Yesterday, we had stopped at a very interesting point wherein Rama along with Sita and Lakshmana reach Panchavati and Rama asks Lakshmana to prepare a nice hamlet for all of them to stay. However when Rama conveyed this, Lakshmana was all in tears and fell upon Rama’s feet, weeping bitterly!
Rama was surprised upon this sudden burst of tears! He lifts Lakshmana and with his ever-beautiful smile, asks Lakshmana the reason for his sudden outpour! Lakshmana replies, “Oh Rama! I’m sorry, but I think you’ve decided to abandon me!” Rama was shocked beyond words and asks back, “Abandon you? Oh Lakshmana! How can I ever think of such a thing even in my wildest dreams? How did you come to such a conclusion?”
Upon which, Lakshmana gives a very important reply – This is one of the finest illustrations of Lakshmana’s immense devotion and commitment to Rama.
Lakshmana says.. “Oh Rama! What did you say just now? You said,
“Ramathe yathra vaidehi tvamananchaiva lakshmana!
Thaadrisho drishathaam veshaha sanivrishta jalaashrayaha!!”
Oh Rama! You asked me to build a hamlet at a beautiful place, which would make Sita happy (“Ramathe yathra vaidehi”)! You asked me to build a hamlet at a beautiful place where you would be happy! Yes. That’s perfect! However, you added one more clause and asked me to choose a beautiful place, which would make this Lakshmana happy! The moment you tried to induce a happiness into me, I understood that you are going to abandon me soon! Oh Rama! Your happiness is my happiness! Sita Devi’s happiness is my happiness! This Lakshmana doesn’t need to have a happiness of his own! I shall automatically be happy if I see both of you happy!”
Such is the purest form of Bhakthi that Lakshmana exhibited! Upon hearing these words from his brother, Rama became completely speechless and he hugs Lakshmana with all his love and compassion! He was so moved and his beautiful eyes were “decorated” with tears of joy!
Here is a very important message for all of us: It’s a popular saying that “Svaboutkrithva Buddhi” is disastrous for spiritual growth! Let me explain this in a bit of a detail here – Many of us do “Kainkarya” (Service) at temples, churches, mosques, important ashrams, Mutts, etc. All of us should realize the important fact that purpose of doing the “Kainkarya” is for the happiness of Bhagawan, and not ours! This is the main reason why there is lot of politics inside the management of temples and other spiritual places!
Many of us would have had this thought at some point in our lives – Why do people who are closely associated to big temples, ashrams, Mutts’ of Spiritual Gurus always fight with each other? Why is there lot of politics going on in temples and Mutts? Aren’t they ardent devotees of the Lord? Yet why do they fight? The main reason is that, all those people who create politics over “Kainkarya” fail to realize that it is for the happiness of Bhagawan that they do, and not for the happiness of the self! The moment we realize that doing “Kainkarya” is for Bhagawan’s happiness, we would never even open our mouths and utter a single word! Afterall we are Bhagawan’s children and we are just doing some small service to make Him happy! We should realize this very important message!
For instance, we adorn ourselves with a garland of flowers – Does the flower feel happy? We apply sandalwood paste to ourselves to make our skin shinier! Does the sandalwood feel happy? The answers for the above questions are obviously a “No!” Similarly, we should realize the fact that doing service to the Lord enhances the happiness of the Lord and not ours! Of course, we can feel happy while seeing Bhagawan getting happy with our service! But selfish happiness is never to be experienced while doing service!
Thus, Lakshmana surrendered at Rama’s feet once more and as per the instruction, built a beautiful hamlet at a beautiful place! Rama and Sita take a look around the hamlet and are very impressed with Lakshmana’s work. He was happy that Lakshmana had taken into account all what he had said while building the hamlet and in addition to that, Lakshmana had ensured that he had built it beyond Rama’s expectations as well – Rama had asked Lakshmana to build a separate room wherein they can sit and interact with rishis, a separate room for resting, another room for preparing food, etc. However, Rama hadn’t asked for a separate place wherein Sita and himself could sit and talk comfortably! But Lakshmana had made sure that such a place was also built in the hamlet! Thus we should realize here that a true “Kainkarya” or Service is that wherein the Bhaktha offers beyond normal expectations!
Thus on seeing this, Rama was totally moved to tears on the expertise of Lakshmana! He hugs Lakshmana with all his love and compassion and appreciates him for his wonderful work! At this point, Rama gives a very important complement to Lakshmana, which is to be discussed in a bit of detail. Let us wait till the next episode to find it out! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 