Rama Decides to Accept Vibhishana

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Rama Decides to Accept Vibhishana “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 Rama Decides to Accept Vibhishana Summary Hearing Hanuman’s words, Rama says that he cannot desert Vibhishana who is seeking a refuge in him. Initially Sugreeva disagrees with Rama’s opinion. But when Rama explains the different circumstances under which Vibhishana is acceptable, Sugreeva also agrees with that view. Finally Vibhishana joins as an associate in Rama’s side. Chapter [Sarga] 18 in Detail atha raamah prasanna aatmaa shrutvaa vaayu sutasya ha | pratyabhaasata durdharsah shrutavaan aatmani sthitam ||6-18-1 Thereafter the inviolable [secure from assault or trespass] Rama, who possesses sacred knowledge, after hearing Hanuman’s words, spoke with a clear understanding, the following opinion that was firm in his mind: mama api tu vivaksaa asti kaacit prati vibhiisanam | shrutam icchaami tat sarvam bhavadbhih shreyasi sthitaih ||6-18-2 “I also wish to tell my opinion about Vibhishana. I want it to be heard by you, who are firmly established in our welfare.” mitra bhaavena sampraaptam na tyajeyam kathamcana | doso yadi api tasya syaat sataam etad agarhitam ||6-18-3 “By any means, I do not desert anyone who arrives with a friendly appearance; even if he has a defect .His acceptance is irreproachable in the eyes of good men” Page 1 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 sugriivastvatha tadvaakyamaabhaasya ca vimrishya ca | tatah shubhataram vaakyamuvaaca haripungavah ||6-18-4 Then, Sugreeva the chief of monkeys closely analyzed and examined the aforesaid words of Rama and thereafter spoke the following most auspicious words: sudusto vaapyadusto vaa kimmesa rajaniicarah | iidrisham vyasanam praaptam bhraataram yah parityajet ||6-18-5 ko vaama sa bhavettasya yamesa na parityajet | “What matters if this ranger of night is very dangerous or other wise, if he can desert his own brother at a time of peril? Whom will he not betray subsequently?” vaanaraadhipate rvaakyam shrutvaa sarvaanudiiksya tu ||6-18-6 iisadutsmayamaanastu laksmanam punyalakshanam | iti hovaaca kaakutthso vaakyam satyaparaakramah ||6-18-7 Hearing the words of Sugreeva, Rama who was truly mighty looked round all of them , smiled a little and spoke the following words to Lakshmana, of virtuous characteristics: anadhiitya ca shaastraani vriddhaananupasevya ca | na shakyamiidrisham vaktum yaduvaaca hariishvarah ||6-18-8 “Without studying scriptures and without serving elders, it is not possible to speak such words as Sugreeva spoke.” asti suukshmataram kimcidyadatra pratibhaati maa | pratyaksham laukikam caapi vartate sarvaraajasu ||6-18-9 “It appears to my mind that there is however something peculiar in these circumstances which are clearly to be seen in all lives of kings and even occurring in ordinary life.” Page 2 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 amitraastatkuliinaashca praatideshyaashca kiirtitaa | vyasanesu prahartaarastasmaadayamihaagatah ||6-18-10 “It is told that persons of the same family and rulers belonging to adjoining territories become enemies and strike in times of adversities. For this reason, he came here.” apaapaastatkuliivaashca maanayanti svakaan hitaan | esa praayo narendraanaam shankaniiyastu shobhanah ||6-18-11 “Even if belonging to the same family, persons who are virtuous do respect their own well wishers in that family. Generally among kings, even a virtuous person is apprehended.” yastu dosastvayaa prokto hyaadaane.ribalasya ca | tatra te kiirtayusyaami yathaashaastramidam shrinu ||6-18-12 “With regard to the draw back you told me in the matter of accepting a person coming from the side of an adversary, hear from me what the scriptures say.” na vayam tatkuliinaashca raajyakaamkshii ca raakshasah | panditaa hi bhavisyanti tasmaadgraahyo vibhiisanah ||6-18-13 “We do not belong to the same family. Further, Vibhishana the demon is desirous of acquiring the kingdom. A few of the demons also may be rather learned ones. That is why, Vibhishana is acceptable.” avyagraashca prahristaashca na bhavisyanti samgataah | pranaadashca mahaanesa tato.asya bhayamaagatam ||6-18-14 iti bhedam gamisyanti tasmaatpropto vibhiisanah | “Kinsfolk do not live together in a fearless mode and in a delightful manner. Hence, they get a split among themselves. For this reason, a fear has come to him. This loud appeal is also major cause. That is why, Vibhishana can be accepted.” Page 3 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 na sarve bhraatarastaata bhavanti bharatopamaah ||6-18-15 madvidhaa naa pituh putraah suhrido vaa bhavadvidhaah | “My dear one! Neither all brothers are like Bharata, nor all sons of a father like me nor all friends are like you.” evamuktastu raamena sugriivah sahalaksmanah ||6-18-16 utthaaayodam mahaapraajjnah pranato vaakyamabraviit | Hearing Rama’s words Sugreeva who was together with the highly wise Lakshmana stood up saluting and spoke these words: raavanena pranihitam tamavehi nishaacaram ||6-18-17 tasyaaham nigraham manye kshamam kshamavataam vara | “O, Rama the excellent among the tolerant! Realize that Ravana has sent Vibhishana, the demon. I think of him to be worthy of being taken as a captive.” raakshaso jihmayaa buddhyaa samdisto.aya mihaagatah ||6-18-18 prahartum tvayi vishvaste vishvaste mayi vaanagha | lakshmane vaa mahaabaaho sa badhyah sacivaih saha ||6-18-19 raavanasya nrishamsasya bhraataa hyesa vibhiisanah | “O, the mighty armed Rama! The faultless one! This demon is being sent to kill you who are unsuspecting, or to kill Lakshmana or me in trust. He came here with a crooked mind. He with his counselors is fit to be imprisoned. Is not Vibhishana the brother of cruel Ravana?” sa sugriivasya tad vaakyaym raamah shrutvaa vimrishya ca ||6-18-20 tatah shubhataram vaakyam uvaaca hari pumgavam | Speaking thus to Rama, the best of Raghu dynasty, Sugreeva who knew the mode of expression, thereafter kept silent. Page 4 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 sudusto vaa api adusto vaa kim esa rajanii carah ||6-18-21 suuksmam api ahitam kartum mama ashaktah kathamcana | Hearing those words of Sugreeva, Rama pondered over the words and thereafter spoke more auspicious words to Sugreeva as follows: pishaacaan daanavaan yaksaan prithivyaam caiva raaksasaan ||6-18-22 anguli agrena taan hanyaam icchan hari gana iishvara | “What does it matter whether that demon is very bad or not bad? He is incapable of doing even a little harm to me.” shruuyate hi kapotena shatruh sharanam aagatah ||6-18-23 arcitah ca yathaa nyaayam svaih ca maamsair nimantritah | “O, Sugreeva, Lord of monkey-troops! If I wish, I can kill those devilish beings, demons, supernatural beings and ogres living on earth with just a tip of my finger” sa hi tam pratijagraaha bhaaryaa hartaaram aagatam ||6-18-24 kapoto vaanara shrestha kim punar mad vidho janah | “It is narrated how by a dove, its enemy( a fowler) when it came for a refuge, was received according to rules of hospitality and was invited for a feast with its own flesh.” riseh kanvasya putrena kandunaa parama risinaa ||6-18-25 shrinu gaathaam puraa giitaam dharmisthaam satya vaadinaa | “O, the excellent of monkeys! The aforesaid dove indeed accepted as a guest, the fowler as he came, although he killed its wife .How much more a man like me has to do?” Page 5 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 baddha anjali putam diinam yaacantam sharana aagatam ||6-18-26 na hanyaad aanrishamsya artham api shatrum param pata | “Hear the verses inculcating virtue so long ago, by Kandu, the son of a sage called Kanva, a great sage and a speaker of truth.” arto vaa yadi vaa driptah paresaam sharanam gatah ||6-18-27 arih praanaan parityajya raksitavyah krita aatmanaa | “O, king the terminator of enemies! Even an enemy, who formed a cup with his hollowed hands, a miserable person, a person who is begging and who is seeking a refuge should not be killed with the aim of not being cruel.” sa ced bhayaad vaa mohaad vaa kaamaad vaa api na raksati ||6-18-28 svayaa shaktyaa yathaa tattvam tat paapam loka garhitam | “An enemy who comes for protection against others, even if the aforesaid enemy is oppressed or arrogant, is to be protected by one who has a disciplined mind, even by abandoning one’s life.” vinastah pashyatas tasya raksinah sharana aagatah ||6-18-29 aadaaya sukritam tasya sarvam gacched araksitah | “If he does not protect rightly through his strength, by fear or by ignorance or by desire, it is a sin to be reproached by the world.” evam doso mahaan atra prapannaanaam araksane ||6-18-30 asvargyam ca ayashasyam ca bala viirya vinaashanam “If having not been protected, a refugee dies before the eyes of a man who is able to protect him, the former takes along all his moral merit and goes.” Page 6 of 8 “Om Sri Lakshmi Narashimhan Nahama” Valmiki Ramayana – Yuddha Kanda – Chapter 18 karisyaami yathaa artham tu kandor vacanam uttamam ||6-18-31 dharmistham ca yashasyam ca svargyam syaat tu phala udaye | “In not protecting thus the persons who take refuge, there is a great blemish involved in it. It does not bestow heaven. It destroys reputation. It devastates strength and valor” sakrid eva prapannaaya tava asmi iti ca yaacate ||6-18-32 abhayam sarva bhuutebhyo dadaami etad vratam mama | “I will follow the excellent words of Kandu. It becomes a very righteous thing, gives reputation, leads to heaven and the rewards appear consequently.” aanaya enam hari shrestha dattam asya abhayam mayaa ||6-18-33 vibhiisano vaa sugriiva yadi vaa raavanah svayam | “He who seeks refuge in me just once, telling me that ‘I am yours’, I shall give him assurance of safety against all types of beings. This is my solemn pledge” raamasya vacanam shrutvaa sugriivah plavaga iishvarah ||6-18-34 pratyabhaasata kaakutstham sauhaardena abhicoditah | “O, Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys! Let him either be Vibhishana or even Ravana himself; I have given an assurance of safety to him.
Recommended publications
  • Hospital Master
    S.No HOSPITALNAME STREET CITYDESC STATEDESC PINCODE 1 Highway Hospital Dev Ashish Jeen Hath Naka, Maarathon Circle Mumbai and Maharashtra 400601 Suburb 2 PADMAVATI MATERNITY AND 215/216- Oswal Oronote, 2nd Thane Maharashtra 401105 NURSING HOME 3 Jai Kamal Eye Hospital Opp Sandhu Colony G.T.Road, Chheharta, Amritsar Amritsar Punjab 143001 4 APOLLO SPECIALITY HOSPITAL Chennai By-Pass Road, Tiruchy TamilNadu 620010 5 Khanna Hospital C2/396,Janakpuri New Delhi Delhi 110058 6 B.M Gupta Nursing Home H-11-15 Arya Samaj Road,Uttam Nagar New Delhi Delhi 110059 Pvt.Ltd. 7 Divakar Global Hospital No. 220, Second Phase, J.P.Nagar, Bengaluru Karnataka 560078 8 Anmay Eye Hospital - Dr Off. C.G. Road , Nr. President Hotel,Opp. Mahalya Ahmedabad Gujarat 380009 Raminder Singh Building, Navrangpura 9 Tilak Hospital Near Ramlila Ground,Gurgaon Road,Pataudi,Gurgaon-Gurugram Haryana 122503 122503 10 GLOBAL 5 Health Care F-2, D-2, Sector9, Main Road, Vashi, Navi Mumbai Mumbai and Maharashtra 400703 Suburb 11 S B Eye Care Hospital Anmol Nagar, Old Tanda Road, Tanda By-Pass, Hoshiarpur Punjab 146001 Hoshiarpur 12 Dhir Eye Hospital Old Court Road Rajpura Punjab 140401 13 Bilal Hospital Icu Ryal Garden,A wing,Nr.Shimla Thane Maharashtra 401201 Park,Kausa,Mumbra,Thane 14 Renuka Eye Institute 25/3,Jessre road,Dakbanglow Kolkata West Bengal 700127 More,Rathala,Barsat,Kolkatta 15 Pardi Hospital Nh No-8, Killa Pardi, Opp. Renbasera HotelPardi Valsad Gujarat 396001 16 Jagat Hospital Raibaraily Road, Naka Chungi, Faizabad Faizabad Uttar Pradesh 224001 17 SANT DNYANESHWAR Sant Nagar, Plot no-1/1, Sec No-4, Moshi Pune Maharashtra 412105 HOSPITAL PRIVATE LIMITED Pradhikaran,Pune-Nashik Highway, Spine Road 18 Lotus Hospital #389/3, Prem Nagar, Mata Road-122001 Gurugram Haryana 122001 19 Samyak Hospital BM-7 East Shalimar Bagh New Delhi Delhi 110088 20 Bristlecone Hospitals Pvt.
    [Show full text]
  • South-Indian Images of Gods and Goddesses
    ASIA II MB- • ! 00/ CORNELL UNIVERSITY* LIBRARY Date Due >Sf{JviVre > -&h—2 RftPP )9 -Af v^r- tjy J A j£ **'lr *7 i !! in ^_ fc-£r Pg&diJBii'* Cornell University Library NB 1001.K92 South-indian images of gods and goddesse 3 1924 022 943 447 AGENTS FOR THE SALE OF MADRAS GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS. IN INDIA. A. G. Barraud & Co. (Late A. J. Combridge & Co.)> Madras. R. Cambrav & Co., Calcutta. E. M. Gopalakrishna Kone, Pudumantapam, Madura. Higginbothams (Ltd.), Mount Road, Madras. V. Kalyanarama Iyer & Co., Esplanade, Madras. G. C. Loganatham Brothers, Madras. S. Murthv & Co., Madras. G. A. Natesan & Co., Madras. The Superintendent, Nazair Kanun Hind Press, Allahabad. P. R. Rama Iyer & Co., Madras. D. B. Taraporevala Sons & Co., Bombay. Thacker & Co. (Ltd.), Bombay. Thacker, Spink & Co., Calcutta. S. Vas & Co., Madras. S.P.C.K. Press, Madras. IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. B. H. Blackwell, 50 and 51, Broad Street, Oxford. Constable & Co., 10, Orange Street, Leicester Square, London, W.C. Deighton, Bell & Co. (Ltd.), Cambridge. \ T. Fisher Unwin (Ltd.), j, Adelphi Terrace, London, W.C. Grindlay & Co., 54, Parliament Street, London, S.W. Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co. (Ltd.), 68—74, iCarter Lane, London, E.C. and 25, Museum Street, London, W.C. Henry S. King & Co., 65, Cornhill, London, E.C. X P. S. King & Son, 2 and 4, Great Smith Street, Westminster, London, S.W.- Luzac & Co., 46, Great Russell Street, London, W.C. B. Quaritch, 11, Grafton Street, New Bond Street, London, W. W. Thacker & Co.^f*Cre<d Lane, London, E.O? *' Oliver and Boyd, Tweeddale Court, Edinburgh.
    [Show full text]
  • Uttarakandam
    THE RAMAYANA. Translated into English Prose from the original Sanskrit of Valmiki. UTTARAKANDAM. M ra Oer ii > m EDITED AND PUBLISHED Vt MANMATHA NATH DUTT, MA. CALCUTTA. 1894. Digitized by VjOOQIC Sri Patmanabha Dasa Vynchi Bala Sir Rama Varma kulasekhara klritapatl manney sultan maha- RAJA Raja Ramraja Bahabur Shamshir Jung Knight Grand Commander of most Emi- nent order of the Star of India. 7gK afjaraja of ^xavancoxe. THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY MANMATHA NATH DUTT. In testimony of his veneration for His Highness and in grateful acknowledgement of the distinction conferred upon him while in His Highness* capital, and the great pecuniary help rendered by his Highness in publishing this work. Digitized by VjOOQ IC T — ^ 3oVkAotC UTTARA KlAlND^M, SECTION I. \Jn the Rakshasas having been slain, all the ascetics, for the purpose of congratulating Raghava, came to Rama as he gained (back) his kingdom. Kau^ika, and Yavakrita, and Gargya, and Galava, and Kanva—son unto Madhatithi, . who dwelt in the east, (came thither) ; aikl the reverend Swastyastreya, and Namuchi,and Pramuchi, and Agastya, and the worshipful Atri, aud Sumukha, and Vimukha,—who dwelt in the south,—came in company with Agastya.* And Nrishadgu, and Kahashi, and Dhaumya, and that mighty sage —Kau^eya—who abode in the western "quarter, came there accompanied by their disciples. And Vasishtha and Ka^yapa and Atri and Vicwamitra with Gautama and Jamadagni and Bharadwaja and also the seven sages,t who . (or aye resided in the northern quarter, (came there). And on arriving at the residence of Raghava, those high-souled ones, resembling the fire in radiance, stopped at the gate, with the intention of communicating their arrival (to Rama) through the warder.
    [Show full text]
  • King Dushyant and Shakuntala and His Name Was Bharat
    King Dushyant 2 and Shakuntala Dushyant, the king of the Puru dynasty, ruled Hastinapur. He was a proficient administrator and a just ruler. Vidushaka, his friend, was always by his side. One day, king Dushyant made a plan of hunting in the forest; so he went into the forest with his huge army. After great efforts, he shot an arrow at a deer but the wounded deer ran away from his sight. He also started following the deer and reached an ashram. There he saw a beautiful girl, named Shakuntala, nursing the deer, her pet. Shakuntala was born to the sage Vishwamitra and Apsara Menaka. Menaka had come at the command of the king of gods, Indra, to distract the great sage Vishwamitra from his deep meditations. 10 English-5 King Dushyant profusely begged her forgiveness for harming the deer and spent some time at the ashram. Shakuntala’s beauty was so captivating that the king fell in love with her. Shakuntala too, was enchanted by his majestic personality. They married right there in the ashram. But as the king had to go to look after his kingdom, he told this to Shakuntala. At this, she was heartbroken but she knew her husband’s responsibility towards his kingdom. The day of his departure arrived. Shakuntala was in utter agony. Dushyant was also emotionally disturbed. When Dushyant left Shakuntala, he gave Shakuntala a royal ring as a sign of their love, promising her that he would return to her soon. Shakuntala was so dispirited by Dushyant’s separation. One day she was sitting in the garden and recalling her sweet memories with her husband, King Dushyant.
    [Show full text]
  • 9. Ravana Falls
    9. Ravana Falls Man toils and moils for feeding his belly. He sweats and struggles for education but fails to be happy. Why should humans be steeped in sorrow like this? Would not the Lord help if only you pray sincerely? Embodiments of Love! Truth, righteousness, peace, and love constitute the foundation of the scriptures, the essence of all re- ligions, the destination of all paths, and the essence of all essences. Man indulges in finding fault with others, oblivious to his own flaws. The cause for this can be traced to his materialistic tendencies. Man is made of Atma (Self) and anatma (non-self), shariram (body) and shariri (embodied one), kshetra (field) and kshetra- jna (knower of the field), and sthira (permanent) and asthira (ephemeral). You cannot find anything else in this Universe except these dualities. The entire world is a play of the pravritti and the nivritti, the outward and inward. Body (kshetra) and matter belong to the realm of pravritti whereas Atma, consciousness, the embodied one, belongs to the realm of nivritti. Even the Avatars are subject to pravritti, since they have to assume a human body. Rama was no exception to it. Though He was the Om- nipotent and the Omniscient One, since He had as- 102 Summer Showers in Brindavan 1996 sumed the human body, He had to behave as if He too was under the spell of illusion. Ravana beheaded Rama prepared himself to battle with Ravana. Ravana had lost everybody, including his son Indrajit, his brother Kumbhakarna, and a host of others. Now, Ravana alone was left as a relic of Lanka.
    [Show full text]
  • The Kanva and Madhyandina Recensions of the Isha Upanishad
    The Kanva and Madhyandina Recensions of the Isha Upanishad: Exegetical Notes and Translations VIKRAMAN BALAJI n this series of articles, we will be guided by the following O Pushan, O Sole Rishi, O Yama, O Surya, O power of Prajapati, mar- general principle: the deeper one comprehends the Veda, the more one unravels the mysteries in the Upanishads. Our primary blessed form, that in you I behold and experience. Yonder Purusha there I sources of inspiration are the writings of Sri Aurobindo [1,2] and my-Self am He! (Compare [2]) I [4] Ananda Coomaraswamy . In this article, we take several verses from the Isha Upanishad as an illustration of this general principle. In his brief lecture[10] on the Isha Upanishad, Swami Vivekananda gives an interpretative rendering of these verses as “Thou sun, THE CONTEXT OF THE ISHA UPANISHAD IN THE who hast covered the Truth with thy golden disc, do thou remove YAJURVEDA AND ITS IMPLICATIONS the veil, so that I may see the Truth that is within thee. I have The Isha Upanishad is the last chapter (Chapter 40) of the Shukla known the Truth that is within thee, I have known what is the real Yajurveda and derives its name from the first word of this last meaning of thy rays and thy glory and have seen That which shines chapter. We read in the Srimad Bhagavata that the Shukla Yajurveda in thee; the Truth in thee I see, and That which is within thee is was revealed to Vajasaneya Yajnavalkya by Aditya, so it would be within me, and I am that.” reasonable to take Yajnavalkya to be the “author” of this work.
    [Show full text]
  • Sugriva's Role in Ramayana
    ROLES IN RAMAYANA HANUMAN’S ROLE IN RAMAYANA Hanuman's role in the battle between Rama and Ravana is huge. He is the one who flies cross the oceans (he is Wind's child), locates the exact place where Sita is imprisoned and brings this information back to Rama. While within the demon fort on his quest for Sita, he sets the entire place on fire and warns Ravana about an impending attack unless Sita is returned unharmed. During the Rama-Ravana battle, Hanuman not only kills several demon generals but also brings Rama's brother back to life. How does he do that? Well, it so happens that Rama's brother is mortally wounded by Ravana's son, and the monkey-army-physician opines that the only things that can save the life of the younger prince are four specific herbs that grow on the Himalayan slopes. The catch? The battle is raging on in Lanka, across the southernmost tip of the country while the Himalayas are far up north, and the herbs are needed within the next few hours, before the new day dawns. Hanuman leaps up into the air, flies northwards at lightning speed, and alights atop the Himalayas. This is where things start to become confusing: the monkey- physician had said that medicine herbs glow in their own light and that it should be easy, therefore, to spot them. What Hanuman sees, however, is an entire mountain aglow with herbs of all kinds, each emitting its own peculiar light. Being unable to identify the exact four herbs that the physician had described, Hanuman uproots the entire mountain and carries it back to the battlefield.
    [Show full text]
  • Arxiv:1411.7312V2
    COMETS IN ANCIENT INDIA Patrick Das Gupta1, ∗ 1Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi, Delhi - 110 007 (India) Abstract The Indo-aryans of ancient India observed stars and constellations for ascertaining auspicious times in order to conduct sacrificial rites ordained by vedas. It is but natural that they would have recounted in the vedic texts about comets. In Rigveda (∼ 1700 - 1500 BC) and Atharvaveda (∼ 1150 BC), there are references to dhumaketus and ketus, which stand for comets in Sanskrit. Rigveda mentions a fig tree with roots held up in the sky (Parpola 2009, 2010). Could it have been inspired by the hirsute appearance of a comet’s tail? Similarly, could ‘Ketu’ (the torso or the tail part of Rahu) be a Dravidian loan word, since ‘kottu’, an old Tamil word, is associated with scorpion’s sting and top tuft of hair? Varahamihira in 550 AD and Ballal Sena (∼ 1100 - 1200 AD) have described a large number of comets recorded by ancient seers such as Parashara, Vriddha Garga, Narada, Garga, etc. In this article, I conjecture that an episode narrated in Mahabharata of a radiant king, Nahusha, ruling the heavens, and later turning into a serpent after he had kicked the seer Agastya (also the star Canopus), is a mythological retelling of a cometary event. arXiv:1411.7312v2 [physics.pop-ph] 30 Nov 2014 1 1 INTRODUCTION Barring the regular waxing and waning of the Moon, ancient observers seldom witnessed celestial objects undergoing metamorphosis. In the pre-telescope era, our ancestors were treated to such rare spectacles only on two occasions, during (a) the solar/lunar eclipses and (b) cometary sightings wherein a gradual growth of a tail is seen, as the comet approaches Sun.
    [Show full text]
  • Ramakatha Rasavahini II 7 Preface for This Edition 8 This Book 9 the Inner Meaning 11 Chapter 1
    Ramakatha Rasavahini II Stream of Sacred Sweetness Sathya Sai Baba Contents Ramakatha Rasavahini II 7 Preface for this Edition 8 This Book 9 The Inner Meaning 11 Chapter 1. The Dandaka Forest 12 The fool Jayanta 12 A visit to the sage Athri’s hermitage 12 A stay at a beautiful hermitage 13 An encounter with Viradha, the ogre 14 Sarabhanga immolates himself 14 Sutheekshna adores Rama 15 On to Agastya’s ashram 16 Agastya asks not to be deluded into egotism 17 The story of the curse on Dandaka Forest 18 On to Dandaka Forest 18 Chapter 2. Panchavati 20 Lakshmana’s sense of duty 20 Rama constantly has visitors 21 Rama discourses on spiritual matters 22 Surpanakha falls for Lakshmana 23 Surpanakha is punished 24 The demons want revenge 25 The demons kill each other! 26 Ascetic sages visit Rama 27 Ravana hears Surpanakha’s story 28 Chapter 3. The Wily Villain 30 The thoughts of Ravana and Vibhishana 30 Ravana enlists Maricha’s help 30 Rama and Sita discuss their plans 31 The deer entices the brothers 32 Rama stalks and kills the deer 33 Caught between two loyalties 34 Sita is kidnapped! 35 Jatayu tries to save Sita 35 The brothers lament Sita’s disappearance 36 Lakshmana realizes the truth 37 Rama assents 38 Study the Ramayana closely! 39 Jatayu tells them what he knows 39 Ajamukhi loses her limbs 40 Rama kills Kabanda 40 Sabari tells her story 41 Rama admires devotion 42 Sabari tells what she knows 43 Chapter 4. An Ally Accepted 45 Hanuman meets the brothers 45 The brothers meet Sugriva 46 Lakshmana identifies some of the jewels 47 Sugriva tells his story 47 The story of the curse on Vali 49 Rama exhibits his power 50 Sugriva pours out his feelings 51 The battle between Vali and Sugriva 52 Rama kills His devotee, Vali 54 Rama consoles Tara 56 The search for Sita is delayed by weather 57 Chapter 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Prince Rama and the Monkey King
    Prince Rama and the Monkey King Teacher Guide Grades K – 6 About the Artists BOXTALES THEATRE COMPANY uses masks, movement, storytelling and live music to presents myths and folklore from around the world. The performers combine their diverse talents to create a professional, high energy, highly interactive theatrical experience for youth and family audiences. BOXTALES employs the disciplines of storytelling, masks, various movement styles including AcroYoga, and music to breathe life into world mythology and folklore. Objectives To introduce students to one of the world’s greatest epics, the Rāmāyana. To encourage students to seek out and read more mythology and folklore from all over the world. To help develop creative imagination. To introduce the importance of oral tradition and theatre as an educational tool. To present stories that will help raise self-esteem and teach important lessons. To encourage students to identify character traits, attitudes, and situations existing in the story as well as in our contemporary society. Preparation of the Program Myth has played a very significant role in the development of civilization. Through the development of myths mankind has been able to pass down from generation to generation the history and beliefs of early ancestors, and teach us how to live a better life. This kind of material can also be found in dogmatic text, but this has traditionally been the study of clergy and intellectuals. Through the ages the most effective forms of this “wisdom” for the general populous have been narrative and allegorical in nature. The ancient art of myth transforms us by helping us to turn the meaninglessness of existence into the meaningfulness of life.
    [Show full text]
  • Anasuya-Priyamvada Charitkatha the Story So Far: Shakuntala, the Adopted Daughter of Rishi Kanva and the Real Daughter of Menaka
    Anasuya-Priyamvada Charitkatha The Story So Far: Shakuntala, the adopted daughter of Rishi Kanva and the real daughter of Menaka and Visvamitra, was separated from her husband, King Dushyanta, due to the curse of Rishi Durvasa who was quite infamous for his temper and curses. During this separation, she was carrying the child of King Dushyanta and their son, Bharat, would one day lead the Puru Kingdom and would also initiate the dynasty of Bharat. They did meet after the curse was lifted (most curses had an escape clause). What happened when Shakuntala left the ashram of Kanva: Shakuntala had left the ashram with some escorts. Her close friends, Anasuya and Priyamvada, were left behind. They were roughly of the same age and were quite beautiful themselves. Anasuya: O dear Priyamvada, Shakuntala has managed it quite well. Hooked a husband who is a big king; she is also carrying his child. She is all set. Priyamvada: Anasuya, we should be happy for her. Shakuntala got a head-start, no doubt there, but we too need to set up ourselves. Anasuya: What do you plan to do? Do we stand there below the Big Banyan tree and anoint ourselves with sandal-paste and other stuff? Good husband material is rare (it holds true even today, same goes for good wife material too). Unknown to them both two brothers - broad shouldered, learned and of royal heritage - were heading towards the ashram of Rishi Kanva. Indrasen, the elder of the two, was a very learned person. He was tall, a little dark but was very handsome.
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Rama Navami
    Sri Rama Navami On Chaitra Sukla Navami (the ninth day of the bright half of Chaitra) 'Sree Ramanavami' is celebrated. Sree Rama was born on this day and years later on the same day Rama married Sita. 'Sree Sitarama Kalyana Mahotsav' (wedding) is performed in the abode Sitarama Temple, Bhadrachalam, Khammam District, Andhra Pradesh with great tradition and Bhakti. On behalf of Andhra Pradesh Government, Chief Minister with his wife visits the Kalyana Mahotsav and offers Silk Clothes and Pearls as Talambralu (auspicious) to the God and Goddess. The whole of this celebration is telecasted live in Doordarshan. "Wherever four Hindus live, Rama and Sita will be there" so said Swami Vivekananda, one of the foremost harbingers of modern national renaissance of Bharat. The reverse also is equally true - wherever Rama and Sita live, the people there will remain and live as Hindus. Every hill and rivulet of Bharat bears the imprint of the holy feet of Rama and Sita. Sri Rama reigns supreme to this day in the hearts of our people, cutting across all barriers of province, language, caste or sect. Even the tribes living in isolated valleys and jungles have names like Mitti-Ram and Patthar-Ram. In some other tribes, every name carries the proud suffix of Ram, such as Lutthu Ram, Jagadev Ram, etc. In many northern parts of Bharat mutual greetings take the form of Jay Ramjee Ki. Sri Rama has become so much identified with all the good and great and virile qualities of heroic manhood that expressions such as 'Us me Ram nahi hai' (there is no Rama in him) - meaning that a person has lost all manliness and worth - have become common usage.
    [Show full text]