Hari Om.
Let us begin the sixteenth sarga of the araNya kAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
Directed by sage agastya to dwell at panchavaTI for the remainder of their exile, the trio head there. On the way they meet jaTAyu who introduces himself and also narrates about the origins of species! He stands as the guardian for them in the danDaka forest while they stay the panchavaTI. The lovely environs of panchavaTI are thrilling them no end, the forest in full bloom, flocks of birds dashing and chirping, the animals rejoicing, abundant water, water lilies, lotuses. It was a place for the gods! rAma asks lakshmaNa to identify a place for dwelling. The latter puts the onus of identification on rAma. The elder chooses a place and the younger builds a beautiful leaf hut there and presents to him! rAma is delighted and so touched to have such a caring brother accompanying him. The benevolence and affection of lakshmaNa remind him of their father daSaratha and in that spirit, he gives him a tight embrace. They delightfully dwelt in that beautiful hut for some time to come. Onwards…
As rAma, sItA and lakshmaNa dwelt in panchavaTI happily, the autumn gave way to the winter. One such winter morning, the trio set out to the river gOdAvari to complete their morning ablutions. On the way, lakshmaNa who was walking with a pitcher in his hand behind rAma and sItA stretched a little and began speaking to rAma –
“O rAma, your favourite winter season is here. This delightful season will embellish the year. The earth is full of crop, but people shiver of fog and freeze, water is unwelcome indeed while fire is most enjoyable. There is abundance of milk at this time that makes the villagers happy and the pious men are conducting the yajnas to mark the harvest of the new crop to propitiate their forefathers and redeem themselves. As the Sun is in the southern sojourn (dakshiNAyanam), the northern direction appears like a woman without vermillion on her forehead.
सेवमाने दृढं सूर्ये दिशमन्तक सेविताम्।
विहीनतिलकेव स्त्री नोत्तरा दिक्प्रकाशते।।3.16.8।।
Presently the mountain himavAn is full of snow (hima) due to the Sun being far (in the southern sojourn) and thus has justified its name. The Sun is most enjoyable in the afternoon and it is very pleasing to go out at the time. But the shade and the waters are abhorred by all and are unlucky at the moment! The dew has made the Sun mild and the days dull. The weather is cold due to the cold breeze that blows. The wild animals are hiding and the forest looks empty. And the night that prolongs to excess of nine hours (three yAmas) with month of pushya approaching, people no longer sleep under the open sky. As the dew dims the Sun, the moon is hardly visible like the mirror clouded by the vapour laden warm breath (is not able to reflect)!
रविसङ्क्रान्तसौभाग्य स्तुषारारुणमण्डलः।
निश्श्वासान्ध इवादर्शन्छन्द्रमा न प्रकाशते।।3.16.13।।
The full moon days are not bright at this time and are not an enjoyable sight just like sItA scorched by the Sun. The western winds that blow at this time are doubly cold. The dew wetted forest terrains have produced wheat and barley in abundance. The paddy plants, bent a little by the weight of the grain and the dew drop are shining like the flowers of the datepalm. The Sun that has risen at the distant horizon with its rays covered by dew is indeed appearing like the moon! .
मयूखैरुपसर्पद्भिर्हिमनीहारसंवृतैः।
दूरमभ्युदितस्सूर्यश्शशाङ्क इव लक्ष्यते।।3.16.18।।
The warmth of the Sun is hardly felt in the forenoon while the afternoon Sun appears a tad reddish and feels warm and very comforting. The dew draped grasslands look delightful with the shine of the sun rays. The elephant, very thirsty, puts its trunk on the water to quench its thirst but withdraws it immediately due to the cold water. The aquatic birds sit on the banks and don’t take to water like the talkative warriors do not take to the battlefield! Bereft of the blooms the forest appears to be in stupor. With the waters covered by the vapour and dew, the rivers are hardly visible. You can tell them only by the sound of some of the birds in it and the dew wet banks. The cold temperature ensures that even the waters flowing from the mountain top are not sweet. The water lilies have withered with only their stalks remaining.
अस्मिंस्तु पुरुषव्याघ्रः काले दुःखसमन्वितः।
तपश्चरति धर्मात्मा त्वद्भक्त्या भरतः पुरे।।3.16.27।।
At this time, O rAma, bharata laden with sadness, steeped in his devotion to you, must be performing penance.
त्यक्त्वा राज्यं च मानं च भोगांश्च विविधान्बहून्।
तपस्स्वी नियताहारश्शेते शीते महीतले।।3.16.28।।
Having given up the kingdom, fame, comforts and everything else, he is leading the life of an ascetic with self restraint and sleeping on the bare ground. He must be going with his subjects to river sarayu at this time for his ablutions. He has lotus like beautiful eyes, slender, blue complexion, is righteous and truthful, unassuming, self restrained, soft spoken, sweet and long armed. He is delicate and has grown up in luxury. I wonder how he is managing to take a dip in the cold water of sarayu. Following your lifestyle in the forest, your brother has won the heavens!
जितस्स्वर्गस्तव भ्रात्रा भरतेन महात्मना।
वनस्थमपि तापस्ये यस्त्वामनुविधीयते।।3.16.33।।
The famous saying the bipeds (humans, men) take after the qualities of their mother and not father has been proven false by bharata. I wonder how with a noble husband like daSaratha and a great son like bharata, mother kaikEyI managed to be so wicked and cruel”?
As lakshmaNa spoke thus out of his affection, rAma was not able to take the criticism of kaikEyI and said –
“O dear lakshmaNa, kaikEyI is our mother and not to be spoken of like that. You may speak more of the glorious conduct of bharata, the lord of ikshvAkus. Even though I stuck to my words of staying in the forest, my love for bharata, at times makes me fickle like a child! I remember his affection and sweet words that delight the mind and are hearty and nectarine.
संस्मराम्यस्य वाक्यानि प्रियाणि मधुराणि च।
हृद्यान्यमृतकल्पानि मनःप्रह्लादनानि च।।3.16.39।।
O lakshmaNa, I wonder when again I will revel in the company of bharata, Satrughna and you all together”.
Reflecting thus in melancholy they reached the river gOdAvari. rAma took his and so did sItA and lakshmaNa. Then they offered libations to the gods and the forefathers and prayed to the rising Sun.
कृताभिषेकस्सरराज रामः सीताद्वितीयस्सह लक्ष्मणेन।
कृताभिषेको गिरिराजपुत्र्या रुद्रस्सनन्दी भगवानिवेशः।।3.16.43।।
Having accomplished his ablutions in river gOdAvari, rAma along with sItA and lakshmaNa shone forth splendidly like the lord rudra accompanied by his consort umA and nandi.
Here we conclude the the sixteenth sarga of the araNya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
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Next: 3.17. A terrible proposal!
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rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 