the bow's story -post 5

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Post 5

 

Dear srivaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

In earlier post we saw the command from sage visvaamithra to raama to see the

siva's bow. Many commentaries are given for this "vathsa raama dhanu: pasya".

Srimadh poundareekapuram aandavan swamy has given the following in his book

"raamapiraanaik kaRpOm".

 

1. When vathsa was heard by lakshmaNa immediately rose lakshmaNa, for, he was

already angry inside for the janaka's claim that nobody could just lift the bow,

nor move it or nor string the bow. Also when two are there in front, the young

one is always meant when addressed as 'child' 'vathsa'. So it is natural for him

to rise, but when he heard next word raama he kept quiet. Also the situation

would become complicated if lakshmaNa could do it, for seethaa is meant for

raama. That has been avoided by the second word raama.

 

2. Why 'child raama see the bow' - dhanu: pasya - why not lift and string - for

raama is just not sage's son but some body's son, presently under sage's care.

So a guardian cannot take risks of commanding the 2 wards in terrible jbs like

this of lifting the bow. If something adverse happens then? So let raama decide

after seeing the bow. So 'dhanu: pasya'. If he wants to lift also - let him or

me decide later.

 

3. Children generally are curious and in their enthusiasm want to do certain

acts of bravery, but in the middle of the same they may call for help or cry. In

the present instance also if raama lifts the bow upto waist height then if he

could not do further and then suddenly drops dangerously or starts crying for

help, then both are risky. So better give a direction raama see the bow.

 

4. If raama cannot lift and string then others will blame the sage only - for

janaka has already indicated that mighty raavana also failed, kinnaras maha

uragas et al have failed. So why you direct the young boy to do magnificient

things? So better tell him 'see'.

 

5. Raama can very well understand the body language - samignai - while saying

sage visvaamithra indicated concurrence bodily - but wordily - pasya - see. So

accordingly raama did to see first and then again taken permission by word also.

[MGV- here a small story of a couple is given out by swamy for the body

language -

how it can be interpreted or misinterpreted]

 

6. Also raama is seeing in the upper story seethaa standing. in that mood

perhaps raama has to be given a proper command to come to senses or proper

grips. So that is why dhanu pasya. Hey raama, see the bow, not the girl.

[MGV adds - this also exhibits swamy's keen sense of humour]

 

7. Sage could have addressed 'veera, raaghava, see the dhanu' - instead

addressed child - for he has already proved his valour - veeram - as in thaataka

episode. Not necessary to prove again to sage. So 'vathsa'

 

8. Also janaka was mentioning veera sulkam is seetha - bounty for valour. But

hey child, raama, you prove your mettle as a child and not as a veeran - then it

is double pride for the sage - his ward as a child or boy could do which other

mighty kings - veeran - could not do.

 

9. Further as in vaamana avathaaram if he goes as a child and then transforms

himself as a thrivikraman after receiving the dhaanam from mahaabali, raama also

could do that. But the sage does not want this kind of transformations from one

to other. So raamaa go as a child only and see the bow.

 

10. The bow is raama dhanu - it is your dhanu - then how could others touch it

or do some thing with it. So raama see your dhanu.

 

11. It is raama dhnu - ramayathi ithi raama: - it is to be seen and enjoyed -

so, raama see and enjoy.

 

12. It is raamasya dhanu - already many manthras are taught to you by me for

the different asthraas. So, see this bow and utter relevant manthra, then it

will become a toy or a small hand tool to you and not a mighty bow.

 

13. It is raama dhanu: - surprise stored for raama only. So raama go and see.

 

14. 'sivam' means mangaLam - since it is 'siva dhanu:' - it is going to give

you mangalam - so raama see that bow.

 

On the whole a very consummate exposition by sri swamy.

 

On the lighter side from MGV - me

1. hey raama - indha janakan thannudaiya peNNaip paRRiyum indha villaip paRRiyum

EdhO romba pesugiRaar, so why not you see what is that much special about that

bow".

 

2. Further as parasuraama has already said in sargam 75 the bow is already

broken by a hoonkaaram of vishNu - indha udaintha villikku pOi ivar ivvaLavu

pesigiRaar, so you see.

 

Actually here sree swamy [poundareekapuram swamy] takes the meaning of frozen

for the 'jrumbitham - in 1-75-19 - stunned and by that siva got frozen or

motionless. So the bow is in tact.

 

Please see the note for 1-75-19- in www.valmikiramayan.net - Comment: The bow is

jR^imbhitam broken by the hum in dissent of Vishnu - Govindaraja. And Maheshvara

Tiirtha says that the bow as well as Shiva are rendered jaDa -motionless'.

 

3. Swamy has not commented about this point of seetha pushing the bow cart.

 

So this is by me -sage visvaamithra says - that small girl seethaa has already

pushed it aside like a toy. I know you, raama, are great than that seethaa - for

you have already proved your greatness to me twice - one by killing thaataka,

another in that ahalyaa matter.

 

hey raama see the bow - perhaps by your look itself the bow may get weakened,

that broken bow if further weakened, then it is all the more easy for you. For

I have already taught and given you lot of special asthrams and their manthrams.

in front of those, this already broken bow may not be a big thing to you. So you

see.

 

4. Dear raama, I have already assured your daddy, king dhasaratha, when I took

you from him, that I will also accord many kinds of benefits to him. Please

refer slokam given below. This is the best benefit you are going to gain, that

girl seethaa. So you see that bow, first,

srEya: cha asmai pradhaasyaami bahu roopam na samsaya: || 1-19-10

thrayaaNaam api lOkaanaam yEna khyaathim gamishyathi |

 

meaning: I will also accord many kinds of benefits to him by which he acquires

renown in all the three worlds, no doubt about it.

 

Point Continued - then hey raama - do what you want to do and reap the fruits of

your acts. In the heart of heart, I know you can break the bow and win that girl

seethaa - for I already said to your father 'aham vEdhmi mahaathmaanam' - I know

raama - this vasishta also knows who you are. Then why should I worry.

 

Dear bhakthaas - see the amount of enjoyment that comes out of raama kaaviyam -

this bow's story - let us continue to enjoy in next post also -points from

kamban - whom we have not touched so far.

 

Dhasan

 

Vasudevan m.g.

 

PS: what i have given is a free translation of swamy's great work. for any

errors in translation please pardon me.