lakshmaNa 25

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Post 25

 

 

 

Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

In the previous 24 posts, we saw 'lakshmaNa' donning 10 roles. The 10th role

as a great warrior is continuing. Just for recollection, we have completed

lakshmaNa's role as a warrior in

 

- thaatakaa vadham,

- maareecha ambush and subhaahu killing,

- viraadha vadham,

- soorpanakaa punishment,

- khara dhooshaNa vadham.

 

We are doing with 'maareecha maan'.

 

 

 

In the previous post perhaps the following sentence towards the end of the

post is not properly drafted – [please excuse me for that]

 

· Second maareecha himself naarates how he was beaten by raama, when

he wanted to take revenge for the hit he received from raama during the

early days of forest life of raama.

 

 

 

This should read as

 

· Second - maareecha himself narrates to raavaNa how he was beaten by

raama, when he wanted to take revenge for the hit he received from raama

during the killing of his mother thaatakaa – in the thaatakaa vadham. This

happened when raama was spending his early days of the 14 years of forest

life.

 

 

 

We saw that maareecha was spared from killing by raama twice. For the third

time when he came up as golden deer, at the behest of raavaNa, let us go

into details to see what happened and in particular of lakshmaNa's role in

that deer maareecha's killing.

 

 

 

When the deer appeared playing in front of the aasramam, the real deers of

the forest came nearby this golden deer, smelt it well, and then ran away –

vaalmeeki says here – the real deers ran in all 10 directions. [means they

feared so much as to realise this particular deer is not our clan member and

hence ran away hastily].

 

 

 

Seethaa saw that deer and got fascinated, called raama to come immediately

along with his brother. When she called them, vaalmeeki describes that

calling as 'shouted in excitement' – as - 'bharthaaram api cha aakraandha

lakshmaNam chaiva saayudham'. Please note the word saayudham – for, at that

time lakshmaNa stood as security to raama and seethaa as 'aayudha paaNi' –

fully 'armed' – like the security staff of present days - always fully

equipped. [dear readers, please note the *security guard role* is being

played very well by lakshmaNa here].

 

 

 

When thus invited upon, LakshmaNa had a good look at the deer and said to

raama, 'it is maareecha and not a deer'. He added there is no such deer

studded with gems and all that in the world – so it has to be maareecha.

Further he added – many kings were killed earlier when they were on hunting

games, by this 'quick guise changing maareecha', who came in 'deer' guise

and all other animal guises, and killed those kings. So lakshmaNa advised

king raama - as a *good minister* - to think properly, foresee the likely

happenings – forewarning the king raama clearly.

 

 

 

Perhaps lakshmaNa has collected information about kings being killed due to

this guise changing maareecha, while doing his duty as the *security

guard*to raama and seethaa. Also now he has watched what other deers

around were

doing with this golden deer and could realize something wrong from their

running away. So it is further clear that the *security guard *lakshmaNa is

doing his duty very well, in observing what is happening around, not only

watching the human or demons, even animals etc.

 

 

 

Then seethaa said to raama 'catch the deer live to be used as a playmate –

if not possible alive, then at least bring the skin of deer to be used as a

seat cover on the dharba grass aasana'. She also added, 'of course, this is

unbefitting to a women to ask like this', which means she expressed her

desire – not a demand - for the deer. Also she exhibits she knows her limits

very well.

 

 

 

When raama looked at the deer, he was also fascinated by the deer's roopam –

so he explained at length to lakshmaNa how it is a 'worth forest produce' to

be collected by kings – similar to different ores, gemstones etc. In this

'worth forest produce' statement of raama, there is also some 'sourcing

logics' to increase the contribution from forestry in the financial

management of a king.

 

 

 

dhanaani vyavasaayEna vicheeyanthE mahaavanE |

 

dhaathavO vividhaa: cha api maNi rathna suvarNina: || 3-43-32

 

 

 

meaning: raama said to lakshmaNa, 'And exerting themselves in great forests,

they, by far, amass forest produce, ores, jewels, gemstones and the gravel

of gold'.

 

 

 

Comment: And this deer is also the produce of this forest, as such hunting

this for taming or tanning is befitting to us, as we are princes.' One

should not 'exert oneself,' or 'amass' forest produce even if he is a king,

but collect it casually without looting it. That also indicates a king

should collect forest produce and nature produce like ores gemstones etc to

increase their financial strength. Dear readers, do you feel there is

something to learn from raamaayaNam as part of modern management.

 

 

 

thath saaram akhilam nruNaam dhanam nichaya vardhanam |

 

manasaa chinthitham sarvam yathaa *s*ukrasya lakshmaNa || 3-43-33

 

 

 

meaning: Everything of that wealth from forest produce will be filling the

treasuries of kings, like the speculated objects filling the entire treasury

of *s*ukra just by his thinking of them in his mind.

 

* *

 

Point: The forest produce is the best wealth for enriching the coffers of

the kings for maintenance of kingdom, and for other rich people it is for

trade etc.' Hence, this deer, or its deerskin is *saaram *'an excellent

gift' to be taken to Ayodhya on our return.' Raama's saying is interpreted

in this way giving a high priority to forest produce.

 

 

 

Point: See next slokam where a modern management topic of 'framing a budget'

and 'achieving that targeted budget is staed by raama. See what a financial

wizardry is in this statement – also a statement on motivation -

 

 

 

arthee yEna artha kruthyEna samvrajathi avichaarayan |

 

tham artham artha *s*aasthrajna: praahu: arthyaa: cha lakshmaNa || 3-43-34

 

 

 

meaning: The financial experts and the other financially well-off people say

'with which aspirational activity an aspirant unhesitatingly scurries and

achieves it, that achieved target alone is lauded to be worthwhile, or, as

real wealth'.

 

 

 

Comment: dear readers, may be this is not connected with lakshmaNa's roles,

which is our topic. But in that critical part of the story – when a turning

point is about to happen in killing of maareecha and abduction of seethaa,

then also – in that moment of facing an illusory object like a golden deer -

raama's wisdom in financial management, the skills in motivational theory,

material management skills comes out.

 

 

 

Is it the cleverness of the kavi vaalmeeki to place it here? Or is it the

exhibition of supreme wisdom of the lord? Oh, what a beauty.

 

 

 

That is why it is added here even though unconnected to topic on hand. My

purpose is to highlight such nuances in raamaayaNam and not telling the

known story.

 

 

 

*Story:* Then raama added to lakshmaNa even if it is maareecha then also it

is worth pursuing so that he is eliminated. Finally raama directed him to be

vigilant and protect maithilee - [so the security guard role which already

lakshmaNa is doing is explicitly assigned once again by raama]

 

 

 

EthEna hi nru*s*amsEna maareechEna akrutha aathmanaa |

 

vanE vicharathaa poorvam himsithaa muni pungavaa: || 3-43-39

 

 

 

maning: If this deer is maareecha, this heinous and vicious-souled demon has

indeed tortured many eminent sages earlier when was on the prowl in the

forests, thus he is fit to be eliminated.

 

 

 

iha thvam bhava samnadhdhhO yanthrithO raksha maithileem || 3-43-46

 

asyaam aayaththam asmaakam yath kruthyam raghunandhana |

 

 

 

meaning: Oh, LakshmaNa, the descendent of Raghu, you stay here in all

preparedness and guard Maithili steadfastly, whatever enterprise of ours is

there that is founded in her.

 

 

 

*Point:* this slokam conveys that for whatever business, we, [raama and

lakshmaNa], have come here to the forest, maithily is the focal point and

hence guard her.

 

 

 

aham Enam vadhishyaami graheeshyaami athavaa mrugam || 3-43-47

 

yaavath gachChaami soumithrE mrugam aanayithum dhrutham |

 

pa*s*ya lakshmaNa vaidhEheem mruga thvachi gathaam spruhaam || 3-43-48

 

thvachaa pradhaanayaa hi Esha mrugO adhya na bhavishyathi |

 

 

 

meaning: raama said to lakshmaNa, 'I wish to catch this deer, Soumithri, if

not, I will kill it, and I will be going forthwith to fetch the

deer'.LakshmaNa, see how VaidhEhi's perception is overtaken by

deerskin. Indeed by

the strangeness of its skin that deer must be a mysterious being, hence, it

will not survive now.

 

 

 

apramaththEna thE bhaavyam aa*s*ramasthEna seethayaa || 3-43-49

 

yaavath prushatham EkEna saayakEna nihanmi aham |

 

hathvaa Ethath charma cha aadhaaya seeghram Eshyaami lakshmaNa || 3-43-50

 

 

 

meaning: Oh, LakshmaNa, apply yourself vigilantly while staying in hermitage

along with Seethaa. Soon as I go, I will be felling that spotted deer with

one arrow and return quickly.

 

 

 

pradhakshiNEna athibalEna pakshiNaa jaTaayushaa budhdhimathaa cha lakshmaNa

|

 

bhava apramaththa: prathigruhya maithileem prathi kshaNam sarvatha Eva

*s*ankitha:

|| 3-43-51

 

 

 

Meaning: Oh, LakshmaNa, you be here, taking care of Maithili along with the

forthright, formidable and fatherly bird Jataayu, and be watchful and

suspicious from everywhere and every split-second", Thus Raama spoke to

LakshmaNa and started to go after the deer.

 

 

 

Point: An assistant security officer [?] or an associate officer is also

brought into picture to help the main guard lakshmaNa. Also strict

instruction to be vigilant is given. That means some threat is anticipated.

 

 

 

So the warrior lakshmaNa is now doing duty of the security guard and

protector, told to be vigilant and in any imminent attack, he has to be

'self sufficient' to fight and do that guarding effectively. Further, for

any assistance required, he can seek from that fatherly jataayu – [since the

eagle is noted for its sharpness and vigilance, besides the power at the

attack]. Hence he is to be requisitioned in case lakshmaNa feels he is

falling short in capacity to fight or vigilance - which actually he is not..

 

 

 

 

*Story:* Then raama went after the deer. Having drawn raama away a lot of

distance from seethaa, then maareecha appeared near and far alternatively.

By then raama decided to kill the deer. See what he did -

 

 

 

tham Eva mrugam udhdhi*s*ya *s*vasantham iva pannagam || 3-44-14

 

mumOcha jvalitham dheeptham asthram brahma vinirmitham |

 

 

 

meaning: Raama forcefully outstretched the bowstring with arrow targeting

the Golden Deer alone, and released that fiercely blazing arrow-missile

which is carefully created by Brahma and which is hissing like a snake.

 

 

 

thaala maathram atha uthpluthya nyapathath sa bhru*s*a aathura: || 3-44-16

 

vyanadhath bhairavam naadham dharaNyaam alpa jeevitha: |

 

 

 

meaning: Then Maareecha is highly frenzied as his lifespan is minimised,

blared a blaring shriek, vaulted up to a height of palm-tree, and fell down

onto the ground.

 

 

 

[respected IVK Chari swamin – I think I missed to list this usage of

brahmasthram earlier]

 

 

 

Then remembering what raavaNa wanted from maareecha, he shouted haa

lakshmaNa and haa seethaa so that lakshmaNa also is pulled away from seethaa

and it is easy for raavaNa to do that abduction. Thus lakshmaNa's role in

killing of maareecha, instead of being a deputy in warring turned to 'stand

guard to manni seethaa' as in khara dhooshaNa vadham, again another low-key

affair. Let us see 'what is his role in vaali vadham', in next post.

[perhaps no role except as an onlooker - like maareecha ambush – but let us

go into details and see what it is]

 

 

 

Dhasan

 

 

--

Vasudevan MG