English
Date: 17 April 2024
Speaker: HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Swami Maharaj
Topic: Teachings of Ramayana
HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaishnava Swami Maharaj
Hare Krishna!
Jai Sri Ram!
Congratulations to all of you on the occasion of Ram Navami.
I was asked to give a talk on the lesson from Ramayana. Ramayana is full of lessons. Lord Rama Himself is an ideal son, an ideal brother, an ideal husband, an ideal disciple, an ideal leader, an ideal king and an ideal father.
In the Baal Kand, it is referred that how lord Rama is dedicated for Dashratha and other Ayodhyavasis. This is also a lesson for us.
Further, He accepted all the suffering for his Guru when he was a student of Guru Vishvamitra. He shows how to serve spiritual master.
Further, He shows the quality of ideal husband and an ideal father.
When King Dashratha announced the coronation of Lord Rama. He accepted that not for the designation, but to serve the demos.At the same night, mother Kaikayi take a boon to send Rama for exile. Lord Rama accepted the word of His father and at oncewent for exile. From this we can take a lesson that we should not serve to get a designation, we must work to serve others.
Lord Rama accepted all the rules of exile; like, walk barefooted, eat the fruits of the trees, sleep on the floor etc. He never made any adjustments in the rules.
When Bharat went to meet Lord Rama. There is a lot of lesson we can take from the behaviour of Bharat. This shows a true relationship of love and forgiveness. He killed many demons in the forest. These demons are the anarthas in our lives. These are the obstacles in the path of devotion. To kill these anarthas, we must austerity.
Then Mother Sita was abducted. This incidence tells us how one can get trapped in Maya. There is no golden deer in reality. Marichi had disguised as a deer. Mother Sita wants to give us a lesson. If we will indulge in Maya, we will trap like that.
Ravan kidnapped Mother Sita by disguise his personality. If one will deceit in devotion, then he must will be duped. One can not get the spiritual power by deceit.
Lord Rama meets hanuman, when he was in search of Mother Sita. We should go to the Lord with open heart. We should not wear makeup I our heart.
And then, Lord Rama met with Sugriva, who is a dear friend of Lord Rama. He kills Bali.
Then comes Shabari, who depicts enthusiasm, determination and patience in serving lord Rama.
Nectar of Instruction, Verse 3:
utsāhānniścayāddhairyāt
tat-tat-karma-pravartanāt
saṅga-tyāgātsatovṛtteḥ
ṣaḍbhirbhaktiḥprasidhyati
Translation:
There are six principles favorable to the execution of pure devotional service: (1) being enthusiastic, (2) endeavoring with confidence, (3) being patient, (4) acting according to regulative principles [such as śravaṇaṁkīrtanaṁviṣṇoḥsmaraṇam – hearing, chanting and remembering Kṛṣṇa], (5) abandoning the association of nondevotees, and (6) following in the footsteps of the previous ācāryas. These six principles undoubtedly assure the complete success of pure devotional service.
She waited every day and night to take darshan of Lord Rama. She cleans her house, decorate it with flowers and make garlands for Lord Rama. So, like this there are many teachings of Ramayana.
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came as His own devotee to teach us devotion. He teaches us surrender.
Vaishnava Song, Sri-krsna-caitanya prabhu jive dayakari’, By Bhakti Vinod Thakur:
atyantadurlabhapremakoribāre dāna
śikhāyaśaraṇāgatibhakateraprāna
Translatrion:
Out of compassion for the fallen souls, Sri Krisna Caitanya came to this world with His personal associates and divine abode to teach saranagati (the goal of surrender), surrender to the almighty Godhead, and to freely distribute ecstatic love of God, which is ordinarily very difficult to obtain. This saranagati is the very life of the true devotee.
We must surrender to revive our devotion. Vibhishan always thought about the good of all.He thought that if one must go somewhere that should be the lotus feet of Lord Rama. He taught us how to take shelter. When Lord Rama reaches near sea with his army to bring back Mother Sita. Vibhishan advised Ravana to take shelter of Lord Rama, as Vibhishan is one of the consultants in the assembly.
Once Indrajeet insulted Vibhishana. Vibhishana scolded Indrajeet that you don’t know about lord Rama. Ravana become angry on Vibhishana and kicked him out. Vibhishana leave everything and taught us that we should that is favourable to our devotion. He was sure that he will go and take shelter of lord Rama.
In some scriptures it states that he once approached Shiva, he at once advised him to take shelter of Lord Rama. As lord Rama is merciful enough to give shelter to Ravana also!He went in his airplane and took darshan of lord Rama with his devoted allies Sugriva and hanuman. Sugriva at once came to know that the demons had come to meet Rama.Vihishana directly says that I am the brother of Ravana and wants to take shelter of lord Rama.Sugriva informed lord Rama. Lord Rama asked Sugriva to take advice of other Vanaras. All main vanaras came and met and they told lord Rama that they should not be allowed to meet Rama as they are from the enemy side. They should be killed as once. Jaambavant, Angad and others also shared their opinions. So, there is a learning that whenever we stucked in such a difficult situation, we must take advise of our friends.So, all were against them meeting lord Rama. Hanuman ji was also supportive of them. Jaambavant was most experienced vanara. He knew that Vibhishana was a righteous person. Although he was from the demon’s side, but he was not a demon himself. He was the minister of Ravana. Nevertheless, he was righteous. He had not come as a spy. He had come to lord Rama’s door and was introducing himself. In this way all allies gave their opinion on Vibhishana meeting lord Rama. Everyone gives their advice on the basis of their experience. So,Hanuman was the only one who spoke positive about Vibhishan and no one else, not even Laxmana. Dharma shastra says that even an enemy comes to take shelter with folded hands, then he should be accepted. For example, once a female pigeon was caught by a hunter. Male pigeon asked the hunter to leave the female pigeon and, in the return, he can eat his half of the body.That pigeon then completely surrendered and was saved. Now lord Rama has heard everyone’s opinions.He says that he is agreed that Vibhishana is Ravana’s brother, but he was nevertheless from the enemy side. Sugriva repeatedly denied lord Rama form meeting Vibhishana. He became quite as he felt bad that in spite of his advising lord Rama, he was adamant on meeting Vibhishana. He was thinking that Why lord Rama is doing that? Why he is giving shelter to an enemy? He can kill lord Rama!
Lord Rama knew what was going on in Sugriva’s mind.Lord Rama said that do you think this demon can harm me in any way?
Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.22:
suduShTovaaapiaduShTovaakimeSharajaniicaraH
suukShmamapiahitamkartum mama ashaktaHkatha.ncana
Translation:
What does it matter whether that demon is very bad or not bad? He is incapable of doing even a little harm to me.
Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.23:
pishaacaandaanavaanyakShaanpR^ithivyaamcaivaraakShasaan
anguliagreNataanhanyaamicchanharigaNaiishvara
Translation:
"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"
This is the first time when lord Rama showed His magnanimity. He told Sugriva that just by the tip of His finger, He could annihilate all the demons and ghosts of the earth!Just by pressing the delete button!So then why so much planning with vanaras-Sugriva thought.
So, Lord Rama was reading the mind of Sugriva. So, Lord Rama does this to deliver everyone. If one serves Lord Rama, he will deliver them. So, do not delay and serve Lord Rama. Vibhishana was still in the sky. When he approached Lord Rama, and He welcomed Vibhishana.
Be it Vibhishana or Ravana himself, Lord Rama will always protect him. Sugriva understood Lord Rama’s teachings. So, Sugriva went to fetch Vibhishana to bring him to Lord Rama and lord Rama was very eager to meet Vibhishana.
Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.33:
sakṛdevaprapannāyatavaasmiiti ca yācate ||
abhayamsarvabhūtebhyodadāmietadvratam mama |
Translation:
"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"
Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.34:
ānayaenamhariśreṣṭhadattamasyaabhayammayā ||
vibhīṣaṇovāsugrīvayadivārāvaṇaḥsvayam |
Translation:
"O, Sugreeva, the chief of monkeys! Let him either be Vibhishana or even Ravana himself; I have given an assurance of safety to him. Bring him here."
Lord Rama said all brothers are not like Bharata, son should be like Me and an ideal friend should be like Sugriva.
Lord Rama could give his decision at once. But he never did so till Sugriva agreed.
He could have gone Himself but he delegated this duty to the senior most ally. Vibhishan soon lands on the ground and paid obeisances to lord Rama.
Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda, 6.19.5:
parityaktāmayālaṃkāmitrāṇi ca dhanāni ca ||
bhavadgatam hi me rājyam ca jīvitam ca sukhāni ca |
Translation:
"Abandoning Lanka, friends and possessions, I place my kingdom, life and happiness at your disposal."
He introduced himself as Ravana’s brother. He was insulted by Ravan. So, he had come with his wealth and friends to surrender to Lord Rama.
Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda, 6.19.6-7:
tasyatadvacanamśrutvārāmovacanamabravīt ||
vacasāsāntvayitvainamlocanābhyāmpibanniva |
ākhyāhi mama tatvenarākṣasānāmbalābalam ||
Translation:
Hearing those words of Vibhishana, Rama in a soothing tone and with a refreshing look in his eyes, spoke these words: "Tell me really the strengths and weaknesses of the demons."
Hearing this Lord Rama was so overwhelmed with love for Vibhishana. Vibhishan now tells lord Rama about all his friends and allies and defeats of Ravana. Lord Rama assures Vibhishana that He will soon kill Ravana and make him the king of lanka. Unless He kills Ravana, Rama will be return to Ayodhya. Ravana could not be saved from me.
Valmiki Ramayan, Yuddha Kanda, 6.19.21:
ahatvārāvaṇamsamkhyesaputrajanabāndhavam |
ayodhyāmnapravekṣyāmitribhistairbhratṛbhiḥśapeḥ ||
Translation:
"I will not enter Ayodhya without killing Ravana together with his sons, companions and relatives in battle. I take oath on my three brothers."
Hearing this Vibhishan again paid obeisances to lord Rama. He assures Rama that he will be with lord Rama until the end of the war. So,Ramayan depicts the mood of surrender of a devotee towards the Lord.
When Hanuman went in search of Mother Sita, after returning he told that in Lanka, there was a mother Tulasi, diety of Lord Rama in the palace of Vibhishana and Mangala aarti. Hanuman was surprised to see all this happening in a demon’s kingdom. So,this was Vibhishana’s palace. He also saw lord Rama names on the walls. Then, he saw Vibhishana praying to lord Rama.
Once Ravan saw this written on his walls. He drew his sword to kill Vibhishan. But Vibhishana cleverly said that RAMA was an abbreviation of Ra- Ravan and ma –Mandodari. This way Vibhishan was saved due to his presence of mind.
We sometimes hide ourselves anarthas. Our enemy is lust. So, one must identify this enemy. We must not hide them. Treat them like our enemy openly.
BG 3.39:
āvṛtaṁjñānametena
jñāninonitya-vairiṇā
kāma-rūpeṇakaunteya
duṣpūreṇānalena ca
Translation:
Thus, the wise living entity’s pure consciousness becomes covered by his eternal enemy in the form of lust, which is never satisfied and which burns like fire.
Vibhishana now took complete shelter of lord Rama and was ready to serve lord Rama. In this way, one’s enemy lust can be killed.
BG 7.14:
daivīhyeṣāguṇa-mayī
mama māyāduratyayā
māmeva ye prapadyante
māyāmetāṁtarantite
Translation:
This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.
Rama is more anxious to meet us. Even before Vibhishana’s landing, lord Rama was ready to welcome him.
Valmiki Ramayan Yuddha kanda, 6.18.33:
sakṛdevaprapannāyatavaasmiiti ca yācate ||
abhayamsarvabhūtebhyodadāmietadvratam mama |
Translation:
"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"
There will not be any fear then. Some can say that Ravan is still the king of Lanka, the seat is not vacant yet. Nevertheless, lord Rama promised Vibhishana to become the king. This is the peer uttering the holy name of Rama even once. This is the mercy of lord Rama. He always keeps Him words. A devotee has to just surrender Him.
Jai Sri Ram!
