsible for her behavior. Socrates and Chanakya and many others were not good looking and handsome or attractive, but they had beautiful intellect that was integrating.

Administration

Raja-Niti says the King and the Queen should see the physically challenged persons everyday. It shows that the king has to still improve his country/province. His work is in progress and not done. Raja-Niti says it gives good balance between completeness and incompleteness.

Motiveless Malignant -- DOING EVIL BECAUSE YOU ARE EVIL

नश्कारण द्वश

She went into personal life of Kaikeyi and King Dasaratha

Was she rejected because she was evil? OR Did she become evil because she got rejected?

VALMIKI MUNI answers...

Building Bridges - Building Relationships

Kaikeyi had an outburst at Dasaratha and Bharat

Kaikeyi lost her husband

Bharat and all the mothers suffered

The kingdom was now forsaken and its citizens lost their King.

Dasaratha officially renounced Kaikeyi

Integrating relations are very important to the Lord and Bhumi Devi.

Loyalty without magnanimity makes us violent.

Shraddha in Tamo-guna makes us Violent, Separatist, Exclusivist

Unfortunately, religion does this.

Saranagati is sometimes misunderstood as “giving up” on relationships.

Draupadi integrated all her relationships while surrendering.

When Kaikeyi was stating her wishes and demanding her husband to fulfil these vows, Dashrath said:

yaH te mantra kRtaH paaNir agnau paape mayaa dhRtaH |

tam tyajaami svajam caiva tava putram saha tvayaa ||

“Oh wicked woman! I am divorcing you from the vow I made with the mantras chanted during our marriage. Along with you, Bharat too is given up by me”

-- Ayodhya Kanda 14.14

Lord Rama

However, the below was the first thing Ram said after meeting Dasharatha:

“Please offer your positive glance towards Mother and Bharat. Please take back the words which you told mother about giving them up and let it not touch them”

This is the character of Ram, unifying everyone.

Vishwamitra Muni

Vishwamitra Muni united Ram and Sita, which symbolizes uniting

Justice and Grace

– Vishwamitra Muni

Justice along with grace is ideal

Justice without grace is eternal condemnation of Jiva

Grace without justice is pampering and irresponsible

Sumitra

Sumitra gave both her sons for serving the Lord. Her love was deep/thoughtful and sober and active and very rare. She is like the secret agents of a country who do seva and their seva (सेवा | selfless service) is neither recognized nor will be displayed.

But sometimes exclusive love can cause conflict:

Guha and Lakshman

Sita and Lakshman

Sumitra was the first one, whom Kausalya called for sharing good news about Lord Ram’s coronation. She did not suffer envy towards Kausalya nor did she suffer any rejection caused by Kaikeyi.

Ramam Dasaratham viddhi maam viddhi Janakaatmajaam Ayodhyamataveem viddhi gaccha taatha yatha sukham

"Know Rama to be Dasaratha. Look upon Seetha the daughter of Janaka as myself. Consider the forest as Ayodhya and depart happily, my son!"

-- Sumitra

1. Kausalya was trying to stop Sri Rama.

2. Sumitra was supporting Laxman to follow

(you were born for Vanvasa)

Sumanthara

Conversation between Dasaratha and Sumanthara after Rama’s departure.

Hanuman

Hanuman, the great unifier :

By being loyal to Sugreeva even though

- He was more powerful than his own master. - He united Sugreeva and Ram - He united Ram and the rest of everyone in battle - He united Ram and Laxman - He united Sita and Ram - He was ready to quit his body at Ashoka Vatika, instead of not bringing the news of Sita’s whereabouts

He is called as Sanjivini -- life given by uniting relationships

How does he do it? By reciting Ram kathaa

Hanuman before beginning to speak to Sita, he was thinking in his mind:

1. Which words/language to speak
2. Which words/language to avoid
3. Continue to fight the Asura army
4. If he fights, they might kill her
5. War is unpredictable, at this moment.
6. I can kill them now !
7. What If I might not be able to jump and go back

Better to narrate Sri Rama Charitra in such a way she believes me and it gives life giving nectar

rakShitaa jiiva lokasya sva janasya ca rakShitaa |

rakShitaa svasya vRittasya dharmasya ca param tapaH || ।।5.35.10।।

"Rama is a protector of the entire world of living beings not to speak of his own people. He is a protector of his own race. He guards righteousness. He is a scorcher of enemies.

Jatayu

He bled himself to unite Sita and Ram.

Changed the muhurtas and told Sri Ram that the medicine which you were looking for has been taken to Lanka

Sita Rama Affair - Duty bound or Love too

Words of Lord Rama

You are won back by me, after conquering the enemy in the battle-field, my dear lady! That which is to be done through human effort, has been accomplished by me."

"I have come to the end of my indignation and my outrage has been completely requited as also the contempt against the enemy have been wiped out, all at once, by me."

Now, my manly strength has been seen by all. Today, my toil has borne fruit. Now, I have fulfilled my promise. Today, I am the master of myself."

. "The wrong done to you, when you were deserted from me, in that you were taken away by a fickle-minded demon, which was ordained by the destiny, has been corrected by me as a human being."

“What is the use of a prowess, however great, of that weak-minded man who does not wipe out, by his energy, the insult fallen to his lot ?"

"The praise-worthy act of Hanuman in the form of crossing of the ocean and the destroying of Lanka, has borne fruit today."

"Let it be known to you that this endeavor in the shape of war, which has been successful carried through, due to the strength of my friends was not undertaken for your sake. Let there be prosperity to you! This was done by me in order to keep up my good conduct and to wipe off the evil-speaking from all sides as well as the insinuation on my own illustrious dynasty."

You, with a suspicion arisen on your character, standing in front of me, are extremely disagreeable to me, even as a light to one, who is suffering from a poor eye-sight."

O Sita! That is why, I am permitting you now. Go wherever you like. All these ten directions are open to you, my dear lady! There is no work to be done to me, by you."

"Which noble man, born in an illustrious race, will take back a woman who lived in another's abode, with an eager mind?"

"While mentioning greatly about my lineage, how can I accept again, you who were harassed in Ravana's lap (while being borne away by him) and who were seen (by him) with evil looks?"

You were won by me with that end in view (viz. the retrieval of my lost honour). The honour has been restored by me. For me, there is no intense attachment in you. You may go wherever you like from here."

"O gracious lady! Therefore, this has been spoken by me today, with a resolved mind. Set you mind on Lakshmana or Bharata, as per your ease." O Sita! Otherwise, set your mind either on Shatrughna or on Sugreeva or on Vibhishana the demon; or according to your own comfort."

Lord Rama’s Complete Personality

Rama was acquainted with the fine arts useful for entertainment. He knew how to distribute the wealth. He was efficient in riding and taming of elephants and horses. 2.1.28

Rama’s love

Rama loved her- Ram Ramayita

“Abhirama” - She loved him more than he loved her

Sita has become the beloved of Rama as she is wedded with the assent of his father Dasharatha, further Rama's love for Sita burgeoned by virtue of Sita's own virtues and loveliness. [ Baala Kaanda 77-26 ]

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga77/bala_77_frame.htm

प्रया त सीता रामस्य दाराः पतकता इ त || १-७७-२६ गणाद्रपगणाच्चा प प्री तभयोऽ भवधत | Root of unconditional love.. Complee fulfilment like SP In testing time, their love only increased..

Family and love

Personal choice, endorsed by family.

Even Rama as her husband made his mark in Sita's heart twice as good, and they both used to clearly converse about their thoughts in their heart of hearts, just by their hearts. [1-77-27]

तस्याश्च भता द् वगण हृदय प रवतत || १-७७-२७ अन्तगतम प व्यक्तमाख्या त हृदय हृदा

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga77/bala_77_fra me.htm

Here Valmiki says Sri Rama loved her more.

That is the nature of love between Sri Rama and His consort.

When Hanuman meets Sita , she said, “I cannot survive more than one month without Sri Rama, if he does not come I’ll end my life."

When Hanuman gave this above message, Sri Rama said, “She can survive without me for one month, may be it is possible, but without her I cannot stay even a for a moment.” (Sundara 66.10)

Hanuman understood their love

चरम जीव त वदही य द मासम ध रष्य त | क्षणम सौम्य न जीवयम वना ताम अ सत ईक्षणाम || ५-६६-१

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/sundara/sarga66/sundara_66_frame.ht m

(Sundara Kaanda15. 52 - 54)

This lady’s heart is in Rama, His heart is firmly in Her, for that reason She and that noble Rama are able to live even for a moment.”

Lord Rama losing Her has done an impossible task in that He still preserved His body, in that He did not die from grief.”

दष्करम करुत रामो इमाम मत्त का शनीम | सीताम वना महा बाहः महतम अ प जीव त || ५-१५-५

Hanuman, then seeing Sita became happy thus and went by mind to Rama and also praised that Lord.

अस्या दव्या मनः तिस्ममः तस्य च अस्याम प्र तिष्ठतम | तन इयम स च धम आत्मा महतम अ प जीव त || ५-१५-५२

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/sundara/sarga15/sundara_15_frame.htm

Appreciating instead of analysing Rasa..

When Hanuman went to give message to Sita about Sri Rama's victory, she said, "I want to see my Arya,” Hanuman said, she is suffering in your separation, constantly thinking about you. Hearing Hanuman's words, Rama who was the foremost among the supporters of righteousness, was a little over whelmed with tears and suddenly became a bit thoughtful. (yuddha 114.8)

एवमक्ता त वदही प्रत्यवाच वभीषणम | अस्नाता द्रष्ट मच्छा म भतार राक्षसा धप || ६-११४-११ https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/yuddha/sarga114/yuddha_114_frame.htm

Drawing a deep and warm breath and casting his looks on the ground, he spoke (as follows) to Vibhishana, who closely resembled a cloud in hue and who was standing nearby. (114.9) Lord Rama’s dilemma was “How can I test her or can I NOT test her ?” He can’t reveal to any one. He had to manage himself

AFTER THE TEST SRI RAMA REVEALS HIS HEART

Rama, the excellent among the eloquent, whose mind was set on virtue, with a pleasant mind to hear the aforesaid speech, reflected for a while, his eyes, entirely filed with tears of joy.

Hearing those words, the courageous Rama of great prowess and the foremost of those upholding the virtue, replied to the fire-god, the best of gods.

AFTER THE TEST SRI RAMA REVEALS HIS HEART

"Sita certainly deserves this pure factory ordeal in the eyes of the people in as much as this blessed woman had resided for a long time indeed in the gynaecium of Ravana.

"The world would chatter against me, saying that Rama, the son of Dasaratha, was really foolish and that his mind was dominated by lust, if I accept Sita without examining her with regard to her chastity."

“I also know that Sita, the daughter of Janaka, who ever revolves in my mind, is undivided in her affection to me."

Ravana could not violate this wide-eyed woman, protected as she was by her own splendor, any more than an ocean would transgress its bounds."

"In order to convince the three worlds, I, whose refugee is truth, ignored Sita while she was entering the fire." "The evil-minded Ravana was not able to lay his violent hands, even in thought, o the unobtainable Sita, who was blazing like a flaming tongue of fire."

"This auspicious woman could not give way to the sovereignty, existing in the gynaecium of Ravana, in as much as Sita is not different from me, even as sunlight is not different from the sun."

"Sita, the daughter of Janaka, is completely pure in her character, in all the three worlds and can no longer be renounced by me, as a good name cannot be cast aside by a prudent man."

त्वम ह बाण धनष्पा णः भ्रात्रा सह वनम गतः | दृष्ट्वा वन चरान सवान किच्चत कयाः शर व्ययम || ३-९-१४

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/aranya/sarga9/aranya_9_frame.htm

Malls = Vyay

क्ष त्रयाणाम इह धनर हताशस्य इन्धना न च | समीपतः िस्थतम तजो बलम उच्छ्ह्रयत भशम || ३-९-१५

15. reach, "The bow of warrior and the fuel of a burning fire if available within their reach, they immensely enhance their strength... [3-9-15]

स्नहात च बहमानात च स्मारय त्वाम न शक्षय | न कथचन सा काया गहीत धनषा त्वया || ३-९-२४ बद् धः वरम वना हन्तम राक्षसान दण्डक आ श्रतान | अपराधम वना हन्तम लोको वीर न कामय || ३-९-२५

"In affinity and in respect I am reminding but not tutoring you, and in anyway improper is that thought of yours to wield your bow to kill the demons dwelling in Dandaka without any enmity, oh, brave one, undesirable is the killing of offenceless... [3-9-24, 25]

क्व च शस्त्रम क्व च वनम क्व च क्षात्रम तपः क्व च | व्या वद्धम इदम अस्मा भः दश धमः त पज्यताम || ३-९-२७

"Where that weapon? Where this forest? Where the principles of Kshatriya? And where is sageness? All this is inconsistent... let us esteem the laws of the land... [3-9-27]

Contrast: Assertive not aggressive [ concern about activity of himsa.. not about character]

ध मष्टः सत्य सन्धः च पतः नदश कारकः | त्व य धमः च सत्यम च त्व य सवम प्र तिष्टतम ||३-९-७

"You are conscientious, adherent of truth, and obliging father's orders, and in you virtue and truth, nay everything is established in you... [3-9-7]

धमात अथः प्रभव त धमात प्रभवत सखम | धमण लभत सवम धम सारम इदम जगत || ३-९-३०

"From virtuousness prosperity emanates, from righteousness happiness, and by honourableness all are achieved, and this universe is the essence of probity... [3-9-30]

नत्यम श च म तः सौम्य चर धमम तपो वन | सवम ह व दतम तभ्यम त्रलोक्यम अ प तत्त्वतः || ३-९-३२

"Always tread along the righteousness with a pure mind, oh, gentle one, and specially in these sagely forests... you know everything in all the three worlds, in all its nuances... [3-9-32]

स्त्री चापलात एतत उदाहृतम म धमम च वक्तम तव कः समथः | वचाय बद्ध्या त सह अनजन यत रोचत तत करु म अ चरण || ३-९-३३

"I cite all this with my womanly waver, and who is capable to talk to you about dharma? Ponder mindfully along with your brother, and what that is appropriate, you do it...but not belatedly... [3-9-33]

Lord Rama response [acknowledgement and not cutting]

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/aranya/sarga10/aranya_10_frame.htm

हतम उक्तम त्वया द व िस्नग्धया सदृशम वचः | कलम व्यप दशन्त्या च धमज्ञ जनक आत्मज || ४-१०-२

"You have said beneficial, friendlily words that are seemlier to your disposition, oh, lady, which are apt to speak of your familial brought up, for you are the daughter of virtue-knowing Janaka. [4-10-2]

कम न वक्ष्या म अहम द व त्वया एव उक्तम इदम वचः | क्ष त्रयः धायत चापो न आत शब्दो भवद् इ त || ४-१०-३

"What more shall I say, oh, lady, since it is said that 'a warrior handles a bow so that misery's tears cease to flow...' and this saying is iterated even by you... [4-10-3]

I went for shelter– they took shelter for me.. [Yudhisthira and snataka..lokasangraha]

त च आता दण्डकारण्य मनयः स शत व्रताः | माम सीत स्वयम आगम्य शरण्याः शरणम गताः || ४-१०-४

"Oh! Seetha, those shleterable sages of Dandaka forest have approached me sombrely on their own, and thus they came into my refuge... [4-10-4]

मया त वचनम श्रत्वा तषाम एवम मखात च्यतम || ४-१०-७ कत्वा वचन शश्रषाम वाक्यम एतत उदाहृतम | प्रसीदन्त भवन्तो म ह्रीः एषा त मम अतला || ४-१०-८ यद् ईदृशः अहम वप्रः उपस्थयः उपिस्थतः |

"This way when I have heard the words voiced by them, I comforted them verbally and avouched this way, "Be gracious to me... you all... by which reason I am being addressed this way by this kind of eminent Brahmans, whom I should have actually addressed my self, this indeed is a dishonour for me... [4-10-7b, 8, 9a]

राक्षसः दण्डकारण्य बह भः काम रू प भः || ४-२०-१० अ दताः स्म भशम राम भवान नः तत्र रक्षत |

🡺 Later on Sita devi’s heart melted by seeing golden deer

"Many of the guise changing demons are outrightly torturing us in Dandaka forest, hence in that context you shall protect us... [4-10-10b, 11a]

Coming full circle

https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/aranya/sarga10/aranya_10_frame.htm

सश्रत्य न च शक्ष्या म जीवमानः प्र तश्रवम || ४-१०-१७ मनीनाम अन्यथा कतम सत्यम इष्टम ह म सदा |

"Having promised to the sages it is incapable of me to implement it otherwise while I am alive... truth is dearer to me, isn't it... [4-10-17b, 18a]

CONCLUDING & CAPTURING WORDS

सदृशम च अनरूपम च कलस्य तव शोभन | सधम चा रणी म त्वम प्राणभ्यो अ प गरीयसी || ४-१०-२१

"Appropriate and seemly is your word of caution to your bloodline, oh, graceful Seetha, you are the co-pursuer in dharma with me, hence you are loftier to me than my own lives..." So said Rama to Seetha. [4-10-21b, c]