|
Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 Service to Rama was the only thing that Lakshmana knew in his life. Nothing else. His service starts right from day one. When Rama and Sita sleep on the grass, Lakshmana stands guard.
‘naaNal maalaivaaip paarin paayal vaiginar,’ Rama and Sita went to sleep on plain ground, covered with grass, (as though they were once again in the ocean of Milk) and
‘varivil Endhi,’ wielding the banded bow
‘kaalaivai aLavum,’ until it was dawn, ‘thambi imaippilan,’ Lakshmana did not bat a wink
‘kaaththu nindraan’ stood guard over them.
When Guhan the boatman offered to take over the duty from him, Lakshmana refuses gently, without hurting him. “Being protected by you, who keep your duty alone in view, O sinless Guha, we all are not (the least) afraid (of any) in this land. But so long as Rama (son of Dasaratha) remains lying down on the ground with Sita, how can sleep be had by me, much less nourishment intended to keep the body and soul together or amenities of life?” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kanda, Canto LI, Sloka 8, 9)
‘It is not that I don’t trust you. You would doubtless keep vigil very sincerely. But how can I sleep when my brother and Sita are lying on the dust of the ground! It is my duty and let me perform it myself.’
Rt. Hon’ble Srinivasa Sastriyar beautifully sums up the essence of his character in these words. “Lakshmana was, as you know, characterized as the very embodiment of the principle of ‘kainkarya’; his ‘Lakshmi’ was ‘Kainkaryalakshmi,’ that is to say,
‘kainkarya’ or service was the badge or distinguishing
‘lakshana’ or mark of Lakshmana. What are the chief points in his character? He has a dog’s qualities, a slave’s virtues. As a watchful guard, if there is a stranger or even a friend in apparent enmity, he barks; he suspects, but as a faithful slave will suspect. This
’kainkarya’ in the extreme sense, utter devotion and nothing else.”
 He would stand guard when Rama and Sita sleep; he would make a float all by himself and ferry them across the River Yamuna, once they are in Chitrakuta.
‘vaangu vEyng kazhai thuNiththanan.’ He cut long and pliant bamboos.
‘maaNayin kodiyinaal Ongu theppam ondru amaiththu,’ and constructed a float, tying them up with creepers.
‘adhan umbaril ulam pOl veengu thOL aNNal inidhu veetriruppa,’ and while Rama and Sita were safely seated on it,
‘neenginaan an nedu nadhi iru kaiyaal neendhi’ Lakshmana swam the river, pushing the float across.
He would swim the river, pushing the float with Rama and Sita seated on it, across Yamuna. He would construct their hermitage. He would level the floor, make the roof out of fronds, and beautify it with the colourful feathers of peacocks and other birds. Rama was so moved when he finished the work that he embraced Lakshmana and said,
‘endru katrani nee idhu pOl endraan,’ when did you learn all this, my child!
‘idar unakku izhaiththEn nedu naaL.’ ‘I have brought you to the jungle and am causing you trouble of extreme kind. So saying Rama shed tears. Unparalleled love!
More follows...
Published on 5-03-02
Hari Krishnan
Previous
Articles
|
|
