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

 

Singular traits of the Lord

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 26. Among the manifestations of the Almighty it is

Rama who is praised by the poets for His extraordinary valour

just as they hail Him as the personification of righteousness.

The portrayal of Rama's heroism by Kalidasa in his Raghuvamsa

makes the other mighty rulers of the solar dynasty pale into

insignificance. Vedanta Desika has aptly entitled his prose-poem

Raghuviragadyam as Mahaviravaibhavam to highlight that it was His

valorous deeds which came to the fore in this incarnation.

 

Rama's extraordinary prowess became known to the world at large

right from the time Sage Viswamitra sought King Dasaratha to send

Him along with him to protect his sacrifice from the demons, when

He was just a boy. Every encounter in which He vanquished those

who transgressed Dharma only reinforced the fact that He was

invincible as a foe and also gave an inkling into the fact that

Rama was not an ordinary human being but a manifestation of the

Supreme One.

 

So naturally a doubt may arise as to why Rama should have

befriended Sugriva and his simian army to assist Him in the task

of punishing Ravana for his misdeed of abducting Sita. He could

have accomplished not only this task but also annihilated the

three worlds if He wanted single-handedly. It was to give an

opportunity for them to serve Him in this incarnation, as the

celestials had accompanied Him to the Earth for this purpose,

said Sri B.Sundar Kumar in his discourse.

 

Valmiki does not lose any occasion to highlight Rama's singular

traits. This justifies the purpose of this incarnation of the

Lord in which He established Dharma by setting an example to

humanity about how it is important to uphold virtues in life even

in times of duress.

 

The context in which Dasaratha convened his assembly to get the

opinion of all on his wish to crown Rama as the prince-regent to

the throne of Ayodhya, afforded an opportunity for all to lavish

their praise on Rama. Dasaratha delighted in his son Rama for He

was no ordinary child. After being childless for long he was

blessed with four valiant sons and of them Rama was his very

life. Rama's conduct was so exemplary that even His foes had but

praise for Him.

 

So when Dasaratha expressed his wish to crown Rama there was

unanimous approval that the spontaneous outburst of joy gave room

for him to wonder whether there was anything wrong with his rule.

When he expressed his mind the citizens gave such a glowing

account of Rama's virtues and said that the Earth desired to have

a ruler like Him, that Dasaratha's joy knew no bounds for having

sired Him.

 

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