NARAYANEEYAM DASAKAM - 35 - RAMA AVATHAARAM (PART 2)

Dasakam - 35 - Rama Avathaaram (Part 2)

Meaning of Dhyana Shloka: (Eka Shloki by Poojya Guru Raghavendra Swamigal)

I worship that Shri Rama, by whose grace, Shri Hanuman, who has Lakshmi kaTAkSha (grace), playfully crossed the ocean, reached Lanka after overcoming various obstacles, who after getting the status update from Sita (wife of Rama), destroyed the forest except Ashoka Vana, the place where sita resided, destroyed the entire army (about 80 crores) headed by Akshaya Kumaran, son of Ravana, by merely displaying the power of his palm, who after meeting Ravana in his chamber and burning Lanka into ashes, returned to Rama and worshiped Shri Rama along with other monkeys.

Lord Rama got introduced to Sugreeva by Hanuman, who agrees to help Rama, if he helps him win against Bali. Rama flung the body of Asura Dhundubi with his toe  and pierced row of seven sala trees with one arrow, to prove his might to Sugreeva. He then killed mighty Vali, standing behind the tree, only because Bali treated Sugreeva unfair and with enmity. Rama stayed in the Matanga Muni ashrama during the entire rainy season tormented by the pangs of separation of wife Seeta. Rama conducted pattabhishekam for Sugreeva and instructed him to come and see him in the autumn season, but he did not come. At the prompting by Lakshmana, Sugreeva sent his army of monkeys to search for Sita. Hanuman received Signet ring and a message from Rama and set out on his search mission.

Monkeys explained the Rama charitham to Sampaathi, it grew its wings and flew higher and faster and found Sita in Lanka with its long and distant vision. With the inputs given by Sampaati, Hanuman leaped across the ocean and located her in Ashokavana, gave the ring and took choodamani in return, killed Aksha Kumara in battle, surrendered himself to Brahmasthra and got entangled in it,  during his fight with Indrajit, son of Ravana. Hamuman met Ravana and agitated with the insult made by him, set fire to Lanka and returned to ashrama quickly and gave information about Seetha and her choodamani to Rama.

Rama and Lakshmana led by Sugreeva, Angad and monkey warriors reached the shore of ocean to set out to cross to the other side of the ocean. Vibheeshana, brother of Ravana surrendered to Rama and helped in giving information about his brother's secret tactics in warfare. Samudra Rajan refused to heed to Rama's request to give way even after three days. Rama got angry and was about to pierce it with Fire missile. Scared by its effects, Samudra Rajan gave way. Soon Monkeys built a bridge across the ocean with mountains, stones and logs.  Reaching Lanka, Monkeys attacked rakshashas with teeth, claws and mountains but sooner Indrajit, son of Ravana tied Rama and Lakshmana with Nagasthra, Garuda came flapping his wings immediately, releasing both of them. 

Lakshmana killed Indrajit when he insulted his maaya shakthi. Ravana got furious and attacked Lakshmana with shakti missile. Lakshmana's breath was slowly slipping of his body and fell unconscious and was revived by herbs of Sanjeevini mountain brought by mighty Hanuman. Lakshmana killed Indrajit and Rama killed kumbakarna, brother of Ravana. Using the Ratha and armour given by Indra, Rama fought with Ravana and killed him by cutting off his row of heads by Brahmasthra. Rama accepted Seetha Maatha after she was sanctified by fire god and returned to Ayodya in a pushpaka vimana along with Vibheeshana, Hanuman and army of monkeys.

With the divyabhishekam from water brought from several holy rivers, Sage Vashishtar conducted Pattabhishekam for Rama and Seetha couple and Rama ruled the kingdom for more than 11,000 years. Seetha  became pregnant and at that time, Rama unable to bear gossip about Seetha for her stay in Ravana's kingdom from a common man in his Kingdom, decided to sacrifice her and hence, sent her to Exile. Bhattadiri as he recites this is overwhelmed with pity for her. Lavanasura was killed by Satrugana and shudra ascetic by Rama. Seetha lived in Valmiki ashrama and gave birth to twin sons Luv and Kusha. 

Rama conducted Ashwamedha Yagam. Several sages and devotees visited the yagnya gathering. Sage Valmiki attended with Luv and Kush and made them render Ramayana sweetly. Under Valmiki's advice, Rama want to take back Sita, but She called her Mother Divine Earth and entered earth. Maatha Seetha returned from where she came back. When Yama reminded Rama of the time, he must return to Vaikunta, Rama rested the responsibility of Kingdom with his sons and sacrificed Lakshmana and departed the earth by submerging in to river Sarayu with all his people, army of monkeys, Sugreeva and reached Vaikunta.

Bhattadiri says that Lord's incarnation as a human being, Rama, is to teach Mankind that excessive attachement to beings or things will lead only to sacrifice and suffering of innocent souls. He requests Lord who taught this truth to the world through his Rama avathar to cure the world of all afflictions.

PS: By reading the Rama charitham, one gets rid of the fear of death; gets liberated from the birth-death cycle; receives best things in this life - from the notes of Sengalipuram Brahmasri Anantharama Dikshithar.

Lyrics of Dasakam 35

॥ एकश्लोकी सुन्दरकाण्डम् ॥

यस्य श्रीहनुमाननुग्रह बलात्तीर्णाम्बुधिर्लीलया

लङ्कां प्राप्य निशाम्य रामदयिताम् भङ्क्त्वा वनं राक्षसान् ।

अक्षादीन् विनिहत्य वीक्ष्य दशकम् दग्ध्वा पुरीं तां पुनः

तीर्णाब्धिः कपिभिर्युतो यमनमत् तम् रामचन्द्रम्भजे ॥

इति राघवेन्द्रस्वामिविरचितं एकश्लोकी सुन्दरकाण्डं सम्पूर्णम् ।

yesya shree hanumaan anugraha balaath – theerNaam – buDhirleelayaa

lankaam praapya nishaamya raamadhayithaam Bhangktvaa vanam raakShasaan ।

akShaadheen vinihatya veekShya dhashakam dhagDhvaa pureem thaam puna:

theerNaabDhi: kapiBhiryutho yamanamath tham raamachandram Bhaje ॥

iti raaghavendrasvaami viracitam ekaSloki sundarakaandam sampoornam ।

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नीत: सुग्रीव-मैत्रीं तदनु हनुमता दुन्दुभे: कायमुच्चै:

क्षिप्त्वाङ्गुष्ठेन भूयो लुलुविथ युगपत् पत्रिणा सप्त सालान् ।

हत्वा सुग्रीव घातोद्यतम् अतुलबलं बालिनं व्याजवृत्त्या

वर्षावेलाम् अनैषी: विरहतरलित:  त्वं मतङ्गाश्रमान्ते ॥१॥

niita: sugriiva-maitriiM tadanu hanumataa dundubhe: kaayamuchchai:

kshiptvaanguShThena bhuuyO luluvitha yugapatpatriNaa sapta saalaan |

hatvaa sugriiva ghaatOdyatam atulabalaM baalinaM vyaajavR^ittyaa

varShaavelaam anaiShii: viraha taralita: tvaM matangaashramaante || 1 ||

सुग्रीवेण-अनुजोक्त्या सभयम्-अभियता व्यूहितां वाहिनीं ताम्

ऋक्षाणां वीक्ष्य दिक्षु द्रुतमथ दयिता मार्गणायावनम्राम् ।

सन्देशं चाङ्गुलीयं पवनसुतकरे प्रादिशो मोदशाली

मार्गे मार्गे ममार्गे कपिभिरपि तदा त्वत्प्रिया सप्रयासै: ॥२॥

sugriiveNa-anujOktyaa sabhayam-abhiyataa vyuuhitaaM vaahiniiM taam

tRikshaaNaaM viikshya dikshu drutamatha dayitaa maargaNaayaavanamraam |

sandesha~n chaanguliiyaM pavanasutakare praadishO mOdashaalii

maarge maarge mamaarge kapibhirapi tadaa tvatpriyaa saprayaasai: || 2 ||

त्वत्-वार्ताकर्णनोद्यत्-गरुदुरुजव सम्पाति सम्पातिवाक्य-

प्रोत्तीर्णार्णोधि: अन्तर्नगरि जनकजां वीक्ष्य दत्वाङ्गुलीयम् ।

प्रक्षुद्योद्यानम्-अक्ष क्षपणचण रण: सोढबन्धो दशास्यं

दृष्ट्वा प्लुष्ट्वा च लङ्कां झटिति स हनुमान् मौलिरत्नं ददौ ते ॥३॥

tvat-vaartaakarNanOdyat-garudurujava sampaati sampaativaakya

prOttiirNaarNOdhi: antarnagari janakajaaM viikshya datvaanguliiyam |

prakshudyOdyaanam-aksha kshapaNachaNa raNa: sODhabandhO dashaasyaM

dR^iShTvaa pluShTvaa cha lankaaM jhaTiti sa hanumaan mauliratnaM dadau te || 3 ||

त्वं सुग्रीवाङ्गदादि प्रबल कपिचमू चक्र विक्रान्तभूमी-

चक्रो-अभिक्रम्य पारे जलधि निशिचरेन्द्रानुजा श्रीयमाण: ।

तत्प्रोक्तां शत्रुवार्तां रहसि निशमयन् प्रार्थना पार्थ्य रोष-

प्रास्ताग्नेयास्त्र तेज: त्रसत्-उदधिगिरा लब्धवान् मध्यमार्गम् ॥४॥

tvaM sugriivaangadaadi prabala kapichamuu chakra vikraantabhuumii-

chakrO-abhikramya paare jaladhi nishicharendraanujaa shriiyamaaNaH |

tatprOktaaM shatruvaartaaM rahasi nishamayan praarthanaa paarthya rOSha-

praastaagneyaastra teja: trasat-udadhigiraa labdhavaan madhyamaargam || 4 ||

कीशै: आशान्तरोपा हृत गिरिनिकरै: सेतुमाधाप्य यातो

यातून्यामर्द्य दंष्ट्रा नख शिखरि शिला सालशस्त्रै: स्व सैन्यै: ।

व्याकुर्वन् सानुजस्त्वं समरभुवि परं विक्रमं शक्र जेत्रा

वेगान् नागास्त्र बद्ध: पतग पतिगरुन् मारुतै: मोचितोऽभू: ॥५॥

kiishai: aashaantarOpaa: hR^ita giri nikarai: setumaadhaapya yaatO

yaatuunyaamardya damShTraa nakha shikhari shilaa saalashastrai: svasainyai: |

vyaakurvan saanujastvaM samarabhuvi paraM vikramaM shakra jetraa

vegaan naagaastrabaddha: pataga patigarun maarutai: mOchitO(a)bhu: || 5 ||

सौमित्रिस्तु  अत्र शक्ति प्रहृतिगलदसु वात जानीतशैल-

घ्राणात् प्राणानुपेतो व्यकृणुत कुसृति श्लाघिनं मेघनादम् ।

मायाक्षोभेषु वैभीषण वचन हृत स्तम्भन: कुम्भकर्णं

सम्प्राप्तं कम्पित-उर्वीतलम्-अखिल-चमू-भक्षिणं व्यक्षिणोस्त्वम् ॥६॥

saumitristu atra shakti prahR^itigaladasu vaata jaaniita shaila-

ghraaNaat praaNaanupetO vyakR^iNuta kusR^iti shlaaghinaM meghanaadam |

maayaakshObheShu vaibhiiShaNa vachana hR^ita stambhana: kumbhakarNaM

sampraaptaM kampita-urviitalam-akhila-chamuu-bhakshiNaM vyakshiNOstvam || 6 ||

गृह्णन् जम्भारि संप्रेषित रथकवचौ रावणेनाभियुद्ध्यन्

ब्रह्मास्त्रेणास्य भिन्दन् गलततिम् अबलाम्-अग्निशुद्धां प्रगृह्णन् ।

देव-श्रेणीवर उज्जीवित समरमृतै: अक्षतै: ऋक्षसङ्घै:

र्लङ्काभर्त्रा च साकं निजनगरम्-अगा: सप्रिय: पुष्पकेण ॥७॥

gR^ihNan jambhaari sampreShita rathakavachau raavaNenaabhiyudhyan |

brahmaastreNaasya bhindan galatatim abalaam agnishuddhaaM pragR^ihNan |

deva-shreNiivara ujjiivita samaramR^itai: akshatai: R^ikshasanghai:

laNkaabhartraa cha saakaM nijanagaram-agaaH sapriya: puShpakeNa || 7 ||

प्रीतो दिव्याभिषेकै: अयुतसमधिकान् वत्सरान् पर्यरंसी-

र्मैथिल्यां पापवाचा शिव! शिव! किल तां गर्भिणीम्-अभ्यहासी: ।

शत्रुघ्नेन-अर्दयित्वा लवण निशिचरं प्रार्दय: शूद्रपाशं

तावत्-वाल्मीकि-गेहे कृतवसति: उपासूत सीता सुतौ ते ॥८॥

priitO divyaabhiShekai: ayutasamadhikaan vatsaraan paryaramsii-

maithilyaaM paapavaachaa shiva shiva kila taaM garbhiNiim-abhyahaasii: |

shatrudhnena-ardayitvaa lavaNa nishicharaM praardaya: shuudrapaashaM

taavat-vaalmiiki-gehe kR^itavasati: upaasuuta siitaa sutau te || 8 ||

वाल्मीके: त्वत् सुतोद्गापित मधुरकृते राज्ञया यज्ञवाटे

सीतां त्वय्याप्तु कामे क्षितिम अविशदसौ त्वं च कालार्थितोऽभू: ।

हेतो: सौमित्रिघाती स्वयमथ सरयू-मग्न निश्शेष भृत्यै:

साकं नाकं प्रयातो निजपदम्-अगमो देव वैकुण्ठम्-आद्यम् ॥९॥

vaalmiike: tvat sutOdgaapita madhurakR^ite raaj~nayaa yaj~navaaTe

siitaaM tvayyaaptu kaame kshitim avishadasau tvaM cha kaalaarthitO(a)bhuu: |

hetO: saumitrighaatii svayamatha sarayuu-magna-nishsheSha-bhR^ityai:

saakaM naakaM prayaatO nijapadam-agamO deva vaikuNTam-aadyam || 9 ||

सोऽयं मर्त्यावतार: तव खलु नियतं मर्त्य शिक्षार्थमेवं

विश्लेषार्ति: र्निराग: त्यजनम्-अपि भवेत् काम-धर्म-अतिसक्त्या ।

नो चेत् स्वात्मानुभूते: क्व नु तव मनसो विक्रिया चक्रपाणे

स त्वं सत्त्वैकमूर्ते पवनपुरपते व्याधुनु व्याधि-तापान् ॥१०॥

sO(a)yaM martyaavataara: tava khalu niyataM martya shikshaarthamevaM

vishleShaarti: niraaga: tyajanam-api bhavet kaama-dharma-ati saktyaa |

nO chet svaatmaanubhuute: kva nu tava manasO vikriyaa chakrapaaNe

sa tvaM satvaikamuurte pavanapurapate vyaadhunu vyaadhi-taapaan || 10 ||

-------Sri Krishnarpanam-------