Post 3
Dear srivaishNava perunthagaiyeer,
Continuing the answer to the question "is seethaa powerful?" now another
question arises out of curiosity. Does raamaa recognize at any time seethaa is
powerful enough to defend herself on her own or does she needs a support from
her husband always?
I wish to hear from learned scholars in the forum.
The following will be a point I wish to present before the scholars of this
list, as a sort of reply to the question raised. Of course the scholars can say
whether this point is ok or not. Why I say that is clear from the comment below.
While seethaa is describing the kaakaasuran episode in sundhara kaaNdam to sri
hanumaan, she says to hanumaan "raama, breaking his sleep [when the blood from
my breasts fell on raamaa due to the action of kaakaasuran] said -
aaseevisha iva krudhDha: svasan vaakyam abhaashatha: || 24th slokam
kEna thE naaga naasa ooru vikshatham vai sthana antharam
ka: kreedathi sarOshEna pancha vakthrEna bhOginaa|| 25th slokam
38th sargam sundhara kaaNdam
meaning: raama, sharpened with a lot of anger, spoke this sentence [which fell]
like poison -"hey [seethaa], one who has thighs like the tusker of the
elephant, who spoilt your bosoms? Who is playing with a five-headed snake,
which is angry?
[sarOshEna - with a lot of vengeance? Or a lot of anger]
Comment: I read in a book of tamil translation - of this slOkam which reads -
unadhu maarbu evanaal thunbuRuththap pattadhu, kOpaththinaal vaai thiranthuLLa
5 thalai naagaththudan evan viLaiyaadugiRaan?".
This leaves to a doubt here, whether, raama identifies himself as the angry
five-headed snake or he means seethaa as the angry snake. That he is angry is
clear from previous slOkam - by "aaseevisha iva krudhDha:" and vaakyam
abhaashatha:. As a continuation of expression of his anger, he also takes a
grass bit and sends it as a brahmaasthram, which is well known.
But think for a moment. Here the affected party is seethaa - so it is normal to
expect she is full of anger - 'sarOshEna'. Further the word bhOginaa is
feminine gender, indicating seethaa, the female snake, and not bhOgin, which
means raama himself. So, my point here is raama recognizes "her capacity" that
she is more than capable to defend herself in case of adversity by calling her
a 5 headed snake. But she chooses to keep silent, so that he takes action,
which enhances his stature as 'saraNaagatha vathsalan'.
Another argument which can be advanced by scholars in favour of raamaa, rather
than seethaa is - In the earlier slokams, raama says to seethaa, "hey seethaa,
are you not capable to shy away even this crow?" - which means she is incapable
even to scare a crow and needs support and protection, always, from him.
But suddenly how can you say raama recognizes her capacity? My answer is that
the couple is making fun with each other. When he realizes that the damage is
already done, he recognizes her capacity as well, and uses his valour.
Another beauty of a point to prove seethaa is capable is available again in
sundhara kaaNdam - after getting a 2 months time from raavaNa seethaa says to
him -
asandhEsaath thu raamasya thapasa: cha anupaalanaath |
na thvaam kurmi dhasagreeva bhasma bhasmaarha thEjasaa || 5-22-20
dhasagreeva = O RaavaNa!
bhasma arha = (although you are) suited to be burnt into ashes
asandhEsaath = not having mandate;
raamasya = of raama;
anupaalanaath = (and) preserving
thapasa: = austerity;
na kurmi = I am not making
thvaam bhasmam = you into ashes
thEjasaa = (with my) glory.
Meaning: "O RaavaNaa! Although you are suited to be burnt into ashes, not
having the mandate of Raama and preserving austerity, I am not reducing you
into ashes with my glory."
Seethaa is very clear here in this slOkam - I do not have the mandate of raamaa
to kill you or burn you to ashes with my own capacity, for having seen me with
eyes filled with kaamam [about which she expresses in slokams 14 15, 17, and 18
of this sargam 22 of sundhara kaaNdam].
Any more doubts about the capability of seethaa please?
Dhaasan
Vasudevan m.g.
PS: sorry for delay in serving this post as I was away for more than a week on
official business as usual.
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