SRI #RAMACHARITRYA #MANJARI
(ಶ್ರೀ #ರಾಘವೆಂದ್ರಸ್ವಾಮಿ
ವಿರಚಿತ “#ಶ್ರೀ ರಾಮಚಾರಿತ್ರ್ಯ ಮಂಜರಿ”)
Srirama bestows a boon upon a dog/ಶ್ರೀರಾಮನಿಂದ ನಾಯಿಗೆ ವರದಾನ
ಅರ್ತಶ್ವಗದಿತಕೃತ್ “ಭಿಕ್ಷುದಂಡತಾಡಿತಶುನಾ
ಭಿಕ್ಷುಶಿಕ್ಷಾರ್ಥಂ ಪ್ರಾರ್ಥಿತಸ್ತದ್ವಚನೇನ ಭಿಕ್ಷವೇ ಕಾಲಂಜರಾಖ್ಯದೇವಾಲಯಾಧಿಪತ್ಯಂ ದತ್ವಾ”/Artashwagaditakrut
“BhikShudanDatADitashunA BhikShushikShArTham prArThitastadwachanEna BhikShavE
kAlamjarAKhyadEvAlayADhipatyam datvA”/अर्तश्वगदितकृत् “भिक्षुदंडताडितशुना भिक्षुशिक्षार्थं
प्रार्थितस्ततद्वचनॆन भिक्षवॆ कालन्जराख्यदॆवालयाधिपत्यं दत्वा”
An ascetic thrashed a dog with a
club. The dog appealed to punish the ascetic. Accordingly, the ascetic was made
in-charge of a temple called Kalanjara.
Once, a dog came crying and
appealed: “Oh Rama! I have come to you because you are the protector of those
who surrender to you. Please save me.” The dog was walking on two legs and had
folded the two front legs as a symbol of salutation. Lakshmana saw the dog and
questioned: “Who has frightened you in the kingdom of Srirama?” The dog replied
“I will open my cup woes in front of Rama only”. Lakshmana informed Srirama
about the plea of the dog. Later, Lakshmana took the dog in front of Srirama.
The dog saluted Srirama and stood in front of him. Srirama said: “Shed any
confusion or fear. You can tell me boldly, without any hesitation.” In the
kingdom of Srirama all animals could speak. The dog started telling Rama in a
calm tone:
“Oh Lord, I am born in a very low
and abusive specie of Dog. None can count the qualities you possess. Anyone
praising your qualities gets affluent. None has the capacity to completely
praise or enumerate your qualities. The kindness you show for downtrodden is
infinite. Please hear my plight. I have been severely thrashed with a club by a
saint called Sarvarthasiddha, even though I have not wronged him in any manner.
Please bless me with your kindness and justice.”
Srirama summoned Sarvarthasiddha
to the royal court. Srirama discussed with his ministers about the punishment
to be given to the saint. It was not that Srirama could not take a unilateral
decision, especially since the matter was very trivial. The dog saw Rama
discussing the matter with his ministers and elderly people. The dog suggested:
“Oh Rama, you may appoint that saint as the chief priest of the temple known as
Kalanjara. That will be the most appropriate punishment.”
Srirama installed the saint on
the position of chief priest of that temple and sent him to the designated
temple on an elephant. The saint joyously accepted the appointment and went
away.
The Ministers were confused and
shocked by this honor to the priest. They questioned Rama on the propriety of
the punishment. Srirama then turned his face towards the dog and looked at it
inquisitively. The dog, which remembered its previous birth, replied: “I was
the priest in this temple. I got this birth as dog due to the atrocities and
misdeeds committed by me as a priest. Therefore, I wanted this saint also
commit the same sort of crime or sin and take birth as a dog in his next birth
on earth.” The dog retired to Kashi to do penance. The dog got rid of the
negative impact of its misdeeds in the previous birth by undertaking a long and
devoted meditation.
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