SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this edition, as suggested by Vishwamitra, Rama and Lakshmana begin their journey to Mithila. In the next episode, the story of the birth of Vishwamitra will begin. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

VishwAmitrOkta SeethAswayamvaram shrutwA

After concluding the sacrifice, Vishwamitra told Sri Rama: “Oh Lord Sri Rama, brides in Kshatriya community can self-assess the qualities and status of prospective bridegrooms and choose anyone to be their fiancé. This is called as Swayamvara. King Janaka of the Sun Dynasty has now decided to hold a swayamvara for his daughter Seetha. He has announced his decision in all the ten directions through messengers. Princes and handsome youth from several kingdoms are reaching to Mithila, after getting to know about this swayamvara, to display their bravery and strength there. Rishis and ascetics are also reaching there to witness and enjoy this spectacle. You are young and you have all the qualities and eligibility to woe Seetha. Could you not try to get loved by Seetha? Being Brahmins, can we come there to have good meals?”

Sri Rama conceded with a smile to what Vishwamitra said. All the sages, including Vishwamitra, began their journey to Mithila, along with Rama and Lakshmana.       

SRI MADHWA VIJAYA TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 51 TO 53

(Exceptional skills in comprehension, grasping and reciprocation of Vasudeva have been described in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

GuNanikA charaNAdikagOcharA na mama hruddayitEtyuditE(a)munA|

Vada vishAradavAda yaThEpsitam twamupareetyavadadDharaNeesuraha||51||

SUMMARY: When Vasudeva replied that he disliked the way of teaching from the Charana or the very beginning of every lesson, the Guru yelled at him and asked: “You, who is speaking like a scholar, speak out something about the next lesson, let me hear.”

Charana in this context means commencing every session with the summary of the previous class and explaining every single syllable afresh every time. This method of teaching is very essential to ensure that the students byheart the Vedic Mantras. The Guru was worried that Vasudeva was not good at byhearting anything.

SakalalakShaNashikShaNamUlaBhUhu shrutisamAmananam sKhalanOjJhitam|

Na Khalu kEvalamasya gurOrvyaDhAt sumanasAmapi tatra kutUhalam||52||

SUMMARY: The perfect pronounciation and accent, which was just like the origin of all the features and attributes of pronounciation, uninterrupted and incessant delivery of Vedic Mantras by Vasudeva bewildered not only his Guru Totantillaya but also the deities, who were listening from the sky.

Totantillaya was of the view that Vasudeva was not paying as much attention to the studies as he was expecting or as other students appeared to be paying attention to the studies. Even the pronounciation, delivery and the pauses for punctuations etc., were so perfect that everyone, including the deities were surprised. This has been clearly described in this stanza.   

PriyavayasyashirOguruvEdanAmashamayat sahajAmapi du(hu)ssahAm|

Sa vipinE vijanE muKhavAyunA shravaNagOcharitEna kadAchana||53||

SUMMARY: Once, when Vasudeva was going along with the son of his Guru with same name, Vasudeva, who was very intimate, suddenly developed an inherited, unbearable headache, this Vasudeva completely cured it instantly by blowing air through that boy’s ear.  

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this episode, Sri Rama removes all the obstacles created by demons and ensures completion of the Yajna that Vishwamitra had begun, without any hassle. SDN) 

The sixth important point in the first stanza of this great work of Sri Raghavendra Gurusaarvabhaumaru is “Nishicharanikaram hatwA yajnapAlaha”. It has been substantiated as “Vishwamitra yajnasamayE tadviGhAtArTham prAptadaityAn hatvA yajnam samApya. This means that while Vishwamitra was performing the sacrifice, Sri Rama ensured that the Yajna was completed without any trouble by killing the demons who had tried to disturb the rituals.

Vishwamitra took the permission of Sri Rama to start the Yajna. Along with Lakshmana, Sri Rama spent sleepless nights to keep a continuous vigil on the demons who were expected to pose a threat. On the sixth day, the sacrificial fire was dazzling. A deadly hue and cry was heard in the sky on that day. Suddenly, Mareecha and Subahu, along with a large contingent of their army, began producing a rain of insane material like meat, blood and urine. Sri Rama alerted his brother Lakshmana, instantly fired arrows and scattered away all the insane material before they could fall into the fire-pit.

Mareecha, son of Tataka, appeared on the scene. Sri Rama made up his mind not to kill him because he wanted Mareecha to play a significant role in the abduction of Seetha and other sins that the demons were supposed to commit in the near future. Therefore, he empowered an arrow with the Mantra of Vayuvyastra and fired it at Mareecha. That arrow rushed towards him at great speed. Mareecha ran to all directions to escape from the arrow. He ran to a distance of almost a hundred Yojanas and fell into the sea. He lost his consciousness for some time and even after recovering from that state, his head was revolving. He could immediately perceive the speed and efficacy of the arrow of Sri Rama. He was so frightened that he never returned to that forest. He began residing in an island. The fear of Sri Rama did not die in his mind. Therefore, he put on the attire of saints and started living there in the guise of a saint.

Meanwhile, a demon called Subahu, who had been blessed by Lord Shiva to be invincible, came there with a huge army. Sri Rama killed Subahu with an arrow bound by flames of fire. Sri Rama destroyed the entire army of Subahu with normal arrows. Some demons fled the scene to save themselves. The Yajna was completed without any further trouble. Under the pretext of blessing Sri Rama, Vishwamitra and other sages in that hermitage exhibited their devotion.           

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA - SHLOKAS 47 TO 50

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 47, 48, 49 AND 50

(In these shlokas excellence of Vasudeva in wrestling and other sports events are described. Besides, his Guru is shown as upset with Vasudeva, who is indeed Jagadguru. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

Sa shanakairbalinO(a)yugapadgatAn pravihrutEShu saKheen nirapAtayat|

Ashanakairyugapat prakrutAhavAn sahasitO dwijasUnurayatnavAn||47||

SUMMARY: The strongest among his friends used to attack Vasudeva separately and in union. Vasudeva was able to vanquish all of them with utmost ease and with a smile on his face. Vasudeva was making all of them fall on the ground, when it came to physical attack.

These acts of Vasudeva indicate that he was the incarnation of Lord Bheemasena, who could confront and defeat ten thousand soldiers at a time, single handedly.

GrahaNanigrahaNE grahaNE DhruDhE guruBharOdDharaNAdiviDhau paTau|

Iha viBhAvupachAraDhiyA nruNAmrutamayam nanu Bheema iteeritam||48||

SUMMARY: With Vasudeva proving to be outstanding in releasing himself out of the stranglehold of others, in tightly cathing others so that it was impossible for them to get relieved and in lifting heavy weights, was it not true in what everyone was praising him by saying “He is indeed equal to Bheema”?

There is a clear statement in this shloka that Vasudeva was far ahead of all his fellow beings in both studies and sports. Vasudeva was a notch above all others in every sports event. People used to liken Vasudeva with Bheema, without actually knowing that Vasudeva was indeed anincarnation of Lord Bheemasena. It must be noted that no individual on earth can excel in all types of sports and games, whereas there was not a single event in which Vasudeva was not excellent.   

Viharateeti paThyatyapi na sPhu=Tam swagrugAmini chAdrutamAyati|

ParitutOSha na tatra jagadgurau sa kila pUgavanAnwayajO dwijaha||49||

SUMMARY: With Vasudeva always getting engaged in sports, not always concentrating on studies,  frequently going home and always coming to the class very late, his Guru Totantillaya was upset as he was unaware that Vasudeva was a Master of Masters, Jagadguru.

The Chalari Vyakhyan further explains the state of mind of Totantillaya about Vasudeva. It is said that Vasudeva was not paying as much attention to studies as he was to sports and games. Vasudeva used to go to his home every now and then and he was always late in returning from his home. It was because: Kila shabdaha UpADhyAyasya aparitOShaha tanmAhAtmyAjnAnamUlakaha iti arTham vadati| meaning: The word “Kila” (it comes in the second line of this stanza.) explains the dissatisfaction of Totantillaya with Vasudeva because of utter lack of knowledge about Vasudeva that he was the Master of Universe or Jagadguru.

  

ATha kadAchana sO(a)DhyayanAntarE tamavadat kupitO(a)nyamanaswinam|

PaThasi nO shaThatE saKhiBhihi samam kimiti nityamudAsitaDheeriti||50||  

SUMMARY: Once when Totantillaya observed that Vasudeva was thinking elsewhere amidst the class, became angry and asked him: “You cheat! Why are you not studying well with your fellow students? Why are you always thinking elsewhere?”  

This Shloka further explains the fact that even the Guru of Vasudeva was not aware that his student was a Jagadguru.

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

SRI RAMACHARITRA MANJARI

(In this edition, the question “Why did Lord Rama receive the Mantras from Vishwamitra?” has been clarified. Please read, comment and shared. SDN)

Being the omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, undisputable Lord of all Gods, Sri Rama silently pretended to being taught the Mantras by Vishwamitra by thinking thus:

*Let everything happen as desired by Sage Vishwamitra.

*The Mantra related to each Astra praises only me.

*Anyone reciting them without any desire or demand will definitely be a recipient of my grace.

*Each Mantra will have additional power if it is recited in a holy place, where my divine presence will be there.

*Is there limit for the grace I will be bestowing upon Vishwamitra if I just lend my ear to him and he whispers the Mantras in my ears?

*Let this Vishwamitra, who did long and arduous penance to become a Brahmarishi after being a Kshatriya by birth, reap the benefits of others reciting the Mantra and earning merits.

*Let the demons think that Rama is less divine compared to Vishwamitra since he has learnt the Mantras and obtained Astras from Vishwamitra and all the good and divine spirit by making demons think that way go to Vishwamitra.

*Let me, by pretending to learn Mantras from Vishwamitra, convey to the world that everyone should learn only through a proper Guru or Master.

*By entering my ears through Vishwamitra, the Mantras will become authentic and sacred.

Both Rama and Lakshmana received the Mantras from Vishwamitra, along with corresponding Astras.

All the deities designated to the Astras presented by Vishwamitra appeared in person in front of Rama and saluted him. Sri Rama told them that he would utilise their services in full during his war with Ravana. The deities expressed their happiness and gratitude. They promised to appear or manifest, whenever called for or summoned, and disappeared.

Sri Madhwacharya has said in his Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya that Vishwamitra presented the Mantras and Shastras to Rama before the killing of Tataka, though it is mentioned in Sangraha Ramayana as well as Valmiki Ramayana that Vishwamitra gave Rama the Mantras and Shastras after killing Tataka. This controversy needs to be clarified.  

Sri Rama had no need to employ any arrow to kill either Tataka or even Ravana. He could have just killed them all by a wish or will. Therefore, there is no need for either Vishwamitra giving Astras or Rama accepting them. Yet, as explained earlier, Rama wanted to honour the deities designated to those Astras, grace the pious and felicitate Vishwamitra. Moreover, he wanted to indicate to Ravana and other demons that he was just an ordinary human being.

It is interesting to note that Rama did not use any of the Astras that Vishwamitra had given for killing Tataka. He killed Tataka with a single and very ordinary arrow.

Sri Raghavendra Swamy has explained the two incidents of Rama killing Tataka and the repetition of the instance of Vishwamitra presenting the Astras to Rama prior to or after the killing of Tataka in each day of Lord Brahma as Rama is born on each day of Lord Brahma. By stating “TaTakAm GhAtukaha astram BrahmAdyam prApya”, Sri Raghavendra Swamy has clarified that there is nothing in the version of Sangraha Ramayana, Valmeeking Ramayana and Mahabharata Tatparya Nirnaya of Sri Madhwacharya.  

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA - TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHLOKAS 43 TO 46

SRI MADHWAVIJAYA – TRUTEEYAHA SARGAHA SHOLKAS 43, 44, 45 AND 46

(A few more instances that epitomises the outstanding character of Vasudeva or Lord Vayu have been explained in these stanzas. Please read, comment and share. SDN)

AnaDhikaishcha vayasyaThO bahuBhiraDhyayanOparamAntarE|

AvikaTE vaTuBhihi paTuBhirgurOho sa vijahAra suKhee saKhiBhihi samam||43||

SUMMARY: Vasudeva, who was always happy, roamed about in all the places with his smart seniors as well as juniors during the leisure hours of his studenthood.

Padamudeerya javEna yiyAsitam drutasaKhEShwaBhavat sa purahasaraha|

AyamayamatnatayEti na vismayO nanu manOjavajit pavanO hyasau||44||

SUMMARY: It wasn’t surprising that among the seniors, who used to indicate the targeted spot and run to reach it, Vasudeva was always the first one to reach it with utmost ease and comfort. After all, was he not Lord Vayu whose speed was more compared to the speed of the mind?

PlavanatEjasi hanta na kEvalam vijitavAn sa tadA sakalAn janAn|

PraBhunidEshakarO Hanumattanau nanu jigAya sa VAlisutAdikAn||

SUMMARY: It wasn’t new in the case of Vasudeva when it came to his capacity to leap that he could overtake his fellow beings; during his incarnation as Hanuman, did he not, while obeying the orders of Sri Rama, overtake Vali’s son Angada and others in jumping?

In this stanza, there is a clear indication that Vasudeva was an incarnation of Lord Vayu. He was Hanuman when Sri Vishnu took the incarnation as Rama and he was Bheema when Vishnu took the form of Lord Krishna.

JalavihAraparAjayiBhihi spruDhA saKhiBhireeritavAriparishritam|

VadanamAkulalOchanamAdaDhE smitamamuShya hi kanchana viBhramam||46||

SUMMARY: Even when his friends, who used to splash water into his eyes after getting defeated in swimming and his eyes, were turning red, his smiling face was shining with a divine and transcendental radiation.

In this stanza too, Sri Narayana Panditacharya shows that in every field of activity, be it sports, games or studies, Vasudeva was a winner by a great distance and that he used to excel quite easily. No one could match him in any manner at any point of time.   

 

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.