Nava Rasa - Part 13

Date: 2020-04-17 Author: Vaijayantimala devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances! All Glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila gurudev!

This is in continuation of the previous offerings looking into the different rasas exhibited by the Lord in His pastimes and herein we shall see the Hāsya rasa. hāsyaṃ śūrpanakāmukhe - of humour in the face of Shurpanakha's unceasing approach (leading to her defacement by )

Surpanakha was the sister of . The widowed Shurpanakha spent her time between and the jungles of Southern India, visiting her asura forest-dwelling relatives, every now and then.

During one such visit, she saw in the forest of Panchavati and immediately fell in love with him. She wanted to have Ram and masked herself as a beautiful woman utilizing the power of Maya. She came near Rama and bowed low to touch his feet.

Rama enquired about her origin. Shurpanakha answered that she was the daughter of the grandson of Brahma and was her brother. Following that she praised Rama’s masculine beauty and asked Him to marry her. Ram said that he is already married and is ‘Ekapatnivrata’ meaning ‘loyal to one wife only’. Then He spoke jokingly as follows (SR 3.18.2-3):

kṛtadārōsmi bhavati bhāryēyam dayitā mama. tvadvidhānām tu nārīṇām suduḥkhā sasapatnatā

O lady I am married and here is my wife who is dear to me. To be a co-wife to some one is indeed painful for people like you.

anujastvēṣa mē bhrātā śīlavānpriyadarśanaḥ. śrīmānakṛtadāraśca lakṣmaṇō nāma vīryavān

Here is my younger brother Lakshmana. He is a man of good conduct, good look, valiant and virtuous. (Besides) he is not with his wife.

But Lakshmana enjoyed teasing her and said that he was his brother’s servant. Hence, it would be better for her to be Rama’s second wife instead of his wife. Surpanakha turned angry and made abusive remark about and threatened to eat Her. Lakshmana came to Sita’s defence and cut off Surpanakha’s nose in anger.

There is another pastime of humour exhibited by Lord before He left for the forest.

Rama, along with Lakshmana distributed all the wealth to the brahmanas, the children, the old-aged and the pitiable. There lived a brahmana by name , and his young wife, having been afflicted with poverty, urged the brahmana to go to Rama and get something in charity. He heard the request of his wife, wrapped a strip of cloth that could hardly cover his body and set out towards the track wherein lies Rama's palace. Then he approached Prince Rama, and spoke the following words: "Oh, the most illustrious prince! I am a destitute, having many children in my family. I always dwell in the forest, with an occupation of digging the soil.” Thereupon, Rama replied in jest to him as follows (SR 2.32.36): tamuvāca tatō rāma: parihāsa samanvitam gavām sahasramapyēkam na nu viśrāṇitam mayā parikṣipasi daṇḍēna yāvattāvadavāpsyasi

Rama jokingly replied to him, "I have not yet gifted one thousand cows. Throw your staff and the cows on the space your staff covers will be yours."

Bewildered Trijata swiftly tightened up his upper garment around his waist, set the direction for his staff and hurled it with all his might. The staff he hurled crossed the bank of the river Sarayu and fell near a bull in the midst of a thousands cows. The virtuous Rama embraced Trijata, and despatched all the cattle extending up to the bank of Sarayu to his hermitage. Afterwards Rama sought to pacify Trijata, by saying,"This was a joke. Do not be angry. Your power is unsurpassable and to ascertain this, I incited you to do this act. If there is anything else, ask for it. All my wealth is specifically meant for brahmins."

Thereupon, Trijata along with his wife accepted that flock of cows and were delighted and blessed Rama.

Rama willing we shall see the next Rasa in the ensuing offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev, Vaijayantimala devi dasi Chennai.