Sri Raghavendra Swamy Virachita
SRI #RAMACHARITRYA #MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ #ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ
ವಿರಚಿತ “#ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)
Killing of Shambuka/ಶಂಬೂಕನ ಸಂಹಾರ
ದುಷ್ಟಶೂದ್ರಂ ಹತ್ವಾ ದ್ವಿಜಸುತಗುಪ್
“ರುದ್ರಪದೇಚ್ಛಯಾ ತಪಃ ಕುರ್ವಾಣಂ ಅಧಃಶಿರಸಮೂರ್ಧ್ವಾಂಘ್ರಿಂ ಲಂಬಮಾನಂ ಜಂಘನಾಮಕಾಸುರರೂಪಂ
ಶಂಬೂಕನಾಮಕಶೂದ್ರಂ ಹತ್ವಾ, ತತ್ಕೃತಾಧರ್ಮೇಣ ಮೃತಂ ದ್ವಿಜಕುಮಾರಂ ಜೀವಯಿತ್ವಾ”
DuShTashUdram hatvA dvijasutagup “rudrapadEchChayA
tapaha kurvANam aDhaha kurvANam aDhahashirasamUrDwAnGhrim lambamAnam
janGhanAmakAsurarUpam shambUkanAmakashUdram hatvA, tatkrutADharmENa mrutam
dvijakumAram jeevayitvA.”
दुष्टशूद्रं हत्वा द्विजसुतगुप् “रुद्रपदॆच्छया तपः कुर्वाणं
अधःशिरसमूर्ध्वान्घ्रिं लम्बमानं जन्घनामकसुररूपं तम्बूकनामकशूद्रं हत्वा,
तत्कृताधर्मॆण मृतं द्विजकुमारं जीवयित्वा।“
SUMMARY: He killed a demon named “Shambooka”, who was an incarnation of
demon called “Jangha”, who was doing penance by staying with his head down and
legs up with the intention of attaining the position of Rudra, and made a
Brahmin boy, who had died due to the crime committed by Shambooka, live.
Details: Once, an elderly Brahmin reached the entrance of Ayodhya with
the corpse of his young son. Crying inconsolably, the elderly Brahmin said: “Oh
my unfortunate son! This is the kingdom of Lord Rama where there is question of
youngsters dying before the elders. It appears I have committed some serious
crime in my previous birth. That is why, you have demised before me. Oh child,
please wake up and speak a few sweet words and make your weeping mother happy.
If you do not open your mouth now, I and your mother will end our lives to join
you in the journey of no-return.”
“Srirama is the sole protector in all the three Lokas. Let him protect
me too. None else is as kind as Srirama. Let that embodiment of kindness
protect me.”
This appalling appeal of the Brahmin was heard by Narada, who was amidst
many distinguished Munis.
Narada told Srirama: “Oh Lord Srirama, the Goddess of Dharma has four
legs that are symbolic of pure penance, pure body, pure speech and pure mind,
besides kindness and truthfulness. This Goddess of Dharma is in the form of a
cow. Similarly, even the Goddess of Adharma has four legs. At the beginning of
Kruta Yuga, the four legs are complete in every respect. At the end of Kruta
Yuga, the leg symbolizing penance starts deteriorating and this is evident from
the disturbance that those engaged in penance face. Similarly, during Treta
Yuga, Dwapara Yuga and Kali Yuga, the other three legs start deteriorating and
the legs of Adharma gain strength. This is evident from the fact that Brahmins
indulge in non-Brahmin practices and none follows his or her traditional and
cultural habits. Therefore, it is essential to identify the person who has
deviated from his established cultural ethos and punish him. Otherwise,
instances such as the one in front of us where a younger one is dead in front
of an elderly person, start occurring frequently. It is pertinent now to
identify the reason for the death of a young Brahmin boy even as his father is
alive still.”
Srirama appreciated Narada for his analysis and ordered Lakshmana to
console the Brahmin. Lakshmana pacified the lowing Brahmin. Srirama just
remembered the Pushpak Airplane and it arrived. Srirama boarded the plane and
launched a journey in that plane to visit every corner of his kingdom. Being
omniscient and omnipresent, Srirama was aware of what was happening but
pretended to be unaware of the activities happening around. After searching in
the three directions of east, west and north, Srirama turned towards the south.
He reached a pond near a mountain called “Shaivala”. There he saw a man lying
upside down and doing penance. Srirama went close to that person and asked “Who
are you?”
The person lying upside down replied: “I am a non-Brahmin. My name is Shambuka
and I want to replace Lord Rudra and ascend his throne because anyone sitting
on the seat of Rudra gets the power to kill everyone. Once I usurp the throne
of Rudra, I will kill everyone and become the emperor of all the fourteen
Lokas. I am doing the penance to usurp the position of Rudra.
A demon called Jangha did penance to impress upon Goddess Parvati with
the desire to be alive till the term of Lord Brahma. He wanted to be the
husband of Goddess Parvati. He also wanted to kill everyone and roam about with
Goddess Parvati in all the Lokas. With these demands, Jangha was also doing
penance standing upside down.
Srirama beheaded that demon with his sword. Indra and other deities came
there and showered the flowers like the coral flower (Jatropa multifida) or
Parijata on Srirama. Srirama then ordered Indra and other deities to make the
Brahmin boy alive. The deities said that Shambuka was also doing penance with
same desire. Shambuka was a non-Brahmin and the Brahmin boy would become alive
soon after Shambuka died. Srirama again pretended as though he was unaware of
this fact and as though he was unaware of the place where Shambuka was doing
penance. After searching for Shambuka in a few places, Srirama found him and
killed that demon too. After killing Shambuka, Srirama went to the Ashram of
Sage Agastya. He was accompanied by all the deities. Sage Agastya worshipped
Srirama and other deities, in accordance with their rank and file. The deities
returned to their Lokas. Srirama spent a night in the Ashram of Agastya, as
requested by the latter. Sage Agastya handed over an extraordinary necklace to
Srirama. However, Srirama questioned Sage Agastya about the origin of that
necklace.
The background of that necklace, as narrated by Sage Agastya to Srirama
will be furnished in the next episode.
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