Dear Sri vaishnava perunthagaiyeer,
In the previous 15 posts, we saw 'lakshmaNa' donning 8 roles. The discussion on the 9 th role of 'the emissary' is continuing. Just for recollection, latest 2 of the different roles we discussed are
aham asya avara: bhraathaa guNai: dhaasyam upaagatha: |
kruthajnasya bahujnasya lakshmaNO naama naamatha: || 4-4-12
meaning: [lakshmaNa to hanumaan] - I am the one, who obtained servitude, by the characteristics of this faithful and knowledgeable one [raama]. I am his younger brother. I am named LakshmaNa.
Point: 1. See here – though asked to play the emissary role, lakshmaNa's servant role also comes into play, by that constant consciousness of the srivaishNava 'I am a servant of raama', and that dhaasathvam is being expressed, with pride to a stranger, by lakshmaNa [hanumaan at that moment is absolutely a new person to the duo – meeting for the first time] – a proof yet again – by that 'kainkarya sri' – lakshmaNO lakshmi sampanna: |
2. Just compare this, with how lakshmaNa introduced himself to that sishya of sage agasthya, when he undertook the same role of emissary –
lakshmaNO naama thasya aham bhraathaa thu avarajO hitha: |
anukoola: cha bhaktha: cha yadhi thE s rOthram aagatha: || 3-12-3
meaning: I am his loyal, dedicated, and adherent younger brother named LakshmaNa, if ever you have heard of us.
3. Dear readers – analyse why this difference between two situations in the same roleplay.
Earlier - the sishya, to whom lakshmaNa introduced himself, had a guru in agasthya, and thereby a dhaasan already to the guru agasthya, and not to raama. Perhaps lakshmaNa was sure that sishya is not going to become a competitor to himself in his 'dhaasathvam' to raama – or sishya not going to aspire raama as his guru. So that "dhaasan slot's exclusive rights" are reserved for lakshmaNa only. That position continued at least for 12 years. Hence the 'emissary and brother' was in forefront in lakshmaNa's speech then.
Also see that assertion – if ever you have heard of us – that tone gives an indication, 'we are in the forest now for some time and already you might have heard about us' or perhaps your guru's brother may have sent you information about us visiting your guru etc.
Now: LakshmaNa has a guru in raama [as said by lakshmaNa in slokam 4-4-20 quoted below] and a dhaasan to raama [slokam 4-4-12 above]. Since as raama said hanumaan as a learned one of vEdhaas etc, lakshmaNa might have thought, hanumaan is not in need of raama as a guru to him and lakshmaNa's guru is exclusively for him alone.
Hanumaan is yet to become a dhaasan of raama – so lakshmaNa indicates indirectly to hanumaan, 'I have my guru in raama and am already filling that 'dhaasan' slot for so many years and well trained in that role, and am pleased with that role. So you, Mr.Hanumaan, please do not become a competitor for that slot right now – let that exclusive rights remain with me, later after you clearly understand more about my raama, perhaps then you can also become his dhaasan'. That is all about the difference in approach in introduction.
thasya thadh vachanam sruthvaa lakshmaNO raama chOdhitha: |
aachachakshe mahaathmaanam raamam dhasaratha aathmajam || 4-4-5
meaning: On hearing the words of Hanumaan, LakshmaNa, motivated by Raama, narrated about the great soul Raama, the son of Dasharatha. [and continued the story till seethaa was lost and how khabandhan guided the two to meet sugreeva]
Etat thE sarvam aakhyaatham yaathaa thath yEna pruchChhatha: |
aham chaiva cha raama: cha sugreevam saraNam gathou || 4-4-17
meaning: lakshmaNa continued, 'All this is informed to you, as it is, and as you have asked, myself and Raama, we, now, have our recourse to Sugreeva alone'.
sarva lOkasya dharmaathmaa saraNya: saraNam puraa |
gurur mE raaghava: sO~ayam sugreevam saraNam gatha: || 4-4-20
meaning: lakshmaNa continued, 'He, who is a virtuous one and protector of all the world, and who is the only refuge for all in earlier times, such a Raaghava, my mentor, is now seeking refuge with Sugreeva'.
sOka abhibhoothE raamE thu sOka aarthE saraNam gathE |
karthum arhathi sugreeva: prasaadham saha yoodhapai: || 4-4-24
meaning: Lakshmana said thus to Hanumaan, "One who is rebuffed by sadness, and even agonised by it had already sought refuge, hence it is apt of Sugreeva to do the favour in Raama's respect along with other vaanara commanders".
evam bruvaaNam soumithrim karuNam sa a sru paathanam |
hanumaan prathi uvaacha idham vaakyam vaakya vi saaradha: || 4-4-25
meaning: Hanumaan, the eminently lettered, said this, [as in 4-4-26] in his return to Lakshmana, who is telling that [whatever stated above] piteously with tears falling out.
point: see the reaction of lakshmaNa – tears rolls out when he says that his raama has to surrender to sugreeva – a servant does not definitely likes his master to fall at some other's feet except the guru. So thinking about that lakshmaNa sheds tears – oh what a poor condition now my master is in, to surrender to some unknown person – that is the real nature of a true servant.
eedhrus aa budhdhi sampannaa jithakrOdhaa jithEindhriyaa: |
dhrashTavyaa vaanarEindhrENa dhishTyaa dar sanam aagathaa: || 4-4-26
meaning: hanumaan says to lakshmaNa, 'Intellectuals of your kind, who have conquered anger and senses are to be seen by the chief of monkeys Sugreeva, for your advent is godsend.
Point: see here one intellectual praising the other. Perhaps now you, dear readers, will agree that why that special word 'vaakyajna' was used to identify lakshmaNa.
Thus both the emissaries came to an agreement easily that both their kings can help each other in achieving both their missions [for sugreeva it is kingdom and his wife, for raama his wife] and then hanuman says to raama, 'let us go and meet sugreeva'. Then the role comes to an end.
Evam bruvantham dharmaathmaa hanoomantham sa lakshmaNa: |
prathipoojya yathaa nyaayam idham prOvaacha raaghavam || 4-4-30
meaning: Hanumaan when said thus virtuous LakshmaNa adored him customarily in the way befitting to an envoy, and spoke this to Raama.
Conclusion: [So the emissaries greeted each other and closed their roles thus in a glorious way].
Clarification: Perhaps you may ask, why so much elaboration is not given in previous emissary role of lakshmaNa? Actually there, once the sishya and lakshmaNa met each other, and the sage granted permission in meeting raama, saying, 'I am eager to meet him', there is no more role to play for both side emissaries. Also as stated in the protocol article, sage agasthya has to become guru for raama. So in meeting a guru, even by a king, the emissary's role is limited.
Whereas here it is a real meeting between two kings and with a definite purpose of a 'mutual help' between the two, so the roles are big and elaboration is also more.
uchyathaam gachCha sugreeva: thvayaa veera: mahaa bala |
mama rOshasya yath roopam brooyaa: cha Enam idham vacha: || 4-30-80
na sa sankuchitha: panthaa yEna vaalee hathO gatha: |
samayE tishTha sugreeva maa vaali patham anvagaa: || 4-30-81
meaning: Oh, great-mighty LakshmaNa, you may proceed to Kishkindhaa and let Sugreeva know through you, as to how my fury takes shape, and oh, brave one, he may be told this word also, 'Oh, Sugreeva, abide by your commitment. The path by which slain Vaali has gone is not tapered off, as such do not tread Vaali's path'.
Let us see in next post how lakshmaNa acts and reacts to this.
Dhaasan
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