raama ashtothram 23

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Post 23

 

Dear sri vaishNava

perunthagaiyeer,

 

We

are seeing what raama got as phalanx – fruit -- But what samudhra raajan got

from raama – he washed the lord's feet – is it a saadhaaraNa bhaagyam

Kidaikkumaa adhu? – is it a simple shower of blessing? – so easy to get?– that

this ocean king got – that is the first phalanx - fruit.

 

sahabhoothaih sathoyormih

sanaagah saha raakshasah || 6-22-14

sahasaabhooth thathO vEgaadh

bheema vEgO mahaa udhadhih |

yOjanam vyathichakraama veLaam

anyathra samplavaath || 6-22-15

 

meaning: The great ocean with its waves and water, along

with its living creatures including snakes and demons soon became possessed of

a terrific velocity. Due to that speed and swelling of waters, the ocean

crossed beyond the other shore to the extent of a Yojana (eight miles).

 

tham thathaa samathikraantham

naathichakraama raaghavah |

samudhdhhathamamitraghnO raamO

nadhanadheepathim || 6-22-16

 

meaning: Rama born in Raghu

dynasty and the annihilator of enemies, did not retreat before that ocean,

which swelled and crossed its limits.

 

Point: vaalmeeki says raama did not retreat – but really

what it means – ocean kingwashes the feet of raama – that is his style of

worshipping – that is why this is treated as saranaagathy by kamban.

 

The second fruit is – as follows- samudhra raajan says to

raama – when asked by raama then where to let this brahmaasthram which is

raised –

 

uththarENa avakaaso~asthi kaschith puNyatharO

mama || 6-22-31

dhrumakulya ithi khyaathO lOkE

khyaathO yathaa bhavaan |

ugra dharsana karmaaNO

bahavah thathra dhasyavah || 6-22-32

aabhiira pramukhaah paapaah

pibanthi salilam mama |

thairna thath sparshanam paapam

sahEyam paapa karmabhih || 6-22-33

amOghah kriyathaam raama thathra

thEshu saroththamah

|

 

meaning: "Towards my northern

side, there is a holy place. It is well known as Dhrumakulya, in the same way

as you are well known to this world. Numerous robbers of fearful aspect and

deeds, having the sinful aabhiras as their chief, drink my waters there. I am

not able to bear that touch of those wicked people, the evil doers, O, Raama!

Let this excellent arrow with out vain be released over them there."

 

So the place dhrumakulaya became

clean by the removal of these sinners – by raama with his brahmaasthram – who

was just at the shores on the southern tip of bhaaratha dhEsam - in a bid to

enter lankaa - but this place is said to be somewhere near the present day

raajasthaan – maalwaar. So from a distant place raama cleaned up that place.

 

thEna than maru kaanthaaram

prithivyaam kila visrutham

|| 2-22-35

vipaathithah sarO yathra

vajraasani

samaprabhah |

 

meaning: The place where the

arrow, whose splendor was akin to that of a thunder and a thunder bolt, was

descended by Raama- that place is indeed famous as desert of Maru* on this

earth.

 

vikhyaatham thrishu lOkEshu

madhukaanthaaram Eva cha || 2-22-39

sOshayithvaa thu tham kukshim raamO dhasaratha aathmajah

|

varam thasmai dhadhou vidhvaan

maravE~amara vikramah || 2-22-40

 

meaning: That desert of Maru

became famous in the three worlds. Raama (the son of Dhasaratha), a wise man

and a valiant man resembling a celestial, made that cavity dried up and gave a

boon to that desert of Maru.

 

pasavyascha alpa rOgascha phala muula rasaayuthah |

bahu snEhO bahu ksheerah

sugandhir vividha Oshadhih || 2-22-41

Evam Ethair guNair yukthO

bahibhih samyuthO maruh |

raamasya vara dhaanaachchha sivah panthaa

babhoova ha || 2-22-42

 

meaning: Due to granting of a boon

by Raama, that desert of Maru became the most congenial place for cattle

rearing, a place with a little of disease, producing tasty fruits and roots,

with a lot of clarified butter, a lot of milk and various kinds of sweet-

smelling herbs. Thus it became an auspicious and suitable move, bestowing these

merits.

 

Thus it is not only the samudhra

raajan – the place maru also got boons from raama – thus all got some fruits or

other – so is itnot phala manjari – a bunch of fruits – results – by the acts

of raama – thyaagaraaja selects raagam name also in a very grand manner – again

proved by this episode. Oh great –

 

Dhasan

 

-- Vasudevan MG