lakshmaNa 16

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Post 16

 

 

 

Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

In the previous 15 posts, we saw 'lakshmaNa' donning 8 roles. The discussion

on the 9th role of 'the emissary' is continuing. Just for recollection,

latest 2 of the different roles we discussed are

 

- The engineer to construct the wooden house – parNa saala

- The scavenger to dig pits and bury / burn viraadhan, khabhandhan.

 

In the second time, the emissary role became more simplified for lakshmaNa,

as hanumaan, the envoy of 'king in exile' sugreeva, took upon himself all

initial work of talking first [post 14]. We also raama was very much

impressed with hanumaan's way of talking [post 15], and raama asking

lakshmaNa to do that job of emissaryby exchanging pleasantries. [in the

previous posts we saw upto hanumaan introducing himself, raama praising

hanumaan, and asking lakshmaNa to exchange pleasantries]. We are yet to

see how lakshmaNa started talking. Now that portion first and then continue

on the real roleplay as envoy. A real beautiful introduction of self by

lakshmaNa indeed –

 

 

 

aham asya avara: bhraathaa guNai: dhaasyam upaagatha: |

 

kruthajnasya bahujnasya lakshmaNO naama naamatha: || 4-4-12

 

* *

 

meaning: [lakshmaNa to hanumaan] - I am the one, who obtained servitude, by

the characteristics of this faithful and knowledgeable one [raama]. I am his

younger brother. I am named LakshmaNa.

 

* *

 

*Point:* 1. See here – though asked to play the emissary role, lakshmaNa's

servant role also comes into play, by that constant consciousness of the

srivaishNava 'I am a servant of raama', and that dhaasathvam is being

expressed, with pride to a stranger, by lakshmaNa [hanumaan at that moment

is absolutely a new person to the duo – meeting for the first time] – a

proof yet again – by that 'kainkarya sri' – lakshmaNO lakshmi sampanna: |

 

 

 

2. Just compare this, with how lakshmaNa introduced himself to that sishya

of sage agasthya, when he undertook the same role of emissary –

 

lakshmaNO naama thasya aham bhraathaa thu avarajO hitha: |

 

anukoola: cha bhaktha: cha yadhi thE *s*rOthram aagatha: || 3-12-3

 

 

 

meaning: I am his loyal, dedicated, and adherent younger brother named

LakshmaNa, if ever you have heard of us.

 

 

 

3. Dear readers – analyse why this difference between two situations in the

same roleplay.

 

*Earlier *- the sishya, to whom lakshmaNa introduced himself, had a guru in

agasthya, and thereby a dhaasan already to the guru agasthya, and not to

raama. Perhaps lakshmaNa was sure that sishya is not going to become a

competitor to himself in his 'dhaasathvam' to raama – or sishya not going to

aspire raama as his guru. So that "dhaasan slot's exclusive rights" are

reserved for lakshmaNa only. That position continued at least for 12 years.

Hence the 'emissary and brother' was in forefront in lakshmaNa's speech

then.

 

Also see that assertion – if ever you have heard of us – that tone gives an

indication, 'we are in the forest now for some time and already you might

have heard about us' or perhaps your guru's brother may have sent you

information about us visiting your guru etc.

 

 

 

*Now:* LakshmaNa has a guru in raama [as said by lakshmaNa in slokam 4-4-20

quoted below] and a dhaasan to raama [slokam 4-4-12 above]. Since as raama

said hanumaan as a learned one of vEdhaas etc, lakshmaNa might have

thought, hanumaan is not in need of raama as a guru to him and lakshmaNa's

guru is exclusively for him alone.

 

Hanumaan is yet to become a dhaasan of raama – so lakshmaNa indicates

indirectly to hanumaan, 'I have my guru in raama and am already filling that

'dhaasan' slot for so many years and well trained in that role, and am

pleased with that role. So you, Mr.Hanumaan, please do not become a

competitor for that slot right now – let that exclusive rights remain with

me, later after you clearly understand more about my raama, perhaps then you

can also become his dhaasan'. That is all about the difference in approach

in introduction.

The role play: Let us see more on his role play --

 

thasya thadh vachanam *s*ruthvaa lakshmaNO raama chOdhitha: |

 

aachachakshe mahaathmaanam raamam dhasaratha aathmajam || 4-4-5

 

 

 

meaning: On hearing the words of Hanumaan, LakshmaNa, motivated by Raama,

narrated about the great soul Raama, the son of Dasharatha. [and continued

the story till seethaa was lost and how khabandhan guided the two to meet

sugreeva]

 

* *

 

Etat thE sarvam aakhyaatham yaathaa thath yEna pruchChhatha: |

 

aham chaiva cha raama: cha sugreevam *s*araNam gathou || 4-4-17

 

 

 

meaning: lakshmaNa continued, 'All this is informed to you, as it is, and as

you have asked, myself and Raama, we, now, have our recourse to Sugreeva

alone'.

 

 

 

sarva lOkasya dharmaathmaa *s*araNya: *s*araNam puraa |

 

gurur mE raaghava: sO~ayam sugreevam *s*araNam gatha: || 4-4-20

 

 

 

meaning: lakshmaNa continued, 'He, who is a virtuous one and protector of

all the world, and who is the only refuge for all in earlier times, such a

Raaghava, my mentor, is now seeking refuge with Sugreeva'.

The emissary lakshmaNa puts across the purpose in 'no unclear' terms.

 

*s*Oka abhibhoothE raamE thu *s*Oka aarthE *s*araNam gathE |

 

karthum arhathi sugreeva: prasaadham saha yoodhapai: || 4-4-24

 

* *

 

meaning: Lakshmana said thus to Hanumaan, "One who is rebuffed by sadness,

and even agonised by it had already sought refuge, hence it is apt of

Sugreeva to do the favour in Raama's respect along with other vaanara

commanders".

 

 

 

evam bruvaaNam soumithrim karuNam sa a*s*ru paathanam |

 

hanumaan prathi uvaacha idham vaakyam vaakya vi*s*aaradha: || 4-4-25

 

 

 

meaning: Hanumaan, the eminently lettered, said this, [as in 4-4-26] in his

return to Lakshmana, who is telling that [whatever stated above] piteously

with tears falling out.

 

 

 

*point:* see the reaction of lakshmaNa – tears rolls out when he says that

his raama has to surrender to sugreeva – a servant does not definitely likes

his master to fall at some other's feet except the guru. So thinking about

that lakshmaNa sheds tears – oh what a poor condition now my master is in,

to surrender to some unknown person – that is the real nature of a true

servant.

 

 

 

eedhru*s*aa budhdhi sampannaa jithakrOdhaa jithEindhriyaa: |

 

dhrashTavyaa vaanarEindhrENa dhishTyaa dar*s*anam aagathaa: || 4-4-26

 

 

 

meaning: hanumaan says to lakshmaNa, 'Intellectuals of your kind, who have

conquered anger and senses are to be seen by the chief of monkeys Sugreeva,

for your advent is godsend.

 

 

 

*Point:* see here one intellectual praising the other. Perhaps now you, dear

readers, will agree that why that special word 'vaakyajna' was used to

identify lakshmaNa.

 

 

 

Thus both the emissaries came to an agreement easily that both their kings

can help each other in achieving both their missions [for sugreeva it is

kingdom and his wife, for raama his wife] and then hanuman says to raama,

'let us go and meet sugreeva'. Then the role comes to an end.

 

 

 

Evam bruvantham dharmaathmaa hanoomantham sa lakshmaNa: |

 

prathipoojya yathaa nyaayam idham prOvaacha raaghavam || 4-4-30

 

 

 

meaning: Hanumaan when said thus virtuous LakshmaNa adored him customarily

in the way befitting to an envoy, and spoke this to Raama.

 

 

 

*Conclusion:* [so the emissaries greeted each other and closed their roles

thus in a glorious way].

 

 

 

*Clarification:* Perhaps you may ask, why so much elaboration is not given

in previous emissary role of lakshmaNa? Actually there, once the sishya and

lakshmaNa met each other, and the sage granted permission in meeting raama,

saying, 'I am eager to meet him', there is no more role to play for both

side emissaries. Also as stated in the protocol article, sage agasthya has

to become guru for raama. So in meeting a guru, even by a king, the

emissary's role is limited.

 

 

 

Whereas here it is a real meeting between two kings and with a definite

purpose of a 'mutual help' between the two, so the roles are big and

elaboration is also more.

Benefits: What is the benefit of the two emissary roles to lakshmaNa: 1.

In the mission of meeting with agasthya – an introduction to the guru,

getting arms and ammunition – for agasthya gave lot of asthrams and sathrams

like sage visvaamithra. [actually varuNan was storing all these and gave it

when sage wanted them to be passed on to these two. While visvaamithra gave,

he addressed raama only and we have to infer that when it is said as raama,

lakshmaNa is included and not omitted. But here when agasthya gave, he gave

two sets – so naturally one is passed on to lakshmaNa]. 2. In the

second meeting – it is that recognition of lakshmaNa as a person equal in

capacity to hanumaan in talking – being called 'vaakyajna' and an

accomplisher. Now, it is time to see a third time emissary role also. This

time the emissary role is a combined one – that of the 'angry younger

brother' and 'emissary'. Role's purpose: lakshmaNa goes to king sugreeva

to convey raama's anger in sugreeva's inaction, even in the start of mission

'search seethaa'. Role assignment: raama himself directs 'hey brother, you

go and tell him'. Not only that – raama gives permission in advance 'go with

an angry face and express to the king about my anger'. Role's

mission:More or less a tough job – for this time lakshmaNa has to go

to the king and

serve a notice with points [all intimidating] such as – please act as

promised – otherwise you are going to face the wrath of raama –

may be you will face the same fate as your brother faced – then vaali

was treated alone – perhaps now you, with all your people and much

more' that sort of job – really a tough one. Situation: This mission is to

meet king sugreeva – who was in his capital, with his prince angadha, all

ministers, army chiefs – sEnaadhipathis, et al surrounding the king. Just

compare the second time emissary situation with this third one –

sugreeva

was in exile, – in constant fear of his brother, – without

much people around, army, and all that. So it might have been a bit more

easy then to threaten and come back. But now cannot do so easily and then

get away with the consequences of that threatening. Why harping so much on

the situation - just recall what happened when hanumaan went to raavaNan's

durbar and started advising 'return seethaa or else face raama's arrows' –

king raavaNan directed his assistants to kill that emissary hanumaan. Chances

are there now also - that the king can order similar sentence – further king

sugreeva is in an inebriated condition also. May be only difference is ·

raavaNan – known offender, · sugreeva – known friend. Now the role

play: Before starting on that, let us see what lakshmaNa received as raama's

message

 

uchyathaam gachCha sugreeva: thvayaa veera: mahaa bala |

 

mama rOshasya yath roopam brooyaa: cha Enam idham vacha: || 4-30-80

 

na sa sankuchitha: panthaa yEna vaalee hathO gatha: |

 

samayE tishTha sugreeva maa vaali patham anvagaa: || 4-30-81

 

* *

 

meaning: Oh, great-mighty LakshmaNa, you may proceed to Kishkindhaa and *let

Sugreeva know through you, as to how my fury takes shape*, and oh, brave

one, he may be told this word also, 'Oh, Sugreeva, abide by your commitment..

The path by which slain Vaali has gone is not tapered off, as such do not

tread Vaali's path'.

 

 

 

Let us see in next post how lakshmaNa acts and reacts to this.

 

 

 

Dhaasan

 

 

--

Vasudevan MG