T Ram Sewak

LEELA

Dispelling the delusion of Nishadraj that Shri Ram is undergoing undeserved dukh and exile at the doing of Kaikeyi, Lakshman concludes the 'Lakshman Gita' in Shri Ramcharitmanas 2.93, saying,

bhagata bhoomi .jaga jala.

sakha samujhi rata hohou.

"For His devotees, earth, the learned, cows and celestials, the gracious Lord (Brahm) takes human form and performs leela (divine play). Listening to His katha (stories of his leela), the world's snares are broken. Therefore, my friend shed all moha (illusion) and be devoted to the feet of Shri Sita Ram."

Here, Lakshman encapsulates the crux of Bhakti Yoga. Shri Krishna declares in Gita 4.7-8, and it is often asserted in Shri Ramcharitmanas that the Avatar takes form to establish righteousness (dharam) and protect the good and virtuous. However, Lakshman convolutes it a bit by saying that it is all His Leela so that His bhakts can develop bhakti and attain (moksha) by listening (shravan) to His kathas.

Leela suggests that creation arises from the Divine's playful nature rather than a purposeful objective. While creating this world, the Divine's perfection implies no unfulfilled desires, indicating freedom, not necessity/purpose. Gita 9.10 refers to this as His creative potency, and Shri Ram calls it His Vidya Maya in Shri Ramcharitmanas 3.15.

To escape getting caught in the snares of this Vidya Maya and flow with His leela, a bhakt loves Him incessantly with an attitude of acceptance and surrender that whatever must happen shall happen. His bhakti ensures that in the ups and downs of life, we maintain the tranquillity of our minds and are not shaken. Bhakti, the most elevated and pure love for Him, is like sunscreen. It cannot affect the intensity of our troubles but protects us from getting hurt.

Thus, Lakshman succinctly delivers to Nishadraj the essence of Karma Yoga, Gyan Yoga, and Bhakti Yoga, ending with a dictum that Shri Ram's bhakti is the ultimate panacea. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-66

The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com