“Somehow or other, Ravana was raised to an exalted position as the king of a great kingdom with all material opulences, but because of his sinful act of kidnapping mother Sita, all the results of his pious activities were destroyed.”… Read More ›
Month: October 2015
Forgetting the Past
“Alas, the common saying, ‘Bliss eventually comes to a man who lives, even after one hundred years,’ appears to me to be true.” (Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.6) kalyāṇī bata gathā iyam laukikī pratibhāti me | ehi jīvantam… Read More ›
The Hundred Year Journey
“Alas, the common saying, ‘Bliss eventually comes to a man who lives, even after one hundred years,’ appears to me to be true.” (Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.6) kalyāṇī bata gathā iyam laukikī pratibhāti me | ehi jīvantam… Read More ›
Lion-like Men
“Hearing of the well-being of those two lion-like men, that divine lady felt a thrill of joy in every limb and she spoke to Hanuman as follows:” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.5) sā tayoḥ kuśalam devī niśamya nara simhayoḥ |… Read More ›
Taking The Lead In Following
“And the highly splendorous Lakshmana, who is the dear follower of your husband and overcome himself by grief, bows his head in offering obeisances to you.” (Hanuman speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.4) lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahātejā bhartuḥ… Read More ›
The Favorite Brother
“And the highly splendorous Lakshmana, who is the dear follower of your husband and overcome himself by grief, bows his head in offering obeisances to you.” (Hanuman speaking to Sita Devi, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.4) lakṣmaṇaḥ ca mahātejā bhartuḥ… Read More ›
The Swan-like Messenger
“The son of Dasharatha, Rama, who is the best among knowers of the Vedas, who knows the Vedas and the brahmastra, has inquired about your welfare, O Devi.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.3) yo brāhmam astram vedān ca veda… Read More ›
Two Sides To The Message
“O Devi, I have arrived here as a messenger for you, being ordered by Rama. Vaidehi, all is well with Rama, and He has asked about your welfare.” (Hanuman, Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.2) aham rāmasya saṃdeśāt devi dūtaḥ tava… Read More ›
Grief Upon Grief
“After hearing those words of Sita, who was overwhelmed with sadness upon sadness, Hanuman, the leader of the monkeys, gave the following comforting reply.” (Valmiki Ramayana, Sundara Kand, 34.1) tasyāḥ tat vacanam śrutvā hanūmān hari yūthapaḥ | duhkhāt duhkha abhibhūtāyāḥ… Read More ›
Talking About When The Dust Settles
“A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires – that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still – can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives… Read More ›