The Hindu : Source of inspiration

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 23, 2003

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Source of inspiration

CHENNAI OCT.23 . It is very easy to profess noble values in life when circumstances are conducive to their practice. Even those who strictly follow the tenets of Dharma find it difficult to uphold them in difficult situations. Though the Vedas are the ultimate authority on Dharma it is not possible to get inspiration from them when facing problems in life as their prescriptions are in the form of directives. It is in this context that the Ramayana becomes invaluable for guidance because it is possible for human beings to empathise with the characters and incidents portrayed in it.

Valmiki while delineating the divine will in the unfolding of the storyline of the epic does not lose any opportunity to highlight Rama's peerless qualities of the head and heart and also His noble conduct even in trying situations. Thus the epic is a perennial source of inspiration to humanity because human nature and predicaments will remain the same in any age.

The night Rama, Lakshmana and Sita left the territory inhabited by their people Sumantra returned to Ayodhya and the brothers deliberated on their situation. The princes who had till then lived in the lap of luxury spent the night under the canopy of a tree in the inhospitable forest and naturally were concerned about Sita's safety. Here the epic offers a practical insight that it is always better to take simple precautions. By neglecting to do so, they will eventually become big problems. Rama cautioned His brother, "Remaining free from lassitude we must both remain awake during the nights for the protection of Sita and Her honour."

Naturally their discussion centred round what would be happening back home and Rama expressed His concern that Kaikeyi blinded by pride of her good fortune might persecute Kausalya and Sumitra, and told Lakshmana to return to Ayodhya the very next morning to take care of their mothers, said Sri S.V.Radhakrishna Sastrigal in his discourse. Rama bemoaned that at a time when His mother should have found her labours repaid by Him, she had been deprived of His company by His decision and declared, "Let no lady give birth to a son as Myself, who has inflicted endless sorrow on My mother." But Lakshmana was not swayed in his resolve to be with Him by such outburst of emotion and consoled his brother, "Bereft of You, Sita nor I can survive even for a short while any more than fish taken out of water."

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