Difference between revisions of "Lessons from Ramayana"

Revision as of 16:44, 2 April 2020

BREAKING FORCES

MANTHARA

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

ज्ञाती दासी अननेल किम

She had inner insecurities and victimized herself. She was mean by nature

She had her own private residence

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 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.

Shakuni and Manthara came from same region: Gandhar.

Kanika, a consultant of the Kurus, also is from the same place.

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
Her 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 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.
- Motiveless Malignant -- DOING EVIL BECAUSE YOU ARE EVIL निश्कारण द्वेश
- 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 Building Relationships -- 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.
  - Building Relationships – Vishwamitra Muni
  - Vishwamitra Muni united Ram and Sita, which symbolizes uniting Justice and Grace
  - Building Relationships – Vishwamitra Muni
  - Justice along with grace is ideal
    - Justice without grace is eternal condemnation of Jiva
    - Grace without justice is pampering and irresponsible
    - Building Relationships -- 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 serve and their 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!"
      1. Kausalya was trying to stop Sri Rama.
      2. Sumitra was supporting Laxman to follow (you were born for Vanvasa) Building Relationships -- Sumanthara
    - Conversation between Dasaratha and Sumanthara after Rama’s departure.
    - Building Relationships -- 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:
        Which words/language to speak
        
        Which words/language to avoid
        
        Continue to fight the Asura army
        
        If he fights, they might kill her
        
        War is unpredictable, at this moment.
        
        I can kill them now !
        
        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
        
        ।।5.35.10।।
        
        Building Relationships -- 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
        
        https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/aranya/sarga68/aranya_68_frame.htm
        /aranya_68_frame.htm 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 प्रिया तु सीता रामस्य दाराः पितृकृता इति || १-७७-२६ गुणाद्रूपगुणाच्चापि प्रीतिर्भूयोऽभिवर्धते | 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 भर्ता द्विगुणं हृदये परिवर्तते || १-७७-२७ अन्तर्गतमपि व्यक्तमाख्याति हृदयं हृदा
        
        https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/baala/sarga77/bala_77_frame.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 चिरम् जीवति वैदेही यदि मासम् धरिष्यति | क्षणम् सौम्य न जीवेयम् विना ताम् असित ईक्षणाम् || ५-६६-१ https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/sundara/sarga66/sundara_66_frame.htm
        
        (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.” दुष्करम् कुरुते रामो इमाम् मत्त काशिनीम् | सीताम् विना महा बाहुः मुहूर्तम् अपि जीवति || ५-१५-५
        
        Hanuman, then seeing Sita became happy thus and went by mind to Rama and also praised that Lord.
        
        अस्या देव्या मनः तस्मिमः तस्य च अस्याम् प्रतिष्ठितम् | तेन इयम् स च धर्म आत्मा मुहूर्तम् अपि जीवति || 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) एवमुक्ता तु वैदेही प्रत्युवाच विभीषणम् | अस्नाता द्रष्टुमिच्छामि भर्तारं राक्षसाधिप || 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.
        
        "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."
        
        Rama’s love
        “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."
        त्वम् हि बाण धनुष्पाणिः भ्रात्रा सह वनम् गतः | दृष्ट्वा वन चरान् सर्वान् कच्चित् कुर्याः शर व्ययम् || ३-९-१४
        
        https://valmikiramayan.net/utf8/aranya/sarga9/aranya_9_frame.htm
        
        Malls = Vyay

- - - - क्षत्रियाणाम् इह धनुर् हुताशस्य इन्धनानि च | समीपतः स्थितम् तेजो बलम् उच्छ्ह्रयते भृशम् || 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]
        
        स्नेहात् च बहुमानात् च स्मारये त्वाम् न शिक्षये | न कथंचन सा कार्या गृहीत धनुषा त्वया || ३-९-२४ बुद्धिः वैरम् विना हन्तुम् राक्षसान् दण्डक आश्रितान् | अपराधम् विना हन्तुम् लोको वीर न कामये || 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 शस्त्रम् क्व च वनम् क्व च क्षात्रम् तपः क्व च | व्याविद्धम् इदम् अस्माभिः देश धर्मः तु पूज्यताम् || 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]
        धर्मिष्टः सत्य सन्धः च पितुः निर्देश कारकः | त्वयि धर्मः च सत्यम् च त्वयि सर्वम् प्रतिष्टितम् ||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]
        
        धर्मात् अर्थः प्रभवति धर्मात् प्रभवते सुखम् | धर्मेण लभते सर्वम् धर्म सारम् इदम् जगत् || 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]
        
        नित्यम् शुचि मतिः सौम्य चर धर्मम् तपो वने | सर्वम् हि विदितम् तुभ्यम् त्रैलोक्यम् अपि 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 चापलात् एतत् उदाहृतम् मे धर्मम् च वक्तुम् तव कः समर्थः | विचार्य बुद्ध्या तु सह अनुजेन यत् रोचते तत् कुरु म अचिरेण || 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
        
        हितम् उक्तम् त्वया देवि स्निग्धया सदृशम् वचः | कुलम् व्यपदिशन्त्या च धर्मज्ञे जनक आत्मजे || 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]
        
        किम् नु वक्ष्यामि अहम् देवि त्वया एव उक्तम् इदम् वचः | क्षत्रियैः धार्यते चापो न आर्त शब्दो भवेद् इति || 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]
        ते च आर्ता दण्डकारण्ये मुनयः संशित व्रताः | माम् सीते स्वयम् आगम्य शरण्याः शरणम् 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 तु वचनम् श्रुत्वा तेषाम् एवम् मुखात् च्युतम् || ४-१०-७ कृत्वा वचन शुश्रुषाम् वाक्यम् एतत् उदाहृतम् | प्रसीदन्तु भवन्तो मे ह्रीः एषा तु मम अतुला || ४-१०-८ यद् ईदृशैः अहम् विप्रैः उपस्थेयैः उपस्थितः |
        
        "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]
        
        राक्षसैः दण्डकारण्ये बहुभिः काम रूपिभिः || ४-२०-१० अर्दिताः स्म भृशम् राम भवान् नः तत्र रक्षतु |
        
        🡺 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
        
        संश्रुत्य न च शक्ष्यामि जीवमानः प्रतिश्रवम् || ४-१०-१७ मुनीनाम् अन्यथा कर्तुम् सत्यम् इष्टम् हि मे 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
        
        सदृशम् च अनुरूपम् च कुलस्य तव शोभने | सधर्म चारिणी मे त्वम् प्राणेभ्यो अपि 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]
        
        . rakShitaa jiiva lokasya sva janasya ca rakShitaa | rakShitaa svasya vRittasya dharmasya ca param tapaH || "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.

Difference between revisions of "Lessons from Ramayana"

Revision as of 16:44, 2 April 2020

BREAKING FORCES

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