I mentioned this in my earlier mail.
==========
- The bow given by Sage Agasthya was not used by Rama. This was used by
Lakshmana, in the killing of Indrajit. This is mentioned by Kamban. And here
are the Romanised version of the verses.
- Rama hands over this bow to Lakshmana when he starts for the destruction of
Nikumbila. The second verse very clearly mentions that the bow was given by
Sage Agastya.
- Rama started using the bow given by Parasurama during the battle with Kara
(Kara-Dhooshana). The bow that he was using until then breaks during the
battle, Varuna appears and hands over the bow given by Parasurama. This is
mentioned in Kamban.
==========
I wish to cite Slokas from parallel scenes in Valmiki, which speak about the
use of particular bows by Rama as well as Lakshmana.
While speaking about the commencement of battle with Khara, Valmiki says thus:
sa sharaiH arpitaH kruddhaH sarva gaatreSu raaghavaH
raraaja samare raamo vidhuumo agnir iva jvalan
(Aranya Kanda, Sarga 28, Sloka 19)
Meaning: Rama was enraged when all his limbs were pierced with (Khara's)
arrows. He shone like a flame devoid of smoke.
tato gambhiira nirhraadam raamaH shatru nibarhaNaH
cakaara antaaya sa ripoH sajyam anyan mahat dhanuH
(Ibid, Sloka 20)
Meaning: Then Sri Rama the exterminator of his foes, strung ANOTHER MIGHTY BOW
which made a deep sound, to bring about the end of his enemy.
Note the words 'anyan mahat dhanuH' another mighty bow.
Then Valmiki says something more about the bow in the next sloka.
sumahat vaiSNavam yat tat atisRiSTam maharSiNaa
varam tat dhanuH udyamya kharam samabhidhaavata
Meaning: Raising that excellent and very mighty bow belonging to Lord Vishnu,
that had been gifted by the eminent sage, he darted towards Khara.
The word 'maharSiNaa' - great sage - is interpreted as Agastya by some
scholars. However, as we saw in my earlier mail, Kamban mentions this bow to
be the one given by Parasurama. He mentions the name directly. 'paNdu pOr
mazhuvaLiyaip paNbinaal koNda villai varuNan koduththanan.' Varuna (brought
and) gave the bow that Rama (earlier) took from the axe-bearer (Parasurama).'
Kamban was himself a well-versed scholar of Valmiki.
Then, about the use of 'another bow' when Lakshmana starts for destruction of
Nikumbila, Valmiki says this:
rAgavasya vachah shruthva lakshmanah sa vibishanah
jagraaha kaarmukha sreshtam anyad bhima parAkramah
(Yuddhakanda, Canto 85, Sloka 24)
Meaning: Hearing the command of Sri Rama, Lakshmana of redoubtable prowess, who
was accompanied by Vibishana, took up ANOTHER BOW, the foremost of bows.
Kamban mentions this as the bow given by Agastya. I have quoted the relevant
verses in my earlier mail.
Another thing. This Narayana dhanus came to the hands of Vidura, later. When
the preparations for war was on and when Krishna played the ambassador on
behalf of the Pandavas, Duryodhana was enraged to hear that Krishna was
received by Vidura and chided him. Vidura was vexed. 'sol iraNdu pugalEn,' he
said. I won't change my decision. 'ini samaril nindru vem kaNai thodEn.' I
will not stand in the battlefield, and touch a fiery arrow any more. 'enA'
saying thus, 'vil iraNdinum uyarndha vil adhanai,' he took his bow, that was
the best of the two (that is, Siva Dhanus and Vishnu Dhanus) 'vEru iraNdu pada
vettinAn,' and broke it into two. (What I have quoted is a verse from Villi
Bharatam.)
Anbudan,
Hari Krishnan
----- Original Message -----
From: vasudevan m.g.
To: SriRangaSri@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Tuesday, December 14, 2004 9:49 AM
Subject: [SriRangaSri] bow's story - post 12
Post 12
Now the question of which is `kOthandam' ? which vishNu dhanu:? Is a
big point for debate. For sage vaalmeeki is not mentioning this name
whenever raama is using his bow. He merely says dhanu:. So what is
kOthandam and where from this name came is a point. I invite learned
in the group to offer points on this.
Dhaasan
Vasudevan m.g.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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