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Source: The Hindu (http://www.the-hindu.com)

 

Scriptures, guide to humanity

 

CHENNAI, APRIL 28. The primary aim of the scriptural texts like

the Puranas and the Itihasas (epics) is to delineate the nature

of the Supreme Being and His glorious deeds in His various

manifestations. As the Lord incarnated from time to time to

rejuvenate Dharma whenever it was on the wane, these texts

underscore while describing them the importance of sustaining the

moral order in the world and thus they serve as guide on human

conduct. But they do not stop with this. They also throw light on

matters pertaining to worldly life in their portryal of

characters and incidents in their lives.

 

The Ramayana waxes eloquent about Hanuman's prowess, astuteness

and diplomacy, in the incidents depicting his role as Rama's

envoy. He not only located Sita in the Asoka grove with success

but instilled hope in Her heart that Rama would come to Her

rescue within the time frame which the demon-king Ravana had set

as ultimatum. After causing extensive damage to the grove and

slaying several of the ogres, taking care that his actions did

not cause any harm to Sita, he reached Ravana's palace and seeing

him enjoying himself felt greatly angered and instantly wished

that he should finish him off.

 

The Kamba Ramayanam depicts how he refrained from doing anything

impulsively. Hanuman controlled his anger and deliberated over

what would happen in the event of a fight between them and

concluded, ``It is an act that I should avoid. The strength

possessed by Ravana is not ordinary. His victories so far clearly

show that he cannot be defeated by others. Except Rama, none else

can vanquish this very embodiment of nocturnal darkness.''

 

``Neither can I defeat Ravana, nor can he conquer me. An

indecisive fight for a number of days will not only negate Rama's

oath that He would roll the ten heads of Ravana on the ground,

but also result in the death of Sita who has proclaimed that She

will retain Her life for just one month from now. Therefore, to

desist from fighting Ravana and to act as a good messenger of

Rama is the right thing to do.'' This instance showed his

foresight, how he did not overestimate his abilities or indulge

in rash acts, very essential in an envoy, said Kalyanapuram Sri

R. Aravamudan in his discourse.

 

The developments before Vibhishana's surrender to Rama after he

parted ways with his brother who refused to heed his counsel is a

lesson in Dharma. It highlights how Ravana compounded his earlier

misdeed of abducting Sita by refusing to return Her to Rama and

seek His pardon as advised by Vibhishana, thereby meeting his

end.

 

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