A lesson from the Srimadvaalmiki Ramayanam

[Guest guest]

Here is a valuable lesson in Vairagyam coming from the lips of

ManDodarI, the consort of Ravana. Lamenting on the death of that

Rakshasa King, Mandodari gives expression to her sorrrow:

 

indriyANi purA jitvA jitam tribhuvanam tvayA ||15 cd ||

smaradbhiriva tad vairamindriyaireva nirjitaH |16 ab |

 

(Canto 131 of the Yuddha kaanda)

The meaning is:

 

After subduing the senses (including the mind, the internal sense)

(all) the three worlds were conquered by you (in the course of the

austerities practiced by you). You (now) stand vanquished (in your

turn) by the senses themselves (who have ceased to cooperate with

you) as though they recollected their old grudge against you

(occasioned by their discomfiture at your hands).

 

The whole sarga is her lament penned by Muni Valmiki capturing many a

sentiment that is worth contemplating. We see the teaching conveyed

through poetic beauty. The figure of speech of 'personification'

with respect to the sense organs is very effective in the above

verse. And these chosen words have the power to recall to the

reader's mind the entire story of Sita-apaharanam and the events that

followed leading to Ravana's downfall and death.

 

(the link -

http://www.valmikiramayan.net/ayodhya/sarga21/ayodhyaroman21.htm -

provided earlier by Sri Sundar ji to the Ramayanam does not contain

these portions; the work of uploading these is in progress)

 

Pranams to all,

subbu

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "subrahmanian_v"

<subrahmanian_v wrote:

>> indriyANi purA jitvA jitam tribhuvanam tvayA ||15 cd ||

> smaradbhiriva tad vairamindriyaireva nirjitaH |16 ab |

>

> (Canto 131 of the Yuddha kaanda)

> The meaning is:

 

> (the link -

> http://www.valmikiramayan.net/ayodhya/sarga21/ayodhyaroman21.htm -

> provided earlier by Sri Sundar ji to the Ramayanam does not

contain

> these portions; the work of uploading these is in progress)

 

Namaste,

 

This link has the verse (this 'Critical Edition' chapter

numbers are different):

 

http://sanskrit.gde.to/mirrors/ramayana/txt/6_yuddhakanda_99.txt

 

 

 

Regards,

 

Sunder