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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 The few
padalams - Cantos - of Ayodhya Kanda, that follow Rama’s acceptance of exile, bring out the unique qualities of both the brothers, Rama and Lakshmana. Both are made of the same substance. But that substance manifested in different forms in each. If one is the rain bearing cloud, the other is the lightning and thunder that reside in it. If one is calm, majestic, deep and controlled like a perennial river, the other moves like the same river when it assumes the form of a waterfall. If one is like the fire that resides on the wick of a lamp, the other jumps up to consume and turn large forests to ashes.
Sastriyar says, “But at this point it is worth remembering that Rama was a unique character, and therefore it is necessary to remember that, according to the Poet these merely human attachments, these personal affections all yielded place in his heart to an even greater passion. And what was that? The passion for righteousness, the passion for high honour, the passion for Dharma! It was an active element in his nature, and we find that put to a supreme test more than once and Rama coming out triumphantly as an eternal claimant to truth.” It was these qualities that enabled Kaikeyi to bring about what she desired without any difficulty.
And Sastriyar observes on Lakshmana: “Look at Lakshmana, what a contrast! While Rama proclaimed that Dharma was above everything, Lakshmana, when he declared his doctrine, said only, ‘To me Rama sums up everything; he is all in all; I do not look behind him and beyond him. My goal is his approbation, my goal is his happiness.’ Occasionally, Rama speaks of Dharma and so on, but that does not appeal to Lakshmana. ‘Your good, your prosperity, sums up all that I see; if you give up the kingdom, I don’t see that you are doing good, that you are doing the right thing. What is higher than you?’ says Lakshmana, ‘Your interest is everything; I don’t put any thing higher.”
 Such fierce dedication to Rama! That makes him speak things, which Rama would not even imagine of uttering. When consoling Kausalya, Lakshmana says, “Nay, whosoever is a supporter of Bharata and whoever seeks to advance his interests, I shall kill them all; for he (alone) who is meek is subjected to contumely. If pleased with Kaikeyi and instigated by her, our royal father, behaves as an enemy, let him be made captive or even got rid of without (the least) attachment.” I will not hesitate to chain our father and throw him in prison or even get rid of him, if it is necessary, he says. (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto XXI, Sloka 10, 11)
Lakshmana would rise up in revolt, the moment he suspects that something is there that would harm the interests of Rama. That is the very essence of his character. And now let’s see how this blazing fire quickly turns into a tiny flame in no time!
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Hari Krishnan
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