[sri ramanuja] another thrijata

[Guest guest]

Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

In sreemadh raamayaNam many of us know thrijata as the daughter of vibheeshaNa - that right thinking raakshasa - [title of an article by our dear coimbatore sadagopan swamy - thanks are due to him - for I use his titles without his express permission]. She gave a breathe of life to seethaa, when raavaNan threatened seethaa - that if she did not cow down to his wish within two months time, seethaa's body cut pieces will be served as raavaNan's breakfast.

 

Perhaps many may not know that there is another 'thrijata' character also in raamaayaNam. This person is a poor BraahmaNan in the gargya community [gothram?] who received a 'bounty' of cows as raama's yathraa dhaanam, before raama left for the forest as per kaikEyee's instructions.

 

Perhaps 'raamayaNa upanyaasakars' who conduct long duration sessions also miss this small character. They just say when raama started to forest, he gave a lot of dhaanams to all and then started and miss this thrijata.

 

Dear friends, it is not my imagination to just add pep, but see slOkams and the meaning. [As already mentioned 2 is ayOdhyaa kaaNdam, 32 is chapter or sargam, - 29 is slOkam number]

 

thathra aaseeth pingaLO gaargya: thrijaTa: naama vai dhvija: |

kshatha vruththir vanE nithyam phaala kudhdhaala laangalee || 2-32-29

 

meaning: There lived a braahmaNan by name thrijata who was born in gargya community [gOthram?] and was born reddish in colour. He used to make his living in the forest by digging the soil, always carrying an axe, a spade and a plough.

 

tham vrudhDham tharuNee bhaaryaa baalaan aadhaaya dhaarakaan |

abraveeth braahmaNam vaakyam dhaaridhryeNa abhipeeDithaa || 2-32-30

 

meaning: His young wife, having been afflicted with poverty, taking her small children with her, spoke to that aged braahmaNan as follows: [spoke to her husband]

 

apaasya phaalam kudhdhaalam kurushva vachanam mama |

raamam dharsaya dharmajnam yadhi kinchith avaapsyasi || 2-32-31

 

meaning: Throw away the axe and the spade. Carry out my word. Seek for the presence of Raama who knows his duty and see if you get at least something.

 

Point: one thing is very clear here - even at his old age this thrijata had a young wife and had small children. So another kuchEla as in sreemadh bhaagavatham - the friend of krishNa who was a poor man, but had lot of children.

 

Another thing - this person also yet another good example of persons like us - poNdaatti pEchchai thattaadhavar - bowing down to wife's orders - may be for good or bad. Here it turns out to be for good.

 

sa bhaaryaa vachanam srutvaa saaTeem aachChaadhya dhushChadhaam |

sa prathishTatha panthaanam yathra raama nivEsanam || 2-32-32

 

meaning: He heard the request of his wife, wrapped a strip of cloth that could hardly cover his body and set out towards the track wherein lies Raama's palace.

 

Bhrigu angirasamam dheepthyaa thrijaTam jana samsadhi |

aa panchamaayaa: kakshyaayaa na Enam kaschith avaarayath || 2-32-33

 

meaning: Up to the fifth gate [of raama's palace], none in that society of men could obstruct this thrijata, who was equal in spiritual splendour with the sages Bhrigu and Angirasa.

 

sa raaja puthram aasaadhya thrijaTa: vaakyam abraveeth |

nirdhanO bahu puthra: asmi raaja puthra mahaa yashaH |

kshatha vruththir vanE nithyam prathi avEkshasva maam ithi || 2-32-34

 

meaning: That thrijata having approached the prince Raama, spoke the following words: "Oh, the most illustrious prince! I am a destitute, having many children in my family. I always dwell in the forest, with an occupation of digging the soil. Look to me, as you know."

 

[see the word used - avEkshasva - look to me - as though it is an order to the prince]

 

tham uvaacha thathO raama: parihaasa samanvitham |

gavaam sahasraam api yEkam na cha visraaNitham mayaa |

parikshipasi dhaNDEna yaavath taavath avaapysasi || 2-32-35

 

meaning: Thereupon, Raama replied jestingly to him as follows: "By me, even one thousand cows were not given away so far. You will get as many cows to such an extent as you will throw this staff". [and gave a staff for throwing by that thrijata]

 

sa saaTeem thvaritha: kaTyaam sambraantha: parivEshTya thaam |

aavidhDhya dhaNDam chikshEpa sarva praaNEna vEgitha: || 2-32-36

 

meaning: Winding his loincloth round his waist hurriedly and twirling his staff, he swiftly threw it with all his strength, excited as he was.

 

[Point: when somebody throws a challenge and gives an excitement by way of a big assured bonanza, even though old, a person gets a lot of strength to prove he is not that old as he himself thought to be]

 

sa theerthvaa sarayoo paaram dhaNDa: thasya karaath chyutha: |

gO vrajE bahu saahasrE papaata ukshaNa sannidhou || 2-32-37

 

meaning: Flying away from his hand and crossing across the Sarayu river, that staff fell close to a bull, amidst a flock of cows numbering in several thousands.

 

tham parishvajya dharmaathmaa aathasmaath sarayoo thaTaath |

aanayaamaasa thaa gOpai: thrijaTaayaa aashramam prathi || 2-32-38

 

meaning: Embracing him, Raama of virtuous mind caused to be delivered to thrijata's hermitage, the cows up to that bank of Sarayu.

 

[point: see here, that old person thrijata not only got a lot of cows, but also an embrace from the lord, which is more worthy than the cows. So poNdaati pEchu has become a boon to him to get that rare embrace - kidaiththarku aridhaana aalinganam]

 

uvaacha cha thathO raama: tham gaargyam abhisaanthvayan |

manyu: na khalu karthavya: parihaasO hi ayam mama || 2-32-39

 

meaning: Thereupon, Raama spoke pacifying to that son of Gargi as follows: "You need not express your contempt, for this was only a jest is indulged in by me."

 

[Point: Incidents of raama doing such jesting and making fun and enjoying with others in raamaayaNam are very less in number, when compared to sreemadh bhaagavatham]

 

idham hi thEjas thava yadh dhurathyayam | thath Eva jijnaasithum ichChathaa mayaa |

imam bhavaan artham abhiprachOdhithO vruNeeshva kim chEth aparam vyavasyathi ||

2-32-40

 

meaning: I only desired to know your strength, which is unfathomable and hence this trial for you. If you desire any other thing, opt for it.

 

braveemi sathyEna na thE asthi yanthraNaa | dhanam hi yadhyan mama vipra kaaraNaat |

bhavathsu samyak prathipaadhanEna thanmaya arjitham preethiyasaskaram bhavEth ||

2-32-41

 

meaning: I am telling the truth here. There is no limitation for you. Whatever riches belonging to me, are indeed for braahmaNaas. If the wealth earned by me is given abundantly to you, it will bring in joy and fame [to me].

 

thatha: sa bhaarya: thrijaTO mahaa muni: gavaam aneekam prathigruhya mOdhitha: |

yasO bala preethi sukha upabrumhaNee | thath aasisha: prathyavadhan mahaathmana: ||

2-32-42

 

meaning: Thereupon, thrijata along with his wife accepted that flock of cows and were delighted. Then, he pronounced on Raama the virtuous man, the blessings to enhance reputation, strength, delight and happiness.

 

[aaseervaadham by an elderly braahmaNan is always welcome by all - that too when one is about to set off on an important mission - that too andha braahmaNan manas niRaiya santhOshaththudan aaseervaadham kodukkum pOdhu - when that brahmaNan gives that blessing when he is pleased much and happy]

 

so dear bhakthaas, please see and remember there is another thrijata is also there in raamaayaNam, who wished good to raama, apart from that famous thrijata who wished good to seethaa.

 

Dhasan

Vasudevan m.g.

 

 

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