Sri Rama: Purushottama
Ramlalla at Ayodhya
Today, on January 22, 2024, Ramlalla’s idol was consecrated through the Pran
Pratishtha ritual in the new temple at Ayodhya. Ramlalla is the beloved
childhood form of the deity worshipped by millions of Hindus. A popular bhajan ‘Thumak
chalata Ramachandra bajata peijaniyan’ by Lata Mangeshkar celebrates his
adorable infancy.
Sri Rama is more popularly known as Purushottama, which is an epithet of
Vishnu, meaning the Supreme Purusha or Supreme Being or Entity. However, in
Valmiki Ramayana’s Bala Kanda, Rama is portrayed, not as Vishnu, but as a human
with innumerable excellent qualities.
Valmiki Ramayana
Valmiki Ramayana is in 7 Kandas with about 24000 shlokas of which
Bala Kanda’s Chapter 1 has 100 shlokas.[i] IIT, Kanpur
has hosted a portal which provides the original Sanskrit shlokas in Devanagari
script with meaning, including word-wise meaning, in English. Audio for an
excellent recitation is also available.
Bala Kanda: Sarga 1: Who is the
Perfect Man?
Bala Kanda – Sarga 1 is in
Question-and-Answer mode, a format often used in the Upanishads and Puranas.
Valmiki asks Narada, “Who is the Perfect Man, at present, in all the lokas with
excellent qualities?” Valmiki mentions the 16 qualities he considers essential
for the Perfect man. Devarshi, the celestial sage, replies: There indeed is
such a man, born in the Ikshaku dynasty, known to people as RAMA.[ii]
Narada proceeds to enumerate Rama’s
exceptional qualities, not limited to the 16 qualities mentioned by Valmiki,
but 74 Qualities; of which 54 are Qualities of Character, and 20 are Physical
features. For readers who might be curious, the detailed list is given below.[iii]
A man endowed with these 74
Qualities, is RAMA, the Perfect man, pronounced Narada, through a mere 12
shlokas, attempting to capture the infinite, as it were, through his prayerful
palms.
It is notable that Valmiki had
not asked about the Supreme Being, or the Most Powerful among the gods; he had
great curiosity[iv]
about the Perfect Man!
Narada was, of course, aware
that Vishnu had taken incarnation as Rama to kill Ravana; but in his reply to Valmiki,
he omits to mention that Rama is God.
Much later in the epic, only
in Yuddha Kanda, after Ravana is killed, Brahma informed Rama that He is none
other than Vishnu who chose to be born as a human to kill Ravana[v]; but in
Bala Kanda – Sarga 1 – a synopsis or executive summary of the epic, Valmiki did
NOT mention this, which is significant. Adi Kavi was possibly exploring those
qualities which would make a perfect man, and not merely enumerating the many
splendid attributes of Vishnu.
Why did Valmiki preface the
epic with Bala Kanda – Sarga 1? Maybe to prepare the audience to meet in the
subsequent Kandas and Sargas of the epic an extraordinary character endowed
with such exceptional attributes which make him godlike in countenance and
character; maybe the Adi Kavi is suggesting that a mere human has the potential
to be divine by learning, cultivating, practising, and mastering some of those
exceptional qualities.
Which Qualities of Rama are the
most important?
Of the 74 Qualities enumerated
by Narada, which ones are the most important? I guess every devotee would
choose a set of qualities which in her opinion make Rama the Perfect Man.
My choice, with my very
limited and inadequate understanding of Ramayana, is as follows:
·
He is equitable
towards ALL. सर्वसमः
· Like the Samudra (sea), he accepts all rivers समुद्रः इव सिन्धुभिः
· Steadfast, Patient, and unperturbed like the
Himalayas धैर्येण in fortitude, हिमवान् इव like Himavat
Mountain
·
He is forgiving
like the Earth क्षमया पृथिवीसमः
·
in depth of his thoughts, like a sea गाम्भीर्ये समुद्र: इव
·
As a King, he is fully
devoted to the welfare of his subjects
·
He is one who has
conquered anger, and is free from envy
May RAMA, the Perfect Man,
inspire all of us lesser mortals to emulate at least some of his qualities,
however imperfectly.
Quotes from Valmiki Ramayana with
English Translation
Valmiki’s Query
In Bala Kanda of Valmiki Ramayana, Valmiki asks Narada, in the following
three shlokas, ‘Who in this world is vested with the following excellent
qualities?
कोन्वस्मिन्साम्प्रतं लोके गुणवान्कश्च वीर्यवान् ।
धर्मज्ञश्च कृतज्ञश्च सत्यवाक्यो दृढव्रत:।।1.1.2।।
"Who in this world lives today endowed with excellent qualities, prowess, righteousness, gratitude, truthfulness and firmness in his vows?”
चारित्रेण च को युक्तस्सर्वभूतेषु को हित: ।
विद्वान्क: कस्समर्थश्च कश्चैकप्रियदर्शन: ।।1.1.3।।
“Who is that one gifted
with good conduct, given to the wellbeing of all living creatures, learned in
the lore (knowledge of all things that is known), capable of doing things which
others cannot do and singularly handsome?”
आत्मवान्को जितक्रोधो द्युतिमान्कोऽनसूयक: ।
कस्य बिभ्यति देवाश्च जातरोषस्य संयुगे ।।1.1.4।।
“Who (among men) is self-restrained? Who has conquered anger? Who is endowed with brilliance and free from envy? Who is that when excited to wrath even the devatas, are afraid of (let alone foes)?”
Narada’s Reply
So extraordinary
is Sri Rama’s character and so numerous are his excellent qualities of that
Narada attempts to enumerate these in the following twelve shlokas.
इक्ष्वाकुवंशप्रभवो रामो नाम जनैश्श्रुत: ।
नियतात्मा महावीर्यो द्युतिमान्धृतिमान् वशी ।।1.1.8।।
“People have heard his
name as Rama, who was born in the race of king Ikshvaku,
having steady nature, possessing incomprehensible prowess, self-effulgent, self-commanding
and subjecting senses under his control.”
बुद्धिमान्नीतिमान्वाग्मी श्रीमान् शत्रुनिबर्हण: ।
विपुलांसो महाबाहु: कम्बुग्रीवो महाहनु: ।।1.1.9।।
“He (Sri Rama) is a great intellectual, adherent to rules, eloquent, handsome, destroyer of foes (sins), broad-shouldered, strongarmed, having conch-shaped neck and prominent cheeks.”
महोरस्को महेष्वासो गूढजत्रुररिन्दमः ।
आजानुबाहुस्सुशिरास्सुललाटस्सुविक्रमः ।।1.1.10।।
“Possessing a broad chest, armed with a great bow, with fleshy collar bones, knee-long arms, a noble head, a graceful forehead and great prowess, he is the destroyer of foes (sins).”
समस्समविभक्ताङ्गस्स्निग्धवर्ण: प्रतापवान् ।
पीनवक्षा विशालाक्षो लक्ष्मीवान् शुभलक्षणः ।। 1.1.11।।
“Mighty and powerful, he has a well-proportioned body, neither tall nor short, shining complexion, well-developed chest, large eyes, lustrous body and good qualities.”
धर्मज्ञस्सत्यसन्धश्च प्रजानां च हिते रतः ।
यशस्वी ज्ञानसम्पन्नश्शुचिर्वश्यस्समाधिमान् ।।1.1.12।।
“Pious, firm in his vows, he is ever
intent on doing good to his subjects. He is, illustrious, wise, and pure at
heart. He is obedient to elders (or accessible to those who are dependent on
him) and ever meditating (on the means of protecting those who take refuge in
him).”
प्रजापतिसमश्श्रीमान् धाता रिपुनिषूदनः ।
रक्षिता जीवलोकस्य धर्मस्य परिरक्षिता ।।1.1.13।।
“Auspicious like Brahma, Sri Rama is the sustainer of this world, destroyer of enemies and protector of all living beings and of the moral code.”
रक्षिता स्वस्य धर्मस्य स्वजनस्य च रक्षिता ।
वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञो धनुर्वेदे च निष्ठितः ।।1.1.14।।
“He has performed the duties of a king and protected his subjects. knowledgeable in the true nature of the Vedas he is accomplished in military science (he is a great archer).”
सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञस्स्मृतिमान्प्रतिभानवान् ।
सर्वलोकप्रियस्साधुरदीनात्मा विचक्षणः ।।1.1.15।।
“Sri Rama knows the true meaning of
all scriptures and has a retentive memory. He is talented (possessing
brightness of conception). He is beloved and well-disposed towards all people
(and courteous even towards those who have done him harm). He has an
unperturbed mind (even in times of extreme grief) and is circumspect (in doing
right things at the right time).”
सर्वदाभिगतस्सद्भिस्समुद्र इव सिन्धुभिः ।
आर्यस्सर्वसमश्चैव सदैकप्रियदर्शनः ।।1.1.16।।
“Sri Rama, like sea to rivers, is accessible to men of virtue and has equal disposition towards all. He always has a pleasing appearance.”
स च सर्वगुणोपेत: कौसल्यानन्दवर्धन: ।
समुद्र इव गाम्भीर्ये धैर्येण हिमवानिव ।।1.1.17।।
“Sri Rama, bestowed with all virtues, enhanced the joys of Kausalya, He is like the sea in deportment and like Himavant in fortitude.”
विष्णुना सदृशो वीर्ये सोमवत्प्रियदर्शनः ।
कालाग्निसदृशः क्रोधे क्षमया पृथिवीसमः ।।1.1.18।।
“Sri Rama is like Visnu in prowess, the Moon in pleasing appearance, the all-consuming fire in anger, the earth in patience,”
धनदेन समस्त्यागे सत्ये धर्म इवापरः ।
तमेवं गुणसम्पन्नं रामं
सत्यपराक्रमम् ।।1.1.19।।
“Sri Rama
is like Kubera in charity and the Sun in
steadfastness.”
(Possessed of the
above-mentioned excellent qualities, Sri Rama was resplendent with the prowess
of Truth.)
Note: The Sanskrit text
and the English translation, except for the sentence in () above, are quoted
from
Note
***
[i] Link for the portal is:
https://www.valmiki.iitk.ac.in/sloka?field_kanda_tid=1&language=dv&field_sarga_value=1
[iii]
Valmiki asks: Who is endowed with the
following Qualities?
1. गुणवान् endowed with excellent qualities
2. वीर्यवांश्च with prowess
3. धर्मज्ञ: knower of righteousness,
4. कृतज्ञ: grateful (who remembers even
little help done by others),
5. सत्यवाक्य: truthful in his statements,
6. दृढव्रत: firm in his vows (till such
time he achieves the results),
7. चारित्रेण युक्त: endowed with good conduct
8. सर्वभूतेषु हित: benefactor for all living
beings
9. विद्वान् learned man (knower of everything which is to be known),
10. समर्थ: competent (capable of doing things which cannot be done by others),
11. एकप्रियदर्शन: solely delightful in appearance to everyone,
12. आत्मवान् self-restrained
13. जितक्रोध: one who has conquered anger
14. द्युतिमान् one who is endowed with splendour
15. अनसूयक: one who is free from envy
16. जातरोषस्य excited to wrath, कस्य to whom, संयुगे in the battle, देवा: च celestial beings, devatas, बिभ्यति are afraid of.
Narada’s Reply: Rama’s Excellent Qualities
1. नियतात्मा steady-natured, resolute
2. महावीर्य: great prowess
3. द्युतिमान् self-effulgent
4. धृतिमान् self-commanding, self-composed
5. वशी one who has control over the senses
6. बुद्धिमान् great intellectual
7. नीतिमान् learned in ethical (statecraft) philosophy
8. वाग्मी proficient in speeches
9. श्रीमान् endowed with auspiciousness
10.
शत्रुनिबर्हण: destroyer of foes (sins)
11.
विपुलांस: broad shouldered
12.
महाबाहु: strong-armed
13.
कम्बुग्रीव: possessing conch-shaped neck
14.
महाहनु: having prominent and strong cheeks
15.
महोरस्क: having a broad chest
16.
महेष्वासः armed with a great bow, meaning thereby having
a body strong enough to carry such a bow
17.
गूढजत्रुः has fleshy collar bones
18.
अरिन्दमः is destroyer of foes (sins)
19.
आजानुबाहु: knee-long arms
20.
सुशिराः head with noble qualities
21.
सुललाटः has a large and beautiful forehead
22.
सुविक्रमः valiant
23.
समः neither too tall nor too short
24.
समविभक्ताङ्ग: has well-proportioned limbs
25.
स्निग्धवर्णः has shining complexion
26.
प्रतापवान् is mighty and powerful
27.
पीनवक्षा: strong well-developed chest
28.
विशालाक्षः has expansive eyes,
29.
लक्ष्मीवान् lustrous body
30.
शुभलक्षणः has auspicious qualities (according to science
of palmistry)
31.
धर्मज्ञ: knower of duties (of protecting those who take
refuge in him) of life
32.
सत्यसन्ध: firm in his vows
33.
प्रजानाम् for his subjects, हिते doing good, रतः intent on
34.
यशस्वी renowned
35.
ज्ञानसम्पन्नः omniscient
36.
शुचिः pure and devout
37.
वश्यः obedient to elders (or accessible to those who
are dependent on him)
38.
समाधिमान् meditating on the means of protecting those
who took refuge in him.
39.
प्रजापतिसमः equal to Brahma
40.
श्रीमान् auspiciousness
41.
धाता sustainer of this entire world
42.
रिपुनिषूदनः destroyer of enemies
43.
रक्षिता protector, जीवलोकस्य of all living beings
44.
धर्मस्य of code of morals, परिरक्षिता protector
45.
स्वस्य of his own, धर्मस्य duties of a king, रक्षिता protector
46.
स्वजनस्य च of his own subjects, रक्षिता protector
47.
वेदवेदाङ्गतत्त्वज्ञ: knowledgeable in the true nature of vedas and vedangas
48.
धनुर्वेदे च निष्ठित: accomplished in military science, one of the
upavedas (a great archer)
49.
सर्वशास्त्रार्थतत्त्वज्ञ: knower of the true meaning of all scriptures
50.
स्मृतिमान् has infallible retentive memory
51.
प्रतिभानवान् is talented (possessing brightness of conception)
52.
सर्वलोकप्रियः is beloved of all people
53.
साधु: well-disposed and courteous (even towards
those who have done harm)
54.
अदीनात्मा unperturbed mind (even in times of extreme
grief)
55.
विचक्षणः has discrimination (is circumspect in doing
right things in right time)
56.
समुद्रः sea, सिन्धुभिः the rivers, इव like
57.
सर्वदा ever, अभिगतः is approachable
58.
आर्यः man of virtue
59.
सर्वसमः च एव having equitable disposition towards all,
60.
सदैकप्रियदर्शनः always has delightful countenance.
61.
सर्वगुणोपेत: endowed with all virtues
62.
गाम्भीर्ये in depth of his thoughts, समुद्र: इव like a sea
63.
धैर्येण in fortitude, हिमवान् इव like Himavat mountain
64.
विष्णुना सदृशः similar to Visnu वीर्ये In prowess,
65.
सोमवत् in appearance like the Moon, प्रियदर्शनः pleasing to the sight
66.
क्रोधे in anger, कालाग्निसदृशः like the all-consuming fire
67.
क्षमया in patience, पृथिवीसमः equal to earth
68.
त्यागे in charity, धनदेन समः like Kubera
69.
सत्ये in truth (here steadfastness), अपरः धर्मः इव like the Sun, or Dharma
70.
एवं गुणसम्पन्नम् him who was possessing all such good qualities,
71.
सत्यपराक्रमम् armed
with the power of truth
72.
श्रेष्ठगुणै: with excellent virtues, युक्तम् endowed with,
73.
प्रियम् beloved
74.
प्रकृतीनाम् for
his subjects, हितै: with good deeds, युक्तम् endowed with
Serial No.s – 11 to 30
refer to physical features, and the remaining to qualities of character.
[iv] परं कौतूहलं
[v] 6.105.25: Yuddha Kanda-Sarga 105-Shloka 25
