The Hindu : Miscellaneous / Religion : Overcome desire

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Thursday, May 19, 2005

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous - Religion

Overcome desire

CHENNAI: The scriptures have identified desire as the root of man's bondage. One who is able to overcome desire for sensory gratification and worldly power is a spiritually evolved person and it is for this reason that a spiritual aspirant must constantly strive to conquer desire. How does desire impede spiritual progress? There is nothing wrong in satiating a desire but it does not stop with that. As soon as one is fulfilled, another one sprouts in its place and it becomes an endless seeking. Hence, it is necessary to weed it out right in the beginning without becoming a slave to it.

In his discourse, Sri Mathivannan said the Kamba Ramayanam portrayed Bharata as greater than Rama because he spurned a kingdom that his mother Kaikeyi got for him through the boons she had obtained from Dasaratha. Rama's sacrifice of his birthright to fulfil the words of His father and going in exile for 14 years to the forest paled in comparison to Bharata's act of relinquishing the throne that came to him unsought according to Kamban.

As soon as he heard the developments on his return to Ayodhya, Bharata went posthaste to persuade Rama to return to the capital. Guhan became furious when he first saw the huge army approaching mistaking Bharata's intention. But when he saw Bharata's sorrowful countenance and learnt that the purpose of his visit was to take Rama back with him to Ayodhya, Guhan felt sorry that he had wrongly assessed him.

He fell at Bharata's feet and said, "Paying heed to the words of your mother, Kaikeyi, your father Dasaratha granted the kingdom to you. Like one who rejects sin, you discarded the kingdom and have come here with a sorrowful mind. With all the laudable qualities you have, can one thousand Ramas equal you? Just as the sun overshadows the bright light of the moon, your fame will overshadow the fame of your ancestors."

Guhan then showed him the bed of grass where Rama and Sita had slept with Lakshmana standing guard the whole night, hearing which Bharata wept that he was the cause of their hardships. One can surmise from this that Rama slept peacefully without any sorrow even after making such a sacrifice. But Bharata's sacrifice was greater as it shows that he had no desire to enjoy the power and pelf that came his way.

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