Hari Om.
Let us begin the twenty third sarga of the ayOdhyakAnDam by offering our prostrations at the lotus feet of SrIrAma and our sathguru.
As brother lakshmaNa erupts like a volcano at the injustice meted out to his beloved brother rAma and vows to slay anyone opposed to rAma’s crowning even if it means ayOdhyA has no one left, the stoic and composed rAma schools lakshmaNa on the importance of adhering to truth and dharma. He invokes destiny repeatedly offering insights into its meanings and workings. Is lakshmaNa going to be convinced? Onwards…
While rAma gave a masterclass on destiny, which throws every plan off gear, and highlighted the dharma that needed to be followed, lakshmaNa heard it silently with head down. He experienced both depression and delight as rAma spoke! And as he completed, lakshmaNa curled his eyebrows into a frown and with sighs reminiscent of an angry serpent, his face looking terrible like that of a provoked lion and his fore arm moving menacingly like the trunk of an elephant, shaking his head in apparent disagreement while casting an oblique look at his beloved brother, said – “O brother, indeed this confusion about the dharma is misplaced for an exalted and valorous kshatriya such as you. It could be common for commoners but not for you. How are speaking so highly about this powerless and pitiable destiny and refusing to see the collusion between kaikEyi and daSaratha to banish you to the forest? O righteous one, there are subtle ways of spoiling their plans without crossing our righteous limits. Why don’t you realize their selfish motive behind this scheme while masquerading as dharma? If those two did not have prior understanding in this matter, those two boons would have been honored long back. O valorous rAma, the crowning of anyone other than you is not appreciated by anyone in this world. In fact, it is detested by everyone. I, for one, will not take it lying down – and you must excuse me in this matter. This purported righteousness which has deluded your intellect, O rAma, is actually an object of contempt for me! How can you carry out the words of that father who is unrighteous, whose actions deserve contempt, and who is actually under the spell of kaikEyi? You are refusing to see through the treacherous designs – and these adherence to righteousness is not appreciable at all. Deeply steeped in passion, they are incapable of thinking of your good. How will you fulfil the wishes of these so-called parents, who actually are your enemies! I even don’t appreciate your attribution of all this conspiracy to destiny! Such destiny is best ignored. It is only the weak and weary that invoke destiny. The valiant and the respected chart their own course and don’t depend on destiny. If one is capable of conquering destiny by his efforts, such destiny goes impotent in front of him. Today everyone shall witness the difference between the power of man and that of destiny; this difference shall become crystal clear today.
द्रक्ष्यन्ति त्वद्य दैवस्य पौरुषं पुरुषस्य च।
दैवमानुषयोरद्य व्यक्ता व्यक्तिर्भविष्यति।।2.23.18।।
Those who saw destiny overruling your crowning, will see me overruling destiny itself. The destiny that has been unleashed like an uncontrollable elephant, causing havoc, shall be tamed by me. Even all the guardian deities of all the quarters put together cannot stop your coronation – then what to talk of father daSaratha! O brother, I shall spoil their plans of banishing you and crowning bharata. In fact, those who want to see you in the forest for fourteen years, shall themselves dwell there!
यैर्निवासस्तवारण्ये मिथो राजन्समर्थितः।
अरण्ये ते निवत्स्यन्ति चतुर्दश समास्तथा।।2.23.22।।
With my valour, I will ensure that those who oppose me today shall experience a grief much greater than that caused by destiny. By tradition, the sagely kings – after ruling over the kingdom well – hand over their duties to their heirs and retire to the forest. As such, you too should rule for a thousand years, and then retire to forest after handing over the reins to your children – not now. O rAma, if you apprehend that there will be revolt from the feudatory kings and that they will cause unrest, be rest assured – I shall protect the kingdom ever like the shores protect the ocean. Otherwise, there will be no place for me in the higher worlds. Brother, just go and crown yourself right now. I alone am adequate to deal with any dissenting king.
O rAma, know this much about me, these strong arms are not there to give me good looks; this bow is not there as a decorative piece. This sword is not there to be strapped around my waist, and these arrows have no purpose to stick to the quiver. These shall be put to use to vanquish the unfriendly ones!
न शोभार्थाविमौ बाहू न धनुर्भूषणाय मे।
नाऽसिराबन्धनार्थाय न शरास्तम्भहेतवः।।2.23.30।।
Whoever turns into my enemy shall not survive today, struck by the swift swash of my sword – even if it were to be the thunder wielding indra. The marauding horses and elephants shall encounter my swift sword and collapse in heaps with all their limbs and trunks severed! When I stand there in front of the enemy with my armor and finger-protector, wielding my bow, who among men can boast of his manliness?
बद्धगोधाङ्गुलित्राणे प्रगृहीतशरासने।
कथं पुरुषमानी स्यात्पुरुषाणां मयि स्थिते।।2.23.35।।
My arrows shall unfailingly strike the vital places of my enemies and their horses and elephants and vanquish them today. O lord, today you shall see me unleash the power of my weapons to dislodge daSartha from his power and establish your sovereignty.
O rAma, today these arms – that usually are decorated with sandalwood paste and bracelets, used for giving charity, and protecting friends – shall perform the terrifying act of subduing those who are opposed to your coronation. O rAma, command me, I am your servant, as to who should be vanquished and deprived of his life, fame and friends.”
That lakshmaNa, as he expressed his rage and devotion to rAma so unconditionally, was shedding copious tears. rAma repeatedly consoled him and wiped his tears, and finally said – “O lakshmaNa, abiding by the words of our father is the only right path for me.”
Here we conclude the twenty third sarga of the ayOdhya kAnDam of SrImath vAlmiKi rAmAyaNam and humbly offer it at the lotus feet of SrIrAma. Hari: Om!
jAi SrIrAma.
Click on the book for word by word meaning from IITK website
Click on the bow to listen to the audio by SrIrAma ghanApATi
Next: 2.24. dharma trumps even mother’s love
Previous: 2.22. Destiny, all powerful!
rAmabhaktisAmrAjyam 