T Ram Sewak

VISHAAD

Shri Ram's second night of exile was on the banks of the Ganga in Shringverpur, where Nishadraj, the tribal King, resided. Upon learning what had brought Shri Ram, Sita ji, and Lakshman to the forest, Nishadraj was stunned. He was overwhelmed with vishaad (despondency) when Shri Ram insisted on staying in the forest as per the commandments for being exiled. Nishadraj prepared a bed of tender leaves for Shri Ram and, along with Lakshman, settled to be on guard. During the night, a conversation happens between Lakshman and Nishadraj in Shri Ramcharitmanas 2.90. It is popularly called "Lakshman Gita."

In our spiritual literature, eternal knowledge (Gyan) has been imparted through discourses and conversations that respond to the recipient's delusion, doubt, or despondency. Since these conversations' shlokas or chaupais (quatrains) rhyme, they are called Gita. Lakshman Gita also starts with Nishadraj's despondency:

"Uthe lakhan prabhu sovat jani bhayau prem bas hridaya bishaadu."

"When Lakshman perceived that the Lord had fallen asleep, he rose Nishadraj put his trusted guards on duty.and sat beside Lakshman. When Nishadraj saw his Lord sleeping on a bed of grass and leaves, he was disheartened and gloomy due to his excessive love for Shri Ram."

Nishadraj's sadness was caused by his delusion. He had still not recognised Shri Ram's divinity; thus, his love (prem) was short of HIS bhakti. Arjun's despondency, in Gita 1.31-32, also existed until he recognised Shri Krishna's divinity and surrendered himself entirely as a bhakt. Despondency and delusion occur when, under the spell of HIS Maya (illusion), the jeev (being) doesn't decipher HIS leela (divine play). Nishadraj couldn't comprehend that exile was part of Shri Ram's leela to fulfil the purpose of HIS avatar, which is to lay high moral standards and exterminate adharam.

In his response to Nishadraj's despondency and sandeh (doubt), Lakshman very concisely encapsulates Karam yoga, Gyan yoga, and Bhakti Yoga in this conversation. More on this follows. / DAILY WORLD /

Namami Ramam Musings-55

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