Five Ways To React To A Promotion

“O Lakshmana, do you rule this earth with Me. You are like My second self, so this glorious opportunity has been presented to you as well. O Saumitra, do you enjoy all the pleasures you desire and the fruits of the regal life. My life and this kingdom I covet for your sake alone.” (Lord Rama speaking to Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 4.43-44)

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लक्ष्मणेमां मया सार्धं प्रशाधि त्वं वसुन्धराम
द्वितीयं मेऽन्तरात्मानं त्वामियं श्रीरुपस्थिता
सौमित्रे भुङ्क्ष्व भोगांत्स्वमिष्टान्राज्यफलानि
जीवितं च हि राज्यं च त्वदर्थमभिकामये

lakṣmaṇemāṃ mayā sārdhaṃ praśādhi tvaṃ vasundharām
dvitīyaṃ me’ntarātmānaṃ tvāmiyaṃ śrīrupasthitā
saumitre bhuṅkṣva bhogāṃtsvamiṣṭānrājyaphalāni ca
jīvitaṃ ca hi rājyaṃ ca tvadarthamabhikāmaye

1. Complain

“It is about time! What took so long? I was in line from the very beginning. There is something called succession. Perhaps you have heard of it. It sometimes goes by the name of protocol. If the person in charge were true to their word, if they were respectful of the people who came before them, there would not have been any doubt on the matter. I hear that they met with their advisers first. It is like they summoned a focus group, to get a consensus opinion on the potential decision. What was their to decide? It was mine for the taking the entire time. Really, not cool.”

2. Tell everyone you know

“Are you ready? Are you sitting down? We’ve got big news. I just got promoted! Seriously, you are allowed to be excited. No one will blame you for showing a little enthusiasm. I am so happy. I will be at the top. The corner office is mine. The official transfer takes place in a few days. I would love to stay and chat some more, but there are others that we have to call. People are going to be so happy to hear this. All the best to you. Bye.”

3. Taunt others

“It is mine. I earned it. I was chosen because of my qualities. I am the best fit. You would never measure up. That is why you are where you are. You will have to answer to me, now. I am the highest authority in this place. If the leader thought you were deserving, they would have chosen you. They must know how incapable you are. They must have caught on to your two-hour lunches. Trust me, I never said anything, but that won’t fly in the future. You won’t be able to pull a fast one on me. The leaders must not think you are prepared to handle the responsibility. I tend to agree with them.”

4. Boast of the perks

“Can you believe it? I am at the top. I just got promoted. Everyone will have to listen to me. They will sing my glories in the morning. They will stand at attention whenever I walk in the room. They will carry out their work with care and diligence. They will not want to get on my bad side. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I am not complaining. This is going to be so great. How would you feel if the same happened to you? Now just imagine that level of excitement and multiply it by one hundred. That is how I feel right now.”

5. Offer to share with your younger brother

Throughout the Ramayana, in its original conception as a lengthy Sanskrit work composed by Maharishi Valmiki, we find that the central character is generally held in the highest regard. Not by one or two people, but practically the entire community. Even those who only know Rama from a distance say nice things about Him. As Rama is of the kshatriya order, He sometimes has to distribute punishment. It turns out that even those who would fall against the law hold no grudge against the administrator of justice. Friend and foe alike, even when Rama is not around, cannot say a bad word about Him.

न तं पश्याम्यहं लोके परोक्षमपि यो नरः
स्वमित्रोऽपि निरस्तोऽपि योऽस्य दोषमुदाहरेत्

na taṃ paśyāmyahaṃ loke parokṣamapi yo naraḥ
svamitro’pi nirasto’pi yo’sya doṣamudāharet

“I do not find in this world any man who can describe a fault in Him, even in His absence, be it an adversary or someone defeated.”  (Lakshmana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 21.5)

Rama is the eldest son of Dasharatha, who is the king of Ayodhya. If Rama has to leave the house for business, His wife offers nice prayers. Sita Devi asks the guardians of the different directions to protect her beloved husband. She has only the nicest things to say about Him. She describes Rama as gentle and someone who wishes well for everyone. The definition of “everyone” in this context extends to the non-human species.

रामेति प्रथितो लोके गुणवान्सत्यवान्शुचिः
विशालाक्षो महाबाहुस्सर्वभूतहिते रतः

rāmeti prathito loke guṇavānsatyavānśuciḥ
viśālākṣo mahābāhussarvabhūtahite rataḥ

“My husband Rama is famous throughout the world. He is pure, truthful, and very gentle. He is mighty-armed, has wide eyes, and is always busy working for the welfare of all living beings [sarva-bhuta-hite-ratah].” (Sita Devi speaking to Ravana, Valmiki Ramayana, Aranya Kand, 47.11)

If anything bad should happen to Rama, the people of the town feel compelled to take part in the ordeal. They feel that their connection, their visible sign of loyalty, might bring some kind of relief. Rama might not specifically ask for it, but that is what makes Him so amazing. He never tries to burden others with problems. Rather, He is the remover of burdens. The wives of the town admonish their husbands for having attachment to temporary objects and relationships, for prioritizing temporary enjoyments over the opportunity to see Rama.

किं नु तेषां गृहैः कार्यं किं दारै: किं धनेन वा
पुत्रैर्वा किं सुखैर्वापि ये न पश्यन्ति राघवम्

kiṃ nu teṣāṃ gṛhaiḥ kāryaṃ kiṃ dārai: kiṃ dhanena vā
putrairvā kiṃ sukhairvāpi ye na paśyanti rāghavam

“Of what use are wealth, comforts and pleasures, home, wives, and sons if one is not able to see Shri Rama?” (Valmiki Ramayana, Ayodhya Kand, 48.7)

Just how kind is that eldest son of Dasharatha? When news arrived of the imminent transfer of power, in following the tradition of the family and the unanimous consent of the royal advisers, Rama felt compelled to offer the same to His younger brother. Rama politely asked Lakshmana to share in the honor. One might say that it was a mere formality, that Rama did not mean it, but we see that there is no envy or competition. Lakshmana is known as Ramanuja because of His junior position and also His unflinching loyalty to follow the eldest. The other two younger brothers, Bharata and Shatrughna, have the same loyalty and are also known as Ramanuja.

Due to dynamics within the family, it may so happen that the younger brother has no envy of the eldest, but the eldest does not return the favor. For the youngest, this is a heartbreaking situation to witness. They would instantly give up their own life to give happiness to the eldest. In Rama’s gesture, we see that with the Supreme Personality of Godhead the affection never goes to waste. It is always returned, as only God is wishing us well in a steady flow, fixed throughout the time continuum.

In Closing:

Well-deserved is He,
So happy this moment to see.

Promoted to the highest post,
Single person with support the most.

But are brothers then left behind?
Any lingering animosity to find?

Rama kindly offering the same,
As if honor to Lakshmana came.