Wednesday 21 May 2014

171. Tara bailed Sugreeva out.

             Sugreeva was just staring at Lakshmana. He was shivering with utter fright and as such could not speak. Seeing the pitiable condition of her new hubby, Tara with her visage that was shining like the Lord of Stars, namely the Moon, decided to intervene. She told Lakshmana sweetly but peremptorily "Lakshmana, it is not proper for you to treat the king of vanaras in this way. Your assumption that Sugreeva is unthankful, treacherous, flagitious, an utterer of untruth and duplicitous is totally and patently wrong. He has NOT forgotten the favour Rama has done to him.
         "By the beneficence of Rama, Sugreeva is privileged with reputation, everlasting kingship of vanaras, more so with Ruma and me as well. You are well aware that hitherto he was undergoing high anguish, trauma, torment, torture, hurt and affliction. He was blissfully released from all these by the grace of Rama.  And on the attainment of this high comfort of kingship, after a long spell of suffering, he has not oriented himself to the time-oriented actions like the great saint Vishvamitra. Oh, Lakshmana, that great-sage Vishvamitra clinging together with Ghritaachi, an angelic apsara, for a period of ten years, but that virtuous sage regarded that period as one day.
Comment.
In Bala Kanda the legend of Vishvamitra is narated. And there his association with Menaka is narrated. Presumably Menaka and Ghritaachi are one and the same apsara. My personal comment about the name 'Ghritaachi' is this: Both Menaka and Tara came out of the Milky sea when the same was churned. That makes them sisters. May be Tara was calling affectionately her sister Menaka as 'Ghritaachi', like one sister calling her sister affectionately Boo-boo, Choo-choo, etc.
  Vishvamitra gave up even his daily routines viz. sandhya upaasana, nitya karma, required of a Vedic sage, in all the ten years of his association with Ghritaachi.
End Comment.
           "When that great brahmarishi Vishvamitra himself did not follow the daily routine required of a sage for a good many years, it is not fair to reprimand Sugreeva, who after all is a vanara. You know very well that he was immensely  overwrought and when that tension was released by the grace of Rama, he, Sugreeva as an offshoot of the sudden release of pressure, is now undergoing the natural bodily appetites. Under such a circumstance, Rama may please be prevailed upon to bear with him for a while.
Comment.
The natural bodily appetites common for any living being are said to be these four viz. aahaara, nidraa, maithuna, bhaya 'food, sleep, sex, and fear.'
End Comment.
           "Without knowing realities, oh, young man Lakshmana, it is not fair on your part to jump to conclusion and browbeat the poor chap Sugreeva. I expect that men of your kind having conscientiousness do not jump to conclusions and hurriedly rush in and get clutched by their own rancour, unconscionably. I beg for your grace in the interest of Sugreeva with all my equability, and I entreat you to dispel this clangorous upshot in high dudgeon of yours.
           "For Rama's sake, Sugreeva will disown his wife Ruma, me and even Angada. If necessary, he will disown his entire kingdom with its riches, food grains, livestock and whatnot. After eliminating that worst rakshash Ravana, Sugreeva will happily conjoin Seetha and Raghava, like the coalescing of the star Rohini with the Moon.
Comment.
Rohini is one of the twenty-seven stars of Indian Astrology, commencing from ashvani, bharaNi, kR^ittika, rohiNi... et al They are the daughters of Daksha Prajapati and wives of Moon. But the Moon preferred more the company of Rohini and was neglecting the other twenty-six. All the neglected twenty-six stars went to their father and complained. Daksha Prajapati cursed the Moon to wane away. But the daughters did not want the moon to wane and vanish. They therefore again approached their father and requested him to withdraw his curse. Then Daksha amended his curse to the effect that the Moon shall wax for fifteen days and wane for the other fifteen days and the Moon shall take holy bath on new moon (i.e. no moon) days in one of the Holy Rivers, River Saraswati (which now is extinct) at a place called Prabhaasa. Then all the twenty-six other stars stopped interfering with the coalescence of Moon with Rohini.
End Comment.
          "I have heard that in Lanka there are a trillion and thirty-six thousands units of military, where one unit consists of a ten-thousand warriors, and hundreds and thousands of other rakshashas are there, too.
      "One cannot liquidate Ravana without liquidating all his warriors. It may not be possible for your brother and yourself to destroy Ravana and all his forces without the help of Sugreeva and his army of vanaras.
       "Sugreeva was very well aware of this factor and has already taken appropriate action in this regard. All the vanaras, all over the worlds are summoned to assemble here at Kishkindha within fifteen days.
        "Determined to achieve the objective of Raghava this king of vanaras, Sugreeva has not bestirred himself while awaiting the assemblage of those venturesome and very great mighty vanara warriors who have been ordered to assemble at Kishkindha. It is very likely that most of them are likely to arrive today itself.
       "In view of the above please cool down. Seeing your angry face with bloodshot eyes, myself and all the other beloveds of our chief had a premonition that Sugreeva may be sent to follow his brother Vali, by you."
      After hearing Tara, lakshmana's face softened and his bloodshot eyes turned benign. There was a hint of a smile too from his lips. Seeing the metamorphosis on the face of Lakshmana, Sugreeva heaved a sigh of relief and ripped apart the superb garland wreathing his neck, which (action) helped him to become sober as though the insobriety is ripped from his mind. Sugreeva, the most powerful one among all vanaras, then placatingly addressed Lakshmana "My prosperity, prominence and this perpetual kingdom of vanaras are due to the beneficence of Rama. Who can afford to repudiate Rama, unless he wants to follow Vali.
       "May be Rama reacquires Seetha by exterminating Ravana by himself with his own resplendence and might, while I and my army remain only in name. Actually no succour is needed to him who has ripped seven gigantic trees, a mountain, and the earth as well, all just with one arrow! He who outstretches his bow with a clangour by which the earth with its mountains quakes, does not require any help from any one! Oh, Lakshmana, it is my privilege to become his assistant. I just will tread behind that king of people, Rama, on his charging to eliminate Ravana along with all of his vanguards. If I have overstepped either in faith or friendliness, in the least, that may please be pardoned. May be I am the king of all vanaras, but  I am an attendant of yours and your brother Rama."
      Lakshmana was pleased with the submissive attitude of Sugreeva and told him pleasantly "I am happy to note that my brother has you as an adherent defender with him, oh, king of vanaras Sugreeva, and I find that you are a defender of your own word and a deferential one towards Rama. With this kind of preponderance and plainness you possess, Sugreeva, you are the only merited one to enjoy this unexcelled kingdom of vanaras. Before long, Sugreeva, dauntless Rama will be eliminating enemies in a war with you as his supporter. You are the knower of virtuousness and gratefulness and you do not retreat from battlegrounds, or, on your own word, thus what you have said is conclusive as well as coherent.
          "You are a coequal to Rama by your valour and vigour and gods have given you, after a long time, to Rama to assist him in his endeavor.
           "I would like you to come with me now to Rama and explain to him the steps you have taken regarding the search of Seetha. That would placate and embolden him and also appease him to some extent, at least, in his anguish for the despoilment of his wife.
         "Oh, friend, Rama became highly downhearted due to the anxiety about the delay and he told me querulously to ascertain the action taken by you. Affected by his querulousness I reflexively acted and spoke harshly. I may be pardoned."
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