Then the sage told, "Ram! Indrajit was the greatest hero in the whole Lanka. He was able to bind the king of Gods, Indra. He was able to fight secretly from the clouds. Did Lakshman slay that person? Then I must say that there is no warrior in these three worlds who can equal Lakshman!"
Shri Ram became wondered, "Lord! Was Indrajit even more powerful than Kumbhakarn & Ravan? How can you praise him instead of Ravan?" Agastya said, "Raghunath! There was no warrior equivalent to Indrajit in universe. If a person could starve for 14 years, could spend sleepless nights for 14 years, & didn't look at any woman's face for 14 years, then only he could slay Indrajit!"
Shri Ram got shocked enough, "Lord! What are you saying? How it's possible? How could Lakshman starve? I gave him fruits everyday in vanavas. Sita was always with him, how could he resist his gaze at Sita's face? He lived in separate cottage, how could he spend sleepless nights during 14 years? How can I believe such impossible words?"
Agastya told, "Call him here. Lakshman will surely narrate all of his sufferings in this court." Then Ram ordered Sumantra to bring Lakshman in the court. Sumantra did so. Lakshman entered into Ram's court & touched Ram's feet.
Shri Ram asked his brother, "Give answers to my few questions. We three lived together for 14 years. How could you live without a single gaze at Sita's face? You used to bring fruits for us, did you starved yourself? You lived in a separate cottage, how could you resist your sleep for 14 years?"
Lakshman replied, "Brother! After Sita's abduction, when Sugriv showed us her ornaments, you asked me, 'Are they Sita's jewelries? Can you identify them as hers?' I couldn't identify her ornaments except the anklet. Yes, my Lord! We three lived together, but I never noticed her but her feet!
You two lived in your cottage, & I guarded the cottage with bow & arrows in my hand. When sleep came to my eyes, I hurt the Goddess of sleep (Nidra devi) with my arrow, & told her, "O Nidra devi! You have to obey my words! Don't come to me for these 14 years. When my brother Ram will sit on Ayodhya's throne as king, & queen Janaki will sit besides him, & I will stand besides them with the raj-chhatra, you may come to my eyes on that day." Lord! After your rajyabhishek, when I stood with raj-chhatra, it fell from my hand, did you notice that? Actually then Nidra devi came to my eyes according to my order! I became sleepy & couldn't resist the fall of chhatra.
This is also true that I ate nothing for 14 years. I brought fruits from forest & you divided them into three parts. Can you remember what did you tell me? You gave me fruits & told, 'hold it, dear', so I took it & kept in cottage. But you never told me, 'eat the fruits'. Brother! How could I eat without your order? I have kept all the fruits of 14 years!"
Shri Ram asked, "How have you kept them? I'm wondering hearing all of your words!" Then Lakshman asked Hanuman to bring all the fruits from forest. Hanuman went at once & found that all the fruits have been kept in the tunir (the bucket in which the arrows were kept). Seeing it Hanuman thought, "It's too small to carry, even a small monkey can do this! Then why have my Lord sent me for this negligible work? This is an injustice for me." As a result of this pride, Hanuman couldn't lift the tunir full of fruits! It became as heavy as the Shiv-dhanu! Hanuman returned to Ayodhya & told, "I can't understand why I fail to lift it!" Then Shri Ram ordered Lakshman to bring the fruits & Lakshman did so very easily.
Shri Ram ordered Lakshman to count all the fruits. Lakshman counted all fruits of 14 years, but it was found that seven day's fruits are missing from 14 year's collection! Then Shri Ram told, "Lakshman! You have surely eaten fruits on that seven days, otherwise why are they missing?"
Lakshman replied, "My Lord! Fruits have not been brought on those seven days. Those days were:-
1) The day on which we got the news of father's death.
2) The day on which Sita was abducted.
3) The day on which Indrajit bound us with Naag-pash.
4) The day on which Indrajit killed the Maya-Sita to mislead us.
5) The day on which we both were in Mahiravan's chamber in patal lok.
6) The day on which I became unconscious with shakti-shel of Ravan.
7) The day on which you destroyed Ravan & we attained victory (I forgot to bring fruits due to immense pleasure!)
On those seven days I couldn't bring fruits for you for these reasons. So you can't find seven day's fruits here.
Now believe, brother, this is true that I ate nothing for 14 years! Can you recall sage Viswamitra's advice? He gave us mantras to defeat hunger & thirst. I just obeyed him & thus became able to slay Indrajit."
Tears rolled down from Ram's eyes, he hugged Lakshman affectionately.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krittivasi_Ramayan
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Krittivasi+Ramayan
No comments:
Post a Comment