Ramayanam Balakanda 31st Sarga

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Rama and Lakshmana felt happy about accomplishing the task of protecting the

vedic ritual. After they spent the night in Visvamitra's hermitage, the next

morning, they completed their morning anushtanams and approached Visvamitra who

was sitting in the company of the other sages and He looked radiant like a

ritual fire.

 

The two brothers bowed to him and spoke to him respectfully- "O great and

knowledgeable rishi, we are at your service. Please command usand let me how we

can serve You?" The rishis surrounding Visvamitra said to them - "Janaka, the

king of Mithila is performing a yajnam. We are all going there and You must

accompany us. In Mithila, there is an awe-inspiring wonderful bow and Rama, you

must see that bow. Devathas gave that bow to the dynasty of Mithila rulers.

Nobody can assess the bow's power. Neither devathas, gandharvas, rakshasas or

mortals could lift and string the bow. Many mighty kings and princes wanted to

test their own valor by lifting the bow, but none ever succeeded. Rama, you

should accompany us and witness king Janaka's yagnam and the powerful bow.

Paramasiva gave that bow to king Janaka on devathas' request as the fruit of a

yajnam performed by him. In the king's palace they worship that bow everyday

with flowers, incense and other fragrances." Visvamitra felt very happy that the

sages convinced Rama and Lakshmana to accompany them.and they all started their

journey towards Mithila.

 

Let us pause here to look at the tattvartham as written by Sri Sribhashyam

Appalacharya Swamy.

 

Tattvaartham :

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In the story so far, Rama had proved one "samanya dharma" or "general duty" -

a disciple who learns from an Acharya may sometimes achieve greater things than

Acharya, but a disciple must always be obedient to the Acharya. Visvamitra

taught Rama all the astrasAnd using those, Rama vanquished the demons. Here

Rama showed obedience and humbleness in front of His Acharya even though He was

mightier than His Guru was the dharma that Rama demonstrated.

 

We also learn one "visesha dharma" or "special duty" in this story. Soul should

make use of the body to reach the Lord. Visvamitra performing the yajnam is

compared to the soul utilizing the body for reaching the Lord. The way karma

hinders soul from reaching God, demons were the obstacles to the yajnam. These

obstacles must be removed by the Lord Himself, and not by self-effort. So,

Visvamitra didn't want to use his power against the demons, but requested for

Rama's help. Astras are the tools to remove obstacles. Visvamitra gave all his

astras to Rama instead of using them Himself. The demoness "Thataka" is compared

to "Avidya" or ignorance in us because Thataka has strength equal to thousand

elephants and ignorance is equally strong in shutting out all the knowledge.

"Avidya" or ignorance causes "kaamam" or desire. Desire leads to more karma,

which is an obstacle in the path to reach God. Karma is two types - "aagaami

karma" (the karma in future births) and "sanchita karma" (karma accumulated from

past births). Thaataka's sons Subaahu and Maareecha are compared to these two

kinds of karma. With the Supreme God's intervention, "sanchita karma" is burnt

without trace like Subaahu, and "aagaami karma" won't affect us the way, as

Maareecha was sent far away.

 

Visvamitra doesn't leave Rama after the completion of the yajnam. He unites Him

with Sita Devi and goes to Himalayas instead of coming back to Siddhasramam.

Similarly, after removing both kinds of karma, soul stays in the body for the

body's lifespan, worships Lakshmi Narayana together and goes to moksham without

returning.

 

Visvamitra's yajnam lasted for 6 nights and days. It denotes the six "dosha"s or

vices in us. First vice is attachment to the body and thinking that body and

soul are same. Second vice is independence, thinking that soul is not dependant

on God. Third vice is forgetting the subservience of soul to God. Fourth vice is

thinking that one can try and protect himself. Fifth vice is thinking that

relations that come with the body are real and permanent relatives. Sixth vice

is, wanting to experience the pleasures for the body. Only Lord can remove these

doshams from us. If the bhagawanmantram (ashtaakshari) is chanted continuously,

these vices will be removed. This concept is proved in upanishats and brahma

sutrams.

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Now, let us get back to the story. Visvamitra started on the journey to Mithila

along with the other rishis and Rama-Lakshmanas and bade farewell to the

vanadevataas - "O Vanadevataas ! I achieved siddhi in this Siddhasramam. Let

auspiciousness be with you. I'm now heading north to Himalayas on the banks of

Ganga river". He then did a pradakshinam (going around) to Siddhasramam. The

sages collected all the things and articles required for the homam in hundred

carts and followed Visvamitra. The animals and birds in Siddhasramam also wanted

to follow Visvamitra but he stopped them.

 

They all walked for a long distance and reached the banks of SONA river by

sunset time. After sunset they all bathed, performed agnihotram (anushtanams by

ritual-fire) and sat around Visvamitra. Rama and Lakshmana bowed to all the

sages and sat in front of visvamitra. Rama then said to Visvamitra - "Swami!

This place is beautiful with green trees and enchanting. What kingdom is this?

Please tell us about this place." Visvamitra started answering.

 

-to be continued-

JET Prajna.