Epics

Sten Knonow, however, opines that Śūdraka must have been another name for the king of ābhīras called Śiva-datta and this king is known to have lived in the third century CE. The primary evidence he draws to support his argument is the fact that in the play, we see a character named Āryaka, the son of Gopāla, eventually replacing King Pālaka on the throne. The ābhīras were cowherds (gopālas) and thus, the conclusion drawn by Sten Knonow. This does not sound reasonable.

Rāma’s messengers quickly conveyed the message to Sage Vālmīki. The maharṣi said, “So be it! A husband is a wife’s divinity. Sītā will act in a way that Rāghava is satisfied.” Rāma was happy to hear the maharṣi’s message. He declared that Sītā’s śapatha – test of purity would take place the next day and those interested in witnessing it may assemble.

Lakṣmaṇa described to Rāma the glory of the aśvamedha and narrated the story of Indra vanquishing Vṛtrāsura. Upon performing the aśvamedha to Bhagavān Viṣṇu, Indra got rid of his fear of brahmahatyā doṣa, which he had acquired upon killing the rākṣasa. Brahmahatyā then took residence in four different places – first, as froth in rivers; second, as latex in trees; third, as menstrual blood in youthful women; and fourth, in those who kill the brāhmaṇas.

Lakṣmaṇa, whose mind was distressed after dropping off Sītā on the banks of the river Gaṅgā, watched her being taken into the āśrama. He told his counsellor and charioteer Sumantra, “Just imagine how much pain Rāma might be experiencing on account of Sītā’s agony. Can there be any greater suffering for Rāghava after he has sent away Janaka’s daughter of flawless character? It is evident that this separation of Rāma from Sītā is a play of the daiva – fate.

Upon hearing the words of the sage, Rāma said, “There is no match for Hanūmān’s valour, commitment, sincerity, and strength. He found Jānakī in Laṅkā, reduced the city to ashes, and killed innumerable rākṣasas in the battle that broke out thereafter. If not for him, I could have never recovered Sītā and vanquished Rāvaṇa. When the hostility broke out between Vālī and Sugrīva, why didn’t Hanūmān merely burn up Vālī? Tell me everything about this great vānara!”

Even after having been cursed by Anaraṇya, Rāvaṇa continued to torment the worlds. Devarṣi Nārada warned him against it, but the rākṣasa paid no heed to the muni’s words. Learning of Rāvaṇa’s intentions to conquer Yama-loka, Nārada rushed to Yama’s abode and alerted him of the danger of the rākṣasa. Even as Nārada was speaking to Yama, Rāvaṇa started attacking the place mounted on his puṣpaka-vimāna. Yama’s men subdued the rākṣasas and grievously wounded them.

Many ṛṣis from around the world came to congratulate and bless Rāma for his victory against the rākṣasas. The ṛṣis specifically extolled Rāma’s victory over Indrajit. When Rāma asked them what was so special about Indrajit, Agastya started narrating the story of Rāvaṇa’s lineage.

Maheśvara was extremely pleased hearing the glorious words of Rāghava. He told Rāma, “Thanks to good fortune, you have vanquished your enemy and regained your beloved. You must now head back to Ayodhyā and console the queen-mothers. Ensure that you continue the lineage of the Ikṣvākus and perform the aśvamedha. After donating your wealth to the brāhmaṇas, you may ascend the svarga. Look here, your father, Daśaratha has appeared in a vimāna; you may salute him now!”  Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa bowed down to their father.

Hanūmān told Rāma, “Queen Maithilī, who has been tormented by grief all this while, was overcome with immense joy upon hearing of your victory. She wishes to see her husband along with Lakṣmaṇa.” Rāma, who was addressed thus by Hanūmān appeared to turn gloomy and tearful. Heaving heavy sighs, he spoke to Vibhīṣaṇa staring at the ground. He said, “Have Sītā decked in divine ornaments and celestial unguents, with her hair freshly washed. Hurry!”

ಜಗತ್ತಿನಲ್ಲಿ ನಮ್ಮ ಇರವೆಂಬ ಭವಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದ್ದು ಭಾವ. ಮಾನವನ ನಿಜವಾದ ಗುರುತು ಭಾವವೇ; ಭಾವ ಉಳ್ಳವನು ಎಂಬುದೇ ಅವನ ಸರಿಯಾದ ಲಕ್ಷಣ. ವೈಯಕ್ತಿಕ ಇಷ್ಟಾನಿಷ್ಟಗಳಿಂದ ರೂಪುಗೊಳ್ಳುವ ಭಾವಗಳು ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥದ ವಿವಿಧ ಮುಖಗಳು, ಅದಕ್ಕಿರುವ ಬಗೆಬಗೆಯ ನೆಲೆಗಳು. ಸ್ವಾರ್ಥದ ಸೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಿಲುಕಿದ ಜೀವಕ್ಕೆ ಯೋಗಕ್ಷೇಮಗಳೇ ಮುಖ್ಯವಾಗಿ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನ ವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ ದೂರವಾಗುತ್ತದೆ. ಚಿತ್ತವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ ಇಲ್ಲದ ಬದುಕು ಬರಡಾಗುತ್ತದೆ; ಬೇಗದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಬೇಸರ ತರಿಸಿ ಅಸಹ್ಯ ಎನಿಸುತ್ತದೆ. ನಿತ್ಯದ ಬದುಕಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಚಿತ್ತವಿಶ್ರಾಂತಿ ನಮಗೆ ಕಂಡುಬರುವುದು ಗಾಢನಿದ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ. ಆಗ ನಾವು ನಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ನೆಲೆಗೊಂಡು ಆನಂದವನ್ನು ಅನುಭವಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ. ಹೀಗೆ ದೊರೆತ ಆನಂದವು ನಿದ್ರೆಯಿಂದ ಎಚ್ಚೆತ್ತ ಕೂಡಲೆ ಕಣ್ಮರೆಯಾಗುತ್ತದೆ.