||Sri Ram Jeyram Jay Jay Ram ||

 

Chapter – 16 – Aranya Kandam

 

 The concluding part of Aranya Kandam - The characteristics of a Sadhu/saintly men/ascetic

Maharishi Narada prostrated before Prabhu and prayed with folded hands “Oh! Prabho, Oh! Raghunayaka, kindly listen, you are extremely generous, you are easily attainable for the virtuous, and you are the provider of an abundance of boons to your ardent devotees. Oh! Prabho, Kindly provide a boon to me as well. You are Antharyami, who is aware of all.” Rama spoke pleasantly “Oh! Munivara, you know me very well, I do not hide anything from the devotees, Oh! Munishreshta, what is that I have possessed which is not able to give?” Maharishi Narada became happy “Oh! Prabho, you have endless sacred names, Veda eulogizes you in various names, all those names are highly auspicious, Oh! Prabho, the glorious name ‘Rama’ is capable to kill all those accumulated sins of the worshiper, like the hunter kills the mass of birds. Let that glorious name ‘Rama’ shines like the full moon in the cloudless heart of your devotees, and let all other names sparkle like the stars.” The Supreme Lord who is extremely compassionate replied “Let it be”.

 

Maharishi Narada continues “Oh! Rama, listen to me, you have persuaded your Maya upon me, and I have fallen at the beauty of Vishwamohini and wanted to marry her. Why did you put a sudden halt to it?” The supreme Lord spoke “Oh! Mune, I protect my devotees from the troubles, who always contemplate upon me, and sing in praise of me, like a mother protects her child. If a child runs after fire or serpent, the mother cannot keep quiet, she will chase the child to protect it. Once, the child attains adulthood, it starts to love the mother not like before. The Gnanis/intellectuals/wise is my grown-up children, and the humble devotees are my infants. My devotees are dependent on me, Gnani depends on his prowess and knowledge, and these two have to fight against the Kama and Krodha like enemies. The intellectuals contemplate upon me, even after attaining wisdom, they do not leave devotion upon me.”

 

Rama continues “ Oh! Mune, the intellectuals speak about Sthree elaborately.  Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, and Madha are warriors of ignorance, but the Mayaroopini/Sthree is extremely pathetic and sorrowful as well. The sacred scriptures, Veda, and ascetics speaks the ‘Sthree’ is the most beautiful Vasantharithu in the ignorance of wood, Sthree is the summer season that dries up the ponds and rivers of Japa, Tapas, Dharmacharana, and various righteous deeds. Sthree represents rainy season is the provider of happiness to Kama, Krodha, Madham, Mathscharya, like the frogs. Sthree resembles the most promising Sharathrithu to the immoral deeds/Kamavasana like the cluster of lotus flowers. Sthree resembles the winter season that put Dharma like lotus flowers on the test. Sthree resembles the Shishirarithu, which helps to grow the ego like a cluster of grass in abundance. Sthree represents the dark hours of the night, which provides shelter to the bundle of sins like an owl. Sthree represents the fishing rode that catches Buddhi, Balam, Sheelam, Sathyam, etc. like fishes. Oh! Mune, a woman can be the cause for grief and miseries, Oh! Maharshi that was the reason I did not want you to marry Vishwamohini.”

 

Maharishi Narada transported to a state of ecstasy, his eyes overflown with tears remembering the compassion of Lord, and spoke to himself “There is no Master in this Universe as Lord Rama who is extremely compassionate to his sincere servants.  The people who do not leave Maya, interest in worldly matters and bondage and People does not willing to contemplate and meditate upon that supreme Lord, are unfortunate ones, Agnanis/ignorant and dull-minded.”

 

Maharishi Narada spoke to Prabhu “Oh! Rama, you are Vignanavisharadha, Oh! Natha, you are the destroyer of fears and anxieties of worldly existence, Oh! Raghuveera, kindly describe the characteristics of an ascetic.”  Rama speaks “Oh! Mune, I shall narrate the characteristics of Sadhus, who have owned me with their superior qualities. The Sadhus are 1) Those who won over six emotions known as  Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, and Mathshcharya 2) Nishpapa who is unblemished and free from sins, Nishkama/impassionate, steadfast, and have no desires 3) Pure of heart and maintain personal hygiene, remains in supreme bliss at all times, 4) They are extremely brilliant, have no desires, consume a lesser quantity of meals, truthful, 5) They have poetic, and creative skills, scholarly, Yogi, 6) They are cautious, respect others feelings, 7) people have no self-pride, and have strong will-power, 8) people who have a thorough knowledge of Dharma. These ascetics are the abode of virtues, they are free from the sufferings and grief of worldly existence, and they have no misapprehension. They have nothing beloved than my lotus feet, even their own bodies and homes. They get embarrassed listen to their praise, and take great pleasure in praising others. They are impartial, serene, and always follow the honesty and integrity. They are humble, and please everyone with their generosity; they strictly follow Japa, Tapa, Nishta, Vratha, Neethinishta, and sense control. They are highly devoted to their preceptors, twice-born, and Lord Vishnu. They are extremely careful, forbearing, remains in harmony, kind, always happy in all the circumstance, and have true devotion at the feet of me. They are the abode of Virakthi, Vignana, Viveka, Vinayam, and have a thorough knowledge of Bhramam, knowledge in Veda and Shastra, and scriptures. They never take notice of the false perceptions or practices of rites without knowledge in it. They are free from Abimana and Ahamkara, they do not even walk through the immoral ways not even in their dreams. They take great pleasure in singing and listening in praise of my glorious myths. They are enthusiastic to do service to others without any expectations.  In short, Oh! Munivarya, the virtues of Sadhus are endless, and it is impossible to describe them even for Goddess Sharadha or Veda or Adishesha.” In this way, the compassionate Lord Rama Dheenabandhu described the qualities of a Sadhu to Maharishi who Narada fell at the feet of Prabhu, and repeatedly prostrated before him and returned to the abode of Lord Bhrama.

 

Sant Tulasidas speaks “Oh! Mortals, whoever takes shelter at the lotus feet of Sri Hari, leaving all the desires in worldly matters and bondage, are fortunate ones. Whoever sings in praise of Lord Rama who is the enemy of Ravana, whoever listens or recites his glorious myths, without even practicing Japa, Tapa, Yoga, Virakthi, attains intense devotion at the lotus feet of Lord Rama. The body of a woman is compared to the mouth of the fire, Oh! Mind, do not fall prey on it like a firefly. Oh! Mortals, leave your self-pride and desires, and always contemplate upon that supreme Lord Rama and be in the association of saintly men and ascetics.”

 

||Ithi Srimad Ramacharithamanase Sakala Kalikalusha Vidhwamsane  Thritheeya: Sopana: Samaptha: ||