desire 29

[Guest guest]

Dear Sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

Dear sri vaishNava perunthagaiyeer,

 

 

We are discussing on raama's kaamam – his kaamam

to observe dharmam at any cost – really at a cost – for he has to

undergo a series of difficulties – like

staying in forest,

father passing away,

later separation from wife etc.

 

Further 'as usually projected' by vaalmeeki – raama's

kaamam creates sympathy in others on him, since he is suffering out

of his kaamam [of observing 'dharmam']. Also again a conflict

between 'kaamam' and 'dharmam' – and the resulting

conclusion is for all to see – when dharmam is to be observed

strictly, one has to undergo many difficulties and do many sacrifices

for the sake of that dharmam – that is shown by lord himself by his

own example - in suffering – as they say in modern management as

'leading from front' or 'setting a role model'.

 

 

We also saw in earlier post kaikEyee is whipping raama through

words, like a horse –as stated by vaalmeeki - 'please go to

forest immediately', telling raama 'unless you leave father will

not bathe or eat'.

 

 

In all these conversations between kaikEyee and raama, it is all

in the presence of dhasaratha, and one point is to be observed –

dhasaratha does not, at all, talk directly to raama.

First he called 'raama' – the name of his son - as soon

as raama arrived at kaikEyee's palace in the early morning,

Second he reacts with 'oh what a pity' when kaikEyee said

'please go to forest fast, otherwise father will not bathe or

eat'.

 

Why I wish to emphasise this point is, whatever 'order' is there

to raama - as father's order - is all from mouth of kaikEyee and

not directly from dhasaratha. When kaikEyee said so, see raama's

reaction to kaikEyee -

 

 

na aham artha parah dhEvi lOkam aavasthum uthsahE |

vidhdhhi maam rishibhih thulyam kEvalam dharmam aasthhitham ||

2-19-20

 

 

meaning: " Oh queen! I am not concerned with wealth [the

wealth of kingdom]. I want to receive the world hospitable. Know me

as equal to a sage, abiding in righteousness alone. "

 

 

yadh athra bhavathah kincith sakyam

karthum priyam mayaa |

praaNaan api parithyajya sarvathaa krutham Eva thath || 2-19-21

na hi athah dharma charaNam kincith asthi mahaththaram |

yathaa pithari sushrooshaa

thasya vaa vachana kriyaa || 2-19-22

 

 

meaning: raama continues to kaikEyee, " If I have to do

whatever action is dear to my revered father, that action is just

done in all respects even by renouncing the life. There is not indeed

anything of greater performance of duty than doing service to father

or than doing what he commands. "

 

 

Point: Just to adhere to father's words raama is ready to

give up his life. Also to observe that dharmam, he wants to be like a

rishi – means sacrifice all other comforts and do a thapas –

'achieving the desired goal is the sole aim' – and that is what

is thapas – raama's thapas is to observe dharmam, sathyam.

 

 

Continuation: Though all know eventually raama has to leave

or really left, he digs at kaikEyee and then only goes. Let us see

how he digs

 

 

na noonam mayi kaikeyi kinchith aasamsasE

guNam |

yadh raajaanam avOchah thvam mama eesvara

tharaa sathee || 2-19-24

 

 

Meaning: raama to kaikEyee, " In the matter of coronation of

Bharatha, you told only Dhasaratha and not to me, even though you

have every authority to tell me directly. By this, it is known that

you have not seen any merit in me. It is certain! "

 

 

Point: what this really means is – even if kaikEyee has

to say to raama "oh raama give up your right to kingdom, I want to

crown bharatha, my son", and not say that as an order from father,

raama says, "I would have given up my claim to the crown. And to

say like this, oh kaikEyee, you have every right on me. Further you

told father about this crowning to bharatha. And now, you only convey

that is what is father's direction to me [even though he does not

say to me so directly]. And I am just going to obey to that – let

it be my mother's words or father's. That shows, oh kaikEyee, you

have not understood any good character of obedience to parents etc in

me, even though you have brought up me".

 

 

So it is a good character study – through raama's words,

vaalmeeki shows to us in the character of kaikEyee – when aasai –

desire – kaamam - in achieving something selfish has come up in

one's mind, persons will forget about their own son's goodness or

husband's or other very close persons. So that is the nature of

kaamam.

 

 

Another aspect is - by that statement raama again tries to create

a sympathy in him – because of his kaamam in observing dharmam –

kaamam to sympathy- usual valmeeki style.

 

 

Dhasan

Vasudevan MG