Post 40
Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,
In the previous 39 posts, we saw 'lakshmaNa' donning 11 roles. The study on the 11 th role of the 'minister' or counsel is continuing. We saw how the 'minister' lakshmaNa consoled when raama was upset over the separation of seethaa at the onset of monsoon, for during the monsoon the mission 'search seethaa' will not be operated. Raama got convinced by lakshmaNa's counselling and waited the abating of monsoon. Autumn set in then. The period of ' saradh ruthu' is nice for lovers to enjoy. The pangs of young Seethaa's separation and the green scenery around kindled thoughts of 'seethaa' in raama.
He started again to brood bad and be sad as he was 3 months ago. Again lakshmaNa started his counselling. This time it is not simply motivation, but lecture on controlling of passion, besides extolling seethaa and her capabilities. What lakshmaNa rolled out was an abridged geethaa, or "geethaa artha sangraham" in its real sense. Perhaps later, our poorva aachaaryaas took cue from lakshmaNa.
'Controlling passion in saradh ruthu' - LakshmaNa advising Raama -- looks funny, is it not? – For lakshmaNa is a young one than raama. And it is now a little more than 13 years, since lakshmaNa saw or just had a good look at his beloved wife oormiLa, whereas raama missed seethaa since 3 or 4 months at best. Now who has to advise whom? – a paradox?
sa chinthayaa dhussahayaa pareetham visamj~nam Ekam vijanE manasvee |
bhraathur vishaadhaath thvarithO athi dheena: sameekshya soumithri: uvaacha raamam || 4-30-15
meaning: Noble-hearted Soumithri, on observing lone Raama in a lonely place, who is beset with unbearable sadness and whose posture is vacuous, became very miserable for the sad condition of his brother, and spoke to Raama fretfully.
Point: see whenever raama is unhappy, immediately lakshmaNa is also becomes sad – not sad himself, but thinking on the pitiable condition of raama he becomes sad. So see how well lakshmaNa controls his passions? So, no wonder in he advising raama.
kim aarya kaamasya va sam gathEna kim aathma pourushya paraabhavEna |
ayam hriyaa samhriyathE samaadhi: kim athra yOgEna nivarthithEna || 4-30-16
meaning: lakshmaNa told raama, 'Oh, noble one,
§ what is the use in getting into fetters of passion,
§ what for soul's bold-temper is being trounced,
§ this remorseful sadness is eroding your self-assurance, or self confidence and
§ what purpose can be achieved now in retracing steps [than looking at the goal].
Point: see lakshmaNa asks questions one by one, touching the sensitivities of raama – hey you are love lorn, thereby it slowly eats your boldness, and self confidence. He also asks why you trace back old steps – is it not simply reflecting ourselves in our day to day life - in raama's position - and krishNa like lakshmaNa teaching raama indirectly us - 'geethaa' – leave passion behind, think ahead, act simply, leave the fruits to lord etc.
kriyaa abhiyogam manasa: prasaadham samaadhi yOga anugatham cha kaalam |
sahaaya saamarthyam adheena saththva: sva karma hEthum cha kurushva thaatha || 4-30-17
meaning: Oh, dear sir,
§ engage yourself in your mission with an undeterred spirit and with a good disposition of mind,
§ bring time under control with steadfastness and ideation,
§ the capabilities of your helpmates, say Sugreeva and others be gathered,
§ the basis for your achievements, daily rituals towards gods be performed by you as your means.
Point: 1. adheena saththva: kriyaa abhiyogam kurushva = becoming undeterred in spirit, you engage in the mission – dear sirs and madams – is this not the 'karma yOgam'? chapter 2 – the essence of krishNa's treaty on 'work' or 'duty' – work steadfast in your mission unattached.
2. manasa: prasaadham kurushva = make it happen for a mind's good disposition – is this not 'gnaana yOgam' – be clear in your thinking, analyse what you do – concentrate fully and use your wisdom.
[recently I attended one management training programme titled 'make it happen' by swamiji swaroopananda of chinmaya mission – though it was a management programme, what points he dealt were all from 'geethaa' as above – perhaps he took a leaf out of lakshmaNa and modified to suit his audience which consisted of all senior level managers in industry]
3. samaadhi yOga anugatham kurushva kaalam cha = with full concentration [steadfastness] combined with yogic thinking [ideation] follow [in accordance with] also the time – so that you have full control – is this not 'samaadhi yOgam or 'sam nyaasa yOgam' – or sannyasa yOgam of geethaa.
4. sahaaya saamarthyam kurushva = helpmate's capabilities be gathered by you, hEthum sva karma cha kurushva = you perform your own endeavour and base it for achieving results – means do your bhakthi yOgam, so that god's helping hand comes in time to fructify that for you.
So all the 4 yOgams for which krishNa spent 4 chapters is all said by lakshmaNa in one single slokam. Is it lakshmaNa? Is it vaalmeeki? Or is it raama who made others speak posing himself at the receiving end? In short terms so that his kaavyam is a 'reference guide' for all at all times
– spent - past
– pre-sent – sent in advance to us so that we can spend it now or gifted to us so that we can send it now
– to come - future
– in the simplest form of a 'hero heroine story' with all 'rasaas'. Great, great.
Continuation:
na jaanakee maanava vam sa naatha thvayaa sanaathaa sulabhaa parENa |
na cha agni chooDaam jvalithaam upEthya na dhahyathE veera varaarha ka schith || 4-30-18
meaning: lakshmaNa to raama, 'Oh, the lord of human kindred, with you as her husband, Jaanakee is not such an easily attainable one for others. Oh, highly honourable one, can it be said that none will be burnt if he nears the tongues of flaming fire? Oh, brave one, similar is jaanakee. For Jaanakee is a flaming fire, and anyone nearing her with ill-will will simply be burnt to ashes like a grass-hopper".
Point: this is another kind of motivation – indirect motivation - any husband will be pleased simply, when somebody eulogizes his wife, [if it sincere and with no ulterior motives], that too if it is a praise from a person like lakshmaNa.
salakshaNam lakshmaNam apradhru syam svabhaavajam vaakyam uvaacha raama: |
hitham cha pathyam cha naya prasaktham sasaama dharmaartha samaahitham cha || 4-30-19
meaning: Raama spoke to the seemly and undeniable LakshmaNa, with words that emerged from his very nature, which are
§ tasteful,
§ morally abiding, and
§ abounding with friendliness,
§ abounding with righteousness, and
§ abounding with meaningfulness.
Point: see the number of adjectives used – in describing lakshmaNa as well the speech of raama.
nissams ayam kaaryam avEkshithavyam kriyaa visEshO~ api anuvarthithavya: |
na thu pravrudhdhasya dhuraasadhasya kumaara veeryasya phalam cha chinthyam || 4-30-20
meaning: Doubtless accomplishment of the task is to be held in view, even, [oh, son or] oh boy, the factors that contribute to its accomplishment, like enthusiasm, helpmates etc., are to be followed through. And not only these aspects but we also have to observe the fruition of task, when that task is becoming unwieldy, unattainable and formidable, along with the lapse of time and lapsing of help". Thus Rama said to LakshmaNa.
Point: Raama's reply points are a high modern 'management lesson' in accomplishing a 'task'.
May be raama talked like a full fledged 'management guru'. But what task he had on hand to achieve is 'all beyond imagination' – except one final goal – seethaa must be retrieved safely -
– no idea about the location of seethaa
– whether she is alive or not, not known,
– the time limit is also there – another 4 to 5 months to go for the completion of the 14 years and bharatha is waiting – even one more day without information on raama's return means he will jump into fire.
– The army of sugreeva not in sight at all - and as such the resources
– limited or unlimited capabilities of the resources not known – no idea even.
– Who is raavaNa what are his capabilities where is his location, how to approach etc.
So a farsighted target and its achievability – tested and proved by his practical living – thereby he paved way – hey don't be shortsighted while setting targets – set farsighted ones - but one thing - simply 'DO IT' – MAKE IT HAPPEN - 'I am here to help you'. LakshmaNa talked about the hEthu – for us raama is the hEthu.
Raama raama
Dhasan
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