Srimad Ramayana Tatva Deepika # 142 (Ba:la Ka:nda-18sarga)

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Sri Raghunandana ParabrahmaNe Namaha!

Srimathe Ramanujayanamaha!!

 

Body and life are also not independent. They only try to make the ‘atma’ feel

good. In the same way Lakshmana always behaved in a likeable manner towards

Rama. Since Lakshmana was his life, how can one sleep without life! Hence Rama

could not sleep if Lakshmana was not there. As one cannot eat if there is no

right hand, so also Rama was not able to eat without Lakshmana.

 

The relationship between Lakshmana and Rama illustrates the relationship between

the jivathma (soul) and Paramathma. Bhagavan is not the One who goes off to

sleep. He is always alert. When He is with the jiva, he experiences the

‘sushupthi’ state. When the jiva is with Paramathma, it is ‘sushupthi’. This

state is called ‘deep sleep’. Then the living beings sleep with out any

consciousness of their bodies and their manas lies unaffected and inactive. In

this sloka Rama is referred as ‘Purushotthama’. Bhagavan is ‘Purushotthama’.

Upanishad says that the soul’s union with Paramathma is ‘sushupthi’ - the deep

sleep. Bhagavan does not eat anything – He is not the ‘bho:ktha’. Because the

eater is the jiva only, it is said that Rama would not eat unless Lakshmana is

there. From these words we know the connection between Rama and Lakshmana.

Valmiki referred to Lakshmana as Lakshmivardhana, and we know from this that he

would never be away from Bhagavan. Here ‘Lakshmi’ means the eternal association

with Bhagavan. This relationship between them is like the connection between the

sun and the light; a flower and its fragrance. It’s everlasting.

 

To be contd....

Jaisrimannarayana!

Ramanujamma Mudumbai,rd.