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 We have all encountered such a situation in our lives. An angry customer at the counter, for instance. An irked and annoyed guest in a hotel lobby. Some broken promise or a lapse in service. Just anything that triggers dissatisfaction, leading to disbelief. The common rule in all such situations is to listen to the person first. It doesn’t matter who is right. He should be heard. But if the person is not in a mood to listen and has just walked in with his own conclusions, the first task is to make him listen. The mode adopted to achieve this task would vary from situation to situation. However, the common thread in situation handling would remain the same. Know your customer.
Hanuman knew whom he was dealing with. He knew one vital point that would make this valiant archer fumble; lose all his temper and cool down. Lakshmana’s respect for womanhood was the key. He would not dare look into the eyes of any woman. Hanuman quickly reaches for Tara, the widow of Vali. Now, Kamban once again modifies the story of Valmiki. Tara leads an ascetic’s life in Kamba Ramayana, unlike in Valmiki. He apprised her of the situation and requested her to go to the road leading from the gateway of the fort with few other she-monkeys and block Lakshmana’s way.
A bevy of ladies surrounded Lakshmana and he heard the clink of their jewels. Kamban adds a bit of humour to the situation. He says ‘when the she-monkeys surrounded him, Lakshmana hung his head down and would not look up. He pressed his mighty bow on the earth and leaned over it. He stood like a timid newly wed son-in-law in a crowd of mothers-in-law! He could not retain his anger any more. He was shy and winced.’
The volcano that was about to erupt in fury suddenly metamorphosed into an Arctic iceberg! Now that he was in a receptive frame of mind, Tara spoke to him in softer tones. ‘Welcome O valiant soldier! We are honoured by your visit to our place. Your visit harbingers our welfare. The entire vanara army is afraid of you and is confused for they know not the reason for your reddened countenance. It is not possible to see you alone, leaving the side of your brother, our graceful king Rama. Please make the purpose of your visit and relieve the vanara army of its fear.’
 Who will not melt at these words? Lakshmana, as is his nature, shed all his temper in a trice and was his old self sooner than that. He wanted to know the arrangements that Sugriva made for commencing the search for Sita. Tara apprised him of the happenings. Lakshmana cooled off. Just at that moment, our clever situation-manager peeped in innocently and fell at his feet. Then he takes him to Sugriva, who was brought back to sobriety with super-human (or should we say super-ape!) efforts and a series of friendly exchanges follow.
This thoughtful move of Hanuman brought the situation back to normalcy. But for the deft and careful handling by Hanuman and Tara, it might have taken an unpleasant turn. Kamban cleverly uses this situation to put a few verses into Sugriva’s mouth. He is shocked and saddened that he was drunk and was out of his senses, at a very important moment of his life, when he was supposed to handle responsibility. He realises the ill effects of alcoholism and swears by the feet of Rama that he would never booze again.
Of course, Lakshmana was a friend, was amenable to reason. What would happen if the other person happens to be an arch enemy and is not prepared to listen to you, when you have to achieve a particular end?
It was the battlefield and Ravana was gaining an upper hand over Lakshmana. Ravana’s attention had to be diverted while he was engaged in a combat with Lakshmana.
Hanuman adopts a different strategy. Let us see him in action in the war field.
(To be continued)
Hari Krishnan
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