lakshmana 22

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Post 22

 

 

 

Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

In the previous 21 posts, we saw 'lakshmaNa' donning 10 roles. The 10th role

as a great warrior is continuing. Just for recollection

 

- in the great warrior role, the boy lakhsmaNa had a part in cutting

ears and tip of nose of thaatakaa,

- as deputy warrior in the maareecha ambush and subhaahu killing, our

hero did not have any role except as an 'onlooker'.

- In viraadha vadham, we saw lakshmaNa first cutting the arm of

viraadhan as warrior and then the role changed from warrior to scavenger..

- In the reprimand of soorpanaka, he cut the ears and nose of her,

which laid the foundation to the great war of lanka.

 

 

 

Just compare the situation and the results of two 'ladies' being punished by

lakshmaNa in the same mode – both had same treatment – cutting of nose and

ears - one thaatakaa and second soorpanakaa.

 

 

 

1. First lady - thaatakaa – raama and lakshmaNa were young ones – giving

punishment to thaatakaa lead to the best reward - a gift for one's life –

gift in the form of wives to both – seethaa for raama, oormiLa for lakshmaNa

-

 

 

 

just that slokam of the act of cutting for recollection -

 

thatha: chChinna bhujaam *s*raanthaam abhyaa*s*E parigarjatheem |

 

soumithri: akarOth krOdhaath hrutha karNaagra naasikaam || 1-26-18

 

 

 

meaning: With her arms severed and fatigued, she [thaatakaa] started to roar

extremely in proximity [to these two from where they are standing], and then

the provoked LakshmaNa made her loose her ears and the tip of nose by

cutting them off.

 

 

 

2. Second lady - soorpanaka – raama and lakshmaNa matured – enjoyed 12 years

of life and then spent almost 13 years in forest on that 'sentence' of 14

years vanavaasam - lead to that worst part in life of raama - seethaa being

snatched – ravaNa abducting seethaa on being instigated by soorpanakaa –

that too when raama says 'even touching of seethaa by others is intolerable

and creates a grief in me than losing father or kingdom' - that seethaa is

totally lost. For lakshmaNa – *raamaa's sOkham is his* – just recall that

role of angry young brother – whenever raama is in sOkham he gets so wild..

 

 

 

So the nose and ears of two ladies play very important turning points in the

course of raamaayaNam.

 

 

 

Before proceeding further, Mrs. Vedha Venkatesh asked two interesting

questions on this soorpanaka episode, and since we have not yet completed

that topic, I thought it is prudent to answer those questions here itself.

The two questions are -

 

1. Why do Raama and LakshmaNa "play" with Soorpanakhaa when she is

obviously love-smitten - as any lady might be - on seeing the charming form

of Raama?

2. When LakshmaNa could not tolerate any disrespect towards Seethaa,

why does he use the raakshasi's words regarding Seethaa, when they are so

belittling towards her?

 

 

 

My answer: As already seen in thaatakaa case, raama is observing the dharmam

of 'not killing or harming any women' - unless they do some harm to someone

close to raama, raama does not venture to punish them. Also for the first

time if some harm is done, then also he is ready to forgive them - in the

same lines of 'inRu pOi naaLai vaa' to raavaNan. But when it is repeated he

punishes severely. In thaataka episode also, he waited till she rained

stones, thus obstructing the yagnam of sage visvaamithra. And sage also got

annoyed and warned her with his hoonkaaram as we have seen. When she

repeated that act of stone rains, and then raama took on to fight thaatakaa,

with lakshmaNa contributing his part, and kill her.

 

 

 

It is a chance given to the offender to realize who is there in front –

raama – that 'world charmer' – may be - by his beauty – by his attraction -

or by valour - or by having heard about him - or some such thing, - raama

makes the offender to realize who is in front and thus gives a chance to

save his / her own life.

 

 

 

In soorpanakaa's case also it is the same. The question of inducing

soorpanaka to do some harm for the second time by sending her to lakshmaNa,

so that she is punished for the offence of that comment on seethaa. As

stated in viraadha vadham post, raama will get upset even if somebody

touches her. So also is with lakhsmaNa.

 

 

 

So first time when soorpanakaa said 'what is the use of this frail lady,

shall I eat up her?' [as in slokam 3-17-27] she is being sent away – to

lakshmaNa, so that, it is a chance for her to get away. Now, for sure, raama

knows, lakshmaNa will be furious for having insulted seethaa and he will

punish her. But before either raama or lakshmaNa does that act of punishing,

a chance is given to soorpanaka – why this kind of 'kaama' laden acts –

'please go away' kind of warning – and when she still insists then punish..

 

 

 

Also raama sending soorpanakaa to lakshmaNa is to glorify lakshmaNa – even

though lakshmaNa is alone, without the wife, when a lady is offering

herself, then also he is turning down and not willing to take her, that

requires a high degree of moral and characteristic strength - to prove that

lakshmaNa is of that kind of a person with 'sterling character'. This 'piran

manai nOkkaa pEraaNmai' – not looking at other's man's wife - is not only

with raama, with lakshmaNa also it is same – to prove that.

 

 

 

Another great point is to just bring out to the world about that lakshmaNa's

'dhaasathvam' to raama – it is but natural for somebody to be tempted when

get an offer of marriage, irrespective of own status, the figure or beauty

of a lady coming as offer etc. But lakshmaNa says to soorpanakaa, "I do not

have any freedom to decide things on my own – in such a condition you want

to become my wife? Hey, want to be a servant's wife?' so go back to raama

who can decide for himself".

 

 

 

2. For question 2 of Mrs. Vedha, using the same sentence or repeating the

same line shows 'richness of language' and 'poetic skill' – for same

sentence is to be understood in a totally different way now – see the

interpretation -

 

 

 

Enaam viroopaam asatheem karaalaam nirNatha udhareem |

 

bhaaryaam vrudhDhaam parithyajya thvaam Eva Esha bhajishyathi || 3-18-11

 

 

 

the first line of this slokam is the repeat and same is interpreted as 'Seetha

is one with a particular excellence in her beauty in all three worlds, none

is equalling or higher to her in husband-adoration, a tallish lady,

slender-waisted and in her enriched are intellect, character and conduct'.

How can she be left off for your sake?' This is the innuendo of Lakshmana's

wording - Maheshvara Tiirtha.

 

 

 

Earlier it was –

 

imaam viroopaam asatheem karaalaam nirNatha udhareem |

 

anEna saha thE bhraathraa bhakshayishyaami maanusheem || 3-17-27

 

meaning: "Shall I eat up 'this disfigured, dishonest, diabolical human

female with a hollow stomach', along with him, that brother of yours, to

make you free" - *s*oorpanaka asks raama.

 

 

 

Trust I have answered both questions. Since the questions were glorifying

lakshmaNa which is the main aim and function of this series I added the

clarifications here. Let us continue with the warrior's role in next post..

 

 

 

Dhasan

 

 

--

Vasudevan MG