SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI (ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ ಅರ್ಥವಿವರಣೆ)

    SRI RAGHAVENDRA SWAMY’S SRI RAMACHARITRYA MANJARI

(ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರ ಸ್ವಾಮಿ ವಿರಚಿತ “ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ ಅರ್ಥವಿವರಣೆ)

STANZA IV

ದತ್ವಾ(s)ಸ್ಮೈ ಪಾದುಕೇ ಸ್ವೇ ಕ್ಷಿತಿಭರಣಕೃತೌ ಪ್ರೇಷ್ಯ ತಂ ಕಾಕನೇತ್ರಂ

ವ್ಯಸ್ಯಾ(s)ರಾಧ್ಯೋ(s)ತ್ರಿನಾಮ್ನಾ ವನಮಥ ಸಮಿತೋ ದಂಡಕಂ ತಾಪಸೇಷ್ವಂ|

ಕುರ್ವನ್ ಹತ್ವಾ ವಿರಾಧಂ ಖಲಕುಲದಮನಂ ಯಾಚಿತಸ್ತಾಪಸಾಗ್ರ್ಯೈ-

ಸ್ತೇಷಾಂ ದತ್ವಾ(s)ಭಯಂ ಸ್ವಾನಸಿಧನುರಿಷುಧೀನ್ಯಾಗಸ್ತ್ಯಾತ್ಸ ಪಾಯಾತ್||4||     

DatvA(s)smai pAdukE svE kShitiBharaNakrutau prEShya tam kAkanEtram

VyasyA(s)rAdhyO(s)trinAmnA vanamaTha samitO danDakam tApasEShwam|

Kurvan hatvA VirADham Khalakuladamanam yAchitastApasAgryai-

stEShAm datvA(s)Bhayam svAnasiDhanuriShuDheenyAgastyAtsa pAyAt||4||

SUMMARY: Sri Rama assigned the duty of protecting the land to Bharata by handing over his footwear and sent him off (Saha kShitiBharaNakrutau svE pAdukE asmai datvA tam prEShya); Sri Rama then killed a demon called Kuranga, who was hiding in the eye of crows and concluded his stay in Chitrakoota (Kaka nEtram vyasya aTha); he got worshipped by a Rishi called Atri (Atri nAmnA ArAdhyaha); he then proceeded to a forest known as Dandaka (DanDakam samitaha); he bestowed salvation to Sharabhanga, a Rishi who was engaged in arduous penance, as desired by that Rishi (tApasa iShTam kurvan); he killed a demon named Viradha (VirADham hatvA); as requested by several Rishis, intent on destroying the cruel demon community of Ravana and others, he promised to protect the interests and life of Rishis (Khalakuladamanam, tApasAgryaihi yAchitaha tEShAm aBhayam datvA); may that Lord, who took possession of swords, bows and quivers, save us.

  Vigraha of KShitiBharaNakrutau – kShitEhe BharaNam kShitiBharaNam; kShitiBharaNasya krutihi kShitiBharaNa krutihi; tasyAm kShiBharaNakrutau.

  KAkanEtram -  KAkasya nEtram yasya saha kAkanEtraha, tam kAkanEtram.

  COMMENTARY:

  It has already been stated that Bharata appealed to Rama to return to Ayodhya, again and again. Finally, Sri Rama presented his footwear to Bharata and asked Bharata to protect the Land in the name of that footwear. Sri Madhwacharyaru, in his Bhagavata Tatparya Nirnaya and other works, has clearly stated that any organ, weapon, wear or object that forms part of the form of the Lord, including the forms of all his incarnations, has the same quality, power, characteristics and capacity as the whole form of the Lord. Therefore, the footwear of Sri Rama was enough for Bharata to rule the kingdom. The power of footwear and his belief, loyalty, allegiance will ensure that Bharata never deviates from the perfect governance.

  Bharata returned to Ayodhya by carrying the footwear of Sri Rama on his head. A little later, Jayanta, a son of Devendra, came to Chitrakoota in the guise of a crow. A demon named Kuranga put his spirit into the body of Jayanta. Owing to the presence of the spirit of that demon, Jayanta, in the form of a crow, caused injury to the breasts of Seetha Devi, when Sri Rama was sleeping on her lap. Sri Rama, with his divine power, shot a grass with the power of a severe Astra, killed that demon and the eyes of crows. From then on, crows are believed to see through one eye. Sri Rama then sent off Jayanta. Sri Rama reached the hermitage of Atri Rishi. The Rishi offered a warm welcome and worshipped the Lord. Sri Rama proceed from that Ashram to Dandakaranya, a forest named after a demon called Dandaka. There lived a Rishi called Sharabhanga, whose body was very weak. That Rishi requested Sri Rama that he would sacrifice his life in fire in the presence of the Lord so that he could travel to Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu. Sri Rama agreed and bestowed salvation upon Sage Sharabhanga. A few devotees of Lord Sri Hari known as Tumburu had been cursed by Kubera, since they had established relationship with Urvashi, to be born as demons. As a result, Tumburu was roaming in Dandaka forests. Sri Rama killed Tumburu and relieved him from the curse. Sri Rama buried the corporal body of Tumburu. The sages and ascetics (Rishis) in Dandaka appealed to Sri Rama to eradicate Ravana and his band of demons. Sri Rama promised the Rishis that he would meet their demand. Sri Rama arrived at the hermitage of Sage Agastya, who handed over the bow, quiver and other weapons that Lord Indra had kept there, to Sri Rama. This stanza dwells on all these aspects of Ramayana.

  Some hidden meanings of this stanza will be narrated in the coming episodes. Please read, comment and share. SDN