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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 Lakshmana stood defeated and deflated there! He had no argument, absolutely nothing, against Rama now!
‘seetram thurandhaan.’ He gave up his anger.
‘edhir nindru therindhu seppum maatram thurandhaan.’ His counter-arguments for each and every word of Rama virtually dried up.
‘marai naangu ena vaangal sella naal then thisayin nambi than aaNaiyaale Etram thodangaak kadalin’ Like the very ocean that has controlled its waves and does not cross the limits of the shore, by the words of Him whose words are as unfathomable as the Vedas,
‘thaNivu eyidhi nindraan’ he stood there, still, motionless and speechless, all his anger vanishing in a trice.
It was due to Rama that his anger flared up like forest fire and it was due to Rama that it stood quenched in no time. He controlled himself ‘even like the ocean that keeps from overflowing its bounds in obedience to the will of that same Rama.’ Kamban uses the simile of the ocean that does not cross the shores, twice in the entire epic. This is the first occasion and the other one is when he refers to Hanuman who controls himself when he sets his eye for the first time on Ravana in his bedchamber, restraining his desire to finish him off while he is asleep.
‘kaalam paarththu iRai vElai kadavaadha kadal oththaan.’ He (Hanuman) resembled the very ocean that does not cross the shore, waiting for the right Time (the deluge).
Such was the power of Rama’s love over Lakshmana. You can tie him down with simply one word. Obedience. And he would obey his Lord implicitly, unconditionally, unquestioningly and without any protest whatsoever. As Sri VVS Aiyar observes, “In the few words, I know not father, mother or lord; thyself alone art master, mother, father, all to me, is contained the key to the whole character of Lakshmana. He cannot bear to see his Rama suffer in any way.”
But if Rama silenced Lakshmana with a very tactful move, Lakshmana won the heart of Rama with love and supplication. A few moments later, the maids of Kaikeyi brought Rama the coarse hermit’s weeds to wear. Lakshmana took a set from them, for him to wear. Rama looked at him and said,
‘vaan pugazh isayinaai!’ Thou who art celebrated by the celestials!
‘marukkilaadhu nee yaan pugal inayadhu Or urudhi kEL enaa.’ Do not protest when I say. Listen to my words.
 ‘annayar
anaivarum’ all the three of our mothers ‘aazhi vEndhanum’ and the king
‘munnayar allar’ are not like what they were before.
‘venthuayrin mUzhginaar.’ They are immersed in the very depths of gloom.
‘ennayum pirindhanar.’ They would now have to live without me.
‘idar uraa vagai,’ As to console them,
‘unnai nee en poruttu udhavuvaai’ give yourself unto them in their service, for my sake. Do me this favour, please.
Do not follow me into the jungle. Remain here. Our parents would feel lonely now. They would be depressed by my separation. (And note, even at this point of time, Rama remembers to include Kaikeyi in the list of persons who would be depressed by his exile!) You stand by their side as to console them and to alleviate their suffering. Do me this favour. You need not come with me!
More follows...
Published on 2-03-02
Hari Krishnan
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