is she capable 3

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Post 3

Dear srivaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

Continuing the answer to the question "is seethaa powerful?" now another

question arises out of curiosity. Does raamaa recognize at any time seethaa is

powerful enough to defend herself on her own or does she needs a support from

her husband always?

 

I wish to hear from learned scholars in the forum.

 

The following will be a point I wish to present before the scholars of this

list, as a sort of reply to the question raised. Of course the scholars can say

whether this point is ok or not. Why I say that is clear from the comment below.

 

While seethaa is describing the kaakaasuran episode in sundhara kaaNdam to sri

hanumaan, she says to hanumaan "raama, breaking his sleep [when the blood from

my breasts fell on raamaa due to the action of kaakaasuran] said -

 

aaseevisha iva krudhDha: svasan vaakyam abhaashatha: || 24th slokam

kEna thE naaga naasa ooru vikshatham vai sthana antharam

ka: kreedathi sarOshEna pancha vakthrEna bhOginaa|| 25th slokam

38th sargam sundhara kaaNdam

 

meaning: raama, sharpened with a lot of anger, spoke this sentence [which fell]

like poison -"hey [seethaa], one who has thighs like the tusker of the elephant,

who spoilt your bosoms? Who is playing with a five-headed snake, which is angry?

[sarOshEna - with a lot of vengeance? Or a lot of anger]

 

Comment: I read in a book of tamil translation - of this slOkam which reads -

unadhu maarbu evanaal thunbuRuththap pattadhu, kOpaththinaal vaai thiranthuLLa 5

thalai naagaththudan evan viLaiyaadugiRaan?".

 

This leaves to a doubt here, whether, raama identifies himself as the angry

five-headed snake or he means seethaa as the angry snake. That he is angry is

clear from previous slOkam - by "aaseevisha iva krudhDha:" and vaakyam

abhaashatha:. As a continuation of expression of his anger, he also takes a

grass bit and sends it as a brahmaasthram, which is well known.

 

But think for a moment. Here the affected party is seethaa - so it is normal to

expect she is full of anger - 'sarOshEna'. Further the word bhOginaa is feminine

gender, indicating seethaa, the female snake, and not bhOgin, which means raama

himself. So, my point here is raama recognizes "her capacity" that she is more

than capable to defend herself in case of adversity by calling her a 5 headed

snake. But she chooses to keep silent, so that he takes action, which enhances

his stature as 'saraNaagatha vathsalan'.

 

Another argument which can be advanced by scholars in favour of raamaa, rather

than seethaa is - In the earlier slokams, raama says to seethaa, "hey seethaa,

are you not capable to shy away even this crow?" - which means she is incapable

even to scare a crow and needs support and protection, always, from him.

 

But suddenly how can you say raama recognizes her capacity? My answer is that

the couple is making fun with each other. When he realizes that the damage is

already done, he recognizes her capacity as well, and uses his valour.

 

Another beauty of a point to prove seethaa is capable is available again in

sundhara kaaNdam - after getting a 2 months time from raavaNa seethaa says to

him -

 

asandhEsaath thu raamasya thapasa: cha anupaalanaath |

na thvaam kurmi dhasagreeva bhasma bhasmaarha thEjasaa || 5-22-20

 

dhasagreeva = O RaavaNa!

bhasma arha = (although you are) suited to be burnt into ashes

asandhEsaath = not having mandate;

raamasya = of raama;

anupaalanaath = (and) preserving

thapasa: = austerity;

na kurmi = I am not making

thvaam bhasmam = you into ashes

thEjasaa = (with my) glory.

 

Meaning: "O RaavaNaa! Although you are suited to be burnt into ashes, not having

the mandate of Raama and preserving austerity, I am not reducing you into ashes

with my glory."

 

Seethaa is very clear here in this slOkam - I do not have the mandate of raamaa

to kill you or burn you to ashes with my own capacity, for having seen me with

eyes filled with kaamam [about which she expresses in slokams 14 15, 17, and 18

of this sargam 22 of sundhara kaaNdam].

 

Any more doubts about the capability of seethaa please?

 

Dhaasan

 

Vasudevan m.g.

 

PS: sorry for delay in serving this post as I was away for more than a week on

official business as usual.