Ramayana of Valmiki and Kamban-Aranya kanda-3. Meeting Sarabhanga ans Sutheekshn

October 12, 2008

3. Meeting Sarabhanga and Sutheekshna

Rama proceeded towards the hermitage of Sarabhanga and he saw a wonderful sight when he neared the place. Indra was standing there talking to sarabhanga, with his resplendent chariot drawn by green horses and with all his attendants and Rama remarked to Lakshmana that it must be Indra as he appeared to be exactly what they have learnt from their gurus. Rama then walked alone towards the hermitage to ascertain the identity of the visitor of Sarabhanga. Seeing him approaching Indra told his companions that it was not proper for him to meet Rama before he completed his avatharakarya and disappeared from there. The purpose for his doing so was not to reveal the identity of Rama as Srimannarayana, as Ravana must believe Rama to be a human being in order to meet his death as according to his boons he would not be killed by anyone except humans whom he omitted in his list due to scorn. If Indra met Rama he must treat him as the Lord which would reveal the secret.

Rama then went to the hermitage of Sarabhanga and paid his respects to the sage and enquired about the visitor he had . Sarabhanga told him that Indra had come to take him to the abode of Brahma as a result of his penances but knowing that Rama was on his way he did want to leave the earth without seeing him. Sarabhanga being a great sage knew the identity of Rama and preferred his darsan rather than going to Brahma loka which is inferior compared to the presence of the Lord Himself.

Then Sarbhanga offered all the result of his penance to Rama thus surrendering his karmaphala to the Lord, because that is the only possession he had and that was also given by the grace of the Lord Himself. But Rama said, without revealing his identity, that he should earn all that himself, meaning that being a kshathriya he cannot accept gifts and only asked Sarabhanga to show him a place to dwell in the forest. The implicit meaning of these words as explained by the commentators is that, Rama said "I will accept what you give because you are offering me all that you have in a spirit of surrender , ` aham eva aaharidshyaami sarvam evam mahaamune,' but now show me a place to live." The word `aahara' means both taking and also acquiring. Rama as Dasartha puthra could mean only the literal meaning that he would acquire all that by himself and would not accept it as a gift but as the Lord incarnate he had to accept the offering of a devotee who surrenders himself to Him.

Then Sarabhanga told Rama to go and meet Sutheekshna and said that he will be helpful to them in this respect.

Then Sarabhanga left his mortal remains in the presence of Rama and went to Brahmaloka and Rama with Lakshmana and Seetha went to the hermitage of Sutheekshna, who welcomed them with open arms and said that he was also like Sarbahanga was visited by Indra and he was waiting to see Rama before leaving this earth. Like Sarabhanga he also offered the results of his penance to Rama who replied in the same manner. They spent the night there and directed by Sutheekshna proceeded towards the hermitages of the sages who have acquired superhuman powers in Dandaka forest The sages were happy to see Rama and entreated him to destroy the asuras in jansthana who were harassing the hermits there and Rama promised to do so.

It is significant that whomever Rama met was directing him further and further into the forest till they reached Chitrakoota because it was the place where the whole drama leading to Ravanavadha was to take place.