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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 That intense love is the reason for his jumping into conclusion when Bharata arrives in the forest. He quickly climbs a tree, puzzled by the sounds heard at a distance and the dust that clouds the atmosphere. When he sees Bharata, he immediately decides that he had come here only with a malicious intention. And that too, when Bharata comes without the ostentatious accompaniments that follow the king.
'vidhi varum thanik kudai mIdhu ilaap padai,'
says the Poet. Though the large army marched with him, there was not a semblance of royalty. The king's royal 'white umbrella' was not to be seen. That itself speaks so loud and clear of the intention of Bharata. This was how Guha the hunter chieftain read the situation and read the heart of
Bharata.
But not so for Lakshmana. He has his own ways. "Now this intense love for Rama makes Lakshmana regard as his own mortal enemies all who have injured Rama. He never stops to inquire whether they have actually injured him. It is sufficient if he believes that they have injured or even suspects them to have injured Rama. This passion of hatred clouds his mind in all that concerns Kaikeyi and those connected with her," observes Sri VVS Aiyar. Bharata was not any different at all! The moment he set his eyes on Bharata, he rushes into the hermitages, puts on his armour, makes ready his bow and quiver and thus unburdens himself to
Rama.
 The verses of Kamban describing the enraged words of Lakshmana make him all the more loveable. There about twelve verses through which Lakshmana gives vent to his feelings to Rama. Let us see the essence of these verses, for they very beautifully bring out the passion that resides in the heart of Lakshmana and how he looks at even good persons with suspicious eyes, if he has the least little grain of reason to believe that the interests of Rama are injured.
"Behold yon Bharata, now an outcaste to this world as he has already become an outcaste to the next! Thou wilt see the prowess of thy brother's single right arm against him and all his hosts. Thou will see me destroy the troops of Bharata and make Svarga bend under the weight of quick-rushing immigrants, while the Earth is lightened of her load. Thou will see rivers of blood floating with the carcasses of his elephants and horses, and with his broken chariots flowing to the sea and making the seven oceans one. Thou wilt see my feathered arrows pierce the hearts of those
twin brothers and fly through the ethereal void carrying their bleeding flesh in their beaks. By the command of the tyrant king, who was thereto induced by his favourite queen, Bharata is now the Sovereign of the Earth; thou wilt presently see him ruling in Hell at my command! And thou wit soon see the guilty Kaikeyi roll on the ground in inconsolable grief, who delighted not long ago in the tears of thy mother when thou leftest for the jungle-country." (Translated by Sri VVS
Aiyar)
Gory picture indeed! Birds flying with the bleeding flesh and limbs of 'those twin brothers' and filling the skies! "Such is the violence of his wrath," says Sri VVS Aiyar. In all fairness Satrughna was the twin brother of Lakshmana and in his rage, Lakshmana makes him the twin brother of Bharata.
'iruvar' is the term used by the Poet.
Though Lakshmana jumps in anger, notice this unique quality in him. This is a strange quality considering the fact that Lakshmana is blinded by anger at this moment.
More follows...
Published on 7-03-02
Hari Krishnan
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