Sai message for the day

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Millions revere the illustrious characters in the itihasas of Bharat,

for these have stirred their hearts, inspired their devotion, and

offered them refuge. When, taking pity on us, you explain these

figures, they appear so novel, and awesome. They come alive, swaying

our hearts with their nobility and majesty. I have a question. At the

end of the Great War, Lakshmana proposes to Rama that they should

settle down in the golden Lanka Kingdom saying, " Bharata is ruling

Ayodhya, elder brother! Let us make this charming Lanka our permanent

abode! " Is Lakshmana infatuated by riches and pomp?

 

Not at all. Kaikeyi desired that Rama should be sent to the forest.

There was no need for Lakshmana to accompany him. Voluntarily

Lakshmana gave up royal pleasures and luxuries, and left behind his

noble wife, considering serving Rama day and night his chief duty.

Therefore, Lakshmana stands as a symbol of total surrender. This

proposal of Lakshmana to rule Lanka is significant for it had

occasioned Rama's response, a clear message to humanity. Rama

countered Lakshmana's suggestion with these words: " janani

janmabhumis'ca svargadapi gariyas , mother and motherland are greater

than even Heaven " . Even if your mother is ugly, does she cease to be

your mother? Just because she is beautiful, does a stranger become

your mother?

 

Lakshmana's suggestion bore fruit as Rama's vitally patriotic message

to the world. Is it not Lakshmana's proposal, " Ramachandra! Now you

can rule golden Lanka, can't you? " that prompted Rama to hold up an

ideal for the world to emulate? It happened just this way, and not as

though Lakshmana was ever infatuated by riches and luxury.

 

Lakshmana's devotion to Rama is unbounded. Once, Lakshmana saw at

some distance from their hermitage a column of dust rising to the

sky. Lakshmana climbed a tree close by, and noticed far away Bharata

at the head of an army with its four units - infantry, cavalry,

elephants, and war chariots . He said to Rama, " O elder brother! Not

content with sending us to the forest, Bharata is coming even to this

place contemplating harm to us and bringing along all four arms of

military might. " Rama gently remonstrated Lakshmana for his remarks

and explained that Bharata was coming in a procession with a prayer

to Rama to take back the kingdom. In this situation, you may get the

impression that Lakshmana is quickly incensed. Such a conclusion is

not fair. To pray to Rama to take back the kingdom, could not Bharata

come alone? Why should he be accompanied by a huge army with its four

arms? This is what roused Lakshmana's suspicion, and not his hasty

judgement, as you may suppose. But that was not Bharata's fault

either. When he set out to pray to Rama to rule Ayodhya, the rishis,

the armed forces, and several leaders followed him for the dars'an of

Rama. Thus, Bharata is not to blame. Today, it is very necessary to

appreciate rightly the characters drawn in our epics and puranas,

their motives, the wellsprings of their action, as well as their

grandeur, solemnity and generosity. You should not ascribe your

attitudes to those characters.