Raghu Veera Gadhyam:Aaranya Khaandham--Part 2

[Guest guest]

Dear Rama BhakthAs :

 

This morning I had the good fortune to listen to the

entire RamAshtaka Krithis of Dikshitar

rendered by the NadhopasanA group.

This tape was presented to me by a dear member of

the Bhakthi group . After I heard the Jyothi SwarupiNi raga Krithi

on Sri Rama , It was clear that I had to return to DandakAranyam

to enjoy the anubhavam of Swami Desikan today about

the mighty valorous deeds of the Kodhanda PaaNi there .

 

GS 32 :dhushaNa jalanidhi soshaNa toshitha rishigaNa

goshitha vijaya goshaNa ! Jaya! Jaya !

 

O Raghuveeraa who dried the ocean of the night-stalker by the name

of DhushaNa by the firey arrows leaving form Your Kodhandam ! The assembly

of sages thrilled by witnessing Your power as a supreme archer

raised to sky level their eulogies to celebrate Your victory .

 

DhusaNa was the general of Khara , the brother of SurpaNakA .

DhushaNa marched his army of 14,000 ogres from Janasthanam

to Panchavati to attack and kill Rama as per his Master's orders.

Rama killed first the entire army of 14,000 ogres and confronted

DhusaNa in battle. Rama broke the bow of DhushaNa , killed his

charioter as well as his horses and then lopped off the mace -wielding

hand of the ogre and killed him too . All the sages witnessing

this fierce battle were thrilled at the sight of Rama's extraordinary valour

and hailed him as a supreme hero. They filled the sky with thankful

salutations

to recognize Rama's victory . Adi Kavi says in this context :" Saadhu Saadhu

ithi Kaakuthstham sarva bhoothAnyapoojayan "( all beings present at

the battle field acclaimed Sri Rama saying "well done ! Bravo ! ). Swami Desikan

follows this line of Srimad RaamAyaNam to state that the assembled

rishis made the Vijaya GoshaNam .

 

GS 33: kharatara Khara taru kantana chanta pavana !

 

O Lord who was like a fierce cyclone(chanta maarutham )

in breaking in to two the fierce tree named Khara .

The ferocious Khara upset over the destruction of Trisiras,

DhushaNan and his huge army by Rama attacked latter .

Rama broke him in the battle like a swift wind

would break a tall tree into two pieces . Thus in

the course of one and half hours Rama destroyed Khara ,

his two genarals and the army of 14,000 ogres. Swami Desikan's

mind is still absorbed with that mighty prowess of Raguveeran .

Hence , he goes on to add two more salutations to celebrate

Rama's victory at Panchavati .

 

GS 34 : Dvisaptha raksha: sahasra naLavana vilolana mahAkalabha !

Jaya! Jaya !

 

O Hero who destroyed the tall grass of 14,000 RakshasAs

just as a powerful elephant destroys a forest of swamp grass .

Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee!

 

GS 35 : asahAya Sura ! Jaya! Jaya!

 

Hail to Thee O great hero who does not need the support of anyone else

in Your battles ! You destroyed single handedly Kahara , DhushaNa ,

Trisaras and their retinue of fourteen thousand warriors in the battle

at Panchavati right in front of Your ParNasAla. There is no one to mavh

Your heroism in battles .

 

GS 36 : anapAya SAhasa ! Jaya ! Jaya !

 

It is daring act indeed to take on all these fierce rakshsAs

in battle and to crown that act by emerging victorious at the

end of this terrific battle . Your daring and courage is indeed

unmatched .Hail to Thee! Hail to Thee !

 

GS 37 : mahita mahAmrutha darsana mudhita mythilee

dhrutatara parirambhaNa vibhava viropitha vikata viravraNa !

Jaya! Jaya!

 

O Raghuveeraa! You stood firm in your battle with the thousands of

RakshasAs headed by the dangerous Khara and became victorious.

All the sages and the DevAs acclaimed You as supreme hero .

Your consort also witnessed this fierce battle and was joyous

over your victory . She was thrilled to see your extraordinary skills in

the battle field. She was overwhelmed by her feelings of pride about

you and embraced You tightly to congratulate You on Your victory .

At that time Your proud chest was covered with the wounds resulting from

the just-ended battle. Your consort 's embrace representing her present

to you acted as though it was a fomentation for Your wounds to

heal them . Hail to Thee O Raghu Veera ! Hail to Thee!

 

Adi Kavi describes this scene of the expression of Joy and

affection by Sita to her victorious husband . He says : " Seeing her

husband , who had made short work of His enemies and brought

happiness to the sages , Sita ( a princess of Videha desam ) felt rejoiced

and embraced Him. Nay, transported with supreme facility to see

the hordes of ogres killed , the daughter of Janaka felt gratified

to find Sri Rama whole. Then closely embracing once more that

destroyer of the ogre hordes -- the daughter of Janaka felt rejoiced ,

her countenance lit with joy ."

 

Sri Sitaa Rama ParabrahmanE nama:

 

Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan