Tuesday 28 May 2013

53. Prelude to the forest life.

           Lakshmana obeying his brother's kind and auspicious order, went immediately to the house of Suyajna, and after the usual salutations to that brahman, conveyed him Rama's message "Oh, friend!  My brother Rama wants to see you.  I would be greatly obliged to you if you follow me to my brother Rama."                                                        
         Suyajna agreed and followed Lakshmana to Rama's house.  Rama suitably received him.  Rama adorned Suyajna with excellent Angadas(armlets) and beautiful earrings of gold, gems stung on gold threads as also with keyuras(another ornament similar in shape to an Angada but worn above it near the armpit) and bracelets as well as with many other excellent precious stones.  Urged by Seetha, Rama told Suyajna "Oh!, my friend!  Now, Seetha wants to give for your wife a pearl necklace, a string of gold and a girdle.  Please take them.  Seetha is following me to the forest and is therefore, giving for your wife armlets adorned with figures cut in them and beautiful keyuras.  She also wants to offer that couch which is inlaid with various jewels and provided with an excellent coverlet.  I am giving you this elephant called Satrunjaya, given earlier to me by my maternal uncle as well as those thousand elephants."   
         Suyajna accepted the gifts and bestowed the most benign blessings to Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha.
         Then, Rama told Lakshmana "Oh, Lakshmana! Call those two excellent brahmanas Agastya and Kausika and worship them with valuable gifts as water is poured to a crop of corn.   Satiate them with thousands of cows, gold, silver and with gems of great value.  See to it that the brahmana who is studying Taittiriya (a school of Yajurveda), a preceptor, a man of conformity, a knower of Vedas, serving Kausalya with his devotion and blessing, is duly gifted conveyance, servant maids and silken clothing till he is satisfied absolutely.
comment: Taittiriya was first taught by the sage Vaisampayana to 27 pupils, among whom Yagnavalkya was one.  Subsequently Vaisampayana being offended by Yaganavalkya, made him disgorge the Veda committed to him, which he did in a tangible form; whereupon the older disciples of Vaisampayana being commanded to pick it up, took in the form of partridges, and swallowed the soiled texts, hence named black(called Krishna Yajurveda) the other name of Taittiriya referring to the patridges.  Yagnavalkya then received from the Sun a new or white version of the yajurveda (called Shukla Yajurveda)
End Comment.
        "The charioteer called Chitraratha, is the the companion of a very long standing of our venerable father.  Gratify him with valuable gifts of great worth, with clothes, with money, with all types of small animals and with thousands of cows.  Here are many religious students belonging to the katha and kalaapa branches of Yajurveda, who being always engaged in studying the sacred scriptures, do not perform any other austerities but are highly honored by even noble men, are inactive (in the sense, they do not move out for alms and crave for sweets).  Cause them to be given eighty carts loaded with jewels, a thousand bullocks carrying loads of rice and two hundred bullocks used for cultivation.  Give a thousand cows for use in their nourishment,  Oh Lakshmana! Many celibates wearing fillets stand near Kausalya.  Cause them to be given a thousand cows each.   Honour all those brahmanas in every way, so that my mother Kausalya will feel happy to see my gifts."
          Then, Lakshmana himself gave away that wealth, like Kubera, to the best of brahmanas, as instructed.   Rama, after giving abundant wealth to each and every one of the dependents, standing there with tears in their throats, spoke to them  "Till my return, the house belonging to Lakshmana and also this house which is occupied by me  should be guarded by all of you, by turn."  Having thus ordered, those servants distressed as they were, he instructed his treasurer as follows: "Let my wealth be brought(here)." Thereafter, the servants brought all the wealth of Rama. That very large heap of wealth there looked awesome.  Rama, along with Lakshmana then distributed among the brahmanas, the children, the old-aged and the pitiables. 
         There lived a brahmana by name Trijata who was born in the garga community and whose skin was reddish in colour.  He used to make his living in the forest by digging the soil and as such he always was carrying an axe, a spade and a plough.  His young wife told him to see Rama who was disbursing his wealth to all the deserving people.
        As suggested by his wife, he wrapped a strip of cloth that could hardly cover his body and set out to Rama's palace.  Up to the fifth gate, none in that society of men could obstruct this Trijata, who was equal in spiritual splendour with the sages Bhrigu and Angira.  That Trijata having approached Rama, and told him "Oh, the most illustrious prince! I am a destitute, having many children in my family.  I always dwell in the forest, with an occupation of digging the soil.  Look at me."  Rama looked at him and told him jokingly  "I have not given away one thousand cows far.  You will get as many cows to such an extent as you will throw your staff."
         Winding his loin cloth round his waist hurriedly and twirling his staff, he swiftly threw it with all his might, excited as he was.  Flying away from his hand and crossing across the Sarayu river, that staff fell close to a bull amid a flock of cows numbering in several thousands.  Embracing him, Rama caused to be delivered to Trijata's hermitage the cows up to that bank of Sarayu.  Thereupon, Rama told him "Please do not take me amiss.  I made you to throw your staff for just a joke.  Actually, I only desired to know your strength, which is unfathomable and hence this trial for you.  If you desire any other thing, just ask for it.  I am telling the truth here.  There is no limitation for you.  Whatever riches belonging to me, are indeed for brahmanas.  If the wealth earned by me is given abundantly to you, it will bring me joy and fame."
        Thereupon, Trijata along with his wife accepted that flock of cows and were delighted.  Then, he pronounced on Rama, the blessings to enhance reputation, strength, delight and happiness.  Rama being inspired by the befitting words of honour and having his heart satisfied, immediately bestowed on friendly people, a great wealth earned by righteous might.  At that time in Ayodhya, there was no brahmana, relative, dependant, pauper or mendicant who was not satiated with befittingly deserving honour, gifts and respect.
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