Sai message for the day

[Guest guest]

Speaking of the Ramayana, is there a mention of things resolved by

God's grace and God's grace alone? How did the characters manifest

this in the course of the narrative?

 

Roughly, the Ramayana speaks of three things: papa, s'apa, and tapa,

sin, curse, and suffering. Of these, two can be set right only though

God's grace. What are those two? Sin and curse. In no other way can

these be expiated. Mandodari, the wife of Ravana, knew that Sita was

kept a prisoner in the Asoka garden and also that Ravana made her

quake with fear. But, she could not set her free. In spite of

realising Rama's divinity, Mandodari could offer no solace or

happiness to Sita. This was only because she regarded Sita as an

ordinary woman. This is sinful. Ahalya presents an instance of the

second kind. Transgressing discipline, she became a victim of

Gautama's curse: Release from both sin and curse can be had only

through the grace of God. The third is misery or agony. Sabari tried

to meet Rama. She spent long years thinking of Rama. Her desire to

see Rama directly with her own eyes subjected her to extreme anguish.

Such anguish is, indeed, penance. In this way, the Ramayana speaks of

sin, curse, and suffering. One should grasp subtle secrets like these.

 

The demon Subahu attempted to harm Rama and Lakshmana with the help

of fourteen. Which are these fourteen? These include the five organs

of action, the five organs of perception, the mind, the intellect,

the inner consciousness, and egoism. In that hour, Rama ordered Sita

and Lakshmana to remain inside the cave. What is meant by the cave?

The impregnable human heart. Thus are to be appreciated the

subtleties of dharma.