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Continued from yesterday’s instalment
 It would be more appropriate to say that Lakshmana was semi-conscious rather than unconscious, hit on his chest by the javelin of Ravana. It was not the near stupor that had reached twice in his battles with Indrajit and later, towards the end, accepting the ‘Shakthi’ of Ravana that was hurled at Vibishana
Ravana saw the wonderful opportunity to end the war in a jiffy. Suffice be it for him to pick Lakshmana up from the ground and walk back to his palace, and with Lakshmana as captive, he can twist the arm of Rama. But to his bewilderment, he could not move Lakshmana at all! The shoulders that lifted Mount Kailash with Lord Shiva and Uma on it, could not even move Lakshmana an inch.
‘edukkal utravan,’ Having attempted to lift (Lakshmana)
‘mEniyai Endhudharkku Etra midukku ilaamayin,’
since he found himself incapable of lifting him up ‘iraavaNan veidhuyirppu utraan,’ Ravana gasped in utter disbelief.
It is here that Valmiki makes that most unusual statement. The divinity of Rama, the awareness that he in reality is the reincarnation of the Supreme is totally absent as far as Rama is concerned, until we reach the Uttara Kanda, that too, at the very end of the story. But see what Valmiki mentions as the reason for Ravana not being able to lift Lakshmana from the battlefield, to capture him.
“(But) Lakshmana (a younger half-brother of Bharata) could not be raised by the (same) arms (of Ravana), by which the Himalaya, the Mandara and the Meru mountains or (even) (all) the three worlds (viz., heaven, earth and the intermediate aerial region) including gods could be (easily) lifted up.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Yuddha Kanda, Canto LIX, Sloka 111) But then, why? Why could not Ravana do so? What happened to his strength? Valmiki continues…
“Even though wounded in the space in between the two breasts by a javelin (which originally belonged to Brahma),
Lakshmana recalled himself to be an inconceivable part of Lord Vishnu. Therefore (even) of pressing between his arms Lakshmana (son of Sumitra) who was capable of crushing the pride of demons, Ravana (a thorn in the side of gods) was not able to lift him up.” (Ibid, Sloka 112, 113)
 This is the only place in which Valmiki shows Lakshmana as being aware of his divinity and the fact that he is an incarnation of the Supreme. And that too, this awareness seems to last for just as long as it was needed. The point is, Lakshmana for a few moments played His part (and not ‘his’ part!) till Ravana that too in a short while, grew tired of this exertion and the scene changes so very quickly.
“Filled with rage, Hanuman (son of the wind-god) thereupon darted towards Ravana. Full of fury, he struck the later in the chest with his fist, which came as a thunderbolt. Under that blow of his fist, Ravana, the lord of ogres, fell to the floor of his chariot on his knees, reeled and lay prostrate.” (Ibid, Sloka 114, 115)
Look at the scene once again. Lakshmana is still lying on the ground, half-conscious. Ravana is lying spent and bleeding close to his chariot. Only Hanuman is standing by Lakshmana. In the next few moments what was not possible for Ravana, becomes possible for Hanuman.
More follows...
Published on 14th
April 2002
Hari
Krishnan
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