winning ways - post 7

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Post 7

 

Dear srivaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

Continuing the winning ways of people of ayOdhyaa by raama with his "sterling

character" - see the thinking of father dhasaratha

 

vrudhDhikaamO hi lOkasya sarva Bhootha anukampaka: |

maththa: priyatharO lOkE parjanya: iva vrushtimaan || 2-1-38

Meaning: king dhasaratha thought - Is not Raama better, as a raining cloud to

the earth, better liked by people than me, as he desires the development of the

world and has equal compassion towards all living beings.

 

yama sakra samO veeryE bruhaspathi samO mathou |

maheeDhara samO dhruthyaam maththas cha guNavath thara: || 2-1-39

Meaning: king dhasaratha thought - Rama is equal to yama and dhEvEndhra in

valour, to bruhaspathi in wisdom, and to a mountain in courage. He is more

virtuous than me."

 

ithi Evam vividhais thaisthair anya paarthiva dhurlaBhai: |

sishtair aparimEyais cha lOkE lOkOththarair guNai: || 2-1-41

meaning: dhasaratha continues his thoughts - Raama had many other virtues beyond

hitherto stated virtues not to be seen in other kings. His virtues cannot be

counted and they are the best in the world.

 

poorNa chandra aananasya atha sOkaapanudham aathmana: |

lOkE raamasya bubudhe sampriyathvam mahaathmana: || 2-1-44

Meaning: He recognised that if Rama was coronated as king, he will not have

worries as Raama had beautiful face as a full moon; was a great wise man; and

was liked by the people.

 

anujaathO hi maam sarvair guNair jyEshtO mama aathmaja: |

purandhara samO veeryE raama: para puranjaya: || 2-2-11

Meaning: King says - My eldest son Rama is equal to Devendra in valor. He is the

conqueror of cities of enemies. He is equal to me in all qualities.

 

tham chandhramiva pushyeNa yuktham Dharmabhruthaam varam |

youvaraajyE niyOkthaa ~smi preetha: purusha pungavam || 2-2-12

Meaning: Joyfully, I shall appoint Rama, who shines like the moon together with

pushya star, who is the best among the protectors of righteousness and who is an

excellent man, to the realm of prince.

 

anuroopa: sa vai naatho lakshmeevaan lakshmaNa agraja: |

thrailOkyamapi naathhEna yEna syaan naathhavat tharam || 2-2-13

Meaning: If Rama becomes the lord, the three worlds also will have the best

master. He is a glorious man. That Rama is the only fittest lord for the

kingdom.

 

Point: Generally it is said that the father should not praise his son in front

of him, but do that act with others. That is what dhasaratha does here in the

above slOkam. Immediately the people react saying .

 

ichchhaamO hi mahaa baahum raghu veeram mahaa balam |

gajEna mahathaa yaantham raamam chathra aavrutha aananam || 2-2-22

Meaning: people say to the king dhasaratha - All of us want to see Rama, with

long arms, the hero with great might, born in the clan of Raghu, his face

protected by a white umbrella, moving on a great elephant.

 

thE tham oochu: mahaa aathmaanam poura jana padhai: saha |

bahavO nrupa kalyaaNa guNaa: puthrasya santhi thE || 2-2-26

Meaning: Those kings together with urban and rural citizens after hearing those

words spoke to the great soul Dasaratha as follows: "Oh king! your son Raamaa

has many auspicious virtues".

 

guNaan guNavathO dhEva dhEva kalpasya Dheematha: |

priyaan aanandhanaan kruthsnaan pravakshyaamO~dhya thaam sruNu || 2-2-27

Meaning: Oh king! we shall tell you now the various virtues of your wise son,

listen to them. His qualities are equal to those of celestials. They [the

qualities] are liked by all. They give happiness to all.

 

dhivyair guNai: sakra samO raama: sathya paraakrama: |

ikshvaakubhyo~api sarvEBhyo hi athiriktho vishaampathE || 2-2-28

Meaning: Oh king! Raamaa is equal to DhEvEndhra in heavenly qualities. He has

true valor. He is greater than all the kings born in ikshvaaku clan.

 

raama: sathpurushO lOkE sathyas sathya paraayaNa: |

saakshaadh raamaadh vinirvruththO Dharmaschaapi sriyaa saha || 2-2-29

Meaning: Raama is the world-renowned gentleman. He is keenly interested in truth

and righteousness. Only Raama can make both righteousness and wealth combine

without separation.

 

prajaa sukhathvE chandhrasya vasuDhaayaa: kshamaa guNai: |

budhDhyaa bruhaspathEs thulyO veeryE saakshaath sacheepathE: || 2-2-30

Meaning: He is equal to moon in making the people happy; equal to the earth in

the quality of forgiveness; equal to Bruhaspathi in wisdom and verily to

DhEvEndhra in valour.

 

Dharmajna: sathya sandhas cha seelavaan anasooyaka: |

kshaantha: saanthvayithaa slakshNa: kruthajnO vijithEndhriya: || 2-2-31

Meaning: Raama knows all righteousness. He is true to his word and has good

character. He has no envy. He has patience. He consoles those who are in

troubles. He speaks good words. He has gratitude. He keeps senses under control.

 

mrudhus cha sthira chiththas cha sadhaa bhavyO anasooyaka: |

priyavaadhee cha bhoothaanaam sathyavaadhee cha raaghava: || 2-2-32

bahu sruthaanaam vrudhDhaanaam braahmaNaanaam upaasithaa |

thEna~sya iha athulaa keerthir yasas thEjas cha vardhathE || 2-2-33

Meaning: Raama is soft natured; has stable mind, always an auspicious man, and

has no envy. He speaks truthful and loving words to all living beings. He

worships aged brahmins endued with the knowledge of various sciences. By that,

his name, glory and splendor are growing in this world.

 

dhEva asura manushyaaNaam sarva asthrEshu visaaradha: |

samyagvidhyaa vrathasnaatho yathaavath saanga vEdhavith || 2-2-34

Meaning: he is an efficient man in handling all weapons known to celestials

demons and men, he is well versed in studies and systematically learnt all

branches of vEdhaas.

 

gaandharvE cha Bhuvi srEshtO babhoova Bharatha agraja: |

kalyaaNa aBhijana: saadhu: adheena aathmaa mahaa mathi: || 2-2-35

dhvijair aBhivineethascha srEshtair Dharma artha naipuNai: |

Meaning: Raama is best in the world in the art of music. He has best relatives.

He is gentle. He is not weak in mind. He has great wisdom. Raama was trained in

all matters from the best of brahmanas skilled in the art of righteousness and

in the science of political economy.

 

yadhaa vrajathi sangraamam graamaarthE nagarasya vaa || 2-2-36

gathvaa soumithree sahithO na avijithya nivarthathE |

Meaning: If it is necessary to go to a battle to protect a village or a city,

Raama goes with LakshmaNa and returns home only after obtaining victory.

 

sangraamaath punar aagamya kunjareNa rathena vaa || 2-2-37

pouraan svajanavaan nithyam kusalam paripruchchhathi |

puthrEshu agnishu dhaarEshu prEshya sishya gaNeshu cha || 2-2-38

nikhilEna anupoorvyaascha pithaa puthraan iva urasaan |

Meaning: After returning from battle, Rama goes to citizens on an elephant or a

chariot and inquires about their well being as though they were his own kinsmen,

like a father does to his sons. He asks about their wives and children, about

the fire, about their servants and students, always completely as per the due

order.

 

sushrooshanthE cha va: sishyaa: kachith karmasu damsithaa: || 2-2-39

ithi na: purusha vyaaGra: sadaa raamO~BhiBhaashathE | [part of slokam 40]

Meaning: Raama the best among men always asks us "Are your disciples serving you

by keenly performing their actions?"

 

vyasanEshu manushyaaNaam bhrusham bhavathi du:khitha: || 2-2-40

utsavEshu cha sarvEshu pithEva parithushyathi | [part of slokam 41]

Meaning: Raama feels very sad towards afflictions of men; and feels delighted in

all functions celebrated by people on the occasions of child birth and the like,

just as their own father does.

 

sathyavaadhee mahEshvaasO vrudhDha sEvee jithEndhriya: || 2-2-41

smitha poorva aBhibhaashee cha Dharmam sarvaathmanaa aasritha: | part of slokam

42

Meaning: Raama speaks only truth. He is a great hero. He serves elders. He kept

the senses under control. Raama, who talks smilingly, protects righteousness in

all ways.

 

samyag yOkthaa srEyasaam cha na vigruhya kathaa ruchi: || 2-2-42

uththarOththarayukthou cha vakthaa vaachaspathir yathaa | part of slokam 43

Meaning: Raama purchases benefits in good manner. He is not interested in

wrangling talks. He is an orator like Brihaspati by his replies and rejoinders.

 

suBhroor aayatha thaamra aksha: saakshaath vishNu: iva svayam || 2-2-43

raamO lOka aBhiraamO~yam sourya veerya paraakramai: | part of slokam 44

Meaning: Raama, who enchants the world, has beautiful eyebrows. He has red and

broad eyes. He is absolutely like the God Vishnu himself in strength, heroism

and valour.

 

prajaa paalana thathvajna: na raagOpahathEndhriya: || 2-2-44

sakthyaas thrailOkyamapi EkO bhokthum kim nu maheem imaam | part of slokam 45

Meaning: He knew the ins and outs of public administration. His senses are not

afflicted by passion. He is capable of administering not only earth, but also

the three worlds.

 

naa~asya krODha: prasaadhas cha nirarthO~sthi kadhaachana || 2-2-45

hanthyEva niyamaadh vadhyaan avadhyE cha na kupyathi | part of slokam 46

Meaning: Raama's anger or mercy is not arbitrary at any time. He kills those who

are to be slain as per rules. He is not angered at innocent.

 

yunakthyarthhai: prahrustascha tham asou yathra thushyathi || 2-2-46

saanthai: sarva prajaa kaanthai: preethi sanjananair nruNaam |

guNair viruruchE raamO dheeptha: soorya iva amsuBhi: || 2-2-47

Meaning: He gladly bestows wealth to those, with whom, he is satisfied. As the

sun shines by his rays, Raama shines by his qualities that are peaceful, which

are enchanting and delightful to all men.

 

tham Evam guNa sampannam raamam sathya paraakramam |

lOka paala upamam naathham akaamayatha mEDhinee || 2-2-48

Meaning: All people desire Raama, who is endowed with this kind of wealth of

qualities, who has true valour, who is equal to presiding deities like

dhEvEndhra, to be their lord.

 

vathsa: srEyasi jaathasthE dhistyaa~sou thava raaghava |

dhistyaa puthra guNair yukthO maareecha iva kasyapa: || 2-2-49

Meaning: Oh king dhasaratha! raama is born to you as a son, because of your good

fortune, for the welfare of this world . He has all the virtues befitting of a

son, like Kasyapa, the son of Mareecha.

 

balam aarOgyam aayuscha raamasya vidhithaathmana: |

dhEva asura manushyEshu sa gandharva uragEshu cha || 2-2-50

aasamsathE janaa: sarvO raashtrE puravarE thathaa |

aBhyantharascha baahyascha poura jaanapadhO jana: || 2-2-51

Meaning: All people in the state including those in the capital as well as those

in the nearby and in the far off places, desire Rama, who is reputed among

celestials, demons, men, divine serpents and singers, and who has long life,

health and strength.

 

Point: all these slOkaas reflect raama winning people by his qualities, speech

and mingling with them in their celebrations etc,

Raama has won them simply, by their heart. So what is the winning prize.

 

Dear bhakthaas, if you say the kingdom - you are simply wrong. For the crowning

did not take place as people wished and expressed so openly as "ichchamO hi" to

king dhasaratha.

 

The reward for such winning of raama is the "saadhu sangam" in the forest which

he also enjoyed very much. The saadhus, the rishi gaNam and the muni gaNam -

crowds of rishis and munis, - all are virtuous people. So the king of virtue -

raama - a crown jewel of virtue - mingling with virtuous people is the "welcome

reward" raama got. As I said earlier, what rewards he got for such unique wins

are also unique.

 

Dhaasan

Vasudevan m.g.