Rama's age when he went with Viswamitra

July 22, 2003

Namaste Gauranga,

Somehow, you are looking at a wrong verse. The following is the verse Shyamasundara referred to:

uuna SoDasha varSo me raamo raajiiva lochanaH |na yuddha yogyataam asya pashyaami saha raaxasaiH || 1-20-2

The above verse only says that Rama was not even sixteen. Sixteen may have been mentioned just as a yard-stick for maturity. The statement does not imply that Rama is just short of 16 (i.e. 15 years as interpreted by Shyamasundara). It only says Rama is not even sixteen.

When Mareecha recounts his encounter with Rama while giving advice to Ravana, he actually mentions twleve years of age as opposed to sixteen:

pratyuvaaca mahaabhaagam vishvaamitram mahaamunim |uuna dvaadasha varSo ayam akR^ita astraH ca raaghavaH || 3-38-6

This verse says Rama was not even twelve at the time.

There may be an error in one of the two verses. It is also possible that both are right and Rama was not even 12 at the time.

May Jupiter's light shine on us,Narasimha

> > 1) Mr Rath says: "Readers will appreciate that the periods are exactly as> > per> > the Ramayana." In his analysis he says that Rama got diksha from> Visvamitra> > during Mars Dasa which he has calculated to be between 20-23. But> according> > to the Valmiki Ramayana (Gita Press edition) 1.20.2 Rama was less than 16,> > that is 15 years of age when Visvamitra took him to kill that Rakshasas> and> > at which time he was initiated into the use of celestial missiles. He was> > also married to Sita Devi at the age of 15. After the marriage and return> to> > Ayodhya of the all the four married couples we don't hear much about> > Visvamitra what to speak of his giving Diksa to Rama. This all took lace> > prior to the wedding.> > I'm quoting the Sanskrit for the above mantioned Sloka 1.20.2. (2ns Shloka> od 20th Sarga of Baalakanda) from Valmiki Ramayanam.> > pUrvamathaM pratishrutya pratijnAm hAtumicchasi> rAghavaNam ayukto'ya kulasyAsya viparyayaH> > I don't recognise the word sixteen (shodasa) anywhere here. What can be> wrong? Maybe the shloka number? Can anyone point to the right shloka?

July 22, 2003

Dear Gauranga/narasimharaoji,

I too think that Narqasimharaoji is right. The reason is that the tradition was that a shishya used to go to Guru's ashram at the age of 12 and complete his curriculae by age of 24.

Regards,

Chandrashekhar.

Narasimha P.V.R. Rao [pvr]Tuesday, July 22, 2003 8:22 AMvarahamihira Subject: |Sri Varaha| Rama's age when he went with Viswamitra

Namaste Gauranga,

Somehow, you are looking at a wrong verse. The following is the verse Shyamasundara referred to:

uuna SoDasha varSo me raamo raajiiva lochanaH |na yuddha yogyataam asya pashyaami saha raaxasaiH || 1-20-2

The above verse only says that Rama was not even sixteen. Sixteen may have been mentioned just as a yard-stick for maturity. The statement does not imply that Rama is just short of 16 (i.e. 15 years as interpreted by Shyamasundara). It only says Rama is not even sixteen.

When Mareecha recounts his encounter with Rama while giving advice to Ravana, he actually mentions twleve years of age as opposed to sixteen:

pratyuvaaca mahaabhaagam vishvaamitram mahaamunim |uuna dvaadasha varSo ayam akR^ita astraH ca raaghavaH || 3-38-6

This verse says Rama was not even twelve at the time.

There may be an error in one of the two verses. It is also possible that both are right and Rama was not even 12 at the time.

May Jupiter's light shine on us,Narasimha

> > 1) Mr Rath says: "Readers will appreciate that the periods are exactly as> > per> > the Ramayana." In his analysis he says that Rama got diksha from> Visvamitra> > during Mars Dasa which he has calculated to be between 20-23. But> according> > to the Valmiki Ramayana (Gita Press edition) 1.20.2 Rama was less than 16,> > that is 15 years of age when Visvamitra took him to kill that Rakshasas> and> > at which time he was initiated into the use of celestial missiles. He was> > also married to Sita Devi at the age of 15. After the marriage and return> to> > Ayodhya of the all the four married couples we don't hear much about> > Visvamitra what to speak of his giving Diksa to Rama. This all took lace> > prior to the wedding.> > I'm quoting the Sanskrit for the above mantioned Sloka 1.20.2. (2ns Shloka> od 20th Sarga of Baalakanda) from Valmiki Ramayanam.> > pUrvamathaM pratishrutya pratijnAm hAtumicchasi> rAghavaNam ayukto'ya kulasyAsya viparyayaH> > I don't recognise the word sixteen (shodasa) anywhere here. What can be> wrong? Maybe the shloka number? Can anyone point to the right shloka?|Om Tat Sat|http://www.varahamihira