||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 6 - Aranya Kandam

 

Rama’s meeting with Sage Agasthya

Rama prepared to leave to the hermitage of Sage Agasthya was enthusiastically followed by the Sage Sutheekshna who expressed his desire to meet his preceptor after a long time. The Supreme Lord Rama who is Kripanidhu understood the desire of Sage Sutheekshna to be with him. Rama and Lakshmana smiled affectionately at the Sage and followed him. All their way, they have engaged in the discussion on the topic of devotion to the supreme Lord, finally arrived in the hermitage of Sage Agasthya. Sage Sutheekshna prostrated before the sage Agasthya and spoke “Oh! Mahamune, the supreme Lord Rama who is Jagadhadhara, son of King Dhasharatha, has arrived to meet you. Oh! Swami, whose name is always contemplated and meditated by you, has arrived with Devi Sita and Lakshman to meet you.” Sage Agasthya could not control his happiness rushed to meet Rama, his eyes welled up watching the compassionate Lord Hari, and fallen at the feet of both the brothers, was raised and embraced by them. The highly intelligent Sage Agasthya engaged in various conversations with them, offered raised seats, and worshiped them and highly praised his fortune to see them in the woods. All the Sages assembled were extremely happy to see Rama and Lakshman who took a center seat among them; it was like a group of Chakora bird yearningly watching at the autumn moon.

                                       

 

Raghuveera began to speak “Oh! Mune, I have nothing to hide from you, Oh! Thatha, you know everything and the reason for my arrival in the woods. Therefore I need not explain them all, kindly enlighten me with the glorious hymns that could be helpful to destroy the enemies of the Sages and Rishis in the woods.” Sage Agasthya smiled at him affectionately, and spoke “Oh! Vathsa, why did you ask me? I have learned a minuscule portion of your splendor with the devotion at your lotus feet, your Maya is like a colossal Udhumbara tree, and the fruits of this tree are numerous worlds, and the worms in the fruits are Jeeva and creatures/living and non-living things in the worlds. They do not know other than the fruits, and the fruits get destroyed in the intervention of dreadful demon-like time, even that ‘Time’ gets terrified of your valor. You are the commander of all the worlds, and you are acting like an ordinary human being before me, and request for advice. Oh! Kripanidhe, I shall request a boon from you, kindly reside in my heart with Sita and Lakshman permanently. Kindly bless me to have intense devotion and faith at your lotus feet, and bless me to achieve Bhakti, Gnana and Vairagya, and constant association with the saintly men and Sages. Oh! Bhagavan, you are eternal and supreme Bhramam, you are attainable for Rishis, sages, and ascetics; you are sought after by the Vairagin, with constant contemplation and meditation, Oh! Prabho, I have drenched in the marvelous Sagunaroopa of you. You are compassionate to your ardent devotees, Oh! Raghuram, you are humble and pleasant, that is the reason you are asking for advice. Oh! Prabho, there is the most beautiful and stunningly attractive place in the wood known as Panchavati, which is under the curse of Sage Shukracharya,  kindly remove the curse of Shukracharya on Dhandakavanam and purify it. Oh! Prabho, Oh! Raghava, kindly reside in Dhandakavanam and shower your kindness and compassion to all those ascetics, Rishis and Sages in the woods.” Thus, Prabhu Rama along with Devi Sita and Lakshmana bade farewell to Sage Agasthya and proceeded to the woods of Panchavati.