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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 The relationship between Rama and Lakshmana has several flavours in it. That Lakshmana is to treat Rama as his father and Sita as his mother was an injunction of Sumitra, when they set out to the forest. “Having exhorted Lakshmana as aforesaid, the said Sumitra repeatedly said to the celebrated Sri Rama (a scion of Raghu (who was loved by all and was bent on leaving (for the forest), ‘Fare forth! Fare forth!! (May all be well with you).’ (She said to Lakshmana again.) “Know Rama to be Dasaratha (your father) look upon Sita (the daughter of Janaka) as myself (your mother) and esteem the forest as Ayodhya (your home) and depart, dear son, happily.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto XL, Sloka 8,9)
But that was only the affectionate parting words of a mother. Sumitra was aware that it was not necessary for her to tell Lakshmana all this. Lakshmana was already playing the role of a devoted son to Rama. Kamban takes the drama one step forward when Sumitra tells Lakshmana something more.
‘pinnum pagarvaaL.’
(Sumitra) told (Lakshmana) further. ‘maganE! ivan pin sel.’ Go with him my son!
‘thambi ennum padi andru.’ But not in the capacity as a brother.
‘adiyaarin Eval seydhi.’ Serve him as though you were his servant. ‘mannum nagarkkE ivan vandhidin
vaa.’ Come back to Ayodhya only if he (Rama) comes back. ‘adhu andrEl,’ if not (if something happens to him) ‘munnam mudi,’ you die before him.
Kamban remembers to make use of these words later in the Kabandha episode. This becomes a point of argument for Lakshmana to effectively put a stop to
Rama.
If that is one part of the story, the other part is role reversal. In several places we see Rama overjoyed and pouring his heart out in exuberance, holding Lakshmana as his own father. For instance, at the commencement of the exile, Lakshmana erects a lovely hermitage and Rama is overjoyed at what his brother did for them. Valmiki captures his feelings beautifully in this verse.
‘bhavagnena krthagnena dharmagnena cha Lakshmana | thvaya puthrena dharmaathama na samvrutthaha pitha mama ||’ (Ibid, Aranya Kanda, Canto XV, Sloka 29) “Lakshmana, with you as his son, knowing my feelings grateful and knower of what is right, my pious-minded father is not dead.”
Srinivasa Sastriyar, quoting this Sloka, interprets it thus: “When Dasaratha died, he really did not leave me a loser,” - this is a poetical conceit - “he left an image of him in you. I find in you what I should have found in my father if he had lived.”
 And that’s what Sita also acknowledges. When referring to Lakshmana in Sundara Kanda to Hanuman, did she not mention, “…who willingly and efficiently shoulders the responsibility with which he is saddled and
on seeing whom Sri Rama (a scion of Raghu) ceases to remember his deceased father…” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kanda, Canto XXXVIII, Sloka 61) “If Lakshmana is by my husband, my husband never thinks of his dead father, because Lakshmana stands to him in that place.”
Well that is the least that one can say on the love and affection between the two brothers. What we have attempted to present till now is just only one aspect of the love that existed between the brothers. The subject is inexhaustible. One minor difference did exist, though. Rama put Dharma above all and Lakshmana put Rama above all.
With this introduction, we will take up the study of
Lakshmana.
More follows...
Hari Krishnan
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