SHLOKA OF THE MONTH DECEMBER 2008

Sathyena lokan jayathi deenan danen raghavaha

Guruun sushruushaya chaiva dhanusha yudhi shaathravaan

Sri Rama gave great importance to the virtue of Honesty. He was bound by it. He went to the forest and led an ascetic life for 14 years only to protect this virtue of honesty. “I vow on truth that I will kill Vali”, Rama said to Sugriva. Hence he stood by his statement by protecting Sugriva and killing Vali. “ I promise to kill the rakshasas and thus protect Dharma” he vowed to the Devas and rishis. He slayed Ravana and thus kept his promise. This is what Valmiki refers to as “ Satyena lokan jayathi”- Rama will rule this world by his virtue of truth.

Sri Rama was a detached person. He generously gave his wealth to the poor and needy. At the time of his departure to the forest he donated all his wealth to the poor. There lived a person by name Trijata in Ayodhya. He was a man of renunciation. He never accepted any gift from anybody. But he came to Rama for getting something from his loving hands. Sri Rama, the knower of all decided to give him something without disturbing his policy of renunciation. He saw that trijata had a stick in his hand. “ Throw the stick however far you can. I will give you so many cows.” Immediately he threw the stick with all his might.. It fell on the banks of the river Sarayu. Sri rama in turn gave him thousands of cows as a reward for his might. This is reffered to as “ Deenan danena Raghavaha”

Sri Rama respected all the elders. He served Kaikeyi more than his own mother Kousalya. He never thought her as his step-mother. He humbly served the rishis.. The rushis prayed to Rama to destroy the rakshasas. Rama said at once “ Order me and I wait to fulfill your order”. This shows his respect towards the maharishis which is referred to by Valmiki as “ gurun sushrushaya chaiva”.

Rama was a great warior. At 15 years he slayed Subahu and conquered Maricha, broke the bow of Shiva, subjugated Parasurama’s pride. He destroyed 14000 rakshasas single-handedly and exterminated the moola bala army of Ravana. All this shows his valour which is referred to as “ Dhanusha Yudhi Shatravan”.