||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -98 – Dhoha

The argument between Lakshman and Parashurama

The Raghukulasurya poured out cool water like words “ Oh! Swami, kindly shower your grace upon the child, kindly do not shower your anger on the little child of innocent words. If he has aware of your legends would he engage in derisive arguments with you? The preceptor and parents get pleased when the children show foolishness. Kindly consider him as a child and a servant of you, and shower your kindness upon him. Oh! Mune, you are impartial, kind and valorous, you are highly intelligent as well.” Parashurama cooled down for a while listening to the sweet nectar-like words of Rama, but Lakshmana laughed out with ironic comments, it irritated the Muni, could not control his anger and spoke “ Oh! Rama, your brother is a sinner, he has no virtue of mother’s milk on his words, he has toxic poison in his mouth, even though he has a fair complexion, his heart is too dark, he is wicked nature he cannot follow your discipline or kindness. This ignorant child does not consider me as his death.”

Lakshmana speaks with a smile “Oh! Mune, kindly listen to me, the anger is the root cause of Papa/Sin, people commit various sins when they get besieged in anger, and performs all those notorious deeds which are against the progress of the Kingdom. Oh! Munivara, I am your servant, kindly leave your anger and shower kindness upon me. Your anger cannot bring back the Shivadhanuss which is already broken. Kindly be seated on the throne, your feet must have been aching, if you are too attached to that Shivadhanuss, we can ask someone who is expert to fix it.” Janaka terrified at the words of Lakshmana, and advised to stop commenting; the villagers were frightened and said: “The the younger brother of Rama is too uncontrollable.” Parashurama felt extremely raged and soon his body felt weak, he spoke “Rama, I am leaving him as he is your brother, his body is fair but the heart is too impure, he is a toxic poison in the golden vessel.” Lakshman laughed out once again, Rama looked at him in anger, immediately he left the scene and stood with the preceptor in embarrassment.

Rama approached Parashurama with folded hands and spoke to him amiably “Oh! Mahamune, Oh! Natha, kindly listen to me, you are a storehouse of wisdom, you should not take the words of a child seriously, honey bee and adults are same and create lots of buzzing noises, therefore the saintly men will not consider them seriously. Oh! Swami, he did not do any harm to you. Oh! Swami, I am your sinner, Oh! revered Sage, kindly consider me as your sincere attendant, and you can impose any punishments upon me, you can shower kindness, or anger, or death punishment or imprisonment, kindly do whatever you feel right. Oh! Munivara, kindly imposes the punishment at the earliest so that your anger could not harm you. I will sincerely follow them.”

Parashurama speaks “Oh! Rama, your brother’s sarcastic look did not reduce my anger, how did I control my anger? I will not get freed from this anger until I cut off his neck with my powerful axe. The wives of the kings have lost their fetus, listening to the glories of my axe, I feel extremely annoying to watch the enemy prince alive while I was holding the same powerful axe in my hand. My anger hurts my heart, even though my hands are not moving, this axe has lost its sharpness after killing numerous Kshatriyas, fate has turned against me. That’s why I have changed my attitude towards him; otherwise, the kindness will not touch my heart at all, that kindness causing ache in my heart.”

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -97 – Dhoha

Maharishi Vishwamithra's intervention

Bhrigukula Thilaka after listening to the words of Lakshmana, spoke in extreme fury “Oh! Vishwamithra, listen to me, this child is dull-minded and wicked as well, he is inviting troubles and death to him, further, he will add destruction to his clan. He is one of the stained spots in the clan of Surya Vamsha, he has no control on words, he is uncontrollable, ignorant, and act on sudden impulses. I think he is inviting death in seconds; I am not responsible for that. If you want to protect him, you have to control him, and describe my fury and prowess to him.”

Lakshman spoke “Oh! Mahamune, how did we forget your fame and prominence as long you are alive? You have described your splendor many times by yourself. If you are not satisfied with that, kindly narrate them. You need not suppress your anger and feel unhappy. You have carried out the role of a great warrior; you are valorous and unforgivable as well. Therefore it is not suitable for you to complain against me.  The powerful warrior performs several valorous deeds on the battlefield, but he won’t be engaged in self-praising. The cowards would do self-praising against his enemies. You are calling out my death as if the Lord Yama would follow your command.” Parashurama could not control his rage after listening to the harsh words of Lakshman, he took the axe on his hand and spoke “No one should blame me for this act, this arrogant child deserves death, I have spared him for several times for his misdemeanor and considered as a child, now the time has arrived for his death.”

Sage Vishwamithra spoke “Oh! Mahamune, kindly forgives that child, saintly people will not consider the mistakes of the children as a grave sin. They will not take notice of their virtues or misdemeanor,” Parashurama spoke “Oh! Sage, my axe is extremely fierce, I am not compassionate one and furious, I consider the person who disrespected my preceptor as my enemy. He is not heeding to my words, Hey Vishwamithra! I have spared him only because of my respect for you. Otherwise, I would have killed him with my axe effortlessly and would have fulfilled my responsibilities and respect towards my preceptor.”

The son of Gadhi smiled at heart and spoke to himself “ Parashurama has mistaken, he sees everything as green, he is fighting against iron sword, not with the sugarcane, he is still in the darkness of ignorance, he did not understand about these two divine youths.” Lakshman speaks “Oh! Mune, who is not aware of your valorous deeds? Who is not aware of your long history of virtues and discipline? You have paid off the debt of your parents, and you have only one debt to pay off, that is the debt to your preceptor. It has created an intense anxiousness in you, and it was caused by us. You have to pay off heavy debt; we will pay off that debt in the form of wealth.” Parashurama could not control his rage listening to the sarcastic words of Lakshmana, he took axe in his hand, the whole crowd said “It is really sad”  Lakshmana said “Oh! Munishwara, you are threatening me with your axe, I am leaving you because you are a twice-born, and you have not met any valorous youth, Oh! Bhramanadevatha, you are a prominent one from the illustrious family.” The people assembled were felt terribly unfair to happen. Rama showed gestures to stop his fury to Lakshman. Raghukulapathi saw Parashurama’s fury was multiplying in the Ahuthi like the harsh words of Lakshmana.

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -96 – Dhoha

The fury of Parashurama

Parashurama looked around and asked Janaka “What’s the reason for this huge gathering?” even though he knows everything; eventually, his facial appearance has changed in extreme anger.  King Janaka explained all those incidents took place in the Dhanuryajja and the reason for the visits of the Kings from neighbouring countries. Suddenly, Parashurama noticed the two pieces of Shivadhanuss on the floor; he screamed in extreme fury “Hey, Jada, Janaka who has broken the divine bow of Shambhu? Show me the person who has shown the courage to break it; otherwise, I will throw your Kingdom upside down.” King Janaka did not utter a word in fear, the wicked Kings felt extremely happy, the deities, Rishis Sages, Nagas, male and females of Mithila became anxious, mother of Devi Sita grieved “Oh! Bhagavan, all those happened in an auspicious manner destroyed by fate.” Devi Sita who was heard of the valorous legends about Parashurama became worried, every second became a Yuga for her. Raghuvara watched the distress of the crowd and fear of Devi Janaki, he was neither happy nor sad, and spoke “Oh! Swami, the Shivadhanuss must have broken by one of your sincere servants, kindly order me.” Parashurama could not control his rage, screamed “The person who serves the preceptor is the sincere servant, the person who has broken the Shivadhanuss is my enemy, and he has performed the part of an enemy, so he must be prepared for a battle with me. Let him stand out from the crowd, otherwise, I will kill all those Kings.”

Lakshmana laughed at the words of Parashurama, he mockingly commented “Oh! Swami, I have broken many bow and arrows in my childhood days, but Swami! You have not got angered, why are you so attached to this bow?” The Brighukulathilaka felt extremely humiliated listening to Lakshmana and spoke “Oh! Nripabalak, you are under the clutches of death that is why you have no control over your words, you have compared the most prominent Shivadhanuss with other bows.” Lakshman answered with a smile “Oh! Deva, kindly listen to me, I have considered all the bows are same; it was a rusted bow, what’s the use of it? Therefore it is not going to create any gain or loss. Rama mistook the bow as the new one; the moment he touched it broke into two pieces. Therefore Raghupathi is not responsible for it. You are getting angry without any reason.” Parashurama looked at his axe and spoke “Oh! Ignorant child, you have not known about me, I am leaving you as a child; otherwise, I would have killed you. Oh! Foolish one, you have considered me as a saint, I have undertaken the vow of celibacy from my childhood, and fierce as well. The whole Kshatriya clan knew me as their enemy. I have emptied the Earth without Kshatriya, solely with the strength of my hands, and donated the land to several twice-born. Look at this axe, Oh! Prince, it removed the thousands of hands of Sahasrabhahu. Therefore do not create grief for your parents. Oh! Prince,  this powerful axe has killed several infants in the womb.”

Lakshmana smiled at him and spoke softly “ Aho! The Maharishi considered himself as the great warrior, he threatens me with his axe, and he tries the mountain to fly with a lung full of air. Oh! Maharishi there is no one here to crush under your pointing finger, like tender pumpkin. I have spoken with great respect to you after seeing you with the bow, arrow and axe, now I have understood that you have born in the Bhrigu clan after seeing your Yajjopaveetha, therefore I am not going to show any anger towards you. We do not mistreat twice-born, cows, deities, devotees of Lord Hari, etc, killing any of these would bring grave sin. If you punish us, we will fall at your feet. Your words are equivalent to crores of Vajrayudha, therefore these bow, arrow and axe are no use for you. Oh! Mahamune, if I have uttered any disrespecting words against your weapons, kindly forgive me.”

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -95 – Dhoha

Parashurama's arrival in the Yajja arena

The Kings, who were desired to marry Devi Sita, could not control their frustration, those wicked kings left the arena, and they furiously got out of their seats, carried their weapons, and went out annoyingly. One of the wicked King spoke “ Oh! Kings, abduct Devi Sita, arrest the two princes, fasten them with the chains, there is no use of breaking the Shivadhanuss, it is utter shame for us, while we are alive, he cannot marry Devi Sita, If Janaka came to fight with us, we can defeat him and the two brothers as well.” The virtuous Kings spoke “Oh! King, It is shameful to be part of these wicked Kings, you have lost all your fame, glories, wealth and possession and intellect along with the Shivadhanuss, are you proud of the same valor? Or have you got extra valor? Your wicked thoughts made you ugly and unhappy. Therefore leave all your jealousy, pride, ego, and enjoy the beauty of Rama. You are not aware of the Lakshman who has the ferociousness of Agni, do not let yourself burn like flies in that massive fire. Don’t be like a crow that desired for the portion of Garuda, don’t be a rabbit that desired for the portion of a lion, don’t be like an unhappy and angry person desires for happiness, a miser and greedy cannot attain fame, a lustful person cannot attain purity, the person who is far from the feet of Lord Hari cannot achieve Paramgathi, Oh! Kings, your desires are exactly the same as I have described.”

Devi Sita terrified after listening to the conflicts between the Kings, she was taken to her mother immediately, Rama praised the sincere love of Sita and went to prostrate before Maharishi. The queens and Devi Sita were extremely anxious; none has the idea about fate has to offer.  Lakshmana looked all around listening to the arguments of the Kings, he was scared of Rama so he did not do anything, his eyebrows were curved, his eyes were red in anger, he stared at the Kings that was like a youthful lion preparing to fight against a group of untamed elephants. The females of the city got terrified, and all of them cursed the wicked kings.  At that moment, Parashurama who is the sun in the Bhrigu clan arrived after hearing the news of Rama broke the Shivadhanuss. The Kings who were creating chaos stopped, stared at him silently like the birds get frightened at the arrival of Garuda. Parashurama was smeared in sacred ashes all over the body, he has a fair complexion, he was beautifully adorned in Tripundra, he had matted hair locks tied up on the pinnacle of the head, his face was reddened in anger, his eyebrows were curved, eyes were reddened in rage and his whole appearance revealed his anger. He has strong shoulders like bull, broad chest, long hands; the chest is adorned in the sacred thread, Rudraksha beads and half of the chest is covered in the skin of deer. He was attired in saffron robes, wielded in bow and arrow, and axe, even though he was attired in saffron robes he has the history of series of the massacre, he has beyond description, he symbolizes valor that has taken the form of an ascetic, he arrived at the place where the Kings were assembled and argued each other.

The kings stood from their seat and reverentially greeted Parashurama. They have formally introduced themselves and their father’s name and prostrated before him. King Janaka came to greet Parashurama called for daughter Devi Sita and asked her to prostrate before him. He blessed Devi Sita, all her companions were extremely happy. Devi Sita retired to the place where the woman folks took the seat. Sage Vishwamithra arrived with the two handsome youths Rama and Lakshmana and instructed them to prostrate before him, and introduced them to Parashurama as the son of King Dhasharatha. He blessed them, he has lustrous eyes that are capable to crush the pride of Kamadeva took great pleasure in the attractiveness of Rama.

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -94 – Dhoha

Devi Sita adorns the Jayamala on the neck of Rama

Tulsidas Maharaj speaks “ The  crowd realized Rama broken the Shivadhanuss, they cheered in extreme joy, the Shivadhanuss is the ferry to cross the ocean of worldly existence, the power of the hands of Rama was the ocean.”

Prabhu left the hold on the two pieces of the bow, everyone became happy. Sage Vishwamithra resembled the unfathomable ocean of affection, watching Rama who has the resemblance of the lustrous full moon and his charming appearance, Sage Vishwamithra immersed in extreme happiness, his heart beamed in extreme bliss that was like tied in the ocean. The sky filled in the divine sounds of Dhundhubi, celestial Apsaras performed dances.   Lord Bhrama, deities, Siddhdhas, Maharishis eulogized Rama and showered flowers upon him. Kinnaras sang beautifully, the sounds of cheers echoed in the sky. In the whole city, people have nothing to talk about other than the news of Rama who broken the Shivadhanuss into two pieces. VandhiGana, Sootha, Magadha sang in praise of the handsome youth and offered charities of horses, elephants, wealth, land, clothes, precious jewels, and ornaments, to the people.

There were huge sounds of auspicious instruments and conch, Bheri, Mridanga, Dhundhubi, etc. The ladies sang auspicious songs; the queen became extremely happy with her female companions like the dried paddy field attained the downpour. King Janaka felt extremely pleased and tired as well, felt exhausted after swimming for long hours finally reached on the shore. The Kings lost their brilliance like the earthen lamp losses its brilliance in daylight. Devi Sita, it was like the Chakora bird received the raindrops. Lakshmana fixed his gaze at Rama like the baby of Chakora looks at Chandra. Sage Shathanandha warned Devi Sita to proceed further towards Rama.

The number of attractive ladies, attired in magnificent clothes and adorned in precious ornaments, singing auspicious songs, accompanied Devi Sita who has the resemblance of a baby swan, beautifully walked towards Rama. Devi Sita shone as the most marvelous idol among the beautiful idols, she was holding most attractive Jayamala in her hands, she felt shame before the huge crowd but extremely happy in heart, none has noticed her highly confidential love for Rama. She moved further close to Rama and watching his mesmerizing features, she stood like a portrait, she stood silent for a while, and one of her companions spoke “Oh! Devi, adorn the Jayamala on the neck of the groom”, she lifted the Jayamala in her hands, with the sudden rush of love she could not adorn him, and it was like two lotus flowers stood high in the water and fearfully looked at the moon and adorn Chandra with the Jayamala. The companions started singing loudly; Sita adorned Rama with the Jayamala. The deities showered flowers watching the Jayamala on the chest of Raghuvara. The kings gathered were extremely disappointed.

The city and the sky were filled in the music and sounds of divine instruments, the wicked people felt unhappy, saintly people became happy. The deities, Kinnara, Manushya, Naga, and Maharishis showered their blessings on the newly wedded couple. The celestial Apsaras beautifully danced and showered flowers upon them. Vandhiganas sang in praise of them, thus the most auspicious news of Rama broke the Shivadhanuss and married to Devi Sita was spread all over the world. The people of Mithila took Mangalharathi, they showered blessings and sincere prayers upon them, the couple Sita and Rama has appeared as the beauty and Shringararasa took the form of humans.  The companions advised Devi Sita to touch the feet of Rama, but she was too scared did not touch, she remembered Devi Ahalya who was turned as a beautiful woman from the rock at the touch of the feet of Rama, she did not touch his feet. Raghuvamshamani laughed at his heart realizing the love of Devi Sita.

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -93 – Dhoha                                                       

Rama fastens the Shivadhanuss

Vaidhehi looked at Rama and prayed to all the deities with intense trepidation “ Oh! Maheshwara, Oh! Bhavani, kindly shower your grace, kindly reduce the weight of the Shivadhanuss, and shower your mercy upon me, and make all my pious deeds fruitful. Oh! Gananayaka, Oh! Varadhayaka, I have prayed for this day, kindly listen to my repeated prayers, and reduce the weight of the Shivadhanuss.” Devi Sita looking at Rama frequently, heartily prayed, her eyes welled up with tears in love, and body quivered in fear.  She watched Rama with intense love and took great pleasure in his attractiveness. Her father’s promise pushed her into extreme uneasiness, she thought, it is pitiable, my father has taken a decision which would end up either in happiness or distress, the ministers have no influence upon the King, therefore they did not advise him about the terrible consequences of it. It is inappropriate in the assembly of intellectuals, one side the powerful Vajra like Shivadhanuss on the other side the tender and soft natured Rama. Oh! Bhagavan, how could I attain peace? How did a flower bud perforate a diamond? All the people in the assembly are ignorant, Oh! Shivadhanuss, you are the only solace of mine, kindly make yourself lighter than ever before, the moment Rama approaches you.” Devi Sita was deeply distressed, every second seemed Yuga to her.

Devi Sita restlessly looked at Rama and Mother Earth, her eyes of Kamadeva that is restless like fishes in the pond.  Her lotus-like mouth did not utter a word in shy like a bee in the darkness of the night. Her eyes filled in tears, but the tears did not come out like the miser hidden the gold on the Earth, she felt extremely anxious, and spoke to herself “If I have performed austerities, vow, and rites with devotion and faith, If I have followed all the austerities with a pure mind, action, and deed, the supreme Lord who is all-pervasive would give me an opportunity to serve the lotus feet of Rama. People, who have intense faith and love on each other, would definitely unite in life.”  Devi Sita looked at Rama with extreme love, the supreme Lord Rama who is merciful read the mind of Devi Sita, he moved to the Shivadhanuss and looked at it like Garuda looks at the baby serpent. Lakshmana could not control his enthusiasm watching his brother’s attention on Shivadhanuss, he pressed his feet on the Earth and spoke “ Oh! The prominent ones, Oh! Koorma, Oh! Varaha, Oh! Anantha keeps protecting the Mother Earth from her fear. Rama has decided to fasten the Shivadhanuss, therefore keep you ready to protect the mother Earth.”  The men and women started praying to their family deities, Pithrus.  The ignorance, disbelief, misapprehensions and the haughtiness of the Kings, the grief and disappointments of King Janaka and Devi wanted to move away from sitting on the ferry like Shivadhanuss, to cross the vast ocean  with the help of powerful hands of Rama.

Rama looked at the people of Mithila,  who was sitting like the statue, and watched Devi Sita who was extremely anxious and frightful, Vaidhehi felt every second as Yuga, it was like a person died out of thirst has no use of the nectar-like ocean, the tree that had dried up completely has no use of downpour, there is no use of regretting over the lost opportunity, she thought of all these and looked at Prabhu, he was immensely pleased to watch her deep love. He sincerely prayed to his preceptor and lifted the Shivadhanuss effortlessly, it gave out the appearance of lightning, eventually, the light went on the sky created a circle, none could witness the way he fastened the Dhanuss and stretched the arrow up to ears, everyone has noticed that he was standing with the bow, that instantly split into two, the huge boisterous sound reverberated in the three worlds. Lord Surya’s horses lost its track, the prominent ones cheered out of extreme joy, earth quivered, Adishesha, Varaha, and Koorma shaken terribly. The deities, demons, Rishis, and Sages closed their ears and enquired the reason for it.

||Sri Ram Jayram Jaya Jaya Ram||

Chapter -92 – Dhoha

The fury of Lakshmana 

Lakshman bowed down before the lotus feet of Rama and spoke “Oh! Brother, after witnessing the Raghukula Thilaka, even after witnessing the presence of you that King Janaka spoke rudely about the Kings, Oh! Rama, who is born in the illustrious clan of Surya, and showers happiness to the lotus flowers with its brilliance, Oh! Bhagavan, I am willing to try without any pride, if I have the permission of you, I am willing to take out the entire Universe as a ball and would crush like the ball made of raw clay. Oh! Bhagavan, if I have the permission of you, I would crush the Mount Meru like the rooted vegetable/radish, so I am not worried about this old Shivadhanuss, Oh! Bhagavan, kindly order me, let me prove the prowess of Raghu's clan, I am willing to fasten the bow and carries it on my shoulder and run for hundreds of Yojana. I will crush the Shivadhanuss like the water bubble with your grace, if not I promise you, I will not touch the bow and arrows.”

The earth quivered at the voice of Lakshmana, the whole assembly becomes terrified, the illustrious Kings felt terrible, Devi Sita felt happy in her heart.  Janaka became diffident of his words.  The preceptors, Raghu, and all those saints and Rishis were extremely happy, with a single gesture of hands Rama controlled his anger and made him sit. Maharishi Vishwamithra realized it is an auspicious occasion; he spoke affectionately to Rama “Oh! Vathsa, rise from your seat, fasten the Shivadhanuss and remove the grief of Janaka.” Rama prostrates before the feet of the preceptor, he was neither excited nor disappointed, he rose from the seat that excelled the beauty of the young lion. Rama rose from his seat like the sun rises from the East, it kindled the heart of illustrious Sages and Rishis, the entire crowd in the assembly awfully looked at him. The desires of the Kings to marry Devi Sita faded like night, their haughty words has become the stars in the daylight, proud kings were shrunk like a lotus flower in the night, the wicked Kings took shelter like the owl in the daylight, the illustrious Rishis and deities became sorrowful like Chakravaha, they kept showering flowers willingness to provide their services. Rama prostrated before the preceptor with intense devotion and received the blessings of Sages and twice-born assembled, the Lord of the Universe approached the dais like an untamed elephant with an elegant walk.

The entire crowd of females and males of the city of Mithila cheered and happy watching the elegant movements of Rama towards the Shivadhanuss. They contemplated Pithrus and deities, they remembered their preceptors, and prayed “Oh! Prabho, Oh! Ganesha, if we have attained any piousness in our lives, let Rama break the Shivadhanuss like the stem of the lotus.” The mother of Devi Sita looked at Rama affectionately and she called out of her female attendants and spoke “Why no one is saying that these two handsome youths are too young to their preceptor? Even the powerful like Ravana and Banasura failed in their attempt, and many who have challenged to break them ran out of the place, why the preceptor of these two handsome youths wanted to test their prowess? How the babies of the swan lift the mountain Mandhara? The king has lost his patience, it is impossible to know the play of fate.” One of her intelligent Sakhi replied “Oh! Rani, never underestimate the power of intellectuals. The Sage Agastya who was born from the vessel and the vast ocean has what similarities in them? Sage Agasthya dried up the entire ocean, and his fame is known to the whole world. The Suryamandala looks small in appearance, but the brilliant rays of sun remove the darkness of the three worlds. The sacred hymns are simple and easy to utter, but it has the power to reach for Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahadeva and all the deities. A small arrow shot on the forehead of the untamed elephant is enough to bring under control. The Kamadeva who is wielded in the flower arrows and bow takes control of the entire Universe. Therefore, Devi, leave all your qualms, Oh! Rani, definitely Rama will fasten the Shivadhanuss. ” In this way, Sakhi pacified Rani, thus she got relieved from grief and it increased her affection towards Rama.