T Ram Sewak VANVAAS KYUN An emotional Nishadraj laments before Lakshman in Shri Ramcharitmanas 2.90-91; .siya raghubeer ki kanan jogoo, karam pradhan satya kah logoo
- Posted: December 23, 2024
- Updated: 02:12 pm
T Ram Sewak
VANVAAS KYUN
An emotional Nishadraj laments before Lakshman in Shri Ramcharitmanas 2.90-91;
".siya raghubeer ki kanan jogoo, karam pradhan satya kah logoo"
".. Do Sita and Shri Ram deserve to be exiled to the forest? People rightly say: Karma is supreme."
Nishad had a deep love for Shri Ram. Hence, watching Shri Ram and Sitaji in physical discomfort was heart-rending for him. Talking about the lavish comforts of Ayodhya that are being denied to them, he blames fate and pensively expresses his doubt (sandeh) arising out of delusion. Why had destiny condemned Shri Ram and Sitaji to exile (Vanvaas kyun)?
He tries to answer it by invoking his limited understanding that all beings experience happiness or sorrow according to their karma, and so it is for Shri Ram and Sitaji. We can see the confusion here, with blame being apportioned to karma and fate and the two being used interchangeably under the premise that your karma decides your destiny.
The illusionary spell of HIS Maya creates this delusion, doubt, and confusion when we cannot differentiate between the real and the unreal. We see the world as 'I', 'Me', 'Mine', 'You', and 'Yours'. We attach ourselves firmly to our actions (karma), developing the karta bhav (doer). Hence, we also build attachment to the fruits of our actions (karma phal). This attachment and delusion lead to sorrow or ecstasy.
Nishadraj is precisely in that state. He perceives that, like humans, Shri Ram is bound by the incontrovertible Law of Karma; as the action, so is the result. Knowing Shri Ram's impeccable character, he cannot rationalise the current situation, being unaware of the leela (divine play) aspect of Shri Ram's avatar. Shri Krishna clarifies this confusion in Gita 9.9 while asserting that the Law of Karma does not bind the Divine. HE is beyond it because HE is indifferent and unattached to any of HIS acts (karma). HE is karma-ateet. / DAILY WORLD /
Namami Ramam Musings-56
The author is a former electrical Engineer and resides in the Himalayas. He can be occasionally reached at ramam.namami@gmail.com
