SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this issue, the end of Tataka and transfer of Astras from Vishwamitra to Rama and Lakshmana have been given. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

As advocated by Vishwamitra, Sri Rama took the bow in his left hand and pulled its string with the right. The sound produced by that string was horrible and it reverberated in that dense forest. Tataka heard that sound and appeared in front of Sri Rama almost instantly wearing a dreadful form. She launched a fierce battle. She used to disappear but continued to pound a rain of lethal arrows. Following the sound of her screams, Sri Rama easily spotted her location and fired an arrow at her chest. She died immediately. Lord Indra and other deities came to that spot and praised Sri Rama and his bravery. Lord Indra told Vishwamitra to hand over all the Shastras he had obtained from Lord Rudra to Sri Rama. This instance has been indicated in the original story with the statement “TATakAm GhAtukaha” and the commentary reading “LOkOpadravakAriNeem TATakAm hatwA”.

It has also been stated:

Astram BrahmAdyam prApya…| SiddhAshramam prApya VishwAmitrOktamantrajAtam sweekrutya||

Meaning: Sri Rama came to the Siddhashram and received the Mantras related to Brahmastra and other Astras presented by Vishwamitra.

When Sri Rama came to Siddhashrama with Lakshmana and Vishwamitra, the sages present in that Ashram worshipped Sri Rama with devotion.

Vishwamitra said: “I stole the Kamadhenu that was in the possession of Vasishtha. All my children were killed by the army created by Kamadhenu. I lost my cool. I did penance and worshipped Rudra and secured Astras from him. I tried to kill Vasishtha with those weapons. I was defeated yet again. I understood the power of the Brahma Tejas or the divine spirit of Brahma. I did penance and became a Brahma Rishi. If I had had used those weapons secured after a struggle to demolish the bad elements, I could have earned God’s grace (Punya). I did not do it as a Kshatriya. I also committed terrible sin by trying to kill Brahma Rishi Vasishtha. I had to do penance for thousands of years to get rid of the negative energy that seeped into my being due to that sin. Later, the deities and sage Vasishtha showered their love and affection on me and a sage of mutual reverence ensued. Having become a Brahma Rishi, I am now able to destroy the evil forces. However, these very weapons which had prompted me to commit worst crimes in the past will not be of any use in the future too. There is no point in keeping these weapons with me. Therefore, I will surrender these weapons to Sri Rama, who is born to punish the guilty, and Lakshmana, who is born only to serve Sri Rama. Being an embodiment of power, courage and valour, Sri Rama literally does not need any of these weapons. Yet, I wish these weapons be useful in crushing the criminal elements as I have secured them by doing deep penance. The deities present in these weapons may also earn divine grace by being instrumental in the destruction of the diabolic. Let my great efforts be fruitful in that manner.”  Vishwamitra spoke his mind with Sri Rama as well.