T Ram Sewak

PARAHIT - KRIPA

Shri Ram designates parahit (benevolence) as another horse of the Chariot of Righteousness in Vibhishan Gita (Shri Ramcharitmanas 6.79), with kripa (compassion) as a rein;

"bal bibek dama parahit ghore, kshama kripa samata raju jore."

"Even so, strength, discretion, self-control and benevolence are its four horses that have been joined with the reins of forgiveness, compassion and evenness of mind."

Parahit, which is caring for the welfare of others selflessly, has been placed on a very high pedestal both in Shri Ramcharitmanas and Gita. In Shri Ramcharitmanas 7.4, Shri Ram tells Bharat, "parahit saris dharam nahin bhai" i.e. there is no better righteous way of life than altruism.

In Gita 12.4, Shri Krishna says that a successful meditator should ever be self-dedicated in serving all beings at his best, to the extent that love for all becomes his creed. Further, in Gita 16.2, Shri Krishna denotes daya as a divine attribute.

Although there is a subtle difference between the two, Kripa has been used here as a synonym for daya (compassion). All great men and women from all faiths who are revered have been epitomes of parahit with immense daya/kripa. Their lives have symbolised compassion, selfless service and sacrifice for humanity.

Compassion guides and leads to benevolence. While compassion is the emotion, the act is altruism, which leads to love for all and evenness of mind. Therefore, compassion must become our defining attribute - the foundation of our way of life.

In Shri Ramcharitmanas, Shri Ram is adored and venerated as deen dayalu, kripa sindhu and karuna nidhan, underlining his glorious attributes of compassion and benevolence. He was compassionate to all, including the birds (the vulture, Jatayu), the marginalised (Ahaliya, Kewat, Shabari), to anyone who sought refuge in him (Sugriva, Vibhishan, the messenger Shuk), the sinners (Bali) and even to the demons (asuras) who fought him. Thus, reminding us repeatedly that the purpose of this avatar was parahit./ DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-11

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