vaachama gocharam

[Guest guest]

Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

It is well established "Great people talk less and do more", since

their actions speak for themselves, instead of their long winding and

big-mouthed talks. Even among such great people, who speak

only `truth and nothing else' is still less in number.

 

May be, when such great men talk `truth' alone the quantum of talking

or the words put out becomes less. So they talk only what is

required. Then that small talk also bears or / and contains lot of

meanings, explanations, commentaries etc. For necessarily a lot of

thought must have gone into to make that `truth' as a small speech.

Further the intention behind making that speech is also positive,

about doing good to all in general.

 

Great talkers or orators may "at times" or "some times" be achievers

in action, but not all the times. These are certain golden rules

available in the world.

 

Sage vaalmeeki asked that great sage naaradhaa "who is a great man

who talks truth [in few words] and acts according to his talks in the

present world?" – "ka: sathya vaakyO dhruDa vratha:?" The sage

vaalmeeki did not stop with these two qualifications. But the sage

added another 14 qualities also and wanted an answer from naaradhaa

as to "who is the human being in this world, who fulfills all these

16 qualities?"

 

Perhaps, by now you got where I am trying to lead. Yes. It is the

beginning of srimadh raamaayaNam first sargam in baala kaaNdam. Some

times a doubt comes what are these 16 qualities for `a man' to be

such "exemplary and unique" person. So we will, first, have this

list of 16 qualities and then go into the topic, which I want to

discuss here.

 

Sage vaalmeeki asks "ka: + nu = who really; asmin + saampratham +

lOkE = in this present world" [slokam 1-1-2] -- who really in this

present world is a

1. guNavaan = principled person;

2. veeryavaan = valerous, potential one;

3. dharma + jna: = conscientious knower

4. krutha + jna: = knower of what is done, [also a redeemer];

5. sathya + vaakya: = speaker of truth [habitually speaking the truth

= truth-teller];

 

6. dhruDa + vratha: = determined in his deed.

7. chaarithrENa + yuktha: = conduct-wise blended with good conduct;

8. sarva + bhoothEshu + hitha: = benign in respect of all beings;

9. vidhvaan = adept,

10. samartha: = capable or ablest one;

 

11. Eka + priya + dharsana: = uniquely good to look at

12. aathmavaan = courageous;

13. jitha + krOdha: = controlled his ire;

 

14. dhyuthimaan = brilliant one;

15. an + asooyaka: = not jealous;

16. kasya bibhyathi + dhEvaa: + jaatha + rOshasya + samyugE = by

whom even gods are afraid when provoked in the matter of war.

 

Then the great sage naaradha replies "raamaa born in the ikshvaaku

clan" is that unique and exemplary human who possesses all those

qualities listed by sage vaalmeeki – who asked "evam vidham naram".

 

In similar lines, saint thyaagaraja [sT] also sings "vaachaama

gOcharamE manasaa" – is it possible to describe all those traits of

raamaa in his "kaikavasi" raaga krithi.

 

Pallavi of the krithi:

vaachaama gOcharamE manasa varNimpa tharamE? raama mahima ---

vaachaama

 

meaning: raama's glory cannot be described in words and is beyond the

perception of speech.

 

Now let us see whether all 16 points asked are covered in naaradha

maharshi's reply.

 

ikshvaaku vamsa prabhavO raamO naama janai: shrutha: |

niyatha aathmaa mahaaveeryO dhyuthimaan dhruthimaan vasee || 1-1-8

raama: + naama = raama, named

ikshvaaku + vamsa: + prabhava: = ikshwaku dynasty as his birthplace

[emerged from ikshvaku dynasty];

 

Sage naaradha now lists out: [list is somewhat different as covered

in the slOkams but to present in same order as vaalmeeki asked it is

modified and presented here]:

1. sa: + cha + sarva + guNa + upEtha: = he that raama is embodiment

of all noble merits – [question Q is - who is guNavaan- so answer

is `sarva guNa upetha:' slOkam 1-1-17]

 

2. mahaa + veerya:= highly valorous one [sl. 1-1-8]; vishNunaa +

sadhrsa + veeryE = in valour, comparable with Vishnu [sl.1-1-18]; [Q-

is veeryavaan ]

Note: Based on this qualification maaha veerya: swamy dhEsikan named

his gadhya kaavyam the "raamaayaNam" abridged as "maahaaveera

vaibhavam"

 

3. dharma + jna: [1-1-12] = rectitude knower.

Raamaa not only knows but implements it fully – see

- dharmasya+pari+rakshitaaH [sl. 1-1-13] = of probity, in entirety,

guards.

- svasya + dharmasya + rakshitaa: [sl.1-1-14] = champion of his own

righteousness [self-righteous];

 

4. For the question "kruthjna:" sri naaradha replies in an indirect

way as

- prajaanaam + hitha: + ratha: [sl. 1-1-12] = concerned in subject's

welfare,

- rakshitaa+sva+ janasya [sl.1-1-14] = champion of his own, people's

welfare, [adherents' welfare]

- jeeva+ lOkasya + rakshithaa: [sl. 1-1-13] = guardian of living

beings in worlds;

- [unless raamaa knows what is being done elsewhere, how can he be a

good guardian of his subjects and take care of their welfare.]

 

5. sathya + sandha: [sl. 1-1-12] = truth bidden

[Q is "sathya vaakya:"- truth teller – but answer is not only teller

but one who carries out – does the Q is fully answered or more than

required]

 

6. For that one question of "dhruDa + vratha:" = determined in his

deed, Sage naaradha puts his answer in more than one quality of raama

as

dhruthimaan [sl.1-1-8] = steadfast;

sarvadhaa + abhigatha: + sadhbhi: [sl.1-1- 16] = always accessible by

clean-minded ones;

samaadhimaan [sl.1-1-12] = diligent one.

a + dheena + aathmaa [sl.1-1-15] = not down hearted [level-headed

even in severe trouble];

vichakSaNa: [sl.1-1-15] = clear-headed [in discriminating and

distinguishing.]

 

7. For the next Q of "chaarithrENa + yuktha:" = conduct-wise blended

with good conduct again naaradha puts the answer again indirectly as

niyatha + aathmaa [sl. 1-1-8] = controlled soul [conscientious];

vasee [sl.1-1-8] = controller [of vice and vile or senses]

vashya:[sl.1-1-12] = self-controlled;

suchi: [sl.1-1-12] = clean [in conduct];

saadhu: [sl.1-1-15] = gentle;

sarva + sama:[sl.1-1-16] = one who treats all equally

 

8. For the next Q of "sarva + bhoothEshu + hitha: = benign in respect

of all beings" naardha replies in indirect way as in point 4 above –

as one who takes care of

prajaanaam + cha + hitha: + ratha: = concerned in subject's welfare,

jeeva+ lOkasya + rakshithaa: = guardian of living beings in worlds.

 

Since the length of the post is increasing we will continue in next

post

 

Dhsan

 

Vasudevan m.g.