AcArya rAmAMRtam - (from SrI ra’nganAtha pAdukA dt. Nov. 09 Part 2)

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SrIH

SrImate ra’ngarAmAnuja mahA deSikAya namaH

SrImate SrInivAsa rAmAnuja mahA deSikAya namaH

SrImate vedAnta rAmAnuja mahA deSikAya namaH

SrI ra’nganAtha divya maNi pAdukAbhyAm namaH

 

AcArya rAmAMRtam - (from SrI ra’nganAtha pAdukA dt. Nov. 09 Part 2)

 

English Translation of

SrImad rAmAyaNa upanyAsam in tamizh by SrImad tirukkuDandai ANDavan

 

As published in SrI ra’nganAtha pAdukA by

SrI u.ve. nATTEri KiDAmbi rAjagopAlAcAriyAr (Editor of SrI ra’nganAtha pAdukA)

 

(Please set your encoding to Unicode UTF-8).

 

SrImad ANDavan tiruvaDigaLE SaraNam,

kalyANi kRshNamAcAri

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SrImad tirukkuDandai ANDavan’s SrImad rAmAyaNa upanyAsam

 

Next, iLaiya perumAL goes and prostrates before his mother, saying, everyone is

taking leave and he should do the same.

 

sumitrA says, “Why do you want permission? Go! Go now and come back!â€

 

sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya svanuraktaH suhRjjane |

rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH putra bhrAtari gacchati ||

(ayodhyA.40.5)

vaitta nAL varai ellai kuRugic cenRu

eyttiLaippadan nunnam aDaiminO

paitta pAmpaNaiyAn tiruvEnkaTam

moytta sOlai moy pUntaDam tAzhvarE! (tiruvAi.3.3.10)

 

vaitta nAL varai – commentary for this pAsuram refers to the Slokam mentioned

above. sumitrA devi says a superb Slokam here - sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya

svanuraktaH suhRjjane. In rAmAyaNam, among all the women, the most knowledgeable

one is sumitrA. So many well-wishers are weeping. sumitrA does not shed tears.

rAma is going to the forest. sumitrA does not cry when kausalyA is crying.

sumitrA tells kausalyA - “kausalyA, look here! sUryasyApi bhavet sUryaH

(ayodhyA.44.15) – rAma is an avatAram. Why do you cry if He is going to the

forest?†kausalyA says, “The sun will burn Himâ€; sumitrA responds, “He

is a Sun far above that sunâ€.

sUryasyApi bhavet sUryaH; sumitrA tells ten Slokam-s here. “rAma is one who

has taken several avatArams. He is sarveSvaran. He has taken this avatAram and

is going to the forest to protect the world. Why do you cry?†kausalyA cannot

be consoled. sumitrA succeeds in doing that in the next sargam.

 

Since sumitrA is a woman full of insight and wisdom, she says, “lakshmaNa! You

can go. Leave soonâ€.

 

“What is this, even though you are my mother, you are hastening me to leave? I

am seeing that kausalyA is feeling so melancholic. Everyone is shedding profuse

tears. They are all having an awful time. And, you ask me to go away promptly.

Did I do anything wrong? What mistake did I commit? As soon as I come to see

you, you are asking me to departâ€.

 

“No, it is not that. sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya svanuraktaH – I have given birth

to you to prepare for vanavAsam (life in the forest).â€

 

Will any lady give birth to a child for vana vAsam? Will a lady get a child to

work in LIC [Life Insurance Corporation of India]? Whatever they are destined to

give birth to, that is what they will have. Has any woman given birth to a son

to do upanyAsam? It is all pre-destined.

 

She says, sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya; what is the reason? AcArya-s ask this question

– she says she gave birth to lakshmaNa to do vanavAsam – tvaM vanavAsAya

sRshTaH – what does it mean?

 

“Oh lakshmaNa! I got you as a son to do kaiMkaryam to rAma. I had a desire for

a long time to get sons who could do bhagavad kaiMkaryam and bhAgavata

kaiMkaryam. I was praying for the same. Initially, I did not have any children.

daSaratha was praying for a son, any son. He circumambulated around SrIranga

vimAnam and prayed for a son. If asked, 'what son', he would say,

'vamSakarassutaH' - just a male child; even if he was not intelligent, it was

okay. ikshvAku vamSam must grow. So, he needed a son. If he had prayed just for

himself, he would have had a son immediately. Because of kausalyA's prayer and

my prayer, the boon got delayed.

 

What did kausalyA pray for? loka bhartAraM sushube yaM manasvinI (5.38.56).

kausalyA came around the ranga vimAnam; so did daSaratha. daSaratha prayed for a

son for the sake of vamSam. What did kausalyA ask for? She prayed. 'I do not

want the kind of son my husband wants. loka bhartAraM sushube yaM manasvinI –

I should get a very magnanimous son who will protect the whole world.'

 

Immediately, I also did the circumambulation. I prayed for a son who can do

bhagavad kaiMkaryam and bhAgavata kaiMkaryam. That is why it took long for us to

get children.

 

If it was just a son as daSaratha wanted, it would have happened then and there.

If he had to get a son who is the embodiment of dharmam, how much virtue should

he have accumulated!

 

Your father distributed the pAyasam [sweet pudding]; he gave to kausalyA, then

to me and to kaikeyi. He gave me a second portion - what was left over. I was

just keeping both portions without drinking. kausalyA finished hers and so did

kaikeyi. My husband asked me why I did not take mine and whether I did not want

it.

 

I told him, 'I am doing this on purpose. I will take it now. I did not want to

drink it before they did. I wanted to do that after they both finished. Why?

 

If I drink it first, my son will become the eldest one. The other sons will do

kaiMkaryam to my son; if I take it after they both do, then I can get sons to

serve those two boys.â€

 

That is why, sumitrA took the pAyasam after kausalyA and kaikeyi did.

 

The resulting son [lakshmaNa] from the first portion of the pAyasam she drank,

serves the first son, rAma – kausalyA's. The second son [satrughna] does

kaiMkaryam to bharata - kaikeyi's.

 

So, sumitrA says, “I got you especially for rAma kaiMkaryamâ€.

 

Most people will gulp down the pAyasam even before it is given to them. They

will ask for seconds right away. If asked why they are asking for seconds, they

will say, “You did not give me. If you had given (enough), I would not have

asked the second timeâ€.

 

sumitrA says, “ sRshTastvaM vanavAsAyaâ€.

 

This incident of sumitrA drinking the pAyasam a little later (after kausalyA and

kaikeyi) is in pAdma purANam.

 

If she drinks it first, her son will become elder to the other boys. When her

son is the eldest, the other brothers must serve him. So, she waited till the

other two drank their portions and took hers later.

 

sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya – kaiMkaryam must be done wherever He goes; you have to

serve Him even if He goes to the forest.

 

sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya – says sumitrA.

 

When she says so, lakshmaNa starts crying. Why? “Mother, you have given birth

to me like this. You have a son for doing bhagavad kaiMkaryam and one son for

doing bhAgavata kaiMkaryam. You are saying I am meant to do bhagavad kaiMkaryam.

But, I will not be as lucky as Satrughna. He is very fortunate.â€

 

“Why?â€

 

“bhAgavata kaiMkaryam is always said to be better than bhAgavad kaiMkaryam in

viSishTadvaita philosophy. The book says that it is better to serve a bhAgavata

instead of bhagavAn.

 

Satrughna is serving the greatest bhAgavata, bharata. He is very lucky. I did

not get that kaiMkaryam. I am going with rAma.â€

 

“Oh, fool! You are getting both kaiMkaryams.

 

svanuraktaH suhrujjane - suhrujjane sutarAm anuraktaH – svanuraktaH – You

are getting both? How?

 

svanuraktaH suhrujjane – what does bhAgavata kaiMkaryam mean? It means

fulfilling bhAgavata-s' desires, right? Is there anything else?

 

How many well-wishers does rAma have? What are they thinking when rAma is going

to the forest?

 

'Alas, rAma is going! No is going with Him to serve Him! What will the prince do

alone? He is leaving. sItA is accompanying Him. How much can she do? Can she

manage? She has a delicate form. No one else is escorting Him. If you,

lakshmaNa, go with Him, isn't that fulfilling their wishes? You thus get

bhAgavata kaiMkaryam also. svanuraktaH suhrujjane!

 

bhAgavata kaiMkaryam implies serving them by carrying out their wishes. Who are

the bhAgavata-s here? rAma's good friends and well-wishers are the bhAgavata-s.

They are all worried that no one is going to be of service to rAma; if you go,

then their wishes will be fulfilled. So, you get both bhagavad and bhAgavata

kaiMkaryam.

 

sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya svanuraktaH suhrujjane |

 

lakshmaNa! Why are you asking me permission? Are you thinking if I say 'no', you

can avoid going? Are you planning to say, 'I was going to go; I asked my mother

and she said no; so, I am not going'? Is that why you are asking me?

 

sRshTastvaM vanavAsAya.

 

Okay, go and protect rAma meticulously. Do not be a wee bit inattentive.

 

rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH – do not be negligent with your duties for Him. Be

prepared with bow in hand all the time; there will be several animals,

elephants, lions, tigers etc; be cautious and careful, do not look hither and

thither; kill ferocious animals and protect rAma's tirumEni. Never be sloppy.â€

 

“What mother? You are telling me like this. When I came to get permission from

you, you asked me if I came to see if you will stop me from going.

 

You are saying I must not be negligent. Have I ever neglected my duties? Ever?

 

I told you a story the other day. Have I ever been indiscreet before? You tell

me - rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH; why did you say that?

 

A student was doing kAlakshepam with his AcAryan, who asked him to bring

vegetables for SrAddham. The student brought a lot of vegetables in a basket. He

had brought vegetables that cannot be used for SrAddham, like potatoes. What to

do?

 

AcAryan asked, “What is this? How can you bring potato for SrAddham?

 

“I brought only what you orderedâ€.

 

“Did I ask you to bring potato? You have brought vegetables not fit for

SrAddhamâ€.

 

“Will I do what you did not order?â€

 

rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH |

 

“Will I do something that you did not say? I always follow your orderâ€.

 

“Will I ask for something against SAstram? So many students are doing

kAlakshepam. Will I ask for something that is against the rules?â€

 

“Will I bring something you did not ask me to, svAmi! You sent me to buy them

only because you thought of me as a good studentâ€.

 

“I am not the one to say like that. And you are not the one to do it. Now,

what can we do?

 

Student says - “No problem. I will think of a midway to please both of us.â€

What is that?

 

“Think of this potato as cEppamkizhangu [sago root used in SrAddham]; That

way, you don't have to be upset and I don't have to be upset (laughter in the

audience).

 

rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH putra bhrAtari gacchati ||

 

Have I ever been careless? You are saying to me, rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH; why

are you telling me like this, mother?â€

 

“No lakshmaNa, nothing like that! You have been careful so far. You have to be

extra watchful in the forestâ€.

 

“What kind of watchfulness?â€

 

“You may be distracted. Be wary at those timesâ€.

 

sumitrA is saying that distraction can occur and one should be very heedful

then.

 

Son is driving a car. Father asks him to drive carefully without getting into

any accident. The son says, “Why do you say like this to me? Have I ever had

an accident before? I have driven for ten years. Have I ever hit a post? Why did

you say like that?â€

 

Father said, “You may be distracted. That is whyâ€.

 

“I have driven for ten yearsâ€.

 

“You were fine for ten years. Now, you are married and your wife will be by

your side; so, you have to drive carefully; nothing else.†(audience laughs)

 

rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH putra bhrAtari gacchati ||

 

“lakshmaNa! You did not have the chance to be distracted all these years. Now,

that risk will present itself. That is why I asked you to be extra cautiousâ€.

 

“What is that risk going to be?â€

 

“putra bhrAtari gacchati– so far, rAma has been riding on chariots,

elephants, horses etc. From now on, He is going to go on foot; when bhagavAn is

walking and you follow Him and perceive the beauty of His walk, especially

because He is the king of walks, you cannot take your eyes off of Him.

 

gandharva rAja pratimaM loke vikhyAta paurusham |

dIrgha bAhuM mahA satvaM matta mAtanga gAminam || (ayodhyA.3.28)

 

rAma has a gait like that of a beautiful, fat, haughty elephant.

 

kaimmAvin naDaiyanna mennaDaiyum (perumAL tirumozhi.9.6)

gajasimha gatI vIrau SArdUla vRshabhopamau (bAla.50.17)

 

Everyone is desiring to take a look at that gait. ANDAL also says,

 

mAri malai muzhainjil mannik kiDanduRangum

Siriya singam... pOdarumAp pOlE nI pUvaip pU vaNNA

un kOil ninRum inganE pOndaruLi, kOppuDaiya

sIriya singAdanattirundu yAm vanda kAriyam ArAindu

aruLElor empAvAi (tiruppAvai.23)

 

“Get up from the bed and come and sit on the throneâ€.

 

kaNNan asks, “Why! Why cannot I listen to you from here?â€

 

“Why don't You do what I say? We want to enjoy the beauty of Your walkâ€.

 

PerumAL has a wonderful gait. His walk is a remarkable one. If He wears

pAdukai-s [sandals], His walk will be even more magnificent. When He puts on the

pAdukA-s, they add a special beauty to His walk. I will tell you about that when

we talk about pAdukA sahasram.

 

A mere sight of rAma walking on His pAdukA-s will make a person lose all his

property and wealth.

 

It happened to mahAbali cakravarti; emperumAn came walking to him as vAmana.

mahAbali looked at His gait.

 

ennuDaiya pAdattAl yAn aLappa mUvaDi maN

mannA! taruga enRu vAi tirappa maRRavanum

ennAl tarappaTTadu enRalumE (periya tirumaDal-61)

 

mahAbali said, “I giveâ€. PerumAL asked, “three feetâ€; mahAbali said,

“Given, givenâ€. Even when his teacher, SukrAcAriAr, forbid him, he 'gave'

anyway. It was because of the ensnarement by the charming gait of the lord.

 

“gajasimha gatI vIrau – rAma will have the gait of an elephant, lion, tiger,

bull, serpent etc. Once you look at His gait, you will not feel like looking at

anything else. Your attention will be diverted. lakshmaNa! Do not look at the

walking beauty.

 

putra bhrAtari gacchati, rAme pramAdaM mA kArshIH – Do not be unwary.â€

 

nanmaNivaNNan Ur ALiyum kOLariyum

pon maNiyum muttamum pUmaramum panmaNi nI-

rODu poruduruLum gAnamum vAnaramum

vEDum uDai vEnkaTam. (nAnmugan tiruvantAdi-47)

 

“When you are going into the forest where a lot of animals move around, do not

look at the beauty of His walk! If you see that, you will be distracted!â€

 

lakshmaNa cries profusely; he is feeling bad for leaving. sumitrA tells him -

“Why are you crying? Are you crying because you are leaving this place? Are

you crying because you are leaving your father and mother? Go, leave without

crying.â€

 

rAmaM daSarathaM viddhi mAM viddhi janakAtmajAm |

ayodhyAm aTavIM viddhi gaccha tAta yathAsukham ||

(ayodhyA.40.9)

 

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(End of translation of AcArya rAmAMRtam as it appeared in the November 2009

issue of SrI ra’nganAtha pAdukA)

===========

To be continued …..