Namaste!
Recap from last week: Rama and Lakshmana leave with Sage Vishwamithra to save his Yagna.
Rama and Lakshmana with their bows and arrows walked behind their Guru, Sage Vishwamithra. When they followed their Guru neither of them asked any questions as how far is the place or what is the means of transport or when they would return and not even how dangerous were the demons. Such was their surrender to their Guru. They knew he would take them, they knew he would protect them. All they cared was to follow him and his orders because their Father asked them to do so. That is the devotion or trust that every child should learn about.
Looking at their devotion and respect, the sage was pleased and asked Rama and Lakshmana to do their achamana and come so that he can teach two greatest vidyas called BALA and ATHIBALA. He said, "Rama, these Bala and Athibala vidyas that I teach you now will save you from being tired, being sleepy, being sick, being thirsty and hungry and will make you powerful and intelligent at all times you need". Saying so he taught them the two mantras.
After that, they had their dinner and put down a bed made from dried grass and sage asked them to sleep. Would they? Children of an emperor who are used to sleep in Hamsa- thulika- talpas (plush comfortable beds these days may be) could they sleep on that mere grass bed? Yes they did, again because of their trust in their Guru and because their father asked them to obey their Guru.
In the morning Sage Vishwamithra woke up at 3 am, the Brahmi muhurtham as usual and did his daily rituals and he noticed that both the kids were still sleeping. He was amazed by the beauty of the kids sleeping there. He felt like a grandfather looking at his grandkids, with uncontrollable love towards the kids, he uttered a poem asking them to wake up. This poem is familiar to us and we have grown up listening to this. It is the crown of Suprabhatam.
He sang,
"Kousalya supraja Rama Purva sandhya pravarthathe |
Uthishta nara shardhula kartavyam daivamahnikam || "
(O beautiful son of Rama, wake up, the sun is up in the sky
wake up o greatest of human beings it is your duty to do sandhya vandanam)
He sang, O beautiful son of Kousalya, Rama wake up. Why couldn't he sing "Dasharatha Supraja Rama"?. It is because of the thoughts that were going through his mind when he saw Rama. Kousalya never felt that she only should have kids but she felt the King should be a father and have a son. That is why she never said a word when he married Sumitra or Kaikeyi or the other 360 wives. She never objected him, She did a lot of vratas and pujas so that her husband would be blessed with a son. She never felt bad when he never came to her palace and stayed only at Kaikeyi's. She was such a noble lady. When Vishwamithra asked Dasharatha to send his sons, King was hesitant but Kousalya never said a word, she had utmost faith in the sage. With all those thoughts in mind, he sang- Kousalya supraja Rama...
Both kids woke up and finished their rituals and followed their Guru to travel further. At one time during their travel, they saw a big forest that was dark and had no human dwelling. After observing the surroundings Rama asked a question. "Bhagavan, why are there crickets (insects) here? Why are there so many Bhasa birds? why are there only wild animals around? why are there no humans here? Why is it like this? please explain."
Vishwamithra pleased by his disciple's interest and respect answered " O Rama, listen as I tell the story of this place. Once upon a time, Lord Indra killed a demon named Vruthrasura but this demon was a brahmin and so Indra has acquired the sin "Brahma hathya pathaka"and thus he inherited severe hunger and diseases. So he went to sages to get rid of these diseases and hunger. So sages washed him from his sins with sacred water and where these waters have flown on Earth, Indra blessed those lands with humans and happiness and named the places "Malada" and "Karusha". Soon Malada and Karusha were full with people and happiness but a female demon named "Thaataka" occupied these regions. She had the power of thousand elephants and her husband was "Sundha" and son "Maareecha". These three killed and scared people from this place."
Rama then asked, "Bhagavan, who is this Thaataka and why does she have so much power, what have the humans done for her to scare away everyone from this place. Please tell me."
Vishwamithra said, "She is the daughter of a yaksha named "Sukethu" and with a boon from Brahma she had so much power. Once Sage Agasthya killed her husband- Sundha and hence to take revenge, she and her son killed everyone they found so people ran away from here. O Rama, do not think twice that she is a lady, she is demon, she will come here now, go ahead and kill her!"
Saying so he was waiting for Rama's reply, he was waiting if Rama would say no or get scared and run away. Surprising and pleasing him Rama said, "O sir, I obey my father's words, all he said was to obey every order of yours so I will kill her. You are my Guru and you are everything to me, that is why I will kill her. I am a prince and saving people and cattle is my duty, that is why I will kill her."
Then came Thaataka, she put up a great fight with Rama and Lakshmana. Considering her to be a woman, he first considered cutting her hands and legs, still she did not stop and so Lakshmana cut off her nose and ears, still she did not stop and so with a thundering arrow, Rama killed her. Gods came down to bless them, a flower shower happened.
Precap next week: Rama and Lakshmana protect the yaaga and acquire astras.
Sai Ram
Vipanchi Krishna.
