lakshmaNa 28

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Post 28

 

 

 

Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

In the previous 27 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

- maareecha vadham

- vaali vadham

- virupaaksha vadham – in the lanka war

 

In the last post, we saw both raama and lakshmaNa did considerable damage to

the raakshasa sainyam, but in the process both raama and lakshmaNa got tied

by indhrajith's naaga paasam – sarpa asthrams – snakes tying them and made

both unconscious. Then garudan came and all snakes vanished and both raama

and lakshmaNa were thus freed. At that stage garuda introduced himself as a

'friend' to raama and lakshmaNa and said came to help the two. [just not

revealing the real identity.

 

 

 

When the news of both raama and lakshmaNa are back on their feet, healthy

than earlier, reached raavaNa, raavaNa was surprised and sent his important

and capable army commanders one after another to kill these two like

 

· dhoomraaksha – who was killed by hanumaan

 

· vajra dhamshtra – who was killed by angadha, son of vaali

 

· akampana – who was killed by hanumaan again [i think more than one

akampana are there – for again another akampana comes later]

 

· prahastha – chief commander – who was killed by neelan, son of agni

– fire god – one of the able commander of sugreeva from raama's side.

 

Seeing all his deputies being killed raavaNa himself started on war trail

followed his large contingent of commanders and son indhrajith. On seeing

him raama remembered raavaNa's abduction of seetha and reacted - again – see

his reaction -

 

 

 

dhishTyaa ayam adhya paapaathmaa mama dhrushTipatham gatha: |

 

adhya krOdham vimOkshyaami seethaa haraNa sambhavam || 6-59-31

 

 

 

Meaning: raama talks to vibheeshaNa on seeing raavaNa – "By good luck, that

wretch comes today within my range of sight! Today, I shall expunge my

wrath, born of Seethaa's abduction!"

 

 

 

*Point:* see raama's reaction – he recollects seethaa's abduction and wants

to avenge for that act. Again and again the main purpose of the lanka war

is projected or painted as 'seethaa's reclaiming is the main product to be

produced and in the process the by-product obtained is raavaNa's killing'.

 

 

 

Evam ukthvaa thathO raamO Dhanur aadhaaya veeryavaan |

 

lakshmaNa anucharas thasthou samudhdhruthya *s*ara uththamam || 6-59-32

 

 

 

Meaning: Having spoken thus, the valiant Raama, who was accompanied by

lakshmaNa, took up his bow and then standing erect, drew out an excellent

arrow.

 

 

 

*Point:* 1. Usually lakshmaNa goes behind 'raama and seethaa' in the forest,

when she was there in all 13 years and that perhaps may or may not get

noticed by vaalmeeki. Earlier lakshmaNa was said as 'bahi praaNa' since he

accompanies wherever raama goes. Here it is stated – raama, who is

accompanied by lakshmaNa – so the focus shifts to lakshmaNa. Does it

indicate something special? May be it is going to happen to lakshmaNa or

through lakshmaNa? That too, when the dreaded enemy raavaNa is appearing in

the warfront for the first time - in the very presence of raama - yes. So

the poet vaalmeeki gives signals by choosing his words.

 

 

 

2. As already indicated more than once, see the words – 'raama: dhanur

aadhaaya' is the statement made – no name for that dhanu – no 'kOdhandam' or

'saarngam' – simply a 'bow' – that is all. Perhaps some other person and not

vaalmeeki did that naming at later stage.

 

 

 

*Story continuation:* Sugreeva rushed to fight against raavaNa [similar to

the other time when he saw raavaNa from suvEla mountain] but was hit by

raavaNa and fell unconscious. So other commandeers rushed to fight but was

simply flabbergasted by raavaNa and sought refuge in raama at this

stage - jagmuh

sharaNyam sharaNam sma raamam || 6-59-45 says vaalmeeki.

 

 

 

When raama started to raise his bow, lakshmaNa said to raama – see slokam -

 

 

 

thathO mahaathmaa sa dhanur dhanushmaan aadhaaya raamah sahasaa jagaama |

 

tham lakshmaNa: praanjalir abhyupEthya uvaacha vaakyam parama artha yuktham

|| 6-59-46

 

kaamam aarya: suparyaapthO vadhaaya asya dhuraathmana: |

 

viDhamishyaami aham neecham anujaaneehi maam vibhO || 6-59-47

 

 

 

meaning: Then the high-souled Raama, the skillful archer, taking his bow,

set out at once. LakshmaNa, however, approaching him with joined palms,

spoke very meaningful words as follows: lakshmaNa says to raama, "O, noble

Brother! Of my own accord, am able to kill this wretched Raavana. O, Lord! I

shall slay him. Permit me to do so."

 

 

 

Point: lakshmaNa, even though not asked, takes the 'initiative' – as modern

day management experts use certain jargons – volunteers to take on the

challenge - against raavaNa. Sugreeva the king and friend of raama already

took the fight on his own and failed – even at that stage lakshmaNa takes

the intiative and seeks the permission. See proper procedural aspects are

observed - like seeking permission, granting same by chief and also the

chief giving some advises etc. also see the expression of the confidence by

lakshmaNa while seeking permission in undertaking that job – neecham

vidhamishyaami – I will kill this wretched – based on his inherent strength.

 

 

 

 

Please see what the leader replies --

 

 

 

tham abraveen mahaa thEjaa raama: sathya paraakrama: |

 

gachchha yathna para*s* cha api bhava lakshmaNa samyugE || 6-59-48

 

 

 

meaning: The exceedingly powerful and the truly courageous Raama spoke to

LakshmaNa as follows: "Go, LakshmaNa and also be demanding in this duel."

 

 

 

*Point:* see again another signal - from raama this time – 'yathna para:

bhava' – be one who works hard or tries hard and be demanding. 'Yeah,

lakshmaNa, permission granted to you – but with a word of caution'.

 

 

 

'Is that an indication that lakshmaNa is likely to fail also? Perhaps 'yes'

– a leader should foresee chances of failure also and caution the person who

undertakes the challenge.

 

 

 

Or is it a positive motivation factor – certainly yes. Hey, you work hard –

'yathna para bhava' - for the opponent is also formidable – the challenge is

heavy – so a good motivation - [about the opponenet it is said in previous

49th slokam, earlier in same sargam raama wonders oh what a majesty about

raavaNa - not much covered here to economise on length of post]

 

 

 

– hey lakshmaNa - that is why I have taken this raama avathaaram – manushya

avathaaram – that too when other gods like indhra, siva, brahma, et al have

failed – since you are volunteering I am permitting you, any how I am here

to render the helping hand and do the necessary guiding -

 

 

 

dear readers that guidance comes now – a beauty of a slokam –

 

 

 

thasya chidhraaNi maargasva svach chidhraaNi cha gOpaya |

 

chakshushaa dhanushaa yathnaadh raksha aathmaanam samaahitha: || 6-59-50

 

 

 

meaning: raama continues – to lakshmaNa "Seek out his weak points and guard

against your own. Defend yourself vigilantly with your eye and bow."

 

 

 

*Point:* this is one of the very beautiful 'guidance or advice' an expert

leader will give to his deputy – when the deputy is about to go on a major

mission. That advise is the present day's greatly successful formula in

corporate governance or 'management'

 

- the 'SWOT' analysis - as they call – the acronym for those

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats

 

- given in this one slokam by raama – how – please now-

 

 

 

1. S - seek opponent's weak points – to know that well in advance is the

main Strength of self, besides enumerating and analyzing own strengths

 

 

 

2. W - guard against own weakness – no explanation is needed since it is

explicit

 

 

 

3. O - be 'vigil' – always look for the opportunities and utilize them to

accomplish your mission

 

 

 

4. T - defend yourself with eyes and bow – use the physical tools and the

mental faculty effectively when threats are seen or realized – plan quickly

and act fast in defending oneself.

 

 

 

Oh great – I think management experts also can undergo a serious raamaayaNam

study before they venture in their front. Or if somebody says raamaayaNa is

a story of raama and seethaa only – then they are at a loss for they are not

properly exposed – to say least on them.

 

 

 

Continuing -

 

raaghavasya vacha: *s*ruthvaa samparishvajya poojya cha |

 

abhivaadhya thathO raamam yayou soumithrir aahavam || 6-59-51

 

 

 

meaning: Hearing the words of Raama, LakshmaNa embraced him, thereafter

offering obeisance and bidding him farewell, he entered the battle-field.

 

 

 

Point: 1. see again the leader maintains himself as leader. LakshmaNa only

goes near and embraces – that is because of love of the elder brother- does

praNaamams and goes on mission. You may ask why so particular about this

embracing – for lakshmaNa's embracing raama is very rare.

 

 

 

2. A sidelight here – on, perhaps, how hanumaan gets his pancha mukham and

all that – may be from this slokam – hanumaan reaches in front of raavaNan

[before lakshmaNa reaches him after seeking permission as above etc] and

says --

 

 

 

Esha mE dhakshiNO baahu: pancha *s*aakha: samudhyatha: |

 

vidhamishyathi thE dhEhaadh bhootha aathmaanam chira ushitham || 6-59-56

 

 

 

meaning: hanumaan to raavaNan – "this five-branched right hand of mine,

which I now raise, will rob you of your life that has long been resident in

your body."

 

 

 

When the 'baahu' – shoulder or arm can have 5 branches as stated here,

naturally it can be extended to face and all in same one body – so pancha

mukha aanjaneya. This is only a statement of possibility – experts and

others can comment on this.

 

 

 

Since length of the post applies brake, we willcontinue in next post.

 

 

 

Dhasan

 

Vasudevan MG