lakshmaNa 32

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Post 32

 

 

 

Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

 

In the previous 31 posts, we saw 'lakshmaNa' donning 10 roles. The 10th role

as a great warrior is continuing. We are at the stage of 'indhrajith

vadham'. Once this is over the warrior's contribution is less and our study

on that 'role' will get completed.

 

 

 

Raama and lakshmaNa, were tied by brahmaasthram by indhrajith when he fought

the war in 'invisible' mode. [Perhaps some filmmaker of yester years took

the idea from raamaayaNam? – recall that famous film - invisible man].

 

 

 

This indhrajith fighting is second time - after 'kumbakarNan vadham' and

other few ravaNaa's army leaders following kumbakarna's steps later. Our

hero, lakshmaNa said to raama 'I will send the brahmaasthram to kill all

raakshasaas' when he could not locate indhrajith. He was stopped by raama.

[That is what we saw in previous post.]

 

 

 

What raama said -- see slokam

 

ayudhyamaanam prachchhannam praanjalim saraNaagatham |

 

palaayantham pramaththam vaa na thvam hanthum iha arhasi || 6- 80 - 40

 

 

 

*meaning:* hey lakshmaNa, the following do not deserve to be killed

 

· one who is not fighting here in the arena

 

· one who has hidden himself

 

· one who has done anjali – [kooppina kai] [ modern version of this

is raised hands – so that that fellow is no more attacked by enemies, for he

has expressed himself as accepting defeat or surrender at the hands of the

other side]

 

· one who has taken refuge, or surrender or asylum

 

· one who is running away

 

· one who is careless in the arena

 

 

 

Raama also added just for one's sake [just to kill one indhrajith] the whole

raakshasaas in the world should not be killed [in 6-80-39] – which implies

what is written towards the end in previous post – includes vibheeshaNa and

his 4 deputies.

 

 

 

*Point:* Dear readers, see the 'yudhdha dharmam' is being taught by raama

even at that stage – that too – to nobody else other than his own brother.

Is lakshmaNa so bad in not knowing these? Or is it necessary for raama to

tell all these to his deputy at that stage? No sirs, may be that is a gentle

reminder to lakshmaNa. But the major factor is – it is kavi chaathuryam – to

place that at that stage for us to learn – the people living today – and for

those living in future also.

 

 

 

*Continuation:* Since tasted a bit of success through his tricky steps,

indhrajith then brought a 'maayaa seethaa' an illusory image of seethaa to

the war front and held seethaa by her hair. Hanumaan and a team of vaanaraas

saw this. In front of them indhrajith killed that fake seethaa. Then

hanumaan fought with indhrajith for some time but retreated saying, 'what is

the use of fighting – for whose sake all these fighting takes place, that

seethaa is now dead – so why to fight – let us inform raama and king

sugreeva and decide what to do next'.

 

 

 

*Point:* Why I bring that 'holding seethaa by her' to your notice is - even

though it is seethaa's image or 'maaya seethaa' only – when he held her by

her hair, indhrajith's death is announced -killing is just round the corner..

In bhaaratham, after holding the hair of dhroupathy, dhuryodhana and others

had 13 years of life. But here it is just 3 days. So anybody denigrating a

women by pulling / holding her hair has to meet the death penalty – may be

timewise sooner or later. That is an important lesson.

 

 

 

[in a lighter vein, perhaps that is why the ladies of present day do not

give that chance to men – to meet their own death. With lot of kaaruNyam on

the male population, they have short hair – so that there is no chance to

pull them or hold them by their hair. If at all touched, then the damage is

also less - no capital damage].

 

 

 

*Continuation:* Raama was very unhappy to hear this news of death of seethaa

from hanumaan and team. Raama even fainted and lakshmaNa held raama's head

in lap and talked a lot of dharma to console raama.

 

 

 

*Note:* lakshmaNa talked a lot – kindly recall what I stated in post 1

"lakshmaNa talking dharma to raama – to that raamO vigrahavaan dharma:" – a

surprise – Yes. That is at this stage of war. [What he taught and all we

will see in role of 'lakshmaNa as a wise counsel – or minister' - for few

more such instances are there].

 

 

 

*Continuation:* Meanwhile vibheeshaNa hearing this [about killing of

seethaa] concluded it as a trick and informed raama about indhrajith's homam

[or yagnam] in nikumbila and requested lakshmaNa to be sent to kill

indhrajith with hanumaan and himself. Also he gave the clue that indhrajith

can be killed only before he concludes the yaagam at nigumbila and not

later. [For that is the curse on indhrajith – whoever interrupts indhrajith

in the midst of a yagnam and calls him to fight, and makes him to fight, he

will be indhrajith's killer. Otherwise indhrajith cannot be killed].

 

 

 

Raama agreed, sent lakshmaNa and the army under leadership of hanumaan, with

jaambavaan as co-commander, and an advisor cum supporter in vibheeshana [of

course vibheeshaNa wherever he goes, he goes along with his ministers –

those 4 persons who took asylum in raama on the other shore].

 

 

 

Please note in this fight with indhrajith only, vibheeshana also touches

weapons to kill some from his own clan. [similar to karna touching weapons

only after fall of bheeshma] so far no.

 

 

 

Raama sends lakshmaNa, and gives a send off note to lakshmaNa reading –

 

'jahi tham raakshasa sutham maayaa bala vi*s*aaradham || 6- 85 –25'

 

lakshmaNa, meet success with that raakshasa, who is a wizard in tricky war.

 

 

 

*Point:* So the great warrior role is specifically assigned to lakshmaNa now

by raama himself in front of others. LakshmaNa is commissioned - that too to

kill a very formidable enemy in indhrajith. At this stage vaalmeeki's

description of lakshmaNa is simply glorious – says "on hearing raama's words

that *athi adhbhutha paraakrama: lakshmaNa *– that wonderfully valourous

lakshmaNa - took the best of the bows [and left] with vibheeshaNa".

Vaalmeeki says --

 

 

 

raaghavasya vacha: sruthvaa lakshmaNa: sa vibheeshaNa: |

 

jagraaha kaarmuka srEshtam *athi adhbhutha paraakrama:* || - 6-85- 27

 

 

 

*continuation:* before leaving lakshmaNa paid praNaamams to raama and done

pradhakshiNam – namaskaarams to raama and circumambulation of raama - to

his elder brother raama and left on the mission.

 

 

 

*Point:* Why I highlight this is – as the dhaasaas or servants of the

supreme lord, when we undertake a major task or work, it is a good practice

to do praNaamams [namaskaarams] to perumaaL and elders in our house and then

start on the mission. See here lakshmaNa doing that – that is why vaalmeeki

specifically adds even such small acts without omission - that too in much

serious situations like a serious war – for us to learn.

 

 

 

*Time duration *of* *war with indhrajith: When lakshmaNa returned

successfully after killing indhrajith – raama says –

 

aho raathrai thribhi veera: kathamchith vinipaathitha: | 6- 92- 18

 

 

 

meaning: oh that valiant [indhrajith] have been killed after three nights by

you.

 

 

 

This gives information to us that this 'war between indhrajith and

lakshmaNa' was stretching for 3 nights and intervening two days.

 

 

 

*Continuation:* After reaching the place where indhrajith was doing the

yagnam - at nikumbila – lakshmaNa started hitting the raakshasaas with

arrows as advised by vibheeshaNa. When his army was tattered and battered

indhrajith left the yagnam incomplete and came to fight. Then he started

fighting with hanumaan.

 

 

 

Meanwhile vibheeshaNa showed a banyan tree to lakshmaNa under which

indhrajith usually gives bali - offering to different bhoothaas - demigods

for his success – [bali to please bhooth gaNaas, demigods] and wanted

lakshmaNa to prevent indhrajith from nearing this place, which lakshmaNa

also noted.

 

 

 

*Point:* Please note that point 'dhEsa kaala vibhaagam' in the other post –

in that 'panchadhaa yOgam' said by kumbakarNan. This is one such important

aspect – suitable and unsuitable place - for one suitable - unsuitable place

for the other – between the 2 enemies engaged in war.

 

 

 

Also a caution on the time aspect – indhrajith should always be engaged - in

time without gaps – even if you allow a little interval time for him – he

will come here and carryout his offering - in between two engagements in war

– so that he ensures his success – so lakshmaNa be careful not to allow him

to come to this banyan tree point or he having a time gap.

 

 

 

Again it may appear a small point – perhaps you may think why vaalmeeki

takes pains to describe this minor point. See it is a strategic one for

lakshmaNa – in ensuring victory. Also that again is a lesson to us – not to

miss out minor points or leave minor loopholes open, while undertaking major

strategic tasks.

 

 

 

*Coninuation:* This act of vibheeshaNa was noticed by indhrajith. He scolded

his uncle. LakshmaNa sitting on shoulders of hanumaan intervened and said

you start fighting with me and not with your uncle. Then they both fought

bitterly.

 

 

 

LakshmaNa was looking like a smoky fire - says vaalmeeki - after hit by

arrows of indhrajith.

 

susubhE lakshmaNa: sreemaan vidhooma iva paavaka: | 6-88-20

 

 

 

YuyudhaathE thadhaa veerou grahaaviva nabhOgathou | 6-88 -37

 

Meaning: The two fought like two warring planets in the sky.

 

 

 

LakshmaNa reacted at one stage saying, 'hey, indhrajith your arrows are

light and gives comfort to me, a victory seeker in war will not fight like

this' – see slokam

 

 

 

laghava*s*cha alpa veeryaa*s*cha sukhaa hi imE *s*araasthava |

 

naivam *s*ooraasthu yudhyanthE samarE jaya kaankshiNa: || 6- 89 -19

 

 

 

After certain time when vibheeshaNa observed lakshmaNa is getting tired, he

motivated the army in the fighting saying, "it is not proper for uncle [me -

vibheeshaNa] to kill his brother's son [indhrajith] - but for raama's sake I

will do it [6-90-17] but now let lakshmaNa do that, you all please fight

with the enemy's army".

 

 

 

*Point:* Dear readers – see the strong motivation comes in the form of a

statement

 

– with love on one side

 

– with duty on the other side,

 

– with dharma on one side,

 

– with hesitation and sympathy on the other side

 

but main intention is to motivate all on his own side – raama's side.

 

 

 

oh – a mixture of all emotions – in the yudhdha kaaNdam. A classic

description – that is why perhaps vaalmeeki took 25% of slokams for 14 days

affair whereas 10 to 11 years of aaraNya vaasam in just one or two slokams.

 

 

 

 

Perhaps, indhrajith vadham can be a 'classic case study' for the present day

management schools. They can analyse and find out what are the different

management points they can propose and learn from vaalmeeki.

 

 

 

That is for them, but we will continue our study in next post,

 

Dhasan

 

 

 

 

--

Vasudevan MG